text: The major advantage this polymerization technique presents over LCP lies in the fact that the polymer can be end capped on both sides of the chain with stimuli-responsive groups. The tuning process of PPA by these functional groups have not only expanded the set of applications this polymer can be used in, but has also improved its properties and attributes. For instance, by controlling the o-phthalaldehyde monomer/alcohol initiator concentration ratio, ultra-high molecular weights (50-150 KDa) PPA can be obtained. Furthermore, PPA synthesized through LAP is more thermally and mechanically stable. Generally, the presence of endcaps on both ends stabilizes the polymer and results in a more flexible chain with a high thermal stability. And because linear polymers synthesized by LAP method can be end capped whereas cyclic polymers prepared via LCP method cannot be end capped with functional groups, LAP results in more thermally stable polymers. It has a much lower PDI ranging between 1.3 and 1.9 as opposed to PPA synthesized through LCP which has a PDI ranging between 2 and 4.5. This is because of the ability to control the character, molecular weight, and end group of the polymer. Furthermore, the initiator used in LAP synthesis method, which is a strong nucleophile, acts as the first endcap, and hence by controlling the amount of initiator used, a control over the molar mass and PDI can be obtained. This is in contrary to cyclic PPA which is synthesized through LCP where the initiator (Lewis acid) will not be part of the final PPA product, and hence, controlling the amount of Lewis acid used will have no to little effect on the final molar mass and PDI of cyclic PPA polymer.