DNA is remarkable because of its highly selective molecular recognition properties and self-assembly behavior. Recent attempts in generating biomimetic synthetic polymers have been flawed by a lack of structural control. To overcome this shortcoming, we generated molecular recognition polymers and copolymers containing a regioselective arrangement of thymine/uracil analogs via Ring-Opening Metathesis Polymerization (ROMP). The ROMP of exo-7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-ene-2,3-dicarboximide was found to fulfill the criteria for a living polymerization. This gave access to polymers with narrow molecular weight distribution and well-controlled architecture. Furthermore, the living character of the reaction allowed for the facile synthesis of diblock copolymers. We have synthesized diblock copolymers containing a small hydrophilic block bearing molecular recognition units and a longer hydrophobic block consisting of long pendant alkyl chains. These copolymers undergo self-assembly into nanoscale aggregates with surface localized multi-point hydrogen bonding sites. Finally, molecular recognition properties of monomers and polymers containing the thymine/uracil analogs were characterized by 1H NMR and HPLC.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:LACETR/oai:collectionscanada.gc.ca:QMM.78343 |
| Date | January 2002 |
| Creators | Dalphond, Jake |
| Contributors | Sleiman, Hanadi F. (advisor) |
| Publisher | McGill University |
| Source Sets | Library and Archives Canada ETDs Repository / Centre d'archives des thèses électroniques de Bibliothèque et Archives Canada |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Coverage | Master of Science (Department of Chemistry.) |
| Rights | All items in eScholarship@McGill are protected by copyright with all rights reserved unless otherwise indicated. |
| Relation | alephsysno: 001984933, proquestno: AAIMQ88178, Theses scanned by UMI/ProQuest. |
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