Synthesis and characterization of urethane polymers containing 2,2′-biimidazole

A heterocyclic nitrogen-containing system having substituent primary diol function, i.e., 1,1′-dihydroxethyl-2,2′-biimidazole ( I ), has been prepared and used to synthesize a series of new polyurethanes based on aromatic diisocyanates (TDI, MDI). Variation of solution polymerization parameters permitted the isolation and infrared, NMR, molecular weight, and thermal characterization of polymeric materials. Isolated polymers exhibit a linear structure and have T_g (150–170°C) and thermal stability (205–250°C for 20% weight loss) properties comparable to other typical urethane polymers. Zn²⁺ complexation was indicated by shifts in the imidazole ringmode infrared vibrational bands at 917 and 1133 cm^?1 to higher frequencies.     

Synthesis,polymerization, and thermal properties of a new acetylene-terminated schiff base

A new acetylene-terminated Schiff base monomer, N,N′-(1,4-phenylenedimethylidyne)-bis-(4-ethynylaniline) (PPP), was synthesized and was characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance and infrared spectroscopy. This monomer was then polymerized to yield a new polymer (PPPP) with alternating units of aromatic imine and diacetylene via an oxidative coupling polymerization of the acetylenic terminal groups. The monomer was also polymerized by thermal curing at elevated temperatures up to 400°C to afford a crosslinked polymer network without significant structural decomposition. Thermal properties and thermal reactions of the monomer and the polymers were studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The polymers exhibit excellent thermal stabilities in an inert atmosphere. Electronic properties of the polymers are also discussed.     

Organometallic polymers. XXIX. Synthesis and characterization of ferrocene-containing siloxane polymers from bis(dimethylamino)silane–disilanol condensation

A new monomer, 1,1′-bis(dimethylaminodimethylsilyl)ferrocene, was synthesized by two routes and polymerized with three aryl disilanols: dihydroxydiphenylsilane, 1,4-bis(hydroxydimethylsilyl)benzene, and 4,4′-bis(hydroxydimethylsilyl)biphenyl, yielding three different polysiloxanes. Melt polymerizations carried out at 1 torr pressure and 100°C resulted in the highest molecular weight polymers. Intramolecular cyclization competed with intermolecular chain extension in polymerization of the bis(aminosilane) with dihydroxydiphenylsilane, resulting in isolation of a bridged derivative, 1,3,5-trisila-2,4-dioxa-1,1,5,5-tetramethyl-3,3-diphenyl[5]ferrocenophane. Cyclization did not compete significantly during the formation of polymers from this bisaminosilane and the two remaining diols, as evidenced by higher yields and greater molecular weights. These polymers could be cast as tough flexible films, and fibers could be drawn from their melts. TGA and DSC data showed the polymer formed from 1,1′-bis(dimethylaminodimethylsilyl)ferrocene and 1,4-bis(hydroxydimethylsilyl)benzene to be at least as thermally stable as an arylene siloxane polymer which differed from the ferrocenylsiloxane structure only in the replacement of the ferrocene moiety with a p-substituted phenylene linkage. The ferrocene-containing polymers were generally hydrolytically stable under conditions of refluxing THF–H₂O(10 : 1) for 1 hr. The polymer-forming reaction was found to follow second-order kinetics, and the specific rate constants for formation of two of the polymers were measured.     

The cationic polymerization and copolymerization of isopropenylmetallocene monomers

Three types of isopropenylmetallocene monomers were synthesized and subjected to polymerization and copolymerization by cationic initiators; (1) isopropenylferrocene (IF); (2) (η⁵-isopropenylcyclopentadienyl)dicarbonylnitrosylmolybdenum (IDM); and (3) 1,1′-diisopropenylcyclopentadienylstannocene (DIS), and related derivatives of each. IF was synthesized by a three-step procedure involving the acetylation of ferrocene, conversion of the latter to 2-ferrocenyl-2-propanol, and dehydration of the carbinol. IF was homopolymerized under various cationic initiation conditions, but only low molecular weight homopolymers were obtained. Copolymerization of IF with styrene and with p-methoxy-α-methylstyrene also gave only low molecular weight products. The formation of only low molecular weight polymers in all polymerization reactions is believed to result from the effect of the unusually high stability of ferrocenyl carbenium ions on its propagation reaction. The observed polymerization behavior of α-trifluoromethylvinylferrocene is in accord with this conclusion. IDM and DIS did not form polymeric products under cationic conditions, although copolymers could be obtained for each of these monomers and styrene with a free radical polymerization initiator (AIBN).     

Synthesis of novel polymer containing selenium by radical addition polymerization of 1,4-benzenediselenol to 1,4-divinylbenzene

A novel addition polymerization of 1,4-benzenediselenol (BDSe) to 1,4-divinylbenzene (DVB) was carried out with various azo radical initiators [dimethyl 2,2′-azobisisobutyrate (DAIB), 1,1′-azobis(1-acetoxy-1-phenylethane) (AAPE), and AIBN] in toluene at 65 and 75°C under a nitrogen atmosphere. The polymerization proceded without an induction period, and pale-yellowish powder polymers were obtained in 89% yields for 75 h (DAIB), 89% yields for 24 h (AAPE), and 60% yields for 8 h (AIBN). The molecular weight (M_w) of the insoluble polymers in toluene was about 4000 (IBN) to 14,000 (DAIB or AAPE) by GPC. The polymer had an alternating structure of BDSe to DVB units by ¹H-NMR, IR analyses, and selenium contents, but the polymer contained the diselenide linkage by Raman spectroscopy. By AIBN initiator, the yield of the polymers did not increase over 60% and higher molecular weight polymer was hardly obtained. According to the model addition reaction of benzeneselenol to styrene by AIBN, it was found that AIBN was consumed by the side reaction between dimethyl-N-(2-cyano-2-propyl)ketenimine derivedAppl 11 from AIBN and benzeneselenol to give the adduct C, MH⁺ 295 by DCI MS. On the other hand, DAIB and AAPE initiators, which do not form a ketenimine intermediate, gave the polymers of higher molecular weight in a higher yield. The polymer film exhibited high refractive index (n²⁵_D = 1.81) and a reversible phase transition between a transparency and an opaque by thermal mode. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Photo-controlled/living radical polymerization mediated by 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl in inert atmospheres

The photo-controlled/living radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate using a nitroxide mediator was established in an inert atmosphere. The bulk polymerization was performed at room temperature using 4-methoxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl as the mediator and (2RS,2′RS)-azobis(4-methoxy-2,4-dimethylvaleronitrile) as the initiator in the presence of (4-tert-butylphenyl)diphenylsulfonium triflate as the accelerator by irradiation with a high-pressure mercury lamp. The photopolymerization in a N₂ atmosphere produced a polymer with a comparatively narrow molecular weight distribution; however, the experimental molecular weight was slightly different from the theoretical molecular weight. The Ar atmospheric polymerization also provided a polymer with the molecular weight distribution similar to that of the polymer obtained by the N₂ atmospheric polymerization. These inert atmospheric polymerizations more rapidly proceeded to produce polymers with narrower molecular weight distributions than the vacuum polymerization. The livingness of the Ar atmospheric polymerization was confirmed on the basis of the first-order time–conversion plots and conversion–molecular weight plots.     

Synthesis and characterization of novel photoisomerizable liquid crystalline polymers containing cinnamoyl groups

A series of novel liquid crystalline monomers and polymers incorporating phenylbenzoate or phenylcinnamate segments as mesogenic cores have been synthesized to investigate the sensitivity of the photochromic cinnamoyl derivatives and to overcome the defects of the thermal instability of azobenzene. Their liquid crystalline, thermal, and photoinduced properties of all monomers and polymers were characterized. The polymers showed excellent solubility in common organic solvents such as CHCl₃, toluene, and DMF and exhibited good thermal stability with decomposition temperatures (T_d) at 5% weight loss greater than 340 °C and about 50% weight loss occurred beyond 430 °C under nitrogen atmosphere. The pitch length (about 574 nm) of the synthesized cholesteric polymeric film ( CP2 ) was estimated using scanning electron microscopy. These photochromic polymers exhibited strong UV–vis absorption maxima at about 264 or 320 nm. Moreover, photo induced configurational E/Z isomerization further changed the π‐electron conjugation systems leading to a decrease at the π‐π* transition and an increase in the range of 300 nm to 400 nm for photochromic copolymers. The thermal stability of the Z‐structural segment was confirmed by heating the polymer at 50 °C for over 5 h. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 1289–1304, 2008     

Poly(Aryl ethers) by nucleophilic aromatic substitution. II. Thermal stability

The thermal stability and degradation process for a specific poly(aryl ether) system have been studied. In particular, the polymer which is available from Union Carbide Corporation as Bakelite polysulfone has been examined in detail. Polysulfone can be prepared from 2,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)propane and 4,4′-dichlorodiphenyl sulfone by nucleophilic aromatic substitution. Because of a low-temperature transition at ? 100°C. and a glass transition at 195°C., polysulfone retains useful mechanical properties from ?100°C. to 175°C. A number of experimental methods were utilized to study the thermal decomposition process for this polymer system. Polysulfone gradually degraded in vacuum above 400°C. as demonstrated by mass spectrometry. Thermogravimetric analysis in argon, air, or high vacuum indicated that rapid decomposition began above 460°C. From gas chromatography, mass spectrometry and repeated laboratory pyrolyses, a number of products from polymer decompositions were identified. The most important degradation process in vacuum or inert atmosphere was loss of sulfur dioxide. Several model compounds representative of portions of poly(aryl ether) molecules were synthesized and the relative thermal stabilities determined. Possible mechanisms for pure thermal decomposition of polysulfone were derived from the product analyses, model studies, and consideration of bond dissociation energies.     

Pyrolysis of polyaromatic heterocyclics

The oxidative and thermal degradation of some polyaromatic heterocyclics in air and helium has been studied by dynamic thermogravimetry to 1400°C. Decomposition characteristics are the result of polymer structure, molecular weight, and method of preparation. Decomposition in air follows first-order rate laws, while degradation under inert conditions does not appear to follow simple rate laws. The activation energies for the decomposition in air are between 30 and 35 kcal./mole for most polymers investigated. Carbonaceous polymer residues at 1400°C. are present in varying quantities.     

Synthesis of Poly(silyne-co-hydridocarbyne) for Silicon Carbide Production

Pre-ceramic polymers have previously been shown to be polymeric precursors to silicon carbide, diamond and diamond-like carbon. Here, we report the synthesis of a pre-ceramic polymer, poly(silyne-co-hydridocarbyne), which was electrochemically synthesized from one monomer containing both silicon and carbon in its structure. The polymer is soluble in common solvents such as CHCl₃, CH₂Cl₂ and THF. Since the polymer contains both silyne and carbyne on its backbone, it can be easily converted to silicon carbide upon heating under an ambient inert atmosphere, or to SiO₂ under ambient air atmosphere. Poly(silyne-co-hydridocarbyne) was characterized with UV/Vis spectroscopy, FTIR, ¹H-NMR, GPC and Raman spectroscopy. Conversion of the polymer to SiC ceramic was accomplished by heating at 1000 and 750°C under an argon atmosphere and characterized with optical microscopy, SEM, X-Ray and Raman spectroscopies.     

Sterically encumbered poly(arylene ether)s containing spiro‐annulated substituents: Synthesis and thermal properties

Four novel 2‐trifluoromethyl‐activated bisfluoro monomers have been synthesized successfully using a Suzuki‐coupling reaction of 3‐trifluoromethyl‐4‐fluoro phenyl boronic acid with 2,7‐dibromofluorene with varied pendants. Four monomers were converted to a series of fluorene‐based poly(arylene ether)s with pendants by nucleophilic displacement of the fluorine atoms on the terminal benzene ring with 4,4′‐hexafluoroisopropylidenediphenol. The polymers obtained by displacement of the fluorine atoms, exhibit weight‐average molecular weight up to 9.89 × 10⁴ g/mol in GPC. Thermal analysis studies indicated that these polymers did not show melting endotherms but did show relatively high T_g values up to 270 °C in DSC and outstanding thermal stability up to 532 °C for 5% weight loss in TGA in a nitrogen atmosphere. The polymers are soluble in a wide range of organic solvents: THF, CHCl₃, NMP, DMAc, DMF, toluene and EAc, and so forth, at room temperature. Transparent and flexible films were easily prepared by solution casting from chloroform solution of each of the polymers. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2010     

Polycondensation of pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylic acid with some di- and tetraamino compounds

Pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylic acid phenyl ester was condensed with 3,3′-diaminobenzidine and 3,3′,4,4′-tetraaminodiphenyl ether. Polyamides were also synthesized by condensation of the above ester with p-phenylenediamine, benzidine, 4,4′-diaminodiphenyl sulfide and 4,4′-diaminodiphenyl sulfone. These amides had higher inherent viscosities and greater thermal stability than was reported before. Model compounds of imidazoles were prepared by condensation of the same ester with o-phenylenediamine and 2,3-diaminopyridine and of polyamides by condensation with aniline and 2-aminopyridine. In the case of the polyimidazole, the completely closed ring of imidazole did not form. The ultraviolet spectra of model compounds were compared with those of the polymers. The thermogravimetric curves show that the polymers are stable up to more than 400°C under argon atmosphere. All polymers were insoluble in most organic and inorganic solvents. They dissolved only partially in DMSO and DMF. Inherent viscosity was measured for the soluble polymer fraction.     

Synthesis and characterization of mono‐ and di‐methoxy substituted acrylate polymers containing photocrosslinkable pendant chalcone moiety

Two acrylate monomers – 4‐(2′‐methoxycinnamoyl)phenyl acrylate, and 4‐(2′,5′‐dimethoxycinnamoyl)phenyl acrylate – comprising photocrosslinkable pendant chalcone moiety and a free radical polymerizable group were synthesized. The monomers were polymerized in the presence of ethyl methyl ketone at 70°C using benzoyl peroxide as the initiator. The polymers were characterized by UV, FT‐IR, ¹H‐NMR, and ¹³C‐NMR spectra. The weight and number average molecular weights of the polymers were determined by gel permeation chromatography. The thermal stability of the polymers was studied by TGA under a nitrogen atmosphere. Glass transition temperatures of the polymers were studied by differential scanning calorimetry. The photoreactivity of the polymers was investigated for potential applications as photoresists in solution using various solvents. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Polymeric Colorants: Statistical Copolymers of Indigo Building Blocks with Defined Structures

Statistical copolymers of indigo ( 1a ) and N‐acetylindigo ( 1b ) building blocks with defined structures were studied. They belong to the class of polymeric colorants. The polymers consist of 5,5′‐connected indigo units with keto structure and N‐acetylindigo units with uncommon tautomeric indoxyl/indolone (=1H‐indol‐3‐ol/3H‐indol‐3‐one) structure (see 2a and 2b in Fig. 1). They formed amorphous salts of elongated monomer lengths as compared to monomeric indigo. The polymers were studied by various spectroscopic and physico‐chemical methods in solid state and in solution. As shown by small‐angle‐neutron scattering (SANS) and transmission‐electron microscopy (TEM), disk‐like polymeric aggregates were present in concentrated solutions (DMSO and aq. NaOH soln.). Their thickness and radii were determined to be ca. 0.4 and ca. 80 nm, respectively. From the disk volumes and by a Guinier analysis, the molecular masses of the aggregates were calculated, which were in good agreement with each other. Defined structural changes of the polymer chains were observed during several‐weeks storage in concentrated DMSO solutions. The original keto structure of the unsubstituted indigo building blocks reverted to the more flexible indoxyl/indolone structure. The new polymers were simultaneously stabilized by intermolecular H‐bonds to give aggregates, preferentially dimers. Both aggregation and tautomerization were reversible upon dissolution. The polymers were synthesized by repeated oxidative coupling of 1,1′‐diacetyl‐3,3′‐dihydroxybis‐indoles 5 (from 1,1′‐diacetyl‐3,3′‐bis(acetyloxy)bis‐indoles 6 ) followed by gradual hydrolysis of the primarily formed poly(N,N′‐diacetylindigos) 7 (Scheme). N,N′‐Diacetylbis‐anthranilic acids 9 were isolated as by‐products.     

Synthesis of New Poly(biphenylene oxide) with Pendent Trifluoromethyl Group

A new AB type of monomer 4′-fluoro-3,5-dimethyl-3′-trifluoromethyl-biphenyl-4-ol has been synthesized that leads to a new poly(arylene ether) by self polycondensation reaction. The monomer and the polymer have been well characterized by elemental analyses, FT-IR and NMR spectroscopy. Both FT-IR and NMR spectra of the polymers did not show any terminal phenoxy group indicating high conversion. The polymer showed glass transition at 278°C and very good thermal stability in synthetic air. GPC results indicate high molar mass development; Mw = 53200 and MWD = 2.29.     

Insight into the Thermal Ring‐Opening Polymerization of Phospha[1]ferrocenophanes

A mixture of cis/trans isomers of phospha[1]ferrocenophanes equipped with one iPr group at the α position to the bridging PhP moiety was prepared. Both isomers (cis‐ 4 and trans‐ 4 ) were obtained as racemates and could be separated so that their thermal properties were investigated individually. The molecular structure of cis‐ 4 was determined by single‐crystal X‐ray analysis showing a tilt angle α=26.35(8)°. Interconversion between both isomers occurred in the melt at elevated temperatures and revealed that the trans isomer is thermodynamically more stable. Structural and thermodynamic data was complemented by DFT calculations (B3PW91/6‐311+G(d,p) and B3PW91‐D3(BJ)/6‐311+G(d,p)). Performance of thermal ring‐opening polymerization (ROP) of trans‐ 4 at 230 °C gave polymers and cyclic oligomers. Gel permeation chromatography (GPC) of the sulfurized polymer resulted in a molecular weight of 62.5 kDa (M_w) and a polydispersity index of 1.39 (PDI). Mass spectrometric analysis of the oligomers showed the presence of cyclic species from dimers to heptamers. After sulfurization, preparative thin layer chromatography led to the separation of three isomeric dimers. Structural characterization of these dimers by single‐crystal X‐ray analysis led to the conclusion that the Fe?Cp bond breaks during the thermal ROP process. A mechanism similar to the known mechanism of the photolytic ROP of ferrocenophanes is proposed.     

Synthesis and characterization of some novel organometallic aromatic polyamides

Some novel ferrocene containing aromatic polyamides were prepared by low‐temperature solution phase polycondensation of 1,1′‐ferrocenedicarboxylic acid chloride with some newly synthesized aromatic diamines in tetrahydrofuran, in the presence of triethylamine. The amorphous polymers were derived in good yields, and did not melt at >350 °C. The monomers and the resulting polymers were characterized by their physical properties, elemental analysis, ¹H‐NMR, FTIR spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analyses. The polymeric products were insoluble in common solvents tested. However, all were miscible in concentrated H₂SO₄, forming reddish brown solutions at ambient conditions. The glass transition temperatures (T_g) of these polymers were quite high, which is characteristic of aramids. They are stable up to 500 °C, with 10% mass loss observed in the range 400–650 °C. The activation energies of pyrolysis for each of the products were calculated by Horowitz and Metzger's method. Solution viscosities of the polymers were reduced in concentrated sulfuric acid, which is due to their non‐Newtonian behavior. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis and thermal properties of a new class of high-temperature polyamides from hexahydrobenzodipyrrole

A series of polyamides was synthesized by the interfacial polycondensation of 1,2,3,5,6,7-hexahydrobenzo [1,2-c:4,5-c′] dipyrrole with isophthalic, terephthalic, oxydibenzoic, sebacic and adipic acid chlorides. High molecular weight polymers with inherent viscosities ranging from 0.4 to 2.3 dl/g were obtained. Polymerization with isophthaloyl chloride gave the highest molecular weight polymer in this series. These polyamides melt between 350°C and 475°C, depending on structural differences as determined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Rapid weight loss in these polymers was observed in the range of 350–400°C under thermogravimetric analysis in a nitrogen atmosphere. All these polyamides are susceptible to photooxidative degradation. The results were compared with Nomex polymer poly(1,3-phenylene isophthalamide).     

Thermal characterization of HCN polymers by TG-MS, TG, DTA and DSC methods

This paper presents a thermogravimetry (TG) study of hydrogen cyanide polymers, synthesized from the reaction of equimolar aqueous solutions of sodium cyanide and ammonium chloride. Differential thermal analysis (DTA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) were also used to evaluate the thermal behaviour of these black polymers, which play an important role in prebiotic chemistry. A coupled TG-mass spectrometer (MS) system allowed us to analyze the principal volatile thermal decomposition and fragmentation products of the isolated HCN polymers under dynamic conditions and an inert atmosphere. After dehydration, a multi-step decomposition occurred in this particular polymeric system, due to the release of ammonia, hydrogen cyanide (depolymerization reaction), isocyanic acid (or cyanic acid) and formamide; these two latter species allow us identify bond connectivities. Finally, data collected from TG experiments in an oxidative atmosphere showed significant differences at higher temperatures, above 400 °C. According to these results, the different techniques of thermal analysis here applied have demonstrated to be an adequate methodology for the study and characterization of this complex macromolecular system, whose structure remains controversial even today.     

Synthesis and investigation of polybenzimidazoles containing alkyl substituents in aromatic nuclei

Polybenzimidazoles have been synthesized from 3,3′-diamino-5,5′-dimethylbenzidine, 3,3′,4,4′-tetraamino-5,5′-dimethyldiphenylmethane, bis(3-amino-4-methylamino)phenylmethane, bis(3-amino-4-methylamino-5-methyl)phenylmethane, and diphenyl esters of adipic, sebacic, isophthalic, and terephthalic acids and 4,4′-dicarboxydiphenyl oxide by solid-phase polyheterocyclization. Properties of the polybenzimidazoles have been studied. The polymers have high thermal stability. They are soluble in a number of organic solvents and give strong, elastic films. Solubility and thermal stability of polybenzimidazoles is determined by the methyl group position in the polymeric chain. The influence of other alkyl substituents on properties of polybenzimidazoles have been investigated. The polymer structure has been studied by infrared and PMR spectroscopy and elemental analysis.