Versatile nanostructured materials via direct reaction of functionalized catechols

A facile one-step polymerization strategy is explored to achieve novel catechol-based materials. Depending on the functionality of the catechol, the as-prepared product can be used to modify at will the surface tension of nano and bulk structures, from oleo-/hydrophobic to highly hydrophilic. A hydrophobic catechol prepared thus polymerized shows the ability to self-assemble as solid nanoparticles with sticky properties in polar solvent media. Such a versatile concept is ideal for the development of catechol-based multifunctional materials. Copyright © 2013 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.This work was supported by MICINN through projects MAT2012-38318-C03-02, MAT2012-38319-C02-01, CTQ2012-30853 and CTQ2009-07469. We are also grateful to Generalitat de Catalunya for project 2010VALOR00039.Peer Reviewe