Oxidation-responsive polyether block copolymers lead to non-ionic polymer surfactants with multiple amine N-oxides. Issue 13 (27th February 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Blankenburg, Jan; Stark, Martin; Frey, Holger
• Is Part Of: Polymer chemistry. Volume 10:Issue 13(2019)
• Page Start: 1569
• Page End: 1574
• Publication Date: 2019-02-27
• Subjects: Polymers -- Periodicals; Macromolecules -- Periodicals; Polymerization -- Periodicals; 547.705
• DOI: 10.1039/c9py00093c
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1759-9954

Abstract

Abstract : Oxidation of tertiary amines leads to multiple amine N -oxide moieties and a highly polar polyether structure. Combination with the apolar poly(propylene oxide) affords unusual surfactants. Abstract : Block copolymers consisting of a nonpolar poly(propylene oxide) block and a poly(glycidyl amine) block were prepared by anionic ring-opening polymerization (AROP). The tertiary amine groups of the block copolymers were quantitively transformed into the corresponding zwitterionic amine N -oxides, as confirmed by 1 H NMR and 15 N NMR spectroscopy. This leads to strongly amphiphilic polyether block copolymers with multiple N -oxides. Full oxidation of the amine groups was also possible in situ in an emulsion, demonstrating the oxidation-responsive character of this new class of non-ionic polymeric surfactants.