Synthesis and Encapsulation of Uniform Star-Shaped Block-Macromolecules.

Linear uniform oligomers synthesized via a two-step iterative cycle are postmodified with uniform octaethylene glycol monomethyl ether and finally coupled via azide-alkyne cycloaddition to yield uniform star-shaped block macromolecules with a mass ranging from 10 to 14 kDa. Each of the molecules is carefully characterized by NMR, electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS), and size exclusion chromatography (SEC) to underline their purity as well as their uniformity. The obtained star-shaped macromolecules are investigated in their ability to encapsulate dye molecules by carrying out qualitative solid-liquid phase transfer experiments.