Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 8, 2026

Using Polystyrene-block-poly(acrylic acid)-coated Metal Nanoparticles as Monomers for Their Homo- and Co-polymerization
Published on: July 9, 2015
Association properties of ethylene oxide/styrene oxide diblock copolymer E17S8 in aqueous solution
Zhuo Yang1, Michael Crothers, David Attwood
1Department of Chemistry, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK.
Abstract:
Ethylene oxide and styrene oxide were sequentially polymerized to form the diblock copolymer E(17)S(8) (E = oxyethylene, OCH(2)CH(2); S = oxyphenylethylene, OCH(2)CH(C(6)H(5)); subscripts denote number-average block lengths in repeat units). Light scattering was used to investigate the properties of the micelles formed in dilute solution in the temperature range 15-30 degrees C. The micelles are elongated (probably spheroidal) at the lower temperature and highly elongated (cylindrical, probably wormlike) at the higher temperature. Comparison with results reported for the copolymer E(11)B(8) (B = oxybutylene, OCH(2)CH(C(2)H(5))) allowed exploration of the effect of changing the hydrophobic block. The results provide useful indicators toward the design of ES copolymers with optimal solubilization properties.
Related Concept Videos
Physical Properties of Ethers
An ether molecule has a net dipole moment due to the polarity of C–O bonds. Subsequently, boiling points of ethers are lower than those of alcohols of comparable molecular weight and slightly higher than those of hydrocarbons of comparable molecular weight (Table 1).
Ethers can act as hydrogen bond acceptors, making them more water-soluble than hydrocarbons, but since ethers cannot act as hydrogen bond donors, they are much less soluble in water than alcohols. Ethers are considered...
E2 Reaction: Kinetics and Mechanism
Free-Radical Chain Reaction and Polymerization of Alkenes
Regioselectivity and Stereochemistry of Acid-Catalyzed Hydration
Polymer Classification: Stereospecificity
Olefin Metathesis Polymerization: Acyclic Diene Metathesis (ADMET)
Similar to cross-metathesis, ADMET also involves the formation of metallacyclobutane intermediate by [2+2] cycloaddition of one of the double bonds of a terminal diene with...

