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Phototriggered Supramolecular Polymerization.

Deep Sankar Pal¹, Haridas Kar¹, Suhrit Ghosh¹

¹Polymer Science Unit, Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science, 2A and 2B Raja S. C. Mullick Road, Kolkata, 700032, India.

Chemistry (Weinheim an Der Bergstrasse, Germany)

|October 14, 2016

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Photo-initiated supramolecular polymerization of a naphthalenediimide derivative (NDI-1) forms gels upon light exposure. The resulting polymer morphology differs based on light-induced assembly versus spontaneous aggregation.

Keywords:

chain stoppers gels hydrogen-bonding photo-triggered assembly supramolecular chemistry

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Area of Science:

Supramolecular Chemistry
Polymer Science
Photochemistry

Background:

Naphthalenediimide (NDI) derivatives are versatile building blocks for functional materials.
Controlled polymerization is crucial for tailoring material properties.
Photo-responsive systems offer spatiotemporal control over material formation.

Purpose of the Study:

To demonstrate photo-initiated supramolecular polymerization of an ortho-nitrobenzyl (ONB)-protected NDI derivative.
To investigate the influence of light-triggered assembly on supramolecular polymer morphology.
To explore the mechanism of photo-induced gelation and polymerization control.

Main Methods:

Synthesis of an NDI derivative with an ONB-protected amide group (NDI-1).
Photo-irradiation experiments in methylcyclohexane to induce deprotection and polymerization.
Characterization of polymerization kinetics, hydrodynamic radius, viscosity, and morphology (e.g., using microscopy).

Main Results:

NDI-1 remains monomeric in hydrocarbon solvent until photo-irradiation.
Photo-irradiation triggers deprotection, forming NDI-2 which undergoes supramolecular polymerization via H-bonding, leading to gelation.
Photopolymerization yields spherulitic morphology, contrasting with the fibrillar morphology of spontaneously assembled NDI-2, attributed to ONB-caged pro-monomer acting as a chain-stopper.

Conclusions:

Photo-initiation provides a controllable route for supramolecular polymerization of NDI derivatives.
The assembly mechanism significantly influences the final morphology of the supramolecular polymer.
The ONB protecting group strategy enables light-triggered gelation and offers control over polymer architecture.