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Unusual self‐assembly behavior is observed for a range of hydrophilic homopolymers. This self‐assembly behavior is contrary to the expected behavior of such hydrophilic polymers and instead mimics more commonly reported amphiphilic block copolymers. It is proposed that the unique combination of hydrophobic end groups at both the α and ω chain end accounts for this unusual self‐assembly behavior. Complex internal polymer micelles are spontaneously formed when hydrophilic homopolymer polyelectrolytes and neutral polymers (with a weight fraction of the hydrophobic end groups <10 wt%) are directly dissolved in water. The homopolymers, poly[2‐(diethylamino)ethyl methacrylate], poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide), and poly(ethoxyethylacrylate) are synthesized by reversible addition–fragmentation chain‐transfer (RAFT) polymerization using S′‐1‐dodecyl‐(S′)‐(α,α′‐dimethyl‐α″‐acetic acid) trithiocarbonate (DDMAT) and its derivatives as chain transfer agents (CTAs). A range of polyelectrolyte homopolymers with different terminal groups are designed and synthesized, which under acidic aqueous solution direct the self‐assembly to form well‐defined nanostructures. This assembly behavior was also observed for neutral polymers, and it was determined that the structure of the hydrophobic end groups (and thus choice of RAFT CTA) are very important in facilitating this unusual self‐assembly behavior of hydrophilic homopolymers. It is proposed that the functionality of commonly used CTAs such as DDMAT, can affect the solution association of the resultant homopolymers and can in fact afford ABA′ type polymers, which can undergo self‐assembly to form higher‐order nanostructures.

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Sulfur is an underused by-product of the petrochemicals industry.R ecent research into inverse vulcanization has shown how this excesss ulfur can be transformed into functional polymers, by stabilization with organic crosslinkers. For these interesting new materials to realize their potential for applications,m ore understanding and control of their physical properties is needed. Here we report four new terpolymers prepared from sulfur and two distinct alkene monomers that can be predictively tuned in glass transition, molecular weight, solubility,m echanical properties, and color.