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A “Click” Strategy for Tuning in situ the Hydrophilic–Hydrophobic Balance of AB Macrosurfactants
Author(s) -
Zarafshani Zoya,
Akdemir Özgür,
Lutz JeanFrançois
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
macromolecular rapid communications
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.348
H-Index - 154
eISSN - 1521-3927
pISSN - 1022-1336
DOI - 10.1002/marc.200800176
Subject(s) - click chemistry , copolymer , amphiphile , atom transfer radical polymerization , polymer chemistry , moiety , ethylene glycol , acrylate , materials science , functional polymers , polymerization , polymer , azide , aqueous solution , chemistry , organic chemistry
The self‐organization of amphiphilic block copolymers in water strongly depends on their molecular structure, in particular on their hydrophilic–hydrophobic balance. Herein, a simple method for tuning the amphiphilicity of polymeric macrosurfactants in aqueous medium is proposed. This concept relies on the “click” ligation of an amphiphilic block copolymer (AB type) and a hydrophilic homopolymer (B type). In the present communication, the validity of this approach was examined with model polymers based on polystyrene (PS) and poly[oligo (ethylene glycol) acrylate] (POEGA) segments. A well‐defined ω ‐azido functional diblock copolymer PS‐ b ‐POEGA and an α ‐alkyne functional homopolymer POEGA were prepared using atom transfer radical polymerization. These two polymers could be efficiently coupled to each other via copper‐catalyzed azide–alkyne click chemistry in aqueous medium. Moreover, in this coupling strategy, an ester group was introduced at the junction between AB and B segments. This labile moiety may be “cut” by hydrolysis.