Supramolecular Polymerization from Controllable Fabrication to Living Polymerization

Supramolecular polymers have attracted plenty of interest in the scientific community; however, developing controllable methods of supramolecular polymerization remains a serious challenge. This article reviews some recent developments of methods for supramolecular polymerization from controllable fabrication to living polymerization. Three facile methods with general applicability for controllable fabrication of supramolecular polymers have been established recently: the first method is a self‐sorting approach by manipulating ring–chain equilibrium based on noncovalent control over rigidity of monomers; the second is covalent polymerization from supramonomers formed by noncovalent interactions; and the third is supramolecular interfacial polymerization. More excitingly, living supramolecular polymerization has been achieved by two elegant strategies, including seeded supramolecular polymerization under pathway complexity control and chain‐growth supramolecular polymerization by metastable monomers. It is anticipated that this review may provide some guidance for precise fabrication of supramolecular polymers, leading to the construction of supramolecular polymeric materials with controllable architectures and functions.     

Polyisobutylene Based Supramolecular Networks via Living Carbocationic Polymerization

Functionalized, styrene based monomers were investigated for copolymerization with isobutylene (IB) via living carbocationic polymerization. The achieved incorporation of polar moieties into the polymer backbone yielded supramolecular networks, which were analyzed and characterized via rheological measurements.     

Fabrication of Chiral‐Selective Nanotubular Heterojunctions through Living Supramolecular Polymerization

Novel, chiral‐selective linear nanotubular heterojunctions were achieved by living supramolecular polymerization of perylenediimide (PDI) derivatives. We demonstrate that the chiral seed can effectively bias achiral PDI molecules to polymerize on its ends in the identical helical sense. More interestingly, the chiral seed can bias the opposite enantiomers to grow expitaxially from its ends even in excess amounts relative to the seed. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the biasing effect of the chiral seed on the opposite enantiomer is not dependent on the length of the chiral seed but is related to the intrinsic length of the elongated nanotube from the opposite enantiomer. The fabrication of chiral‐selective nanotubes was achieved by application of the unique biasing effect of the chiral seed in living supramolecular self‐assembly.     

Unveiling Polymerization Mechanism in pH-regulated Supramolecular Fibers in Aqueous Media

An amine functionalized C₃-symmetric benzotrithiophene (BTT) monomer has been designed and synthetized in order to form pH responsive one-dimensional supramolecular polymers in aqueous media. While most of the reported studies looked at the effect of pH on the size of the aggregates, herein, a detailed mechanistic study is reported, carried out upon modifying the pH to trigger the formation of positively charged ammonium groups. A dramatic and reversible change in the polymerization mechanism and size of the supramolecular fibers is observed and ascribed to the combination of Coulombic repulsive forces and higher monomer solubility. Furthermore, the induced frustrated growth of the fibers is further employed to finely control the one-dimensional supramolecular polymerisation and copolymerization processes.     

氨基酸功能化环辛烯单体的区域及立体选择性开环易位聚合

合成具有可控初级结构的侧链型氨基酸聚合物,使其与具有完全精确初级结构的生物大分子相媲美,在高分子合成化学中仍然是一个长期的挑战。 在本文中,设计与合成了(环辛基-2-烯-1-羰基)-L-亮氨酸酰胺甲酯(1)和(环辛基-2-烯-1-羰基)-L-亮氨酸酰胺(2),通过Grubbs二代催化的开环易位聚合,合成了具有高反式双键选择性、高头尾区域选择性的亮氨酸衍生均聚物以及共聚物,这些聚合物具有相对较窄的相对分子质量分布(1.3~1.6)。 当组成为n(1)：n(2)=50：50嵌段共聚物在丙酮中形成以亲水嵌段poly(2)为核,疏水嵌段poly(1)为壳的半径为30 nm的反相胶束。 然而,相同组成的无规共聚物则难溶于丙酮中。这些具有明确的区域及立体结构的氨基酸衍生聚合物为仿生材料的相关应用奠定了基础。     

Living Supramolecular Polymerization of an Aza‐BODIPY Dye Controlled by a Hydrogen‐Bond‐Accepting Triazole Unit Introduced by Click Chemistry

An aza‐BODIPY dye 1 bearing two hydrophobic fan‐shaped tridodecyloxybenzamide pendants through 1,2,3‐triazole linkages was synthesized by a click reaction and characterized. ¹H NMR studies indicated that dye 1 exhibited variable conformations through intramolecular H‐bonding interaction, which is beneficial for the polymorphism of aggregation. The thermodynamic, structural, and kinetic aspect of the supramolecular polymerization of dye 1 was investigated by UV/Vis absorption spectroscopy, IR spectroscopy, AFM, TEM, and SEM. Biphasic aggregation pathways of dye 1 , leads to the formation of off‐pathway, metastable Agg. I and thermodynamically stable Agg. II with distinct H‐aggregation spectra and nanoscale morphology. The living manner of the supramolecular polymerization of dye 1 was demonstrated in seeded polymerization experiments with temperature‐modulated successive cooling–heating cycles.     

立体选择活性自由基聚合进展

尽管人工大分子的合成已经取得了长足发展,特别是在多种活性自由基聚合技术出现后,合成大分子的分子量和拓扑结构得到了良好控制,但如果以结构精确、高度功能化的生物大分子为模型来看,就会发现人工大分子的完全裁制合成仍是一个重大挑战。本文首先简述了合成大分子与生物大分子的结构差异,以及合成大分子在活性聚合领域和立体选择聚合领域各自已经取得的进展,在此基础上,专门介绍了近年来同时对合成大分子的分子量、立体结构和区域规整性进行控制的尝试,特别是在立体选择活性自由基聚合领域的进展。     

活性聚合在星形聚合物合成中的应用

星形聚合物在近年来发展迅速,其结构、形态、合成方法与功能性是高分子科学的研究热点。本文主要从活性离子聚合手段与活性自由基聚合手段两方面对星形聚合物的合成方法进行分类,依托星形聚合物的单体选择、星形臂的特性以及整体功能性进行系统阐述,介绍近年来星形聚合物合成方法、形貌控制以及功能性质的最新研究进展。本文结合现阶段最新的研究成果,对星形聚合物在功能与应用之间的广泛前景与联系进行了展望与预测。     

烯烃配位活性聚合研究的新进展

从活性聚合的特征、催化剂的结构和特点、聚合单体的种类、以及控制工艺条件的重要性4个方面．评述了近年来烯烃配位活性聚合研究的进展状况。     

活性聚合和可控／“活性”聚合教学的点滴体会

针对目前<高分子化学>课程中对活性聚合和可控/"活性"聚合的教学比较薄弱的现状,从教学的角度探讨了活性聚合和可控/"活性"聚合的本质和特点,介绍了本人的理解和教学经验.     

Investigation of the Amide Linkages on Cooperative Supramolecular Polymerization of Organoplatinum(II) Complexes

Cooperative supramolecular polymerization of π-conjugated compounds into one-dimensional nanostructures has received tremendous attentions in recent years. It is commonly achieved by incorporating amide linkages into the monomeric structures, which provide hydrogen bonds for intermolecular non-covalent complexation. Herein, the effect of amide linkages is elaborately studied, by comparing supramolecular polymerization behaviors of two structurally similar monomers with the same platinum(II) acetylide cores. As compared to the N-phenyl benzamide linkages, N-[(1S)-1-phenylethyl] benzamide linkages give rise to effective chirality transfer behaviors due to the closer distances between the chiral units and the platinum(II) acetylide core. They also provide stronger intermolecular hydrogen bonding strength, which consequently brings higher thermo-stability and enhanced gelation capability for the resulting supramolecular polymers. Supramolecular polymerization is further strengthened by varying the monomers from monotopic to ditopic structures. Hence, with the judicious modulation of structural parameters, the current study opens up new avenues for the rational design of supramolecular polymeric systems.     

Hierarchy of Asymmetry in Chiral Supramolecular Polymers: Toward Functional,Helical Supramolecular Structures

The formation of helical structures through the supramolecular polymerization of a variety of self-assembling units is reviewed. These scaffolds are usually obtained by efficient transfer or amplification of chirality phenomena, in which the starting self-assembling molecules possess different elements of asymmetry, such as point or axial chirality. Relevant examples of helical supramolecular structures investigated under thermodynamic control are reviewed, and the helical outcome of remarkable examples of chiral entities obtained through kinetic control are also highlighted. Finally, selected examples of flexible macroscopic chirality and catalysis are described to illustrate the applicability of helical aggregates.     

Consecutive Supramolecular Polymerization of a Rylene-Based Twistacene

The synthesis and self-assembling features of twistacene 1 are reported. The supramolecular polymerization of 1 displays a consecutive pathway to afford slipped ( AggI ) and rotationally displaced ( AggII ) aggregates conditioned by the formation of intramolecularly H-bonded pseudocycles. In methylcyclohexane, both AggI and AggII are highly stable and the interconversion of the kinetically controlled AggI into the thermodynamically controlled AggII takes several weeks to occur. The utilization of toluene as solvent changes the energetic level for both aggregates and favors a faster conversion of AggI into AggII within a period of minutes. This conversion can be accelerated by the addition of seeds. Furthermore, concentration dependent kinetic studies demonstrate the consecutive character of the supramolecular polymerization of 1 .     

Successive Synthesis of Regular and Asymmetric Star-Branched Polymers by Iterative Methodology Based on Living Anionic Polymerization Using Functionalized 1,1-Diphenylethylene Derivatives

In order to achieve the successive synthesis of star-branched polymers, we have developed a new iterative methodology which involves only three sets of the reactions in each iterative process: (a) a coupling reaction of a living anionic polymer with 1,1-bis(3-chloromethylphenyl)ethylene to prepare a DPE-chain-functionalized polymer, (b) an addition reaction of sec-BuLi to the DPE-chain-functionalized polymer, followed by treatment with 1-(4-(4-bromobutyl)phenyl)-1-phenylethylene to prepare a new DPE-chain-functionalized polymer whose DPE is separated by four methylene units from the main chain, and (c) a coupling reaction of 1,1-bis(3-chloromethylphenyl)ethylene with the polymer anion derived from the newly prepared DPE-chain-functionalized polymer and sec-BuLi. With this methodology, a series of well-defined 4-arm, 8-arm, and 16-arm regular star-branched polystyrenes as well as 4-arm A₂B₂, 8-arm A₄B₄, and 16-arm A₈B₈ asymmetric star-branched polymers comprising polystyrene and poly(α-methylstyrene) segments have been successively synthesized.     

Concurrent Covalent and Supramolecular Polymerization

Covalent and supramolecular polymerizations, both of which offer their own unique advantages, have emerged as popular strategies for making artificial materials. Herein, we describe a concurrent covalent and supramolecular polymerization strategy—namely, one which utilizes 1) a bis‐azide‐functionalized diazaperopyrenium dication that undergoes polymeriation covalently with a bis‐alkyne‐functionalized biphenyl derivative in one dimension as a result of a rapid and efficient β‐cyclodextrin(CD)‐accelerated, cucurbit[6]uril(CB)‐templated azide–alkyne cycloaddition, while 2) the aromatic core of the dication is able to dimerize in a criss‐cross fashion by dint of π–π interactions, enabling simultaneous supramolecular assembly, resulting in an extended polymer network in an orthogonal dimension.     

Rigid Crosslinked Polyacrylamide Monoliths with Well‐Defined Macropores Synthesized by Living Polymerization

Rigid crosslinked polyacrylamide monoliths with well‐defined macropores have been successfully fabricated by organotellurium‐mediated living radical polymerization (TERP) accompanied by spinodal decomposition. The TERP forms homogeneous networks derived from N,N‐methylenebis(acrylamide) (BIS), in which spinodal decomposition is induced to form macropores. Macropore diameter can be controlled from submicrons to a few microns, and also the obtained networks contain mesopores in the macroporous skeletons, which are collapsed by evaporative drying. They are promising materials with hydrophilic polyacrylamide surfaces and have enough strength to preserve the macropores from the surface tension arising in the repetitive swelling and drying that may occur in many applications.

     

Group 3 Metal Initiators with an [OSSO]‐Type Bis(phenolate) Ligand for the Stereoselective Polymerization of Lactide Monomers

A series of 1,ω‐dithiaalkanediyl‐bridged bis(phenols) of the general type [OSSO]H₂ with variable steric properties and various bridges were prepared. The stoichiometric reaction of the bis(phenols) 1,3‐dithiapropanediyl‐2,2′‐bis(4,6‐di‐tert‐butylphenol), 1,3‐dithiapropanediyl‐2,2′‐bis[4,6‐di(2‐phenyl‐2‐propyl)phenol], rac‐2,3‐trans‐propanediyl‐1,4‐dithiabutanediyl‐2,2′‐bis[4,6‐di(2‐phenyl‐2‐propyl)phenol], rac‐2,3‐trans‐butanediyl‐1,4‐dithiabutane diyl‐2,2′‐bis[4,6‐di(2‐phenyl‐2‐propyl)phenol], rac‐2,3‐trans‐hexanediyl‐1,4‐dithiabutanediyl‐2,2′‐bis[4,6‐di(2‐phenyl‐2‐propyl)phenol], 1,3‐dithiapropanediyl‐2,2′‐bis[6‐(1‐methylcyclohexyl)‐4‐methylphenol] (C₁, R=1‐methylcyclohexyl), and 1,4‐dithiabutanediyl‐2,2′‐bis[6‐(1‐methylcyclohexyl)‐4‐methylphenol] with rare‐earth metal silylamido precursors [Ln{N(SiHMe₂)₂}₃(thf)_x] (Ln=Sc, x=1 or Ln=Y, x=2; thf=tetrahydrofuran) afforded the corresponding scandium and yttrium bis(phenolate) silylamido complexes [Ln(OSSO){N(SiHMe₂)₂}(thf)] in moderate to good yields. The monomeric nature of these complexes was shown by an X‐ray diffraction study of one of the yttrium complexes. The complexes efficiently initiated the ring‐opening polymerization of rac‐ and meso‐lactide to give heterotactic‐biased poly(rac‐lactides) and highly syndiotactic poly(meso‐lactides). Variation of the ligand backbone and the steric properties of the ortho substituents affected the level of tacticity in the polylactides.     

含糖聚合物可控合成研究进展

活性聚合技术的进步,使设计合成结构可控的含糖聚合物成为可能.本文介绍了阴离子聚合、阳离子聚合、原子转移自由基聚合、可逆加成断裂链转移聚合、硝基氧介导聚合、开环聚合和开环易位聚合等一系列可控/"活性"聚合技术在合成含糖聚合物中的应用,并对这一领域所取得的研究进展及现状进行了综述.