Polymerizable amphiphiles, 3. Polymerization of micellized 1‐<i>O</i>‐3‐(4‐vinylphenyl)propyl‐β‐<scp>D</scp>‐glucopyranose

Abstract

Abstract 1‐ O ‐3‐(4‐Vinylphenyl)propyl‐β‐ D ‐glucopyranose ( 1 ) was polymerized in organic solvents and in aqueous solutions above and below the critical micelle concentration by three different free‐radical initiators: 2,2′‐azoisobutyronitrile (AIBN), dipotassium peroxodisulfate (K 2 S 2 O 8 ), and 2‐(phenylazothio)naphthalene (ATE). The polymerization is self‐accelerating in dilute aqueous solutions, regardless of whether oil‐soluble or water‐soluble initiators were used. Size exclusion chromatography was employed to monitor the change of molar masses, molar mass distributions, and conversions with time. The polymerization kinetics was also followed by UV spectroscopy. The polymerization by ATE led to polymerized micelles ( P ‐mers) under preservation of the degree of micellization. The polymerization by K 2 S 2 O 8 and AIBN, on the other hand, resulted in the polymerization of bigger micelles ( R ‐mers) beside a small amount of polymerized P ‐micelles.