2026/06/09 by Jinlei Zhou, Wensen Chen, Zengquan Tian +12 · 1 voice
Chemistry · #Advanced Polymer Synthesis and Characterization #Crystallography and molecular interactions #Supramolecular Chemistry and Complexes
paper · doi:10.1021/jacs.5c16555
openalex publication_date 2026/06/09 · openalex created_date 2026/06/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/06/25
Mechanically interlocked polymers (MIPs) offer unconventional architectures that expand the design space of polymer chemistry, making them an emerging focus of polymer and supramolecular science. Yet their synthesis still lacks the precision and control established in conventional polymer chemistry. We report a living ring-opening polymerization that enables controlled construction of topologically diverse polyrotaxanes from two monomers─[2]catenanes and c [1]daisy chains. The method delivers main-chain and daisy-chain architectures with predictable molecular weights, narrow dispersities ( Đ ≤ 1.19), and block copolymer access. Comparative studies reveal topology-dependent reactivity, underscoring the role of conformational constraints in polymerization kinetics. This unified route establishes a versatile platform for programmable MIP synthesis, bridging molecular topology with materials design and paving the way for next-generation mechanically bonded polymers.