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.

     

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.     

Modular Synthesis of Thermosensitive P(NIPAAm‐co‐HEMA)/β‐CD Based Hydrogels via Click Chemistry

Two kinds of representative polymers, poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm) and β‐cyclodextrin (β‐CD) were selected and modified with azide and alkyne fucntional groups, respectively. When the solutions of these two modified polymers were mixed together, a cross‐linking reaction, a type of Huisgen's 1,3‐dipolar azide‐alkyne cycloaddition, occurred in the presence of Cu(I) catalyst. The strategy described here provides several advantages for the hydrogel formation including mild reaction conditions and controllable gelation rate. The resulted hydrogels were studied in terms of scanning electric microscopy (SEM), equilibrium swelling ratio and swelling/shrinking kinetics. The data obtained demonstrated the hydrogels had a porous structure as well as favorable thermosensitivity.

     

Amphiphilic Block‐Graft Copolymers with a Degradable Backbone and Polyethylene Glycol Pendant Chains Prepared via Ring‐Opening Polymerization of a Macromonomer

Well‐defined amphiphilic block‐graft copolymers PCL‐b‐[DTC‐co‐(MTC‐mPEG)] with polyethylene glycol methyl ether pendant chains were designed and synthesized. First, monohydroxyl‐terminated macroinitiators PCL‐OH were prepared. Then, ring‐opening copolymerization of 2,2‐dimethyltrimethylene carbonate (DTC) and cyclic carbonate‐terminated PEG (MTC‐mPEG) macromonomer was carried out in the presence of the macroinitiator in bulk to give the target copolymers. All the polymers were characterized by ¹H NMR and gel permeation chromatography (GPC). The polymers have unimodal molecular weight distributions and moderate polydispersity indexes. The amphiphilic block‐graft copolymers self‐assemble in water forming stable micelle solutions with a narrow size distribution.

     

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).

     

New Star‐Shaped Metallo‐Polymeric Chromophores

The synthesis of new star‐shaped polymers, prepared by atom transfer radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate with tris(dialkylaminostyryl‐2,2′‐bipyridine) zinc(II) and iron(II) metalloinitiators, is reported. Their thermal and optical (absorption and emission) properties are discussed.

Structure of the star‐shaped polymers.     

Synthesis and Conformation of Three‐Dimensionally Ordered Macroporous Syndiotactic Polystyrene and Poly(p‐methyl styrene)

Three‐dimensionally ordered macroporous (3DOM) syndiotactic polystyrene (sPS) and poly(p‐methyl styrene) (sPPMS) are synthesized using silica colloidal crystal templates with varied diameters in the range of 548–214 nm, and the effect of polymerization space on the conformation of the resulting 3DOM polymers is investigated by spectroscopy and thermal analysis. In‐situ polymerizations of styrene and p‐methyl styrene within the silica templates induce the resulting 3DOM polymers with different conformations and packing of chains, which are different from those of bulk polymers prepared in the absence of templates. Polymerizations in restricted silica templates result in un‐helixication of 3DOM sPS chains and helixication of 3DOM sPPMS chains.

     

Poly(amido‐amine)s Carrying Primary Amino Groups as Side Substituents

Poly(amido‐amine)s carrying primary amino groups as side substituents have been obtained by polyaddition of N‐triphenylmethyl‐monosubstituted 1,2‐diaminoethane (TPHMAE) to 2,2‐bisacrylamido acetic acid or 1,4‐bisacryloylpiperazine and subsequent removal of the protecting triphenylmethyl group by treating the resultant polymers with aqueous hydrochloric acid. Soluble polymers can be also obtained directly by the polyaddition of monoprotonated 1,2‐diaminoethane to 2,2‐bisacrylamido acetic acid in the presence of a limited amount of added acetic or hydrochloric acid. The resultant polymers are of a higher molecular weight than the corresponding ones prepared from TPHMAE. By adding a limited amount of N‐triphenylmethyl‐monosubstituted 1,2‐diaminoethane to the monomer mixtures leading to poly(amido‐amine)s with a recognised potential as nonviral vectors, such as ISA 23 and ISA 1, a controlled number of pendant primary amino groups have been introduced. By this procedure, ISA 23 and ISA 1 become suitable as polymer carriers for carboxylated drugs as well as amenable to the labelling techniques by fluorescent probes commonly employed for proteins.

Formation of monoprotected primary diamines.     

Surfactant‐Induced Helix Formation of Cylindrical Brush Polymers with Poly(L‐lysine) Side Chains

The complex formation of oppositely charged surfactants with some polypeptides is known to induce β‐sheet or helix formation. Here, we report on the complex formation of cylindrical brush polymers with poly(L ‐lysine) side chains and sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS). With increasing amount of added surfactant the cylindrical polymers first adopt a helical conformation with a pitch of approximately 14–24 nm followed by a spherically collapsed structure before eventually precipitation occurs. CD measurements suggest that the helix formation of the cylindrical brush polymers is driven by the hydrophobicity of the β‐sheets formed by the PLL side chain–SDS complexes.

     

A Composite Polymer Film with both Superhydrophobicity and Superoleophilicity

Summary: A composite film composed of porous polyurethane (PU) and polystyrene (PS) microspheres with both superhydrophobicity and superoleophilicity has been prepared. In this film, the dual‐scale structure enhances both the hydrophobicity and oleophilicity of the surface material. The composite film with such an ‘intelligent’ wettability property can be utilized to separate oil and water systems efficiently.

The composite film can be used to separate diesel oil and water.     

Alternating Diene Metathesis Polycondensation (ALTMET) – A Versatile Tool for the Preparation of Perfectly Alternating AB Copolymers

Perfectly alternating copolymers can be synthesised by reacting diacrylates with terminal dienes using alternating diene metathesis polycondensation (ALTMET). This novel method is very versatile and allows preparation of diverse structures of polymers, including main‐chain liquid crystalline polymers.

Main‐chain liquid crystalline polymer obtained by ALTMET.     

A Low Curing Temperature Silver Ink for Use in Ink‐Jet Printing and Subsequent Production of Conductive Tracks

Summary: A drop‐on‐demand ink‐jet printer has been used to print a silver‐organic solution onto glass substrates. Conductive silver tracks were obtained by heat treatment of the ink‐jet printed deposits at temperatures ranging from 125 °C–200 °C in air. Resistivity values were found to have dropped to two to three times the theoretical resisitivity of bulk silver after temperatures of 150 °C and above were used.

Resistivity values of a silver‐based ink.     

New Millable Polyurethane/Organoclay Nanocomposite: Preparation,Characterization and Properties

The preparation, characterization and properties of novel millable polyurethane/organoclay nanocomposites are reported. Clay treated with methyl tallow bis(2‐hydroxyethyl) quaternary ammonium chloride was used as an organoclay for nanocomposite preparation. X‐ray diffraction indicated the intercalation of polymer chains inside the interlayer spacings of the clay. Dynamic mechanical analysis showed a significant increase in storage modulus, and tensile strength increases with increased organoclay loading.

X‐ray diffraction patterns of millable polyurethane/organoclay nanocomposites.     

Metallo‐Supramolecular Diethylene Glycol: Water‐Soluble Reversible Polymers

Bis(2,2′:6′,2″‐terpyrid‐4′‐yl) diethylene glycol was synthesized as a monomer unit and further utilized for polymerization with FeCl₂ in order to form water‐soluble coordination polymers. Viscosity measurements and film‐forming properties indicate the formation of linear coordination polymers or larger ring structures. The terpyridine/iron(II) complexes are stable up to temperatures of 210 °C, but can be uncomplexed by the addition of an excess of a strong competitive ligand (HEDTA) under mild conditions.

     

A Novel Route for Fabricating Metal‐Polymer Composite Nanoparticles with Phase‐Separated Structures

Au nanoparticles (NPs) and polymer composite particles with phase‐separation structures were prepared based on phase separation structures. Au NPs were successfully synthesized in amphiphilic block‐copolymer micelles, and then composite particles were formed by a simple solvent evaporation process from Au NPs and polymer solution. The phase separated structures (Janus and Core‐shell) were controlled by changing the combination of polymers having differing hydrophobicity.

     

Microphase Separation of Phenylene Oligomers with Polymeric Side Chains: A Dissipative Particle Dynamics Study

The microphase‐separated morphologies of p‐phenylene oligomers with POx, PCL, PS, and PEO side chains are studied using DPD simulations. It is shown that the microphase‐separated morphologies depend significantly on the degree of chemical incompatibility between the components as indicated by the Flory‐Huggins interaction parameters. The good agreement of the microphase separated morphologies as simulated by DPD with the experimentally determined thin film morphologies suggests that DPD can produce convincing morphological information at the nanoscale. The results show that grafting of polymeric side chains can be an important tool to control the morphology of polymers with a rigid backbone.

     

Poly(cyclooctene)s with Pendant Fluorescent and Phosphorescent Metal Complexes

Poly(cyclooctene)s with pendant Alq₃ and fac‐Ir(ppy)₃ were synthesized. Carbazole‐based comonomers were used to increase the solubility of the polymers and to transfer the energy into metal complexes. Excitation spectra of all polymers provided evidence of energy transfer. We established that the polymer backbone does not interfere with the optical properties of the metal complexes. All copolymers retained the optical properties of their small molecule metal complex analogs in solution and the solid state, making these polymers promising materials for potential electro‐optical applications.

     

Low‐Temperature Restructuring Processes in Polyhydrosilanes

Summary: This paper presents the structural influence of the Si H functionality on the physicochemical properties of polysilanes. New low‐temperature restructuring processes were discovered using thermal analysis (TGA, DSC). Photoluminescent (FL) and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) measurements revealed the optoelectronic properties‐chemical structure relationship of the synthesized polymers.

Highly reactive Si H groups lead to restructuring of the main polysilane chain.     

α,ω‐Nitroxide‐Capped Polystyrenes and Poly(butyl acrylate)s as Macroinitiators for the Free‐Radical Polymerization of Methyl Methacrylate

The use of a bisaminooxy compound as initiator for nitroxide‐mediated radical polymerization (NMRP) of styrene or n‐butyl acrylate allows the synthesis of α,ω‐nitroxide‐capped polymers. At high temperatures and with the addition of acetic anhydride, it was found that these polymers could be applied as macroinitiators in the free‐radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate. This enables the synthesis of block copolymers with only minor contents of homopolymer.

The structure of bis‐TIPNO, the bisaminooxy compound used as an initiator for the nitroxide‐mediated radical polymerization of styrene or n‐butyl acrylate.