In aqua synthesis of a high molecular weight arylethynylene polymer with reversible hydrogel properties

Abstract

Palladium catalyzed copolymerization of 3,5-diiodobenzoic acid with acetylene gas in a basic aqueous medium provides a high molecular weight (∼6998), zig-zag phenylethynylene polymer; the polymer has been characterized by a variety of methods and has a high thermostability, is soluble in basic solutions and is reversibly switchable from soluble to hydrogel states in water by changing the pH of the solvent.