Externally regulated switching of topology in polymer metal-organic cage gels

Recently, the merger of polymer networks comprised of flexible polymer chains with comparably rigid metal-organic assemblies, such as metal-organic cages/polyhedra (MOCs) and metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), has received extensive attention. In principle, such materials could combine the advantageous properties of each of these classes of networks. We have studied the properties of polymer networks comprised of telechelic macromers end-functionalized with ligands that form M₂L₄, M₃L₆, M₁₂L₂₄, and M₂₄L₄₈ MOCs. Addition of Pd²⁺ to these macromers produces constitutionally isomeric