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Free radical homo- and copolymerization of the highly polar 3-(N-[2-methacryloyloxyethyl]-N,N-dimethylammonio) propane sulfonate with the nonpolar n-butylmethacrylate was investigated in the ionic liquids 1-butyl-3-methyl imidazolium tetrafluoroborate and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluoro phosphate, and compared to analogous polymerizations in standard solvents. Higher molar masses are obtained for the zwitterionic homopolymer when the polymerization is carried out in an ionic liquid compared to the classical reaction in water. Although homopolymerization of the sulfobetain monomer as well as of n-butylmethacrylate results in phase separation during the polymerization process, copolymerization of a stoichiometric ratio of the two monomers in the ionic liquids produced transparent gels indicating that no macrophase separation occurs. The use of ionic liquids as reaction medium improved the copolymerization behavior of the two methacrylates significantly. Whereas only minor amounts of n-butyl methacrylate were incorporated in the copolymer when synthesized in acetonitrile, the content of the non-polar monomer units in the zwitterionic copolymer approached increasingly its content in the polymerization mixture when ionic liquids were employed as solvents
Amphiphilic diblock copolymers composed of poly(butyl acrylate) as the hydrophobic block with a low glass transition temperature and of six different hydrophilic blocks (one anionic, one cationic, and four nonionic hydrophilic blocks) are prepared via reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. The nonionic hydrophilic blocks comprise in addition to the classical poly(dimethylacrylamide), the thermally sensitive poly(N- acryloylpyrrolidine), and a comb-type polymer made of a poly(ethylene glycol acrylate) macromonomer, as well as a new strongly hydrophilic sulfoxide polymer. The "living" character of the polymerizations is supported by very low polydispersity indexes and a good correlation between the molar masses obtained and the theoretically expected ones. Two distinct glass transition temperatures were found by differential scanning calorimetry for the block copolymers, suggesting the immiscibility of the blocks in bulk. The self-assembling properties of the amphiphilic diblock copolymers in aqueous and organic media were studied by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and dynamic light scattering, as a function of the polarity of the hydrophilic blocks, the ratio of the lengths of the two blocks, and the overall molar mass of the diblock copolymers. Micellelike aggregates with diameters from 25 to 100 mn in water are found, as well as inverse micelles in organic solvents. The length of the hydrophobic block seems to be the main factor governing the size of the aggregates in water. The aggregates are very stable upon dilution and temperature cycles. For large hydrophobic blocks, big structures are observed in addition to small micelles initially after the dispersion in water. As the big aggregates disappear slowly, the micellization process seems thermodynamically favored. If two populations of micelles made from different block copolymers are brought together, "mixed" micelles are formed. The implicit exchange of polymers proves the dynamic character of the micellar systems based on poly(butyl acrylate) as hydrophobic block
A novel method to prepare ultrathin, freestanding polyelectrolyte films in pores, without the need of sacrificial precursor coatings, has been developed (see Figure). The freestanding films are stable under ambient conditions and suited for additional electrostatic self-assembly or surface modification. They can be specifically decomposed, whereas after thermal crosslinking, resistant films are obtained
Fluorocarbon associative polymers of the polysoap type were studied using two fluorescent probes, 1- octanoylpyrene (OcPyH) and 1-perfluorooctanoylpyrene (OcPyF). In aqueous solution the polymers formed hydrophobic domains composed of hydrocarbon, fluorocarbon or both types of polymeric side chains, which could solubilize the probes. This resulted in the appearance of new fluorescence emission bands and changes in the fluorescence polarization of the probes. The differences in the solubilization properties of the polymers are discussed. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved
An unconventional but easily accessible precursor route involving the thermal treatment of hybrid precursors containing an ampholytic polymer matrix is developed to prepare multimetallic oxides of catalytic interest such as transition metal molybdates. A copolymer of diallyldimethylammonium chloride and a functionalized maleamic acid bearing an amine group suited for cation complexation was designed, synthesized and used as a matrix to stabilize inorganic species generated in solution from Ni(NO3)(2)center dot 6H(2)O, Co(NO3)(2)center dot 6H(2)O and/or Mn(NO3)(2)center dot 4H(2)O together with (NH4)(6)Mo(7)O(24)center dot 4H(2)O. UV-vis-NIR as well as C-13-NMR studies suggest that the interactions between the cations and the polymer in solution are mainly electrostatic. Only minor complexation interactions take place under certain conditions. Homogeneous hybrid blends were prepared from these solutions. The presence of a complexing amine group in addition to the charged betaine moieties in the polymer permits stabilization of more than stoichiometric amounts of the metal species in the blends. XRD measurements suggest that the homogeneity in the solid state can be kept up to about 1.5 mol of each metal that is incorporated ( anionic as well as cationic) per mol of repeat units of the copolymer. The blends were calcined under air at 600 degrees C to produce the simple as well as mixed nickel, cobalt and manganese molybdates. Characterization of the final phases by XRD and Raman spectroscopy indicates that the alpha- as well as the beta-molybdate phases can be prepared, and that the mixed structures are solid solutions of the simple NiMoO4, MnMoO4 and CoMoO4. If the precursors engaged are homogeneous, the pH of the precursor solution, the amount of metal that is incorporated in the matrix, and the nature of the polymer matrix seem to exert only a minor influence on the nature of the final phase, which demonstrates the versatility and facile applicability of the method
This article presents recent progress in the field of polymeric surfactants made of permanently amphiphilic block copolymers or of stimulus-sensitive ones. We highlight key points in the design of amphiphilic macromolecules, to yield polymer surfactants with tailor-made properties, as well as recently developed and still challenging application fields for this new class of surfactants. The efficiency boosting of amphiphilic block copolymers as co-surfactants in microemulsions is discussed, as are surface modification by polymer surfactants, and stabilization of dispersions. Moreover, the use of block copolymers in nanosciences is presented, for instance as a tool for nanomaterial fabrication, or for biomedical and cosmetic applications in bio-nanotechnology. Finally, self-assembly and applications of some newly developed "exotic" amphiphilic block copolymer structures as new surface-active materials will be highlighted
The trithiocarbonate 2-(benzylsulfanylthiocarbonylsulfanyl) propanoic acid is formed as minor by-product in the synthesis of the dithioester 2-((2-phenylthioacetyl)sulfanyl) propanoic acid via the Grignard route. The mechanism for this side reaction is not clear. The isolated trithiocarbonate may act as unsymmetrical but bifunctional RAFT agent in the aqueous polymerization of N,N-dimethyl acrylamide. Therefore, it is important to separate it completely from the dithioester before engaging the latter in controlled free radical polymerization to guarantee a maximum control.
Multicompartment micelles are complex nanosized systems that possess a hydrosoluble shell and a hydrophobic core, which is characterized by segregated incompatible subdomains. With roots starting about ten years ago, the field of multi compartment micelles has evolved slowly, until recently when significant achievements have been made. The present article reviews strategies for building such micellar assemblies as well as morphological studies, highlights the future challenges, and discusses possible applications, which exploit the coexistence of differentiated nano- domains. Formation of multi compartment micelles using miktoarm stars mu-(polyethylethylene)(poly(ethylene oxide))(poly(perfluoropropylene oxide)) and a cryo-TEM image visualizing the process
A series of RAFT agents was synthesised, and used to prepare various ionic. non-ionic and zwitterionic water- soluble polymers, in organic as well as in aqueous media. The RAFT process proved to be a powerful method to prepare functional polymers of complex structure. such as amphiphilic diblock and triblock copolymers. This includes polymers containing one or even two stimuli-sensitive hydrophilic blocks. Switching the hydrophilic character of a single or of several blocks by changing the PH, the temperature or the salt content demonstrated the variability of the molecular designs suited for stimuli-sensitive polymeric amphiphiles, and exemplified the concept of multiple-sensitive systems. (c) 2005 Published by Elsevier Ltd