In
chemistry, a
trimer (, "three" + , "parts") is an
oligomer derived from three identical precursors. An example is the procedure of production of
polymers. At first, a
monomer is made. By combining two monomers, a
dimer is produced. With further additions, a trimer and eventually a polymer is made. Often,
trimerization competes with polymerization; for example, dimethylsilanediol polymerizes to
polydimethylsiloxane, even though a trimer is made:
- Me2Si(OH)2 + (HO)2SiMe2 → Me2(OH)Si-O-Si(OH)Me2 – dimer
- Me2(OH)Si-O-Si(OH)Me2 + (HO)2SiMe2 → Me2(OH)Si-O-SiMe2-O-Si(OH)Me2 – trimer
- Me2(OH)Si-O-SiMe2-O-Si(OH)Me2 + (HO)2SiMe2 → Me2(OH)Si-O-SiMe2-O-SiMe2-O-Si(OH)Me2 – tetramer
- et cetera, until Me2(OH)Si-O-[SiMe2-O-]nSi(OH)Me2 (n>100) – polymer