Contribution of intramolecular C=O...H-N hydrogen bonding to the solvent-induced reentrant phase separation of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide).

Changes in the local environment around amide groups of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNiPA) during a solvent-induced reentrant phase separation have been investigated by infrared spectroscopy combined with quantum chemical calculations. The addition of methanol or tetrahydrofuran as a cosolvent to an aqueous solution of PNiPA causes spectral changes in the amide I regions. By preparing a dimer model compound for PNiPA, we can establish the assignment of the amide I bands for the polymer in solutions. Hydrogen-deuterium exchange experiments of the amide protons of PNiPA and its dimer models have revealed that the amide groups of PNiPA form an intramolecular C=O...H-N hydrogen bond even in a good solvent. The result has suggested that the change in the amide I envelope of PNiPA observed during the solvent-induced phase transition reflects the modification of the intramolecular C=O...H-N hydrogen bond of PNiPA as well as the variation in solvation state of the amide groups. On the basis of the assignment, we have discussed contributions of the intramolecular C=O...H-N hydrogen bond to the phase behavior of PNiPA.