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Updated: Dec 23, 2025

Controlling the Size, Shape and Stability of Supramolecular Polymers in Water
Published on: August 2, 2012
Controlling the Length of Cooperative Supramolecular Polymers with Chain Cappers
Gijs M Ter Huurne1, Pongphak Chidchob1, Augustin Long2
1Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology, PO Box 513, 5600, MB, Eindhoven, The Netherlands.
Abstract:
The design and the characterization of supramolecular additives to control the chain length of benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxamide (BTA) cooperative supramolecular polymers under thermodynamic equilibrium is unraveled. These additives act as chain cappers of supramolecular polymers and feature one face as reactive as the BTA discotic to interact strongly with the polymer end, whereas the other face is nonreactive and therefore impedes further polymerization. Such a design requires fine tuning of the conformational preorganization of the amides and the steric hindrance of the motif. The chain cappers studied are monotopic derivatives of BTA, modified by partial N-methylation of the amides or by positioning of a bulky cyclotriveratrylene cage on one face of the BTA unit. This study not only clarifies the interplay between structural variations and supramolecular interactions, but it also highlights the necessity to combine orthogonal characterization methods, spectroscopy and light scattering, to elucidate the structures and compositions of supramolecular systems.
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