Synthesis and Characterization of a Novel Thermo‐Sensitive Copolymer of N‐Isopropylacrylamide and Dibenzo‐18‐crown‐6‐diacrylamide

Summary: A series of novel, thermo‐sensitive copolymers with different molar ratios of N‐isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM) and hydrophobic cis‐dibenzo‐18‐crown‐6‐diacrylamide (cis‐DBCAm) were prepared via free‐radical copolymerization. cis‐DBCAm with polymerizable end groups was successfully synthesized by reacting the corresponding amino crown ether with acryloyl chloride. The copolymers were characterized by FT‐IR and elemental analysis, and the thermo‐sensitivities of the copolymers were evaluated by measuring their lower critical solution temperatures (LCSTs) in the absence or presence of various metal ions. The results indicated that incorporation of cis‐DBCAm lowered LCSTs, and that the LCSTs of the copolymers decreased with the increase in cis‐DBCAm content in the copolymers. When the cavities of the crown ether units captured either K+ or Cs+ ions, the LCST of the respective copolymer–metal ion complex was further decreased, whereas the capture of Na+ or Li+ ions did not have a significant influence on the LCSTs of the copolymers. Incorporation of cis‐DBCAm into PNIPAM resulted in a lower LCST. The LCST was decreased more when the cavities of the crown ether units captured K+ ions. magnified image Incorporation of cis‐DBCAm into PNIPAM resulted in a lower LCST. The LCST was decreased more when the cavities of the crown ether units captured K+ ions.