SUPRAMOLECULAR CHEMISTRY OF CASCADE POLYMERS - CONSTRUCTION, MOLECULAR INCLUSION, AND INORGANIC CONNECTIVITY

The construction of cascade polymers with novel properties is discusse d. A flexible amide-based cascade architecture facilitates changes of the molecular hydrodynamic radius as a function of environmental pH, p rovided that the periphery is coated with ionizable functional groups (e.g., carboxylic acids or amines). Thus, it is possible to expand or contract the internal void domains within these cascades. By extension of the heteroatom connectivity, we have prepared a novel multifunctio nal molecule possessing a predetermined spherical morphology, that uti lizes a ruthenium(II) metal center coordinated to two different orthog onal 2,2':6',2 ''-terpyridine moieties to build the arm(s) of the casc ade polymer. This technology permits the placement of multiple metal c omplexes at predetermined internal sites within the hydrophilic-surfac ed Micellane(TM) framework. The combination of these two strategies to build cascade polymers allows the creation of an unsymmetrical bolaam phiphile constructed from two separate and distinct macromolecules. We are able to build cascade molecules either with a terpyridine unit in side or outside the polyamide sphere. The use of a connecting rutheniu m(II) center allows the specific formation of a stable complex between the discrete cascade polymers.