Catenanes
Interlocked architectures such as catenanes (two rings interlocked
as in a chain) are of particular interest because they permit the
controlled, large amplitude, movement and positioning of one
interlocked component with respect to another, giving to these
structures unique degrees of freedom. By incorporating such
flexible, or even switchable, linkages into an otherwise covalently
linked polymer backbone, one might expect to induce significant
changes in molecular level flexibility and degrees of freedom,
generating unusual and potentially useful improvements in
properties.
In this project, we are developing strategies to incorporate
catenanes into polymer chains while controlling their number and
their localization. The synthesis of the catenanes is done by Prof.
David Leigh (University of Edinburgh). The synthetic strategies
developed in his group are very flexible, enabling the preparation
of catenanes templated by hydrogen bonds or metal-ligand
interactions, and presenting thus interlocked components with very
different mobilities. Those materials will then be characterized at
different levels, from the single molecule to bulk and solution
properties. This project will enable the assessment of the exact
influence of a topological bond on the properties of a
polymer.
Researchers involved: Anne Vanquaethem
Collaborations:
Christian Bailly
(UCL), Anne-Sophie Duwez (ULg), David Leigh (University of
Edinburgh)