Synthesis and properties of polycondensation polymers from compounds with asymmetric functional groups

The effect of conditions of polycondensation on the structure of polymers formed from monomers with symmetric and asymmetric functional groups by nonequilibrium polycondensation has been studied for the system with acceptor-catalytic polyesterification of β-hydroxyethyl ethers of bisphenols and terephthalic acid chloride in the presence of triethylamine. Polymers with statistical or regular arrangement of diol residues in the chain can be produced in such systems, depending on the way in which starting compounds are introduced in the reactor. A difference in the reactivity of functional groups in an asymmetric monomer is not sufficient to produce polycondensation polymers with a regular structure. Gradual introduction of the symmetric monomer is essential to yield polymers with predominant “head-to-head” (“tail-to-tail”) configurations. Some properties of the resulting polymers have been studied. Polymers with ordered residues of the asymmetric monomers in the macromolecules have higher softening temperatures and an increased tendency for crystallization than the statistic polymers.     

含胆酸高分子化合物的制备和特性*

胆酸是哺乳动物体内合成的一种天然化合物,具有特殊的分子结构和优良的生物适应性。由胆酸合成的高分子化合物保持了胆酸的部分性质,如双亲性、手性、侧基反应活性和自组装性能等。在化学和药学领域,含胆酸高分子材料具有重要的应用价值。本文从自由基聚合形成的含胆酸高分子化合物、胆酸修饰的高分子化合物和胆酸聚合物等几个方面综述了含胆酸高分子化合物的制备和特性,并对胆酸在高分子材料方面的新用途作了展望。     

Efficient and sequence-specific DNA-templated polymerization of peptide nucleic acid aldehydes

On the basis of the distance-dependence of DNA-templated reductive amination reactions and of recent findings of D. Lynn and co-workers, we developed DNA-templated polymerizations of synthetic peptide nucleic acid (PNA) aldehydes. The coupling reactions proceed in a highly efficient and sequence-specific manner, even in the presence of mixtures of PNA aldehydes of different sequence. Synthetic peptide nucleic acid polymers containing as many as 40 PNA units (representing 10 consecutive coupling reactions) were formed efficiently. The ease of preparing PNAs containing tailor-made functional groups together with these findings raises the possibility of evolving synthetic sequence-defined polymers by iterated cycles of translation, selection, PCR amplification, and diversification previously available only to biological macromolecules.     

From Living to “Immortal” Polymerization

Aluminum porphyrin is an excellent initiator for the living polymerizations of a wide variety of monomers such as epoxide, β-lactone, δ-lactone, ε-lactone, and lactide, and also for the alternating copolymerization of epoxide and cyclic acid anhydride or carbon dioxide, to give polymers and copolymers with narrow molecular weight distribution. Aluminum porphyrin was recently found to initiate also the living polymerization of methacrylic ester. In the polymerizations of epoxides and lactones initiated with aluminum porphyrin in the presence of an appropriate protic compound, polymers with narrow molecular weight can be obtained with the number of the polymer molecules more than those of the initiator. This fact demonstrates the “immortal” nature of the polymerization due to unusual reactivities of aluminum prophyrin.     

Hydrophilic core-shell microspheres: a suitable support for controlled attachment of proteins and biomedical diagnostics

Functional hydrophilic microspheres (latex particles) have found various applications in life sciences and in medicine - particularly in latex diagnostic tests. This paper presents a comprehensive review of studies on latex particles with a hydrophilic interfacial layer composed of various hydrophilic polymers with reactive groups at the ends of macromolecules or at each monomeric unit along the chain. Typical examples of these hydrophilic polymers are poly(2-hydroxyethyl methyl methacrylate), poly(acrylic acid), poly(N,N-dimethylacrylamide), polysaccharides, poly(ethylene oxide) and polyglycidol. Hydrophilic microspheres with different morphologies (uniform or core-shell, see Figure) have been synthesized by emulsion and dispersion polymerizations. The chemical structure of polymers which constitute the interfacial layer of microspheres has been investigated using a variety of instrumental techniques (such as XPS, SSIMS and NMR) and analytical methods based on specific chemical reactions suitable for the determination of particular functional groups. Microspheres are exposed to contact with proteins in the majority of medical applications. This paper presents examples of studies on the attachment of these biomacromolecules to microspheres. The relation between the structure of the interfacial layer of microspheres and the ability of these particles for the covalent binding of proteins is discussed. Several examples of diagnostic tests, in which hydrophilic microspheres with adsorbed or covalently immobilized proteins were used as reagents, are presented. The paper also contains a short review of the application of magnetic hydrophilic particles for protein separation. Examples of hydrophilic latex particles used for hemoperfusion or heavy metal ion separation are presented. Hydrophilic microspheres with uniform or core-shell morphologies.     

Heat-resistant polymers from melt-processable bisimido-bisphthalonitriles

Heat-resistant polymers which are processable into void-free components and suitable for composite applications have been synthesized by thermal/chemical polymerization of four newly developed bisimido-bisphthalonitriles containing silicon, ether, carbonyl, and hexafluoroisopropylidene groups. Thermal polymerization involving addition reactions was performed at 200–275°C for 2–10 h and then post-curing at 310°C for 10 h. Polymers VI, VII, VIII , and IX were obtained. The thermal polymerization was monitored using infrared spectroscopy. Thermal polymerization was also carried out in the presence of an aromatic diamine. A polyhexasocyclane ( V ) was synthesized by condensation polymerization of ether containing bisimido-bisphthalonitrile with 4,4′-diaminodiphenyl ether in solvent phenol. The synthesized polymers were evaluated for thermal stability using dynamic thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Polymers VII, VIII, IX , and X showed thermal decomposition temperature in the range of 475–500°C in nitrogen and air atmosphere. The char yield of the polymers was in the range of 60–69% in nitrogen at 800°C. This study indicated that synthesized thermosetting polymers from ether and keto containing bisimido-bisphthalo-nitrile are potential candidates for development of graphite composites. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Towards a universal polymer backbone: design and synthesis of polymeric scaffolds containing terminal hydrogen-bonding recognition motifs at each repeating unit

Polymers containing terminal hydrogen-bonding recognition motifs based on diaminotriazine and diaminopyridine groups in their side chains for the self-assembly of appropriate receptors have been prepared by ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) of norbornenes. A new synthetic method for the preparation of norbornene monomers based on pure alkyl spacers is introduced. These monomers show unprecedented high reactivity using ROMP. To suppress self-association of diaminotriazine-based polymers, polymerizations were run in presence of N-butylthymine. The butylthymine acts as a protecting group via self-assembly onto the hydrogen-bonding sites of the polymeric scaffold, thereby solubilizing the polymer. Diaminopyridine monomers do not require the presence of a protecting group due to their low propensity to dimerize. In addition, they exhibit a high affinity for hydrogen-bonded receptors on both monomeric and polymeric level. These polymers present our first building blocks towards the design and synthesis of a "universal polymer scaffold".     

9-Anthryldiazomethane in the Synthesis of Anthracene- Containing Polymers

Methods of the preparation of anthracene-containing monomers and polymers have been developed. They are based on the ability of 9-anthryldiazomethane to react with carboxylic groups of macromolecules and unsaturated carboxylic acids, to co-polymerize with diazoalkanes, and to generate 9-anthrylcarbene. These methods are used to obtain: (1) polymers with a low content (< 0.1 mole %) and different arrangement of anthracene groups in macromolecules (i. e., polymers with luminescent marks used to investigate macromolecules by luminescent methods) and (2) polymers with a high content (up to 100%) of anthracene-containing units, (which imparts to polymers specific photophysical and photochemical properties).     

Photo-attaching functional polymers to cellulose fibers for the design of chemically modified paper

We introduce a novel approach for preparing polymer-modified and chemically microstructured paper substrates by a photo-chemical attachment of functional polymers to cellulose microfibers inside model filter papers. Poly(methyl methacrylate), PMMA copolymers, which carry a defined amount of photo-reactive benzophenone functional groups, are adsorbed to paper substrates from solution by a simple dip coating process, followed by covalent attachment of the physisorbed polymers through UV-light irradiation. Non-bound macromolecules can be removed from paper sheets by simple solvent extraction, and the resulting polymer-modified substrates were analysed with respect to chemical identity, attached polymer mass, and homogeneity of the polymer attachment. The amount of paper-attached polymers can be conveniently controlled in a wide range from a few mg/g cellulose fiber up to several tenth of mg/g cellulose fiber, by adjusting the polymer concentration in the coating solution. Polymers are being attached by photo-chemical means, and chemical micro patterns on paper can be designed by lithographical means. In first proof-of-concept studies, millimeter-scale channels were prepared that can be used to control fluid penetration by capillary actions. Because of the modularity in the design of photo-reactive polymers, a number of different chemically microstructured papers can be envisioned which may become potentially interesting in lab-on-paper devices.     

Polymerization of methyl methacrylate and vinyl acetate initiated by the manganese carbonyl-1,2-epoxy-4,4,4-trichlorobutane system

Polymers containing epoxy groups at the ends of macromolecules and in side radicals are prepared through polymerization of methyl methacrylate and vinyl acetate in the presence of the manganese carbonyl-1,2-epoxy-4,4,4-trichlorobutane system. The presence of reinitiation is revealed; it leads to an appreciable increase in the molecular masses of poly(methyl methacrylate) and poly(vinyl acetate) as compared to polymers synthesized in the presence of 2,2′-azo-bis(isobutyronitrile) and 1,2-epoxy-4,4,4-trichlorobutane.     

“Living” free radical graft copolymers I: Preparation and properties

Polymers substituted with thio groups are useful for the photochemical synthesis of graft copolymers. Such copolymers have been prepared by the initial conversion of backbone polymers containing chlorinated substituents into polymers containing diethyldithiocarbamate (TC), isopropyl xanthate (IX) or mercaptobenzothiazole (BT) functionality. The photochemical reaction of monomers with these products produced graft copolymers. A variety of halogenated polymers were investigated as starting materials for these syntheses, including poly(vinyl chloride), chlorinated polyvinyl chloride), chlorinated polyethylene, chlorobutyl rubber and neoprene. Characteristics of the grafting reactions, including “pseudo-living” behavior and tandem grafting aspects, were investigated. Glass transitions of the grafted polymers were found to vary uniformly with composition for most of the grafted products.     

Some mechanistic insights in the behaviour of thiol containing antioxidant polymers in lignin oxidation processes

Modified polyethylene glycol polymers are described in which thiol containing groups have been added via a simple esterification step. The resultant thiol end-capped polyethers retain the antioxidant behaviours of the monomeric thiols, but mitigate essentially completely the undesirable properties of the monomers, including offensive odour, volatility, and insolubility in aqueous solvents. This concept substantially enhances the number of potential practical applications of the thiol containing polymers as compared to the monomeric substances. A class of polyethylene glycols substituted with thiolactic acid or thioglycolic acid is described with potential in the pulp and paper industry, for the inhibition of radical induced oxidative processes including brightness reversion in lignin containing papers. Several techniques are used to elucidate aspects of the mechanism by which such thiols are effective: a novel photoacoustic technique demonstrates the scavenging effects of the thiol end capped polyethylene glycols towards alkoxy radicals. ESR studies demonstrate the ability of these thiol polymers to quench both the exogenous “phenoxy” radicals present in CTMP and TMP papers as well as the enhanced radical signal resulting from irradiation of these papers. The strong uv absorbance of these relatively persistent phenoxy radicals may decrease the optimal initial brightness of papers made from mechanical pulps.     

Removal of organic micro-pollutants from water by β-cyclodextrin triazine polymers

β-Cyclodextrin (CD) polymers were synthesized by nucleophilic substitutions between β-CD with cyanuric chloride. Insoluble polymers were obtained. Polymers were characterized by DSC, TGA, FTIR, SS-¹³CNMR. Polymers and activated carbon (AC-Darco) were used to remove model micro-pollutants of bisphenol-A (BPA), 2-naphthol, 2-cholor-biphenyl (PCBNO1), benzene and dibutyl phthalate from water. The results showed that β-CD-triazine polymers showed better performance to adsorb BPA compared with activated carbon; β-CD-triazine polymer showed similar performance to activated carbon on removing benzene from water; however, it showed worse performance for removing 2-naphthol, PCBNO1 and dibutylphthalate by comparison with activated carbon. β-CD-triazine polymers with varying ratio of β-CD to cyanuric chloride were synthesized and their performance on model micro-pollutants were evaluated. Removal efficiency of micro-pollutants from water for β-CD-triazine polymers correlated with their CD concentration except for removing benzene which showed similar performance.     

Photodegradable polyamides

Unique photodegradable polyamides have been prepared by solution polymerization of diphenyl α-truxillate or δ-truxinate with hexamethylene or nonamethylenediamine, followed by melt polymerization. Photochemical properties of resulted polyamides were studied spectroscopically and are discussed in terms of photoreversibility and monomeric derivatives for comparison. Solution viscosity of the polymer was decreased by irradiation with a high-pressure mercury lamp. The polymers from α-truxillic acid depolymerize by the action of monochromatic light of 224 mμ to give rise to cinnamyl groups faster than those from δ-truxinic acid. On the photodegradation of polyalkylene-δ-truxinamide, two types of scission of cyclobutane were found: symmetrical scission, giving rise to two cinnamyl groups, and a symmetrical scission, giving rise to one trans-stilbene and one fumaramide linkage. The intense absorption peak due to cinnamyl groups at 272 mμ of partially photodepolymerized films diminished by the action of 304 mμ light; this can be accounted for by the recombination of cinnamyl groups into cyclobutane ring and some unidentified crosslinking reactions. The photochemical behavior of cyclobutane in the polyamides studied proved to be consistent with that of monomeric derivatives reported previously. The study on thermal properties of the polymers by DTA and TGA revealed that this type of polyamide is quite stable as high as 350°C unless significant steric effects are involved.     

The effect of chemical constitution of mesogenic monomer unit on liquid crystalline properties of polymers

Glass transition temperatures and thermodynamic parameters of mesophase melting of polymers with mesogenic side-groups of the phenyl benzoate class depend on the length of the alkoxy substitutent, the mobility of the mesogenic groups and the nature of the main chain. Polymers with mesogenic groups connected directly to the main chain, obtained by precipitation from solution, have equilibrium liquid crystalline structures in which the macromolecules exist in a compact coil conformation with an ordered arrangement of the mesogenic groups. The nature of the main chain of these polymers affects the liquid crystalline structure. Mesophase melting parameters of the polymers with mesogenic groups, connected by flexible spacer groups to the main chain, are almost independent of the thermal history of the samples. These polymers in the isotropic melts are assumed to contain aggregates of the mesogenic groups.     

Synthesis and evaluation of cationic and cationogenic polymeric sorbents for removing surfactants from aqueous solutions

Polymers based on 2‐dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA) crossslinked with ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) or N,N′‐methylenebisacrylamide (MBAA) have been prepared by solution‐suspension polymerization. Polymers containing ammonium groups were synthesized by quaternization of aminofunctional polymers obtained with ethyl or dodecyl bromide or by the polymerization of respective quaternized monomers. Influence of the content of DMAEMA in the polymers, nominal degree of crosslinking, length of alkyl substituent in quaternary ammonium groups as well as particle size on the sorption of anionic and nonionic surfactants from aqueous solutions has been studied.     

聚合物在纳米微粒制备中的应用

概述了近年来聚合物在纳米微粒制备中的应用，分析了应用极性高分子作为纳米微粒分散介质的可行性，讨论了用络合转换方法制备纳米微粒的普适性。     

Luminescence studies of the conformational behaviour of hydrophobically-modified,water-soluble polymers

A range of hydrophobically-modified water-soluble polymers, based upon acrylic acid and methacrylic acid as hydrophilic components, has been studied using various luminescence techniques. Time-resolved anisotropy measurements, on fluorescently labelled macromolecules, have been used to quantify the extent to which the conformational behaviour of a given polyelectrolyte affects its segmental mobility, and to gauge how such behaviour can be controlled by hydrophobic modification. Room-temperature stabilized phosphorescence from the labels and/or occluded guests and energy transfer experiments have been used to investigate the nature of the hydrophobic domains formed in these polymers. Hydrophobic modification of polyelectrolytes can be used to enhance the scope of water-soluble macromolecules as solubilizing media for photochemical and spectroscopic applications.     

Embedding multiple site‐specific functionalities into polymer chains via nitrone‐mediated radical coupling reactions

A facile method to generate polymer materials with embedded functional groups at known and precise positions along the polymer backbone is described. In the presented approach, well‐defined bifunctional poly(isobornyl acrylate)s preformed via atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) containing α,ω‐bromo end groups are reactivated and subsequently coupled in a stepwise manner via the nitrone‐mediated radical coupling (NMRC) technique. The generated polymers contain on average four nitrone moieties at evenly spaced locations. The number of embedded functionalities, and thus, the size of the polymer is limited by disproportionation reactions occurring during the nitroxide termination sequence. Using the nitrone as a functional carrier, secondary functionalities can be incorporated into the polymer with ease. To exemplify such an approach, an alkyne‐functionalized nitrone is used to construct a multisegment structure via NMRC reactions followed by postmodification of the obtained polymers with 3‐mercaptopropionic acid via UV‐induced thiol‐yne reactions. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011