Cyclodextrins in polymer synthesis:: Steric retardation of the free-radical polymerization in aqueous medium of 4-vinylbenzaldehyde/methylated β-cyclodextrin complex

4-Vinylbenzaldehyde (3) was complexed with methylated beta-cyclodextrin (4) (me-beta-CD) yielding the water soluble host-guest complex (5). Radical polymerization was initiated with K2S2O8/Na2S2O5 in water at room temperature and also at 70degreesC. The polymerization tendency of this complex (5) is lower compared to the styrene/me-beta-Cd-complex (7). Also copolymerizations of 5 and complexed styrene (6) at these two temperatures were carried out and the results are discussed in respect to the behavior of the homopolymerization. The resulting polymers (8a-k, 9a, 9b) were characterized by SEC-measurements and H-1 NMR spectroscopy. TEM-measurements of the homopolymers 8f and 8k show differences in the particle size depending on the amount of me-beta-CD.