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Thermo‐Responsive Highly Branched Polyethers by Proton‐Transfer Polymerization of 1,2,7,8‐Diepoxyoctane and Multiols
Author(s) -
Chen Hao,
Jia Zhifeng,
Yan Deyue,
Zhu Xinyuan
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
macromolecular chemistry and physics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.57
H-Index - 112
eISSN - 1521-3935
pISSN - 1022-1352
DOI - 10.1002/macp.200700049
Subject(s) - ethylene glycol , lower critical solution temperature , polymer chemistry , branching (polymer chemistry) , polymerization , aqueous solution , chemistry , glycerol , cloud point , chain transfer , degree of polymerization , ethylene , copolymer , organic chemistry , radical polymerization , polymer , catalysis
Thermo‐responsive highly branched polyethers were prepared via one‐step proton‐transfer polymerization of 1,2,7,8‐diepoxyoctane (DEO) and multiols including ethylene glycol, di(ethylene glycol), tri(ethylene glycol), 1,2‐propanediol, and glycerol. The degree of branching of the products obtained from DEO and oligo(ethylene glycol) is estimated to be 0.16–0.22. All highly branched polyethers exhibit a thermally induced phase transition in aqueous solution. The LCSTs of these polyethers can be tuned in the range of 23.6–67.2 °C. It is found that the hydrophilic/hydrophobic balance of the DEO and diols, the feed ratio of DEO to glycerol, and the molecular weights play important role in controlling the LCST.