Supramolecular Side-Chain Functionalized Polymers: Synthesis and Self-Assembly Behavior of Polynorbornenes Bearing Pd^II SCS Pincer Complexes

Abstract

A new polynorbornene bearing palladated SCS pincer complexes at each repeat unit has been synthesized using ring-opening metathesis polymerization. Small mesogenic molecules possessing nitrile or pyridine-based anchoring units are instantaneously and quantitatively coordinated to the palladium center in one simple self-assembly step giving rise to a densely functionalized polymer. These results suggest that the coordination of mesogenic small molecules onto the polymer scaffold can provide a simple and efficient route to a variety of materials.