Macromolecular Isomerism in Giant Molecules

Abstract

Macromolecular isomerism has been an important yet largely understudied subject. Giant molecules based on molecular nanoparticles exhibit properties highly dependent on the primary structures, providing a platform for such studies. Various isomers have been designed, synthesized and characterized, including sequence-, regio-, and topo-isomers. The self-assembly of these isomers is influenced by the distinct symmetry and collective interaction of each building block in a subtle and delicate way. The results suggest that isomerism may be exploited as a new way for fine-tuning the structures and properties of macromolecules, which should be of great interest in both fundamental research and technical innovation.

Keywords: giant molecules; isomers; macromolecules; self-assembly; topology.