Amphiphilic sidechain

First I want to draw attention to polymers wherein specific solute-solvent interactions do promote mesophase formation. There are two general classes of polymer-solvent systems wherein instances of mesomorphism result from intermolecular interactions that are closely related to those that stabilize the amphiphilic MLC lyotropics DSidechain polymers with amphiphilic sidechains appended to the polymer backbone may form lyotropic PLCs in water, 2) Block copolymers exhibit organized, gel-like phases when one block is preferentially solvated. The former PLCs are intimately related to lyotropic MLCs, however, compared to the monomer amphiphiles, new phases and often phase stability is influenced by the attachment of the amphiphilic core to the chain. Finkelmann and co-workers have recently considered such amphiphilic sidechain PLCs.(17)... 

Finally, it is shown that non-linear amphiphilic structures show different aggregation behavior as compared to block copolymers. Graft copolymers with non-polar backbone polyelectrolyte side chains have a smaller tendency to form micelles than their block copolymer analogs which is attributed to the more facile stabilization of unimers by the sidechains. In contrast, unimolecular micelles are the only possibility for core-shell nanoparticles. Janus micelles, on the other hand, form unique non-centrosymmetrical micelles that have a strong tendency to form centrosymmetrical supermicelles. 

Daschbach MM, Kulikov OV, Long EF, Gokel GW. Pyrogallol[4]arenes show highly variable amphiphilic behavior at the air-water interface dependent upon sidechain length and branching. Chem Eur J 2011 17 8913-21. 

If cation complexing agents and carriers can be redox-switched, what about the formation of membranes themselves An interesting candidate for this might again be ferrocene. As a relatively nonpolar material, a ferrocene substituted by a lipophilic sidechain should not be amphiphilic. On the other hand, if ferrocene is oxidized, the organometallic species... 

Polyacrylic acid and polyacrylamide are typical water-soluble polymers that can be functionalized by the addition of hydrophobic sidechains that turn them into amphiphilic materials. The usual processes would include esterification and amida-tion of the carboxyl groups. Similar results can be obtained by preparing copolymers of acrylic and methacryhc acid with the desired preformed esters. A third alternative is the formation of polyacrylate or polymethacrylate esters followed by controlled saponification or hydrolysis to a desired degree of free carboxyl groups. The derivitization of acrylics is also an essentially random process, so that the exact characteristics of the final product may be somewhat variable. Close process control can, again, ensure a functionally reproducible product. 

---