Photogelation and redox properties of anthracene-disulfide-modified polyoxazolines

Polyoxazoline having both anthracene and disulfide groups was prepared by the reaction of partially hydrolyzed poly(N-acetylethylenimine) (PAEI) with (9-anthracenyl)methyl hydrogen 3,3'-dithiodipropanoate in the presence of dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCC) as a condensing agent. This photosensitive PAEI was irradiated with a 450-W high-pressure Hg lamp (λ>300 nm) to produce a PAEI gel, which was swollen in water and showed characteristic hydrogel properties. The equilibrium swelling degree in water was controlled both by the irradiation time and by the degree of substitution of the anthracene moieties