Water‐Soluble Building Blocks for Terpyridine‐Containing Supramolecular Polymers: Synthesis, Complexation, and pH Stability Studies of Poly(ethylene oxide) Moieties

Abstract Poly(ethylene oxide) of various molecular weights ( M n = 3 000, 5 200, 10 000, 16 500 g · mol −1 ) has been modified with terpyridine end groups as building blocks for water‐soluble metallo‐supramolecular polymers. Metallo‐supramolecular A–A homopolymers have been prepared and characterized by complexing the terpyridine units of one selected poly(ethylene oxide) ( M n = 3 000 g · mol −1 ) with the following transition metal ions in their 2+ oxidation state: Fe, Ru, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, and Cd. In addition, the stability of the supramolecular connection with respect to pH variations has been investigated. Schematic representation of the product of poly(ethylene oxide) modification with terpyridine end groups and the metal complexation. magnified image Schematic representation of the product of poly(ethylene oxide) modification with terpyridine end groups and the metal complexation.