Intramolecular Quaternization as Folding Strategy for the Synthesis of

Apr 13, 2017 - (13, 18-20) In all cases, incorporation of pendant reactive groups in the single chain linear precursor is critical to program the fold...
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Intramolecular Quaternization as Folding Strategy for the Synthesis of Catalytically Active Imidazolium-Based Single Chain Nanoparticles Romain Lambert,†,‡ Anne-Laure Wirotius,†,‡ and Daniel Taton*,†,‡ †

Laboratoire de Chimie des Polymères Organiques Université de Bordeaux IPB-ENSCBP, F-33607 Pessac Cedex, France Laboratoire de Chimie des Polymères Organiques Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, 16 Avenue Pey-Berland, F-33607 Pessac Cedex, France



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ABSTRACT: A novel synthetic strategy to single chain nanoparticles (SCNP) based on a previously unexplored intramolecular reaction as a means to autonomously fold a parent copolymer precursor is reported. The latter is a statistical styrenic-type copolymer synthesized by RAFT polymerization and is composed of four different comonomer units, including styrene, grafted poly(ethylene oxide) chains, and antagonist benzimidazol- and chlorobenzyl-based units. The two latter functions are reacted together by a quaternization reaction to spark the folding process, creating imidazolium-based cross-link points. Formation of SCNP with a hydrodynamic diameter