Web Release Date: January 19,
Supramolecular ABA Triblock Copolymers via a Polycondensation Approach: Synthesis, Characterization, and Micelle Formation
and
Laboratory of Macromolecular Chemistry and Nanoscience, Eindhoven University of Technology and Dutch Polymer Institute (DPI), P.O. Box 513, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands, and Unité CMAT and CERMIN, Université catholique de Louvain, Place L. Pasteur 1, 1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
Received September 20, 2005
Revised Manuscript Received December 5, 2005
Abstract:
The combinatorial optimization of the reaction conditions of 1,16-bis(2,2':6',2' '-terpyridin-4'-yloxy)hexadecane 1 with RuCl3 under reductive conditions to form supramolecular polymers with a bis-tpy-Ru(II) type
connectivity, utilizing gel permeation chromatography as well as UV/vis spectroscopy as screening tools, led to
an improved understanding of important polymerization parameters. Moreover, the obtained knowledge could be
applied to the designed synthesis of an A-b-B-b-A type supramolecular triblock copolymer utilizing a 
-terpyridine-
-methyl-poly(ethylene glycol) polymer as a chain stopper during the polycondensation-like reaction. The resulting
triblock copolymer revealed a composition of approximately 33 repeat units of 1, outlining the value of the
applied optimized conditions for its synthesis. Furthermore, it was observed that the synthesized triblock copolymer
was able to form micelles in water. Finally, these micelles were investigated by dynamic light scattering, atomic
force microscopy, as well as transmission electron microscopy.
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