1. Cyclic polymers: Encapsulation of
hydrocarbons for petroleum remediation
Scott M. Grayson, Department of Chemistry, Tulane University
New Orleans, LA 70118
● Dendronized cyclic polymers enable modular preparation of carriers with control of ring circumference (polymer chain length) and rigidity (dendrimer generation) as well as solubility
● Nonpolar core yet water soluble periphery enables effective encapsulation of hydrocarbons in aqueous solutions
Hydrophilic Corona
Hydrophobic Core
Pyrene
● Molecular modeling confirms rigid cyclic core with large void
MOE
molecular modeling
● Linear dependence of guest solubility with host concentration suggests polymers act as unimolecular micelles, effective even at high dilution
Structure of dendronized cyclic polymer
● Future studies to investigate linear side chains and quantify relative encapsulation capacities