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

54 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

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