Self-assembly behavior of amphiphilic C₆₀-end-capped poly(vinyl ether)s in water and dissociation of the aggregates by the complexing of the C₆₀ moieties with externally added γ-cyclodextrins.

C60-end-capped polymers consisting of an amphiphilic poly(2-methoxyethyl vinyl ether) (PMOVE) main chain were synthesized by living cationic polymerization using a C60-functionalized initiator (C60VE-TFA) in the presence of EtAlCl2 as an activator and dioxane as an added base. The obtained polymers (C60-PMOVE) dissolved in a wide range of solvents including water and exhibited solvatochromism depending on the polarity of the media employed. This phenomenon was attributed to self-assembly in polar media due to hydrophobicity of the C60 moieties at the terminus of the amphiphilic polymer chain. Furthermore, the addition of γ-cyclodextrin (γ-CD), a strong host molecule for fullerenes, to the self-assembled system brought about the dissociation of the aggregates into molecularly dispersed free polymer chains. Titration of the aqueous solution of the self-assembly of C60-PMOVE with γ-CD indicated the possible formation of inclusion complexes of C60-PMOVE and γ-CD, and this binding process occurs in a positive cooperative manner.