Supramolecular side-chain functionalized polymers: Synthesis and self-assembly behavior of polynorbornenes bearing Pd^II SCS pincer complexes

A new polynorbornene bearing palladated SCS pincer complexes at each repeat unit has been synthesized using ring-opening metathesis polymerization. Small mesogenic molecules possessing nitrile or pyridine-based anchoring units are instantaneously and quantitatively coordinated to the palladium center in one simple self-assembly step giving rise to a densely functionalized polymer. These results suggest that the coordination of mesogenic small molecules onto the polymer scaffold can provide a simple and efficient route to a variety of materials.