One‐Pot Synthesis of a Polyrotaxane via Selective Threading of a PEI‐b‐PEG‐b‐PEI Copolymer

Summary: A functional polyrotaxane of a PEI‐b‐PEG‐b‐PEI copolymer is synthesized in aqueous solution in a one‐pot sequence. To obtain a polyrotaxane with PEG‐block‐selective inclusion complexes, the solution pH of the polypseudorotaxane is lowered to 4.4 in the presence of 9‐anthraldehyde (AN), which triggers the expulsion of the α‐cyclodextrins (α‐CDs) from the flank PEI chains. Synthetic strategy of a block‐selective polyrotaxane between a PEI‐b‐PEG‐b‐PEI copolymer and α‐cyclodextrins. magnified image Synthetic strategy of a block‐selective polyrotaxane between a PEI‐b‐PEG‐b‐PEI copolymer and α‐cyclodextrins.