Dendronized Polymers with Silver and Mercury Cations Recognition: Complexation Studies and Polyelectrolyte Behavior

Abstract

Metal binding properties of a series of worm-like dendronized polymers bearing oxathiaether-based dendrons are reported. Extensive characterization of the complexation properties toward a large range of metal cations showed a high and selective affinity of the polymers for Ag+ and Hg2+ cations. Its origin is explained by the presence of specific M···S and M···O interactions (M = Ag+ or Hg2+) within a cage structure formed by the dendritic moiety. The stoichiometry of the complexation is found to be affected by the degree of steric constraints in the dendronized materials. The effect of Ag+ complexation leads to the appearance of polyelectrolyte/charged colloid properties which were intensively studied by SANS. A significant result is the absence of major modification of the (spherocylinder) shape of the polymers upon Ag+ sequestration which confirms the above mentioned complexation scenario. Another outstanding result of Ag+ complexation is the Coulombic stabilization of the charged denpols that drastical...