Study of Allosteric Polymer Mechanochemistry

The distribution of forces along stretched polymer chains by cooperative or anti-cooperative activation of mechanophores has never been explored since there are current limitations in designing a suitable mechanophore for force distribution quantification and the suitable chemical system for the experimental demonstration. In order to explore this question, a novel mechanophore, stiff stilbene, was designed, synthesized and incorporated into a linear polymer chain. The study aims to assess its force-coupled reactivity using SMFS and use this information to describe the force distribution within a more complex polymer architecture