Controlled ROMP Synthesis of Ferrocene‐Containing Amphiphilic Dendronized Diblock Copolymers as Redox‐Controlled Polymer Carriers

Abstract

Novel well‐defined redox‐responsive Ferrocene (Fc)‐containing amphiphilic dendronized diblock copolymers are synthesized by the ring‐opening metathesis polymerization technique using Grubbs’ third‐generation olefin metathesis catalyst as the initiator. These dendronized block copolymers can self‐assemble into spherical micelles in aqueous solution. The size of self‐assembled micelles can be modulated by the composition (namely, the ratio of hydrophobic and hydrophilic segments) and concentration of the dendronized copolymers. The obtained micelles show reversible redox‐controlled self‐assembly behaviors using FeCl3 as oxidant and glutathione as reductant. Furthermore, the model molecule Rhodamine B is successfully loaded in these micelles, and the oxidation‐triggered controllable release is achieved by changing the type of oxidants (FeCl3 and H2O2) and their concentrations. This is the first example of redox‐responsive micelles self‐assembled by novel amphiphilic dendronized Fc‐containing block copolymers, and the present micelles are visualized to be potential candidates in many fields, especially in stimuli‐responsive drug delivery systems.

Supramolecular behaviour and fluorescence of rhodamine-functionalised ROMP polymers

“…The Kruger group 42 stated that the product, endo-8, was obtained but not fully purified, the authors arguing that its purity would not affect subsequent steps. Successful reactions of ethylenediamine with 2, have been reported by other groups but the purification procedures varied from column chromatography [43][44][45] to no work-up at all. 46 For the purposes of this project, it was necessary to develop a work-up procedure to isolate and characterise the pure product.…”

Supramolecular Behaviour and Fluorescence of Rhodamine-Functionalised ROMP Polymer

“…Another paper 42 stated that the product, endo-8, was obtained but not fully purified, the authors arguing that its purity would not affect subsequent steps. Other groups have reported successful reactions with 2, but the purification procedures varied from column chromatography [43][44][45] to no work-up at all. 46 For the purposes of this project, it was necessary to develop a work-up procedure to isolate and characterise the pure product.…”

Supramolecular redox-responsive substrate carrier activity of a ferrocenyl Janus device

“…As shown in Fig. S17, the determined value of critical micelle concentration (CMC) for 11 is 0.447 mg ml -1 using the pyrene fluorescence probe technique [68,77]. In the light of this result, the concentration of 2.0 mg ml -1 were then employed to explore the self-assembly behavior of 11 in water.…”