Hydrogen-bonded dendronized polymers and their self-assembly in solution

Frechet-type benzyl ether dendrons of second and third generations with a carboxyl group (G2, G3) at the apex site could attach to poly(4-vinylpyridine) (PVP), forming hydrogen-bonded dendronized polymers (HB denpols) in their common solvent, chloroform. The HB denpols show unique self-assembly behavior, forming vesicles in the common solvent under ultrasonic treatment. The structure and morphology of the vesicles were characterized by dynamic light scattering (DLS), static light scattering (SLS), SEM, TEM, and AFM. The size of the vesicles decreases and the thickness of the vascular membrane increases as the molar ratio of Gx/PVP increases. The hydrogen bonding, pi-pi aromatic stacking of the dendrons, and the considerable difference in architecture between the dendron Gx and PVP are the main factors facilitating the assembly of the HB denpols in the common solvent.