Polymerization and Characterization of Self-Assembled β-Cyclodextrin-Threaded Chiral Monomers

A helical inclusion complex polymer was fabricated through the polymerization of beta-cyclodextrin-threaded chiral monomers. The photo induced polymerization of inclusion complex clusters caused shrinkage of the polymer and decreased the pitches, leading to the disappearance of springlike construction under TEM. From the results of circular dichroism of the inclusion complex polymer, the helical construction was confirmed, and an entanglement of the polymer chains is proposed. After removal of the beta-cyclodextrins from the pendant groups of the inclusion complex polymer, the helical structure was found to be maintained. The highly ordered molecular arrangement of beta-cyclodextrins removed from the inclusion complex polymer was confirmed using POM. Here we demonstrate the fabrication of helical polymer fibers composed of entangled polymers through self-assembled beta-cyclodextrin-threaded chiral monomers. The helical polymer construction was maintained by the entwisted polymer chains even after the removal of beta-cyclodextrins from the pendant groups of the inclusion complex polymer. (C) 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 2975-2981, 2010