Cooperative interpolyelectrolyte reactions

Abstract

Water-soluble nonstoichiometric polyelectrolyte complexes (NPEC) are formed as a result of interaction of opposite charged polyelectrolytes used in nonequivalent ratios. One of the most important properties of NPEC is their ability to participate in intermacromolecular exchange and substitution reactions in aqueous solutions. The kinetics of exchange and substitution reactions has been studied by the method of luminescence quenching. It has been found that such reactions proceed by the contact mechanism and that addition of low molecular electrolytes to the reaction mixtures results in a dramatic increase in the rates of the reactions. The kinetics of the reactions is well described by the equation q = 1-exp(- kt∝) (here q is the degree of conversion and ∝ < 1), deduced under the assumption that exchange and substitution occur by the nucleation mechanism and the development of nuclei is inhibited in time. The studied reactions represent a new class of interpolymer reactions and they can be very important, in particular, for understanding the mechanism of functioning of biologically important macromolecules and for the interpretation of the physiological activity of polyelectrolytes.