Synthesis of SET-LRP-induced galactoglucomannan-diblock copolymers

Polysaccharides are biorenewable and biodegradable starting materials for the development of functional materials. The synthesis of a monofunctional macroinitiator for single electron transfer-living radical polymerization was successfully developed from a wood polysaccharide-O-acetyl galactoglucomannan (GGM) using a beforehand synthesized amino-functional -bromoisobutyryl derivative applying reductive amination. The GGM macroinitiator was employed to initiate a controlled radical polymerization of [2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl]trimethylammonium chloride (MeDMA), methyl methacrylate (MMA), and N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM) using Cu-0/Me-6-Tren as a catalyst. The either charged or amphiphilic GGM-b-copolymers with different chain lengths of the synthetic block were successfully synthesized without prior hydrophobization of the GGM chain and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) or DMSO/water mixtures were used as solvents. This novel synthetic approach may find untapped potentials particularly for the development of polysaccharide-based amphiphilic additives for cosmetics or paints and for the design of novel temperature or pH responsive polymers with such potential applications as in drug delivery systems or in biocomposites