Synthesis of novel fluoroalkyl end‐capped oligomers/silica gel polymer hybrids possessing antibacterial activity

New fluoroalkyl end‐capped oligomers/silica gel polymer hybrids‐low‐molecular weight biocide (hibitane) composites were prepared by the reactions of tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) with fluoroalkyl end‐capped N‐(1,1‐dimethyl‐3‐oxobutyl)acrylamide oligomer, N,N‐dimethylacrylamide oligomers, and acrylic acid oligomers in methanol under acidic conditions at room temperature. The presence of hibitane in the composites was clarified by the use of elementary analyses of nitrogen in fluorinated acrylic acid oligomer composite and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) of these fluorinated composites. Thermal stability of fluorinated composites thus obtained were found to increase significantly compared to those of the parent fluorinated oligomers. Thermal stability of fluorinated N,N‐dimethylacrylamide oligomer, acrylic acid oligomer/silica gel polymers hybrid‐hibitane composites decreased compared to those of the corresponding fluorinated oligomers/silica gel polymer hybrids; however, the thermal stability of fluorinated N‐(1,1‐dimethyl‐3‐oxobutylacryl)amide oligomer/silica gel polymer hybrid‐hibitane composite increased significantly compared to that of the corresponding fluorinated oligomer hybrid. The sol methanol solutions of these fluorinated composites were applied to the surface modification of glass to exhibit not only a strong oleophobicity imparted by end‐capped fluoroalkyl groups in oligomers but also a good hydrophilicity on the glass surface. Fluorinated oligomers/silica gel polymer hybrids‐hibitane composites were found to exhibit high anti‐bacterial activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus. Therefore, these fluorinated hibitane composites are suggested to have high potential for new attractive functional materials through not only their excellent surface active property imparted by fluorine and their thermal stability but also through their anti‐bacterial activity. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Preparation of colloidal stable fluoroalkyl end‐capped oligomer/silver nanocomposites––application to the surface modification of traditional organic polymers with these nanocomposites

A variety of fluoroalkyl end‐capped oligomers/silver nanocomposites were prepared by the reactions of silver ions with poly(methylhydrosiloxane) in the presence of fluoroalkyl end‐capped N,N‐dimethylacrylamide oligomer, N‐(1,1‐dimethyl‐3‐oxobutyl)acrylamide oligomer, N,N‐dimethylacrylamide cooligomer containing poly(dimethylsiloxane) segments in organic media such as toluene and 1,2‐ dichloroethane. These fluorinated oligomers/silver nanocomposites thus obtained were found to exhibit clear plasmon absorption bands around 420 nm related to the formation of silver nanoparticles. In particular, these composites could display narrow plasmon absorptions around 420 nm in toluene by the addition of trioctylamine (TOA). On the other hand, the corresponding non‐fluorinated N‐(1,1‐ dimethyl‐3‐oxobutyl)acrylamide oligomer was not able to afford such a plasmon absorption under similar conditions. These fluorinated oligomers/silver nanocomposites in organic media have been found to be stable for more than 10 days. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS) measurements showed that silver nanoparticles could be effectively encapsulated into fluorinated oligomeric aggregate cores to afford colloidal stable fluorinated oligomers/silver nanocomposites. Fluorinated oligomers/silver nanocomposites were also applied to the surface modification of traditional organic polymers such as polystyrene (PSt) and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) to exhibit not only a good oleophobicity imparted by fluorine but also a higher surface antibacterial activity related to the silver nanoparticles on their surface. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Preparation and applications of novel amphiphilic fluoroalkyl end‐capped oligomers‐clay nanocomposites

Nonionic‐type amphiphilic fluoroalkyl end‐capped acryloylmorpholine and N,N‐dimethylacrylamide homooligomers were found to be new convenient intercalating agents for the achievement of an enlarged basal spacing of the clay layers to afford fluorinated oligomers‐clay nanocomposites. These novel fluoroalkyl end‐capped oligomers‐clay nanocomposites were found to exhibit good dispersibility and stability in aqueous and organic media, and were applied to the surface modification of traditional organic polymeric materials such as poly(methyl methacrylate). Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis and properties of novel fluoroalkyl end‐capped oligomers having adamantane units in the main chains via a radical process

Fluoroalkanoyl peroxides were reacted with adamantane in the presence of radical polymerizable monomers such as acrylic acid, acryloylmorpholine, and N,N‐dimethylacrylamide to afford fluoroalkyl end‐capped oligomers having adamantane units in the main chains via a radical process under very mild conditions. Thermal stability of these new fluorinated adamantane co‐oligomers thus obtained became higher than that of the corresponding fluorinated homo‐oligomers having no adamantane units. Interestingly, these fluorinated adamantane co‐oligomers exhibited good solubility in traditional organic solvents such as methanol, ethanol, tetrahydrofuran, chloroform, benzene, dimethylsulfoxide and N,N‐dimethylformamide including water, although the parent adamantane exhibited no solubility in water, methanol and dimethylsulfoxide. Furthermore, these adamantane co‐oligomers were able to reduce the surface tension effectively to form the nanometer size‐controlled self‐assembled fluorinated molecular aggregates. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Preparation and applications of novel cross‐linked fluoroalkyl end‐capped oligomeric nanocomposites possessing aromatic siloxane segments as core units

Fluoroalkyl end‐capped N,N‐dimethylacrylamide oligomer and N‐(1,1‐dimethyl‐3‐oxobutyl)acrylamide oligomer were reacted with phenylene‐ and biphenylene‐bridged ethoxysilanes under alkaline conditions to yield cross‐linked fluoroalkyl end‐capped oligomeric composites possessing aromatic siloxane segments as core units. These isolated fluorinated composite powders were found to be nanometer size‐controlled fine particles with a good dispersibility and stability in water and organic solvents. Nitrogen adsorption–desorption isotherms confirmed the presence of micropores in these nanocomposites; the micropore size estimated by the HK method was 0.7–0.8 nm. Interestingly, fluorinated nanocomposites possessing a higher micropore volume ratio were found to exhibit a selective encapsulation ability of fullerene into their composite cores. These fluorinated nanocomposites were also applied to the surface modification of poly(methyl methacrylate) film, resulting in a good oleophobicity imparted by fluorine on the surface. In addition, fluorescence emission was visibly observed only from the modified PMMA film surface treated with fluorinated nanocomposites possessing biphenylene units when irradiated by light. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Fluoroalkyl end‐capped oligomers possessing nonflammable characteristic in calcium carbonate nanocomposites

Calcium chloride reacted with sodium carbonate in the presence of a variety of fluoroalkyl end‐capped oligomers such as fluoroalkyl end‐capped acrylic acid oligomer (R_F‐[ACA]_n‐R_F), 2‐methacryloyloxyethanesulfonic acid oligomer (R_F‐[MES]_n‐R_F), N,N‐dimethylacrylamide oligomer (R_F‐[DMAA]_n‐R_F) and acryloylmorpholine oligomer (R_F‐[ACMO]_n‐R_F) to afford the corresponding fluorinated oligomers/calcium carbonate composites. Each fluorinated oligomer/calcium carbonate composite thus obtained is nanometer size‐controlled very fine particles (25–114 nm) possessing a good dispersibility and stability in a variety of solvents including water. Thermal stability of these fluorinated calcium carbonate nanocomposites was studied by thermogravimetic analyses measurements. Fluorinated oligomes, in which the theoretical oligomer content in the composites is 19%, were able to give no weight loss corresponding to the content of oligomer in each case even after calcination at 800 °C. On the other hand, a slight weight loss corresponding to the contents of oligomers in the composites after calcination at 800 °C was observed in R_F‐(MES)_n‐R_F/, R_F‐(DMAA)_n‐R_F/ and R_F‐(ACMO)_n‐R_F/calcium carbonate nanocomposites, in which the theoretical contents of the oligomers were 36–53%, although R_F‐(ACA)_n‐R_F/calcium carbonate nanocomposites gave a clear weight loss corresponding to the contents of oligomer under similar conditions. Fluorinated oligomers/calcium carbonate nanocomposites possessing no weight loss at 800 °C were applied to the surface modification of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) to exhibit a good oleophobicity imparted by fluorines on the surfaces. Interestingly, these fluorinated calcium carbonate nanocomposites after calcination at 800 °C were found to exhibit the similar oleophobic characteristic on the modified PMMA surfaces as well as that of the nanocomposites before calcination. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

UV resistance of encapsulated low molecular weight aromatic compounds in fluoroalkyl end‐capped trimethoxyvinylsilane oligomer/silica nanocomposites

Sol–gel reactions of fluoroalkyl end‐capped trimethoxyvinylsilane oligomer in the presence of low molecular weight aromatic compounds (ArH) such as 1,1′‐bi(2‐naphthol) (BINOL) and 2‐hydroxy‐4‐methoxy benzophenone (HMB) were found to proceed smoothly under alkaline conditions at room temperature to give the corresponding fluorinated oligomeric silica nanocomposites‐encapsulated aromatic compounds (BINOL and HMB) [R_F‐(VM‐SiO₂)_n‐R_F/ArH nanocomposites]. UV light irradiation (λ_max: 254 nm) toward R_F‐(VM‐SiO₂)_n‐R_F/ArH nanocomposites showed that photodegradation of encapsulated ArH was not observed at all in the fluorinated nanocomposites cores, although the parent ArH can exhibit an effective photodegradation behavior under similar conditions. Especially, encapsulated ArH can exhibit no weight loss corresponding to the contents of the aromatic compounds in the fluorinated nanocomposites even after calcination at 800°C. Therefore, fluoroalkyl end‐capped trimethoxyvinylsilane oligomer has high potential for not only the thermal resistance but also the UV resistance fluorinated polymeric materials. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Low molecular weight aromatic compounds possessing a nonflammable characteristic in fluoroalkyl end‐capped acrylic acid oligomer/silica nanocomposite matrices after calcination at 800 °C under atmospheric conditions

Fluoroalkyl end‐capped acrylic acid oligomer [R_F‐(ACA)_n‐R_F] reacted with tetraethoxysilane and silica nanoparticles in the presence of low molecular weight aromatic compounds [ Ar‐H ] such as cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) and bisphenol AF under alkaline conditions to afford R_F‐(ACA)_n‐R_F/SiO₂ nanocomposites‐encapsulated Ar‐H in 47–94% isolated yields. These fluorinated silica nanocomposites‐encapsulated Ar‐H can exhibit no weight loss behavior corresponding to the contents of Ar‐H after calcination at 800 °C under atmospheric conditions, although fluoroalkyl end‐capped acrylic acid oligomer in the nanocomposites decomposed completely under similar conditions. UV‐vis spectra of well‐dispersed methanol solutions of R_F‐(ACA)_n‐R_F/SiO₂/CPC nanocomposites before calcination show that CPC can be encapsulated into fluorinated silica nanocomposites with encapsulated ratios: 23–43%. The fluorinated nanocomposites after calcination was found to exhibit a higher antibacterial activity related to the presence of CPC in the composites. Encapsulated bisphenol AF into R_F‐(ACA)_n‐R_F/SiO₂ nanocomposites before and after calcination at 800 °C can exhibit a good releasing ability toward methanol with released ratios: 48 and 26%, respectively. ¹H MAS NMR, HPLC analysis, and LC‐MS spectra of R_F‐(ACA)_n‐R_F/silica nanocomposites‐encapsulated bisphenol AF also showed the presence of bisphenol AF in the nanocomposites even after calcination at 800 °C under atmospheric conditions. These findings suggest that CPC and bisphenol AF can exhibit a nonflammable characteristic in the fluorinated silica nanocomposites. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011     

Solubilization of fullerene into ionic liquids by the use of fluoroalkyl end‐capped oligomers

Fluoroalkyl end‐capped oligomers were solubilized into a variety of ionic liquids such as N‐methylpyrazolium tetrafluoroborate, 3‐methylpyrazolium tetrafluoroborate and 1‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate, and these fluorinated oligomers were able to reduce the surface tension of these ionic liquids. Interestingly, these fluorinated oligomers were able to solubilize fullerene into ionic liquids effectively. Fluoroalkyl end‐capped fullerene co‐oligomers, which were prepared by the oligomerizations of fluoroalkanoyl peroxides with radical polymerizable monomers such as acryloylmorpholine in the presence of fullerene, were more effective in solubilizing fullerene into ionic liquids compared to the corresponding fluoroalkyl end‐capped homo‐oligomers possessing no fullerene units. Fluoroalkyl end‐capped fullerene co‐oligomers/fullerene/ionic liquid complexes thus obtained were applied to the arrangements of fullerenes above the poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) surface, and the higher fluorescent intensity of fullerene was obtained in the modified PMMA surface, although the reverse side of this modified film surface afforded an extremely weak fluorescent intensity. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Dispersion of nanodiamond into organic media by the use of fluoroalkyl end‐capped oligomers—applications to surface modification of poly(methyl methacrylate) with the dispersed nanodiamond

Self‐assembled fluorinated molecular aggregates formed by fluoroalkyl end‐capped oligomers were able to interact with nanodiamond powders to afford well‐dispersed fluorinated aggregates‐diamond nanocomposites in organic media, and these fluorinated aggregates‐diamond nanocomposites were applied to the surface modification of poly(methyl methacryate) films. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Preparation and applications of a variety of fluoroalkyl end-capped oligomer/hydroxyapatite composites

A variety of fluoroalkyl end-capped oligomers were applied to the preparation of fluorinated oligomer/hydroxyapatite (HAp) composites (particle size: 38-356 nm), which exhibit a good dispersibility in water and traditional organic solvents. These fluoroalkyl end-capped oligomer/HAp composites were easily prepared by the reactions of disodium hydrogen phosphate and calcium chloride in the presence of self-assembled molecular aggregates formed by fluoroalkyl end-capped oligomers in aqueous solutions. In these fluorinated HAp composites thus obtained, fluoroalkyl end-capped acrylic acid oligomers and 2-methacryloyloxyethanesulfonic acid oligomer/HAp nanocomposites afforded transparent colorless solutions toward water; however, fluoroalkyl end-capped N,N-dimethylacrylamide oligomer and acryloylmorpholine oligomer were found to afford transparent colorless solutions with trace amounts of white-colored HAp precipitants under similar conditions. HAp could be encapsulated more effectively into fluorinated 2-methacryloyloxyethanesulfonic acid oligomeric aggregate cores to afford colloidal stable fluorinated oligomer/HAp composites, compared to that of fluorinated acrylic acid oligomers. These fluorinated oligomer/HAp composites were applied to the surface modification of glass and PVA to exhibit a good oleophobicity imparted by fluorine. HAp formation was newly observed on the modified polyethylene terephthalate film surface treated with fluorinated 2-methacryloyloxyethanesulfonic acid oligomers and acrylic acid oligomer/HAp composites by soaking these films into the simulated body fluid.     

Preparation of a variety of fluoroalkyl end‐capped N‐(1,1‐dimethyl‐3‐oxobutyl)acrylamide oligomer/silica nanocomposites possessing no weight loss characteristic at 800°C

A variety of fluoroalkyl end‐capped N‐(1,1‐dimethyl‐3‐oxobutyl)acrylamide oligomer [R_F‐(DOBAA)_n‐ R_F]/silica nanocomposites, in which the oligomer contents are 18–96%, were prepared by reactions of the corresponding fluorinated oligomer with tetraethoxysilane and silica nanoparticles under alkaline conditions. Each fluorinated oligomer/silica composite thus obtained is nanometer size‐controlled very fine particles (22–68 nm) possessing a good dispersibility and stability in a variety of solvents including water. Interestingly, the weight loss of R_F‐(DOBAA)_n‐R_F/silica nanocomposites, in which the oligomer contents are 18–72%, were not observed at all even at 800°C, as well as the original silica nanoparticles, although the corresponding sub‐micrometer size‐controlled R_F‐ (DOBAA)_n‐R_F/silica composites (particle size: 359 nm) decomposed completely at 800°C to afford the weight loss in proportion to the content of R_F‐(DOBAA)_n‐R_F oligomer in composites. On the other hand, a slight weight loss of R_F‐(DOBAA)_n‐R_F/silica nanocomposites, in which the oligomer contents are 75–94%, was observed at 800°C compared to that of the original silica nanoparticles. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Preparation and applications of novel fluoroalkyl end‐capped vinyltrimethoxysilane oligomer/hydroxyapatite nanocomposites

Novel fluoroalkyl end‐capped vinyltrimethoxysilane oligomer/hydroxyapatite (HAp) nanocomposites were prepared by the reaction of calcium nitrate tetrahydrate and phosphoric acid in the presence of the corresponding oligomer. These fluorinated oligomer/HAp composites thus obtained are nanometer size‐controlled fine particles (83–173 nm), and were found to exhibit good dispersibility in methanol, ethanol, and isopropyl alcohol. These fluorinated HAp nanocomposites were applied to the surface modification of glass and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) to exhibit good hydro‐ and oleophobic characteristics imparted by fluorine on their surface. In addition, the surface structural changes of the modified polyethylene terephtalate and PMMA films treated with these fluorinated nanocomposites before and after soaking in a simulated body fluid (SBF) were analyzed by using SEM, XRD, and EDX to observe the formation of spherical HAp deposits on the surface. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis and Properties of Novel Cross‐Linked Fluoroalkyl End‐Capped Oligomeric Nanoparticles Containing Adamantane Units

Fluoroalkyl end‐capped cooligomers that contain both oxime‐blocked isocyanato and hydroxyadamantyl segments are prepared by the cooligomerization of fluoroalkanoyl peroxide with the corresponding monomers under mild conditions. This fluorinated cooligomer affords new cross‐linked fluoroalkyl end‐capped cooligomeric nanoparticles that contain adamantane segments by the deprotecting reaction of oxime‐blocked isocyanato segments in cooligomers in excellent to moderate isolated yield. A variety of cross‐linked fluoroalkyl end‐capped cooligomeric nanoparticles that contain adamantane segments are also prepared by similar deprotecting reactions with this fluorinated cooligomer in the presence of adamantane‐1,5‐diol. Furthermore, we have prepared cross‐linked fluoroalkyl end‐capped cooligomers that contain oxime‐blocked isocyanato segments by the use of 2‐hydroxyethyl acrylate and poly(ethylene glycol)‐containing methacrylate monomer as comonomers, respectively. However, the deprotecting reactions of the oxime‐blocked isocyanato segments in the cooligomers do not afford the expected nanoparticles, and these cross‐linked cooligomers are found to show a gelling characteristic. The thermal stability of these cross‐linked fluorinated cooligomeric nanoparticles that contain adamantane segments increases significantly compared to that of the parent fluorinated cooligomer. More interestingly, the thermal stability of these cross‐linked fluorinated nanoparticles is almost the same as that of the fluoroalkyl end‐capped acrylic acid oligomer/SiO₂ nanocomposites (content of SiO₂ in composites: 70%). In addition, these cross‐linked fluorinated nanoparticles have been applied to the surface modification of traditional organic polymers such as poly(methyl methacrylate) to exhibit a good oleophobicity imparted by fluorine on their surface.

     

Preparation of self-assembled fluorinated molecular aggregates, fluorescein nanocomposites: an extremely enhanced light absorption in nanocomposites

Self-assembled fluorinated molecular aggregates formed by fluoroalkyl end-capped N-(1,1-dimethyl-3-oxobutyl)acrylamide oligomers, N,N-dimethylacrylamide oligomers, and acrylic acid oligomers in methanol could selectively recognize fluoresceins as guest molecules to form a new class of fluorinated aggregates-fluorescein nanocomposites. These fluorinated fluorescein nanocomposites that are obtained exhibit an extraordinarily enhanced light absorption (_max ca. 440 nm) compared to that (_maxs 452, 480 nm) of the parent fluorescein in the absence of fluorinated aggregates.     

Preparation of fluoroalkyl end-capped oligomers/magnetite nanocomposites possessing a good dispersibility and stability

Fluoroalkyl end-capped vinylphosphonic acid cooligomers-encapsulated magnetite nanocomposites were prepared by the magnetization of aqueous ferric and ferrous ions in the presence of the corresponding fluorinated cooligomers and magnetic nanoparticles under alkaline conditions. These fluorinated cooligomers magnetic composites are nanometer size-controlled very fine particles and have a good dispersibility and stability in water and traditional organic solvents. These fluorinated nanocomposites were also applied to the surface modification of poly(methyl methacrylate) to exhibit a good oleophobicity imparted by fluorine on their surface. Fluoroalkyl end-capped 2-methacryloyloxyethanesulfonic acid oligomer-encapsulated magnetite nanocomposites and fluoroalkyl end-capped 2-acrylamide-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid oligomer-encapsulated magnetite nanocomposites were prepared in good isolated yields by the magnetization of iron chlorides in the presence of the corresponding oligomers and magnetic nanoparticles under similar conditions. Colloidal stability of these fluorinated nanocomposites thus obtained in water was demonstrated to become extremely higher than that of fluorinated vinylphosphonic acid cooligomers/magnetic nanocomposites.     

Preparation and applications of novel fluoroalkyl end-capped oligomers/calcium carbonate nanocomposites

Calcium chloride reacted with sodium carbonate in the presence of a variety of self-assembled molecular aggregates formed by fluoroalkyl end-capped acrylic acid, 2-methacryloyloxyethane sulfonic acid, dimethylacrylamide, and acryloylmorpholine oligomers in aqueous solutions to afford the corresponding fluorinated oligomers/calcium carbonate composites in excellent to moderate isolated yields. These fluorinated calcium carbonate composites thus obtained were shown to have a good dispersibility not only in water but also in traditional organic media including fluorinated solvents. Dynamic light scattering measurements (DLS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) showed that these fluorinated composites are nanometer-size-controlled particles and well dispersed in these media. Cross-linked fluoroalkyl end-capped acrylic acid co-oligomer containing poly(oxyethylene) units was also applied to the preparation of new cross-linked fluorinated calcium carbonate nanocomposites under similar conditions. The obtained cross-linked fluorinated calcium carbonate nanocomposites were found to have an extremely higher dispersibility in aqueous and organic media including fluorinated solvents, compared to that of the corresponding fluoroalkyl end-capped oligomer nanocomposites. In particular, it was verified that these fluorinated calcium carbonate nanocomposites are applicable to the dispersion above poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) film surface. Interestingly, field-emission SEM (FE-SEM) images of the cross-section of the modified PMMA films showed that calcium carbonate particles dispersed into these PMMA films could be arranged regularly above the modified film surface. More interestingly, cross-linked fluorinated oligomeric aggregates were able to provide suitable host moieties for the crystallization of calcium carbonate.     

Preparation and applications of novel fluoroalkyl end-capped 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid oligomer/clay nanocomposites

New fluoroalkyl end-capped 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid oligomers/clay composites were prepared by reaction of fluoroalkanoyl peroxide with the corresponding monomer in the presence of clay in aqueous solutions. These obtained fluorinated composites were nanometer size-controlled and were found to exhibit a good dispersibility in water and polar organic solvents such as methanol. The contents of clay in these nanocomposites were estimated to be 3～19% by the thermogravimetric analysis measurements. X-ray diffraction spectra showed the successful intercalation of fluorinated oligomers into the interlayer spaces of clay. These fluorinated clay nanocomposites were applied to the surface modification of poly(vinyl alcohol). In addition, these fluorinated nanocomposites were found to interact with methylene blue effectively to afford the fluorinated oligomers/clay/methylene blue nanocomposites.     

Preparation of novel fluoroalkyl end-capped oligomers/silica hybrid nanoparticles-encapsulation of a variety of guest molecules into fluorinated nanoparticles

Fluoroalkyl end-capped oligomers reacted with tetraethoxysilane and silica/nanoparticles under alkaline conditions to afford fluoroalkyl end-capped oligomers/silica nanoparticles (mean diameters: 31–54 nm) with a good dispersibility and stability in organic media. Interestingly, the isolated fluorinated particle powders were found to afford nanometer size-controlled colloidal particles with a good redispersibility and stability in these media. In addition, fluoroalkyl end-capped oligomers/silica nanoparticles-encapsulated guest molecules such as stable organic radicals and ionic liquids were prepared under similar conditions. These fluorinated nanoparticles-encapsulated guest molecules were applied to a new type of surface-modification agent, and these particles were able to disperse well above the poly (methyl methacrylate) films.     

Novel self-assembled molecular aggregates formed by fluoroalkyl end-capped oligomers and their application

A variety of fluoroalkyl end-capped oligomers were prepared under mild conditions by the use of fluoroalkanoyl peroxide as a key intermediate. These oligomers can form the self-assembled molecular aggregates with the aggregations of end-capped fluoroalkyl groups in aqueous and organic media. Fluorinated self-assembled molecular aggregates containing carboxyl and sulfo groups were suggested to interact with positively charged HIV-1 to exhibit a potent anti-HIV-1 activity in vitro. In contrast, fluoroalkyl end-capped oligomers containing cationic segments exhibited not only the unique surface active properties imparted by fluorine as well as the usual low-molecular fluorinated surfactants, but also high surface antibacterial activity. Fluoroalkyl end-capped oligomers containing betaine-type segments were found to cause a gelation where the strong aggregation of the end-capped fluoroalkyl groups is involved in establishing the physical gel network in water and polar organic solvents under non-crosslinked conditions. Similarly, fluoroalkyl end-capped oligomers containing hydroxyl groups could cause a gelation, where the aggregation of fluoroalkyl groups and hydrogen-bonding interaction is involved in establishing a physical gel network in water and polar organic solvents under non-crosslinked conditions. Fluoroalkanoyl peroxide is also a convenient tool for the preparation of new fluoroalkyl end-capped oligomers containing recognition moieties such as diacetone segments. These fluorinated oligomers containing recognition moieties could form the self-assembled molecular aggregates to recognize selectively the hydrophilic amino and N,N-dimethylamino compounds as guest molecules.