Chain Architecture Dependent 3‐Dimensional Supramolecular Assembly of Rod‐Coil Molecules with a Conjugated Hexa‐p‐phenylene Rod

Summary: We have prepared hexa‐p‐phenylene based rod‐coil molecules with identical coil volume fractions, but different poly(propylene oxide) (PPO) coil architectures (linear versus dibranched), and investigated their self‐assembling behavior in the solid state by small angle X‐ray scattering (SAXS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) techniques. Rod‐coil molecules with a linear PPO coil showed a honeycomb‐like lamellar assembly of rod segments with hexagonally arrayed PPO coil perforations. In contrast, the rod‐coil molecules with dibranched PPO coils self‐organized into rod bundles with a body centered tetragonal symmetry surrounded by a PPO coil matrix. These results demonstrate that the steric hindrance at the rod/coil interface arising from coil architectural variation is a dominant parameter governing supramolecular rod assembly in the rod‐coil system.

TEM images and schematic illustrations of the self‐assembled structures of rod‐coil molecules with linear (left) and dibranched (right) PPO coils, respectively.     

Poly[(cis‐3‐(ethanesulfonyloxy)‐2‐pinanyl methacrylate)‐co‐(tert‐butyl methacrylate)] as an acid‐amplifying photoresist

Synthesis and characteristics of novel copolymers bearing both acid amplifier and acid‐sensitive units are described. The acid amplifier units in the polymer side chains were acidolytically transformed to sulfonic acid residues, leading to the deprotection of the acid‐labile tert‐butyl ester side chains introduced as a comonomer unit. The copolymer was 3.2 times more sensitive than poly(tert‐butyl methacrylate) in the presence of a photoacid generator and, therefore, provides practical applicability for photoimaging.