Synthesis of high‐molecular‐weight linear methacrylate copolymers with spiropyran side groups: Conformational changes of single molecules in solution and on surfaces |
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Authors: | Ronald Adelmann Petra Mela Marat O. Gallyamov Helmut Keul Martin Möller |
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Affiliation: | 1. Institute of Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry, RWTH Aachen and DWI e.V., Pauwelsstr. 8, Aachen D‐52056, Germany;2. Department of Physics, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow 119992, Russia |
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Abstract: | P(BMA‐co‐HEMA‐spiropyran) was synthesized by reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization of butyl methacrylate (BMA) and 2‐(trimethylsilyloxy)‐ethyl methacrylate (HEMA‐TMS), removal of the TMS‐protective groups, and the polymer analogous esterification of the hydroxyethyl side chains with a spiropyran containing a carboxylic acid group. UV‐induced conformational changes of the synthesized macromolecules and low‐molecular‐weight spiropyran molecules were studied. Rate constants and half‐life times of the ring closure reaction from zwitterionic merocyanine to the spiropyran species were determined in the presence and absence of mica‐dispersed particles in toluene both with the free spiropyran and the polymer‐bound spiropyran. Scanning force microscopy was used to visualize the conformation of spiropyran‐decorated single macromolecular chains and agglomerated polymer‐bound merocyanine adsorbed on mica. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 1274–1283, 2009 |
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Keywords: | functionalization of polymers polymethacrylates reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) scanning force microscopy spiropyran stimuli‐sensitive polymers UV‐induced conformational changes |
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