Chemical Communication between Organometallic Single-Chain Polymer Nanoparticles

Chemistry. 2020 Dec 4;26(68):15835-15838. doi: 10.1002/chem.202003330. Epub 2020 Oct 28.

Abstract

Chemical communication between macromolecules was studied by observing the controlled single chain collapse that ensues the exchange of a metal cross-linker between two polymer chains. The rhodium (I) organometallic cross-linker transfer from a low molecular weight collapsed polybutadiene to a larger polymer was followed using size exclusion chromatography. The increased effective molarity in the larger polymer seems to be the driving force for the metal migration. Thus, we demonstrate here a strategy for transferring a molecular signal that induces chain collapse of a polymer chain based on non-covalent interactions, mimicking biological behaviors reminiscent of signal transductions in proteins.

Keywords: chemical communication; intramolecular collapse; metallopolymers; polybutadiene; single-chain polymer nanoparticles.

MeSH terms

  • Macromolecular Substances / chemistry
  • Molecular Weight
  • Nanoparticles* / chemistry
  • Polymers* / chemistry

Substances

  • Macromolecular Substances
  • Polymers