Synthesis and Characterization of Poly[2]-catenanes Containing Rigid Catenane Segments

• Published in: Macromolecules Vol. 32; no. 6; pp. 1737 - 1745
• Main Authors: Muscat, Dirk, Köhler, Werner, Räder, Hans Joachim, Martin, Kai, Mullins, Susan, Müller, Beate, Müllen, Klaus, Geerts, Yves
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Chemical Society 23.03.1999
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Exact sciences and technology; Organic polymers; Physicochemistry of polymers; Polymers with particular structures; Preparation, kinetics, thermodynamics, mechanism and catalysts; Molecular rigidity; Chemical solution; Ester copolymer; Preparation; Molecular weight viscosity relationship; Amide copolymer; Catenane; Condensation polymerization; Terephthalate copolymer; Experimental study; Thermal stability
• ISSN: 0024-9297; 1520-5835
• DOI: 10.1021/ma981077z

The synthesis and the structure elucidation by 1H NMR and IR spectroscopy, MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry, gel permeation chromatography, and viscometry of two novel poly[2]-catenanes, composed of rigid catenanes connected by semirigid spacers, are reported. The poly[2]-catenanes 4 and 5 differ by the geometry of the catenane units forming kinks between repeat units of angle β ≈ 60° and 150°, respectively. The geometry of the catenane units governs the shape of the molecular weight distribution, the conformational behavior, and the thermal properties of poly[2]-catenanes 4 and 5.