Microgels as matrices for reagents and catalysts: the enhanced reactivity of hydroxamic acid groups attached to a water-soluble emulsion polymer with a high level of cross-linking

Abstract

Water-soluble globular macromolecules (mol. wt. 18 000 000) possessing considerable internal cross-linking exhibit molecular exclusion phenomena; pendant hydroxamic acid groups possess enhanced reactivity (in excess of 1 000-fold enhancement) compared with the corresponding monomer species towards reaction with 4-nitrophenyl esters of a series of acids.