Molecular Structuring of Novel Chiral Polymers via Cyclophane-based Monomer Design Strategies

Structuring soft matter with precise control over molecular arrangements, nanoscale morphologies, especially aiming at functional polymers featuring chirality or helicity, responsiveness, and other features, has been a great research objective, which yet remains a challenging task. In this research work, we developed new design strategies for molecular structuring of an entirely new class of chiral polymers based on [2.2]paracyclophane derivatives. The grafting of tunable functional moieties onto [2.2]paracyclophane enables post-polymerization modification, where diverse perspective applications can be envisioned. In particular, chiral vinyl[2.2]paracyclophane and [2.2]paracyclophane-substituted diazoacetate give novel poly[2.2]paracyclophanylethenes and poly[2.2]paracyclophanylmethenes, respectively.