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RAFT Polymerization of 4‐Vinylphenylboronic Acid as the Basis for Micellar Sugar Sensors
Author(s) -
Maji Samarendra,
Vancoillie Gertjan,
Voorhaar Lenny,
Zhang Qilu,
Hoogenboom Richard
Publication year - 2014
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.201300540
Subject(s) - chain transfer , raft , polymerization , copolymer , reversible addition−fragmentation chain transfer polymerization , polymer , monomer , ethylene glycol , polymer chemistry , chemistry , living polymerization , materials science , chemical engineering , radical polymerization , organic chemistry , engineering
Well‐defined homo and mPEGylated block (co)polymers of the commercially available unprotected 4‐vinylphenylboronic acid (4‐VBA) monomer are reported based on reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. The polymerization kinetics are studied in detail for homo and block (co)polymerizations with different chain transfer agents (CTAs) to optimize the preparation of well‐defined polymer structures, eventually leading to comparatively low dispersities ( Đ ≤ 1.25). Subsequently, block (co)polymers with methoxy poly(ethylene glycol) mPEG‐ b ‐P(4‐VBA) are prepared using a mPEG‐functionalized CTA. The formed block copolymer mPEG 114 ‐ b ‐P(4‐VBA) 30 is demonstrated to be pH and glucose responsive as its micellization behavior is dictated by pH as well as the presence of glucose. The glucose‐responsive pH window of mPEG 114 ‐ b ‐P(4‐VBA) 30 is found to be pH 9–10 based on the DLS and TEM measurement.