Stimuli-Responsive Multifunctional Poly(ethylene glycol) Copolymers
Date issued
Authors
Editors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
License
Abstract
This thesis addresses the need for novel epoxide building blocks that allow for the synthesis
of well-defined multifunctional PEGs. The introduction of only a few pendent groups along
the polyether backbone can have a strong impact on the properties of PEG. Temperature,
pH or redox-responsive PEG is prepared with tertiary amino- or thioether functional
epoxides, respectively. Furthermore, synthetic strategies are provided to prepare
multifunctional PEGs which are then suitable for post-polymerization modification without
the need of protecting group chemistry. An overview of the epoxides introduced and
utilized is illustrated in Scheme 1, and properties/possible applications are briefly listed.