Isothermal titration calorimetry of supramolecular polymers

A method to characterize the self-association of supramolecular polymers by isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) has been designed. Association constants in the range 10(4)-10(6) dm(3) mol(-1) have been successfully determined from the heat exchange occurring when a supramolecular polymer solution is injected into a calorimetric cell containing pure solvent. Very good agreement with literature values has been obtained. Compared to other techniques (such as NMR or Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy), the use of ITC presents several advantages: (i) the enthalpy of association is obtained together with the association constant from the same experiment, (ii) the measurements can be performed in almost any solvent, and (iii) systems with higher association constants can be characterized.