Association thickener by host guest interaction of a β-cyclodextrin polymer and a polymer with hydrophobic side-groups

A host polymer with pending β‐cyclodextrin side‐groups and a guest polymer with pending hydrophobic 4‐tert‐butylanilide side groups were synthesized by polymeranalogous reactions starting from poly[(maleic anhydride)‐alt‐(isobutene)] (M̄w = 60000). The inclusions of both polymers with complementary monomeric guests and hosts are proven by microcalorimetry. The interaction of the host polymer and the guest polymer in aqueous solution is accompanied by a tremendous increase in viscosity.