Synthesis of CO2-responsive polymers by post-polymerization modification

Abstract We describe a general method to synthesize a double responsive polymer, exhibiting a temperature and CO 2 responsive behavior. The polymer derived from a controlled radical polymerization technique of pentafluorophenyl acrylate (PFPA), followed by a sequential post-polymerization modification of a CO 2 responsive- and thermo-responsive amines. Utilizing this approach three double responsive copolymers were synthesized, poly(3- N′,N′ -dimethylaminopropyl acrylamide- co - N -isopropyl acrylamide) (poly(DMPA- co -NIPAM)), poly( L -Arginine methyl ester acrylamide- co - N -isopropyl acrylamide) (poly(AME- co -NIPAM)) and poly( L -Arginine methyl ester acrylamide- co - N -cyclopropyl ac…