Supramolecular polymer interactions using melamine

Abstract

Triple-hydrogen bonding between the imide containing polymers 1a-c and melamine 2 is used to obtain supramolecular interactions between macromolecules. Melamine, known as a compound barely soluble in any organic solvent, is molecularly dissolved in the copolymers 1a-c by meltprocessing. Maximum concentrations of 1 equivalent amount of melamine per 2.5 equivalent amounts of copolymer are obtained, indicating a 3:1 mol:mol superstructure with physical crosslinking by hydrogen bonding. Crystalline melamine is detected by powder diffraction X-ray analysis at melamine concentrations exceeding the 3:1 imide-melamine mole ratio.