Phosphorylation of alkylated poly(ethyleneimine) in chloroform in the presence of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide and calix[4]resorcinarene

The phosphorylation of alkylated poly(ethyleneimine) with 4-nitrophenyl bis(chloromethyl)phosphinate in chloroform in the presence of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), calix[4]resorcinarene (CR), or their mixture was studied by UV spectrophotometry. The catalytic effect of CTAB and CR on the process of polymer phosphorylation was shown to depend on the concentration of the surfactant and poly(ethyleneimine) in solution. The catalytic effect of the system is ascribed to the formation of poly(ethyleneimine)-CTAB, poly(ethyleneimine)-CR, and poly(ethyleneimine)-CTAB-CR mixed aggregates. Their existence was confirmed by the methods of light scattering and UV spectroscopy.