Synthesis of tuneable amphiphilic-modified polyketone polymers, their complexes with 5,10,15,20-tetrakis-(4-sulfonatophenyl)porphyrin, and their role in the photooxidation of 1,3,5-triphenylformazan confined in polymeric nanoparticles

Abstract

A series of amphiphilic polymers bearing aliphatic secondary amines and hydroxyl groups have been synthesized showing different hydrophilic/hydrophobic balance. The synthesis is performed through the Paal-Knorr modification of a polyketone comprising both ethylene and propylene comonomers with N-(2-hydroxyethyl)ethylenediamine. The values of dicarbonyl conversion achieved were 19, 35, 51, and 63%, which allowed controlling the amphiphilia of the polymers: a lower carbonyl conversion degree implies a higher hydrophobia. On the other hand, photodegradation studies of a model nanosized pollutant pigment comprised of 1,3,5-triphenylformazan nanoparticles stabilized by poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate) have been performed in the absence and in the presence of the photocatalyst 5,10,15,20-tetrakis-(4-sulfonatophenyl)porphyrin, showing no catalytic action, since electrostatic repulsion minimize molecular contacts between the reactants. However, the synthesized polymers allow