Chirality sensing of chiral pyrrolidines and piperazines with a liquid crystalline dynamic helical poly(phenylacetylene) bearing ethyl phosphonate pendant groups

Stereoregular cis‐transoidal poly(phenylacetylene) bearing a phosphonic acid monoethyl ester as the pendant group (poly‐ 1 ‐H) was found to form a preferred‐handed helix upon complexation with various optically active pyrrolidines and piperazines in dilute dimethyl sulfoxide and water, and the complexes exhibited characteristic induced circular dichroisms (ICDs) in the UV‐vis region of the polymer backbone. The Cotton effect signs in water reflect the absolute configuration of the pyrrolidines. The sodium salt of poly‐ 1 ‐H (poly‐ 1 ‐Na) and poly‐ 1 ‐H in the presence of optically active amines formed lyotropic nematic and cholesteric liquid crystalline phases in concentrated water solutions, respectively, indicating the rigid‐rod characteristic of the polymer main chain regardless of the lack of a single‐handed helix, as evidenced by the long persistence length of about 18 nm before and after the preferred‐handed helicity induction in the polymer. X‐ray diffraction of the oriented films of the nematic and cholesteric liquid crystalline polymers exhibited almost the same diffraction pattern, suggesting that both polymers have the same helical structure; dynamically racemic and one‐handed helices, respectively. On the basis of the X‐ray analysis, a possible helical structure of poly‐ 1 is proposed. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 1383–1390, 2010     

Helicity induction on a poly(phenylacetylene) derivative bearing aza‐18‐crown‐6 ether pendants in water

A stereoregular poly(phenylacetylene) bearing the bulky aza‐18‐crown‐6 ether as the pendant (poly‐ 1 ) formed a predominantly one‐handed helical conformation upon complexation with various chiral compounds, such as amino acids, peptides, aminosugars, amines, and amino alcohols in water. The complexes exhibited an induced circular dichroism (ICD) in the UV–visible region of the polymer main chain. Therefore, poly‐ 1 can be used as a novel probe for determining the chirality of chiral compounds in water. The assay of 19 common free L ‐amino acids gave the same ICD sign at 0 °C except for L ‐phenylalanine. The effects of pH, temperature, guest concentration, and organic solvent content on the ICD during the complexation of poly‐ 1 with chiral compounds were also investigated. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 1004–1013, 2003     

Helicity induction on a poly(phenylacetylene) bearing a phosphonate residue by chiral dendrons

A series of optically active dendrons with a primary amino group at the terminal were prepared from L - or D -glutamic acid, and their helicity induction abilities for a poly(phenylacetylene) bearing a phosphonate pendant were characterized with ultraviolet–visible and circular dichroism spectroscopy. The magnitude of the Cotton effects of the polymer induced by the dendrons significantly increased upon complexation with a higher generation dendron. The effect of the chirality of the glutamate residues (L and D ) on the helicity induction was also studied. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 4580–4586, 2004     

Helix formation of poly(phenylacetylene) derivatives bearing amino groups at the meta position induced by optically active carboxylic acids

Two novel phenylacetylene derivatives bearing diethylaminomethyl groups at the meta position on phenyl groups [3‐(N,N‐diethylaminomethyl)phenyl]acetylene ( 1 ) and [3,5‐bis(N,N‐diethylaminomethyl)phenyl]acetylene ( 2 ) were synthesized and polymerized with [Rh(nbd)Cl]₂ (nbd: norbornadiene). Both monomers gave highly cis–transoidal stereoregular polymers that exhibited an induced circular dichroism (ICD) in the UV–visible region, probably because of a prevailing one‐handed helical conformation upon complexation with optically active carboxylic acids such as mandelic acid and lactic acid. The sign of the Cotton effects reflected the absolute configuration of the chiral acids. Therefore, these polymers can be used as a novel probe for determining the configuration of chiral acids. The polymers were stable in the presence of chiral acids in solution. The poly‐ 1 complexed with chiral acids exhibited a split‐type ICD, whereas the poly‐ 2 complexed with chiral acids showed a different, non‐split‐type ICD. The ICD pattern of the poly‐ 1 /chiral acids complexes dramatically changed with an increase in the concentration of the chiral acids, thus showing a non‐split‐type ICD similar to those of the poly‐ 2 /chiral acid complexes. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 39: 3180–3189, 2001     

Spectroscopic studies of interactions in poly(N‐acryloyl‐N′‐methylpiperazine)/acidic polymer complexes

Poly(N‐acryloyl‐N′‐methylpiperazine) (PAMP) forms complexes with four strong acidic polymers, namely, poly(styrenesulfonic acid), poly(vinylphosphonic acid), poly(acrylic acid) and poly(methacrylic acid) in ethanol/water (1:1) solution. The nature of interpolymer interactions in various complexes was studied by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Both the carbonyl oxygen and the amide nitrogen of PAMP are involved in hydrogen‐bonding interactions. Some of the amine nitrogens of PAMP are protonated and therefore PAMP also interacts with the acidic polymers through ionic interactions. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 38: 501–508, 2000     

Double‐hydrophilic block copolymer for encapsulation and two‐way pH change‐induced release of metalloporphyrins

A double hydrophilic block copolymer composed of poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) and poly(4‐vinyl pyridine) (P4VP) was obtained through hydrolysis of diblock copolymer of poly(tert‐butyl acrylate) (PtBA) and P4VP synthesized using atom transfer radical polymerization. Water‐soluble micelles with PAA core and P4VP corona were observed at low (acidic) pH, while micelles with P4VP core and PAA corona were formed at high (basic) pH. Two metalloporphyrins, zinc tetraphenylporphyrin (ZnTPP) and cobalt tetraphenylporphyrin (CoTPP), were used as model compounds to investigate the encapsulation of hydrophobic molecules by both types of micelles. UV–vis spectroscopic measurements indicate that micelles with P4VP core are able to entrap more ZnTPP and CoTPP as a result of the axial coordination between the transition metals and the pyridine groups. The study found that metalloporphyrins encapsulated by the micelles with PAA core could be released on pH increase, while those entrapped by the micelles with P4VP core could be released on pH decrease. This behavior originates from the two‐way pH change‐induced disruption of PAA‐b‐P4VP micelles. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 1734–1744, 2006     

Synthesis and properties of optically active amino acid based polyacetylenes bearing eugenol and fluorene moieties

Novel optically active amino acid based polyacetylenes bearing eugenol and fluorene moieties were synthesized, and their properties, including chiroptical ones, were analyzed. N‐[1‐(3,4‐Dimethoxyphenyl)‐2‐propyloxycarbonyl]‐L ‐alanine N′‐propargylamide ( 1 ), N‐[1‐(3,4‐dimethoxyphenyl)‐2‐propyloxycarbonyl]‐L ‐alanine propargyl ester ( 2 ), N‐(9‐fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl)‐L ‐alanine N′‐propargylamide ( 3 ), and N‐(9‐fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl)‐L ‐alanine propargyl ester ( 4 ) were polymerized with a rhodium‐zwitterion catalyst in tetrahydrofuran to afford the corresponding polymers with moderate molecular weights ranging from 10,800 to 17,300 in good yields. Because of the large specific rotation and circular dichroism (CD) signal, it was concluded that the poly(N‐propargylamide)s [poly( 1 ) and poly( 3 )] took a helical structure with a predominantly one‐handed screw sense. The solvent and temperature could tune the helical structure of poly( 1 ). On the other hand, the poly(propargyl ester)s [poly( 2 ) and poly( 4 )] exhibited only small specific rotations and CD signals. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 810–819, 2006     

Supramolecular helical assembly of an achiral cyanine dye in an induced helical amphiphilic poly(phenylacetylene) interior in water

A water-soluble amphiphilic poly(phenylacetylene) bearing the bulky aza-18-crown-6-ether pendants forms a one-handed helix induced by l- or d-amino acids and chiral amino alcohols through specific host-guest interactions in water. We now report that such an induced helical poly(phenylacetylene) with a controlled helix sense can selectively trap an achiral benzoxazole cyanine dye among various structurally similar cyanine dyes within its hydrophobic helical cavity inside the polymer in acidic water, resulting in the formation of supramolecular helical aggregates, which exhibit an induced circular dichroism (ICD) in the cyanine dye chromophore region. The supramolecular chirality induced in the cyanine aggregates could be further memorized when the template helical polymer lost its optical activity and further inverted into the opposite helicity. Thereafter, thermal racemization of the helical aggregates slowly took place.     

Solvent-induced switching of the macromolecular helicity of poly[(4-carboxyphenyl)acetylene] induced by a single chiral amino alcohol

Cis–transoidal poly[(4-carboxyphenyl)acetylene] (poly- 1 ) complexed with optically active amines and amino alcohols showed an induced circular dichroism (ICD) in the ultraviolet–visible region because of a predominantly one-handed helix formation in water and in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). The Cotton effect signs of the poly- 1 /chiral amino alcohol complexes were inverted in the presence of water, whereas the ICD pattern of the poly- 1 /chiral amine complexes showed no change, regardless of the water content. These results demonstrated that the helix sense of poly- 1 induced by optically active amino alcohols through noncovalent acid–base interactions could be switched by changes in the solvent ratio in the DMSO–water mixtures. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 3625–3631, 2003     

New solvent for polyrotaxane. I. Dimethylacetamide/lithium chloride (DMAc/LiCl) system for modification of polyrotaxane

Dimethylacetamide (DMAc) containing 8–9% (w/w) of lithium chloride (LiCl) or lithium bromide (LiBr) was found to be a good solvent for a polyrotaxane consisting of poly (ethylene glycol) (PEG) and α‐cyclodextrin (CD). In the new DMAc/LiCl solvent system, various modification reactions such as acetylation, direct dansylation, and reaction with acid chloride could be performed, which was unattainable in the previously reported solvents, i.e., dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) and aqueous sodium hydroxide solution. Acetylation with acetic anhydride and direct dansylation of the polyrotaxane were investigated in detail in comparison with reactions in DMSO. The dissolution of the polyrotaxane in DMAc/LiCl suggested that the solubility and insolubility of the polyrotaxane is strongly in relation to the inter‐ and intramolecular hydrogen bonding of the polyrotaxane. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 532–538, 2006     

Gas transport in surface‐modified low‐density polyethylene films with acrylic acid as a grafting agent

The modification of polyethylene by the grafting of poly(acrylic acid) onto the surface of one of the faces of low‐density polyethylene films with UV radiation is reported. The transport of oxygen, nitrogen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, methane, ethane, ethylene, propane, and argon across surface‐modified films containing 3.7% poly(acrylic acid) has been investigated at several temperatures. The layer of poly(acrylic acid) grafted onto the surface of one of the faces of the films reduces the permeability coefficient of the gases by a factor of about 1/6. The sharp drop in the gas permeability as a result of the poly(acrylic acid) layer may arise either from the formation of ordered structures of the grafted chains or from the development of highly crosslinked structures. The values of the polymer–gas enthalpic interaction parameter for the modified film are higher than those for the unmodified one. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 44: 2828–2840, 2006     

Synthesis of helical polyisocyanides bearing aza‐crown ether groups as pendant

We, herein, present a novel synthesis of responsive helical poly(aryl isocyanide)s bearing aza‐crown ethers as pendant groups. Chiral aryl isocyanide monomers bearing an aza‐crown ether as a pendant were designed and synthesized, piror to polymerization using a Pd‐Pt µ‐ethynediyl complex as an initiator to give the corresponding polymers in good yield. The resulting polyisocyanides adopted a stable helical structure in solution, as confirmed by circular dichroism spectroscopic analysis. In addition, the polymers were soluble in various solvents. Furthemore, the addition of suitable alkali metal ions to the crown ether of the sidechain on the helical polyisocyanide to form host‐gest complexes resulted in deformation of the helix due to electrostatic repulsion, and these phenomena depended on the size of metal cations. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2018 , 56, 496–504.     

Phenylene vinylene‐based electroluminescent polymers with electron transport block in the main chain

We report a new route for the design of soluble phenylene vinylene (PV) based electroluminescent polymers bearing electron‐deficient oxadizole (OXD) and triazole (TZ) moieties in the main chains with the aryloxy linkage. Both series of the PV‐based polymers were prepared by Wittig reaction. By properly adjusting the OXD and/or TZ content through copolymerization, we can achieve an enhanced balance of hole‐ and electron injections, such that the device efficiency is significantly improved. Light‐emitting diodes fabricated from P1, P2, P3, P4, P5, P6, and P7 with the configuration of Indium–Tin Oxide (ITO)/Poly (styrene sulfonic acid) doped poly (ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT)/polymer/Ca/Al, emit bright green light with the maximum peak around 500 nm. For the device using the optimal polymer (P4) as emitting layer, a maximum brightness of 1300 cd/m² at 20 V and a maximum luminance efficiency of 0.325 cd/A can be obtained. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 3469–3478, 2006     

Network structure and swelling–shrinking behaviors of pH‐sensitive poly(acrylamide‐co‐itaconic acid) hydrogels

pH‐sensitive poly(acrylamide‐co‐itaconic acid) [P(AAm/IA)] hydrogels were prepared by radiation induced copolymerization of acrylamide (AAm) and itaconic acid (IA) at various ratios. Swelling and shrinking behaviors of these hydrogels were found greatly dependent on the composition of the hydrogel and pH of the buffer solution. The basic structural parameters of the P(AAm/IA) networks such as the molecular weight between crosslinks (M _c) and polymer–solvent interaction parameter (χ) were also determined using the modified Flory‐Rehner equations. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 42: 2586–2594, 2004     

Synthesis and characterization of soluble polyimides derived from 2′,5′‐bis(3,4‐dicarboxyphenoxy)‐p‐terphenyl dianhydride

A novel bis(ether anhydride) monomer, 2′,5′‐bis(3,4‐dicarboxyphenoxy)‐p‐terphenyl dianhydride, was synthesized from the nitro displacement of 4‐nitrophthalonitrile by the phenoxide ion of 2′,5′‐dihydroxy‐p‐terphenyl, followed by alkaline hydrolysis of the intermediate bis(ether dinitrile) and cyclodehydration of the resulting bis(ether diacid). A series of new poly(ether imide)s bearing laterally attached p‐terphenyl groups were prepared from the bis(ether anhydride) with various aromatic diamines via a conventional two‐stage process that included ring‐opening polyaddition to form the poly(amic acid)s followed by thermal or chemical imidization to the poly(ether imide)s. The inherent viscosities of the poly(amic acid) precursors were in the range of 0.62–1.26 dL/g. Most of the poly(ether imide)s obtained from both routes were soluble in polar organic solvents, such as N,N‐dimethylacetamide. All the poly(ether imide)s could afford transparent, flexible, and strong films with high tensile strengths. The glass‐transition temperatures of these poly(ether imide)s were recorded as between 214 and 276 °C by DSC. The softening temperatures of all the poly(ether imide) films stayed in the 207–265 °C range according to thermomechanical analysis. For all the polymers significant decomposition did not occur below 500 °C in nitrogen or air atmosphere. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 1008–1017, 2004     

Temperature‐induced spontaneous sol–gel transitions of poly(D,L‐lactic acid‐co‐glycolic acid)‐b‐poly(ethylene glycol)‐b‐poly(D,L‐lactic acid‐co‐glycolic acid) triblock copolymers and their end‐capped derivatives in water

The spontaneous hydrogel formation of a sort of biocompatible and biodegradable amphiphilic block copolymer in water was observed, and the underlying gelling mechanism was assumed. A series of ABA‐type triblock copolymers [poly(D,L ‐lactic acid‐co‐glycolic acid)‐b‐poly(ethylene glycol)‐b‐poly(D,L ‐lactic acid‐co‐glycolic acid)] and different derivatives end‐capped by small alkyl groups were synthesized, and the aqueous phase behaviors of these samples were studied. The virgin triblock copolymers and most of the derivatives exhibited a temperature‐dependent reversible sol–gel transition in water. Both the poly(D,L ‐lactic acid‐co‐glycolic acid) length and end group were found to significantly tune the gel windows in the phase diagrams, but with different behaviors. The critical micelle concentrations were much lower than the associated critical gel concentrations, and an intact micellar structure remained after gelation. A combination of various measurement techniques confirmed that the sol–gel transition with an increase in the temperature was induced not simply via the self‐assembly of amphiphilic polymer chains but also via the further hydrophobic aggregation of micelles resulting in a micelle network due to a large‐scale self‐assembly. The coarsening of the micelle network was further suggested to account for the transition from a transparent gel to an opaque gel. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 1122–1133, 2007     

Thermoresponsive copolymers of methacrylic acid and poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate

Copolymers of methacrylic acid (MAA) and poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate (PEGMA) were prepared and their cloud points in aqueous solution were studied as a function of comonomer ratio, solution pH, and presence of hydrophobic comonomers. Under acidic conditions, the cloud point falls below 0 °C for copolymers with between 25% to 60% ether content, because of the formation of hydrophobic H‐bonded ether–acid complexes. The cloud point also decreases with solution pH. For equivalent ether to acid ratios, the cloud point decreases with decreasing PEG chain length, because of the presence of a larger number of hydrophobic methyl and methacrylate groups. Similarly, the cloud point decreases upon incorporation of hydrophobic comonomers such as butyl, lauryl, or glycidyl methacrylates. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 6095–6104, 2005     

Direct polymerization of surface‐tethered polyelectrolyte layers in aqueous solution via surface‐confined atom transfer radical polymerization

The direct polymerization of deprotonated acidic monomers in aqueous solutions was achieved via surface‐confined atom transfer radical polymerization (SC‐ATRP) to produce surface‐tethered polyelectrolyte brushes. Layers of poly(itaconic acid), poly(methacrylic acid), and sodium poly(styrene sulfonate) were grown by SC‐ATRP from self‐assembled initiator monolayers of [BrC(CH₃)₂COO(CH₂)₁₁S]₂ on gold substrates. The polymer layers were characterized with variable‐angle ellipsometry and external‐reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Without intervention, atom transfer radical polymerization catalysts were deactivated by complexation with the deprotonated acidic monomers, disproportionation, and dissociation during the polymerization of these monomers in water; the result was the cessation of polymer growth. The addition of an alkali salt to the reaction media suppressed catalyst deactivation, allowing polymer layers to increase in thickness linearly for longer periods of time with respect to salt‐free conditions. This result suggested an improved degree of polymerization control. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 566–575, 2007     

Novel poly(ethylene glycol) monomers bearing diverse functional groups

Poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) mono methacrylate ester (MAPEG) has been used, through a variety of reactions, to form several novel monomers, bearing both a polymerizable handle and various functional groups. These new compounds may be conjugated to biomolecules via amine, acid, or thiol moieties or they may form dendrimers via the epoxide. In addition, polymerization of these monomers may result in functionalized nanoparticles and microparticles or coatings, thus altering the acid‐base or electrochemical properties of surfaces and particles. Full synthetic considerations, including interesting intermediates, are reported. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2010     

Synthesis of helical poly(phenylacetylene)s bearing cinchona alkaloid pendants and their application to asymmetric organocatalysis

Four novel dynamic helical poly(phenylacetylene)s bearing cinchona alkaloids as pendant groups were synthesized starting from the commercially available cinchona alkaloids, cinchonidine, cinchonine, quinine, and quinidine, by the polymerization of the corresponding phenylacetylene monomers with a rhodium catalyst. These polymers exhibited an induced circular dichroism (ICD) in the UV–visible region of the polymer backbones in solution, resulting from the preferred‐handed helical conformation induced by the optically active cinchona alkaloid pendants. In response to the solvent used, their Cotton effect patterns and intensities were significantly changed accompanied by the changes in their absorption spectra probably due to the changes in their helical conformations, such as the inversion of the helical sense or helical pitch of the polymers. When these helical polymers were used as polymeric organocatalysts for the asymmetric conjugated addition and Henry reactions, the optically active products with a modest enantiomeric excess were obtained whose enantioselectivities were comparable to those obtained with the corresponding cinchona alkaloid‐bound monomers as the catalysts. However, we observed a unique enhancement of the enantioselectivity and a reversal of the stereoselectivity for some helical polymers, suggesting the important role of the helical chirality during the asymmetric organocatalysis. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011