Synthesis and antibacterial activity of novel fluoroalkyl end-capped cooligomers containing dimethyl(octyl)-ammonium segments

New fluoroalkyl end-capped cooligomers containing dimethyl(octyl)ammonium s egments were prepared by the reactions of fluoroalkanoyl peroxides with 2-( acryloxyethyl)dimethyl(octyl)ammonium chloride (AEMOAC) and comonomers such as N,N-dimethylacrylamide, acrylic acid, and acryloylmorpholine (ACMO). Th ese flourinated AEMOAC cooligomers thus obtained were in general soluble no t only in water but also in organic solvents such as methanol, ethanol, THF , chloroform, DMSO, and DMF. Especially. fluoroalkylated AEMOAC-ACMO coolig omers were readily soluble in these solvents, and were able to reduce the s urface tension of water quite effectively with a clear breakpoint resemblin g a critical micelle concentration, the same as for low-molecular weighs fl uorinated surfactants, Furthermore, the modified poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) surface treated with these fluorinated AEMOAC ACMO cooligomers was s hown to have a strong hydrophilicity with a good oil repellency. In particu lar interest, the modified PMMA surface with these cooligomers was clarifie d to exhibit a high antibacterial activity. Therefore, these new partially fluoroalkylated AEMOAC cooligomers are applicable to new Functional materia ls possessing not only the surface antibacterial activity but also the surf ace active property imparted by fluorine. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. Al l rights reserved.