Macromolecular Rapid Communications, Vol.35, No.9, 901-907, 2014
Cyclic Amphiphilic Random Copolymers Bearing Azobenzene Side Chains: Facile Synthesis and Topological Effects on Self-Assembly and Photoisomerization
In this article, well-defined cyclic amphiphilic random copolymers bearing azobenzene side chains and pendent carboxyl moieties, cyclic-P(BHMEm-co-AA(n))s, are synthesized by combining atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) with Cu(I)-catalyzed azide/alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) click reaction and selective hydrolysis of tert-butyl ester. Successful synthesis of the cyclic-P(BHMEm-co-AA(n))s is fully characterized and verified via conventional gel permeation chromatography, triple detection gel permeation chromatography, nuclear magnetic resonance, Fourier transform infrared, and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time-of-flight mass spectrometry. The cyclic topology induces profound effects on the glass transition temperatures, self-assembly behavior, and photoresponsive performance of the copolymers compared with their linear counterparts.
Keywords:azobenzene;cyclic amphiphilic random copolymers;photoisomerization;self-assembly;spherical aggregates