Synthesis and characterization of new phenanthrolinetriether copolymers with rotaxane architecture

Abstract

This paper is devoted to the preparation and characterization of new phenanthroline-triether copolymers with rotaxane architecture by reaction of complexes of cior β- cyclodextrin and tri(ethylene glycol) ditosylate with 2,9-di(4-hydroxyphenyl)-1,10-phenanthroline, which is large enough to prevent dethreading of cyclodextrin molecules. Comparative 1H-NMR analysis of tri(ethylene glycol) ditosylate complexes and of rotaxane copolymers evidenced the lower cyclodextrin content in rotaxane copolymers as compared to the calculated values. The rotaxane copolymers present bimodal molecular weight distributions attributed to the separation of the fractions with different content of cyclodextrin threaded on the copolymer chain. As evidenced by thermogravimetric analysis, the rotaxane copolymers show higher thermal stability than its non-complexed homologue.