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.     

Synthesis and Characterization of α,ω‐Telechelic Polymers by Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization and Coupling Processes

Initiators for atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) bearing different functional groups (aldehyde, aromatic hydroxyl, dimethyl amino) were synthesized and characterized. Monotelechelics with low molecular weight were obtained by ATRP of styrene using these initiators in the presence of the CuBr/bpy catalytic complex. α,ω‐Telechelic polymers with double molecular weights with respect to the starting materials were prepared by coupling of monotelechelics under atom transfer radical generation conditions, in the absence of monomer, using CuBr as catalyst, tris[2‐(dimethylamino)ethyl]amine (Me₆TREN) as a ligand, under Cu⁰ mediated reductive conditions and with toluene as solvent. Terminal Br atoms present in monotelechelic polystyrenes (PS) as a consequence of the ATRP mechanism also offer other routes for preparing telechelic polymers. Aldehyde functionalized polymer was etherified with hydroquinone furnishing telechelic PS with a molecular weight that was two times higher. All polymers were characterized by spectral methods (NMR, IR spectroscopy) as well as by GPC.

Synthesis of initiators for atom transfer radical polymerization bearing different functional groups, for example, aldehyde, aromatic hydroxyl, dimethyl amino.     

Synthesis and Characterization of New Acrylate and Methacrylate Monomers with Pendant Pyridine Groups

To overcome some drawbacks of polyvinylpyridines, new monomers of acrylate and methacrylate type with pendant pyridine groups i.e., 4‐(3‐methacryloylpropyl)pyridine 1a and 4‐(3‐acryloylpropyl)pyridine 1b were successfully prepared, although it turned out to be challenging work to synthesize the acrylate monomer 1b . First polymerization studies showed that the new monomers could be polymerized easily by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). The new polymers show excellent characteristics, such as very good solubility, low glass‐transition temperature, and easy quaternization.

Design and structure of new monomers 1a and 1b .     

Well‐Defined Cyclohexene Oxide Mid‐Chain Functional Polystyrene Macromonomer: Synthesis,Characterization and Photoinitiated Cationic Homo‐ and Copolymerization

In this article, we present the results of a study of the preparation of a cyclohexene oxide (CHO) mid‐chain functional macromonomer via ATRP of styrene (St) and epoxidation on work‐up with 3‐chloroperoxybenzoic acid. The ATRP initiator, Br? CH? Br, was synthesized by the condensation of 3‐cyclohexene‐1,1‐dimethanol with 2‐bromopropanoyl bromide. The ATRP of St with Br? CH? Br and Cu(I)/bpy yielded well‐defined polystyrene with a cyclohexene mid‐chain group (PSt? CH? PSt). Epoxidation of the PSt? CH? PSt was performed using 3‐chloroperoxybenzoic acid. GPC, IR and ¹H NMR analyses revealed that a low polydispersity macromonomer of polystyrene with CHO functionality at the mid‐chain (PSt? CHO? PSt) was obtained. The photoinduced cationic polymerization of PSt? CHO? PSt yielded comb‐shaped and graft copolymers.

     

Microwave‐Assisted Synthesis of Poly(L‐lactic acid) via Direct Melt Polycondensation Using Solid Super‐Acids

A microwave‐assisted method of synthesizing high‐molecular‐weight PLA using SSA as green catalyst was developed. Yellowish PLA with above 2.0 × 10⁴ g · mol^?1 was obtained when the reaction was run at 260 °C within 60 min under microwave irradiation with 0.4 wt.‐% SSA. This method used only 10% of the energy consumption necessary for conventional heating, and the catalyst could be used five times without losing catalytic activity. The improvement in and the decrease in the energy consumption under microwave irradiation suggested that selective heating and hot spots effects played a crucial role. The method was shown to be a time‐saving, green and a promising way to lower the cost and spread the application of PLA.

     

Chemically Amplified Photolithography of a Copolymer Containing Phenolphthalein

A convenient, low cost micro‐patterning method using a new side group polymer containing phenolphthalein is reported. A random copolymer of t‐BOC‐protected phenolphthalein methacrylate (t‐BMPP) with methyl methacrylate (MMA) was prepared by radical copolymerization in dioxane. The negative‐tone patterns of this polymer could be obtained by photo‐deprotection of the t‐BOC groups due to the effect of dissolution inhibition by the phenolic group of the phenolphthalein. The chemical and optical properties of the polymer were, as anticipated, very close to those of the corresponding phenolphthalein and the pH controlled colorimetric transition was reproducibly observed. The contrast in solubility and chromism upon alkaline treatment makes this polymer a promising candidate for investigating spatially‐directed chromism and selective deposition of pH sensitive polymers.

SEM image of parallel lines of P(MMA/PPT) generated by contact UV exposure.     

Liquid‐Crystalline Colloidal Particles

Summary: Here we report about the synthesis of colloidal particles of nematic and smectic liquid‐crystalline polymers. For this purpose mesogen‐containing acrylate monomers were synthesized and polymerized in a special modification of a precipitation polymerization called dispersion polymerization. By variation of the polymerization conditions colloidal particles of different size and polydispersity could be obtained including very narrowly distributed samples in optimized batches. On azobenzene‐containing colloidal particles switching experiments with polarized light were performed. It could be observed that the nematic director of the mesogens within the colloidal particles can be rotated due to the photochemical trans‐cis‐isomerization of the azobenzene chromophores.

Microscope images of a monolayer of P3‐9 .     

Synthesis and Photovoltaic Properties of Conjugated Copolymers with Benzo[1,2‐b:4,5‐b′]dithiophene and Bis(thiophene)phthalimide Units

Two new donor/acceptor copolymers PBDTPhBT1 and PBDTPhBT2 with alternating benzodithiophene ( BDT ) and bisthiophene‐phthalimide ( PhBT ) units were synthesized by Stille coupling reaction. The copolymers showed identical optical bandgaps of 1.98 eV. The HOMO energy levels are ?5.35 and ?5.32 eV for PBDTPhBT1 and PBDTPhBT2 , respectively. The bulk heterojunction solar cell devices based on these copolymers as donors and PC₇₁BM as acceptor displayed high open‐circuit voltages of 0.90–0.93 V and achieved power conversion efficiency of 1.54% under the illumination of AM 1.5, 100 mW · cm^?2.

     

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.

     

Computer Simulations of the “Hairy Rod” Model

Summary: Using extensive Molecular Dynamics simulations we study the behavior of very rigid polyelectrolytes with hydrophobic side chains that are known to form cylindrical micelles in aqueous solution. We investigate the stability of such micelles with respect to hydrophobicity, Coulomb interaction, and micellar size. We show that for the parameter range relevant for poly(p‐phenylene sulfonate)s (PPP) one finds a stable finite micellar size close to the experimental parameter region. We also point out that our model has some similarities to DNA solutions with added condensing agents, hinting to the possibility that the size of DNA aggregates is under certain circumstances thermodynamically limited.

DNA‐like morphologies of the polyelectrolytes.     

Control of the radical polymerization by 2,2,15,15‐tetramethyl‐1‐aza‐4,7,10,13‐tetraoxacyclopentadecan‐1‐oxyl and its sodium salt

The control of the radical polymerization of styrene by 2,2,15,15‐tetramethyl‐1‐aza‐4,7,10,13‐tetraoxacyclopentadecan‐1‐oxyl is reported here in bulk at 90 °C, 120 °C and in miniemulsion. Similarly, the control by its sodium complex is reported in bulk at 90 °C.

M _n vs. conversion for 3 , 3Na , and TEMPO.     

Formation of Thermoresponsive Gold Nanoparticle/PNIPAAm Hybrids by Surface‐Initiated,Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization in Aqueous Media

Summary: We investigated the formation of thermoresponsive gold nanoparticle/poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) (AuNP/PNIPAAm) core/shell hybrid structures by surface‐initiated, atom transfer radical polymerization (SI‐ATRP) in aqueous media and the effect of cross‐linking on the thermoresponsiveness of the AuNP/PNIPAAm hybrids. The disulfide containing an ATRP initiator was attached onto AuNPs and the monomer, NIPAAm, was polymerized from the surface of AuNPs in the absence or presence of a cross‐linker, ethylene diacrylate, in aqueous media at room temperature. The resulting brush‐type and cross‐linked AuNP/PNIPAAm hybrids were characterized by Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and variable temperature dynamic light scattering.

     

Block Copolymers from Organomodified Siloxane‐Containing Macroinitiators by Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization

Alternating copolymers of 1,3‐diisopropenylbenzene and 1,1,3,3‐tetramethyldisiloxane were synthesized by hydrosilylation–polyaddition. These linear copolymers were functionalized at both ends with 2‐bromoisobutyryl or benzyl chloride moieties. Subsequently, the obtained organomodified siloxane‐containing macroinitiators were successfully used for the preparation of ABA‐type block copolymers by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of styrene and tert‐butyl acrylate. The high chain‐end functionality of the macroinitiators was confirmed by ¹H NMR analysis of the macroinitiators and GPC measurements of the obtained ABA‐type block copolymers. The macroinitiator peaks disappeared in GPC traces after ATRP, and the obtained block copolymers showed a significantly narrower molecular‐weight distribution than the macroinitiators.

Synthesis of ABA‐type block copolymers by means of ATRP using organomodified siloxane‐containing, benzyl chloride functionalized macroinitiators.     

Cylindrical Polypeptide Brushes

Summary: Cylindrical brushes with poly(L ‐lysine) and poly(L ‐glutamate) side chains were prepared by “grafting through” and “grafting from” techniques. Grafting from is shown to be more successful for the synthesis of cylindrical brushes with high molar mass main and side chains.

AFM height image of polypeptide brushes with protected polylysine side chains spin‐cast from HFIP solution.     

Poly(carbazole)‐Based Copolymers Containing Deep‐Blue Chromophore for Polymer Light‐Emitting Diode Applications

A new series of two poly(carbazole)‐based copolymers (poly(9‐hexyl‐carbazole‐co‐9‐(6‐(3‐(4‐phenylquinolin‐2‐yl)carbazol‐9‐yl)hexyl)carbazole) (PCVz) and poly(9,9‐dioctylfluorene‐co‐9‐(6‐(3‐(4‐phenylquinolin‐2‐yl)carbazol‐9‐yl)hexyl)carbazole) (PFCVz)) containing carbazoylphenylquinoline pendant groups were synthesized via the Suzuki coupling reaction for polymer light‐emitting diode applications. The electro‐optical properties of ITO/PEDOT/Polymer/PBD/LiF/Al devices based on these copolymers were investigated using UV‐visible, photoluminescence, and electroluminescence spectroscopy. The turn‐on voltages of the copolymer devices were found to be 6.0–8.0 V. The maximum brightness and luminescence efficiency of the copolymers device were found to be 230 cd · m^?2 and 0.28 cd · A^?1 at 11 V, respectively.

     

Back‐Biting Termination in Methyl Methacrylate/tert‐Butyl Acrylate Anionic Block Copolymerization

The product of spontaneous termination formed after addition of one or two t‐BuA units onto living PMMA chains in the MMA/t‐BuA block copolymerization was isolated and characterized by SEC, UV, FT‐IR, Raman and NMR spectroscopy. It appears as a low‐molecular‐weight peak in SEC eluograms of the copolymers, absorbing at 260 nm; its retention time corresponds to that of the PMMA block. In its FT‐IR and Raman spectra, new bands appeared corresponding to the C?C and C?O vibrations of a conjugated and H‐bonded ester group of the enol form of the cyclic oxoester composed of MMA and t‐BuA units. Experimental support of a back‐biting reaction at the link between PMMA and Pt‐BuA blocks is presented.

     

Morphology and Phase Characteristics of High‐Density Polyethylene Probed by NMR Spin Diffusion and Second Moment Analysis

Summary: A dipolar filter pulse sequence combined with cross‐polarization‐MAS is applied to characterize the phase distribution, morphology, and spin diffusion within a high‐density polyethylene sample. A new method to obtain quantitative ¹³C NMR by combining cross‐polarization‐MAS and spin diffusion NMR is presented. The derived crystallinity is consistent with the corresponding crystallinity obtained by ¹H NMR.

Illustration of the pulse sequence(s) applied in the present work.     

Chain Growth Polycondensation as a Polymer Generating Reaction in the Synthesis of Oligo(p‐phenyleneethynylene)s with Low Polydispersity

Summary: The polycondensation of 1‐ethynyl‐2,5‐dihexyl‐4‐iodobenzene in the presence of 1‐ethynyl‐2,5‐dihexyl‐4‐(2‐phenylethynyl)benzene proceeds according to the mechanism of initiated chain growth polycondensation. It has allowed the synthesis of oligomers with a desired molecular weight and a narrow molecular weight distribution. The reasons for the side reaction leading to the formation of diyne compounds are revealed and the presumed mechanism is given. This opens prospects for the preparation of defectless poly(p‐phenyleneethynylene)s with required molecular weights and narrow molecular weight distributions.

     

Synthesis of Ethylene/Acrylonitrile Composite Elastomers with Nanosized Polyacrylonitrile Domains Using α‐Dimine‐[N,N] Nickel Dichloride/EASC

A series of ethylene and acrylonitrile composite elastomers were prepared using (1,4‐bis(2,6diisopropylphenyl)‐acenaphtenediimine‐nickel(II))‐dichloride/ethylaluminum sesquichloride (EASC). The xylene‐soluble polymer fraction showed nitrile bands in infrared spectroscopy at 2 245 and 2 214 cm^?1 and polyacrylonitrile‐enriched structures were detected in the xylene‐insoluble fraction by¹H and ¹³C NMR. In addition, TEM detected nanosized polyacrylonitrile domains dispersed in the polyethylene matrix. Differential scanning calorimetry scans conducted from ?70 to 350 °C measured exothermic bands corresponding to the cyclization and aromatization of the nitrile groups dispersed in the polyethylene matrix.

     

New Star‐Branched Poly(acrylonitrile) Architectures: ATRP Synthesis and Solution Properties

Summary: Atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) has been chosen as “living”/controlled free radical polymerization system to synthesize a number of novel poly(acrylonitrile) (PAN) architectures. The reaction conditions for the synthesis of linear samples with control over molar mass and molar mass distribution have been investigated together with the possibility of obtaining copolymers of acrylonitrile with small quantities of methyl acrylate (max. 5 mol‐%). Well‐defined star polymers with 3, 4 and 6 arms have been successfully synthesized together with linear chains initiated by a bifunctional initiator and star‐branched polymers with a hyperbranched poly(ester amide) as core. Molar masses were determined by NMR and GPC with the latter leading to a significant over estimation. Solution viscosity studies indicated that the stiff structure of the PAN chains is still maintained in the homopolymer star architectures and that the incorporation of small quantities of methyl acrylate as comonomer has a stronger effect on chain flexibility than the incorporation of star‐branch points.