Themed collection Molecularly Defined Polymers: Synthesis and Function

25 items
Editorial

Introduction to molecularly defined polymers: synthesis and function

Jeremiah Johnson, Filip Du Prez and Elizabeth Elacqua introduce the Polymer Chemistry themed collection on Molecularly Defined Polymers: Synthesis and Function.

Graphical abstract: Introduction to molecularly defined polymers: synthesis and function
Minireview

Sequence-controlled and sequence-defined polypeptoids via the Ugi reaction: synthesis and sequence-driven properties

Ugi reaction offers opportunities to facilely access unprecedented sequence control and sequence-driven properties in polypeptoids.

Graphical abstract: Sequence-controlled and sequence-defined polypeptoids via the Ugi reaction: synthesis and sequence-driven properties
Minireview

Recent progress in the construction of polymers with advanced chain structures via hybrid, switchable, and cascade chain-growth polymerizations

Recent progress of hybrid, switchable, and cascade chain-growth polymerizations for the preparation of polymers with advanced chain structures with diverse compositions has been summarized.

Graphical abstract: Recent progress in the construction of polymers with advanced chain structures via hybrid, switchable, and cascade chain-growth polymerizations
Communication

Synthesis and sequencing of informational poly(amino phosphodiester)s

The inclusion of main-chain tertiary amines in digital poly(phosphodiester)s allows synthesis of molecularly-defined achiral polymers and simplifies tandem mass spectrometry sequencing.

Graphical abstract: Synthesis and sequencing of informational poly(amino phosphodiester)s
Paper

Backbone and side chain-linker tunability among dithiocarbamate, ester and amide in sequence-defined oligomers: synthesis and structure–property–function relationship

The design and synthesis of sequence-defined oligomers with tunable backbones and side chains and their application in material and biomedical sciences.

Graphical abstract: Backbone and side chain-linker tunability among dithiocarbamate, ester and amide in sequence-defined oligomers: synthesis and structure–property–function relationship
Paper

Mechanistic insights into the pressure-induced polymerization of aryl/perfluoroaryl co-crystals

The pressure-induced polymerization of aryl/perfluoroaryl co-crystals offers a strategic route to obtain sequence-defined polymeric architectures, such as diamond nanothreads, that feature a stiff sp3 hybridized backbone.

Graphical abstract: Mechanistic insights into the pressure-induced polymerization of aryl/perfluoroaryl co-crystals
Open Access Paper

Well-defined polyacrylamides with AIE properties via rapid Cu-mediated living radical polymerization in aqueous solution: thermoresponsive nanoparticles for bioimaging

There is a requirement for the development of methods for the preparation of well-controlled polymers with aggregation-induced emission (AIE) properties.

Graphical abstract: Well-defined polyacrylamides with AIE properties via rapid Cu-mediated living radical polymerization in aqueous solution: thermoresponsive nanoparticles for bioimaging
Open Access Paper

One-pot synthesis of amphiphilic multiblock poly(2-oxazoline)s via para-fluoro-thiol click reactions

A clickable initiator, pentafluoro benzyl bromide, has been investigated for the cationic ring opening polymerization of poly(2-oxazolines).

Graphical abstract: One-pot synthesis of amphiphilic multiblock poly(2-oxazoline)s via para-fluoro-thiol click reactions
Paper

Effect of hydrophilic groups on the bioactivity of antimicrobial polymers

Antimicrobial polymers have recently been investigated as potential treatments to combat multidrug-resistant pathogens.

Graphical abstract: Effect of hydrophilic groups on the bioactivity of antimicrobial polymers
Paper

Gradient copolymer prepared from alternating ring-opening metathesis of three monomers

A binary gradient copolymer in which the gradient is comprised of two copolymer dyads (1a-alt-2 and 1b-alt-2) is formed by metathesis of two different strained bicyclo[4.2.0]-amides (1a and 1b) and an unstrained cyclohexene monomer (2).

Graphical abstract: Gradient copolymer prepared from alternating ring-opening metathesis of three monomers
Paper

On-demand shape transformation of polymer vesicles via site-specific isomerization of hydrazone photoswitches in monodisperse hydrophobic oligomers

Stimuli-responsive polymersomes exhibited reversible shape transformation upon irradiation with UV or visible light due to the EZ isomerization of the hydrazone-based photoswitch resulting in a conformational change of the OPLA block.

Graphical abstract: On-demand shape transformation of polymer vesicles via site-specific isomerization of hydrazone photoswitches in monodisperse hydrophobic oligomers
Paper

Amino acid acrylamide mimics: creation of a consistent monomer library and characterization of their polymerization behaviour

A novel consistent approach to mimic the structure of biopolymers via precision polymer synthesis with reversible deactivation radical polymerization (RDRP).

Graphical abstract: Amino acid acrylamide mimics: creation of a consistent monomer library and characterization of their polymerization behaviour
Paper

Green light LED activated ligation of a scalable, versatile chalcone chromophore

Herein we present a photoreactive chalcone moiety that can be synthesized at a scale of several grams with ease, and can efficiently undergo a [2 + 2] photocycloaddition with light close to 500 nm as determined by an action plot.

Graphical abstract: Green light LED activated ligation of a scalable, versatile chalcone chromophore
Paper

Using nickel to fold discrete synthetic macromolecules into single-chain nanoparticles

Sequence-defined macromolecules were prepared with a thiolactone-based platform whereby ligand functionalities were introduced along the backbone enabling a nickel induced formation of single-chain nanoparticles.

Graphical abstract: Using nickel to fold discrete synthetic macromolecules into single-chain nanoparticles
Paper

Side-chain functionalized supramolecular helical brush copolymers

The construction of a supramolecular brush copolymer featuring a helical backbone is described. The pendant chains are grafted onto the backbone through metal coordination.

Graphical abstract: Side-chain functionalized supramolecular helical brush copolymers
Paper

Crystallization and self-assembly of shape-complementary sequence-defined peptoids

Shape complementarity between polymers is a hallmark of biological systems (e.g. DNA base pairing and protein binding interactions). Here we explore the role of shape complementarity between sequence-defined N-alkyl peptoids in crystal lattices.

Graphical abstract: Crystallization and self-assembly of shape-complementary sequence-defined peptoids
Open Access Paper

Synthesis and self-assembly of amphiphilic precision glycomacromolecules

Amphiphilic precision glycomacromolecules (APG) are synthesized using solid-phase synthesis and studied for their self-assembly behavior and as inhibitors of bacterial adhesion.

Graphical abstract: Synthesis and self-assembly of amphiphilic precision glycomacromolecules
Paper

Effect of polycyclosilane microstructure on thermal properties

Thermal characterization of polysilanes has focused on the influence of organic side chains, whereas little is understood about the influence of silane backbone microstructure on thermal stability, phase properties, and pyrolysis.

Graphical abstract: Effect of polycyclosilane microstructure on thermal properties
Paper

Magnesium bromide (MgBr2) as a catalyst for living cationic polymerization and ring-expansion cationic polymerization

Magnesium bromide (MgBr2) was found to be an effective catalyst for the ring-expansion cationic polymerizations of isobutyl vinyl ether (IBVE) initiated by a “cyclic” hemiacetal ester (HAE) bond-based initiator leading to the syntheses of cyclic poly(IBVE)s.

Graphical abstract: Magnesium bromide (MgBr2) as a catalyst for living cationic polymerization and ring-expansion cationic polymerization
Paper

Sequence-regulated vinyl polymers via iterative atom transfer radical additions and acyclic diene metathesis polymerization

Iterative ATRAs and ADMET polymerization enabled the synthesis of sequence-regulated vinyl polymers without statistical distribution of monomer compositions and sequences.

Graphical abstract: Sequence-regulated vinyl polymers via iterative atom transfer radical additions and acyclic diene metathesis polymerization
Paper

Facile C–H iodination of electron deficient benzodithiophene-S,S-tetraoxide for the development of n-type polymers

A C–H iodination reaction of the electron-poor building block, benzo[1,2-b:4,5-b0]-dithiophene-1,1,5,5-tetraoxide has been reported. This facile functionalization has led to the development of two novel n-type donor–acceptor conjugated polymers.

Graphical abstract: Facile C–H iodination of electron deficient benzodithiophene-S,S-tetraoxide for the development of n-type polymers
Open Access Paper

Sequence-defined L-glutamamide oligomers with pendant supramolecular motifs via iterative synthesis and orthogonal post-functionalization

One of the great challenges in polymer chemistry is to achieve discrete and sequence-defined synthetic polymers that fold in defined conformations and form well-defined three-dimensional structured particles.

Graphical abstract: Sequence-defined l-glutamamide oligomers with pendant supramolecular motifs via iterative synthesis and orthogonal post-functionalization
Paper

Analysis of cyclic polymer purity by size exclusion chromatography: a model system

Because cyclic polymers have intriguing physical properties, considerable synthetic strategies have been developed to create a wide variety of cyclic architectures.

Graphical abstract: Analysis of cyclic polymer purity by size exclusion chromatography: a model system
Paper

Stereocontrolled, multi-functional sequence-defined oligomers through automated synthesis

In this work, stereocontrolled sequence-defined oligomers were prepared using an automated thiolactone-based platform that allows post-synthesis functionalisation.

Graphical abstract: Stereocontrolled, multi-functional sequence-defined oligomers through automated synthesis
Paper

Discrete multifunctional sequence-defined oligomers with controlled chirality

New synthetic strategy leading to discrete poly(triazole-urethane) oligomers with a large range of functional side groups, programmable stereochemistry and sequentiality.

Graphical abstract: Discrete multifunctional sequence-defined oligomers with controlled chirality
25 items

About this collection

This special issue, Molecularly Defined Polymers: Synthesis and Function, Guest Edited by Professor Filip Du Prez (Ghent University), Professor Jeremiah Johnson (MIT) and Professor Elizabeth Elacqua (Penn State University), presents the latest developments in the synthesis and applications of polymers with controlled, defined and/or precise molecular-scale structures. New strategies for the synthesis of synthetic polymers with molecularly defined structures promise to enable a new era of functional materials.

Examples include methods to control atomic connectivity (i.e. sequence control/definition), three-dimensional functional group presentation (i.e. stereochemistry/tacticity), conformation (e.g. secondary or higher-order structure) and combinations of these features in synthetic polymers. These features can impact specific functions such as mechanical properties, self-assembly, information storage or interactions with biological systems.

Articles will be added as soon as they are published.

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