Organometallic-polypeptide block copolymers: synthesis and self-assembly of poly(ferrocenyldimethylsilane)-b-poly(\u3b5-benzyloxycarbonyl-L-lysine)

A new type of metallopolymer\u2010polypeptide block copolymer poly(ferrocenyldimethylsilane)\u2010b\u2010poly (\u3b5\u2010benzyloxycarbonyl\u2010l\u2010lysine) was synthesized by ring\u2010opening polymerization of \u3b5\u2010benzyloxycarbonyl\u2010l\u2010lysine N\u2010carboxyanhydride initiated by using a primary amino\u2010terminated poly(ferrocenyldimethylsilane). Studies on the self\u2010organization behavior of this polypeptide block copolymer in both the bulk state and in solution were performed. In the bulk state, a cylindrical\u2010in\u2010lamellar structure was observed in a compositionally asymmetric sample. Rod\u2010like micelles with a polyferrocenylsilane core formed in a polypeptide\u2010selective solvent alone or in the presence of a common solvent. Significantly, an additional small quantity of the common solvent assisted the formation of longer micelles and micelles with better shape\u2010regularity. This is attributed to a decrease in the number of nucleation events and PFS core reorganization effects.Peer reviewed: YesNRC publication: Ye