Improved flocculants

A random multi-component polymer or a salt thereof, the random multi-component polymer comprising:

• a. from about 50 wt % to about 99.8 wt % of a compound of Formula (I);
• b. from about 0 wt % to about 50 wt % of a compound of Formula (II);
• and
• c. from about 0 wt % to about 50 wt % of a compound of Formula (III);
• wherein
• A and B are independently —CH2— or C(═O);
• X1, X2, and X3 are independently CR13R14, O, NR15, NH, S, substituted aryl, unsubstituted aryl, substituted heteroaryl, or unsubstituted heteroaryl;
• R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R10, R11, and R12 are independently hydrogen, substituted C1-C10 alkyl, unsubstituted C1-C10 alkyl, substituted C1-C10 alkenyl, unsubstituted C1-C10 alkenyl, substituted C1-C10 alkoxy, unsubstituted C1-C10 alkoxy, substituted C1-C10 alkynyl, or unsubstituted C1-C6 alkynyl;
• and
• R7, R8, and R9 are independently absent or selected from a group consisting of hydrogen, substituted C1-C10 alkyl, unsubstituted C1-C10 alkyl, substituted C4-C8 cycloalkyl, unsubstituted C4-C8 cycloalkyl, substituted C1-C10 alkenyl, unsubstituted C1-C10 alkenyl, substituted C4-C8 cycloalkenyl, unsubstituted C4-C8 cycloalkenyl, substituted C1-C10 alkynyl, unsubstituted C1-C10 alkynyl;
• substituted aryl, unsubstituted aryl, substituted heteroaryl, or unsubstituted heteroaryl.

A process for preparing a random multi-component polymer which imparts a temperature responsiveness, the process comprises contacting the compound of Formula (I) with a compound of Formula (II) and a compound of Formula (III) to form the random multi-component polymer according to the following reaction scheme:

• wherein A and B are independently —CH2— or C(═O);
• X1, X2, and X3 are independently CR13R14, O, NR15, NH, S, substituted aryl, unsubstituted aryl, substituted heteroaryl, or unsubstituted heteroaryl;
• R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R10, R11, and R12 are independently hydrogen, substituted C1-C10 alkyl, unsubstituted C1-C10 alkyl, substituted C1-C10 alkenyl, unsubstituted C1-C10 alkenyl, substituted C1-C10 alkoxy, unsubstituted C1-C10 alkoxy, substituted C1-C10 alkynyl, or unsubstituted C1-C6 alkynyl;
• and
• R7, R8, or R9 are independently absent or selected from a group consisting of hydrogen, substituted C1-C10 alkyl, unsubstituted C1-C10 alkyl, substituted C4-C8 cycloalkyl, unsubstituted C4-C8 cycloalkyl, substituted C1-C10 alkenyl, unsubstituted C1-C10 alkenyl, substituted C4-C8 cycloalkenyl, unsubstituted C4-C8 cycloalkenyl, substituted C1-C10 alkynyl, unsubstituted C1-C10 alkynyl;
• substituted aryl, unsubstituted aryl, substituted heteroaryl, or unsubstituted heteroaryl.