The Largest Synthetic Structure with Molecular Precision: Towards a Molecular Object

Pushing the limits: A 200A - 10 Da structurally defined, linear macromolecule (PG5) has a molar mass, cross-section dimension, and cylindrical shape that are comparable to some naturally occurring objects, such as amyloid fibrils or certain plant viruses. The macromolecule is resistant against flattening out on a surface; the picture shows PG5 embracing the tobacco mosaic virus (TMV).

Telechelic α,ω-macrozwitterions — narrowly distributed polystyrene chains oppositely charged at each end — were synthesized via anionic polymerization using direct functionalization with the initiator and the termination agent. The resulting products were purified (zwitterion content ≥ 0,95) and characterized with gel permeation chromatography, viscometry, static and dynamic light scattering and small-angle neutron scattering. In unpolar solvents as toluene, the polymeric zwitterions form clusters with molecular weights depending on concentration. In the dilute case, the clusters are relatively small and consist of approximately 8 zwitterions. The structure of these clusters is discussed by…

Micelles of polyisobutylene-block-poly(methacrylic acid) diblock copolymers and their water-soluble interpolyelectrolyte complexes formed with quaternized poly(4-vinylpyridine)

The micellization of ionic amphiphilic diblock copolymers, polyisobutylene-block-poly(methacrylic acid) (PIB-b-PMAA), with a constant degree of polymerization of the non-ionic block ðDPn ¼ 20Þ and various degrees of polymerization of the polyelectrolyte block ðDPn ¼ 100 – 425Þ was examined in aqueous media by means of fluorescence spectroscopy using pyrene as a polarity probe. The molar values of the critical micellization concentration (cmc) were found to be around 2 £ 10 26 mol/l, being nearly independent of the length of the polyelectrolyte block as well as pH (in the range 6 – 9) and ionic strength (# 0.5 M NaCl) while the specific cmc values varied from 20 to 100 mg/l. Small-angle neut…