Construction of thermally reversible polymer gels by hydrogen bond cross-linking

We previously reported that 2,6-bis(2-oxazolyl)pyridine (Pybox) forms the complexes with secondary dialkylammonium cations at 1:1 stoichiometries. In this report, we present preparation and complex formation of Bzpybox complexes with poly(trimethylene- iminium) salt (PTMI). The complexation of PTMI with bi-functional BzPybox 1 or 2 provides physically cross-linked gels. Dynamic viscoelastic measurements revealed that the gels prepared from 1 and PTMI in acetonitrile had the network structures cross-linked by complementary hydrogen bonds between the cross-linkers and cationic polymers. supramolecular gel physical gelation hydrogen bond sol-gel phase transition cross-linking.