Double-stranded inclusion complexes of cyclodextrin threaded on poly(ethylene glycol)

MUCH attention has been focused recently on the design and construction of nanoscale structures by supramolecular assembly1–5. One of the most promising approaches to constructing nanoscale structures is the use of specific interactions between polymers and receptors, as exemplified by biological systems. Recently, polyrotaxanes—complexes in which several cyclic molecules are threaded on the main chains6–11 or side chains12 of polymers—have been synthesized with crown ethers or cyclodextrins as the cyclic components. Here we report the self-assembly of double-stranded inclusion complexes of poly(ethylene glycol) with γ-cyclodextrin, in which two polymer chains are threaded through the macrocycles. These complexes might be useful precursors to more complex supramolecular assemblies such as polycatenanes.