Healable Glassy Metallosupramolecular Polymers.

Metallosupramolecular polymers (MSPs), formed through ligand-metal coordination, feature dynamic bonds that enable damage repair reversible dissociation. Here, we report the synthesis of healable MSPs by modifying commercially available glycol-modified polyethylene terephthalate (PETG), an amorphous commodity polyester known for its durability, chemical resistance, and formability. The new materials were accessed through the Zn-catalyzed transesterification of PETG with ethylene glycol, end-functionalization of the resulting homobifunctional oligomers with the 2,6-bis(1'-methylbenzimidazolyl)pyridine (Mebip) ligand, and subsequent assembly of these macromonomers into MSPs Zn complexation. One of the MSPs made offers an attractive combination of high tensile strength (31 MPa), high Young's Modulus (1 GPa), and excellent healability (94% in 2.5 min).