Dendronized Polymers with Peripheral Oligo(ethylene oxide) Chains: Thermoresponsive Behavior and Shape Anisotropy in Solution

A series of dendronized polymers carrying oligo(ethyleneoxy) peripheral branches have been prepared by postpolymerization functionalization of multiallylic dendronized polymers using a radical addition of mercaptans, namely 2-methoxy(ethoxy)ethanethiol (EO2) and {2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethoxy)}ethanethiol (EO3). The functionalization proved to be quite efficient, leading to up to 6 or 9 EO chains per monomer repeating unit. A constant T_g value was observed independently of the material characteristics, indicating that T_g is ruled by the sole presence of EO chains. According to the hydrophilic and hydrophobic balance, some polymers exhibited a thermoresponsive behavior in water solution, characterized by a sharp lower critical solution temperature (LCST) transition and a small hysteresis. These LCST showed an unusual increase with DP, which might be correlated to a dilution effect and an increase of polymer hydrophilicity by densification of the dendritic coverage. By SAXS investigations and using a spherocylinder shape model, the polymers in solution (below the LCST) could be satisfactorily described. By increasing the DP, the shape of the macromolecule was found to evolve from a spherical to a spherocylinder shape with a constant cross section of ca. 40 Å.