Synthesis of dendronized polymer brushes containing metallo-supramolecular polymer side chains

A new kind of dendronized polymer brush with metallo-supramolecular polymer side chains was fabricated by a combination of macromonomer and graft-to approach. The alternating copolymers of maleic anhydride and styryl macromonomers pendant with Frechet-type dendrons of three generations were reported previously. In this article, terpyridine groups were introduced along the backbone of the dendronized polymers through the amidolysis of anhydride groups. The terpyridine functionalized. PEO linear chains were then incorporated through the complexation of terpyridine and Ru(II) ion. Thus, dendronized polymer brushes with amphiphilic properties were synthesized. AFM analysis showed worm-like single molecular morphologies of the polymers of three generations, and H-1 NMR analysis indicated that such molecular brushes had an amphiphilic nature in solution. (C) 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.