Thermoresponsive Poly(2-Oxazoline) Molecular Brushes by Living Ionic Polymerization: Modulation of the Cloud Point by Random and Block Copolymer Pendant Chains

Ning Zhang, Robert Luxenhofer, Rainer Jordan

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

55 Scopus citations

Abstract

Molecular brushes (MBs) of poly(2-oxazoline)s were prepared by living anionic polymerization of 2-isopropenyl-2-oxazoline to form the backbone and living cationic ring-opening polymerization of 2-n-propyl-2-oxazoline and 2-methyl-2-oxazoline to form random and block copolymers. Their aqueous solutions displayed a distinct thermoresponsive behavior as a function of the side-chain composition and sequence. The cloud point (CP) of MBs with random copolymer side chains is a linear function of the hydrophilic monomer content and can be modulated in a wide range. For MBs with block copolymer side chains, it was found that the block sequence had a strong and surprising effect on the CP. While MBs with a distal hydrophobic block had a CP at 70 °C, MBs with hydrophilic outer blocks already precipitated at 32 °C. Copyright © 2012 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.
Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1963-1969
Number of pages7
JournalMacromolecular Chemistry and Physics
Volume213
Issue number18
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 10 2012
Externally publishedYes

Bibliographical note

KAUST Repository Item: Exported on 2020-10-01
Acknowledgements: This work was supported by the Elitenetzwerk Bayern in the frame of the international graduate school CompInt ("Materials Science of Complex Interfaces") as part of the IGSSE ("International Graduate School for Science and Engineering") at the Technische Universitat Munchen. R.J. thanks for additional support by the Cluster of excellence "Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden" (CRTD). R. L. was supported by a postdoctoral stipend from the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST).
This publication acknowledges KAUST support, but has no KAUST affiliated authors.

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