A molecule of intermediate
relative molecular mass, the structure of which essentially comprises a small plurality of units derived,
actually or conceptually, from molecules of lower
relative molecular mass.
Notes:
-
A molecule is regarded as having an intermediate relative molecular mass if it has properties which do vary significantly with the removal of one or a few
of the units.
-
If a part or the whole of the molecule has an intermediate relative molecular mass and essentially comprises a small plurality of units derived, actually or conceptually,
from molecules of lower relative molecular mass, it may be described as oligomeric, or by oligomer used adjectivally.
Source:
PAC, 1996, 68, 2287
(Glossary of basic terms in polymer science (IUPAC Recommendations 1996))
on page 2289