Size-selective Catalytic Polymer Acylation with a Molecular Tetrahedron.
Chem
; 6(6): 1469-1494, 2020 Jun 11.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-32728651
ABSTRACT
Selective catalysis at the molecular level represents a cornerstone of chemical synthesis. However, it still remains an open question how to elevate tunable catalysis to larger length scales to functionalize whole polymer chains in a selective manner. We now report a hydrazone-linked tetrahedron with wide openings, which acts as a catalyst to size-selectively functionalize polydisperse polymer mixtures. Our experimental and computational evidence supports a dual role of the hydrazone-linked tetrahedron. To accelerate functionalization of the polymer substrates, the tetrahedron (i) unfolds the polymer substrates and/or breaks the polymer aggregates as well as (ii) enables target sites (amino groups) on the polymers to coordinate with catalytic units (triglyme) attached to the tetrahedron. With the tetrahedron as the catalyst, we find that the reactivity of the shorter polymers increases selectively. Our findings enable the possibility to engineer hydrolytically stable molecular polyhedra as organocatalysts for size-selective polymer modification.
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Chem
Ano de publicação:
2020
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Estados Unidos