Oxidation-responsive polyether block copolymers lead to non-ionic polymer surfactants with multiple amine N-oxides

Block copolymers consisting of a nonpolar poly(propylene oxide) block and a poly(glycidyl amine) block were prepared by anionic ring-opening polymerization (AROP). The tertiary amine groups of the block copolymers were quantitively transformed into the corresponding zwitterionic amine N-oxides, as confirmed by ¹H NMR and ¹⁵N NMR spectroscopy. This leads to strongly amphiphilic polyether block copolymers with multiple N-oxides. Full oxidation of the amine groups was also possible in situ in an emulsion, demonstrating the oxidation-responsive character of this new class of non-ionic polymeric surfactants.