HIGH-MOLECULAR-WEIGHT POLY(ALKYLENE PHOSPHATE)S AND PREPARATION OF AMPHIPHILIC POLYMERS THEREOF

A new method of synthesis of polyphosphonates, based on transesterific ation of the short oligomers, ended with the methylphosphonate ester g roups, afforded a series of polymers with either hydrophobic or hydrop hilic chains. Thus, high-molecular-weight polymers with repeating unit s of desired length (i.e. (-CH2-)n) and a reactive group between them (-OP(H)(O)O-) were prepared. This function was used for further functi onalization, and amphiphilic polymers were prepared with, e.g., a hydr ophobic main chain and hydrophilic side chains or vice versa. Some of these polymers were shown to be able to self-organize, forming uniform spherical structures.