New solvent for polyrotaxane. I. Dimethylacetamide/lithium chloride (DMAc/LiCl) system for modification of polyrotaxane

Dimethylacetamide (DMAc) containing 8-9% (w/w) of lithium chloride (LiCl) or lithium bromide (LiBr) was found to be a good solvent for a polyrotaxane consisting of poly (ethylene glycol) (PEG) and a-cyclodextrin (CD). In the new DAIAc/ LiCl solvent system, various modification reactions such as acetylation, direct dansylation, and reaction with acid chloride could be performed, which was unattainable in the previously reported solvents, i.e., dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) and aqueous sodium hydroxide solution. Acetylation with acetic anhydride and direct dansylation of the polyrotaxane were investigated in detail in comparison with reactions in DMSO. The dissolution of the polyrotaxane in DMAc/LiCl suggested that the solubility and insolubility of the polyrotaxane is strongly in relation to the inter- and intramolecular hydrogen bonding of the polyrotaxane. (c) 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.