Copper wire-catalyzed Click-polymerization was successfully utilized to prepare a new class of temperature responsive water-soluble glycopolymers. Di-hydrated trehalose was modified, to produce a di-azide hydrophobically functionalized trehalose, via tosylation/acetylation followed by azidation. Di-alkyne terminated PEG was prepared by quantitative alkyne end-capping of di-hydroxyl terminated PEG. Copolymerization of trehalose-di azide and PEG-di alkyne via Click reaction resulted in linear glycopolymers which were fully characterized by NMR, SEC, TGA and DSC. The cloud point of the aqueous solution of the glycopolymer was evaluated and showed an LCST at ~ 39 oC, known as fever temperature.  In addition, the phase transition was shown to be reversible.  The results also indicated that the ideal molecular weight of PEG to produce glycopolymer exhibiting phase transition at the fever temperature was ~ 600 gmol-1, which is very close to that of trehalose (~ 644 gmol-1). This created a good balance between hydrophobic and hydrophilic interactions.

Smart temperature responsive glycopolymer via click-polymerization

244th National Meeting (2012)

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.