Surrounding Interactions on Phase Transition Temperature Promoted by Organometallic Complexes in Functionalized Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-dopamine methacrylamide) Copolymers

The functionalization of different structures with organometallic complexes provides exciting properties in terms of applicability due to its ability to provide multiple benefits for catalysis and biomedicine as well as in other fields. This work reports the direct, facile functionalization of copolymers based on N-isopropylacrylamide and dopamine methacrylamide with bis(cyclopentadienyl)titanium (IV) dichloride (Cp₂TiCl₂, Cp = η⁵-C₅H₅), which can offer an easy preparation method in comparison with other functionalization procedures. In addition, the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) is studied through aqueous solutions of new structures, which is affected by the presence of the metallocene moieties. UV–vis spectroscopy shows an average of the LCST-behavior in comparison with rheology that provides essential information about the changes of the phase transition temperature associated with the composition of the polymeric chains and their interactions with the medium. Then, the inclusion of an organometallic complex along the polymeric chain can partially modify the phase transition temperature due to the interactions promoted by the organometallic complex of surroundings over the polymeric sections free of comonomer content.