Functional polymers in nonpolar solvents induced by dissociation of macromolecular complexes

Abstract

This review demonstrates our approaches for developing functional polymer systems using dissociation processes in nonpolar media. One is the molecular design of highly swellable gels known as superabsorbent polymers in nonpolar organic solvents, and the other is the supramolecular design of thermo-responsive polymers. Both of them are well documented in water, but no practical molecular design for other media have ever been proposed. For designing these behaviors, the dissociation or release of the low-molecular component from macromolecular complexes should play a key role. Therefore, controlling the dissociation processes in supramolecular chemistry should be another important strategy for developing functional polymer materials. This review focuses on our novel approaches for developing functional polymers by dissociation phenomena of macromolecular complexes. One is highly swellable polymer gels, superabsorbent polymers for nonpolar organic solvents, and the other is thermo-responsive polymers at ambient temperature in nonpolar solvents. Both of them are well-known in water, but no design has ever been proposed for other media. The dissociation of the macromolecular complexes plays a key role for them. Therefore, controlling the dissociation processes in supramolecular chemistry should be another important strategy for emerged dynamic functions.