Catenanes are a class of mechanically interlocked molecules (MIMs) comprised of interlocked rings in a linear, branched, or radial fashion. Although they have always been interesting synthetic targets, higher order linear catenanes have recently garnered more attention for their potentially useful physical properties. Due to the nature of the interlocked rings, catenanes exhibit unique motions that give these structures additional degrees of freedom; implying increased flexibility, and resilience in materials fabricated from them or materials that incorporate them into a network. Functional crosslinkers in networks have been used to tune the physical properties of soft materials for decades; however, the use of mechanically interlocked crosslinkers is limited, especially catenanes. In this work a [2]catenate and resulting [2]catenane with functional handles were synthesized, and the relationship between the mechanical bond in the crosslinker and the effect on the bulk properties of the resulting hydrogel are reported. The Barnes group has previously reported the synthesis of catenates through orthogonal metal-templation, and similar strategies were applied herein. This synthetic approach allowed the metal to either be removed from the crosslinker before incorporation into the network, or left coordinated to the ligands within the catenane. Leaving the dative bonds intact removes many of the degrees of freedom from the catenane, providing a more thorough understanding of how topological bonds affect bulk physical properties.

Synthesis and incorporation of unimolecular catenane crosslinkers into hydrogel networks

Macromolecular Chemistry: The Second Century

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ACS Spring 2020 National Meeting & Expo

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.