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A General Concept for the Preparation of Hierarchically Structured π‐Conjugated Polymers
Author(s) -
Frauenrath Holger,
Jahnke Eike
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
chemistry – a european journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.687
H-Index - 242
eISSN - 1521-3765
pISSN - 0947-6539
DOI - 10.1002/chem.200701325
Subject(s) - conjugated system , diacetylene , polymer , materials science , polymerization , nanoscopic scale , nanotechnology , copolymer , self assembly , supramolecular polymers , supramolecular chemistry , polymer science , polymer chemistry , chemistry , organic chemistry , molecule , composite material
Typical biopolymers exhibit structures and order on different length scales. By contrast, the number of synthetic polymers with a similar degree of hierarchical structure formation is still limited. Starting from recent investigations on the structures of amyloid proteins as well as research activities toward nanoscopic scaffolds from synthetic oligopeptides and their polymer conjugates, a general strategy toward hierarchically structured π‐conjugated polymers can be developed. The approach relies on the supramolecular self‐assembly of diacetylene macromonomers based on β‐sheet forming oligopeptides equipped with hydrophobic polymer segments. Polymerization of these macromonomers proceeds under retention of the previously assembled hierarchical structure and yields π‐conjugated polymers with multi‐stranded, multiple‐helical quaternary structures.