Synthesis and Characterization of Novel Poly(ethylene glycol) Based Amphiphilic Polymers

Abstract

The formation of micelles in a solvent that is selective for one of the blocks is one of the most important and useful properties of block copolymers. In the present study, polymerization reaction between the monomers, dimethyl 5-hydroxyisophthalate and poly(ethylene glycols) of different molecular weights viz. 600, 1000, 1500 and 2000 has been carried out in solventless condition at 80–90°C. The resulting polymers, were derivatized by attaching dodecanyl chain to phenolic hydroxyl group. These novel functionalized amphiphilic polymers have been characterized by ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy. These polymers, when dissolved in water, aggregate to form micelles, whose sizes were determined using Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) which ranged from 29.21 to 62.9 nm.

Keywords:

• Dimethyl 5-hydroxyisophthalate
• polyethylene glycols
• amphiphilic polymers
• bromododecane
• ¹H-NMR
• ¹³C and DLS

Acknowledgments

The authors thank the Head, Division of Agricultural Chemicals, IARI, New Delhi for providing facilities to carry out the research work. PK thanks the PG School, IARI, New Delhi, for financial support.