Electron spin resonance study of copolymerization of hexafluoroisobutylene with vinylidene fluoride

The Copolymerization reaction of hexafluoroisobutylene (HFIB) and vinylidene fluoride (VF₂) was studied using X-band electron spin resonance (ESR) by applying a photo-in situ method. Owing to the toxicity of HFIB monomer, the flow ESR method could not be directly applied without extensive modification. The observed ESR signal with 21-line hyperfine structure was assigned to the copolymer radical with head-to-head configuration. Although the HFIB monomer radical possesses the same hyperfine pattern, the ambiguity has been removed by using CF₃ as an initiator radical. Owing to the high steady-state concentration of the observed copolymer radical with head-to-head configuration as well as the nature of the static photo-in situ ESR method, we believe the actual molecular configuration for HFIB/VF₂ copolymer must be head-to-tail. The observed hyperfine constant for A_βF = 1.74 mT suggests that the geometry for HFIB/VF₂ copolymer radicals with both head-to-head or head-to-tail configurations is possibly similar to that of (CF₃)₃C· radical. The small value for A_βH indicates steric hindrance to rotation about the C_α? C_β bond, and this is also supported by the experimental results of nonalteration in linewidth during the temperature dependence study from ?40 to about 90°C. Attempts to measure directly the monomer reactivities have been unsuccessful owing to the fact that not all the possible radicals were detected, but nevertheless the relative reactivities of VF₂ and HFIB could be estimated. The relative reactivities of VF₂ and HFIB monomers and the steric hindrance effect indicate that the conformation of the copolymer is head-to-tail; this has been further confirmed by infrared analysis.     

An equilibrium study on the distribution of structural defects between the lamellar and amorphous portions of poly(vinylidene fluoride) and (vinylidene fluoride‐tetra fluoro ethylene) copolymer crystals

Samples of poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVF₂) and (vinylidene fluoride‐tetra fluoroethylene) (VF₂‐VF₄) copolymer were etched with a chromium‐based etching reagent. The etching rate was lower for the VF₂‐VF₄ copolymer samples than for the PVF₂ samples. The melting point and enthalpy of fusion increased with increased etching time of the etched specimen. This was also true for the melt‐quenched (etched) samples, whose values were always lower than those obtained from the direct run of the etched samples. The scanning electron micrographs of specimens etched for 24 h indicated that only the amorphous portion was etched without affecting the crystalline lamella. The sequence distribution of the PVF₂ and VF₂‐VF₄ copolymer crystals were determined by ¹⁹F NMR measurements of the samples and their etched species. The observed probabilities (P_obs), calculated from the integrated area of the NMR peaks, indicated that the crystalline lamella had a more oriented chain structure than that of the amorphous overlayer portion. The head‐to‐head defects calculated from the aforementioned sequence analysis indicated a greater propensity in the amorphous portion than in the crystalline lamella. The equilibrium constant (K) for the distribution of defects between the lamella and amorphous portion of the crystal varied from 0.7 to 0.9. It was higher at a higher quenching rate of the crystallization, and in the isothermal crystallization, it also had a substantially high value, indicating the equilibrium inclusion of defects in the crystal. The distribution constant increased with an increase in the defect content in the chain and decreased with an increase in the defect size. The sequence distribution data, analyzed through a suitable melting‐point depression equation, indicated a defect energy of 2.25 kcal/mol for the α‐phase PVF₂ crystals and 0.68 kcal/mol for the β‐phase VF₂‐VF₄ copolymer. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 38: 297–308, 2000     

X-ray structure determination of isotactic poly(2-vinylpyridine)

The structure of isotactic poly(2-vinylpyridine) has been determined from x-ray fiber data utilizing rigid-body least-squares refinement techniques. The polymer exists as a threefold helix with three chains passing through a hexagonal unit cell having the dimensions a = b = 15.49 Å and c = 6.56 Å (fiber axis) and space group P3₁ or P3₂. The asymmetric unit consists of three monomeric units (one in each chain), resulting in three crystallographically independent chains in the unit cell. The results show that two of the chains are interlocked through pyridine ring interactions whereas the third chain is less restricted. A statistical structure is proposed in which any two chains in the unit cell can be interlocked, provided they have the same sense. Such a situation permits a completely statistical structure in which half the chains in any crystallite are oriented upward and the other half downward.     

Crystal structure of poly(ω‐pentadecalactone)

The crystal structure of poly(ω‐pentadecalactone) (PPDL) synthesized by enzyme‐catalyzed polymerization was determined by full‐profile refinement. A pseudo‐orthorombic monoclinic unit cell with dimensions a = 7.49(1), b = 5.034(9), and c = 20.00(4)Å (fiber axis), and α = 90.06(4)° hosts two monomeric units belonging to polymer chains with opposite orientation, according to the P2₁ space‐group symmetry. A close similarity to the crystal structure of poly(?‐caprolactone) was evident. However, the even number of backbone atoms in the monomer unit of PPDL leads to a lower crystal symmetry. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 41: 1009–1013, 2003     

X-ray diffraction studies of diisotactic polymers of cis- and trans-2-butene oxides

Crystalline polymers derived from cis- and trans-2-butene oxides were studied by x-ray diffraction methods. X-ray fiber and powder photographs of poly(trans-2-butene oxide) were indexed by an orthorhombic unit cell with the dimensions a = 13.72 A., b = 4.60 A., and c (chain axis) = 6.90 A.; the space group is P2₁2₁2₁. The crystal structure of this polymer has been determined in projection. The chain has an erythro-diisotactic structure with -dl, dl- carbon sequences. The polymer has a nonplanar zigzag backbone with carbon and oxygen atoms of alternate monomer units lying nearly in a plane. Two chain molecules pass through the unit cell. The unit cell of poly(cis-2-butene oxide) is orthorhombic with lattice constants a = 11.20 A., b = 10.44 A., c (chain axis) = 7.01 A. The polymer has a threo-diisotactic structure with -dd,dd- or -ll,ll- carbon sequences. Four chain molecules pass through the unit cell. The crystal lattice is body-centered but the space group has not yet been established. The polymer has an almost fully extended zigzag chain configuration. Polymers prepared by either metal halide catalysts (FeCl₃, SnCl₄) or organometallic catalysts were essentially identical; the latter catalysts did, however, yield more highly crystalline polymers.     

X-ray structure analysis of poly[di-(3,4-dimethylphenoxy)phosphazene]

The crystal structure of oriented poly[di-(3,4-dimethylphenoxy) phosphazene] (PDMP) was determined by x-ray diffraction. Unit-cell parameters were found to be a = 15.85, b = 19.43, and c = 9.85 Å. The unit cell is metrically orthorhombic with monoclinic space group P2₁. There were 48 refinable diffraction spots in the observed reciprocal lattice region, of which 28 were observed and 20 were unobserved. A refined model yielded the following residuals: R^(obs) = 0.162 and 0.138. It was shown that a two-chain unit cell with a [T₃C]₂ (trans, trans, trans, cis, trans, trans, trans, cis) backbone conformation was the correct structure. The dimethylphenoxy side groups were arranged in nearly parallel planes, slightly off-normal to the fiber c axis. The polymer chains are extremely tightly packed and contain close but reasonable steric contacts.     

Alternating copolymers of hexafluoroisobutylene with vinyl trifluoroacetate and vinyl pentafluorobenzoate

Copolymerizations of hexafluoroisobutylene (HFIB) with vinyl pentafluorobenzoate (VPFB) and vinyl trifluoroacetate (VTFA) were carried out in bulk using perfluorodibenzoyl peroxide as the radical initiator. The copolymers obtained were characterized by proton and fluorine NMR spectroscopy. The monomer reactivity ratios in the polymerization of HFIB with VPFB were r₁ (HFIB) = 0, r₂ (VPFB) = 0.373, and r₁r₂ = 0. The results indicated that these copolymers have alternating structures. Similarly, the copolymers of HFIB and VTFA also showed alternating structures. The films of HFIB‐co‐VPFB were prepared by casting THF solution of polymers. Films obtained were flexible and transparent. The refractive indices of copolymers were 1.4549, 1.4490, and 1.4438 at 532, 633, and 839 nm, respectively. The average T_gs of HFIB‐co‐VTFA and HFIB‐co‐VPFB were 52 and 71 °C, respectively. From these results, the T_g of the hypothetical HFIB homopolymer is postulated to be in between 70 and 90 °C, which may be useful in the assessment of T_gs of HFIB copolymers with other vinyl monomers. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012     

The Crystal Structure of MnF3 Revisited

We correct the crystal structure of MnF₃, of which the space group was reported as monoclinic C2/c (no. 15) with a = 8.9202, b = 5.0472, c = 13.4748 Å, β = 92.64°, V = 606.02 ų, Z = 12, mS48, T not given, likely 298 K. In the structure model proposed here, we use a unit cell of one third of the former volume. The ruby red crystals of MnF₃ were synthesized by a high-pressure/high-temperature method, where MnF₄ was used as a starting material. As determined on a single crystal, MnF₃ crystallizes in the monoclinic space group I2/a (no. 15) with a = 5.4964(11), b = 5.0084(10), c = 7.2411(14) Å, β = 93.00(3)°, V = 199.06(7) ų, Z = 4, mS16, T = 183(2) K. The crystal structure of MnF₃ is related by a direct group-subgroup transition to the VF₃ structure-type. We performed quantum chemical calculations on the crystal structure to allow the assignment of bands of the obtained vibrational spectra.     

Crystal structure of an alternating copolymer of ethylene and tetrafluoroethylene

The unit cell of an alternating copolymer of ethylene and tetrafluoroethylene was determined by x-ray diffraction. In spite of uncertainties due to irregularities in the chain structure and a low level of crystallinity, a reasonable unit cell and structure was derived which gives a calculated crystalline density of 1.9 g/cm³. The unit cell is believed to be either orthorhombic or monoclinic with the following parameters: a = 9.6 Å, b = 9.25 Å, c = 5.0 Å, (γ = 96°). The molecular conformation is that of the extended zigzag, and the molecular packing appears to be orthorhombic, each molecule having four nearest neighbors with the CH₂ groups of one chain adjacent to the CF₂ groups of the next.     

New Light on an Old Story: The Crystal Structure of Boron Tetrathiophosphate Revisited

The crystal structure of boron tetrathiophosphate BPS₄ was reinvestigated using single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. The structure shows unidimensional chains similar to SiS₂ as structural motifs. BPS₄ crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Ibam (no. 72), with a = 5.6173(3), b = 8.9929(4), c = 5.2433(3) Å and V = 264.87(2) ų and is closely related to the orthorhombic high‐temperature modification of AlPS₄ (ht‐AlPS₄). The SiS₂‐like chains are all oriented parallel to the c axis, which explains the needle‐like morphology and that the crystals easily cleave to thinner needles under mechanical stress. While ht‐AlPS₄ shows an ordered Al‐P sublattice, the B‐P sublattice in BPS₄ is substantially disordered. The thermal properties of BPS₄ were investigated by DTA measurements and a detailed analysis of the Raman spectrum assisted by quantum mechanical calculations is presented. The crystallographic disorder in BPS₄ is the result of inter‐chain disorder, whereas local intra‐chain ordering of B and P can be concluded from Raman spectroscopy.     

Structural differences between two crystal modifications of poly(γ-benzyl L-glutamate)

X-ray diffraction patterns were obtained for as-cast and oriented films of poly(γ-benzyl L -glutamate) and a comparison was made of the molecular packing of the α-helices in forms B and C. Form B snowed Bragg reflections on the layer lines as well as on the equator. The spacings were explained by a monoclinic unit cell comprising two chains, with a = 29.0₆ Å, b = 13 2₀ Å, c = 27.2₇ Å α = γ = 90°. and β = 96°. The chains contained in this unit cell and consequently alternating in the crystal have opposite chain directions. Form C showed continuous scattering on the layer lines and reflections on the equator. This form, therefore, is a nematiclike paracrystal in which the packing of α-helices is periodic in the direction lateral to the chain axis (a = 14.8–115.2 Å, b = 14.3–14.8 Å, c = 27 Å, and γ = 118°–120°), but the relative levels of the chains along the chain axes are displaced. The formation of form C may be attributed to random placement of two chains with mutually opposite chain directions.     

A successive route to amphiphilic graft copolymers with a hydrophilic poly(3‐hydroxypropyl methacrylate) backbone and hydrophobic polystyrene side chains

A successive method for preparing novel amphiphilic graft copolymers with a hydrophilic backbone and hydrophobic side chains was developed. An anionic copolymerization of two bifunctional monomers, namely, allyl methacrylate (AMA) and a small amount of glycidyl methacrylate (GMA), was carried out in tetrahydrofuran (THF) with 1,1‐diphenylhexyllithium (DPHL) as the initiator in the presence of LiCl ([LiCl]/[DPHL]₀ = 2), at −50 °C. The copolymer poly(AMA‐co‐GMA) thus obtained possessed a controlled molecular weight and a narrow molecular weight distribution (M_w /M_n = 1.08–1.17). Without termination and polymer separation, a coupling reaction between the epoxy groups of this copolymer and anionic living polystyrene [poly(St)] at −40 °C generated a graft copolymer with a poly(AMA‐co‐GMA) backbone and poly(St) side chains. This graft copolymer was free of its precursors, and its molecular weight as well as its composition could be well controlled. To the completed coupling reaction solution, a THF solution of 9‐borabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane was added, and this was followed by the addition of sodium hydroxide and hydrogen peroxide. This hydroboration changed the AMA units of the backbone to 3‐hydroxypropyl methacrylate, and an amphiphilic graft copolymer with a hydrophilic poly(3‐hydroxypropyl methacrylate) backbone and hydrophobic poly(St) side chains was obtained. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 1195–1202, 2000     

X‐Ray and Electron Diffraction Study of Poly(p‐dioxanone)

Summary: Solution‐grown lamellar crystals of poly(p‐dioxanone) (PPDX) have been crystallized isothermally from butane‐1,4‐diol at 100 °C. The crystal structure of PPDX has been determined by interpretation of X‐ray fiber diagrams of PPDX fibers and electron diffraction diagrams of lozenge‐shaped chain‐folder lamellar crystals. The unit cell of PPDX is orthorhombic with space group P2₁2₁2₁ and parameters: a = 0.970 nm, b = 0.742 nm, and c (chain axis) = 0.682 nm. There are two chains per unit cell, which exist in an antiparallel arrangement.

Transmission electron micrograph of PPDX chain‐folded lamellar crystals obtained by isothermal crystallization and its electron diffraction diagram.     

Relative Rates for Plasma Homo- and Copolymerizations of a Homologous Series of Fluorinated Ethylenes

The relative rates of plasma homo- and Copolymerizations of ethylene, vinyl fluoride, vinylidene fluoride, trifluoroethylene and tetrafluoroethylene (VF _x , x = 0–4, respectively) were determined in an rf, capacitively coupled, tubular reactor with external electrodes using identical plasma parameters. The deposition rates for VF _x (x = 1–3) and 20 different monomer blends, when plotted versus the F/C ratios of the monomers or monomer blends, followed a concave-downward curve situated above the straight-line joining the rates for VF₀ and VF₄. The deposition rates for VF _m /VF _n blends (m = 3 or 4; n = 0–2) likewise yielded concave-downward curves situated above the straight lines joining the rates for the respective monomers; the rates for VF _m /VF _n blends (m = 0 or 1; n = 1 or 2) yielded concave-upward curves situated below the straight lines joining the rates for the respective monomers; while the rates for VF₃/VF₄ blends fell along the straight line joining the rates for VF₃ and VF₄. The mechanisms for plasma (co) polymerizations of VF _x monomers responsible for the wide range of relative deposition rates remain to be elucidated.     

Synthesis,dynamic light scattering,and luminescence properties of copolymers containing iridium(III) bisterpyridine in the side chain

Supramolecular block‐random copolymers containing [Ir(terpy)₂]³⁺ in the side chain were synthesized via postfunctionalization of a P(S‐b‐AC_terpy) block copolymer. Absorbance and emission spectra compared to a model compound show that the polymer backbone has a minor effect on the polymer absorbance but produces a larger shift for the phosphorescence signals to higher wavelength. Dynamic light scattering of the metal complex containing copolymer studied in various solvents showed monomodal aggregation with decreasing aggregate size as the solvent dielectric constant increased. The copolymer precursor P(S‐b‐AC_terpy) shows multimodal aggregation in different solvents with the major population consisting of single chains. This difference in behavior between the two polymers is attributed to the electrolytic nature of the complex and the amphiphilicity induced by the charged metal complex. Supramolecular copolymers like these will continue to have interesting self‐organizational properties and may find applications in multicomponent systems for photoinduced charge separation processes. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 1109–1121, 2007     

Molecular and crystal structure of cellulose propanoate diacetate (CPDA, 2,3-di-O-acetyl-6-O-propanoyl cellulose)

The molecular and crystal structure of cellulose propanoate diacetate (CPDA, 2,3-di-O-acetyl-6-O-propanoyl cellulose) has been determined through combined X-ray fibre diagrams and electron diffraction patterns of single crystal analysis, aided by stereochemical restraints by using a constrained linked-atom least-squares refinement. The unit cell of CPDA is orthorhombic with space group P2 ₁2₁2₁ and parameters:a =1.239 nm,b =2.498 nm and c (fibre axis)=1.044 nm. Based on these data, coupled with the observed density of the crystals, there are four chains per unit cell, distributed in two antiparallel pairs of parallel chains, and the independent repeat is the disaccharide unit in each chain. A preliminary CPDA disaccharide unit was derived based on the centre residue of cellotriose undeca-acetate, and this model was refined through a conformational analysis. The best model obtained by combining the stereochemical refinement with the diffraction intensities gave R=0.272 (R=0.259) for the three-dimensional information from the X-ray fibre diagram and R=0.248 (R=0.246) for the base plane data resulting from electron diffraction analysis.     

Intramolecular donor–acceptor copolymers containing side‐chain‐tethered perylenebis(dicarboximide) moieties for panchromatic solar cells

A series of side‐chain‐tethered copolymers containing the N‐(2‐ethylhexyl)‐N′‐(thiophene‐3‐yl)‐3,4:9,10‐perylenebis(dicarboximide) (thiophene‐PDI) moieties and 4,4‐diethylhexyl‐cyclopenta[2,1‐b:3,4‐b′]dithiophene unit were synthesized via Grignard metathesis polymerizations. With the incorporation of pendent perylenebis(dicarboximide) (PDI) moieties as acceptor side chains and thiophene as the donor backbone, the copolymers exhibited the intramolecular donor–acceptor characteristic and displayed a panchromatic absorption ranging from 290 to 1100 nm and ideal bandgaps of 1.49 to 1.52 eV. Due to the coplanarity of PDI moieties, the charge separation and transfer process were more effective and enhanced after photoexcitation. When increased the weight ratio of PC₆₁BM:polymer to 3, the J_sc could be raised significantly. The value of bandgap decreased slightly, and both V_oc and J_sc showed an upward trend with the increase of molar ratio of thiophene‐PDI unit from 50% (the copolymer P11) to 75% (the copolymer P13). The polymer/PC₆₁BM devices have shown a significant improvement from 0.45 to 1.66% with a judicious modulation. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2014 , 52, 1978–1988     

Crystal transition and structure of poly (γ-n-alkyl glutamate)s

The nature of the crystal transition of the α-helical forms of poly (γ-n-alkyl glutamate)s (alkyl = ethyl, propyl, and butyl) is described. The transition is thermally reversible, and its temperature T₂ is much higher than the glasslike transition temperature T₁ associated with the side-chain motion. The main chains undergo large-scale motion (librational about the chain axis and translational along the axis) above T₃ ≈ 200°C. The structure observed below T₂ is anomalously disordered compared with that observed between T₂ and T₃. The crystal structure emerging above T₂ is analyzed for a typical sample of poly(γ-n-propyl L -glutamate). The trigonal unit cell contains three α-helices so that each helix is surrounded by other helices in the same fashion, but the helices are not interrelated by a crystallographic symmetry element. The side chains suffer no particular change at T₂. The main-chain motion gives rise to the T₂ transition by inducing attractive forces between interpenetrating side chains.     

Synthesis and swelling behavior of amphiphilic comb‐like branched polymer (AA‐co‐CMS)‐g‐PMMA

Copolymerization of acrylic acid and p‐chloromethylstyrene (p‐CMS) in dioxane initiated with α,α′‐azobisisobutyronitrile was carried out to produce macroinitiator P(AA‐co‐CMS) containing PhCH₂Cl group at 65°C. Then methyl methacrylate was grafted onto P(AA‐co‐CMS) backbone using PhCH₂Cl group as an initiation site and FeCl₂/triphenyl phosphine complex as a catalyst. The resulted copolymer (AA‐co‐CMS)‐g‐PMMA with a comb‐like branched structure has a hydrophilic backbone (PAA) and hydrophobic side chains (PMMA). Compositions and structures of macroinitiator and the grafted product of P(AA‐co‐CMS)‐g‐PMMA were determined by ¹H‐NMR, infrared (IR), and gel permeation chromatography (GPC). The average graft number, the average length of branch chains, the graft ratio, and the graft efficiency were investigated. The swelling behavior of the comb‐like branched polymer was also investigated. The gradual increase of swelling ratios was accompanied by an increase of pH and temperature. The kinetic exponents indicated that the swelling transport mechanisms transformed from Fickian diffusion to non‐Fickian transport as the decreasing pH. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Crystal structure of poly-p-xylylene. I. The α form

The molecular conformation and the crystal structure of α-form poly-p-xylylene has been determined by x-ray diffraction. The polymer has a monoclinic unit cell with a = 5.92, b = 10.64, c (fiber axis) = 6.55 Å, and β = 134.7°. Two chains pass through the unit cell, and the space groups is C2/m. The packing fraction is 0.705. One monomer unit makes up the fiber identity period and the internal rotation angles are 0° and 90° for the ? CH₂? CH₂? and ? CH₂? ?? bonds, respectively. All benzene rings are in parallel orientation, perpendicular to the ac plane.