Double Dynamic Supramolecular Polymers of Covalent Oligo-Dynamers

Abstract

Double-dynamic polymers, incorporating both molecular and supramolecular dynamic features (“double dynamers”) have been generated, where these functions are present in a nonstoichiometric ratio in the main chain of the polymer. It has been achieved by (1) the formation of covalent oligo-dynamers in which the monomers are connected by reversible covalent interactions and (2) the association of these oligomers through supramolecular interactions (hydrogen bonding). This procedure leads to the formation of an entity that can be seen as a supramolecular polymer of molecular oligo-dynamers. It thus combines two types of dynamic processes that do not simply alternate in the polymeric chain but may be incorporated in various ratios. These non-alternating double dynamic polymers have been generated by sequential construction and the different steps have been characterized by NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry and light scattering.