Double-stranded inclusion complexes of cyclodextrin threaded on poly(ethylene glycol)
Abstract
MUCH attention has been focused recently on the design and construction of nanoscale structures by supramolecular assembly1-5. One of the most promising approaches to constructing nanoscale structures is the use of specific interactions between polymers and receptors, as exemplified by biological systems. Recently, polyrotaxanes-complexes in which several cyclic molecules are threaded on the main chains6-11 or side chains12 of polymers-have been synthesized with crown ethers or cyclodextrins as the cyclic components. Here we report the self-assembly of double-stranded inclusion complexes of poly(ethylene glycol) with γ-cyclodextrin, in which two polymer chains are threaded through the macrocycles. These complexes might be useful precursors to more complex supramolecular assemblies such as polycatenanes.
- Publication:
-
Nature
- Pub Date:
- July 1994
- DOI:
- 10.1038/370126a0
- Bibcode:
- 1994Natur.370..126H