Preparation of polyrotaxanes and molecular tubes for host-guest systems.

Meeting Abstract: 015-CELL. Linear polymers such as long chain aliphatic alcohols or polyethyleneoxide derivatives form peculiar structures with molecules that contain a cavity, such as cyclodextrins and crowns, named as "polyrotaxanes". Chemical treatments lead to the formation of stable structures called "molecular necklaces" and "molecular tubes" that keep the hosting properties of their precursors, and that can be used to entrap small molecule or ions in their cavities. These products are relevant in the study of several biological structures (ribosomes, membranes, and DNA complexes), and for the development of industrial processes in which the main factor is the removal of an undesired product. We report some studies carried out by kinetics, UV and NMR measurements and on the structure and properties of some molecular tubes and their host-guest systems with small molecules.