Research article

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Cyclodextrin-based cationic star polymers were synthesized using β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) core, and 2-(dimethylamino) ethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA) as hydrophilic arms. Star-shaped polymers were prepared via a simplified electrochemically mediated ATRP (seATRP) under potentiostatic and galvanostatic conditions. The polymerization results showed molecular weight (MW) evolution close to theoretical values, and maintained narrow molecular weight distribution (MWD) of obtained stars. The rate of the polymerizations was controlled by applying more positive potential values thereby suppressing star-star coupling reactions. Successful chain extension of the ω-functional arms with a hydrophobic n-butyl acrylate (BA) formed star block copolymers and confirmed the living nature of the β-CD-PDMAEMA star polymers prepared by seATRP. Novelty of this work is that the β-CD-PDMAEMA-b-PBA cationic star block copolymers were synthesized for the first time via seATRP procedure, utilizing only 40 ppm of catalyst complex. The results from ¹H NMR spectral studies support the formation of cationic star (co)polymers.