Designer Supramolecular Polymers: Unraveling Their Structures and Functions

Abstract

In recent years, significant research efforts have focused on the development of supramolecular polymers that can be achieved through specific host-guest interactions of the repeating units. During the supramolecular polymerization process, molecular recognition events predetermined by the molecular building blocks are highly selective and directional in defining the size, direction, and dimension of the resulting supramolecular polymers. The diversity of supramolecular building blocks ranges from small aromatic units to macrocycles. Recently, the interplay of supramolecular and polymer chemistry has led to the creation of novel supramolecular materials that exhibit intriguing functions such as self-healing, stimuli-responsiveness, and rubber-like elastomeric properties. Currently, the development of practical supramolecular polymeric materials is an ongoing challenge for supramolecular chemists.[1] Our group has developed the structurally unique host-guest complexes such as biscalix[5]arene-C60 complex, bisporphyrin-trinitrofluorenone complex, a bisporphyrin dimer, self-assembled capsule, etc. We have created supramolecular polymers using these unique host-guest structures. In this presentation, I will focus on the recent developments in supramolecular polymers composed of discrete repeating units, as well as novel supramolecular materials produced by the interplay of supramolecular and polymer chemistry. The sequence-controlled supramolecular terpolymer,[2] supramolecular helical polymer,[3] and supramolecular graft polymer[4] will be exampled.

References

[1] a) T. Haino, N. Nitta, ChemPlusChem 2024, 89, e202400014; b) R. Sekiya, K. Harada, N. Nitta, T. Haino, Synlett 2022, 33, 518-530; c) T.Haino, Polym. J. 2019, 51, 303-318.

[2] T. Hirao, H. Kudo, T. Amimoto, T. Haino, Nat. Commun. 2017, 8, 634.

[3] a) T. Hirao, Y. Iwabe, N. Fujii, T. Haino, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2021, 143, 4339-4345; b) N. Fujii, N. Hisano, T. Hirao, S.-i. Kihara, K. Tanabe, M.Yoshida, S.-i. Tate, T. Haino, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2024, 63, e202416770.

[4] a) Y. Tsunoda, M. Takatsuka, R. Sekiya, T. Haino, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2017, 56, 2613-2618; b) N. Nitta, M. Takatsuka, S.-i. Kihara, T. Hirao, T. Haino, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2020, 59, 16690-16697.