Polymer aggregates formed by polystyrene-block-poly(4-vinyl-pyridine) functionalized with rhenium(I) 2,2′-bipyridyl complexes

Some metal containing block copolymers derived from polystyrene-block-poly(4-vinylpyridine) were synthesized. The complexation was achieved by reacting the poly(4-vinylpyridine) block with 2,2′-bipyridyl(tricarbonyl)rhenium(I) chloride in the presence of silver perchlorate. The resulting polymer metal complexes are able to form micelles in different solvent systems. The morphologies were studied by transmission electron microscopy, and the structure of the micelles was found to be solvent dependent.