Control of Crystallinity and Stereocomplexation of Synthetic Carbohydrate Polymers from d- and l-Xylose.

ABSTRACT: Manipulating the stereochemistry of polymers is a powerful method to alter their physical properties. Despite the chirality of monosaccharides, reports on the impact of stereochemistry in natural polysaccharides and synthetic carbohydrate polymers remain absent. Herein, we report the cocrystallisation of regio- and stereoregular polyethers derived from d- and l-xylose, leading to enhanced thermal properties compared to the enantiopure polymers. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first example of a stereocomplex between carbohydrate polymers of opposite chirality. In contrast, atactic polymers obtained from a racemic mixture of monomers are amorphous. We also show that the polymer hydroxyl groups are amenable to post-polymerisation functionalization. These strategies afford a family

SUBMITTER: McGuire TM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7986207 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature