Engineering with metallo-supramolecular polymers: Linear coordination polymers and networks

Here we demonstrate the synthesis of telechelics with different spacer units and different numbers of metal-complexing units, like alpha-methoxy-omega-(2,2':6',2"-terpyrid-4'-yl)-poly(ethylenoxide)(78) (1), bis(2,2':6',2"-terpyrid-4'-yl) di(ethylene glycol) (2), bis(2,2':6',2"-terpyrid-4'-yl)-poly(ethylene oxide)(180) (3) and tris[(2,2':6',2"-terpyrid-4'-yl)-oligo (ethylenoxy-)(3.33)] glycerin (4) utilizing 4-chloro-2,2':6',2"-terpyridine. The complexation behaviour of a variety of metal-salts towards the telechelics was studied and different supramolecular architectures were investigated, such as symmetric polymeric complexes and linear coordination polymers. Furthermore, attempts have been undertaken to prepare metallo-supramolecular cross-linked systems.