Poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline), Aquazol, is a versatile non toxic polymer that is soluble in water and many organic solvents. Aquazol also has a low T<sub>g</sub> for ease of thermal processing. Research has shown how effective specific end group functionalization can be towards simplifying syntheses. Functional groups currently being studied include and forms of the following; diol, amine, methacrylate, alcohol, and dodecane terminated. These end groups compliment further syntheses such as click-like applications due to their benign, and neat reaction synthesis and readily available termination with an appropriate nucleophile. Functionalized Aquazol has been seen in multi-block copolymers, amino acid building blocks, macro-monomers, macro-initiators and more. For example, “clicking” two poly lactic acid blocks to a central Aquazol backbone to change the biodegradability rate, is now an easier process than preparing a block copolymer in a one-pot method. Functionalized Aquazol has ≥95% functionality, as determined by NMR, mass spectroscopy, and GPC. The current experimental molecular weight ranges are 1,000 MW - 25,000 MW, with higher molecular weights still in development. Functionalized Aquazol has a poly dispersity index (PDI) of less than 1.5, allowing for researching specific molecular weights in targeted applications.

Functionalized poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline), a “click-like” polymer ready to simplify syntheses

251st National Meeting (2016)

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