Web Release Date: November 6,
Supramolecular Star Polymers. Increased Molecular Weight with Decreased Polydispersity through Self-Assembly
Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 600 South Mathews Avenue, Urbana, Illinois 61801
Received July 21, 2007
Abstract:
A ditopic structure containing two heterocyclic DeAP units and programmed to self-assemble is used as an initiation unit for the synthesis of polylactide and polystyrene. The resultant polymers self-assemble into higher molecular weight structures with a lower molecular weight distribution. The largest discrete nanoscale polymeric assembly is proposed to be a hexameric star with a molecular weight of ca. 92.7 kDa. All polymeric assemblies generally exhibit PDI values of 1.3 to 1.5, which are lower than the PDI value of the corresponding polymeric arms. A hexameric assembly is stabilized by 30 hydrogen bonds, including six AADD·DDAA contacts. The hexameric star is formed under conditions that are at least partially controlled by kinetics.
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