Supramolecular Helical Miktoarm Star Polymers

ACS Macro Lett. 2022 Mar 15;11(3):336-341. doi: 10.1021/acsmacrolett.1c00802. Epub 2022 Feb 18.

Abstract

We report a hydrogen-bonded supramolecular miktoarm star polymer containing three distinct helical arms. Our design involves two helical poly(methacrylamide) arms connected by a barbituric acid (Ba) at the center, prepared through the reversible addition-fragmentation chain-transfer polymerization with a bifunctional agent. Together with a telechelic helical poly(isocyanide) end-functionalized with a Hamilton Wedge (HW) that is complementary to Ba, the two components assemble into an AB2-type star copolymer. The assembly is driven by the hydrogen bonding between HW and Ba, which is quantified by 1H NMR titration and isothermal titration calorimetry. Gel-permeation chromatography provides evidence for the formation of the desired miktoarm star architecture. This strategy of site-specific functionalization on helical polymers provides a modular approach to preparing nonlinear supramolecular ensembles with topologically diverse building blocks.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Chromatography, Gel
  • Hydrogen Bonding
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
  • Polymerization
  • Polymers* / chemistry

Substances

  • Polymers