To examine the behavior of degradation by a conjugate substitution reaction in aqueous media, the degradation of a poly(conjugated ester), prepared from 1,4-butylene bis[α-(bromomethyl)acrylate] and fluorescein, with aqueous solution of various nucleophiles was investigated using UV‒vis spectrometry and size-exclusion chromatography. At the earliest stage of the degradation, the affinity between the nucleophile and the polymer affected the reaction rate, leading to faster degradation for relatively hydrophobic amines. On the other hand, hydrophilic nucleophiles that produce water-soluble degradation products promoted complete chain scission.
- Takumi Noda
- Taiki Kitagawa
- Yasuhiro Kohsaka
