Polythiophene with oligopeptide side chain: preparation and nano-structure

Abstract

This manuscript describes the first example of nanorods formation of an oligopeptide-modified polythiophene (PTh). The oligopeptide-modified monomer was carefully engineered in such a way to keep both high solubility and the ability for self-assembly. A terthiophene with a clickable side chain on the middle thiophene ring and two octyl side chains on the terminal thiophene rings was synthesised to guarantee the solubility; a tetrapeptide (N₃-GVGV-OMe) was chosen to provide self-assembly capability. The monomer obtained by click chemistry showed both high solubility and the ability to form organogels. The monomer was easily polymerised either in solution state or in organogel state to give the corresponding PTh with oligopeptide side chain. The size of the nanorods could be controlled by adjusting the reaction conditions. The formation of the nano-structure was attributed to the H-bonding between oligopeptide side chain and its interaction with Fe (II) ion.

Keywords::

• self-assembly
• oligopeptide
• polythiophene
• nanorod

Acknowledgement

This work was financially supported by ‘100 Talents Program’ from the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province (ZR2010BZ007).