Advanced polymer architectures with stimuli-responsive properties starting from inimers

Katrien Bernaerts, Charles-Andre Fustin, Cecile Bomal-D'Haese, Jean-Francois Gohy, Jose C. Martins, Filip E. Du Prez*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Novel, well-defined, temperature- and/or pH-sensitive copolymer architectures were prepared by atom transfer radical (co)polymerization (ATRP) of a temperature-sensitive poly(methyl vinyl ether) (PMVE) macromonomer, obtained via living cationic polymerization of MVE initiated with inimer 3,3-diethoxypropyl acrylate. Temperature-sensitive comb architectures were obtained by ATRP homopolymerization (Me6TREN/ CuBr in toluene) of the PMVE macromonomer. ATRP copolymerization of the PMVE macromonomer with tert-butyl acrylate, a hydrolyzable precursor for pH-sensitive acrylic acid (AA), gives statistical graft copolymers. Palm-tree block copolymers containing a linear PtBA (PAA after hydrolysis) block and a branched block based on PMVE macromonomers were also prepared and fully characterized. Using turbidimetry, dynamic light scattering, FT-IR, and NMR, the temperature and/or pH responsiveness of those (co)polymer architectures are compared with the properties of previously synthesized linear block copolymers containing PMVE and PtBA or PAA.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2593-2606
JournalMacromolecules
Volume41
Issue number7
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 8 Apr 2008
Externally publishedYes

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