Comparison of hyperbranched and linear polyglycidol unimolecular reverse micelles as nanoreactors and nanocapsules

Abstract

Amphiphilic-hyperbranched polyglycidols and a linear analogue were tested for their ability to act as nanoreactors for the unimolecular elimination (E1) reactions of tert-alkyl iodides. Their encapsulation properties were also compared. The linear polymer was found to have very good "unimolecular reverse micellar" characteristics as well, even though the results showed the advantages of a hyperbranched nature over a linear one. Our results stress the need for a direct comparison of branched and linear polymers for any application. © 2005 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.