SYNTHESIS AND METAL COMPLEXATION OF POLY(ETHYLENEIMINE) AND DERIVATIVES

This article surveys the research work on the synthesis and modification reactions of poly(ethyleneimine) as well as its applications to metal complexation processes. Poly(ethyleneimine), one of the most simple heterochain polymers exists in the form of two different chemical structures: one of them is branched, which is a commercially available and the other one linear which is synthesized by cationic polymerization of oxazoline monomers and subsequent hydrolysis of poly[(N-acylimino)ethylene]. The most salient feature of poly(ethyleneimine) is the simultaneous presence of primary, secondary, and tertiary amino groups in the polymer chain which explains its basic properties and gives access to various modification reactions. A great number of synthetic routes to branched and linear poly(ethyleneimine)s and polymer-analogous reactions are described. In addition, the complexation of poly(ethyleneimine) and its derivatives with metal ions is investigated. Homogeneous and heterogeneous metal separation and enrichment processes are reviewed.