Supramolecular Assembly via Noncovalent Metal Coordination Chemistry: Synthesis, Characterization, and Elastic Properties

Terpyridine-functionalized alternating 1,1-diphenylethylenene (DPE)/styrene copolymers with different chain lengths were used to form metallo-supramolecular block copolymers with hydrophilic poly(ethylene glycol) blocks. In this contribution, the synthesis of new A-[Ru]-B and A-[Ru]-B-[Ru]-A block copolymers is described. The investigation of the mechanical properties and thermal transitions of these materials revealed that the AB block copolymers with different A block length span a large stiffness range. Further characterization includes nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, gel permeation chromatography, and ultraviolet−visible spectroscopy which proved the purity of the materials. Moreover, the formation of micellar aggregates of the amphiphilic block copolymers in water was studied by transmission electron microscopy.