Thermally Induced Localization of Cyclodextrins in a Polyrotaxane Consisting of β-Cyclodextrins and Poly(ethylene glycol)−Poly(propylene glycol) Triblock Copolymer

A polyrotaxane, in which many β-cyclodextrins (β-CDs) are threaded onto a triblock copolymer of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and poly(propylene glycol) (PPG) capped with fluorescein-4-isothiocyanate (FITC), was synthesized as a model of stimuli-responsive molecular assemblies for nanoscale devices. Coupling of FITC with the terminal amino groups in the polypseudorotaxane was performed in DMF at 5 °C. Under these conditions, a side reaction between the hydroxyl groups of β-CD and FITC was prevented. The interaction of the β-CDs with terminal FITC moieties in the polyrotaxane was significantly observed at low temperature. However, the interaction of the β-CDs with the PPG segment was observed with increasing temperature. On the basis of these results, it is concluded that the majority of the β-CDs move toward the PPG segment with increasing temperature although some β-CDs may reside on the PEG segments.