Ruthenium(II) Ions triggered direct supramolecular polymerization of bis-terpyridine poly(ethylene glycol): New Insights on synthesis and optimization

Abstract In order to obtain linear and high molecular weight Ru(II) coordination polymers, we investigated the reaction conditions for the direct one-step metallopolymerization of bis -terpyridine poly(ethylene glycol) 3 with RuCl 3 in the presence of reducing agents. Here we discuss the direct synthesis method, the optimization and the purification of the water soluble Ru(II) chain extended poly(ethylene glycol). The optimization of the metallo-polymerization was monitored by SEC. For the highest molecular weight Ru(II) coordination polymer 4 obtained in this study, full characterization was performed by 1 H-NMR and UV-Vis spectroscopy as well as SEC proof for the formation and the stability of the designed structure