Block copolymers derived from photoreactive 2-oxazolines, 1 - Synthesis and micellization behavior

Amphiphilic block copolymers (BCPs) were synthesized consisting of hydrophi lic poly(2-methyl-2-oxazoline) blocks and hydrophobic poly(2-alkyl-2-oxazol ine) blocks with undecyl-, phenyl-, and the photopolymerizable cinnamoyl-, 4-azidophenyl-, and diin- moieties. The BCPs were prepared by living cation ic ring opening polymerization of the corresponding monomers. The resulting amphiphilic block copolymers show good solubility in water depending on th e ratio of hydrophilic to hydrophobic moieties inside the block copolymer a s well as the formation of block copolymeric micelles as proven by dynamic light scattering experiments and electron microscopy. The size of the aggre gates shows a clear dependence on the polymers molecular weight and the rat io of the hydrophilic to hydrophobic building blocks.