Synthesis and Characterization of Temperature-Sensitive Polymer End-Functionalized with Porphyrin

End-functionalized poly N-isopropylacrylamide (ZnMHTPP-PAM)with zinc-porphyrin was synthesized by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). A asymmetrical 5-(4-(2-bromopropoxy) 10, 15, 20-phenyl)-21H, 23H-zinc (II)porphyrin (ZnMHTPP-Br) as the initiator, and CuBr/tris (2-dimeoeth-yl)amine (Me6TREN) as the catalyst system were polymerized to obtain ZnMHTPP-PAM. The structures of the target product were characterized using FT-IR and 1H NMR. The poly dispersity index (PDI) was obtained by gel permeation chromatography (GPC). The molecular weight distribution was narrow and the polymerization was well controlled. The target polymer exhibited the photo physical property, thermo sensitivity. The lower critical solution temperatures (LCST) for the aqueous solutions of target polymer showed increased value as compared to that of NIPAM homopolymer with the increment of the molecular weight, which was arose from the incorporation of the hydrophobic porphyrin at the end of the chain.