Triple responsive block copolymers combining pH‐responsive,thermoresponsive, and glucose‐responsive behaviors

Polymers with multiple tunable responses were achieved by incorporating boronic acid functionality along the backbone of a thermoresponsive polymer. The inherent Lewis acidity and diol‐sensitivity of boronic acid moieties allowed these polymers to respond to changes in pH and glucose concentration. Through reversible addition‐fragmentation chain transfer copolymerization of boronic acid‐containing monomers with N‐isopropylacrylamide, well‐defined block copolymers were synthesized containing a hydrophilic N,N‐dimethylacrylamide block and a second, responsive block with temperature‐dependent water solubility, making the resulting polymers capable of self‐assembly into nanostructures upon heating. By incorporating boronic acids within the thermoresponsive block, the cloud point of the polymer depended on the solution conditions, including pH and diol concentration, allowing tunable cloud point ranges. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2017 , 55, 2309–2317     

Synthesis and analysis of thermal characteristics of polybenzoxazine based on phenol and 3‐Amino phenyl boronic acid

In this work, 3‐amino phenyl boronic acid (AB) was used as an aniline derivative in the preparation of polybenzoxazine based on phenol. In order to investigate the effect of boronic acid on thermal characteristics, polybenzoxazines based on pure aniline and 50% aniline and AB mixture were also prepared and analyzed. Significant improvements in thermal characteristics, increase in thermal stability and char yield, was recorded for the polymers based on AB or its mixture. This behavior was associated with crosslinked structures generated by condensation reactions of B? OH groups. Morphologic and thermal characteristics of polybenzoxazines samples were investigated by NMR, FTIR, DSC, TGA, and direct pyrolysis mass spectrometry (DP‐MS) techniques. Application of DP‐MS technique also supplied additional information on crosslinked structures produced by boronic acid units. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2019, 57, 1711–1716     

Poly(glyceryl glycerol): A multi‐functional hydrophilic polymer for labeling with boronic acids

The synthesis of poly(glyceryl glycerol) (PGG), a polymer featuring a polyethylene oxide backbone and 1,2‐diol groups in every repeating unit, is presented. PGG was prepared by monomer‐activated ring‐opening polymerization of (dl ?1,2‐isopropylidene glyceryl) glycidyl ether, introducing a functional azido‐ or bromo‐head group to each chain. The 1,2‐diol groups, which were released by acidic deprotection, readily reacted with boronic acid derivatives, enabling the attachment of functional moieties under mild aqueous conditions. PGG was conjugated to poly(l ‐lactide) (PLLA) via azide‐alkyne cycloaddition and the resulting copolymer assembled into nanoparticles of 70 nm diameter in aqueous solution. Labeling of the PGG–PLLA particles was achieved by simple mixing with a boronic acid‐functional fluorophore. The labeling efficiency was determined by fluorescence spectroscopy to be 85.5% for boronic acid‐functional rhodamine B compared with 0.2% for plain rhodamine B. The strong interaction of PGG with boronic acids is ascribed to its polyol structure. This study demonstrates the usefulness and versatility of PGG as a hydrophilic polymer for possible biomedical applications. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2017 , 55 , 1822–1830     

Ultrafine hydrogel fibers with dual temperature‐ and pH‐responsive swelling behaviors

Ultrafine hydrogel fibers that were responsive to both temperature and pH signals were prepared through the electrospinning of poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm) and poly(acrylic acid) mixtures in dimethylformamide. Both the diameters (700 nm to 1.2 μm) and packing of the fibers could be controlled through changes in the polymer compositions and PNIPAAm molecular weights. These fibers were rendered water‐insoluble by the addition of either Na₂HPO₄ or poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) to the solution, followed by the heat curing of the fibers. The fibers crosslinked with Na₂HPO₄ swelled to 30–120 times in water; this was significantly higher than the swelling of those crosslinked with PVA. The PVA‐crosslinked hydrogel fibers, however, exhibited faster swelling kinetics; that is, they reached equilibrium swelling in less than 5 min at 25 °C. They were also more stable after 1 week of water exposure; that is, they lost less mass and retained their fibrous form better. All the hydrogel fibers showed a drastic increase in the swelling between pH 4 and 5. The PVA‐crosslinked hydrogel fibers exhibited distinct temperature‐responsive phase‐transition behavior of PNIPAAm, whereas the Na₂HPO₄‐crosslinked hydrogel fibers showed altered two‐stage phase transitions that reflected side‐chain modification of PNIPAAm. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 6331–6339, 2004     

The glucose‐responsive behavior of a block copolymer featuring boronic acid and glycine

Glucose responsive block copolymer featuring boronic acid as a glucose responsive moiety and glycine are reported. The first block is polymerized through reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization and the resulting poly(N‐acryloylmorpholine)₁₁₃ (PAcM) is employed as a macro‐chain transfer agent for chain extension with pentafluorophenyl acrylate (PFPA) yielding a well‐defined PAcM₁₁₃‐block‐poly(pentafluorophenyl acrylate)₈₄ (PPFPA). The PPFPA block is then reacted with functional (3‐aminomethyl) phenyl boronic acid and glycine via post‐polymerization modification and the structure of the block copolymer is confirmed by proton nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), ¹⁹F NMR, Fourier transform infrared, and gel permeation chromatography. By copolymerizing glycine into the polymer backbone, the relative pK_a of the block copolymer is significantly lowered. The block copolymer can self‐assemble into core–shell micelles in aqueous solution and disassemble in response to glucose at the physiological pH. Furthermore, the encapsulation and release of Nile red (NR) as a hydrophobic model drug is studied under the physiological pH. The influence of the glucose concentration on the NR release from the polymeric micelles is demonstrated. These results suggested that the glucose‐responsive poly[(AcM)₁₁₃‐b‐(3‐(aminomethyl)phenylboronic acid hydrochloride(‐co‐Gly)₈₄] block copolymer has potential applications as a glucose‐responsive polymer for insulin delivery. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2019 , 57, 422–431     

Novel nucleotide‐responsive hydrogels designed from copolymers of boronic acid and cationic units and their applications as a QCM resonator system to nucleotide sensing

Hydrogels comprised of boronic acid monomer (3), cationic monomer (4), and crosslinker monomer (5) were prepared by radical copolymerization. These hydrogels could efficiently bind nucleotides such as AMP and ATP by a cooperative action of the boronic acid‐cis‐diol complexation and the electrostatic interaction between the cationic unit and the phosphate group. The binding processes were conveniently monitored by the swelling and deswelling behaviors of these hydrogels in aqueous solution. For the hydrogel with the specific monomer composition an interesting “charge inversion” was observable: with increasing AMP or ATP concentration, the cation‐rich hydrogel was gradually charge neutralized, once shrunken at the neutral stage, and then swollen again because of the anion‐rich charge state. These nucleotide‐induced swelling and deswelling phenomena were reproduced on the gold surface of a QCM resonator. Therefore, the present system is not only interesting to consider nucleotide‐induced mechanochemical properties, but also applicable as a sensor to the nucleotide detection. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 1302–1310, 2000     

Radiation effects on the thermal degradation of poly(vinyl chloride) and poly(vinyl alcohol)

Radiation effects on the formation of conjugated double bonds in the thermal degradation of poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) and poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) were investigated. Thin films of PVC and PVA were either irradiated with γ-rays at ambient temperature (pre-irradiation) and then subjected to thermal treatment, or irradiated at elevated temperatures (in situ irradiation). An extensive enhancement of the thermal degradation was observed for the pre-irradiation of the PVC films, which was more effective than the effect of the in situ irradiation at the same absorption dose. For the PVA degradation, however, the effect of the in situ irradiation was larger than that of the pre-irradiation. The results were explained and related mechanisms were discussed based on radiation-induced chemical reactions and their individual contributions to the thermal degradation behaviors of the two polymers. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 36: 3089–3095, 1998     

Swelling behavior of thermosensitive polyvinyl alcohol-graft-N-isopropylacrylamide copolymer membranes containing carboxyl groups and properties of their polymer solutions

The thermosensitive polyvinyl alcohol-graft-N-isopropylacrylamide–methacrylic acid (PVA-g-NIPAAm–MAc) terpolymer membranes containing carboxyl groups were prepared. The swelling ratios of the membranes were measured at various temperatures. The temperature dependence of the swelling ratios of the terpolymer membranes was different from that of PVA-g-NIPAAm copolymer membranes. The swelling ratios of PVA-g-NIPAAm–MAc (5–15) (wt % in feed) increased with increasing temperature up to 35–38°C, then decreased. However, the swelling ratio of PVA-g-NIPAAm–MAc (30–50) terpolymer membranes did not depend on temperature in the temperature range of 10–48°C. To clarify the swelling behavior of the PVA-g-NIPAAm–MAc terpolymer membranes, the swelling ratios of the PVA-g-NIPAAm–Acrylic acid (AAc) terpolymer membranes, the viscosity, and optical density of various polymer solutions were measured. The different swelling behavior of PVA-g-NIPAAm–MAc (or AAc) terpolymer membranes from that of PVA–NIPAAm copolymer membranes was thought to be due to hydrogen bonding between amide groups in NIPAAm moieties and carboxyl groups in MAc (or AAc) moieties in the terpolymer membranes and the difference of swelling behavior between PVA-g-NIPAAm–MAc and PVA-g-NIPAAm–AAc terpolymer membranes was thought to be brought about by hydrophobic interaction due to methyl groups in PVA-g-NIPAAm–MAc terpolymer membranes. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 36: 3097–3106, 1998     

Fluorescence Spectral Studies on the Coordination of Calix[4]‐arenes Bearing Boronic Acid Moieties with Monosaccharides

Coordination of ten calix[4]arenes bearing boronic acid moieties with five monosaccharides was studied by fluorescence spectrometry. The stability constants (K₂) of the complexes and Gibbs free energy change ( ‐ ΔG⁰) of the coordination reactions were calculated according to the modified Hilderbrand‐Benesi equation. The results obtained indicated that the coordination ability of D‐( ‐ )‐fructose with calix[4] arenes bearing boronic acid moieties was stronger than that of the other monosaccharides. And these calix[4]arene derivatives might be used for identification of L‐( ‐ )‐sorbose.     

Thermodynamic and structural study of complexation of phenylboronic acid with salicylhydroxamic acid and related ligands

Stability constants of boronate complexes with a highly efficient bioconjugation ligand salicylhydroxamic acid, its derivatives and some structurally related compounds were determined by potentiometric and spectroscopic titrations at variable pH allowing one to obtain detailed stability – pH profiles and to identify the optimum pH for complexation with each ligand. The N,O‐binding of salicylhydroxamic acid via condensation of boronic acid with phenolic OH and hydroxamic NH groups was established by crystal structure determination of isolated complexes with phenylboronic and 4‐nitrophenylboronic acids. Although this type of binding is impossible for N‐methylated salicylhydroxamic acid it still forms stable boronate complexes supposedly involving unusual 7‐membered –O‐B‐O‐ cycle supported by ¹H NMR studies. Hydroxamic acids lacking ortho‐OH group and salicyloyl hydrazide form less stable boronate complexes, which nevertheless possess stabilities similar to those of catechole complexes and may be useful for conjugation applications. In contrast to other ligands, which form tetrahedral anionic complexes, salicylamidoxime forms tetrahedral, but neutral boronate complex with high stability in weakly acid solutions. The highest affinity in neutral and acid solutions surpassing that of salicylhydroxamic acid is observed with 2,6‐dihydroxybenzhydroxamic acid (K_obs = 5.2 × 10⁴ at pH 7.4). Fairly stable mono‐ and bisboronate complexes are formed with 2,5‐dihydroxy‐1,4‐benzdihydroxamic acid, which also possesses intense fluorescence and may serve as a boronic acid sensor with detection limit 4 μM. Results presented in this study provide quantitative basis for rational applications of hydroxamic acid derivatives in bioconjugation and sensing.     

Universal Reaction Mechanism of Boronic Acids with Diols in Aqueous Solution: Kinetics and the Basic Concept of a Conditional Formation Constant

To establish a detailed reaction mechanism for the condensation between a boronic acid, RB(OH)₂, and a diol, H₂L, in aqueous solution, the acid dissociation constants (${K{{{\rm BL}\hfill \atop {\rm a}\hfill}}}$ ) of boronic acid diol esters (HBLs) were determined based on the well‐established concept of conditional formation constants of metal complexes. The pK_a values of HBLs were 2.30, 2.77, and 2.00 for the reaction systems, 2,4‐difluorophenylboronic acid and chromotropic acid, 3‐nitrophenylboronic acid and alizarin red S, and phenylboronic acid and alizarin red S, respectively. A general and precise reaction mechanism of RB(OH)₂ with H₂L in aqueous solution, which can serve as a universal reaction mechanism for RB(OH)₂ and H₂L, was proposed on the basis of (a) the relative kinetic reactivities of the RB(OH)₂ and its conjugate base, that is, the boronate ion, toward H₂L, and (b) the determined pK_a values of HBLs. The use of the conditional formation constant, K′, based on the main reaction: RB(OH)₂+H₂L ${{\mathop \leftrightarrow \limits ^{K{_{1}}}_{}}}$ RB(L)(OH)^?+H₃O⁺ instead of the binding constant has been proposed for the general reaction of uncomplexed boronic acid species (B′) with uncomplexed diol species (L′) to form boronic acid diol complex species (esters, BL′) in aqueous solution at pH 5–11: B′+L′ ${{\mathop \leftrightarrow \limits ^{K{^\prime}}_{}}}$ BL′. The proposed reaction mechanism explains perfectly the formation of boronic acid diol ester in aqueous solution.     

Synthesis and characterization of high molecular weight branched PBA

We prepared carboxylic acid group terminated linear polybutylene adipate (PBA) by melt polycondensation of adipic acid with 1,4‐butanediol in the presence of titanium(IV) isopropoxide (TIP) as a catalyst. High molecular weight branched PBAs were synthesized through the branching reaction between the carboxylic acid group terminated PBA and branching agent such as glycerol or pentaerythritol in the presence of TIP. The weight‐average molecular weights of the branched PBAs were found to be in the range of about 100,000–240,000 by gel permeation chromatography. Mechanical properties of the linear and branched PBAs were measured on an Instron tensile tester. The moduli of the branched PBAs had lower values of 320–450 MPa than those of the linear PBAs, whereas the elongations at break of the branched PBAs were in the range of 530–590%, which are much greater than the linear PBAs. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 39: 2143–2150, 2001     

Blends of polyester having amino sulfonic acid moieties with poly(vinyl alcohol) and their metal complex formation

Polyester having amino sulfonic acid moieties (TBES) was prepared by a liquid/solid biphase polycondensation of terephthaloyl chloride (TPC) and N,N-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)-2-aminoethanesulfonic acid (BES) in trimethyl phosphate (TMP) using triethylamine (TEA) as an acid acceptor. Blends of TBES with PVA and their metal complexes with Ni²⁺ and Co²⁺ ions were prepared. A strong interaction was observed between TBES and PVA. An electric conductivity of 10⁻⁶ S cm⁻¹ was attained for the blend films containing about 5 wt % water. A coordination structure with two chelate rings is proposed for the metal complex with Ni²⁺ and Co²⁺ ions when the molar ratio of amino sulfonic acid groups in TBES to metal ions is larger than 2. Polymer blends complexed with Ni²⁺ or Co²⁺ ions result in semi-interpenetrating polymer networks from chelate formation. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 35 : 3561–3569, 1997     

Preparation of water‐soluble,syndiotacticity‐rich,low molecular weight poly(vinyl alcohol) microfibrils in high yields with the low‐temperature polymerization of vinyl pivalate in tetrahydrofuran and saponification

To prepare water‐soluble, syndiotacticity‐rich poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) microfibrils for various industrial applications, we synthesized syndiotacticity‐rich, low molecular weight PVA by the solution polymerization of vinyl pivalate (VPi) in tetrahydrofuran (THF) at low temperatures with 2,2′‐azobis(2,4‐dimethylvaleronitrile) (ADMVN) as an initiator and successive saponification of poly(vinyl pivalate) (PVPi). Effects of the initiator and monomer concentrations and the polymerization temperature were investigated in terms of the polymerization behaviors and molecular structures of PVPi and the corresponding syndiotacticity‐rich PVA. The polymerization rate of VPi in THF was proportional to the 0.91 power of the ADMVN concentration, indicating the heterogeneous nature of THF polymerization. The low‐temperature solution polymerization of VPi in THF with ADMVN proved to be successful in obtaining water‐soluble PVA with a number‐average degree of polymerization (P_n) of 300–900, a syndiotactic dyad content of 60–63%, and an ultimate conversion of VPi into PVPi of over 75%. Despite the low molecular weight of PVA with P_n = 800, water‐soluble PVA microfibrillar fibers were prepared because of the high level of syndiotacticity. In contrast, for PVA with P_n = 330, shapeless and globular morphologies were observed, indicating that molecular weight has an important role in the in situ fibrillation of syndiotacticity‐rich PVA. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 1103–1111, 2002     

Solution,thermal and optical properties of new poly(pyridinium salt)s derived from conjugated quinoline diamines

Several new poly(pyridinium salt)s with quinoline diamine moieties in their backbones with tosylate and triflimide counterion were prepared by either a ring‐transmutation polymerization reaction with bis(pyrylium tosylate) with a series of isomeric quinoline diamines in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) for 48 h at 130–140 °C or a metathesis reaction of the tosylate polymers with lithium triflimide in DMSO at about 60 °C. Their chemical structures were confirmed by FTIR, ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy, and elemental analysis. Their number‐average molecular weights (M_n) were in the range of 18,000–58,000, and their polydispersities were in the range of 1.12–1.53 as determined by gel permeation chromatography. They had thermal stability in the temperature range of 353–455 °C and glass‐transition temperatures >240 °C. They had good solubility in common organic solvents and were characterized with polarizing optical microscopy (POM) studies for their lyotropic liquid‐crystalline properties. Their light‐emission properties were examined by spectrofluorometry in both the solution and film states. Their quantum yields were also determined. Additionally, their morphologies in the thin‐film states and melt‐drawn fibers were examined with POM, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy techniques. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011     

Pyrene functional poly(vinyl alcohol) by “click” chemistry

Side‐chain pyrene functional poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) was synthesized by using “click chemistry” strategy. First, partial tosylation of PVA with p‐toluene sulfonyl chloride were performed. The resulting PVA‐Ts polymer was then quantitatively converted into poly(vinyl alcohol)‐azide (PVA‐N₃) in the presence of NaN₃/DMF at 60 °C. Propargyl pyrene was prepared independently as a photoactive click component. Finally, azido functionalized PVA was coupled to propargyl pyrene with high efficiency by click chemistry. Incorporation of pyrene functionality in the resulting polymer was confirmed by spectral analysis. It is also shown that pyrene functionalized PVA (PVA‐Py) exhibited characteristic fluorescence properties and improved solubility in highly polar solvents such as water, DMSO, and DMF as well as less polar solvent such as THF compared with pristine PVA. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 1317–1326, 2009     

Synthesis and characterization of biodegradable poly(L-aspartic acid-co-PEG)

The melt polycondensation reaction of the prepolymer prepared from N-(benzyloxycarbonyl)-L -aspartic acid anhydride (N-CBz-L -aspartic acid anhydride) and low molecular weight poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) using titanium isopropoxide (TIP) as a catalyst produced the new biodegradable poly(L -aspartic acid-co-PEG). This new copolymer had pendant amine functional groups along the polymer backbone chain. The optimal reaction conditions for the preparation of the prepolymer were obtained by using a 0.12 mol % of p-toluenesulfonic acid with PEG 200 for 48 h. The weight-average molecular weight of the prepolymer increased from 1,290 to 31,700 upon melt polycondensation for 6 h at 130°C under vacuum using 0.5 wt % TIP as a catalyst. The synthesized monomer, prepolymer, and copolymer were characterized by FTIR, ¹H- and ¹³C-NMR, and UV spectrophotometers. Thermal properties of the prepolymer and the protected copolymer were measured by DSC. The glass transition temperature (T_g) of the prepolymer shifted to a significantly higher temperature with increasing molecular weight via melt polycondensation reaction, and no melting temperature was observed. The in vitro hydrolytic degradation of these poly(L -aspartic acid-co-PEG) was measured in terms of molecular weight loss at different times and pHs at 37°C. This pH-dependent molecular weight loss was due to a simple hydrolysis of the backbone ester linkages and was characterized by more rapid rates of hydrolysis at an alkaline pH. These new biodegradable poly(L -aspartic acid-co-PEG)s may have potential applications in the biomedical field. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 36: 2949–2959, 1998     

Mechanical properties and structure of the zone‐drawn poly(L‐lactic acid) fibers

The zone‐drawing (ZD) method was applied three times to the melt‐spun poly(L ‐lactic acid) (PLLA) fibers of low molecular weight (M_v = 13,100) at different temperatures under various tensions. The mechanical properties and superstructure of the ZD fibers were investigated. The resulting ZD‐3 fiber had a draw ratio of 10.5, birefringence of 37.31 × 10⁻³, and crystallinity of 37%, while an orientation factor of crystallites remarkably increased to 0.985 by the ZD‐1. The Young's modulus and tensile strength of the ZD‐3 fiber respectively attained 9.1 GPa and 275 MPa, and the dynamic storage modulus was 10.4 GPa at room temperature. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 37: 991–996, 1999     

Brønsted Acid and H-Bond Activation in Boronic Acid Catalysis

Boronic acid catalysis has emerged as a mild method for promoting a wide variety of reactions. It has been proposed that the mode of catalysis involves Lewis acid or covalent activation of hydroxyl groups by boron, but limited mechanistic evidence exists. In this work, representative boronic acid catalyzed reactions of alcohols and oximes have been reinvestigated. A series of control experiments with boronic and Brønsted acids were interpreted along with correlations between their reactivity and their acidity measured by the Gutmann–Beckett method. Overall, it was concluded that the major modes of catalysis involve either dual H-bond catalysis or Brønsted acid catalysis. Strong Brønsted acids were shown to be generated in situ from covalent assembly of the boronic acids with hexafluoroisopropanol, explaining why the solvent had such a major impact on the reactivity. This new insight should guide the future development of boronic acid catalysis, where the diverse and solvent-specific nature of catalytic modes has been overlooked.     

New polymer syntheses. XCVI. Star-shaped LC-polyesters derived from β-(4-hydroxyphenyl)propionic acid and 4-hydroxybenzoic acid

Star-shaped polyesters were prepared by polycondensation of tetraacetoxyspirobis(indane) and a 1 : 1 mixture of silylated β-(4-acetoxyphenyl)propionic acid and silylated 4-acetoxybenzoic acid. The lengths of the star arms were systematically varied, and the influence of the star center on the stability of the nematic phase was studied. It was found that on the average more than 10 monomer units per star arm are required to stabilize a homogeneous LC-phase. Furthermore, a second class of star-shaped polyesters consisting of β-(4-hydroxyphenyl)propionic acid (HPPA), 4-hydroxybenzoic acid (HBA), and 6-hydroxy-2-naphthoic acid (HNA) was prepared. This ternary copolyester proved to reduce the crystallinity but to stabilize the LC-character. A homogeneous nematic melt was obtained with 6 monomer units per star arm. This interpretation is based on optical microscopy which provides a static picture of the biphasic situation. Therefore, a preliminary study of the melt rheology was included, which proved that the typical LC-character of the melt was detectable ateven shorter star arms due to the shear orientation. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 36: 1387–1395, 1998