Self-organization of rod–coil tri- and tetra-arm star metallo-supramolecular block copolymers in selective solvents

Gohy, Jean-Francois; Chiper, Manuela; Guillet, Pierre; Fustin, Charles-Andre; Höppener, Stephanie; Winter, Andreas; Hoogenboom, Richard; Schubert, Ulrich S.

Abstract:

Rod–coil tri- and tetra-arm star metallo-supramolecular block copolymers have been synthesized by bis-complex formation between a u-terpyridine ruthenium(II) mono-complex poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and either a tris-terpyridine or a tetra-terpyridine functionalized conjugated rigid core. This leads to amphiphilic star copolymers in which the tris-terpyridine or the tetra-terpyridine rigid core can be considered as hydrophobic central block and the complexed PEG blocks as hydrophilic segments. The self-assembly of these two metallo-supramolecular star block copolymers has been investigated by dynamic and static light scattering as well as by cryo-transmission electron microscopy in acetone and acetone/water mixtures.

Year:

2009

Type of Publication:

Article

Journal:

Soft Matter

Volume:

5

Pages:

2954 - 2961