β-1,3-Glucan (Schyzophyllan) Can Act as a One-Dimensional Host for Creating Chirally Twisted Poly(p-phenylene Ethynylene)

Abstract

It has been demonstrated that a chiral, insulated poly(p-phenylene ethynylene) (PPE) nano-wire can be created by a polymer wrapping method utilizing natural β-1,3-glucan polysaccharide schizophyllan (SPG). Spectroscopic and microscopic measurements have revealed that PPE adopts a rigid conformation and exists as one piece in the helical hollow constructed by two SPG chains. Moreover, the inherent helical structure of SPG can induce the chiral twisting of the insulated PPE backbone. It is believed that the present system is really applicable for designing novel chiral sensors based on PPE.

Keywords:

• Polysaccharide
• Conjugated polymer
• Insulated polymer
• Chiral sensor

Acknowledgements

We thank Mitsui Sugar Co., Japan, for providing the schizophyllan samples. This work was supported by The Japan Science and Technology Corporation, SORST Project, a Grant-in-Aid for the 21st Century COE Program “Functional Innovation of Molecular Informatics” from the MEXT and a Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research S (15105004).