Novel Chromophore‐Functionalized Poly[2‐(trifluoromethyl) adamantyl acrylate‐methyl vinyl urethane]s with High Poling Stabilities of the Nonlinear Optical Effect

Nonlinear optical vinyl polymers with high glass transition temperature (T_g) were prepared by the functionalization of a fluorinated acrylate‐methyl vinyl isocyanate copolymer. A modified pathway to obtain a thiophene bridged chromophore was worked out. Poled films of the polymers show a fairly high and stable nonlinear optical response, even at elevated temperatures.

The thiophene‐bridged chromophore, based on a substituted dicyanomethylene‐dihydrofuran acceptor, synthesized here.     

A New Type of Thermoresponsive Copolymer with UCST‐Type Transitions in Water: Poly(N‐vinylimidazole‐co‐1‐vinyl‐2‐(hydroxymethyl)imidazole)

1‐Vinyl‐2‐(hydroxymethyl)imidazole ( 2 ) is synthesized by a procedure described in the literature. Corresponding copolymers with upper critical solution temperature (UCST)‐type transitions in water and high‐glass transition temperatures (T_g) are prepared by free radical copolymerization with N‐vinylimidazole ( 1 ). Depending on the copolymer composition, the cloud point can be varied between 19 and 41 °C. As the copolymer composition is identical with the monomer feed ratio, the cloud point can be easily tuned in the desired range. Furthermore, a distinctive pH‐dependence and salt effect can be observed.

     

Copolymerization of Hepta‐1,6‐diene with Ethylene Catalyzed by Cobalt Complexes

Copolymerization of hepta‐1,6‐diene with ethylene using a cobalt–bis(imino)pyridine complex affords a polymer that contains trans‐1,2‐five‐membered rings in the repeating unit from hepta‐1,6‐diene. The ratio of the repeating units of diene to those of ethylene is controlled from 3: 97 to 50:50, depending on the reaction conditions. Isotope‐labeling reactions reveal that the major chain transfer pathway involves β‐hydrogen elimination of the polymer end formed after ethylene insertion.

     

Novel C60‐Anchored Two‐Armed Poly(tert‐butyl acrylate): Synthesis and Characterization

Summary: A multistep synthetic procedure for preparing novel C₆₀‐anchored two‐armed poly(tert‐butyl acrylate) was developed. First, two‐armed poly(tert‐butyl acrylate) bearing a malonate ester core with well‐controlled molecular weight was synthesized through atom transfer radical polymerization. The effective Bingel reaction between C₆₀ and the well‐defined polymer was then carried out to yield C₆₀‐anchored polymer. GPC, ¹H NMR, and UV‐vis spectroscopy indicated that the C₆₀‐anchored polymer was a monosubstituted and ‘closed’ 6,6‐ring‐bridged methanofullerene derivative.

Schematic of a novel C₆₀‐anchored two‐armed polymer.     

Amphiphilic Hybrid π‐Conjugated Polymers Containing Polyhedral Oligomeric Silsesquioxanes

Amphiphilic hybrid π‐conjugated polymers that have polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes on their side chains have been successfully synthesized by the Sonogashira–Hagihara polycondensation reaction. The obtained polymers were studied with ultraviolet‐visible absorption and photoluminescence spectra. In these polymers, the π‐conjugation length was extended along the poly(p‐phenylene‐ethynylene) backbone. Furthermore, the content of the POSS substituents can influence the aggregation behavior of the polymers and subsequent luminescent properties.

     

Lewis Acid‐Induced N‐Methyleneamines as Initiators in the Synthesis of Secondary Amine‐Terminated Polymers

Summary: The cationic polymerization of poly(tert‐butyl vinyl ether) using N‐methyleneamine equivalents derived from a Lewis acid/1,3,5‐trimethylhexahydro‐1,3,5‐triazine (TMTA) co‐initiating system is reported. The resulting polymers possessed secondary amine functionality at the chain terminus, verified by derivatization with 4‐chloro‐7‐nitrobenzo‐2‐oxa‐1,3‐diazole (NBD‐Cl) and subsequent analysis with GPC‐UV (470 nm) and ¹H NMR.

Use of N‐methyleneamine equivalents lacking aryl substituents to afford amine‐terminated poly(tert‐butyl vinyl ether).     

Enzyme‐Catalyzed Ring‐Opening Polymerization of Unsubstituted β‐Lactam

The synthesis of poly(β‐alanine) by Candida antarctica lipase B immobilized as novozyme 435 catalyzed ring‐opening of 2‐azetidinone is reported. After removal of cyclic side products and low molecular weight species pure linear poly(β‐alanine) is obtained. The formation of the polymer is confirmed with ¹H NMR spectroscopy and MALDI‐TOF mass spectrometry. The average degree of polymerization of the obtained polymer is limited to = 8 by its solubility in the reaction medium. Control experiments with β‐alanine as a substrate confirmed that the ring structure of the 2‐azetidinone is necessary to obtain the polymer.

     

Influence of Cross‐Linking Density on the Glass Transition and Structure of Chemically Cross‐Linked PVA: A Molecular Dynamics Study

Mechanical properties and glass transitions of cross‐linked polymer networks depend strongly on both the network topology and cross‐linking density. A model is developed using a dynamic cross‐linking approach based on a cutoff distance criterion followed by a high‐temperature annealing procedure. The analysis focused on on the influence of cross‐linking degree on chain packing and hydrogen‐bond structure and on the roles played by various energy components in the glass transition process. T_g was calculated using two different methods; (i) from the intersection of lines drawn through points in a plot of specific volume versus temperature and (ii) from plots of different molecular energy components as a function of temperature.

     

Phase Transition Behaviors of Self‐Oscillating Polymer and Nano‐Gel Particles

Summary: Self‐oscillating polymers and nano‐gel particles consisting of N‐isopropylacrylamide and the ruthenium catalyst of the Belousov‐Zhabotinsky reaction have been prepared. In order to clarify the crosslinking effect on the self‐oscillating behavior, the phase transition behaviors were investigated by measuring the transmittance and the fluorescence intensity of the polymer solution and the gel bead suspension. Cooperative effects due to crosslinking will play an important role for the design of nanoactuators.

Chemical structure of poly(NIPAAm‐co‐Ru(bpy)₃).     

Photo‐Induced Solid‐State Crosslinking of Electrospun Poly(vinyl alcohol) Fibers

Summary: Poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) was derivatized by polymer analogous reaction with thienyl acryloyl chloride and processed to submicrometer fibers by electrospinning from aqueous solution. Water solubility of otherwise water‐soluble PVA fibers was reduced considerably by UV crosslinking of thienyl acrylate modified PVA fibers in the solid state. Water stability of these crosslinked fibers was proven by water steam test at 95 °C.

UV/Vis spectrum of PVA‐Thio fibers irradiated for different periods at 300 nm.     

pH‐Responsive PEG‐Poly(β‐amino ester) Block Copolymer Micelles with a Sharp Transition

Summary: A pH‐sensitive block copolymer is synthesized by step polymerization and its pH‐sensitive micellization‐demicellization behavior is studied. This polymer has a hydrophilic MPEG (shell) and hydrophobic but pH‐sensitive poly(β‐amino ester) (core), which can form a self‐assembled micelle. As confirmed by fluorescence spectroscopy and dynamic light scattering (DLS), this polymer shows a sharp pH‐sensitive micellization‐demicellization behavior. It is confirmed that the pH sensitivity is affected by the molecular weight ratio between the MPEG and poly(β‐amino ester).

Plots of the intensity ratio I₃₃₇/I₃₃₄ (from pyrene excitation spectra): a) vs. pH for copolymer samples and b) vs. log (concentration) for M1.     

Polymer‐Bound Thiol Groups on Poly(2‐oxazoline)s

A new 2‐oxazoline monomer with a protected thiol group, 2‐[2‐(4‐methoxybenzylsulfanyl)ethyl]‐2‐oxazoline, MOB‐SOx , was synthesized from commercially available compounds. MOB‐SOx and 2‐ethyl‐2‐oxazoline (EtOx) were simultaneously polymerized yielding well defined copolymers with narrow molar mass distributions and target polymer chain length. The copolymerization was initiated by N‐methyl‐2‐methyl‐2‐oxazolinium triflate ( MeOxOTf ). After quantitative deprotection, poly(2‐oxazoline) with pendant thiol groups was obtained. The thiol groups were quantitatively added to the double bond of N‐phenyl‐acrylamide ( PhA ) and benzylmaleimide ( BzM ). Graft copolymers were obtained by reaction of those SH containing polymers with poly(2‐methyl‐2‐oxazoline)s bearing acrylamide ( PMeOx ₁₀ A ) and maleimide ( PMeOx ₁₀ M ) as terminal reactive groups.

     

Resilient Amorphous Networks Prepared by Photo‐Crosslinking High‐Molecular‐Weight D,L‐Lactide and Trimethylene Carbonate Macromers: Mechanical Properties and Shape‐Memory Behavior

Tough networks are prepared by photo‐crosslinking high‐molecular‐weight DLLA and TMC macromers. These amorphous networks exhibit tunable thermal and mechanical properties and have excellent shape‐memory features. Variation of the monomer ratio allows adjustment of T_g between approximately ?13 and +51 °C. The elastic moduli at room temperature can be varied between 4.5 and 2730 MPa. The crosslinks allow the networks to return to their original shape after deformation. 60:40 DLLA:TMC networks have T_g values between room temperature and body temperature, with mechanical properties at body temperature close to soft tissues. Several medical devices are prepared from these networks.

     

A New Poly(2,7‐Dibenzosilole) Derivative in Polymer Solar Cells

A new soluble conjugated copolymer based on 2,7‐dibenzosilole and 4,7‐dithien‐2‐yl‐2,1,3‐benzothiadiazole units has been synthesized (PBSDTBT). Bulk heterojunction solar cell devices are fabricated using this material as the donor and [6,6]‐phenyl‐C₆₁ butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) as the acceptor. The power conversion efficiency is 1.6% under AM1.5 illumination. This material also shows a good V_OC (0.97 V). The results are quite promising considering the relatively large bandgap (1.9 eV) of this polymer.

     

Direct Observation of α‐Chloro‐p‐quinodimethane as the Real Monomer in the Gilch Polymerization Leading to Poly(p‐phenylene vinylene)s

It is the general consensus that in Gilch polymerizations the 1,4‐bis(chloromethylene)benzene starting material first changes into p‐quinodimethane intermediates which then act as the real monomers. However, direct observation of these intermediates has not been possible so far. This is because usually the p‐quinodimethane auto‐initiates its rapid radical polymerization instantaneously, keeping its concentration extremely low throughout the whole process. Here it is shown that, when the reaction is carried out at very low temperatures, the formation of p‐quinodimethane still proceeds but chain growth is suppressed. Hence, the concentration of the active monomer reaches a level sufficient for NMR analysis.

     

Synthesis of a New Thiophene/Quinoxaline CT‐Type Copolymer with High Solubility and Its Basic Optical Properties

A new π‐conjugated charge‐transfer‐type copolymer of electron‐donating thiophene and electron‐accepting quinoxaline was prepared by organometallic polycondensation. The polymer was soluble in organic solvents such as tetrahydrofuran, and showed a UV‐vis peak at long wavelengths of 598 nm in chloroform and 629 nm in the film. Its film exhibited a χ⁽³⁾ peak in the resonance region with a χ⁽³⁾ value comparable to that of regioregular head‐to‐tail poly(3‐hexylthiophene‐2,5‐diyl).

     

Design of Heterocomplementary H‐Bonding RAFT Agents – Towards the Generation of Supramolecular Star Polymers

Supramolecular poly(vinyl acetate) PVAc 3‐arms stars were successfully generated by Reversible Addition–Fragmentation chain Transfer (RAFT)‐polymerized chains bearing hydrogen‐bonding heterocomplementary associating units. Chain Transfer Agents (CTA) bearing thymine‐ and diaminopyridine‐based units were first synthesized and proved to mediate efficiently the polymerization of VAc. The binding ability of the chains in solution was then demonstrated by ¹H NMR and GPC measurements, proving the formation of the supramolecular stars.

     

1,1‐Diphenyl Ethylene‐Mediated Radical Polymerisation: A General Non‐Metal‐Based Technique For The Synthesis Of Precise Core Cross‐Linked Star Polymers

This communication details the successful synthesis of low polydispersity core cross‐linked star (CCS) polymers via DPE‐mediated polymerisation. We demonstrate the ability to produce poly(methyl methacrylate) and poly(acrylonitrile) CCS polymers that are currently inaccessible via the two most common non‐metal‐based controlled radical polymerisation techniques (NMP and RAFT polymerisations).

     

Ring‐Opening Polymerization of ε‐Caprolactone by Poly(ethylene glycol) by an Activated Monomer Mechanism

Summary: The polymerization of ε‐caprolactone (CL) in the presence of HCl · Et₂O by an activated monomer mechanism was performed to synthesize diblock or triblock copolymers composed of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and poly(ε‐caprolactone) (PCL). The obtained PCLs had molecular weights close to the theoretical values calculated from the CL to PEG molar ratios and exibited monomodal GPC curves. We successfully prepared PEG and PCL block copolymers by a metal‐free method.

The non‐metal catalyzed living ring‐opening polymerisation of ε‐caprolactone by PEG.