Synthesis and Characterization of Comb-like Methoxy Polyethylene Glycol-grafted Polyurethanes via ‘Click’ Chemistry

In this study, a series of comb-like methoxy polyethylene glycol (MPEG) functionalized polyurethanes (PUs) (PU–g–MPEG) were successfully prepared via ‘click’ chemistry and polyaddition reaction. The copper catalyzed Huisgen 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition was firstly carried out between 3,5-bis(hydroxymethyl)-1-propargyloxybenzene (PBM) and methoxy polyethylene glycol azide (MPEG–N3) to obtain MPEGylated diol PBM (MPEG–PBM). Then, the comb-like PUs having MPEG located on the backbones (PU–g–MPEG) were synthesized through the polyaddition of MPEGylated diol PBM and hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI). Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), 1H NMR spectroscopy, size exclusion chromatography (SEC), and thermo gravimetric analyses (TGA) were used to characterize these synthesized MPEG-functionalized comb-like PUs (PU–g–MPEG). Compared with PU without MPEG grafts, PU–g–MPEG show a better wettability.