Poly[n]catenanes: Synthesis of molecular interlocked chains

We report, herein, a synthetic approach toward this distinctive polymer architecture in high yield (~75%) via efficient ring closing of rationally designed metallosupramolecular polymers. Light-scattering, mass spectrometric, and nuclear magnetic resonance characterization of fractionated samples support assignment of the high–molar mass product (number-average molar mass ~21.4 kilograms per mole) to a mixture of linear poly[7–26]catenanes, branched poly[13–130]catenanes, and cyclic poly[4–7]catenanes. Increased hydrodynamic radius (in solution) and glass transition temperature (in bulk materials) were observed upon metallation with Zn2+.

Source: ScienceNOW - December 14, 2017 Category: Science Authors: Wu, Q., Rauscher, P. M., Lang, X., Wojtecki, R. J., de Pablo, J. J., Hore, M. J. A., Rowan, S. J. Tags: Chemistry, Materials Science reports Source Type: news