Polymethacrylic acid derivatives, 4. Solubilization of azobenzene, a water insoluble nonpolar compound

Measurements of the solubilization of a water insoluble compound, azobenzene, inside the hydrophobic domains of compact conformations, were carried out using different polymers and copolymers. The influence of the tacticity of the polymer and the hydrophobic character of the copolymers was investigated, as well as specific intramolecular interactions between the hydrophobic residues. The influence of the solubilization on the spectral properties (λmax and εmax) of azobenzene and the copolymers was also studied. Experimental results show that no close correlation exists between the solubilizing power and the stability of the compact conformation, especially since some copolymers which take a compact conformation have no solubilizing power.