Supramolecular star polymers. Increased molecular weight with decreased polydispersity through self-assembly.
A ditopic structure containing two heterocyclic DeAP units and programmed to self-assemble is used as an initiation unit for the synthesis of polylactide and polystyrene. The resultant polymers self-assemble into higher molecular weight structures with a lower molecular weight distribution. The largest discrete nanoscale polymeric assembly is proposed to be a hexameric star with a molecular weight of ca. 92.7 kDa. All polymeric assemblies generally exhibit PDI values of 1.3 to 1.5, which are lower than the PDI value of the corresponding polymeric arms. A hexameric assembly is stabilized by 30 hydrogen bonds, including six AADD.DDAA contacts. The hexameric star is formed under conditions that are at least partially controlled by kinetics.
Todd
Eric M
EM
Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 600 South Mathews Avenue, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA.
Zimmerman
Steven C
SC
D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D015394:Molecular Structure; D008970:Molecular Weight; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D019032:Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization
D011108:Polymers