Shape-persistent macromolecular disks from reactive supramolecular rod bundles

We have synthesized a coil-rod-coil molecule based on a reactive rod block that self-organizes into a 3-D hexagonal close-packed (hcp) bundle structure in the melt state. Photo-cross-linking within an aromatic bundle yielded macromolecular disklike objects (molecular weight of 330 kDa) with a narrow size distribution that was essentially the same as that of the supramolecular bundles. In addition, cross-linking proceeded with the retention of the 3-D hcp symmetry of the supramolecular bundles. The 3-D symmetry of the macromolecular objects was observed to recover after their isolation from the solutions and transform into an isotropic liquid in the bulk state in a reversible way, suggesting that the macromolecular objects are shape-persistent in solutions as well as an isotropic liquid phase of the bulk.