One-pot catalyst-switching synthesis of thermoresponsive amphiphilic diblock copolymers consisting of poly(N,N-diethylacrylamide) and biodegradable polyesters†
Xiangming Fu,Yanqiu Wang,Liang Xu,Atsushi Narumi,Shin-ichiro Sato
Polymer Chemistry Pub Date : 03/20/2023 00:00:00 , DOI:10.1039/D3PY00195D
Abstract

A method for the syntheses of thermoresponsive amphiphilic diblock copolymers through sequential organocatalyzed polymerizations of vinyl-based and lactone-based monomers using group transfer polymerization (GTP) and ring-opening polymerization (ROP), respectively, is described. The organocatalysts were switched between the two polymerization stages and all syntheses could be conducted in a one-pot manner. The polymerization systems directly produced diblock copolymers composed of poly(N,N-diethylacrylamide) and biodegradable polyesters (poly(ε-caprolactone), poly(trimethylene carbonate), and poly(L-lactide) in various content ratios. Aqueous solutions of the obtained block copolymers below their cloud point temperatures (Tcp) were carefully characterized, revealing a close relationship among the structures of the block copolymers, Tcp, and micellar forming properties below the Tcp.

Graphical abstract: One-pot catalyst-switching synthesis of thermoresponsive amphiphilic diblock copolymers consisting of poly(N,N-diethylacrylamide) and biodegradable polyesters