Supramolecular Thermoresponsive Hyperbranched Polymers Constructed from Poly(N-Isopropylacrylamide) Containing One Adamantyl and Two β-Cyclodextrin Terminal Moieties

Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) oligomer containing one adamantyl (AD) and two beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD) moieties at the chain terminals, AD-PNIPAM-(beta-CD)(2), was synthesized by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) and successive click reactions. In aqueous solution, AD-PNIPAM-(beta-CD) 2 spontaneously forms supramolecular thermoresponsive hyperbranched polymers via molecular recognition between AD and beta-CD moieties. To the best of our knowledge, this work represents the first report of the construction of supramolecular thermoresponsive hyperbranched polymers from well-defined polymeric AB(2) building units.