Thermoresponsive Poly(2-oxazine)s

Bloksma, Meta M.; Paulus, Renzo M.; van Kuringen, Huub P. C.; van der Woerdt, Friso S.; Lambermont-Thijs, Hanneke M. L.; Schubert, Ulrich S.; Hoogenboom, Richard

Abstract:

The monomers 2-methyl-2-oxazine (MeOZI), 2-ethyl-2-oxazine (EtOZI), and 2- n -propyl-2- oxazine ( n PropOZI) were synthesized and polymerized via the living cationic ring-opening poly merization (CROP) under microwave-assisted conditions. pEtOZI and p n PropOZI were found to be thermoresponsive, exhibiting LCST behavior in water and their cloud point temperatures ( T CP ) are lower than for poly(2-oxazoline)s with similar side chains. However, comparison of poly(2-oxazine) and poly(2-oxazoline)s isomers reveals that poly(2-oxazine)s are more water soluble, indicating that the side chain has a stronger impact on polymer solubility than the main chain. In conclusion, variations of both the side chains and the main chains of the poly(cyclic imino ether)s resulted in a series of distinct homopolymers with tunable T(CP).

Year:

2012

Type of Publication:

Article

Journal:

Macromolecular Rapid Communications

Volume:

33

Pages:

92 - 96