Oxygen–Nitrogen Switchable Copolymers of 2,2,2-Trifl uoroethyl Methacrylate and N,N-Dimethylaminoethyl Methacrylate

摘要

In this work, a novel class of O_2 /N_2 switchable polymers is reported, which is prepared by atom transfer radical copolymerization (ATRcoP) of commercially available 2,2,2-trifl uoroethyl methacrylate (FMA) and N,N -dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate (DMA). The copolymer is random and contains 10 FMA units and 85 DMA units. Its aqueous solution becomes transparent with O_2 bubbling and turns to turbid with N_2 purging. This O_2 /N_2 -responsive switchability between the transparent and turbid states is reversible. The FMA–DMA copolymer is thermosensitive and has a lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of 24.5 °C. O_2 molecules interact with fl uorinated groups of the copolymer and increase the LCST to 55 °C. Purging N_2 removes O_2 and returns the polymer thermosensitivity back to its initial state. The switchability occurs in the whole temperature range (24.5–55 °C).