Water in Oil Emulsion Stabilized by Tadpole-like Single Chain Polymer Nanoparticles and Its Application in Biphase Reaction

In this study, tadpole-like single chain polymer nanoparticles (TSCPNs) were efficiently synthesized by intramolecularly cross-linking P4VP block of commercial block polymer of PMMA₂₂₅₀-<i>b</i>-P4VP₂₈₆ in <i>N</i>,<i>N</i>-dimethylformamide using propargyl bromide as cross-linking agent. The intramolecular cross-linking reaction led to the production of TSCPNs with a linear tail and a cross-linked head. The as-prepared TSCPNs were then applied as emulsifier to stabilize water in chlorobenzene emulsion, and an extremely stabilized water in oil (W/O) emulsion was generated at a low TSCPNs concentration. The TSCPNs concentration was as low as 0.0075 wt % versus total weight of water and chlorobenzene for emulsion formation. The emulsifying performance of TSCPNs was better than that of low molecular surfactant, such as Span-80. The generated W/O emulsion provided an ideal medium for the reduction of oil-soluble <i>p</i>-nitroanisole by water-soluble sulfide to <i>p</i>-anisidine, an effective contact problem between the two reactants with different solubility was well solved through interfacial reaction