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Sequence‐Mandated, Distinct Assembly of Giant Molecules
Author(s) -
Zhang Wei,
Lu Xinlin,
Mao Jialin,
Hsu ChihHao,
Mu Gaoyan,
Huang Mingjun,
Guo Qingyun,
Liu Hao,
Wesdemiotis Chrys,
Li Tao,
Zhang WenBin,
Li Yiwen,
Cheng Stephen Z. D.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
angewandte chemie international edition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.831
H-Index - 550
eISSN - 1521-3773
pISSN - 1433-7851
DOI - 10.1002/anie.201709354
Subject(s) - sequence (biology) , molecule , polymer , supramolecular chemistry , hydrogen bond , materials science , supramolecular polymers , self assembly , amphiphile , phase (matter) , nanotechnology , chemistry , topology (electrical circuits) , chemical physics , copolymer , organic chemistry , biochemistry , mathematics , combinatorics , composite material
Although controlling the primary structure of synthetic polymers is itself a great challenge, the potential of sequence control for tailoring hierarchical structures remains to be exploited, especially in the creation of new and unconventional phases. A series of model amphiphilic chain‐like giant molecules was designed and synthesized by interconnecting both hydrophobic and hydrophilic molecular nanoparticles in precisely defined sequence and composition to investigate their sequence‐dependent phase structures. Not only compositional variation changed the self‐assembled supramolecular phases, but also specific sequences induce unconventional phase formation, including Frank–Kasper phases. The formation mechanism was attributed to the conformational change driven by the collective hydrogen bonding and the sequence‐mandated topology of the molecules. These results show that sequence control in synthetic polymers can have a dramatic impact on polymer properties and self‐assembly.