Programmed folding into spiro-multicyclic polymer topologies from linear and star-shaped chains
Yoshinobu Mato, Kohei Honda, Brian J. Ree, Kenji Tajima, Takuya Yamamoto, Tetsuo Deguchi, Takuya Isono, Toshifumi Satoh
Abstract
The development of precise folding techniques for synthetic polymer chains that replicate the unique structures and functions of biopolymers has long been a key challenge. In particular, spiro-type (i.e., 8-, trefoil-, and quatrefoil-shaped) polymer topologies remain challenging due to their inherent structural complexity. Herein, we establish a folding strategy to produce spiro-type multicyclic polymers via intramolecular ring-opening metathesis oligomerization of the norbornenyl groups attached at predetermined positions along a synthetic polymer precursor. This strategy provides easy access to the desired spiro-type topological polymers with a controllable number of ring units and molecular weight while retaining narrow dispersity (Ɖ < 1.1). This effective strategy marks an advancement in the development of functionalized materials composed of specific three-dimensional nanostructures.