Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 1, 2026

Synthesis of Programmable Main-chain Liquid-crystalline Elastomers Using a Two-stage Thiol-acrylate Reaction
Published on: January 19, 2016
Nitroxide-mediated copolymerization of 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate and 2-hydroxypropyl acrylate: copolymerization
Richard Hoogenboom1, Dragos Popescu, Wiktor Steinhauer
1Institute of Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry, RWTH Aachen and DWI an der RWTH Aachen e.V., Pauwelsstr. 8, D-52056 Aachen, Germany. hoogenboom@dwi.rwth-aachen.de.
Abstract:
Poly(2-hydroxyethyl acrylate) (PHEA) is an interesting biomaterial with similar biocompatibility as the widespread used poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate). Poly(2-hydroxypropyl acrylate) (PHPA) is a less frequently studied polymer that exhibits thermoresponsive behavior in water. Therefore, copolymers of HEA and HPA are interesting thermoresponsive polymers to evaluate as potential biomaterials. Here, we report the copolymerization kinetics of HEA and HPA by nitroxide-mediated polymerization, employing Blocbuilder® initiator and SG-1 free nitroxide, revealing an ideal random copolymerization. Furthermore, the thermoresponsive properties of the resulting copolymers are discussed, whereby the cloud points are related to both polymer composition as well as polymer concentration.
More Related Videos
12:07Fabricating Degradable Thermoresponsive Hydrogels on Multiple Length Scales via Reactive Extrusion, Microfluidics, Self-assembly, and Electrospinning
Published on: April 16, 2018
09:09Synthesis of Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) Janus Microhydrogels for Anisotropic Thermo-responsiveness and Organophilic/Hydrophilic Loading Capability
Published on: February 27, 2016
Related Concept Videos
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...
Anionic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Overview
Olefin Metathesis Polymerization: Overview
Ruthenium-based Grubbs catalyst is the most commonly used catalyst for olefin metathesis polymerization. Grubbs catalyst consists of a...
Characteristics and Nomenclature of Copolymers
Nitriles to Carboxylic Acids: Hydrolysis
Amides to Carboxylic Acids: Hydrolysis
Acid-catalyzed hydrolysis:
Hydrolysis of amides under acidic conditions yields carboxylic acids. Since the reaction occurs slowly, hydrolysis requires the conditions of heat.
The mechanism begins with the protonation of the carbonyl oxygen by the acid catalyst. The protonation makes the amide carbonyl carbon more...