Themed collection Molecularly Defined Polymers: Synthesis and Function
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Introduction to molecularly defined polymers: synthesis and function
Jeremiah Johnson, Filip Du Prez and Elizabeth Elacqua introduce the Polymer Chemistry themed collection on Molecularly Defined Polymers: Synthesis and Function.
Polym. Chem., 2022,13, 2400-2401
https://doi.org/10.1039/D2PY90051C
Sequence-controlled and sequence-defined polypeptoids via the Ugi reaction: synthesis and sequence-driven properties
Ugi reaction offers opportunities to facilely access unprecedented sequence control and sequence-driven properties in polypeptoids.
Polym. Chem., 2021,12, 4895-4902
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1PY00658D
Recent progress in the construction of polymers with advanced chain structures via hybrid, switchable, and cascade chain-growth polymerizations
Recent progress of hybrid, switchable, and cascade chain-growth polymerizations for the preparation of polymers with advanced chain structures with diverse compositions has been summarized.
Polym. Chem., 2021,12, 3740-3752
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1PY00274K
Synthesis and sequencing of informational poly(amino phosphodiester)s
The inclusion of main-chain tertiary amines in digital poly(phosphodiester)s allows synthesis of molecularly-defined achiral polymers and simplifies tandem mass spectrometry sequencing.
Polym. Chem., 2021,12, 5279-5282
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1PY01052B
Backbone and side chain-linker tunability among dithiocarbamate, ester and amide in sequence-defined oligomers: synthesis and structure–property–function relationship
The design and synthesis of sequence-defined oligomers with tunable backbones and side chains and their application in material and biomedical sciences.
Polym. Chem., 2022,13, 2450-2458
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1PY01586A
Mechanistic insights into the pressure-induced polymerization of aryl/perfluoroaryl co-crystals
The pressure-induced polymerization of aryl/perfluoroaryl co-crystals offers a strategic route to obtain sequence-defined polymeric architectures, such as diamond nanothreads, that feature a stiff sp3 hybridized backbone.
Polym. Chem., 2022,13, 1359-1368
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1PY01387D
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Well-defined polyacrylamides with AIE properties via rapid Cu-mediated living radical polymerization in aqueous solution: thermoresponsive nanoparticles for bioimaging
There is a requirement for the development of methods for the preparation of well-controlled polymers with aggregation-induced emission (AIE) properties.
Polym. Chem., 2022,13, 58-68
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1PY01432C
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One-pot synthesis of amphiphilic multiblock poly(2-oxazoline)s via para-fluoro-thiol click reactions
A clickable initiator, pentafluoro benzyl bromide, has been investigated for the cationic ring opening polymerization of poly(2-oxazolines).
Polym. Chem., 2021,12, 6392-6403
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1PY00944C
Effect of hydrophilic groups on the bioactivity of antimicrobial polymers
Antimicrobial polymers have recently been investigated as potential treatments to combat multidrug-resistant pathogens.
Polym. Chem., 2021,12, 5689-5703
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1PY01075A
Gradient copolymer prepared from alternating ring-opening metathesis of three monomers
A binary gradient copolymer in which the gradient is comprised of two copolymer dyads (1a-alt-2 and 1b-alt-2) is formed by metathesis of two different strained bicyclo[4.2.0]-amides (1a and 1b) and an unstrained cyclohexene monomer (2).
Polym. Chem., 2021,12, 5613-5622
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1PY00690H
On-demand shape transformation of polymer vesicles via site-specific isomerization of hydrazone photoswitches in monodisperse hydrophobic oligomers
Stimuli-responsive polymersomes exhibited reversible shape transformation upon irradiation with UV or visible light due to the E–Z isomerization of the hydrazone-based photoswitch resulting in a conformational change of the OPLA block.
Polym. Chem., 2021,12, 5027-5036
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1PY00981H
Amino acid acrylamide mimics: creation of a consistent monomer library and characterization of their polymerization behaviour
A novel consistent approach to mimic the structure of biopolymers via precision polymer synthesis with reversible deactivation radical polymerization (RDRP).
Polym. Chem., 2021,12, 5037-5047
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1PY00735A
Green light LED activated ligation of a scalable, versatile chalcone chromophore
Herein we present a photoreactive chalcone moiety that can be synthesized at a scale of several grams with ease, and can efficiently undergo a [2 + 2] photocycloaddition with light close to 500 nm as determined by an action plot.
Polym. Chem., 2021,12, 4903-4909
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1PY00533B
Using nickel to fold discrete synthetic macromolecules into single-chain nanoparticles
Sequence-defined macromolecules were prepared with a thiolactone-based platform whereby ligand functionalities were introduced along the backbone enabling a nickel induced formation of single-chain nanoparticles.
Polym. Chem., 2021,12, 4924-4933
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1PY00229E
Side-chain functionalized supramolecular helical brush copolymers
The construction of a supramolecular brush copolymer featuring a helical backbone is described. The pendant chains are grafted onto the backbone through metal coordination.
Polym. Chem., 2021,12, 4916-4923
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1PY00373A
Crystallization and self-assembly of shape-complementary sequence-defined peptoids
Shape complementarity between polymers is a hallmark of biological systems (e.g. DNA base pairing and protein binding interactions). Here we explore the role of shape complementarity between sequence-defined N-alkyl peptoids in crystal lattices.
Polym. Chem., 2021,12, 4770-4777
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1PY00426C
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Synthesis and self-assembly of amphiphilic precision glycomacromolecules
Amphiphilic precision glycomacromolecules (APG) are synthesized using solid-phase synthesis and studied for their self-assembly behavior and as inhibitors of bacterial adhesion.
Polym. Chem., 2021,12, 4795-4802
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1PY00422K
Effect of polycyclosilane microstructure on thermal properties
Thermal characterization of polysilanes has focused on the influence of organic side chains, whereas little is understood about the influence of silane backbone microstructure on thermal stability, phase properties, and pyrolysis.
Polym. Chem., 2021,12, 4785-4794
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1PY00383F
Magnesium bromide (MgBr2) as a catalyst for living cationic polymerization and ring-expansion cationic polymerization
Magnesium bromide (MgBr2) was found to be an effective catalyst for the ring-expansion cationic polymerizations of isobutyl vinyl ether (IBVE) initiated by a “cyclic” hemiacetal ester (HAE) bond-based initiator leading to the syntheses of cyclic poly(IBVE)s.
Polym. Chem., 2021,12, 702-710
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0PY01584A
Sequence-regulated vinyl polymers via iterative atom transfer radical additions and acyclic diene metathesis polymerization
Iterative ATRAs and ADMET polymerization enabled the synthesis of sequence-regulated vinyl polymers without statistical distribution of monomer compositions and sequences.
Polym. Chem., 2021,12, 423-431
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0PY01564D
Facile C–H iodination of electron deficient benzodithiophene-S,S-tetraoxide for the development of n-type polymers
A C–H iodination reaction of the electron-poor building block, benzo[1,2-b:4,5-b0]-dithiophene-1,1,5,5-tetraoxide has been reported. This facile functionalization has led to the development of two novel n-type donor–acceptor conjugated polymers.
Polym. Chem., 2020,11, 7421-7428
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0PY01292K
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Sequence-defined L-glutamamide oligomers with pendant supramolecular motifs via iterative synthesis and orthogonal post-functionalization
One of the great challenges in polymer chemistry is to achieve discrete and sequence-defined synthetic polymers that fold in defined conformations and form well-defined three-dimensional structured particles.
Polym. Chem., 2020,11, 7393-7401
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0PY01157F
Analysis of cyclic polymer purity by size exclusion chromatography: a model system
Because cyclic polymers have intriguing physical properties, considerable synthetic strategies have been developed to create a wide variety of cyclic architectures.
Polym. Chem., 2020,11, 7354-7361
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0PY01277G
Stereocontrolled, multi-functional sequence-defined oligomers through automated synthesis
In this work, stereocontrolled sequence-defined oligomers were prepared using an automated thiolactone-based platform that allows post-synthesis functionalisation.
Polym. Chem., 2020,11, 4271-4280
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0PY00645A
Discrete multifunctional sequence-defined oligomers with controlled chirality
New synthetic strategy leading to discrete poly(triazole-urethane) oligomers with a large range of functional side groups, programmable stereochemistry and sequentiality.
Polym. Chem., 2020,11, 4040-4046
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0PY00537A
About this collection
This special issue, Molecularly Defined Polymers: Synthesis and Function, Guest Edited by Professor Filip Du Prez (Ghent University), Professor Jeremiah Johnson (MIT) and Professor Elizabeth Elacqua (Penn State University), presents the latest developments in the synthesis and applications of polymers with controlled, defined and/or precise molecular-scale structures. New strategies for the synthesis of synthetic polymers with molecularly defined structures promise to enable a new era of functional materials.
Examples include methods to control atomic connectivity (i.e. sequence control/definition), three-dimensional functional group presentation (i.e. stereochemistry/tacticity), conformation (e.g. secondary or higher-order structure) and combinations of these features in synthetic polymers. These features can impact specific functions such as mechanical properties, self-assembly, information storage or interactions with biological systems.
Articles will be added as soon as they are published.