Single-chain crosslinked star polymers with hydrophilic and thermoresponsive poly(ethylene glycol) short arms and a hydrophobic core were created as novel microgel star polymers of single polymer chains via the intramolecular crosslinking of self-folding amphiphilic random copolymers in water. For this, well-controlled amphiphilic random copolymers bearing hydrophobic olefin pendants were synthesized as self-folding precursors by ruthenium-catalyzed living radical polymerization and the subsequent introduction of olefin units. The copolymers with 20–40 mol% hydrophobic units efficiently gave single-chain crosslinked star polymers in water.
- Takaya Terashima
- Takanori Sugita
- Mitsuo Sawamoto
