ESR investigation of spin probes in co-solvents and hydrophobic methacrylates used in enzyme-mediated radical polymerization

Spin probes interacting mainly via the nitroxyl group or additionally with hydrogen bonding or ionic substituents were selected for investigation of monomers, solvent and co-solvents, respectively, used in enzyme-mediated radical polymerization. Micropolarity and average rotational correlation times of the spin probes (T-rot) were determined in these different matrices. Results obtained help to understand differences in the yield on polymer obtained by application of various monomers as well as water co-solvent pairs. Furthermore, enzyme-mediated radical polymerization represents an efficient synthetic method for manufacturing of hydrophobic polyelectrolytes based on ionic liquid methacrylates bearing bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide as counter ion. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.