ELECTROCHEMICAL COPOLYMERIZATION OF 3-（4-FLUOROPHENYL）THIOPHENE AND 3-METHYLTHIOPHENE IN BORON TRIFLUORIDE DIETHYL ETHERATE

The copolymer poly（3-（4-fluorophenyl）thiophene-co-3-methylthiophene） was successfully prepared from mixtures of 3-（4-fluorophenyl）thiophene （FPT） and 3-methylthiophene （MET） via electrochemical oxidation in boron trifluoride diethyl etherate （BFEE） and its mixed electrolytes with acetonitrile （ACN）. The influence of monomer concentration ratios on the copolymerization was investigated by using linear sweep voltammetry and cyclic voltammetry. The structure and morphology of these copolymer films were elucidated by UV-Vis, infrared spectroscopy, elemental analysis, thermal analysis and scanning electron microscopy （SEM）, respectively. The results showed that the molar ratio of FPT and MeT units, when copolymer was electrodeposited from feed ratio of FPT：MeT = 1：2, was about 1.08：1. In addition, the introduction of ACN into BFEE has little effect on the properties of as-formed copolymers.     

Stabilizer‐free dispersion copolymerization of maleic anhydride and vinyl acetate. I. Effects of principal factors on microspheres

A novel dispersion copolymerization of maleic anhydride (MAn) and vinyl acetate (VAc) without adding stabilizer is developed, which gives uniform copolymer microspheres with tunable sizes. Some principal factors affecting the microspheres, such as reaction time, monomer concentration and feed ratio, reaction media, and cosolvent, were investigated. It was found that the stabilizer‐free dispersion copolymerization of MAn and VAc is a rapid process, and the particle size grows in accordance with the evolution of polymerization. The chemical composition of the copolymer microspheres was characterized by FT‐IR and ¹³C NMR spectroscopies. Over a wide range of monomer concentrations, the microspheres can always be formed and stably dispersed, with uniform sizes ranging from 180 nm to 740 nm. The yield of copolymer microspheres reaches a maximum at 1:1 feed ratio of MAn to VAc, owing to the alternating copolymerization between the binary monomers by a known charge‐transfer‐complex mechanism. However, the diameter of microspheres drastically increases when MAn content is enhanced. Only some specific alkyl ester solvents, such as n‐butyl acetate, isobutyl acetate, n‐amyl acetate, are desirably fit for this unique stabilizer‐free dispersion polymerization. Furthermore, we found that when some acetone is added as a cosolvent, the copolymer microspheres can still be formed, with much larger diameters. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 3760–3770, 2005     

Electrosyntheses and characterization of a fluorescent conducting copolymer of benzanthrone and thiophene

<正>Poly(benzanthrone-co-thiophene),a new conducting copolymer,was successfully prepared by direct anodic oxidation of benzanthrone and thiophene(Th) in a binary solvent system containing boron trifluoride diethyl etherate (BFEE) and acetonitrile(ACN).The as-formed copolymer film electrodeposited with monomer feed ratio of benzanthrone/Th = 1:1 at the applied potential of 1.3 V versus Ag/AgCl exhibited the advantages of both polybenzanthrone and polythiophene,such as active electrochemical behavior,excellent thermal stability,relatively high electrical conductivity and mechanical properties.UV-Vis spectroscopy,~1H-NMR and SEM were used to characterize and investigate the structures and morphologies of the copolymers.Fluorescence spectroscopy studies revealed that the obtained copolymer films show strong emission at about 525 nm.Moreover,the emitting properties of the copolymers could be tuned by changing some parameters during the electropolymerization process,such as monomer feed ratio.     

Controlled radical copolymerization of β‐pinene and acrylonitrile

The feasibility of the radical copolymerization of β‐pinene and acrylonitrile was clarified for the first time. The monomer reactivity ratios evaluated by the Fineman–Ross method were r_β‐pinene = 0 and r_{acrylonitrile} = 0.66 in dichloroethane at 60 °C with AIBN, which indicated that the copolymerization was a simple alternating copolymerization. The addition of the Lewis acid Et₂AlCl increased the copolymerization rate and enhanced the incorporation of β‐pinene. The first example for the synthesis of an almost perfectly alternating copolymer of β‐pinene and acrylonitrile was achieved in the presence of Et₂AlCl. Furthermore, the possible controlled copolymerization of β‐pinene and acrylonitrile was then attempted via the reversible addition–fragmentation transfer (RAFT) technique. At a low β‐pinene/acrylonitrile feed ratio of 10/90 or 25/75, the copolymerization with 2‐cyanopropyl‐2‐yl dithiobenzoate as the transfer agent displayed the typical features of living polymerization. However, the living character could be observed only within certain monomer conversions. At higher monomer conversions, the copolymerizations deviated from the living behavior, probably because of the competitive degradative chain transfer of β‐pinene. The β‐pinene/acrylonitrile copolymers with a high alternation degree and controlled molecular weight were also obtained by the combination of the RAFT agent cumyl dithiobenzoate and Lewis acid Et₂AlCl. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 2376–2387, 2006     

One‐pot synthesis of 2‐phenyl‐2‐oxazoline‐containing quasi‐diblock copoly(2‐oxazoline)s under microwave irradiation

The microwave‐assisted statistical copolymerization of 2‐phenyl‐2‐oxazoline with 2‐methyl‐2‐oxazoline or 2‐ethyl‐2‐oxazoline is discussed in this contribution. Kinetic studies of these statistical copolymerizations as well as reactivity ratio determinations were performed to investigate the monomer distribution in these copoly(2‐oxazoline)s, demonstrating the formation of quasi‐diblock copolymers. In addition, the synthesis of copolymer series with monomer concentrations ranging from 0 to 100 mol % is described. These copolymer series were characterized with ¹H NMR spectroscopy, gas chromatography, and gel permeation chromatography. Moreover, the glass‐transition temperatures and solubility of these copolymers were studied, and this revealing better mixing of poly(2‐methyl‐2‐oxazoline) (pMeOx) with poly(2‐phenyl‐2‐oxazoline) (pPhOx) than poly(2‐ethyl‐2‐oxazoline) (pEtOx) with poly(2‐phenyl‐2‐oxazoline) (pPhOx). © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 416–422, 2007.     

Free‐radical copolymerization of ethyl α‐hydroxymethylacrylate with methyl methacrylate by reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer

The controlled free‐radical homopolymerization of ethyl α‐hydroxymethylacrylate and copolymerization with methyl methacrylate were performed in chlorobenzene at 70 °C by the reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer polymerization technique with 2,2′‐azobisisobutyronitrile as the initiator. 2‐Phenylprop‐2‐yl dithiobenzoate and 2‐cyanoprop‐2‐yl dithiobenzoate were used as chain‐transfer agents in the homopolymerization, whereas only the former was used in the copolymerization. All reactions presented pseudolinear kinetics. The effect of the monomer feed ratio on the copolymerization kinetics was examined. The conversion level decreased when the proportion of ethyl α‐hydroxymethylacrylate in the monomer feed was larger. Kinetic studies indicated that the radical polymerizations proceeded with apparent living character according to experiments, demonstrating an increase in the molar mass with the monomer conversion and a relatively narrow molar mass distribution. All copolymers were statistical in chain structure, as confirmed by determinations of the monomer reactivity ratios. The monomer reactivity ratios were determined, and the Mayo–Lewis terminal model provided excellent predictions for the variations of the intermolecular structure over the entire conversion range. Additionally, the chemical modification of poly(ethyl α‐hydroxymethylacrylate) was carried out to introduce glucose pendant groups into the structure. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 5618–5629, 2006     

Nearly monochromatic red electroluminescence from a nonconjugated polymer containing carbazole segments and phenanthroline [Eu(β‐diketonate)3] moieties

A novel nonconjugated copolymer (PVKEu) with carbazole segments and phenanthroline [Eu(β‐diketonate)₃] moieties was synthesized via free radical copolymerization, and characterized by FTIR, ¹H NMR spectroscopy, GPC, ICP, and elemental analysis. The copolymer exhibited good solubility, as well as good thermal stability and high glass transition temperature. The photoluminescence (PL) of this polymer in solution and in solid film has been studied. A multi‐layer device with the configuration of ITO/PEDOT: PSS (40 nm)/PVKEu (70 nm)/BCP (15 nm)/AlQ₃ (30 nm)/LiF/Al exhibited nearly monochromatic red emission at 615 nm and voltage‐independent spectral stability. Our results suggest that enhancing the ligand‐mediated energy transfer between the matrix polymer and europium complex is a potential method to improve the electroluminescence performance of the Eu‐chelated polymers. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 210–221, 2009     

Synthesis of a nanosize copolymer of 3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene with diclofenac and characterization

Copolymer of 3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT) and diclofenac (DCF) was synthesized by chemical oxidation using FeCl₃ in neutral medium. The copolymer exhibited good solubility in many organic solvents. The UV‐vis spectrum of the copolymer revealed the presence of benzenoid and polaron or bipolaron state. Random distribution of the monomers in the copolymer was proposed based on the reactivity ratios of the monomers determined using Fineman‐Ross and Kelen‐Tudos methods. The rate of the copolymerization depended on the first power of each monomer. The FTIR spectrum showed the presence of hydrogen bonded N‐H, quinone type structure of thiophene ring and C‐Cl bond in the copolymer. Linear variation of anodic peak current at 560 mV in the cyclic voltammogram of copolymer thin film with scan rate indicated the adherence of electroactive copolymer. When the applied potential increased from ?600 to 1000 mV, the color of the copolymer changed from neutral yellow to brown and to violet medium showing multicolor electrochromic behaviour. XRD results revealed crystallite copolymer with size 87 nm. SEM analysis confirmed uniform crystalline nature of the copolymer. The TGA, DTA and DSC studies suggested good thermal stability of the copolymer. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 2787–2796, 2007     

Chemical synthesis and electric properties of the conducting copolymer of aniline and o‐aminophenol

A copolymer, poly(aniline‐co‐o‐aminophenol), was prepared chemically by using ammonium peroxydisulfate as an oxidant. The monomer concentration ratio of o‐aminophenol to aniline strongly influences the copolymerization rate and properties of the copolymer. The optimum composition of a mixture for the chemical copolymerization consisted of 0.3 M aniline, 0.021 M o‐aminophenol, 0.42 M ammonium peroxydisulfate, and 2 M H₂SO₄. The result of cyclic voltammograms in a potential region of ?0.20 to 0.80 V (vs.SCE) indicates that the electrochemical activity of the copolymer prepared under the optimum condition is similar to that of polyaniline in more acid solutions. However, the copolymer still holds the good electrochemical activity until pH 11.0. Therefore, the pH dependence of the electrochemical property of the copolymer is improved, compared with poly(aniline‐co‐o‐aminophenol) prepared electrochemically, and is much better than that of polyaniline. The spectra of IR and ¹H NMR confirm that o‐aminophenol units are included in the copolymer chain, which play a key role in extending the usable pH region of the copolymer. The visible spectra of the copolymers show that a high concentration ratio of o‐aminophenol to aniline in a mixture inhibits the chain growth. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 5573–5582, 2007     

Ring‐opening metathesis copolymerization of cyclooctene and a carborane‐containing oxanorbornene

The incorporation of a silyl‐protected oxanorbornene imide carborane (SONIC) in polyethylene‐like materials is reported. These copolymers were obtained via ring‐opening metathesis copolymerization of (SONIC) and cyclooctene followed by hydrogenation with p‐toluenesulfonylhydrazide. The composition of the copolymer was varied by altering the feed ratio. Structural and thermal properties were investigated and compared with that of a model polymer so as to gauge the impact on the inclusion of the silyl‐functionalized carborane. An initial observation of the modification of the chain sequence upon changing solvent polarity is also discussed. Finally, the potential utilization of these materials as radiation shielding materials is mentioned. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 2557–2563, 2010     

Surface‐confined photopolymerization of single‐ and mixed‐monomer systems to tailor the wettability of poly(L‐lactide) film

The major objective of this research was to modify the surface characteristics of poly(L ‐lactide) (PLA) by grafting a combination of hydrophilic polymers to produce a continuum of hydrophilicity. The PLA film was solvent cast, and the film surfaces were activated by ultra violet (UV) irradiation. A single monomer or combination of two monomers, selected from vinyl acetate (VAc), acrylic acid (AA), and acrylamide (AAm), were then grafted to the PLA film surface using a UV induced photopolymerization process. The film surfaces resulting from each reaction step were analyzed using ATR‐FTIR spectroscopy and contact angle goniometry. Results showed that AAm dominated the hydrophilicity of the film surface when copolymerized with VAc or AA, while the water contact angles for PLA films grafted with poly(vinyl acetate‐co‐acrylic acid) varied more gradually with feed composition. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 6534‐6543, 2006     

Chain composition dependence of luminescence properties for copolymers of 2‐methoxy‐5‐2′‐ethyl‐hexyloxy‐1,4‐phenylenevinylene and 2,3‐diphenyl‐5‐octyl‐1,4‐phenylenevinylene

The copolymers of 2‐methoxy‐5‐2′‐ethyl‐hexyloxy‐1,4‐phenylenevinylene (MEH‐PV) and 2,3‐diphenyl‐5‐octyl‐1,4‐phenylenevinylene were prepared via the Gilch route with their chain compositions and the reactivity ratios of the monomers estimated by ¹H NMR spectroscopy. The results indicated that the copolymers tended to form an alternative copolymer as the feed ratio of the monomers closed to one‐half. When an individual copolymer solution in tetrahydrofuran was spun‐cast to form a film, the MEH‐PV units were able to attract the like units from the adjacent chains. As a result, the ultraviolet–visible absorption spectrum of the alternative copolymer in film form was broader than the spectra of those with different compositions. The photoluminescence spectra of the copolymers in film form exhibited the characteristic shoulder of poly(2‐methoxy‐5‐2′‐ethyl‐hexyloxy‐1,4‐phenylenevinylene), even though the content of MEH‐PV units was not great enough for the formation of repeat units in sequence. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 2180–2186, 2003     

Synthesis of a norbornene monomer having cyclic carbonate moiety based on CO2 fixation and its transition metal‐catalyzed polymerizations

A norbornene monomer bearing cyclic carbonate moiety ( NB‐CC ) was successfully synthesized from the corresponding precursor having epoxy moiety by its reaction with carbon dioxide under atmospheric pressure, which was efficiently catalyzed by lithium bromide. NB‐CC underwent the ring‐opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) catalyzed by a ruthenium carbene complex to give the corresponding poly(norbornene), of which side chain inherited the cyclic carbonate moiety from the monomer without any deterioration. The same ROMP system was applicable to the copolymerization of NB‐CC and 5‐butyl‐2‐norbornene ( BNB ), which afforded the corresponding copolymer with a composition ratio same as a feed ratio. In addition, by using a catalytic system consisted of palladium (II) acetate/tricyclohexylphosphine/triphenylcarbenium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate, the copolymerization of NB‐CC and BNC proceeded successfully in a vinyl addition polymerization mode to give the corresponding poly(norbornene) having CC moiety in the side chain. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 3896–3902, 2010     

Copolymerization of propylene with 1‐octene catalyzed by rac‐Me2Si(2,4,6‐Me3‐Ind)2ZrCl2/methyl aluminoxane

The copolymerization of propylene with 1‐octene was carried out with rac‐dimethylsilylbis(2,4,6‐trimethylindenyl)zirconium dichloride as a catalyst activated by methylaluminoxane (MAO) and an MAO/triisobutylaluminum mixture. The copolymerization conditions, including the polymerization temperature, Al/Zr molar ratio, and 1‐octene concentration in the feed, significantly influenced the catalyst activity, 1‐octene incorporation, polymer molecular weight, and melting temperature. The addition of 1‐octene to the polymerization system caused a decrease in the activity, whereas the melting temperature and intrinsic viscosity of the polymer increased. The microstructure of the propylene–1‐octene copolymer was characterized by ¹³C NMR, and the reactivity ratios of the copolymerization were estimated from the dyad distribution of the monomer sequences. The amount of regioirregular structures arising from 2,1‐ and 1,3‐misinserted propylene decreased as the 1‐octene content increased. The influence of the propagation chain on the polymerization mechanism is proposed to be the main reason for the changes in the reactivity ratios and regioirregularity with the polymerization conditions. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 4299–4307, 2000     

Copolymerization of ethylene with isoprene promoted by titanium complexes containing a tetradentate [OSSO]‐type bis(phenolato) ligand

Copolymerization of ethylene with isoprene (IP) catalyzed by 1,4‐dithabutanediyl‐linked bis(phenolato) titanium complexes 1 and 2 and methylaluminoxane (MAO) produced exclusively ethylene‐IP copolymers with good activity. The copolymer microstructure can be varied by changing the ratio between the monomers in the copolymerization feed, affording copolymers with IP content ～60%. The copolymer microstructure was fully elucidated by ¹³C‐NMR spectroscopy of the copolymers with various IP content revealing a strong tendency to the alternating microstructure. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 4200–4206, 2010     

Nitroxide‐mediated free‐radical copolymerization of styrene with butyl acrylate

Controlled free‐radical copolymerization of styrene (S) and butyl acrylate (BA) was achieved by using a second‐generation nitroxide, N‐tert‐butyl‐N‐[1‐diethylphosphono‐(2,2‐dimethylpropyl)] nitroxide (DEPN), and 2,2‐azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) at 120 °C. The time‐conversion first‐order plot was linear, and the number‐average molecular weight increased in direct proportion to the ratio of monomer conversion to the initial concentration, providing copolymers with low polydispersity. The monomer reactivity ratios obtained were r_S = 0.74 and r_BA = 0.29, respectively. To analyze the convenience of applying the Mayo–Lewis terminal model, the cumulative copolymer composition against conversion and the individual conversion of each monomer as a function of copolymerization time were studied. The theoretical values of the propagating radical concentration ratio were also examined to investigate the copolymerization rate behavior. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 4168–4176, 2004     

Influence of multiple stimuli on the lower critical solution temperature of new cationic poly(N‐acryloyl‐N′‐ethylpiperazine‐co‐N‐isopropylacrylamide) solutions

New multi‐stimuli responsive cationic copolymers based on N‐acryloyl‐N′‐ethyl piperazine (AcrNEP) and N‐isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM) were prepared by thermal free‐radical solution polymerization in dioxane at 75 °C. The chemical composition of the copolymers was determined by ¹H NMR spectroscopy and was found that the copolymers were slightly rich in NIPAM content than that of AcrNEP. The reactivity of the two monomers for the copolymerization reaction was evaluated by the extended Kelen‐Tüdös method. The distribution of monomer sequence in the copolymer chain was estimated using the terminal copolymerization model. The maximum tendency to alternation (～ 70%) was at 60 mol % of AcrNEP in the monomer feed. The copolymers were readily soluble in water at room temperature at all compositions and exhibited well‐defined lower critical solution temperature (LCST) phenomenon. The influence of various stimuli such as pH, temperature, simple inorganic salts, and surfactants on the LCST of the copolymers was studied in detail. Simple inorganic salts such as sodium chloride, sodium bromide, and sodium sulfate showed a salting‐out effect while sodium iodide showed a salting‐in effect. The salting‐out coefficient of the salts were calculated using the Sestchenow method, and the salting trend followed the order SO₄^2? > Cl^? > Br^? > I^?. The divalent salt was more effective in lowering the LCST than the monovalent salts. The cationic surfactant hexadecyl trimethylammonium bromide at concentrations above the critical micelle concentration caused a gradual increase in the LCST of the copolymer solutions. The intrinsic viscosity and light scattering behavior of the copolymers in water and in sodium chloride solutions were studied in detail. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2013, 51, 1175–1183     

Ambipolar charge transport in a donor–acceptor–donor‐type conjugated block copolymer and its gate‐voltage‐controlled thin film transistor memory

We demonstrate a fully conjugated donor–acceptor–donor (D–A–D) triblock copolymer, PBDTT–PNDIBT–PBDTT, which contains PBDTT as the donor block and PNDIBT as the acceptor block. The polymer was synthesized by end‐capping each block with a reactive unit, followed by condensation copolymerization between the two blocks. The physical, optical, and electrochemical properties of the polymer were investigated by comparing those of donor‐ and acceptor‐homopolymers (i.e., PBDTT and PNDIBT), which are the oligomeric monomers, and their blends. On using the newly synthesized block copolymer, ambipolar charge transport behavior was observed in the corresponding thin‐film transistor, and the behavior was compared to that of blend film of donor‐ and acceptor‐homopolymers. Owing to the presence of donor and acceptor blocks in a single polymer chain, it was found that the triblock copolymer can store two‐level information; the ability to store this information is one of the most intriguing challenges in memory applications. In this study, we confirmed the potential of the triblock copolymer in achieving distinct two‐stage data storage by utilizing the ambipolar charge trapping phenomenon, which is expected in donor and acceptor containing random and block copolymers in a thin‐film transistor. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2017 , 55, 3223–3235     

Synthesis,characterization, and field‐effect transistor performance of poly[2,6‐bis(3‐tridecanoxythiophen‐2‐yl)benzo[1,2‐b;4,5‐b′]dithiophene]

A new copolymer of benzo[1,2‐b:4,5‐b′]dithiophene and 3,3′‐bis(tridecanoxy)‐5,5′‐bithiophene was synthesized through Stille copolymerization. The bis‐(3‐alkoxythiophene) monomer was synthesized through a silver fluoride mediated, palladium‐catalyzed cross‐coupling, in which bromide functional groups were preserved instead of consumed. The copolymer has been characterized and applied in field‐effect transistors, giving a hole mobility of 2 × 10^?3 cm²/Vs and an on/off ratio >10⁶, with negligible hysteresis, on standard silicon substrates. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 1973–1978, 2010