Preparation and Characterization of Inclusion Complexes of Poly(alkyl vinyl ether) with Cyclodextrins

Abstract γ-Cyclodextrin (γ-CD) has been found to form inclusion complexes with poly(methyl vinyl ether) (PMVE), poly(ethyl vinyl ether) (PEVE), and poly(n-propyl vinyl ether) (PnPVE) of various molecular weights to give stoichiometric compounds in crystalline states. α-Cyclodextrin (α-CD) and β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) did not form complexes with poly(alkyl vinyl ether)s of any molecular weight. γ-CD did not form complexes with the low molecular weight analogs, such as diethyl ether and trimethylene glycol dimethyl ether. The yields of the complexes of γ-CD with PMVE increased with increasing molecular weight (MW) of PMVE and reached saturation at about MW 2000. The yields of the complexes of γ-CD with PEVE and PnPVE increased with increase in MW, reached a maximum at a MW of about 1000 for PEVE and about 250 for PnPVE, and decreased with a further increase in the MW. Complexes were isolated and found to have a 3 : 1 (monomer unit : CD) ratio. The complexes were characterized by IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, and X-ray (powder), thermal and elemental analyses. The structures of the complexes are discussed.