FUNCTIONAL METALLOMACROCYCLES AND THEIR POLYMERS .31. AUTOXIDATION OFTHIOL BY TEMPERATURE-SENSITIVE POLYMER CATALYST CONTAINING COBALT(II)PHTHALOCYANINE COMPLEX

Copolymers (I-IV) of 2-acryloylamino-9,16,23-tri(t-butyl)phthalocyanin e (APc(t-Bu)(3)) and acrylamide derivatives were prepared and their ca talytic activity for oxidation of 2-mercaptoethanol was examined. Copo lymers (II and IV) of APc(t-Bu)(3) and N-isopropylacrylamide revealed a lower critical solution temperature phenomenon at 29 degrees C in ca rbonate buffer, that is to say, the copolymers dissolving in buffer so lution below 29 degrees C separated out as precipitate above 29 degree s C. The catalytic activity of polymer IV, which was prepared by metal ation of copolymer II, markedly changed around 29 degrees C. Copolymer IV served as a homogeneous catalyst of autoxidation of 2-mercaptoetha nol below 29 degrees C. In contrast, the catalytic activity drasticall y decreased above 29 degrees C because of separation as precipitate.