Ebook: Polyelectrolytes with Defined Molecular Architecture I

The two volumes 165 and 166 Polyelectrolytes with Defined Molecular Architecture summarize recent progress in the field. The subjects comprise novel polyelectrolyte architectures including planar, cylindrical and spherical polyelectrolyte brushes as well as micelle, complex and membrane formation. Some solution properties such as conformation of flexible polyions, osmotic coefficients and electrophoretic properties are addressed along with recent progress in analytical theory and simulation.

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This chapter reviews recent advances in the synthesis of polyelectrolytes. New results are presented for linear polymers with stiff and flexible backbones and with star-shaped and randomly branched structures. Block and graft copolymers containing both charged ionic and hydrophobic monomer units are also discussed. Homo- and block copolymers of carbobetaines complete the variation of molecular architecture. Synthetic approaches mainly use anionic, controlled radical, and macromonomer polymerization techniques, and the Suzuki reaction, to synthesize reactive precursors which are subsequently transformed into the final products. Results from physicochemical characterization of the new polymers are also mentioned.