Polymer, Vol.39, No.3, 669-673, 1998
Property of thermo-sensitive and redox-active poly(N-cyclopropylacrylamide-co-vinylferrocene) and poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-vinylferrocene)
Thermo-sensitive and redox-active polymers were prepared by the copolymerisation of N-cyclopropyl (NCPAM) or N-isopropyl acrylamide (NIPAM) with varying content of vinyl ferrocene (VFc(II)) Aqueous solution of the copolymer showed LCST (lower critical solution temperature) depending on the ferrocene content in copolymers. LCST of the aqueous solution of these copolymers was decreased with increasing ferrocene content in the copolymers. The oxidation of ferrocene has lead to a significant increase in LCST due to a transition from hydrophobic to hydrophilic property of ferrocene moiety in copolymers. The transition could be made reversibly by redox reaction using cerium sulfate as an oxidant and L-ascorbic acid as a reductant. Changes in the cloud point temperature accompanying the transition increased with increasing the amount of ferrocene in copolymer.
Keywords:ELECTROCHEMICAL FORMATION;THIN-FILM;REVERSIBLE FORMATION;FERROCENYL MOIETY;DISRUPTION;MICELLES;ELECTROLYSIS;SURFACTANTS;STATE