| Abstract
| - A family of poly[(m-phenylenevinylene)-co-(p-phenylenevinylene)]s, functionalized in thesynthetically accessible C-5 position of the meta-disubstituted phenylene rings have been designed andsynthesized: they are essentially poly{(5-alkoxy-m-phenylenevinylene)-co-[(2,5-dioctyloxy-p-phenylene)vinylene]} (PAmPV) derivatives. A range of these PAmPV polymers have been prepared both (1) by thepolymerization of O-substituted 5-hydroxyisophthaldehydes and (2) by chemical modifications carriedout on polymers bearing reactive groups at the C-5 positions. PAmPV polymers solubilize SWNT bundlesin organic solvents by wrapping themselves around the nanotube bundles. PAmPV derivatives whichbear tethers or rings form pseudorotaxanes with rings and threads, respectively. The formation of thepolypseudorotaxanes has been investigated in solution by NMR and UV/vis spectroscopies, as well as onsilicon oxide wafers in the presence of SWNTs by AFM and surface potential microscopy. Wrapping ofthese functionalized PAmPV polymers around SWNTs results in the grafting of pseudorotaxanes alongthe walls of the nanotubes in a periodic fashion. The results hold out the prospect of being able to constructarrays of molecular switches and actuators.
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