Conclusions
In summary, a one-step synthetic procedure has been
utilized to synthesize pure heterofunctionalized oligo-
(oxyethylene glycol) ethers. A simple extraction procedure
was used to purify these compounds and also enabled the
facile recovery of excess oligo(oxyethylene glycol) ether
starting materials. The orthogonally functionalized materials
together with doubly functionalized oligo(oxyethylene
glycol) ethers were converted, in a one-pot reaction,
into mono- and bis-styryl-oligo(oxyethylene glycol) ethers,
respectively. Polymerization of these monomers and
cross-linkers generated a range of novel polymeric materials.
Initially, the swelling properties of these materials
were evaluated, in a variety of solvents, by using a
conventional solvent swelling assay. The actual mass of
solvent imbibed by the polymers was then quantified
using a novel mass-solvent uptake assay. These studies
demonstrate successfully that POP supports are readily
compatible with both water and a range of organic
solvents with widely differing polarities. Finally, POP
supports 14-16, exhibiting superior aqueous compatibility
relative to the commercial resins TENTA-GEL and
ARGO-GEL, were utilized successfully as supports for
SPPC.
We intend to exploit the exceptional compatibility of
these polymeric supports with both organic and aqueous
solvents in future work. Currently, we are attempting
to construct POP supports that incorporate scintillant
molecules covalently. These materials will then be used
for the organic synthesis of polymer-supported libraries
to be screened in situ and under aqueous conditions for
biological activity.