Novel polymerization of myrcene in aqueous media via cyclodextrin-complexes

Abstract

Free radical homopolymerization with methylated β-cyclodextrin (CD) complexed myrcene (1a) and co-polymerization of 1a with diethyl fumarate (2a) and styrene (3a) were carried out using redox initiator in aqueous media at room temperature. Control experiments showed that uncomplexed myrcene (1) does not polymerize under similar conditions in water. The polymers obtained were characterized by means of 1H/13C-NMR spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and gel-permeation chromatography (GPC). Additionally, N-isopropylacrylamide containing copolymer was synthesized in water using redox initiator and the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) behaviour was studied.