The direct termination of the polyoxazolinium chain end represents a straightforward opportunity to introduce a range of functional moieties as ω-end groups of poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline) (PEtOx). The use of methacrylic acid results in macromonomers, enabling the combination of PEtOx’s properties with those of polymethacrylates, resulting in graft copolymers. As an example, the grafting of polymethacrylates containing a primary amine functionality with PEtOx side chains significantly reduced cytotoxicity of the non-viral gene carriers, maintaining the transfection efficiency.[1] The termination of the cationic ring-opening polymerization with a carboxylic acid functionalized trithiocarbonate enabled access to mono- as well as bifunctional PEtOx macro-chain transfer agents.[2-3] Subsequent reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer polymerization of N-iso-propylacrylacrylamide (NiPam) and triethylene glycol acrylate (eTEGA) yielded a library of di-and triblock copolymers composed of two different segments featuring lower critical solution temperature behavior in water. Detailed studies by turbidimetry, dynamic light scattering and NMR spectroscopy revealed that the block length plays a significant role for thermo-induced micellization for all four block copolymer types.

End-functional poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline)s as versatile building blocks to combine CROP and RAFT

2019 Spring National Meeting

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