A substance may include polymers that include reagent end-capped poly(acetal)s, where a differential scanning calorimetry process exhibits no endothermic peaks for monomers for a first heat cycle of a heat-cool process applied to the reagent end-capped poly(acetal)s and for a second heat cycle of the heat-cool process. The disclosed polyacetals are stable at 23? C., open to the air, for at least 1 month.

A substance may include polymers that include reagent end-capped poly(acetal)s, where a differential scanning calorimetry process exhibits no endothermic peaks for monomers for a first heat cycle of a heat-cool process applied to the reagent end-capped poly(acetal)s and for a second heat cycle of the heat-cool process. The disclosed polyacetals are stable at 23? C., open to the air, for at least 1 month.

Self-immolative polymers degrade by an end-to-end depolymerization mechanism in response to the cleavage of a stabilizing end-cap from the polymer terminus. Examples include homopolymers, mixed polymers including block copolymers, suitable for a variety of applications. A polyglyoxylate can be end-capped or capped with a linker as in a block copolymer.

Self-immolative polymers degrade by an end-to-end depolymerization mechanism in response to the cleavage of a stabilizing end-cap from the polymer terminus. Examples include homopolymers, mixed polymers including block copolymers, suitable for a variety of applications. A polyglyoxylate can be end-capped or capped with a linker as in a block copolymer.