Synthesis of Amphiphilic Three-Armed Star Random Copolymers via Living Radical Polymerization and their Unimolecular Folding Properties in Water

摘要

Amphiphilic three-armed star random copolymers were synthesized by ruthenium-catalyzed living radical copolymerization of hydrophilic poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate (PEGMA) and hydrophobic dodecyl methacrylate (DMA). Their amphiphilic star random copolymers with 10-50 mol% DMA efficiently self-folded in water with intramolecular hydrophobic interaction to form compact unimolecular micelles. Owing to PEG segments, star copolymers were thermoresponsive to induce lower critical solution temperature-type phase separation in water.