title: Single-chain folding of polymers for catalytic systems in water.
abstract: Enzymes are a source of inspiration for chemists attempting to create versatile synthetic catalysts. In order to arrive at a polymeric chain carrying catalytic units separated spatially, it is a prerequisite to fold these polymers in water into well-defined compartmentalized architectures thus creating a catalytic core. Herein, we report the synthesis, physical properties, and catalytic activity of a water-soluble segmented terpolymer in which a helical structure in the apolar core is created around a ruthenium-based catalyst. The supramolecular chirality of this catalytic system is the result of the self-assembly of benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxamide side chains, while the catalyst arises from the sequential ruthenium-catalyzed living radical polymerization of the different monomers followed by ligand exchange. The polymers exhibit a two-state folding process and show transfer hydrogenation in water.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Laboratory of Macromolecular and Organic Chemistry, Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Eindhoven University of Technology, P.O. Box 513, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Takaya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Terashima
authors.forename: Tristan
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mes
authors.forename: Tom F A
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: De Greef
authors.forename: Martijn A J
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Gillissen
authors.forename: Pol
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Besenius
authors.forename: Anja R A
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Palmans
authors.forename: E W
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: Meijer
mesh_terms: D001549:Benzamides / Q000737:chemistry*; D002384:Catalysis; D006860:Hydrogen Bonding; D015394:Molecular Structure; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D010316:Particle Size; D011108:Polymers / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D012428:Ruthenium / Q000737:chemistry*; D012995:Solubility; D013499:Surface Properties; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D001549:Benzamides; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D011108:Polymers; C558700:benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxamide; D014867:Water; D012428:Ruthenium