Synthesis and characterization of the photoswitchable poly(methyl methacrylate- random-methacrylate spirooxazine)

Abstract The photoswitchable poly(methyl methacrylate-random-methacrylate spirooxazine) was synthesized via atom transfer radical polymerization with the feed mole ratio of MMA/MSp comonomer of about 5.5/1. Well-defined poly(methyl methacrylate- random-methacrylate spirooxazine) have been obtained with the average molecular weight (Mn) of 6500 g/mol and polydispersity of 1.21. The structure and properties of the resulting copolymers were characterized by proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR), gel permeation chromatography, Fourier Transform infrared, UV-visible spectroscopy, and differen...