Metallo-supramolecular complexes from mPEG/PDPA diblock copolymers and their self-assembled strip nanosheets

Xiaoyu Zhang; Yuyang Liu; Xin Wang; Yinxiu Liang; Lei Yan

doi:10.1039/d0ra00431f

Metallo-supramolecular complexes from mPEG/PDPA diblock copolymers and their self-assembled strip nanosheets

RSC Adv. 2020 Mar 6;10(16):9686-9692. doi: 10.1039/d0ra00431f. eCollection 2020 Mar 2.

Authors

Xiaoyu Zhang¹, Yuyang Liu¹, Xin Wang¹, Yinxiu Liang¹, Lei Yan¹

Affiliation

¹ Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Science and Technology of Shaanxi Province, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Northwestern Polytechnical University Xi'an 710072 P. R. China liu_yyang1120@nwpu.edu.cn.

Abstract

Herein we designed and synthesized mPEG/PDPA copolymers containing two 4-([2,2':6',2''-terpyridin]-4'-yl) phenyl (Tpyp) groups at the junction point of the two blocks (mPEG(-b-Tpyp)₂-b-PDPA _x , x = 23, 33, and 44). Interestingly, after a hierarchical pattern from the coordination of mPEG(-b-Tpyp)₂-b-PDPA _x with Ru(ii) ions followed by the self-assembly in water, 2D strip nanosheets with a monomolecular layer were obtained. In contrast, mPEG(-b-Tpyp)₂-b-PDPA _x without coordination self-assembled into spherical micelles in the similar condition. The formation of the rigid and charged ⋯Tpyp-Ru(ii)⋯ chain, the brush-shaped polymer architecture and the presence of the hexafluorophosphate (PF₆ ^-) counterions should be responsible for the unique self-assembly behavior of the metallo-supramolecular complexes. It is expected that the hierarchical self-assembly pattern can provide a new strategy for preparation of self-assemblies with different morphologies.