Abstract: | A functionalized cyclam was synthesized by the attachment of a polymerizable acryloyl group to one of the four nitrogens on the cyclam molecule. The polymerization of the functionalized cyclam was performed with N‐isopropylacrylamide and N,N′‐methylene bisacrylamide, and the gels obtained were studied in the presence of different transition‐metal‐ion solutions. There was a drastic difference in the phase‐transition temperature (Tc) of the poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm)/cyclam gel in comparison with the pure PNIPAAm gel. For the described system, a Tc shift of 15 °C was obtained. The presence of functionalized cyclam increased the hydrophilicity and Tc of the aforementioned polymer gels in deionized water (at pH 6) because of the presence of protonated amino moieties. The PNIPAAm/cyclam gels showed a dependence of the swelling behavior on pH. Tc of the pure PNIPAAm gel was weakly influenced by the presence of any transition‐metal ions, such as Cu2+, Ni2+, Zn2+, and Mn2+. The addition of Cu2+ or Ni2+ to the PNIPAAm/cyclam gel reduced Tc of the polymer gel, and a shift of approximately 12 °C was observed. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 1594–1602, 2003 |