Morphological Transformation between Orthogonal Dynamic Covalent Self-Assembly of Imine-Boroxine Hybrid Polymer Nanocapsules and Thin Films via Linker Exchange

Abstract

Orthogonal dynamic covalent self-assembly is used as a facile method for constructing polymer hollow nanocapsules (NCs) and thin films. The bifunctional precursor 4-formylphenylboronic acid is symmetrically installed with a boronic acid group for the boroxine linkage, and an aldehyde group for the Schiff base reaction which can react with twofold symmetry linkers ethylenediamine and para phenylenediamine to attain polymer NCs and nanosheets. Owing to the reversibility of the imine linkages, the mutual morphological transformation between polymer NCs and thin films via an amine-imine-exchange strategy is successfully achieved. Multiple reversible covalent bonds allow the control the release of the load in polymer NCs using different techniques. This may be useful for designing stimulus-responsive smart materials.

Keywords: amine-imine-exchange strategy; morphological transformation; orthogonal dynamic covalent self-assembly; polymer nanocapsules and thin films.