Telechelics having unstrained cyclic ammonium salt groups for electrostatic polymer self-assembly and ring-emitting covalent fixation

A new covalent conversion process using a telechelic precursor having unstrained cyclic ammonium salt end groups was investigated. An electrostatic self-assembly and covalent fixation process, in which temporary stable, but specifically programmed noncovalent structures are constructed through electrostatic interactions with polymer precursors containing ionic groups are transformed into stable products of covalent linkages. The subsequent covalent conversion process has been relied on the ring-opening reaction of the cyclic ammonium salt group by appropriately nucleophilic counteranions occurring at an elevated temperatures. Cyclic polymers containing a simple ester linking group are formed through the ring-emitting covalent conversion using the telechelics carrying a bifunctional carboxylate under dilution. MALDI-TOF mass analysis confirmed the exact structures of the covalently products.