Polyrotaxanes of Pyrene–Triazole Conjugated Azomethine and α‐Cyclodextrin with High Fluorescence Properties

The paper reports on the preparation of a new 2‐rotaxane monomer through an acid coupling reaction between 1‐pyrenecarboxaldehyde and α‐CD/3,5‐diamino‐1,2,4‐triazole inclusion complex. Pyrenyl groups are large enough to provide a blocking effect toward cyclodextrin de‐threading. The oxidative C? C coupling of 2‐rotaxane in the presence of RuCl₃ catalyst afforded conjugated azomethine polyrotaxanes. The expected modifications of the solubility, morphology, film forming ability for rotaxane polymer were proved. As shown by fluorescence and UV‐vis spectroscopy, a material with optical properties appropriate for use in photonics was obtained.

     

Photocurable Shape‐Memory Copolymers of ε‐Caprolactone and L‐Lactide

Biodegradable and photocurable block copolymers of ε‐caprolactone and L ‐lactide were synthesized by polycondensation of PLLA diol ( = 10 000 g · mol^?1), PCL diol ( = 10 000 g · mol^?1), and a chain extender bearing a coumarin group. The effect of copolymer composition on the thermal and mechanical properties of the photocured copolymers was studied by means of DSC and cyclic tensile tests. An increase in Young's modulus and a decrease in the tensile strain with increasing PLLA content was observed for the block copolymers. Block copolymers with high PCL content showed good to excellent shape‐memory properties. Random copolymers exhibited R_f and R_r values above 90% at 45 °C for an extremely large tensile strain of 1 000%.

     

A Study of Copolymerization of 1‐Hexene with 2,5‐Norbornadiene Using Metallocene Catalysts

Summary: Copolymerization of 1‐hexene with a symmetrical diene, namely 2,5‐norbornadiene was studied using four different metallocene catalysts. Copolymerization was found to occur exclusively through one of the two equally reactive endocyclic double bonds with all the four catalysts. Copolymerization results in low molecular weight oligomers with the number average molecular weight ( ) varying from 1 000–3 000. End group analysis of the co‐oligomers revealed that the β‐hydrogen transfer after 2,1 insertion also occurs in the presence of highly regiospecific catalysts. The regio errors were also found to depend on various reaction parameters such as polymerization time, Al/Zr mol ratio, metallocene concentration and polymerization temperature.

Plots of variation in end groups and NBD incorporation with time.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Hyperbranched Polyethylenes Made with Nickel‐α‐Diimine Catalysts

The polymerization of ethylene in the presence of 1,4‐bis(2,6‐diisopropylphenyl)acenaphthenediiminenickel(II) dichloride ( 1 ) and methylaluminoxane (MAO) gives hyperbranched polyethylene (HBPE) in appropriate reaction conditions. The system 1 /MAO is active in solvents like toluene or hexane at temperatures as high as 80 °C and ethylene pressures ranging from 1 to 15 atm. The polyethylenes obtained show high molecular weights (up to 467 kg · mol^?1) and more than 218 branches per 1 000 backbone carbon atoms, qualifying these materials as hyperbranched. Dynamic‐mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA) of these materials shows high β‐transitions, directly related to the branch content of these polyethylenes.

DMTA analysis of polyethylenes obtained with 1 /MAO at 0, 30, and 50 °C (corresponding to entries 1, 2 and 3).     

Protonation of Sulfonated Poly(4,4′‐diphenylether‐1,3,4‐oxadiazole) Membranes

This work describes the effect of sulfuric acid protonation on the properties of SPOD‐DPE membranes using FT‐IR and impedance spectroscopic analyses. The IR spectra showed the protonation of nitrogen atoms from oxadiazole rings, with a broad band complex in the region 3 000–2 100 cm^?1 with two centered peaks at 2 590 and 2 440 cm^?1. The S?O characteristic absorption bands in SPOD‐DPE and sulfuric acid were specially studied in the region of 1 800–900 cm^?1. The band shifts are associated to the interaction between acid groups and oxadiazole ring nitrogen atoms. The IR spectra evidenced the presence of three absorption species (HSO, SO and free H₂SO₄) depending on the sulfuric acid concentration. For the protonated SPOD‐DPE membranes, a proton conductivity around 10 mS · cm^?1 was reached at 50 °C.

     

A Poly(vinyl alcohol)‐graft‐Copolyester: Synthesis of a Novel Graft Copolymer Containing Adamantane Moieties as Guest for Cyclodextrin

A novel graft copolymer is synthesized from commercially available poly(vinyl alcohol) using ring‐opening polymerization. For the polymerization reaction of novel brush‐like poly(vinyl alcohol)‐graft‐poly(?‐caprolactone‐co‐(3‐/7‐(prop‐2‐ynyl)oxepan‐2‐one) 5 Sn(Oct)₂ is used as a catalyst. The formation of the graft copolymer is confirmed by ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Furthermore, the modification of the novel synthesized graft copolymer via a “click” reaction to implement adamantane groups is described. The success of the “click” reaction is proven by ¹H NMR spectroscopy and visualized by decomplexation of cyclodextrin with included phenolphthalein.

     

Cascade Reactions in Polymeric Nanoreactors: Mono (Rh)‐ and Bimetallic (Rh/Ir) Micellar Catalysis in the Hydroaminomethylation of 1‐Octene

The concept of micellar catalysis was transferred to the hydroaminomethylation of 1‐octene with N,N‐dimethylamine. In the first series of experiments a rhodium(I ) complex with amphiphilic triphenylphosphane functionalized poly(2‐oxazoline)s as macroligand was applied as catalyst. Results obtained under standard hydroformylation conditions (T = 100 °C, p = 50 bar) were not satisfying with regard to activities and selectivities of the hydroaminomethylation reaction. Rising the temperature to 150 °C increased the yield of amine to 22% with a corresponding n/iso selectivity of 7.5 and a TOF number of 461 h^?1. Best results were obtained by applying a dual Rh/Ir catalyst within the polymeric micelles leading at lower temperature of 130 °C to an amine yield of 24% with a corresponding n/iso selectivity of 11 and TOF numbers of about 600 h^?1.

     

Diblock Copolymers Based on 1,4‐Dioxan‐2‐one and ε‐Caprolactone: Characterization and Thermal Properties

Summary: Various poly(ε‐caprolactone‐block‐1,4‐dioxan‐2‐one) (P(CL‐block‐PDX)) block copolymers were prepared according to the living/controlled ring‐opening polymerization (ROP) of 1,4‐dioxan‐2‐one (PDX) as initiated by in situ generated ω‐aluminium alkoxides poly(ε‐caprolactone) (PCL) chains in toluene at 25 °C. 1 ¹H NMR, PCS and TEM measurements have attested for the formation of colloids attributed to a growing PPDX core surrounded by a solvating PCL shell during the polymerization of PDX promoted by ω‐Al alkoxide PCL chains in toluene. The thermal behavior of the P(CL‐block‐PDX) copolymers was studied by DSC; showing two distinct melting temperatures (as well as two glass transition temperatures) similar to those of the respective homopolyesters. Finally, the thermal degradation of the P(CL‐block‐PDX) block copolymers was investigated by TGA simultaneously coupled to a FT‐IR spectrometer and a mass spectrometer for evolved gas analysis (EGA). The degradation occurred in two consecutive steps involving a first unzipping depolymerization of the PPDX blocks followed by the degradation of the PCL blocks via both ester pyrolysis and unzipping reactions.

TEM observation of P(CL‐block‐PDX) block copolyesters ( = 11 600 and = 22 100) as formed by vaporization starting from a diluted suspension in toluene/TCE mixture solvent (50/50 v/v).     

Synthesis,Characterization, and Thermal Properties of Block Copolymers Containing Poly(styrene‐co‐4‐vinylpyridine) and Poly(styrene‐co‐butyl acrylate) by Controlled Radical Polymerization

Radical polymerization of styrene and mixtures of styrene and 4‐vinylpyridine was performed in the presence of 2,2,6,6‐tetramethylpiperidine‐N‐oxyl (TEMPO) producing polymers with controlled molecular weights and molecular weight distributions. The living nature of these polymers was confirmed by using them as macroinitiators in the block copolymerization of styrene and butyl acrylate. The thermal properties of the synthesized statistical diblock copolymers measured by differential scanning calorimetry indicated that a phase‐separated morphology was exhibited in most of the block copolymers. The results were confirmed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and small angle X‐ray scattering (SAXS) showing microphase‐separated morphology as is known for homo A‐B diblock polymers.

SAXS of a block copolymer synthesized from S/V 70:30 macroinitiators (03) with one detected T_g.     

Diene/polar monomer copolymers,compatibilisers for polar/non‐polar polymer blends. A controlled block copolymerisation with a single‐site component samarocene initiator

A well‐controlled two‐step process, the polymerisation of isoprene or isoprene/hex‐1‐ene copolymerisation followed by ε‐caprolactone polymerisation, affords trans‐polyisoprene or (trans‐polyisoprene/hex‐1‐ene copolymer)–poly(ε‐caprolactone) diblocks of various lengths. The single component initiator is an allylsamarocene compound. An atomic force microscopy study shows that these copolymers are efficient compatibilisers for poly(ε‐caprolactone) and polyisoprene blends.

Poly(ε‐caprolactone) chain growth from Sm–polyisoprene chain.     

Benzo[1,2‐b:4,5‐b′]dithiophene‐alt‐terthiophene Copolymers Containing Styryl‐Triphenylamine Side Chains: Synthesis and Photovoltaic Performance Optimization with Fullerene Acceptors

A new two‐dimensional‐conjugated polymer (PBDTT3‐TPA) containing benzodithiophene (BDT) and a side chain isolation comonomer is designed and synthesized. Interestingly, PBDTT3‐TPA is compatible with higher lowest unoccupied molecular level (LUMO) acceptors of indene‐C₆₀ bisadduct (ICBA), and polymer solar cells based on PBDTT3‐TPA/ ICBA show an open‐circuit voltage (V_OC) of ca. 0.80 V and a power conversion efficiency of 2.48% under AM1.5G illumination of at 100 mW cm^?2. Furthermore, the energy loss in the corresponding fullerene acceptor devices is discussed, and the increase in the observed V_OC is explained quantitatively by the up‐shifted LUMO energy of ICBA (0.17 eV) and the reduced saturation current (J_SO) in the blends.

     

Synthesis and Characterization of Macrocyclic Vinyl‐Aromatic Polymers.

Summary: Matching macrocyclic and linear polystyrenes (PS) were synthesized by the initiation of styrene with 2,7‐dimethyl‐3,6‐diphenyloctane dianion lithium salt followed by high dilution coupling with 1,4‐bis(bromomethyl)benzene or protonation. Liquid chromatography at the critical condition shows the presence of less than 4% of linear PS impurities in the fractionated cycles. SEC studies confirm that the ratios of apparent MWs of cyclic and linear PS increase from about 0.7 to more than 0.9 as MWs decrease. Fluorescence studies show that the monomer emissions at 285 nm strongly increase with decreasing MW whereas those of the linear polymers are not significantly affected. This may be due in part to the increased rigidity of the smaller cycles that decreases the rate of radiation‐less deactivation.

Dependence of 〈G〉 on number average MW.     

Synthesis and aqueous phase behavior of thermoresponsive biodegradable poly(D,L‐3‐methylglycolide)‐block‐poly(ethylene glycol)‐block‐poly(D,L‐3‐methylglycolide) triblock copolymers

Novel biodegradable thermosensitive triblock copolymers of poly(D ,L ‐3‐methylglycolide)‐block‐poly(ethylene glycol)‐block‐poly(D ,L ‐3‐methylglycolide) (PMG‐PEG‐PMG) have been synthesized. Ring‐opening polymerization of D ,L ‐3‐methyl‐glycolide (MG) initiated with poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and Ca[N(SiMe₃)₂]₂(THF)₂ provided triblock copolymers with alternating lactyl/glycolyl sequences of controlled molecular weight, low polydispersity index and uniform chain structure. At relatively low temperatures (≈ 10 °C) these copolymers formed clear solutions in water up to high concentrations (50 wt.‐%). Depending on molecular mass ratios of PMG and PEG blocks, a sol‐gel transition or an increase in viscosity without gel formation was observed upon increasing the temperature of the aqueous solutions. The temperature‐induced gelation was ascertained by rheology and dynamic differential scanning calorimetry (DDSC).

Phase diagram of PMG‐PEG‐PMG 1 400‐1 450‐1 400 in an aqueous solution.     

Pseudo‐Living Anionic Telomerization of Buta‐1,3‐diene

Low‐molecular‐weight liquid polybutadienes (1 000–2 000 g · mol^?1) consisting of 60 mol‐% poly(buta‐1,2‐diene) repeating units were synthesized via anionic telomerization. Maintaining the initiation and reaction temperature at less than 70 °C minimized chain transfer and enabled the polymerization to occur in a living fashion, which resulted in well‐controlled molecular weights and narrow polydispersity indices. MALDI‐TOF mass spectrometry confirmed that the end groups of liquid polybutadienes synthesized via anionic telomerization contained one benzyl end and one protonated end. In comparison, the end groups of liquid polybutadienes synthesized via living anionic polymerization contained one sec‐butyl or butyl end and one protonated end.

     

Metathetic Selective Degradation of Polyisoprene: Low‐Molecular‐Weight Telechelic Oligomer Obtained from Both Synthetic and Natural Rubber

Summary: Degradation studies of cis‐1,4‐polyisoprene were carried out using first and second generation Grubbs catalysts to achieve end‐functionalized acetoxy oligomers in both an organic solvent and a latex phase at room temperature. Well‐defined acetoxy telechelic polyisoprene structures were obtained in a selective manner with a range of from 10 000 to 30 000, with a polydispersity index of around 2.5.

Structure produced by the metathetic depolymerization of hydroxy telechelic cis‐1,4‐polyisoprene.     

Ionic‐Strength‐ and pH‐Responsive Poly[acrylamide‐co‐(maleic acid)] Hydrogel Nanofibers

A novel acrylamide/maleic acid copolymer [P(AM‐MA)] hydrogel nanofibrous membrane with a fiber diameter of ca. 120 nm is prepared by electrospinning an aqueous P(AM‐MA) solution with diethylene glycol as crosslinker, followed by a heat‐induced esterification crosslinking reaction at 145 °C. This hydrogel nanofiber can maintain a fiber form, but becomes distorted and merges to form many physical crosslinking points after immersion in water. The P(AM‐MA) hydrogel nanofibers are sensitive to external stimuli ionic strength and pH. Their water‐swelling ratio decreases with increasing solution ionic strength, and it shows a characteristic two‐step increase at pH = 2.5 and 8.5 in response to the increase of solution pH. The maximum water‐swelling ratios of the P(AM‐MA) hydrogel nanofibers are 18.1 and 22.5 g · g^?1 in a solution of 0.05 mol · dm^?3 ionic strength and in an aqueous solution of pH 11, respectively.

     

Novel Thermosetting Resins Based on 4‐(N‐Maleimido)phenylglycidylether, 4

Summary: A series of polymer‐clay nanocomposites were prepared by the simultaneous in situ curing of 4‐(N‐maleimido)phenylglycidylether/4,4‐diaminodiphenylmethane (MPGE/DDM) with the intercalation/exfoliation of various organo‐modified clays. The dispersion of the clays in the polymer matrix was produced by partial exfoliation and intercalation, as observed with X‐ray diffraction and transmission electronic microscopy. Clay modified with a carboxylic acid‐containing modifier showed enhancements with repesect to clay delamination in nanocomposite preparation. In comparison with the pristine resin, MPGE/DDM‐clay nanocomposites showed improved glass transition temperatures, thermal stability and flame retardance.

Preparation and characterization of polymer‐clay nanocomposites based on a new maleimide‐epoxy hybrid monomer.     

A Highly Efficient One‐Pot Method for the Synthesis of Carbon Black/Poly(4,4′‐Diphenylether‐1,3,4‐Oxadiazoles) Composites

A series of polyoxadiazoles (PODs) based composites containing carbon black (CB) are prepared through a fast polycondensation reaction of hydrazine sulfate and dicarboxylic acid monomers using poly(phosphoric acid) (PPA) as reaction medium. In order to achieve a homogeneous dispersion of CB, a predispersion step is applied to the CB prior to the synthesis. The moderate acidic nature and high viscosity of the PPA medium promote the oxidation of the CB and suppress reaggregation after dispersion. The carboxylic groups generated on the surface of the CB effectively anchored the growing of POD chains, improving the interfacial interaction between the CB and the surrounding matrix. An increase of 22% in storage modulus at 100 °C is observed. The tensile strength increases up to 48% with the CB addition and the elongation at break increases up to 118% at a low concentration of CB (0.5 wt.‐%). The resultant CB/POD composites, which can be cast as dense films, are soluble in several polar aprotic solvents and their POD matrix have molecular weights in the range of 10⁵ g · mol⁻¹. The high‐performance, high‐temperature light‐weight materials obtained are thermally stable at temperatures as high as 450 °C.

     

Monolayer Assemblies of Comb Polymers Containing Different Kinds of Fluorocarbon Side‐Chains

Summary: Langmuir monolayers and organized molecular films of comb polymers containing different kinds of fluorocarbon side‐chains with various chain lengths and substituted atoms at the ω‐position were characterized by surface pressure‐area isotherms as well as Brewster angle microscopy on a water surface and by scanning probe microscopies (AFM and FFM) and the out‐of and in‐plane X‐ray diffractions on the solid substrates, respectively. When compared with monolayers of fluorinated amphiphilic vinyl monomers, those of the corresponding comb polymers were significantly stabilized. The nanostructures of these organized molecular films changed considerably with the film fabrication method used (such as mixed monolayers with hydrogenated amphiphiles) and the deposition conditions as well as with minor chemical modification of the fluorinated comb polymers with different hydrophilic esters and fluorocarbon side‐chains. The characteristic friction behavior for films built up of the fluorinated amphiphiles and comb polymers was found to depend strongly on the chemical constituents of the outermost layer of the film surface.

     

Insights into the Ring‐Expansion Polymerization of Thiiranes with 2,4‐Thiazolidinedione

The behavior of the ring‐expansion homopolymerization of 2 (phenoxymethyl)thiirane (PMT) and propylene sulfide (PS), respectively, with thiazolidine‐2,4‐dione (TZD) as a cyclic initiator is investigated. The polymerizations show steadily growing molar masses with increasing monomer conversions. In addition, reversible merging reactions between rings are observed, with up to six merged macrocycles formed. The degree of merging is strongly dependent on the initial monomer concentration, whereas temperature has only a small impact. Under optimized conditions, ring‐poly(PMT) polymer with values of M _n up to 50 250 g mol^?1 and dispersities down to 1.11 can be synthesized. DSC and ESI‐MS measurements of the novel ring‐poly(PS) prove the formation of ring polymer having topological purity above 95%.