Abstract
Poly(methacryloyl-L-alanine-methyl ester) (1) has an optically active side chain and consists of thermoshrinking hydrogels upon crosslinking. We synthesized an uncrosslinked polymer of 1 by the γ-ray polymerization method. For the prepared polymer, variable-temperature circular dichroism (CD) and 1H NMR spectra were studied, and we found conformational changes in the optically active side chains during the thermally induced phase transition. Intense CD spectra reveal ordered conformation in the side chain of 1 below the phase transition temperature (∼28 °C). A well-resolved 1H NMR spectrum of 1 at 0 °C shows that the conformational angles in the polymer side chain are fixed at low-energy minima. With increasing temperature, the frozen side chain starts rotating vigorously and takes an unordered orientation. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 2671–2677, 2000
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
