Random copolymerization of macromonomers as a versatile strategy to synthesize mixed-graft block copolymers

The random copolymerization of norbornene-functionalized macromonomers was explored as a method of synthesizing mixed-graft block copolymers (mGBCPs). The copolymerization kinetics of a model system of polystyrene (PS) and poly(lactic acid) (PLA) macromonomers was first analyzed, revealing a gradient composition of side chains along the mGBCP backbone. The phase separation behavior of mGBCPs with PS and PLA side chains of various backbone lengths and side chain molar ratios was investigated, and increasing the backbone length was found to stabilize the phase-separated nanostructures. The graft architecture was also demonstrated to improve the processability of the mGBCP, compared to a linear counterpart. Investigations of mGBCPs comprised of polydimethylsiloxane and poly(ethylene oxide) side chains exemplified the diverse self-assembled morphologies, including a Frank-Kasper A15 phase, that can be obtained with mGBCPs synthesized by random copolymerization of macromonomers. Lastly, a ternary mGBCP was synthesized by the copolymerization of three macromonomers.     

甲壳型液晶高分子的构筑、自组装及其功能化

甲壳型液晶高分子的发展很大程度上依赖于聚合物自组装的发展,而各种可设计、可预测、可调控的自组装策略的涌现,将甲壳型液晶高分子研究推向前所未有的高度,同时也极大地丰富了高分子化学与物理的内容,提升了研究水准.研究表明,侧链"甲壳效应"在调控甲壳型液晶高分子有序结构等方面有着重要作用.本综述从甲壳型液晶高分子设计合成、液晶相态调控、嵌段共聚物自组装和功能化应用等方面,总结和评述了近年来该领域国内的最新研究进展.最后,本综述总结了甲壳型液晶高分子在发展中所面临的主要问题,并对其发展趋势进行了展望.     

Synthesis and characterization of semifluorinated polymers and block copolymers

The goal of the investigation presented here was to evaluate the influence of semifluorinated side chains on the bulk structure and the surface properties of polysulfones with different chain structure. Thus, segmented block copolymers consisting of polysulfone and semifluorinated aromatic polyester segments as well as polysulfones having semifluorinated side chains randomly distributed over the polymer backbone were synthesized and characterized. Oxydecylperfluorodecyl side chains were used because of their strong tendency for self-organization. The influence of the chain architecture on the self-organization as well as on the surface properties, particularly the wetting behavior, was examined. It could be shown that despite of the higher self-organizing tendency of block copolymers the surface properties of both polymer types are comparable and depend only on the concentration of side chains.     

Influence of Rigid Side Chain Attraction on Stiffness and Conformations of Comb Copolymer Brushes Strongly Adsorbed on a Flat Surface

The influence of side‐chain attraction on the conformational properties of two‐dimensional polymer brushes with rigid side chains is investigated using Monte Carlo simulations. Using a rigid backbone, a characteristic interaction strength is determined by investigating the critical interaction energy for the collapse of the side chains onto the backbone. For a flexible backbone, the persistence length of the backbone is found to decrease with increasing attraction, irrespective of whether side‐chain flipping is allowed or not. This result is in good agreement with the theoretical modeling presented before. If side‐chain flipping is allowed, the attraction between the side chains leads to aggregation of successive side chains at one side of the backbone resulting in a characteristic local spiraling of the backbone.     

Morphological studies of blends of conjugated polymers and acceptor molecules using langevin dynamics simulations

We use coarse‐grained Langevin dynamics simulations of blends of generic conjugated polymers and acceptor molecules to show how architecture (e.g., side chains, backbone flexibility of oligomers) and the pair‐wise interactions between the constituents of the blend affect morphology and phase transition. Alkyl side chains on the conjugated oligomer backbones shift the liquid crystal (LC) transition temperature from that of bare conjugated backbones and the direction of the shift depends on backbone–backbone interactions. Rigid backbones and constrained side chains cause a layer‐by‐layer morphology of conjugated polymers and amorphous acceptors, whereas flexible backbones and unconstrained side chains facilitate highly ordered acceptor arrangement. Strong backbone–backbone attraction shifts LC transition to higher temperatures than weak backbone–backbone attraction, and strong acceptor–acceptor attraction increases acceptor aggregation. Pure macro‐phase separated domains form when all pair‐wise interactions in the blend are strongly attractive, whereas interconnected domains form at intermediate acceptor–acceptor attraction and strong polymer–polymer attractions. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys, 2013     

Synthesis of well‐defined comb‐like graft (co)polymers by nucleophilic substitution reaction between living polymers and polyhalohydrocarbon

A series of graft (co)polymers were synthesized by nucleophilic substitution reaction between iodinated 1,2‐polybutadiene (PB‐I, backbone) and living polymer lithium (side chains). The coupling reaction between PB‐I and living polymers can finish within minutes at room temperature, and high conversion (up to 92%) could be obtained by effectively avoiding side reaction of dimerization when living polymers were capped with 1,1‐diphenylethylene. By virtue of living anionic polymerization, backbone length, side chain length, and side chain composition, as well as graft density, were well controlled. Tunable molecular weight of graft (co)polymers with narrow molecular weight distribution can be obtained by changing either the lengths of side chain and backbone, or the graft density. Graft copolymers could also be synthesized with side chains of multicomponent polymers, such as block polymer (polystyrene‐b‐polybutadiene) and even mixed polymers (polystyrene and polybutadiene) as hetero chains. Thus, based on living anionic polymerization, this work provides a facile way for modular synthesis of graft (co)polymers via nucleophilic substitution reaction between living polymers and polyhalohydrocarbon (PB‐I). © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2013     

A Monte Carlo simulation study of branched polymers

Monte Carlo simulations are presented for the static properties of highly branched polymer molecules. The molecules consist of a semiflexible backbone of hard-sphere monomers with semiflexible side chains, also composed of hard-sphere monomers, attached to either every backbone bead or every other backbone bead. The conformational properties and structure factor of this model are investigated as a function of the stiffness of the backbone and side chains. The average conformations of the side chains are similar to self-avoiding random walks. The simulations show that there is a stiffening of the backbone as degree of crowding is increased, for example, if the branch spacing is decreased or side chain length is increased. The persistence length of the backbone is relatively insensitive to the stiffness of the side chains over the range investigated. The simulations reproduce most of the qualitative features of the structure factor observed in experiment, although the magnitude of the stiffening of the backbone is smaller than in experiment.     

Reactions of living polystyrene with difunctional nitriles to produce specifically placed grafting sites

Graft polymers have been synthesized with two equal length branches and one or two branches of a different length or composition. The first step was a coupling reaction of living polystyrene with a difunctional nitrile. The product was hydrolyzed to form a ketone-containing backbone. Subsequently another sample of living polystyrene or of poly-2-vinylpyridine was added to the backbone to form the graft. Anionic polymerization was used for the synthesis of backbone and side chains, so all of the products are well defined. The products and reaction sequences also serve as models for a general synthesis of well-defined comb-shaped polymers, in which the length of the backbone, and the number, length, and spacing of the side chains may be controlled.     

Semiconducting polymers based on charge-transfer complexes. II. Crystal structure of poly-N-4-[4-(methylthio)phenoxy]butyrylethylenimine

Of the two electron-donor-containing polymers whose synthesis was described in Part I of this series, one was crystalline. This polymer, which contains (methylthio)phenoxy electron-donating groups on the side chains of an N-acyl-substituted polyethylenimine, could be indexed in a triclinic unit cell of dimensions a = 4.35 Å, b = 24.0 Å, c = 12.7 Å, and α = β = γ = 90°. The polymer has the side chains alternating on each side of the polymer backbone. They extend to form at 24.0 Å repeat in that direction. The thickness of the ribbonlike molecule is 4.35 Å, while the repeat distance along the polymer backbone is 12.7 Å, which includes four monomer units.     

Dual cross-linked networks hydrogels with unique swelling behavior and high mechanical strength: based on silica nanoparticle and hydrophobic association

A series of physically cross-linked hydrogels composed poly(acrylic acid) and octylphenol polyoxyethylene acrylate with high mechanical strength are reported here with dual cross-linked networks that formed by silica nanoparticles (SNs) and hydrophobic association micro-domains (HAMDs). Acrylic acid (AA) and octylphenol polyoxyethylene acrylate with 10 ethoxyl units (OP-10-AC) as basic monomers in situ graft from the SNs surface to build poly(acrylic acid) hydrophilic backbone chains with randomly distributed OP-10-AC hydrophobic side chains. The entanglements among grafted backbone polymer chains and hydrophobic branch architecture lead to the SNs and HAMDs play the role of physical cross-links for the hydrogels network structure. The rheological behavior and polymer concentration for gelation process are measured to examine the critical gelation conditions. The correlation of the polymer dual cross-linked networks with hydrogels swelling behavior, gel-to-sol phase transition, and mechanical strength are addressed, and the results imply that the unique dual cross-linking networks contribute the hydrogels distinctive swelling behavior and excellent tensile strength. The effects of SNs content, molecular weight of polymer backbone, and temperature on hydrogels properties are studied, and the results indicate that the physical hydrogel network integrity is depended on the SNs and HAMDs concentration.     

Molecular stress function theory and analysis of branching structure in industrial polyolefins

Despite substantial progress in analytical techniques for polymer characterization, a realistic picture of branching structure in industrial polymers still remains at large. Using a number of assumptions, structure-based constitutive models can distinguish between linear and branched structures in a qualitative sense. More detail on branching architecture, such as the number and length of side chains, the sequence in which they exist on the backbone and their contribution to polymer chain relaxation is more or less unknown. In the current study, elongational behavior of four commercial polyolefins is compared using the predictions of the MSF (molecular stress function) theory. The results will then be used to analyze the branching in a group of strain-hardening polypropylenes synthesized using single site catalyst.     

Precious metal polymers

The synthesis and properties of polymers containing precious metal centres in the backbone are described. Polymers with labile transition metal centres can be prepared by ring-opening polymerization of macrocycles, and examples are given with silver, gold and palladium as the metal centres. In some cases, the polymers can be further organized by using ligands with hydrogen bonding substituents, and self-assembly into sheet or network structures can then occur. Secondary bonding between inorganic centres can also lead to ordered self-assembly. Bicyclic precursors can ring open to form either chains or sheets.     

Effects of polar group saturation on physical gelation of amphiphilic polymer solutions

Monte Carlo simulation on the basis of the comblike coarse grained nonpolar/polar (NP) model has been carried out to study the polar group saturation effect on physical gelation of amphiphilic polymer solutions. The effects of polar group saturation due to hydrogen bonding or ion bridging on the sol-gel phase diagram, microstructure of aggregates, and chain conformation of amphiphilic polymer solutions under four different solvent conditions to either the nonpolar backbone or the polar side chain in amphiphilic polymer chains have been investigated. It is found that an increase of polar group saturation results in a monotonically decreased critical concentration of gelation point, which can be qualitatively supported by the dynamic rheological measurements on pectin aqueous solutions. Furthermore, various solvent conditions to either the backbone or the side chain have significant impact on both chain conformation and microstructure of aggregates. When the solvent is repulsive to the nonpolar backbone but attractive to the polar side chain, the polymer chains are collapsed, and the gelation follows the mechanism of colloidal packing; at the other solvent conditions, the gelation follows the mechanism of random aggregation.     

Smart materials based on self-assembled hydrogen-bonded comb-shaped supramolecules

Block copolymer self-assembly and supramolecular chemistry can be combined most naturally to prepare smart polymer nanomaterials. An attractive route is based on comb-shaped supramolecules, obtained by attaching side chains to (co)polymers by physical (non-covalent) interactions. Hydrogen bonding is a key element of our approach. It combines an ease of synthesis with other important approach-specific elements, such as hierarchical self-assembly, strongly enhanced processability, swelling, and cleaving. Functional properties discussed include anisotropic proton conductivity, switching proton conductivity, electronically conducting nanowires, polarized luminance, dielectric stacks (optical reflectivity), functional membranes, and nano objects.     

两亲性杂侧链聚合物刷的合成及其乳化功能

报道了一种随机高密度接枝亲水、疏水聚合物侧链的刷形两亲性聚合物.首先,结合可逆加成-断裂链转移(RAFT)聚合和后修饰方法,得到含叠氮侧基的聚甲基丙烯酸缩水甘油酯(PGMA-N3)作为主链;再分别合成端炔基聚苯乙烯(PS)和端炔基聚环氧乙烷(PEO),然后通过铜催化的叠氮-炔环加成反应,将疏水性PS和亲水性PEO同时高效的接到PGMA主链上,制得两亲性杂侧链的聚合物刷.由凝胶渗透色谱(SEC)分析得知,在主链叠氮基团与两侧链总炔基的摩尔投料比为1∶1的条件下,PS和PEO的接枝效率很高,都大于90%.通过调节主链长度和2种侧链的投料比,获得不同组成的聚合物刷.通过等质量的甲苯/水混合体系,考察两亲性聚合物刷的乳化能力,发现主链聚合度为100,PS∶PEO比例为70∶30的聚合物刷表现出最佳的乳化性能.     

一种西佛碱侧链型液晶高分子的合成及表征

一种西佛碱侧链型液晶高分子的合成及表征邹友思，林国良，姚青青，戴李宗，潘容华（厦门大学化学系厦门３６１００５）关键词联苯，西佛碱，侧链型，液晶高分子，基团转移聚合Ｆｉｎｋｅｌｌｎａｎｎ等提出的柔性基去偶合概念’］已在侧链型液晶高分子的研究中得到了证实...     

Side chain engineering and conjugation enhancement of benzodithiophene and phenanthrenequnioxaline based conjugated polymers for photovoltaic devices

A series of donor‐acceptor conjugated polymers incorporating benzodithiophene (BDT) as donor unit and phenanthrenequnioxaline as acceptor unit with different side chains have been designed and synthesized. For polymer P1 featuring the BDT unit and alkoxy chains substituted phenanthrenequnioxaline unit in the backbone, serious steric hindrance resulted in quite low molecular weight. The implementation of thiophene ring spacer in polymer P2 greatly suppressed the interannular twisting to extend the effective conjugation length and consequently gave rise to improved absorption property and device performance. In addition, utilizing the alkylthienyl side chains to replace the alkyl side chains at BDT unit in polymer P3 further enhanced the photovoltaic performance due to the increased conjugation length. For polymer P4, translating the alkoxy side chains at the phenanthrenequnioxaline ring into the alkyl side chains at thiophene linker group enhanced molecular planarity and strengthened π?π stacking. Consequently improved absorption property and increased hole mobility were achieved for polymer P4. Our results indicated that side chain engineering not only can influence the solubility of polymer but also can determine the polymer backbone planarity and hence the photovoltaic properties. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2015 , 53, 1915–1926     

蠕虫状链模型下梳状共聚物分子的均方回转半径的理论分析及其在聚羧酸系减水剂分子中的应用

利用蠕虫状链模型对梳状共聚物分子的均方回转半径进行了理论分析,建立了回转半径与主链轮廓长度、主链持久长度、侧链轮廓长度、侧链持久长度、侧链数目以及侧链沿主链的分布情况(均匀分布和梯度分布)之间的定量数学关系.在此基础上,以被称为"第一代聚羧酸系高性能减水剂"(以下简称为MPEG-type PCE)的甲基丙烯酸(MAA)/烯酸甲酯(MAA-MPEG)梳状共聚物分子为研究对象,结合实验数据,对其聚电解质主链的持久长度进行了分析,并考察了主侧链长度、刚柔性、侧链分布、接枝密度等分子结构参数对PCE回转半径的影响,最后对模型的局限性作简要说明.梳状共聚物分子的蠕虫状链模型物理图像简洁,参数意义明确,应用于PCE分子体系时较之前所报道的柔性链模型要更为合理,能够为分析PCE的分子结构与溶液构象和吸附构象之间的关系提供更科学的视角.     

Self-assembly of multidomain peptides: balancing molecular frustration controls conformation and nanostructure

A series of nine, frustrated, multidomain peptides is described in which forces favoring self-assembly into a nanofiber versus those favoring disassembly could be easily modified. The peptides are organized into an ABA block motif in which the central B block is composed of alternating hydrophilic and hydrophobic amino acids (glutamine and leucine, respectively). This alternation allows the amino acid side chains to segregate on opposite sides of the peptide backbone when it is in a fully extended beta-sheet conformation. In water, packing between two such peptides stabilizes the extended conformation by satisfying the desire of the leucine side chains to exclude themselves from the aqueous environment. Once in this conformation intermolecular backbone hydrogen bonding can readily take place between additional peptides eventually growing into high aspect ratio fibers. B block assembly may continue infinitely or until monomeric peptides are depleted from solution which results in an insoluble precipitate. Block A consists of a variable number of positively charged lysine residues whose electrostatic repulsion at pH 7 works against the desire of the B block to assemble. Here we show that balancing the forces of block A against B allows the formation of controlled length, individually dispersed, and fully soluble nanofibers with a width of 6 +/- 1 nm and length of 120 +/- 30 nm. Analysis by infrared, circular dichroism, and vitreous ice cryo-transmission electron microscopy reveals that the relative sizes of blocks A and B dictate the peptide secondary structure which in turn controls the resulting nanostructure. The system described epitomizes the use of molecular frustration in the design of finite self-assembled structures. These materials, and ones based on their architecture, may find applications where nanostructured control over fiber architecture and chemical functionality is required.