Helical structures of conjugate polymers created by oxidative polymerization using synthetic lipid assemblies as templates.
The morphology of conjugate polymers (such as poly(ethylenedioxythiophene), poly(pyrrole), and poly(aniline)) can be controlled in their polymerization processes, by applying the concept of the templating method to oxidative polymerization. As oxidative polymerization of these monomers produces cationic intermediates, the anionic assemblies can act as potential templates due to the mutual electrostatic attractive force. Oxidative polymerization of ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT), pyrrole, and aniline was carried out using helical superstructures of synthetic lipid assemblies as templates. Interestingly, we have found that oxidative polymerization of these monomers results in novel polymeric aggregates, such as a helical-tape structure and an intertwined helical structure, and that both the right-handed and left-handed helical structures can be created by a change in the hydrophilic head groups. This is the first example of helical superstructures composed of conjugate polymers that have been designed utilizing a convenient templating method.
Hatano
Tsukasa
T
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 812-8581, Japan.
Bae
Ah-Hyun
AH
Takeuchi
Masayuki
M
Fujita
Norifumi
N
Kaneko
Kenji
K
Ihara
Hirotaka
H
Takafuji
Makoto
M
Shinkai
Seiji
S