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Updated: Sep 22, 2025

Synthesis and Characterization of Supramolecular Colloids
Published on: April 22, 2016
Supramolecular Copolymer Constructed by Hierarchical Self-Assembly of Orthogonal Host-Guest, H-Bonding, and
Peifa Wei1, Xuzhou Yan1,2, Timothy R Cook3
1State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, Center for Chemistry of High-Performance & Novel Materials, Department of Chemistry, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, P. R. China.
Abstract:
Supramolecular copolymers with complex architectures and emergent functions constitute a class of challenging but enticing synthetic targets in polymer science. Individual building blocks can be tailored to endow a resulting supramolecular copolymer with increased structural and functional complexity. Herein, we describe the construction of a linear supramolecular copolymer comprising mechanically interlocked segments with hydrogen-bonding metallorhomboidal units. Specifically, a hierarchical supramolecular polymerization of a crown ether-based [2]rotaxane and a discrete organoplatinum(II) metallacycle driven by 2-ureido-4-pyrimidinone (UPy) quadruple hydrogen bonding provides the impetus for its formation. This system demonstrates enhanced structural complexity accessed by the unification of orthogonal noncovalent interactions: metal coordination, host-guest chemistry, and multiple hydrogen bonding interfaces.
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