New, More Accessible Precise Supramolecular  Polymerization Method Developed

New, More Accessible Precise Supramolecular Polymerization Method Developed

Will streamline the polymeric material creation process and lead to the realization of recycling of such material

Feb 6, 2015

Over the last decade, significant progress in supramolecular polymerization has had a substantial impact on the design of functional soft materials. However, despite recent advances, most studies are still based on a preconceived notion that supramolecular polymerization follows a step-growth mechanism, which precludes control over chain-length, sequence, and stereochemical structure.

Here we report the realization of chain-growth polymerization by designing metastable monomers with a shape-promoted intramolecular hydrogen-bonding network. The monomers are conformationally restricted from spontaneous polymerization at ambient temperatures, but begin to polymerize with characteristics typical of a living mechanism upon mixing with tailored initiators. The chain growth occurs stereoselectively and therefore enables optical resolution of a racemic monomer.

Figure 1; Schematic illustration of conventional supramolecular polymerization
Supramolecular polymers are synthesized with molecules B through the connections between red and blue parts of B

Figure 2; Schematic illustration of precise supramolecular polymerization with an initiator
Molecule A (Initiator) connects with molecule B by opening up the intracyclic connection between the red and blue parts of B and forming a new connection.  The resulting dimer A-B possesses a free blue part and it connects the other B, which results in the formation of the trimer A-B-B.  This process will be repeated until all molecules B are consumed.

To learn more about this research, please view the full research report entitled " A Rational Strategy for the Realization of Chain-Growth Supramolecular Polymerization " at this page of the Science website.

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