SYNTHESIS AND BEHAVIOR STUDY OF AMPHIPHILIC POLYVINYLIMIDAZOLIUM SALTS IN AQUEOUS-MEDIA - EFFECTS OF THE MICRODOMAINS ON A BIMOLECULAR REACTION INVOLVING HYDROPHOBIC REACTANTS

Homopolymers of 3-alkyl-1-vinylimidazolium bromides series have been prepared by free radical polymerization in aqueous solution or in benzene. The tendency of aggregation of these water soluble polymers was studied by viscosity measurements and fluorescence probes which have revealed the formation of hydrophobic microdomains. These polymers were tested in water media as a macromolecular matrix for the introduction of a microenvironment able to induce an acceleration effect for a bimolecular reaction involving two hydrophobic reactants. The reaction rates of 5(6)-decylbenzimidazole on the hydrolysis of 4'-nitrophenyl-5-alkoxypicolinates in the presence of the poly(3-hexadecyl-1-vinylimidazolium bromide) or its low molecular weight analogue at pH = 7.09, T = 30 degrees C were estimated and compared.