Issue 25, 2021

Effect of metallosupramolecular polymer concentration on the synthesis of poly[n]catenanes

Abstract

Poly[n]catenanes are a class of polymers that are composed entirely of interlocked rings. One synthetic route to these polymers involves the formation of a metallosupramolecular polymer (MSP) that consists of alternating units of macrocyclic and linear thread components. Ring closure of the thread components has been shown to yield a mixture of cyclic, linear, and branched poly[n]catenanes. Reported herein are investigations into this synthetic methodology, with a focus on a more detailed understanding of the crude product distribution and how the concentration of the MSP during the ring closing reaction impacts the resulting poly[n]catenanes. In addition to a better understanding of the molecular products obtained in these reactions, the results show that the concentration of the reaction can be used to tune the size and type of poly[n]catenanes accessed. At low concentrations the interlocked product distribution is limited to primarily oligomeric and small cyclic catenanes Image ID:d1sc02450g-t1.gif. However, the same reaction at increased concentration can yield branched poly[n]catenanes with an Image ID:d1sc02450g-t2.gifca. 21 kg mol−1, with evidence of structures containing as many as 640 interlocked rings (1000 kg mol−1).

Graphical abstract: Effect of metallosupramolecular polymer concentration on the synthesis of poly[n]catenanes

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Edge Article
Submitted
02 May 2021
Accepted
18 May 2021
First published
26 May 2021
This article is Open Access

All publication charges for this article have been paid for by the Royal Society of Chemistry
Creative Commons BY-NC license

Chem. Sci., 2021,12, 8722-8730

Effect of metallosupramolecular polymer concentration on the synthesis of poly[n]catenanes

M. M. Tranquilli, Q. Wu and S. J. Rowan, Chem. Sci., 2021, 12, 8722 DOI: 10.1039/D1SC02450G

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