Syntheses and characterizations of three vinyl copolymers containing pendant calix[4]arenes

Abstract

Three new copolymers containing pendant calix[4]arene units have been synthesized via radical initiated reactions involving a vinylic calix[4]arene monomer with methylacrylate, acrylonitrile, and styrene. The calix[4]arene monomer was locked into tie cone conformation by appending four ethoxyethyl groups to its lower rim. The upper rim of the calix[4]arene monomer, which was the site of polymerization, was monofunctionalized with a modified acrylate ester moiety. A seven atom spacer group was incorporated between the bulky calixarene core and the acrylate moiety in order to minimize steric interactions which proved to impede the polymerization. The copolymers were designed to take advantage of the well-established binding interactions of calixarenes with neutral molecules and ions. The ultimate goal of this project is to develop materials that are suitable for incorporation into chemical sensor devices such as ion-specific electrodes, semipermeable membranes and quartz microbalances.