Supramolecular Star-Shaped Poly(ethylene glycol) Based on a [2 × 2] Grid-Like Metal Complex

摘要

Supramolecular star-shaped polymers are a class of materials that are formed by self-assembly of polymeric precursors. The resulting structures combine the beneficial properties of conventional star-shaped polymers and (reversible) supramolecular interactions. We previously introduced [2 × 2] copper(I) grids of 3,6-di(2-pyridyl)-pyridazine (DPP) as structural motif to form the core of supramolecular star-shaped polymers. In the current work, this concept is expanded to star-shaped poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) by end-functionalization of amine-functionalized PEG with DPP. The synthesis and characterization of PEG-DPP as well as the self-assembly into star-shaped supramolecular polymers upon copper(I) complexation are discussed in detail.