Single-Step Expeditious Synthesis of Diblock Copolymers with Different Morphologies by Lewis Pair Polymerization-Induced Self-Assembly

Lewis pair polymerization has demonstrated its unique advantages and powerful capability in polymer synthesis. Here we employ strong nucleophilic N-heterocyclic olefin (NHO) and bulky organoaluminum to construct a frustrated Lewis pair, which can realize the compounded sequence control (CSC) copolymerization and self-assembly the mixture of dimethylaminoethyl acrylate and fluoride-functionalized methacrylate into diblock copolymers (di-BCPs) nano-assemblies through polymerization-induced self-assembly in one-pot, single-step manner within minutes. These di-BCPs were characterized by H-1 and C-13 NMR, GPC, DSC, and TEM. By utilizing appropriate solvophilic block and solvophobic block, such Lewis pair polymerization-induced self-assembly strategy enables the expeditious, room-temperature synthesis of di-BCP nanoparticles with different morphologies, including spheres, worms, vesicles, and even fibers, thus suggesting the great application potential of such method in the future.

Automated summary

Lewis pair polymerization with strong nucleophilic N-heterocyclic olefin and bulky organoaluminum successfully polymerizes and self-assembles two compounds into nano-assemblies. This method enables the rapid synthesis of nanoparticles with different morphologies.