Adv Polym Sci (2013) 261: 155–172
DOI: 10.1007/12_2013_267
© Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2013
Published online: 2 November 2013
Dynamers: From Supramolecular Polymers
to Adaptive Dynamic Polymers
Jean-Marie Lehn
Abstract Dynamers may be defined as constitutional dynamic polymers of either
supramolecular or molecular nature, i.e., polymeric entities whose monomeric
components are linked through reversible connections, which can be either
non-covalent interactions or reversible covalent bonds. They may for example
implement hydrogen bonding, resulting in supramolecular hydrogen-bonded polymers. Alternatively, covalent dynamic polymers may be derived from the formation
of imine-type bonds. Dynamers thus present the capacity to modify their constitution
by exchange and reshuffling of their components. These constitutional dynamic
features confer on dynamers the ability to modulate their properties in response to
external chemical or physical triggers such as heat, light, medium, chemical additives, etc. They thus give access to higher levels of behavior such as self- healing and
adaptation. The exchange of monomeric components defines constitutional dynamic
networks of interconverting polymeric entities of different constitutions, presenting
agonistic and antagonistic relationships between their constituents, and responding
to chemical or physical stimulations by upregulating or downregulating specific
linked entities. Such arrays represent adaptive constitutional networks that may be
implemented for the development of tunable adaptive materials and technologies,
towards the advent of a systems polymer/materials science in line with the emergence of systems chemistry.
Keywords Adaptation Á Constitutional dynamic chemistry Á Constitutional networks Á Dynamic materials Á Hydrogen bonding Á Imine formation Á Supramolecular
chemistry
J.-M. Lehn (*)
ISIS, Universite ´ de Strabourg, 8, alle ´e Gaspard Monge, 67000 Strasbourg, France
e-mail: lehn@unistra.fr
DOI: 10.1007/12_2013_267
© Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2013
Published online: 2 November 2013
Dynamers: From Supramolecular Polymers
to Adaptive Dynamic Polymers
Jean-Marie Lehn
Abstract Dynamers may be defined as constitutional dynamic polymers of either
supramolecular or molecular nature, i.e., polymeric entities whose monomeric
components are linked through reversible connections, which can be either
non-covalent interactions or reversible covalent bonds. They may for example
implement hydrogen bonding, resulting in supramolecular hydrogen-bonded polymers. Alternatively, covalent dynamic polymers may be derived from the formation
of imine-type bonds. Dynamers thus present the capacity to modify their constitution
by exchange and reshuffling of their components. These constitutional dynamic
features confer on dynamers the ability to modulate their properties in response to
external chemical or physical triggers such as heat, light, medium, chemical additives, etc. They thus give access to higher levels of behavior such as self- healing and
adaptation. The exchange of monomeric components defines constitutional dynamic
networks of interconverting polymeric entities of different constitutions, presenting
agonistic and antagonistic relationships between their constituents, and responding
to chemical or physical stimulations by upregulating or downregulating specific
linked entities. Such arrays represent adaptive constitutional networks that may be
implemented for the development of tunable adaptive materials and technologies,
towards the advent of a systems polymer/materials science in line with the emergence of systems chemistry.
Keywords Adaptation Á Constitutional dynamic chemistry Á Constitutional networks Á Dynamic materials Á Hydrogen bonding Á Imine formation Á Supramolecular
chemistry
J.-M. Lehn (*)
ISIS, Universite ´ de Strabourg, 8, alle ´e Gaspard Monge, 67000 Strasbourg, France
e-mail: lehn@unistra.fr