Supramolecular self-assembly of polypseudorotaxanes in ionic liquid

The polypseudorotaxanes (PPRs) have been prepared by supramolecular self-assembly of β-cyclodextrins (β-CDs) threaded onto the triblock copolymers (Pluronic F127) in an ionic liquid [1-n-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate (bmimPF₆)] with two different manners. Structural characterizations of the assembled PPRs are carried out in detail respectively with XRD, ¹³C CP/MAS NMR, ¹H NMR and DSC techniques. The results obtained indicate a channel-type crystalline structure for such produced inclusion complexes (ICs). Which one will finally be included inside β-CD, F127 or bmimPF₆, is related to the ethanol amount around the initially β-CD/bmimPF₆ ICs. At higher ethanol concentration, F127 may squeeze bmimPF₆ molecules out from β-CD and thread themselves instead into the cavity of β-CD and finally precipitate with more CDs being stacked.