AB/ABC/ABCD supramolecular block copolymers from Hamilton wedge and barbiturate-functionalized RAFT agents

Abstract

Two RAFT agents bearing respectively a Hamilton receptor (HR) and barbiturate (Ba) recognition units have been designed and proven to selectively associate. Polymerizations mediated by these CTAs afforded high molar mass tailor-made H-bonding homopolymers and block copolymers. The capacity of the resulting macromolecular building blocks to form sextuple H-bonded complexes allowed for the straightforward preparation of original AB, ABC and ABCD supramolecular block copolymers with relatively high binding constants (K_assoc ∼ 1.59 to 1.95 × 10⁵ M⁻¹ in toluene at 25 °C).