Noncovalently functionalized Poly(norbornene)s possessing both hydrogen bonding and coulombic interactions

Random copolymers containing both hydrogen bonding and charged ionic sites have been synthesized by the ring-opening metathesis polymerization of norbornene monomers containing either an ionic quaternary ammonium group or a 2,6-diaminopyridine functionality. All copolymers were functionalized subsequently via self-assembly using hydrogen bonding and Coulombic interactions. The hydrogen bonding interactions between 2,6-diaminopyridine and N-butylthymine were studied in the presence of the ionic quaternary ammonium group and its subsequent self-assembly with three different charged anionic species to investigate the influence of the Coulombic interactions on the strength of hydrogen bonding. It was found that hydrogen bonding was independent of the nature and presence of the Coulombic interactions. These results prove that the studied hydrogen bonding interactions are orthogonal to the Coulombic interactions and that both interactions can be used independently of each other in the same system to noncovalently functionalize polymer backbones.