A telechelic polymer or oligomer is a prepolymer capable of entering into further polymerization

or other reactions through its reactive end-groups

[1]
. It can be used for example to synthesize
block copolymers.
By definition, a telechelic polymer is a di-end-functional polymer where both ends possess the
same functionality.
[2]
Where the chain-ends of the polymer are not of the same functionality they
are termed di-end-functional polymers.
All polymers resulting from living polymerization are end-functional but may not necessarily be
telechelic.
[3]

To prepare polymers by step-growth polymerization, telechelic polymers like polymeric diols
and epoxy prepolymers can be used. The main examples are:
Polyether diols;
Polyester diols;
Polycarbonate diols: Polyhexamethylene carbonate diol (PHMCD);
Polyalcadiene diols: Hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene (PBHT)...
Other examples of telechelic polymers are the halato-telechelic polymers or halatopolymers
[4]
.
The end-groups of these polymers are ionic or ionizable like carboxylate or quaternary
ammonium groups.