Dynamers: From supramolecular polymers to adaptive dynamic polymers

Abstract

Dynamers may be defined as constitutional dynamic polymers of either supramolecular or molecular nature, i.e., polymeric entities whose monomeric components are linked through reversible connections, which can be either non-covalent interactions or reversible covalent bonds. They may for example implement hydrogen bonding, resulting in supramolecular hydrogen-bonded polymers. Alternatively, covalent dynamic polymers may be derived from the formation of imine-type bonds. Dynamers thus present the capacity to modify their constitution by exchange and reshuffling of their components. These constitutional dynamic features confer on dynamers the ability to modulate their properties in response to external chemical or physical triggers such as heat, light, medium, chemical additives, etc. They thus give access to higher levels of behavior such as self- healing and adaptation. The exchange of monomeric components defines constitutional dynamic networks of interconverting polymeric entities of different constitutions, presenting agonistic and antagonistic relationships between their constituents, and responding to chemical or physical stimulations by upregulating or downregulating specific linked entities. Such arrays represent adaptive constitutional networks that may be implemented for the development of tunable adaptive materials and technologies, towards the advent of a systems polymer/materials science in line with the emergence of systems chemistry. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2013.