Issue 83, 2017

Supramolecular self-assembly of a polyelectrolyte chain based on step-growth polymerization of hydrophobic and hydrophilic monomers

Abstract

A novel amphiphilic polyelectrolyte (APE) prepared by step growth polymerization of hydrophobic and hydrophilic monomers is shown to have self-assembly structures. The polymerization reaction between citric acid and hexamethylene diisocyanate led to poly(hexamethylene citramide imide) (PHMCI), which was characterized by two-dimensional NMR, vibrational spectroscopies and gel permeation chromatography. Hydrolysis of PHMCI through a ring opening reaction resulted in a polyelectrolyte, poly(hexamethylene citramide) (PHMC) with three key elements of self-organization, i.e., ionizable side chains, hydrophobic groups and hydrogen bonding. PHMC is able to self-assemble to nanoparticles in water with variable hydrodynamic diameters and surface structures. The presence of noncovalent cross-linking of cooperative H-bonding units facilitates the formation of the polymer nanoparticles. The cooperative H-bonding is maintained from pH 5.5 to 10.0, which is verified by quantum chemical calculations. The nanoparticles are highly efficient metal chelators, offering potential as new remedies for metal sequestration in water or soil.

Graphical abstract: Supramolecular self-assembly of a polyelectrolyte chain based on step-growth polymerization of hydrophobic and hydrophilic monomers

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
20 Aug 2017
Accepted
04 Nov 2017
First published
15 Nov 2017
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY license

RSC Adv., 2017,7, 52832-52840

Supramolecular self-assembly of a polyelectrolyte chain based on step-growth polymerization of hydrophobic and hydrophilic monomers

L. Sun, S. Ma, C. Wang, Y. Chi and J. Dong, RSC Adv., 2017, 7, 52832 DOI: 10.1039/C7RA09205A

This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licence. You can use material from this article in other publications without requesting further permissions from the RSC, provided that the correct acknowledgement is given.

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