We are interested in exploiting the readily controlled reversibility of many covalent bonds to access robust materials with dynamic behavior. These dynamic-covalent materials combine the properties of structural integrity with responsiveness and adaptability. We have prepared a variety of polymers that contain readily reversible covalent bonds, including dynamic-covalent branched macromolecules, stars, networks, and other reorganizable polymers. A diverse set of reversible covalent bonds has been considered, and while each of these bonds is sufficiently stabile to be used for constructing or functionalizing polymers, they can also be readily cleaved by heating, adding water (i.e., hydrolysis), or adding a catalyst or reducing agent that shifts the equilibrium from products to reactants. This presentation will focus on our work in the area of dynamic-covalent materials, with particular attention being paid to those composed of boronic or boronate esters. The reversible nature of their boron-containing crosslinks allow these materials to reversibly reconfigure their topology via competitive exchange reactions or by manipulation of the dynamic-covalent equilibrium. In addition to dynamic nanoparticles, network polymers in the solid or gel state have been prepared. By tuning the properties of the polymer matrix and the reversible bonds contained therein, it was possible to prepare materials that demonstrated intrinsic self-healing behavior.

Macromolecular dynamic duo: Combining covalent integrity with adaptability

248th National Meeting (2014)

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