Block copolymers derived from photoreactive 2-oxazolines, 1. Synthesis and micellization behavior

Amphiphilic block copolymers (BCPs) were synthesized consisting of hydrophilic poly(2-methyl-2-oxazoline) blocks and hydrophobic poly(2-alkyl-2-oxazoline) blocks with undecyl-, phenyl-, and the photopolymerizable cinnamoyl-, 4-azidophenyl-, and diin- moieties. The BCPs were prepared by living cationic ring opening polymerization of the corresponding monomers. The resulting amphiphilic block copolymers show good solubility in water depending on the ratio of hydrophilic to hydrophobic moieties inside the block copolymer as well as the formation of block copolymeric micelles as proven by dynamic light scattering experiments and electron microscopy. The size of the aggregates shows a clear dependence on the polymers molecular weight and the ratio of the hydrophilic to hydrophobic building blocks.