Synthesis of cyclic dendronized polymers via divergent "graft-from" and convergent click "graft-to" routes: preparation of modular toroidal macromolecules.

Cyclic dendronized polymers represent a new class of polymers which exhibit a donut-like "toroidal" shape. Two previous unreported methods for preparing this architecture, the divergent "graft-from" and the convergent click "graft-to" approaches, are explored and the resulting products fully characterized. This route is particularly attractive because it enables production of exact linear and cyclic dendronized analogues, enabling direct comparison of their physical properties.

A versatile and modular approach to functionalisation of deep-cavity cavitands via"click" chemistry.

The surface modification of deep-cavity cavitands has been demonstrated by using the azide-alkyne "click" coupling to attach dendritic macromolecules or linear polymers onto their periphery. The resulting set of macromolecular cavitands exhibited tuneable solubility yet retained the ability to encapsulate guest molecules.

Synthetic approaches for the preparation of cyclic polymers.

Despite decades of studies devoted to the unique physical properties and potential applications of cyclic polymer topologies, their exploration has remained limited because of synthetic inefficiencies and acyclic impurities. Many recently developed synthetic techniques offer efficient routes to well-defined cyclic macromolecules to answer this need. This tutorial review aims to provide a concise overview of the most significant synthetic contributions in this field, and highlight the relative advantages and disadvantages of each approach.

Synthesis of a pH-independent bifurcated amphiphile.

An efficient synthetic method for preparing bifurcated amphiphiles has been developed such that the functionality for attachment is located at the interface between the lipophilic and hydrophilic side chains. Attachment of the amphiphile to the repeat units of polymeric substrates enables the rapid preparation of amphiphilic homopolymers.

An efficient route to well-defined macrocyclic polymers via "click" cyclization.

Polystyrene macrocycles have been prepared from ATRP precursors by modification of the terminal bromide to an azide, followed by "click" cyclization with a pendant alkyne from the initiator. This route offers exceptional control over the size and polydispersity of the macrocyclic polymers, as well as providing tolerance to a number of functional groups.