Metal Containing Single-Chain Nanoparticles

This chapter focuses on the use of metals to induce single-chain collapse in polymers and in the new functions that arise from the process, with special emphasis on the catalytic potential of this elegant combination. It highlights the beginning of a new field in polymer-based organic nanoparticles. The introduction of metal ions enhances the properties of the single-chain collapsed carriers and imbues the polymers with catalytic and/or sensing abilities. As described in a recent review gaining fine control over the collapsed structure of synthetic polymers for specific functions will definitely be a remarkable achievement. These are exciting times for the scientists “playing” with synthetic polymers and metals in order to understand their behavior and realize their great potential. Polymer collapse was achieved by employing homotelechelic bis-triphenylphosphine macromolecular ligands capable of binding a Pd(II) precursor, resulting in the formation of large cyclic complexes.