DIBLOCK, ABC TRIBLOCK, AND RANDOM METHACRYLIC POLYAMPHOLYTES - SYNTHESIS BY GROUP-TRANSFER POLYMERIZATION AND SOLUTION BEHAVIOR

Water-soluble, low-polydispersity, low-molecular-weight random, AB dib lock, and ABC triblock polymers of methacrylic acid (MAA), 2-(dimethyl amino)ethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA), methyl methacrylate (MMA) and 2-phe nylethyl methacrylate (PEMA) were synthesized by group transfer polyme rization (GTP). The isoelectric points, titration behavior, and solubi lity curves of these polyampholytes are reported. Light scattering stu dies revealed that the triblocks form micelles as a result of the pres ence of the MMA hydrophobic block. A fluorescence study demonstrated t hat the triblock copolymers associate more strongly with pyrene than d o the corresponding random terpolymers.