Synthesis of amphiphilic polymer networks with guest‐host properties

A modular assembly procedure for producing amphiphilic polymer networks containing specific linker lengths between cyclodextrin (CD) cross‐link sites is described. The linker type and length can be selected to tune the relative hydrophilicity/hydrophobicity of the network, and the size of the guest‐host binding site can be varied by using either α‐, β‐, or γ‐CD as the node. The two‐step, one‐pot reaction sequence produces well‐defined networks with stable ether linkages that can be purified by simple washing and filtration steps. Short ethylene glycol versus long polyethylene oxide linkers result in networks that are generally insoluble in common organic solvents, but which swell to varying degrees in polar protic, polar aprotic, and chlorinated solvents such as water, methanol, ethanol, dimethylsulfoxide, dimethylformamide, methylene chloride, and chloroform. All networks swell in water and present a hydrophobic CD cavity that is available for binding nonpolar molecules. The networks should be applicable to the removal of hydrophobic contaminants, for example, pharmaceutical molecules, from water or wastewater streams. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2015 , 53, 1824–1831