Combining Modular Ligation and Supramolecular Self‐Assembly for the Construction of Star‐Shaped Macromolecules

A well‐defined random copolymer of styrene (S) and chloromethylstyrene (CMS) featuring lateral chlorine moieties with an alkyne terminal group is prepared (P(S‐co‐CMS), = 5500 Da, PDI = 1.13). The chloromethyl groups are converted into Hamilton wedge (HW) entities (P(S‐co‐HWS), = 6200 Da, PDI = 1.13). The P(S‐co‐HWS) polymer is subsequently ligated with tetrakis(4‐azidophenyl)methane to give HW‐functional star‐shaped macromolecules (P(S‐co‐HWS))₄, = 25 100 Da, PDI = 1.08). Supramolecular star‐shaped copolymers are then prepared via self‐assembly between the HW‐functionalized four‐arm star‐shaped macromolecules ( P(S‐co‐HW )) ₄ and cyanuric acid (CA) end‐functionalized PS (PS–CA, = 3700 Da, PDI = 1.04), CA end‐functionalized poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA–CA, = 8500 Da, PDI = 1.13) and CA end‐functionalized polyethylene glycol (PEG–CA, = 1700 Da, PDI = 1.05). The self‐assembly is monitored by ¹H NMR spectroscopy and light scattering analyses.     

Incorporating glycidyl methacrylate into block copolymers using poly(methacrylate‐ran‐styrene) macroinitiators synthesized by nitroxide‐mediated polymerization

Methyl methacrylate/styrene (MMA/S), ethyl methacrylate/styrene (EMA/S) and butyl methacrylate/styrene (BMA/S) feeds (>90 mol % methacrylate) were copolymerized in 50 wt % p‐xylene at 90 °C with 10 mol % of additional SG1‐free nitroxide mediator relative to unimolecular initiator (BlocBuilder^®) to yield methacrylate rich copolymers with polydispersities _w/ _n = 1.23–1.46. k_pK values (k_p = propagation rate constant, K = equilibrium constant) for MMA/S copolymerizations were comparable with previous literature, whereas EMA/S and BMA/S copolymerizations were characterized by slightly higher k_pK's. Chain extensions with styrene at 110 °C initiated by the methacrylate‐rich macroinitiators (number average molecular weight _n = 12.9–33.5 kg mol^?1) resulted in slightly broader molecular weight distributions with _w/ _n = 1.24–1.86 and were often bimodal. Chain extensions with glycidyl methacrylate/styrene/methacrylate (GMA/S/XMA where XMA = MMA, EMA or BMA) mixtures at 90 °C using the same macroinitiators resulted frequently in bimodal molecular weight distributions with many inactive macroinitiators and higher _w/ _n = 2.01–2.48. P(XMA/S) macroinitiators ( _n = 4.9–8.9 kg mol^?1), polymerized to low conversion and purified to remove “dead” chains, initiated chain extensions with GMA/MMA/S and GMA/EMA/S giving products with _w/ _n ～ 1.5 and much fewer unreacted macroinitiators (<5%), whereas the GMA/BMA/S chain extension was characterized by slightly more unreacted macroinitiators (～20%). © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 2574–2588, 2009     

Direct Cyclodextrin‐Mediated Ring Opening Polymerization of ϵ‐Caprolactone in the Presence of Yttrium Trisphenolate Catalyst

Unmodified β‐cyclodextrin has been directly used to initiate ring‐opening polymerization of ϵ‐caprolactone in the presence of yttrium trisphenolate. Well‐defined cyclodextrin (CD)‐centered star‐shaped poly(ϵ‐caprolactone)s have been successfully synthesized containing definite average numbers of arms (N_arm = 4–6) and narrow polydispersity indexes (below 1.10). The number‐average molecular weight ( ) and average molecular weight per arm ( ) are controlled by the feeding molar ratio of monomer to initiator. The prepared star‐PCL with of 2.7 × 10³ is in fully amorphous and that with of 13.3 × 10³ is crystallized. In addition, the obtained poly(e‐caprolactone) (PCL) stars with various molecular weights have different solubilities in methanol and tetrahydrofuran, which can be applied for further modifications.     

Palladium(II) and platinum(II) complexes of (1R,2R)‐(−)‐1,2‐diaminocyclohexane (DACH) with various carboxylato ligands and their cytotoxicity evaluation

Several palladium(II) and platinum(II) complexes analogous to oxaliplatin, bearing the enantiomerically pure (1R,2R)‐(?)‐1,2‐diaminocyclohexane (DACH) ligand, of the general formula {MX₂[(1R,2R)‐DACH]}, where M = Pd or Pt, X (COO)₂, CH₂(COO)₂, , , {1,1′‐C₅H₈(CH₂COO)₂}, [1,1′‐C₆H₁₀(CH₂COO)₂], [1,1′‐(COO)₂ferrocene], , , , MeCOO and Me₃CCOO, were synthesized. All the complexes prepared were characterized physicochemically and spectroscopically. Some selected complexes were screened in vitro against several tumor cell lines and the results were compared with reference standard drug, oxaliplatin. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Preparation and Properties of the Hybrid Material n‐Propyl(3‐methylpyridinium)silsesquioxane Chloride. Application in Electrochemical Determination of Nitrite

The synthesis and properties of the ion exchange polymer 3‐n‐propyl(3‐methylpyridinium)silsesquioxane chloride (SiPy⁺Cl^?) are described. Based on the Langmuir model, the equilibrium constant at the solid‐solution interface for the reaction, SiPy⁺Cl^?+NO ?SiPy⁺NO , was calculated for nitrite adsorption. The value found, β=8.7×10³ L mol^?1, indicates good affinity of the anion for the solid phase. A carbon paste electrode of the material was tested for NO oxidation and a linear response, in the concentration range between 6.3 and 143.6 μmol L^?1, was obtained by amperometry. The analytical applicability of the proposed system was ascertained by the satisfactory results attained in its application to monitoring of nitrite in natural waters.     

Macrocyclic and Polymeric Oxaziridine‐Derivatives

Macrocyclic and polymeric imines 5,5′ and 6,6′ are obtained in excellent yields by template‐free polycondensation of 1,6‐bis(4‐formylbenzoyloxy)hexane (1) with commercially available 4,4′‐methylene‐bis(cyclohexylamine) (2) and with bis(2‐amino‐2‐methylprop‐1‐yl)adipate dihydrochloride (4), respectively. The degree of macrocyclization during imine synthesis strongly depends on the diamine. Matrix‐assisted laser desorption–ionization time‐of‐flight (MALDI‐TOF) mass spectrometry analysis and gel permeation chromatography (GPC) measurements show that (2) leads to more macrocyclic adducts than (4). The subsequent meta‐chloroperoxybenzoic acid oxidation of polyimines 5,5′ and 6,6′ ( = 1650–11 200 g mol⁻¹, = 3800–27 350 g mol⁻¹) yields the corresponding polyoxaziridines 7,7′ and 8,8′ consisting of macrocyclic and linear polymeric structures ( = 1750–8050 g mol⁻¹, = 3250–15 800 g mol⁻¹). The synthesized polyoxaziridines are relatively stable and storable at room temperature.     

Determination of thermodynamic properties of macroporous glycidyl methacrylate‐based copolymers by inverse gas chromatography

Macroporous crosslinked poly(glycidyl methacrylate‐co‐ethylene glycol dimethacrylate) (PGME) was synthesized by suspension copolymerization and modified by ring‐opening reaction of the pendant epoxy groups with ethylene diamine (EDA). Inverse gas chromatography (IGC) at infinite dilution was applied to determine the thermodynamic interactions of PGME and modified copolymer, PGME‐en. The specific surface areas of the initial and modified copolymer samples were determined by the BET method, from low‐temperature nitrogen adsorption isotherms. The specific retention volumes, V, of 10 organic compounds of different chemical nature and polarity (nonpolar, donor, or acceptor) were determined in the temperature range 333–413 K. The weight fraction activity coefficients of test sorbates, , and Flory–Huggins interaction parameters, , were calculated and discussed in terms of interactions of sorbates with PGME and PGME‐en. Also, the partial molar free energy, , partial molar heat of mixing, , sorption molar free energy, ΔG, sorption enthalpy ΔH, and sorption entropy, ΔS, were calculated. Glass transitions in PGME and PGME‐en, determined from IGC data, were observed in the temperature range 373–393 K and 363–373 K, respectively. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 43: 2524–2533, 2005     

Lewis acid‐base properties of cellulose acetate butyrate by inverse gas chromatography

The dispersive component of the surface‐free energy, , of cellulose acetate butyrate (CAB) has been determined using the net retention volume, V_N, of n‐alkanes (C₅? C₈) probes in the temperature range 323.15–393.15 K. The values decrease nonlinearly with increase in temperature, and the temperature coefficients of are ? 0.32 (mJ/m²K) and ? 0.10 (mJ/m²K) in the range 323.15–353.15 K and 353.15–393.15 K, respectively. This variation in has been attributed to the structural changes that take place on the surface of CAB at ～353.15 K. The specific components of the enthalpy of adsorption, , and entropy of adsorption, , calculated using V_N of polar solutes are negative. The values are used to evaluate Lewis acidity constant, K_a, and Lewis basicity constant, K_b, for the CAB surface. The K_a and K_b values are found to be 0.126 and 1.109, respectively, which suggest that the surface is predominantly basic. The K_a and K_b results indicate for the necessary surface modifications of CAB which act as biodegradable adsorbent material. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Towards Clathrates: Frozen States of Hydration of tert‐Butylamine

The dilution of tert‐butylamine (tBA) with water and subsequent cooling leads to a large series of different crystalline hydrates by an in situ IR laser melting‐zone procedure. The crystal structures were determined for tBA?n H₂O, with n=0, , 1, 7 , 7 , 9 , 11, and 17. For the two lower hydrates (n= , 1), one‐ and two‐dimensional hydrogen‐bonded networks are formed, respectively. The higher hydrates (n>1) exhibit a clathrate‐like three‐dimensional water framework with the tBA molecules as part of, or sitting inside, the cages. In all cases, tBA is hydrogen‐bonded to the H₂O framework. In the intermediate range (1相似文献   

Multilayer Assemblies Consisting of Tri‐Vanadium‐Substituted Heteropolyanions and Its Electrocatalytic Properties

We describe the controlled fabrication of ultrathin multilayer films consisting of tri‐vanadium‐ substituted heteropolytungstate anions (denoted as P₂W₁₅V₃) and a cationic polymer of quaternized poly (4‐vinylpyridine) partially complexed with osmium bis(2,2′‐bipyridine) (denoted as QPVP‐Os) on the 4‐aminobenzoic acid (4‐ABA) modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE) surface based on layer‐by‐layer assembly. Cyclic voltammetry and UV‐vis absorption spectrometry have been used to easily monitor the thickness and uniformity of thus‐formed multilayer films. The V‐centered redox reaction of P₂W₁₅V₃ in the multilayer films can effectively catalyze the reduction of BrO and NO . The resulting P₂W₁₅V₃/QPVP‐Os multilayer film modified electrode behaves as a much promising electrochemical sensor because of the low overpotential for the catalytic reduction of BrO and NO , and the catalytic oxidation of ascorbic acid.     

Iodostannate(II) mit kettenförmigen [SnI3]–‐Anionen – der Übergang von fünffach zu sechsfach koordinierten SnII‐Zentralatomen

Iodostannates(II) with Anionic [SnI₃]^– Chains – the Transition from Five to Six‐coordinated Sn^II The iodostannates (Me₄N) [SnI₃] ( 1 ), [Et₃N–(CH₂)₄–NEt₃] [SnI₃]₂ ( 2 ), [EtMe₂N–(CH₂)₂–NEtMe₂] [SnI₃]₂ ( 3 ), [Me₂HN–(CH₂)₂–NH–(CH₂)₂–NMe₂H] [SnI₃]₂ ( 4 ), [Et₃N–(CH₂)₆–NEt₃] [SnI₃]₂ ( 5 ) and [Pr₃N–(CH₂)₄–NPr₃]‐ [SnI₃]₂ · 2 DMF ( 6 ) with the same composition of the anionic [SnI₃]^– chains show differences in the coordination of the Sn^II central atoms. Whereas the Sn atoms in 1 and 2 are coordinated in an approximately regular octahedral fashion, in compounds 3 – 6 the continuous transition to coordination number five in (Pr₄N) [SnI₃] ( 7 ) or [Fe(dmf)₆] [SnI₃]₂ ( 8 ) can be observed. Together with the shortening of two or three Sn–I bonds, the bonds in trans position are elongated. Thus weak, long‐range Sn…I interactions complete the distorted octahedral environment of SnI₄ groups in 3 and 4 and SnI₃ groups in 5 and 6 . Obviously the shape, size and charge of the counterions and the related cation‐anion interactions are responsible for the variants in structure and distortion.     

Cationic Graft Copolymers as Carriers for Delivery of Antisense‐Oligonucleotides

Self‐assembling systems based on ionic complexes of DNA fragments (36 base pairs), bcl‐2 antisense oligonucleotides (octadecamer), oligophosphates (25 phosphate groups) or acrylic oligomers (18 groups of phosphonic acid) with poly(L ‐lysine) (PLL) ( = 130 000 and 88 000) grafted with short poly[N‐(2‐hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide] (PHPMA) chains ( = 4 300 or 8 600) were studied by static and dynamic light scattering methods as systems suitable for gene therapy applications. The graft copolymers (GPLLs) with shorter PHPMA grafts ( = 4 300) provide polyelectrolyte complexes (PECs) with smaller and R_H than the corresponding GPLLs with longer grafts ( = 8 600) and the same content of PLL. The lowest aggregation number of 2 was observed for PECs prepared from the GPLL with short grafts and 40 wt.‐% of PLL. The complexes of oligonucleotides and DNA fragments with GPLLs showed quite similar behavior to that with oligophosphates and acrylic oligomer. The complexes prepared from GPLLs containing 40 wt.‐% of PLL and at excess of oligophosphate were stable for at least 48 h under physiological conditions (0.15 M NaCl) and in bovine serum albumin solutions (1 mg · mL^?1). Additionally, polyanion exchange reactions of the PECs in contact with poly(styrenesulfonate) and DNA were studied in 0.15 M NaCl solutions. The oligophosphates in complexes were at least partially substituted with high‐molecular‐weight polyanions. The structure of the initial PECs dominated the PEC structure after the exchange reaction.

The dependence of the molecular weight (a) and the hydrodynamic radius R_H (b) of complexes of the oligophosphate (OPP) and four graft copolymers (GPLLi, i = 0–3) on the mixing ratio X.     

Lamellar Copper(I) Thiocyanate‐Based Coordination Polymers containing the Alkali Cation ligating Thiacrown Ether 1,10‐Dithia‐18‐crown‐6

The lamellar coordination polymer [(CuSCN)₂(μ‐1,10DT18C6)] (1,10DT18C6 = 1,10‐dithia‐18‐crown‐6), in which staircase‐like CuSCN double chains are bridged by thiacrown ether ligands, may be prepared in two triclinic modifications 1 a and 1 b by reaction of CuSCN with 1,10DT18C6 in respectively benzonitrile or water. Performing the reaction in acetonitrile in the presence of an equimolar quantity of KSCN leads, in contrast, to formation of the K⁺ ligating 2‐dimensional thiocyanatocuprate(I) net [{Cu₂(SCN)₃}^–] of 2 , half of whose Cu(I) atoms are connected by 1,10DT18C6 macrocycles. The potassium cations in [{K(CH₃CN)}{Cu₂(SCN)₃(μ‐1,10DT18C6)}] ( 2 ) are coordinated by all six potential donor atoms of a single thiacrown ether in addition to a thiocyanate S and an acetonitrile N atom. Under similar conditions, reaction of CuI, NaSCN and 1,10DT18C6 affords [{Na(CH₃CN)₂}{Cu₄I₄(SCN)(μ‐1,10DT18C6)}] ( 3 ), which contains distorted Cu₄I₄ cubes as characteristic molecular building units. These are bridged by thiocyanate and thiacrown ether ligands into corrugated Na⁺ ligating sheets. In the presence of divalent Ba²⁺ cations, charge compensation requirements lead to formation of discrete [Cu(SCN)₃(1,10DT18C6‐κS)]^2– anions in [Ba{Cu(SCN)₃(1,10DT18C6‐κS)}] ( 4 ).     

Film Growth and Surface Roughness with Effective Fluctuating Covalent Bonds in Evaporating Aqueous Solution of Reactive Hydrophobic and Polar Groups: A Computer Simulation Model

Summary: A computer simulation model is proposed to study film growth and surface roughness in aqueous (A) solution of hydrophobic (H) and hydrophilic (P) groups on a simple three dimensional lattice of size with an adsorbing substrate. Each group is represented by a particle with appropriate characteristics occupying a unit cube (i.e., eight sites). The Metropolis algorithm is used to move each particle stochastically. The aqueous constituents are allowed to evaporate while the concentration of H and P is constant. Reactions proceed from the substrate and bonded particles can hop within a fluctuating bond length. The film thickness ( ) and its interface width ( ) are examined for hardcore and interacting particles for a range of temperature ( ). Simulation data show a rapid increase in and followed by its non‐monotonic growth and decay before reaching steady‐state and near equilibrium ( ) in asymptotic time step limit. The growth can be described by power laws, e.g., with a typical value of in initial time regime followed by at . For hardcore system, the equilibrium film thickness ( ) and surface roughness ( ) seem to scale linearly with the temperature, i.e., at low and at higher . For interacting functional groups in contrast, the long time (unsaturated) film thickness and surface roughness, and decay rapidly followed by a slow increase on raising the temperature.

Growth of the average film thickness at a temperature .     

Shear thinning and polymer deformation in large flow fields

We theoretically investigate polymer deformation and shear thinning, i.e., a decrease of intrinsic viscosity, in a dilute polymer solution as a function of the applied shear rate $ \dot \gamma $. We use a bead-and-spring model with hydrodynamic interaction in the Rouse-Zimm framework, approximately accounting also for excluded-volume effects, and impose a constraint on the average mean-square spring length to prevent its stretching at large $ \dot \gamma $. When suitably normalized, both the intrinsic viscosity [η] and the components of the mean gyration tensor 〈SS〉 depend on the single variable $ \xi = {{\dot \gamma \tau _1^{\left( 0 \right)} } \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {{\dot \gamma \tau _1^{\left( 0 \right)} } {N^{1 - v} }}} \right. \kern-\nulldelimiterspace} {N^{1 - v} }} $ where τ is the longest relaxation time for $ \dot \gamma = 0 $, N is the number of chain springs and v is the Flory exponent. The full shear-rate dependence is obtained numerically, and compared with analytical results obtained under free-draining conditions both for low and for very large shear rates. The shortcomings of the theory are also discussed, in particular a substantial stretching under shear of the central springs, where the intramolecular tension is largest, with a corresponding strong contraction of the end springs due to the average character of the constraint.     

A Fully Substituted 3‐Silolene Functions as Promising Building Block for Hyperbranched Poly(Silylenevinylene)

A 3‐silolene derivative, 2,2,5,5‐tetrakis(dimethylsilyl)‐1,1‐dimethyl‐3,4‐diphenyl‐3‐silolene (TDMSHS), is first synthesized and characterized by X‐ray diffraction crystallography and spectroscopic methods. Hydrosilylation polymerization of TDMSHS with 1,1‐dimethyl‐2,5‐bis(4‐ethynylphenyl)‐3,4‐diphenylsilole in the presence of Karstedt's catalyst generates a stereoregular silole‐containing hyperbranched poly(silylenevinylene) (hb‐SPSV) with a high molecular weight ( = 146 000, / = 1.5) in high yield (≈95%). hb‐SPSV exhibits excellent thermal stability and strong fluorescence, and the emission of its aggregates in aqueous mixture can be quenched efficiently by picric acid with large quenching constants K_SV up to 414400 M ⁻¹.     

Characterization and Miscibility Dynamics of Dextran-Poly(vinylpyrrolidone)-Water System

Summary: The miscibility behavior and intermolecular interactions among Dextran (Dx) with different molecular weight and Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) blends were studied as dilute aqueous solutions at 25 °C by viscosity method. The intrinsic viscosity and the interaction coefficient were experimentally measured for each polymer-water as well as for Dx-PVP-water systems. These results served for the prediction of miscibility of the Dx/PVP blends with various blend compositions by using , , , , and parameters. Except Dx4/PVP with its all compositions (Dx4 with nominal molecular weight of 110 000), other blend systems are found to be almost miscible. The density measurements of these polymer solutions and their blends were conducted in order to compare with the viscosity findings. Lastly, all Dx with different molecular weight, PVP and their blends were characterized by infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC).     

Controlled Synthesis of a Chitosan‐Based Graft Copolymer Having Polysarcosine Side Chains Using the NCA Method with a Carboxylic Acid Additive

Summary: A novel chitosan derivative with polysarcosine side chains, i.e., chitosan‐graft‐polysarcosine [chitosan‐graft‐poly(N‐methylglycine)], was synthesized by ring‐opening polymerization of sarcosine N‐carboxyanhydride (NCA) with chitosan as a macroinitiator in the presence of carboxylic acids in dimethyl sulfoxide at 27 °C. Degree of substitution ( ) for polysarcosine side chains introduced to chitosan was controlled successfully by the feed amount of the additive nicotinic acid ( = 0.21–0.71). Independent of control, degree of polymerization ( ) for polysarcosine side chains was controlled by adjusting feed ratios of NCA monomer to chitosan ( = 14–43). Kinetic analysis of the propagation of sarcosine NCA was conducted by measuring CO₂ evolution. Apparent k_p values decreased with increased feed amounts of nicotinic acid, supporting the theory that propagation of NCA in the presence of nicotinic acid proceeds via equilibrium between active amine and dormant ammonium species.

Propagation mechanism of carboxylic acid‐mediated polymerization of sarcosine N‐carboxyanhydride.     

Selective Detection of Ascorbic Acid Using Octacyanomolybdate‐Doped‐Glutaraldehyde‐Cross‐Linked Poly‐L‐Lysine Film Modified Glassy Carbon Electrode

The present work describes oxidation of ascorbic acid (AA) at octacyanomolybdate‐doped‐glutaraldehyde‐cross‐linked poly‐L ‐lysine (PLL‐GA‐Mo(CN) film modified glassy carbon electrode in 0.1 M H₂SO₄. The modified electrode has been successfully prepared by means of electrostatically trapping Mo(CN) mediator in the cationic film of glutaraldehyde‐cross‐linked poly‐L ‐lysine. The dependence of peak current of modified electrode in pure supporting indicates that the charge transfer in the film was a mixed process at low scan rates (5 to 200 mV s^?1), and kinetically restrained at higher scan rates (200 to 1000 mV s^?1). Cyclic voltammetry and rotating disk electrode (RDE) techniques are used to investigate the electrocatalytic oxidation of ascorbic acid and compared with its oxidation at bare and undoped PLL‐GA film coated electrodes. The rate constant of catalytic reaction k obtained from RDE analysis was found to be 9.5×10⁵ cm³ mol^?1 s^?1. The analytical determination of ascorbic acid has been carried out using RDE technique over the physiological interest of ascorbic acid concentrations with a sensitivity of 75 μA mM^?1. Amperometric estimation of AA in stirred solution shows a sensitivity of 15 μA mM^?1 over the linear concentration range between 50 and 1200 μM. Interestingly, PLL‐GA‐Mo(CN) modified electrode facilitated the oxidation of ascorbic acid but not responded to other electroactive biomolecules such as dopamine, uric acid, NADH, glucose. This unique feature of PLL‐GA‐Mo(CN) modified electrode allowed for the development of a highly selective method for the determination of ascorbic acid in the presence of interferents.     

Amphiphilic Poly(4‐acryloylmorpholine)/Poly[2‐(N‐carbazolyl)ethyl acrylate] Random and Block Copolymers Synthesized by NMP

A series of random copolymers and block copolymers containing water‐soluble 4AM and fluorescent VAK are synthesized by NMP. The homopolymerizations of 4AM and VAK and 4AM/VAK random copolymerization are performed in 50 wt% DMF using 10 mol% SG1, resulting in a linear increase in versus conversion, and final polymers with narrow molecular weight distributions ( < 1.4). Reactivity ratios r_VAK = 0.64 ± 0.52 and r_4AM = 0.86 ± 0.66 are obtained for the 4AM/VAK random copolymerization. In addition, a poly(4AM) macroinitiator is used to initiate a surfactant‐free suspension polymerization of VAK. After 2.5 h, the resulting amphiphilic block copolymer has = 12.6 kg · mol^?1, = 1.48, molar composition F_VAK = 0.38 with latex particle sizes between 270 and 475 nm.