Miktoarm star polymers via cyclodextrin-driven supramolecular self-assembly

Abstract

We report the formation of a novel class of supramolecular miktoarm star polymers via cyclodextrin host–guest chemistry. Reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer polymerization from difunctional guest- or alkyne-containing chain transfer agents and copper(I)-catalyzed azide–alkyne cycloaddition leads to host- and guest-containing acrylamido polymers, namely poly(N,N-dimethylacrylamide) and poly(N,N-diethylacrylamide). Subsequently, a supramolecular miktoarm star polymer was formed and characterized via dynamic light scattering and rotating frame nuclear Overhauser effect spectroscopy.