On the Kinetics of Heterogeneous Free Radical Crosslinking Polymerization1)

Abstract

In this paper, two oximato complexes, mononuclear [Cu(Hdmg)₂] and binuclear [Cu₂(Hdmg)₂(H₂dmg)]ClO₄ · H₂O (H₂dmg: dimethylglyoxime), were synthesized and characterized. Hydrolyses of carboxyl acid esters, p‐nitrophenyl picolinate (PNPP) and p‐nitrophenyl acetate (PNPA), catalyzed by these two complexes were investigated in different micellar systems in the pH range from 6.58–8.65 at 25°C. The results obtained indicate that these two complexes exhibit good catalytic function. It also appears that both complexes accelerate the hydrolytic cleavage of PNPP and PNPA in cationic CTAB micellar solution faster than that in nonionic Brij35 micellar solution, which may be due to the different coordinating ability of substrates to complexes and electrostatic interaction between micelles and complexes. For binuclear Cu(II), the rate constant (k _N) for the hydrolysis of PNPA is about two times larger than that for PNPP in CTAB micellar solution, while in Brij35 micellar solution, the k _N values for PNPA and PNPP are roughly the same. This small difference may be ascribed to the configurations of intermediates formed during the reaction and electrostatic interaction between micelles and reactants.     

Effect of dicationic gemini surfactants 16–s‐16 (s = 4, 5, 6) on the ninhydrin‐dipeptide (glycyl‐tyrosine) reaction

The effect of dicationic gemini surfactants H₃₃C₁₆(CH₃)₂N⁺‐(CH₂)_s‐N⁺(CH₃)₂ C₁₆H₃₃, 2Br^? (s= 4, 5, 6) on the reaction of a dipeptide glycyl–tyrosine (Gly–Tyr) with ninhydrin has been studied spectrophotometrically at 70°C and pH 5.0. The reaction follows first‐ and fractional‐order kinetics, respectively, in [Gly–Tyr] and [ninhydrin]. The gemini surfactant micellar media are comparatively more effective than their single chain–single head counterpart cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) micelles. Whereas typical rate constant (k_Ψ) increase and leveling‐off regions, just like CTAB, are observed with geminis, the latter produces a third region of increasing k_Ψ at higher concentrations. This subsequent increase is ascribed to the change in the micellar morphology of the geminis. The pseudophase model of micelles was used to quantitatively analyze the k_Ψ ? [gemini] data, wherein the micellar‐binding constants K_S for [Gly–Tyr] and K_N for ninhydrin were evaluated. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 44: 800–809, 2012     

The Impact of Surfactants on FeIII–TAML‐Catalyzed Oxidations by Peroxides: Accelerations,Decelerations, and Loss of Activity

Iron(III) complexes of tetraamidato macrocyclic ligands (TAMLs), [Fe{4‐XC₆H₃‐1,2‐(NCOCMe₂NCO)₂CR₂}(OH₂)]^?, 1 ( 1 a : X=H, R=Me; 1 b : X=COOH, R=Me); 1 c : X=CONH(CH₂)₂COOH, R=Me; 1 d : CONH(CH₂)₂NMe₂, R=Me; 1 e : X=CONH(CH₂)₂NMe₃⁺, R=Me; 1 f : X=H, R=F), have been tested as catalysts for the oxidative decolorization of Orange II and Sudan III dyes by hydrogen peroxide and tert‐butyl hydroperoxide in the presence of micelles that are neutral (Triton X‐100), positively charged (cetyltrimethylammonium bromide, CTAB), and negatively charged (sodium dodecyl sulfate, SDS). The previously reported mechanism of catalysis involves the formation of an oxidized intermediate from 1 and ROOH (k_I) followed by dye bleaching (k_II). The micellar effects on k_I and k_II have been separately studied and analyzed by using the Berezin pseudophase model of micellar catalysis. The largest micellar acceleration in terms of k_I occurs for the 1 a ? tBuOOH? CTAB system. At pH 9.0–10.5 the rate constant k_I increased by approximately five times with increasing CTAB concentration and then gradually decreased. There was no acceleration at higher pH, presumably owing to the deprotonation of the axial water ligand of 1 a in this pH range. The k_I value was only slightly affected by SDS (in the oxidation of Orange II), but was strongly decelerated by Triton X‐100. No oxidation of the water‐insoluble, hydrophobic dye Sudan III was observed in the presence of the SDS micelles. The k_II value was accelerated by cationic CTAB micelles when the hydrophobic primary oxidant tert‐butyl hydroperoxide was used. It is hypothesized that tBuOOH may affect the CTAB micelles and increase the binding of the oxidized catalysts. The tBuOOH? CTAB combination accelerated both of the catalysis steps k_I and k_II.     

A Dipleiadiene‐Embedded Aromatic Saddle Consisting of 86 Carbon Atoms

This study presents a new type of negatively curved nanographene (C₈₆H₃₂) that contains an unprecedented pattern of heptagons. A tert‐butylated derivative of C₈₆H₃₂ was successfully synthesized using tetrabenzodipleiadiene as a key building block. This synthesis involved a ring expansion reaction as a key step to form the seven‐membered rings in the framework of tetrabenzodipleiadiene. The single‐crystal structure reveals a saddle‐shaped molecule with a highly bent naphthalene moiety at the center of the polycyclic backbone. As found from the DFT calculations, this aromatic saddle is flexible at room temperature and has a saddle‐shaped geometry as the dominant conformation. The DFT calculations along with experimental results show that the attachment of t‐butyl groups to the central tetrabenzodipleiadiene moiety of nanographene C₈₆H₃₂ can stabilize the saddle conformation and make this nanographene less flexible.     

Monodisperse Cylindrical Micelles of Controlled Length with a Liquid‐Crystalline Perfluorinated Core by 1D “Self‐Seeding”

Precise control over the morphology and dimensions of block copolymer (BCP) micelles has attracted interest due to the potential of this approach to generate functional nanostructures. Incorporation of liquid crystalline (LC) block can provide additional ways to vary micellar morphologies, but the formation of uniform micelles with controllable dimensions from LC BCPs has not yet been realized. Herein, we report the preparation of monodisperse cylindrical micelles with a LC poly(2‐(perfluorooctyl)ethyl methacrylate (PFMA) core via a fragmentation‐thermal annealing (F‐TA) process, resembling the “self‐seeding” process of crystalline BCP micelles. The average length of the cylinders increases with annealing temperature, with a narrow length distribution (L_w/L_n<1.1). We also demonstrate the potential application of the cylinders with LC cores as a cargo‐carrier by the successful incorporation of a hydrophobic fluorescent dye tagged with a fluorooctyl group.     

Aggregation processes in self-associating polymer systems: Computer simulation study of micelles in the superstrong segregation regime

We present the results of extensive molecular dynamics and Monte Carlo studies of the self-organization in the solution of short polymer chains with strongly attracting head groups at their end. The formation of micelles (multiplets) is studied in detail. Both two dimensional (2d) and three-dimensional (3d) systems are considered. The off-lattice and lattice models under study incorporate physical factors which control micelle structure and growth in the so-called superstrong segregation regime. These factors include (i) conformational effects associated with short-range excluded-volume interaction between the tails of flexible-chain molecules and (ii) very strong attraction of head groups. Our computer simulations of 3d micelles, constructed a priori from chains with strong attraction of head groups (with the characteristic energy ≈ 10 k_BT), show that size and shape of the micellar core depends crucially on the radius r_c of the interaction of head-groups. If the value of r_c is comparable with chain length, then micelles of nearly spherical shape emerges. The decrease of r_c can induce a sharp polymorphic transition from the micellar core which is spheric in shape to a disk-like (bilayer-shaped) aggregate. Such molecular organization differs from the commonly held notion of a radially symmetric micellar core. On the other hand, these findings fall into line with a recent theory of the super strong segregation regime. When the starting configuration is a random one (i.e., no micelles were a priori formed) the type of final microstructures, emerging as a result of micellization in the superstrong segregation regime, also depends essentially on the radius of head-head attraction. In the case of three-dimensional systems and/or short range attractive potentials we always obtain many small spherically shaped aggregates which, once formed at initial stages of micellization, remain stable for all time scales. Such a behavior is due to both the strong head-head attraction and the screening (repulsive) action of micellar shells creating insurmountable potential barriers. As a result, we deal with kinetically “frozen-in” microstructures which are not reversible and cannot exchange molecules with one another. In dense systems, we observe the formation of a (quasi) periodic pattern of alternating microdomains.     

Micellar Catalysis of Composite Reactions II. The Effect of CTAB Micelles on the Alkaline Fading of Malachite Green

The alkaline fading of malachite green, which is interpreted as parallel first order and second order reactions, has been studied in cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) micellar solution at 25°C using spectrophotometry. A micellar catalytic model is proposed in this paper for constant concentration of hydroxideion. For this model, the first order and the second order rate constants in CTAB micellar phase,k_1m and k_2m have been obtained.

The experimental results indicate that the first order reaction of malachite green cation with water is catalysed by CTAB micelles while the second order reaction of malachite green cation with hydroxide ion is inhibited by CTAB micelles. The first order rate constant in CTAB micellar phase, k_1m , is 210 times of that in the bulk phase, but the second order rate constant in CTAB micellar phase, k_2m , is 0. 166 time of that in the bulk phase. The results are interpreted mostly in relation to the micellar micropolarity and electrostatic interaction. @Keywords: Micelle, Micellar catalysis, Parallel first order and seond order reactions, Malachite green     

Effects of Micellar Aggregates on the Kinetics and Mechanism of the Reaction between 4‐Nitrobenzenediazonium Ions and Some Amino Acids

We have explored the kinetics and mechanism of the reaction between 4‐nitrobenzenediazonium ions (4NBD), and the hydrophilic amino acids (AA) glycine and serine in the presence and absence of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) micellar aggregates by means of UV/VIS spectroscopy. The observed rate constants k_obs were obtained by monitoring the disappearance of 4NBD with time at a suitable wavelength under pseudo‐first‐order conditions. In aqueous acid (buffer‐controlled) solution, in the absence of SDS, the dependence of k_obs on [AA] was obtained from the linear relationship found between the experimental rate constant and [AA]. At a fixed amino acid concentration, k_obs values show an inverse dependence on acidity in the range of pH 5–6, suggesting that the reaction takes place through the nonprotonated amino group of the amino acid. All kinetic evidence is consistent with an irreversible bimolecular reaction with k=2390±16 and 376±7 M ^?1 s^?1 for glycine and serine, respectively. Addition of SDS inhibits the reaction because of the micellar‐induced separation of reactants originated by the electrical barrier imposed by the SDS micelles; k_obs values are depressed by factors of 10 (glycine) and 6 (serine) on going from [SDS]=0 up to [SDS]=0.05M . The hypothesis of a micellar‐induced separation of the reactants was confirmed by ¹H‐NMR spectroscopy, which was employed to investigate the location of 4NBD in the micellar aggregate: the results showed that the aromatic ring of the arenediazonium ion is predominantly located in the vicinity of the C(β) atom of the surfactant chain, and hence the reactive ? N group is located in the Stern layer of the micellar aggregate. The kinetic results can be quantitatively interpreted in terms of the pseudophase kinetic model, allowing estimations of the association constant of 4NBD to the SDS micelles.     

Study of the bromide oxidation by bromate in zwitterionic micellar solutions

The redox reaction Br⁻ + BrO₃⁻ has been studied in aqueous zwitterionic micellar solutions of N‐tetradecyl‐N, N‐dimethyl‐3‐ammonio‐1‐propanesulfonate, SB3‐14, and N‐hexadecyl‐N,N‐dimethyl‐3‐ammonio‐1‐propanesulfonate, SB3‐16. A simple expression for the observed rate constant, k_obs, based on the pseudophase model, could explain the influences of changes in the surfactant concentration on k_obs. The kinetic effect of added NaClO₄ on the reaction rate in SB3‐14 micellar solutions has also been studied. They were rationalized by considering the binding of the perchlorate anions to the sulfobetaine micelles and their competition with the reactive bromide ions for the micellar surface. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 32: 388–394, 2000     

Micellar and salt effects on the interaction of [Cu(II)‐Gly‐Gly]+ with ninhydrin

The effect of cationic micelles of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) on the kinetics of interaction of copper dipeptide complex [Cu(II)‐Gly‐Gly]⁺ with ninhydrin has been studied spectrophotometrically at 70°C and pH 5.0. The reaction follows first‐ and fractional‐order kinetics, respectively, in complex and ninhydrin. The reaction is catalyzed by CTAB micelles, and the maximum rate enhancement is about twofold. The results obtained in the micellar medium are treated quantitatively in terms of the kinetic pseudophase and Piszkiewicz models. The rate constants (k_obs or k_Ψ), micellar‐binding constants (k_S for [Cu(II)‐Gly‐Gly]⁺, k_N for ninhydrin), and index of cooperativity (n) have been evaluated. A mechanism is proposed in accordance with the experimental results. The influence of different inorganic (NaCl, NaBr, Na₂SO₄) and organic (NaBenz, NaSal) salts on the reaction rate has also been seen, and it is found that tightly bound/incorporated counterions are the most effective. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 39: 556–564, 2007     

Lyotropic liquid crystalline phase behavior of amphiphilic monomers and polymers having a rod-like hydrophobic moiety

Distinct changes in the lyotropic mesophase behaviour of nonionic polyethyleneglycol containing amphiphiles are observed, when rigid, rod-like molecular units are introduced into the hydrophobic part of these amphiphiles, or when the amphiphiles are added as side chains to poly(methylhydrogene siloxane), yielding amphiphilic side chain polymers. Low molar mass amphiphiles with a dominating rigid, rod-like hydrophobic unit form planar-like micelles which aggregate into lamellar mesophases. Compared with their corresponding low molar mass amphiphiles, amphiphilic side chain polymers show a distinct stabilization of mesophases composed of anisometric micelles, i.e. hexagonal H₁-phases (built up by rod shaped micelles), and lamellar L -phases (built up by planarshaped micelles). In addition, several of the polymeric amphiphiles exhibit the formation of a lyotropic nematic N_c-phase regime. Optically isotropic I₁-phases composed of approximately spherical-like micelles are, on the other hand, disfavoured by the polymerfixation. Investigations of monodisperse amphiphilic side chain oligomers reveal a linear relationship between the thermal stability of the individual mesophases and the logarithm of the degree of polymerization. Changes in mesophase behaviour, due to the introduction of rigid, rod-like molecular units into the hydrophobic part of the low molar mass amphiphiles, are ascribed to packing restraints of the amphiphiles in the micelles. Alterations in mesophase behaviour which occur as a consequence of polymerfixation are discussed in terms of changes in micellar kinetics, packing restraints, and changes in the interaction between adjacent hydrophobic layers of neighbouring micelles.     

1,3‐Dipolar Cycloaddition of Diazo Compounds to Electron‐Deficient Alkenes: Kinetics and Mechanism of Formation of Dimethyl‐4,5‐dihydro‐1H‐pyrazol‐3,5‐dicarboxylate

1,3‐Dipolar cycloaddition of methyl diazoacetate to methyl acrylate was investigated by kinetic ¹Н NMR spectroscopy. It was established that the mechanism of the process includes parallel formation of trans‐ and cis‐dimethyl‐4,5‐dihydro‐3H‐pyrazol‐3,5‐dicarboxylates as a result of [3 + 2]‐cycloaddition of methyl diazoacetate to methyl acrylate; the corresponding rate constants were denoted k_1t and k_1c. The reaction rate of the isomerization of 3Н‐pyrazolines to 4,5‐dihydro‐1H‐pyrazol‐3,5‐dicarboxylate (3Н → 1Н‐pyrazoline rearrangement) was found to be sensitive to both the methyl acrylate (k_2t, k_2c) and 1Н‐pyrazoline concentrations (k_3t, k_3c). Kinetic analysis showed that the proposed scheme is valid for various reagent concentrations. The numerical solution of the system of differential equations corresponded to the reaction scheme and was used to determine the complete set of reaction rate constants (k (× 10⁵ M^–1·s^–1), 298 K; solvent, benzene‐d₆): k_1t = 2.3 ± 0.3, k_1c = 1.6 ± 0.2, k_2t = 1.1 ± 0.3, k_2c = 1.8 ± 0.5, k_3t = 1.2 ± 0.4, k_3c = 2.2 ± 0.7.     

Effect of dioctyl sulfide on the kinetics of oxidative dissolution of gold nanoparticles in triton N-42 reverse micelles

The effect of additions of hydrophobic dioctyl sulfide (L) on the kinetics of dissolution of gold nanoparticles in the interaction with a dispersed aqueous hydrochloric solution of H₂O₂ in Triton N-42 reverse micelles (decane was the dispersion medium) was studied spectrophotometrically. The process consists of a two-stage oxidation Au⁰ → AuCl₂⁻ → AuCl₄⁻ at the surface of gold particles; the first stage occurs in two ways: a spontaneous reaction and an autocatalytic reaction involving AuCl₄⁻ ions. With small additions of L (c _L < c _Au), only spontaneous oxidation of Au(0) to Au(I) takes place because Au(I) is completely bound in an inert complex AuLCl. When unbound L is exhausted, the newly formed AuLCl is accumulated in micellar shells, changes the properties of the medium inside the micelles, and affects the rate constant of the autocatalytic reaction, which increases with increasing c _L. At high concentrations of L, the coagulation of particles occurs instead of their dissolution, because of the deterioration of the protective properties of micellar shells as a result of the ingression and accumulation of dioctyl sulfide molecules on account of selective adsorption on gold particles. The rate constants of all stages of dissolution and coagulation are determined.     

Kinetics of the alkaline hydrolysis of fenuron in aqueous and micellar media

The kinetics of the hydrolysis of fenuron in sodium hydroxide has been investigated spectrometrically in an aqueous medium and in cationic micelles of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) medium. The reaction follows first‐order kinetics with respect to [fenuron] in both the aqueous and micellar media. The rate of hydrolysis increases with the increase in [NaOH] in the lower concentration range but shows a leveling behavior at higher concentrations. The reaction followed the rate equation, 1/k_obs = 1/k + 1/(kK[OH^?]), where k_obs is the observed rate constant, k is rate constant in aqueous medium, and k is the equilibrium constant for the formation of hydroxide addition product. The cationic CTAB micelles enhanced the rate of hydrolytic reaction. In both aqueous and micellar pseudophases, the hydrolysis of fenuron presumably occurs via an addition–elimination mechanism in which an intermediate hydroxide addition complex is formed. The added salts decrease the rate of reaction. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 39: 638–644, 2007     

About entangled networks of worm-like micelles: a rejected hypothesis

We report new results from small-angle neutron scattering ond ₁₂-cyclohexane/lecithin/water micellar solutions performed as a function of the water content (w ₀), temperature (T) and dispersed phase volume fraction (). The data from dilute samples are interpretable in terms of the existence of giant cylindrical reverse micelles and are well fit with a core-shell model (that provides the micelle structure and dimensions) with values of 28 and 45 Å for the inner core and the outer shell radii, almost independent on temperature and concentration. Such a result could appear consistent with the current idea that worm-like micelles are living polymers. On the contrary, the appearance of a sharp interference maximum at high concentrations (>0.15) suggests arguments against the current hypothesis of an entangled network of giant flexible cylinders. Further arguments against the current hypothesis are given by the close similarity between the above described results and those from free of water micelles (for sure not cylinders). All the data are well fitted in terms of a unique model taking into account the micellar form factor plus a hard sphere structure factor. The data analysis suggests a micellar size distribution determined by the competition between concentration and interaction effects on which temperature plays not a minor role. Following our results, the current hypothesis of a gel structure in terms of an entangled network can be assumed as wrong and some caution has to be taken in assuming wormlike micelles as living polymers.     

Hydrophobic N‐Diazeniumdiolates and the Aqueous Interface of Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate (SDS) Micelles

Zwitterionic diazeniumdiolates of the form RN[N(O)NO^?](CH₂)₂NH₂⁺R, where R=CH₃ ( 1 ), (CH₂)₃CH₃ ( 2 ), (CH₂)₅CH₃ ( 3 ), and (CH₂)₇CH₃ ( 4 ) were synthesized by reaction of the corresponding diamines with nitric oxide. Spectrophotometrically determined pK_a(O) values, attributed to protonation at the terminal oxygen of the diazeniumdiolate group, show shifts to higher values in dependence of the chain lengths of R. The pH dependence of the decomposition of NO donors 1 – 3 was studied in buffered solution between pH 5 and 8 at 22 °C, from which pK_a(N) values for protonation at the amino nitrogen, leading to release of NO, were estimated. It is shown that the decomposition of these diazeniumdiolates is markedly catalyzed by anionic SDS micelles. First‐order rate constants for the decay of 1 – 4 were determined in phosphate buffer pH 7.4 at 22 °C as a function of SDS concentration. Micellar binding constants, K_SM, for the association of diazeniumdiolates 1 – 3 with the SDS micelles were also determined, again showing a significant increase with increasing length of the alkyl side chains. The decomposition of 1 – 3 in micellar solution is quantitatively described by using the pseudo‐phase ion‐exchange (PIE) model, in which the degree of micellar catalysis is taken into account through the ratio of the second‐order rate constants (k_2m/k_2w) for decay in the micelles and in the bulk aqueous phase. The decay kinetics of 1 – 3 were further studied in the presence of cosolvents and nonionic surfactants, but no effect on the rate of NO release was observed. The kinetic data are discussed in terms of association to the micelle–aqueous phase interface of the negatively charged micelles. The apparent interfacial pH value of SDS micelles was evaluated from comparison of the pH dependence of the first‐order decay rate constants of 2 and 3 in neat buffer and the rate data obtained for the surfactant‐mediated decay. For a bulk phase of pH 7.4, an interfacial pH of 5.7–5.8 was determined, consistent with the distribution of H⁺ in the vicinity of the negatively charged micelles. The data demonstrate the utility of 2 and 3 as probes for the determination of the apparent pH value in the Stern region of anionic micelles.     

Saddle–splay elasticity induced chiral structures in achiral liquid crystals within cylindrical geometry

ABSTRACT

On the basis of Landau–de Gennes theory and the finite-difference iterative method, spontaneous chiral structures in cylinders with degenerate planar boundary conditions are investigated. A double-twist director configuration can be achieved by the saddle–splay contribution, corresponding to the L₂₄ term in Landau–de Gennes theory. The twist angle increases as the radius R of the cylinder is reduced because the curvature of the cylindrical surface becomes larger. Moreover, we find fine structures of the domain walls and point defects between opposite-handed domains. An energy comparison shows that domain walls are the stable state for K₂₄/K> 0.6 (K₁₁ = K₃₃ = K, K₁₁, K₃₃ and K₂₄ are the splay, bend, saddle–splay elastic constants in Frank theory), whereas point defects are the stable state for K₂₄/K< 0.6.     

Micellar effects upon the reaction of hydroxide ion with 2-phenoxyquinoxaline

Cationic micelles of alkyltrimethylammonium chloride and bromide (alkyl = n? C₁₂H₂₅, n? C₁₄H₂₉, and n? C₁₆H₃₃) catalyze and anionic micelles of sodium dodecyl sulfate inhibit the reaction of hydroxide ion with 2-phenoxyquinoxaline (1). Inert anions such as chloride, nitrate, mesylate, and n-butanosulfonate inhibit the reaction in CTABr by competing with OH^? at the micellar surface. The overall micellar effects on rate in cationic micelles and dilute electrolyte can be treated quantitatively in terms of the pseudo-phase ion-exchange model. The determined second-order rate constants in the micellar pseudo-phase are smaller than the second-order constants in water. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Synthesis,self‐assembly,fluorescence, and thermosensitive properties of star‐shaped amphiphilic copolymers with porphyrin core

Star‐shaped amphiphilic poly(ε‐caprolactone)‐block‐poly(oligo(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate) with porphyrin core (SPPCL‐b‐POEGMA) was synthesized by combination of ring‐opening polymerization (ROP) and atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). Star‐shaped PCL with porphyrin core (SPPCL) was prepared by bulk polymerization of ε‐caprolactone (CL) with tetrahydroxyethyl‐terminated porphyrin initiator and tin 2‐ethylexanote (Sn(Oct)₂) catalyst. SPPCL was converted into SPPCLBr macroinitiator with 2‐bromoisobutyryl bromide. Star‐shaped SPPCL‐b‐POEGMA was obtained via ATRP of oligo(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate (OEGMA). SPPCL‐b‐POEGMA can easily self‐assemble into micelles in aqueous solution via dialysis method. The formation of micellar aggregates were confirmed by critical micelle formation concentration, dynamic light scattering, and transmission electron microscopy. The micelles also exhibit property of temperature‐induced drug release and the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) was 60.6 °C. Furthermore, SPPCL‐b‐POEGMA micelles can reversibly swell and shrink in response to external temperature. In addition, SPPCL‐b‐POEGMA can present obvious fluorescence. Finally, the controlled drug release of copolymer micelles can be achieved by the change of temperatures. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011     

Monitoring the Transition from Spherical to Polymer‐like Surfactant Micelles Using Small‐Angle X‐Ray Scattering

Despite over a century of modern surfactant science, the kinetic pathways of morphological transitions in micellar systems are still not well understood. This is mainly as a result of the lack of sufficiently fast methods that can capture the structural changes of such transitions. Herein, a simple surfactant system consisting of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) in aqueous NaCl solutions is investigated. Combining synchrotron radiation small‐angle X‐ray scattering (SAXS) with fast stopped‐flow mixing schemes allows monitoring the process where polymer‐like micelles are formed from globular micelles when the salt concentration is suddenly increased. The results show that “worm‐like” micelles are formed by fusion of globular micelles and short cylinders in a fashion that bears similarities to a step‐like polymerization process.