Micellization and applications of narrow-distribution poly[2-(dimethylamino)ethyl Tmethacrylate]

Oxyanion-initiated polymerization of 2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA), initiated by potassium benzyl alcoholate (BzOK), produced a number of well-defined, water -soluble benzyloxy end-capped homopolymers of various molecular weights. The structure of these homopolymers was confirmed by FTIR and 1H NMR. The molecular weights of the polymers were estimated by comparing the 1H NMR peak integrals for phenyl protons of the benzyloxy group with those of the dimethylamino protons of the monomeric unit. GPC analysis showed that these homopolymers possess a narrow molecular weight distribution ( ) in the range of 1.15–1.28. Under acidic or neutral conditions, the polymers exhibit the behavior of polymeric surfactants bearing protonized tertiary amines in their pendants, with critical micelle concentration (CMC) between 0.5 to 1 g\L and surface tension dropping below 40 mN\m. It was also found that the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of the polymeric surfactants (as determined by UV-visible spectroscopy) varied with properties such as molecular weight, concentration, and pH in aqueous media. The polymeric surfactants showed excellent pH-response and emulsifier properties when used in the emulsion polymerization of styrene.