Abstract: The invention provides a polymerizable composition and a hydrogel obtained or obtainable from the polymerizable composition. The polymerizable composition comprises cucurbituril and a first monomer having a guest for the cucurbituril, wherein the total monomer concentration, Cmon, within the polymerizable composition is at least 0.5 M. The composition may be an aqueous composition.

Abstract: The invention provides a polymerizable composition and a hydrogel obtained or obtainable from the polymerizable composition. The polymerizable composition comprises cucurbituril and a first monomer having a guest for the cucurbituril, wherein the total monomer concentration, Cmon, within the polymerizable composition is at least 0.5 M. The composition may be an aqueous composition.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are compositions of a deep eutectic solvent with a host, such as a supramolecular host, and the use of the composition to form a composition comprising the host in complex with one or more guests. The deep eutectic solvent provides an alternative medium to the aqueous-based media that have been used in the art to date. Also disclosed are compositions of a deep eutectic solvent with a redox-active compound, such as a viologen compound, and the use of the composition, for example, in a smart window or for agricultural use, such as in an agricultural product.

Abstract: The invention provides hydrogel, wherein the hydrogel has a supramolecular cross-linked network obtainable or obtained from the complexation of an aqueous composition including a host, such as cucurbituril, and one or more polymers having suitable guest functionality. One or more polymers in the aqueous composition may have a molecular weight of 50 kDa or more, such as 200 kDa or more. The hydrogel may hold a component, such as a therapeutic compound or a biological molecule. The hydrogels are suitable for use in medicine.

Abstract: The invention provides a polymerizable composition and a hydrogel obtained or obtainable from the polymerizable composition. The polymerizable composition comprises cucurbituril and a first monomer having a guest for the cucurbituril, wherein the total monomer concentration, Cmon, within the polymerizable composition is at least 0.5 M. The composition may be an aqueous composition.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are compositions of a deep eutectic solvent with a host, such as a supramolecular host, and the use of the composition to form a composition comprising the host in complex with one or more guests. The deep eutectic solvent provides an alternative medium to the aqueous-based media that have been used in the art to date. Also disclosed are compositions of a deep eutectic solvent with a redox-active compound, such as a viologen compound, and the use of the composition, for example, in a smart window or for agricultural use, such as in an agricultural product.

Abstract: The invention provides a polymerizable composition and a hydrogel obtained or obtainable from the polymerizable composition. The polymerizable composition comprises cucurbituril and a first monomer having a guest for the cucurbituril, wherein the total monomer concentration, Cmon, within the polymerizable composition is at least 0.5 M. The composition may be an aqueous composition.

Abstract: A nested capsule having a first capsule held within a second capsule. Each of the first and second capsules has a shell that is a supramolecular cross-linked network, such as a cucurbituril supramolecular cross-linked network. Each capsule shell is obtained or is obtainable from the complexation of a composition including a host, such as cucurbituril, and one or more building blocks having suitable guest functionality for the host, thereby to form a supramolecular cross-linked network. The nested capsules are suitable for delivering and selectively releasing an encapsulant at a location.

Abstract: We describe a method of storing a gas, in particular hydrogen, comprising: providing a polymer sponge, wherein said polymer sponge comprises a plurality of catalytic nanoparticles; providing a solution of reactants, catalyzed by said nanoparticles to produce said gas; absorbing said solution into said polymer sponge such that said reactants react within said polymer sponge to produce said gas; wherein said gas is held within said polymer sponge; and wherein said polymer sponge comprises a thermally responsive polymer having a volume which reduces with a change in temperature, such that said gas held within said polymer is extractable by changing a temperature of said polymer sponge.

Abstract: We describe a method of storing a gas, in particular hydrogen, comprising: providing a polymer sponge, wherein said polymer sponge comprises a plurality of catalytic nanoparticles; providing a solution of reactants, catalysed by said nanoparticles to produce said gas; absorbing said solution into said polymer sponge such that said reactants react within said polymer sponge to produce said gas; wherein said gas is held within said polymer sponge; and wherein said polymer sponge comprises a thermally responsive polymer having a volume which reduces with a change in temperature, such that said gas held within said polymer is extractable by changing a temperature of said polymer sponge.

Abstract: A nested capsule having a first capsule held within a second capsule. Each of the first and second capsules has a shell that is a supramolecular cross-linked network, such as a cucurbituril supramolecular cross-linked network. Each capsule shell is obtained or is obtainable from the complexation of a composition including a host, such as cucurbituril, and one or more building blocks having suitable guest functionality for the host, thereby to form a supramolecular cross-linked network. The nested capsules are suitable for delivering and selectively releasing an encapsulant at a location.

Abstract: The invention provides hydrogel, wherein the hydrogel has a supramolecular cross-linked network obtainable or obtained from the complexation of an aqueous composition including a host, such as cucurbituril, and one or more polymers having suitable guest functionality. One or more polymers in the aqueous composition may have a molecular weight of 50 kDa or more, such as 200 kDa or more. The hydrogel may hold a component, such as a therapeutic compound or a biological molecule. The hydrogels are suitable for use in medicine.

Abstract: A wellbore fluid contains a viscosifying polymer in which portions of the polymer are connected through formation of an inclusion complex involving cucurbituril 8 (i.e. CB[8]) as host molecule. The fluid contains guest molecules with first and second guest groups covalently attached wherein at least one of the guest molecules comprises a polymer chain. The CB[8] host and the guest molecules attach together through reception of first and second guest groups within CB[8] host cavities, thereby connecting polymer chains together as a larger, supramolecular polymer and enhancing viscosity of the fluid. Polymer molecules may be synthetic polymers and guest groups may be attached to monomers before polymerization. Alternatively guest groups may be attached to existing polymers which may be polysaccharide.

Abstract: A wellbore fluid contains a viscosifying polymer in which portions of the polymer are connected through formation of an inclusion complex involving cucurbituril 8 (i.e. CB[8]) as host molecule. The fluid contains guest molecules with first and second guest groups covalently attached wherein at least one of the guest molecules comprises a polymer chain. The CB [8] host and the guest molecules attach together through reception of first and second guest groups within CB[8] host cavities, thereby connecting polymer chains together as a larger, supramolecular polymer and enhancing viscosity of the fluid. Polymer molecules may be synthetic polymers and guest groups may be attached to monomers before polymerization. Alternatively guest groups may be attached to existing polymers which may be polysaccharide.

Abstract: A method is provided for synthesizing a polymer in a controlled fashion using a ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) reaction, wherein polymerization is carried out using a catalytically effective amount of an olefin metathesis catalyst and a bridged bicyclic or polycyclic olefin monomer that contains at least two heteroatoms directly or indirectly linked to each other. Preferred catalysts are Group 8 transition metal complexes, particularly complexes of Ru and Os. Such complexes include the ruthenium bisphosphine complex (PCy3)2(Cl)2Ru?CHPh (1) and the ruthenium carbene complex (IMesH2)(PCy3)(Cl)2Ru?CHPh (2). The invention also provides novel regioregular polymers synthesized using the aforementioned methodology, wherein the polymers may be saturated, unsaturated, protected, and/or telechelic. An exemplary polymer is poly((vinyl alcohol)2-alt-methylene)(MVOH).

Abstract: A method is provided for synthesizing a polymer in a controlled fashion using a ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) reaction, wherein polymerization is carried out using a catalytically effective amount of an olefin metathesis catalyst and a bridged bicyclic or polycyclic olefin monomer that contains at least two heteroatoms directly or indirectly linked to each other. Preferred catalysts are Group 8 transition metal complexes, particularly complexes of Ru and Os. Such complexes include the ruthenium bisphosphine complex (PCy3)2(Cl)2Ru═CHPh (1) and the ruthenium carbene complex (IMesH2)(PCy3)(Cl)2Ru═CHPh (2). The invention also provides novel regioregular polymers synthesized using the aforementioned methodology, wherein the polymers may be saturated, unsaturated, protected, and/or telechelic. An exemplary polymer is poly((vinyl alcohol)2-alt-methylene)(MVOH).