Supramolecular polymers constructed by rotaxane chemistry and molecular recognition

Article By:

Tan, Cindy Soo Yun Melville Laboratory for Polymer Synthesis, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.

Liu, Ji Melville Laboratory for Polymer Synthesis, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.

Scherman, Oren A. Melville Laboratory for Polymer Synthesis, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.

Last reviewed:2016

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1036/1097-8542.YB150693

Supramolecular polymers are explicitly defined as “polymeric arrays of monomeric units that are associated by reversible and highly directional secondary interactions, resulting in polymeric properties in dilute and concentrated solution as well as in the bulk.” Recent impressive advancements in supramolecular chemistry have paved new roads for polymer scientists to expand the scope of polymeric materials beyond macromolecular species. Noncovalent interactions, such as hydrogen bonds, hydrophobic interactions, host–guest complexation, and metal coordination, have been employed to design supramolecular polymers to form random and entangled coils. Polymeric systems derived from supramolecular linkages promise novel materials with attractive features, which combine conventional polymer physics with dynamic properties originating from secondary interactions. Not only do supramolecular polymers possess similar mechanical properties to those of plastics and elastomers, they are also endowed with exceptional processability, recycling, stimuli responsiveness, and self-healing behavior on account of their reversible monomer-to-polymer transitions. Designing a controlled supramolecular polymerization remains a highly demanding and challenging area for the scientific community in order to obtain supramolecular polymers with desired structures and properties. See also: Coordination chemistry; Intermolecular forces; Polymer; Polymers through noncovalent bonding; Supramolecular chemistry

The content above is only an excerpt.