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Toroid Formation through a Supramolecular “Cyclization Reaction” of Rodlike Micelles
Author(s) -
Yang Chaoying,
Gao Liang,
Lin Jiaping,
Wang Liquan,
Cai Chunhua,
Wei Yuhan,
Li Zhibo
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
angewandte chemie
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1521-3757
pISSN - 0044-8249
DOI - 10.1002/ange.201701978
Subject(s) - micelle , ethylene glycol , tetrahydrofuran , polymer chemistry , toroid , copolymer , polymer , materials science , supramolecular chemistry , peg ratio , dimethylformamide , chemical engineering , chemistry , organic chemistry , molecule , composite material , solvent , physics , plasma , finance , quantum mechanics , aqueous solution , engineering , economics
Constructing polymeric toroids with a uniform, tunable size is challenging. Reported herein is the formation of uniform toroids from poly(γ‐benzyl‐ l ‐glutamate)‐graft‐poly(ethylene glycol) (PBLG‐g‐PEG) graft copolymers by a two‐step self‐assembly process. In the first step, uniform rodlike micelles are prepared by dialyzing the polymer dissolved in tetrahydrofuran (THF)/N,N′‐dimethylformamide (DMF) against water. With the addition of THF in the second step, the rodlike micelles curve and then close end‐to‐end to form uniform toroids, which resemble a cyclization reaction.