Oriented arrangement of simple monomers enabled by confinement: towards living supramolecular polymerization

Yingtong Zong, Si-Min Xu, Wenying Shi () and Chao Lu ()
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Yingtong Zong: Beijing University of Chemical Technology
Si-Min Xu: Beijing University of Chemical Technology
Wenying Shi: Beijing University of Chemical Technology
Chao Lu: Beijing University of Chemical Technology

Nature Communications, 2021, vol. 12, issue 1, 1-10

Abstract: Abstract The living supramolecular polymerization technique provides an exciting research avenue. However, in comparison with the thermodynamic spontaneous nucleation, using simple monomers to realize living supramolecular polymerization is hardly possible from an energy principle. This is because the activation barrier of kinetically trapped simple monomer (nucleation step) is insufficiently high to control the kinetics of subsequent elongation. Here, with the benefit of the confinement from the layered double hydroxide (LDH) nanomaterial, various simple monomers, (such as benzene, naphthalene and pyrene derivatives) successfully form living supramolecular polymer (LSP) with length control and narrow dispersity. The degree of polymerization can reach ~6000. Kinetics studies reveal LDH overcomes a huge energy barrier to inhibit undesired spontaneous nucleation of monomers and disassembly of metastable states. The universality of this strategy will usher exploration into other multifunctional molecules and promote the development of functional LSP.

Date: 2021
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-22827-4

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