A supramolecular miktoarm star polymer based on porphyrin metal complexation in water

Abstract

A novel supramolecular miktoarm star polymer was successfully constructed in water from a pyridine end-decorated polymer (Py-PmDEGA) and a metalloporphyrin based star polymer (ZnTPP-(PEG)₄) via metal–ligand coordination. The Py-PmDEGA moiety was prepared via a combination of reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer polymerization (RAFT) and subsequent aminolysis and Michael addition reactions to introduce the pyridine end-group. The ZnTPP(PEG)₄ star-polymer was synthesized by the reaction between tetrakis(p-hydroxyphenyl)porphyrin and toluenesulfonyl-PEG, followed by insertion of a zinc ion into the porphyrin core. The formation of a well-defined supramolecular AB₄-type miktoarm star polymer was unambiguously demonstrated via UV-Vis spectroscopic titration, isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) and diffusion ordered NMR spectroscopy (DOSY).