Abstract
A series of A–B–A tri-block copolymers consisting of poly(γ-ethyl L-glutamate) as outer blocks and polybutadiene as the middle block were synthesized by polymerizing γ-ethyl L-glutamate N-carboxy anhydride at the ends of the amine-terminated polybutadiene, in which the terminal amine groups act as the initiator. In the preparation of γ-ethyl L-glutamate from L-glutamic acid, an effective method to minimize the formation of diester was found. The molecular weights and molecular conformation of the polymers in helicogenic solvent were determined by elemental analysis, ultracentrifugation, optical rotatory dispersion, and circular dichroism. It was found that the A block portion behaves as the α-helix and the block copolymer chain can be treated as a once-broken rod. Model analysis of the complex modulus of the membrane cast from solution suggested the occurrence of spherical and cylindrical domain structures in the membrane.
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Wen Chen, G., Hayashi, T. & Nakajima, A. Synthesis and Molecular Characterization of A–B–A Tri-Block Copolymers Composed of Poly(γ-ethyl L-glutamate) as the A Component and Polybutadiene as the B Component. Polym J 13, 433–442 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1295/polymj.13.433
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1295/polymj.13.433