We have prepared metallo-supramolecular systems from linear ditopic ligands on short organic polymer chains with incorporated transition metal ions bound to these ligand termini. These labile metal-ligand interactions convert viscous liquid diamine-terminated hydrogenated poly(ethylene-co-butylene) polymer into photoresponsive viscoelastic materials with the terminal viscosity in the range of the glass viscosity (10<sup>9</sup> Pa s). Utilizing this approach we have created a series of supramolecular polymer melts and studied their mechanical and photo physical properties. We have shown that the photochemistry and photophysical properties of the metal center can be used to control the mechanical properties of the materails, and introduce new optical and mechanical properties not seen in the traditional covalent polymers. In particular, photo-induced metal-ligand bond labilization led to partial depolymerization of the supramolecular assembly, and softening of the materials. When the light stimulus was removed, the material recovered the initial stiffness back. We also investigated structure-property relationships in such systems where mechanical properties of the supramolecular polymers are controlled by coordination environment around metal cross-linking center.

Tuning photochemical and photophysical properties of metallosupramolecular materials

253rd National Meeting (2017)

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