Synthesis of poly(styrene-graft-ethylene oxide) by ethoxylation of amide group containing styrene copolymers

Graft copolymers containing poly(ethylene oxide) side chains on a polystyrene backbone have been synthesized. Styrene copolymers synthesized by free radical mechanism and containing between 5 and 15 mol % acrylamide or methacrylamide were used as backbones. The amide groups in the copolymers were ionized by using potassium tert-butoxide or potassium naphthalene, and grafting was achieved by utilizing the amide anions as initiator sites for the polymerization of ethylene oxide in 2-ethoxyethyl ether at 65°C. The graft copolymers were characterized with respect to molecular weight and composition using elemental analysis, NMR, gel permeation chromatography, IR, and viscosity measurements. The size of the side chains were between 600 and 2000 g/mol. GPC results from a hydrolyzed graft copolymer sample suggest a narrow size distribution for the poly(ethylene oxide) grafts. Solution properties of the graft copolymers were investigated in different toluene/methanol mixtures. The intrinsic viscosities of the graft copolymers were found to depend primarily on the poly(ethylene oxide) content rather than the graft density or the poly(ethylene oxide) chain length. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Stabilization of poly(lactic acid) by polycarbodiimide

Polycarbodiimide (CDI) was used to improve the thermal stability of poly(l-lactic acid) (PLA) during processing. The properties of PLA containing various amounts of CDI were characterized by GPC, DSC, rheology, and tensile tests. The results showed that an addition of CDI in an amount of 0.1-0.7 wt% with respect to PLA led to stabilization of PLA at even 210 °C for up to 30 min, as evidenced by much smaller changes in molecular weight, melt viscosity, and tensile strength and elongation compared to the blank PLA samples. In order to examine the possible stabilization mechanism, CDI was reacted with water, acetic acid, l-lactic acid, ethanol and low molecular weight PLA. The molecular structures of the reaction products were measured with FTIR. The results showed that CDI could react with the residual or newly formed moisture and lactic acid, or carboxyl and hydroxyl end groups in the PLA samples, and thus hamper the thermal degradation and hydrolysis of PLA.     

On the number-average molecular weight of poly(1,4-trans isoprene) determined by conventional GPC

We became aware, in the course of our on-going research, that the number-average molecular weight of poly(1,4-trans isoprene) determined by conventional gel permeation chromatography (GPC) in tetrahydrofuran (THF) using polystyrene standards differs from its true value by a factor 2. As far as we know, the Mark-Houwink coefficients of this polymer in a widespread GPC eluent such as THF have never been determined. We provide in this contribution a simple relationship between the number-average molecular weight of poly(1,4-trans isoprene) determined by GPC in THF using polystyrene standards and its true value.     

Degradation of poly(terphenylenephthalide) at high temperatures

The thermal and thermooxidative degradation of poly(terphenylenephthalide) has been studied by thermal analysis, IR and UV spectroscopy, and mass spectrometry. On the basis of the spectral data and the chemical composition of degradation products, it has been shown that both the thermal and thermooxidative degradations of poly(terphenylenephthalide) are characterized by intramolecular cyclization reactions. Depending on the mode of closure of intermediates generated in the course of thermal decomposition of neighboring phthalide groups (head-to-head or head-to-tail), either phenyl-substituted anthraquinones, fluorenones, and fluorenes or symmetric and nonsymmetric dicyclic compounds containing end anthraquinone, fluorenone, and fluorene groups may be formed. The oxidation of poly(terphenylenephthalide) likewise gives rise to cyclic products—the compounds of xanthone and dibenzofuran series.     

Preparation and properties of alkylated poly(styrene-graft-ethylene oxide)

Poly(styrene-graft-ethylene oxide), having alkyl chains (C₁₂ or C₁₈) on the polystyrene main chain or on the poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) side chains, were synthesized. The main chain was alkylated by first ionizing amide groups in a styrene/acrylamide copolymer with tert-butoxide, and then using the amide anions as sites for reactions with 1-bromoalkanes. An excess of amide anions was used in the reaction, and the remaining anions were subsequently utilized as initiator sites for the anionic polymerization of ethylene oxide (EO). Synthesis of poly(styrene-graft-ethylene oxide) with alkylated side chains was accomplished by polymerization of EO onto the ionized styrene/acrylamide copolymer, followed by an alkylation of the terminal alkoxide anions with 1-bromoalkanes. The alkylated graft copolymers were structurally characterized by using elemental analysis, ¹H NMR, GPC, and IR spectroscopy. DSC analysis showed that only graft copolymers with PEO contents exceeding about 50 wt % and side chain crystallinities comparable to those of homo-PEO. Main chain alkylated graft copolymers generally had higher crystalinities, as compared to nonalkylated and side chain alkylated samples. The graft copolymers absorbed water corresponding to one water molecule per EO unit at low PEO contents. The water absorption increased progressively at PEO contents above 30 wt % for main chain alkylated samples and above 50 wt % for non-alkylated samples. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Sheet structure of an L,D-dipeptide aggregate: inclusion compounds of (S)-phenylglycyl-(R)-phenylglycine with amides

A simple dipeptide, (S)-phenylglycyl-(R)-phenylglycine (S,R-1), formed inclusion compounds with a small amide such as formamide, acetamide, N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF), or N,N-dimethylacetamide. By single-crystal X-ray analysis, the inclusion compounds were shown to have a wavy layer structure. The molecules of S,R-1 are arranged in parallel via ionic pairing of the carboxyl and amino groups to construct the wavy layers. The guest molecules were accommodated in a channel cavity between the layers by means of hydrogen bonding with (+)NH(3) of S,R-1. The cavity is surrounded by the phenyl groups of S,R-1 that conformationally rotate so as to make the cavity size fit the guest amide.     

Structural characterization of synthetic poly(ester amide) from sebacic acid and 4-amino-1-butanol by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight/time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry

Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight/time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF/TOF-MS/MS) was employed to analyze a poly(ester amide) sample (PEA-Bu) from the melt condensation of sebacic acid and 4-amino-1-butanol. In particular, we investigated the fragmentation pathways, the ester/amide bond sequences and the structure of species derived from side reactions during the synthesis. MALDI-TOF/TOF-MS/MS analysis was performed on cyclic species and linear oligomers terminated by dicarboxyl groups, carboxyl and hydroxyl groups and diamino alcohol groups. The sodium adducts of these oligomers were selected as precursor ions. Different end groups do not influence the fragmentation of sodiated poly(ester amide) oligomers and similar series of product ions were observed in the MALDI-TOF/TOF-MS/MS spectra. According to the structures of the most abundant product ions identified, the main cleavages proceed through a beta-hydrogen-transfer rearrangement, leading to the selective scission of the --O--CH2-- bonds. Abundant product ions originating from --CH2--CH2-- (beta-gamma) bond cleavage in the sebacate moiety were also detected. Their formation should be promoted by the presence of an alpha,beta-unsaturated ester or amide end group. MALDI-TOF/TOF-MS/MS provided structural information concerning the ester/amide sequences in the polymer chains. In the MALDI-TOF/TOF-MS/MS spectra acquired, using argon as the collision gas, of cyclic species and linear oligomers terminated by diamino alcohol groups, product ions in the low-mass range, undetected in the mass spectra acquired using air as the collision gas, proved to be diagnostic and made it possible to establish the presence of random sequences of ester and amide bonds in the poly(ester amide) sample. Furthermore, MALDI-TOF/TOF-MS/MS provided useful information to clarify the structures of precursor ions derived from side reactions during the synthesis.     

Phase separation in a poly(acrylic acid)-polycation system in acidic solutions

Phase separation in aqueous solutions of mixtures of poly(acrylic acid) with polycations [poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride), poly(1,2-dimethyl-5-vinylpyridinium methylsulfate)] in the presence of decimolar hydrochloric acid has been studied by static and dynamic light scattering. The systems are characterized by the upper critical solution temperature. The temperature-dependent association of macromolecules is observed in the single-phase region. A decrease in temperature leads to phase separation; the composition of the diluted phase is determined by the temperature and composition of the initial mixture; and the composition of the concentrated phase remains almost invariable. The occurrence of association in the mixtures is probably the formation of interpolymer complex due to ion-dipole interactions between the carboxyl groups of poly(acrylic acid) and the functional groups of the polycation.     

Synthesis of end‐functionalized AB copolymers. II. Synthesis and characterization of carboxyl‐terminated poly(ethylene glycol)–poly(amino acid) block copolymers

AB block copolymers composed of hydrophilic poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and hydrophobic poly(amino acid) with a carboxyl group at the end of PEG were synthesized with α‐carboxylic sodium‐ω‐amino‐PEG as a macroinitiator for the ring‐opening polymerization of N‐carboxy anhydride. Characterizations by ¹H NMR, IR, and gel permeation chromatography were carried out to confirm that the diblock copolymers were formed. In aqueous media this copolymer formed self‐associated polymer micelles that have a carboxyl group on the surface. The carboxyl groups located at the outer shell of the polymeric micelle were expected to combine with ligands to target specific cell populations. The diameter of the polymer micelles was in the range of 30–80 nm. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 3527–3536, 2004     

Preparation of a uniform poly(methyl methacrylate) macromonomer and its polymerization

Syndiotactic poly(methyl methacrylate) (st-PMMA) macromonomer having methacryloyl end group was prepared from st-PMMA living anion and separated into uniform macromonomers by means of supercritical fluid chromatography. A uniform macromonomer with the degree of polymerization of 32 was polymerized radically in benzene at 60°C. The uniform dimer, trimer and tetramer of the uniform macromonomer were isolated from the polymerization product by means of gel-permeation chromatography (GPC). The intrinsic viscosity ([η]) in tetrahydrofuran of these uniform comblike polymers was determined by GPC/differential viscometric analysis. The plot of logarithmic [η] against logarithmic molecular weight indicated that the trimer and tetramer assume a little shrinking molecular shape as compared with the unimer and dimer.     

Synthesis of graft polymers with poly(isoprene) as main chain by living anionic polymerization mechanism

The graft polymers [poly(isoprene)‐graft‐poly(styrene)] (PI‐g‐PS), [poly(isoprene)‐graft‐poly(isoprene)] (PI‐g‐PI), [poly(isoprene)‐graft‐(poly(isoprene)‐block‐poly(styrene))] PI‐g‐(PI‐b‐PS), and [poly(isoprene)‐graft‐(poly(styrene)‐block‐poly(isoprene))] PI‐g‐(PS‐b‐PI) with PI as main chain were synthesized through living anionic polymerization (LAP) mechanism and the efficient coupling reaction. First, the PI was synthesized by LAP mechanism and epoxidized in H₂O₂/HCOOH system for epoxidized PI (EPI). Then, the graft polymers with controlled molecular weight of main chain and side chains, and grafting ratios were obtained by coupling reaction between PI^?Li⁺, PS^?Li⁺, PS‐b‐PI^?Li⁺, or PI‐b‐PS^?Li⁺ macroanions and the epoxide on EPI. The target polymers and all intermediates were well characterized by SEC,¹H NMR, as well as their thermal properties were also evaluated by DSC. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012     

Synthesis of poly(ester amide)s by the melt polycondensation of semiaromatic polyesters with ethanolamine and their characterization

Semiaromatic poly(ester amide)s (PEAs) were synthesized by the melt polycondensation of ethanolamine (EA) derivatives with dimethyl terephthalate and ethylene glycol in the presence of tetrabutyl titanate as a catalyst, and their crystallization and thermal properties were investigated. The introduction of an amide group into a semiaromatic polyester such as poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) produced PEAs (EA-modified PET polymers) with an increase in the melting point. However, these PEAs were found to decompose at a lower temperature than PET on the basis of TGA. Moreover, direct pyrolysis/mass spectrometry measurements suggested that an initial step of the thermal decomposition was a β-CH hydrogen-transfer reaction via asix-member ring transition state at the ester–ethylene–amide unit, at which carbon–oxygen bond scission took place to yield carboxyl and N-vinylamide end groups. Furthermore, molecular orbital calculations using trimer models bis[2-[[4-(methoxycarbonyl)benzoyl]oxy]ethyl]terephthalate, N-[2-[[4-(methoxycarbonyl)benzoyl]oxy]ethyl]-4-[2-[[4-(methoxycarbonyl)benzoyl]oxy]ethyloxycarbonyl]benzamide, and N,N′-bis[2-[[4-(methoxycarbonyl)benzoyl]oxy]ethyl]terephthalamide strongly supported the idea that the β-CH hydrogen-transfer reaction in the thermal decomposition of PEAs might occur more easily at the methylene group next to the amide group in an ester–ethylene–amide unit rather than at the methylene group next to the ester group in an ester–ethylene–ester unit. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 2184–2193, 2007     

Thermoresponsive nanostructures by self-assembly of a poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)-lipid conjugate

The synthesis and purification of a poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)-lipid conjugate and its use in the preparation of a thermoresponsive lipid mesophase is described. Specifically, poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) with a single carboxyl group at one end was activated with dicyclohexylcarbodiimide/N-hydroxysuccinimide to form an active ester. This N-hydroxysuccinimide ester was then used to form a dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine conjugate with poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) via an amide bond, rendering the conjugate amphiphilic. Quaternary phases comprising the conjugate, a phosopholipid, dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine, and a cosurfactant, N,N-dimethyldodecylamine-N-oxide, dispersed in water were found to self-assemble at room temperature to form liquid crystalline gels, adopting an expanded lamellar structure. A modest increase in temperature triggered the reversible conversion of the aggregate to a collapsed lamellar structure, while a modest reduction in temperature resulted in its conversion to a nonlamellar phase. The phases were characterized by polarized optical microscopy and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS).     

Characterization of poly[(R)-3-hydroxybutyrate-co-epsilon-caprolactone] copolymers by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry

Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOFMS) of narrowly dispersed molecular weight gel permeation chromatography (GPC) fractions was used to characterize random and microblock poly[(R)-3-hydroxybutyrate-co-epsilon-caprolactone] [P(HB-co-CL)] copolymers obtained via the acid-catalyzed transesterification of the corresponding homopolymers, poly([(R)-3-hydroxybutyrate] (PHB) and poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL). High-quality mass spectra were obtained, which made it possible to establish the nature of the polymer end groups. Besides the carboxylic termination, two other moieties were found: alcoholic and tosyl end groups. MALDI mass spectra of CL-rich samples possessed mostly tosyl end groups, while HB-rich samples possessed mostly alcoholic end groups, showing that the tosyl moiety is linked prevalently to CL terminal units. The higher resolution of electrospray ionization (ESI) mass spectra of lower molecular weight GPC fractions permitted the identification of the different oligomer species hypothesized in the assignment of the corresponding MALDI mass spectra. Partial methanolysis of these copolymers was explored as a method of producing mixed HB-CL oligomers to be utilized as new synthons, possessing a minor number of chiral centers from those obtained from hydrolysis of biotechnologically synthesized poly(hydroxyalkanoates) (PHAs).     

Synthesis of poly(phenylgermanosilanes) and poly(phenylgermanocarbosilanes)

Phenyl-substituted poly(germanosilanes) and poly(germanocarbosilanes) have been synthesized through the Wurtz-Kipping reaction via dechlorination of mixtures of dichlorophenylsilanes (PhSi(R)Cl₂, where R = H, Ph, or vinyl) with diphenyldichlorogermane in the presence of an ultradisperse sodium suspension. The polymers thus synthesized have been investigated by X-ray fluorescence analysis; FTIR and UV spectroscopy; and ¹H, ¹³C, and ²⁹Si NMR spectroscopy. The peak maxima in the UV spectra of the polymers dissolved in THF are in the wavelength range of 300–375 nm. Under the effect of UV irradiation with a wavelength of 320–380 nm, photoluminescence emission peaking in the range of 380–470 nm is observed. Size exclusion chromatography indicates that all the (co)polymers under examination are characterized by a narrow GPC curve and their polydispersity indexes are no larger than 1.5. According to dynamic TGA data, the weight loss of the polymers reaches 80% even at 500°C. Owing to formation of branched structures in vinyl-substituted copolymers, the GPC curves widen (the polydispersity index is ～6), while the yield of an inorganic residue at 900°C amounts to 40%.     

Synthesis and intrinsic blue fluorescence study of hyperbranched poly(ester-amide-ether)

A series of hyperbranched poly(ester-amide-ether)s (H-PEAEs) were synthesized via the A₂+CB₃ approach by the self-transesterification of ethyl ester-amide-ethers end-capped with three hydroxyl groups and ethyl ester group at two terminals. The molecular structures were characterized with ¹H NMR and FT-IR spectroscopy. The number average molecular weights were estimated by GPC analysis to possess bimodal wide distribution from 1.57 to 2.09. The strong inherent blue fluorescence was observed at 330 nm for excitation and 390 nm for emission. Moreover, the emission intensity and fluorescence quantum yield increased along with the incorporated ether chain length, as well as almost linearly with the H-PEAE concentration in an aqueous solution. For comparing the fluorescence performance, the linear poly(ester-amide-ether) (L-PEAE) and hyperbranched poly(ester-amide) (H-PEA) were synthesized. The results showed that the coexistence of ether bond and carboxyl group in the molecular chain was essential for generating the strong fluorescence. However, the compact backbone of H-PEAE would be propitious to the enhancement of fluorescence properties.     

The synthesis of poly(hydroxamic acid) from poly(acrylamide)

Poly(hydroxamic acid) in gel or water soluble from was prepared from the reaction of poly(acrylamide) and hydroxylamine in basic aqueous solution (pH > 12) at room temperature. The polymers were composed of 70% hydroxamic acid groups, less than 5% carboxylic acid groups, and 25% unreacted amide groups. The polymers exhibited high affinity to iron(III) and copper(II) in the pH range of 1 to 5 with a high binding rate. A binding of 3 mmol/g for both metals was achieved. Preliminary tests demonstrated the urease inhibitory activity of both linear and crosslinked poly(hydroxamic acids).     

Synthesis and properties of novel cardo aromatic poly(ether‐benzoxazole)s

Three new bis(ether‐acyl chloride) monomers, 1,1‐bis[4‐(4‐chloroformylphenoxy)phenyl]cyclohexane ( 1a ), 5,5‐bis[4‐(4‐chloroformylphenoxy)phenyl]‐4,7‐methanohexahydroindan ( 1b ), and 9,9‐bis[4‐(4‐chloroformylphenoxy)phenyl]fluorene ( 1c ), were synthesized from readily available compounds. Aromatic polybenzoxazoles bearing ether and cardo groups were obtained by the low‐temperature solution polycondensation of the bis(ether‐acyl chloride)s with three bis(aminophenol)s and the subsequent thermal cyclodehydration of the resultant poly(o‐hydroxy amide)s. The intermediate poly(o‐hydroxy amide)s exhibited inherent viscosities in the range of 0.35–0.71 dL/g. All of the poly(o‐hydroxy amide)s were amorphous and soluble in many organic polar solvents, and most of them could afford flexible and tough films by solvent casting. The poly(o‐hydroxy amide)s exhibited glass‐transition temperatures (T_g's) in the range of 141–169 °C and could be thermally converted into the corresponding polybenzoxazoles approximately in the region of 240–350 °C, as indicated by the DSC thermograms. Flexible and tough films of polybenzoxazoles could be obtained by thermal cyclodehydration of the poly(o‐hydroxy amide) films. All the polybenzoxazoles were amorphous and showed an enhanced T_g but a dramatically decreased solubility as compared with their poly(o‐hydroxy amide) precursors. They exhibited T_g's of 215–272 °C by DSC and showed insignificant weight loss before 500 °C in nitrogen or air. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 39: 4014–4021, 2001     

Synthesis and dynamic mechanical properties of cross-linked multiblock poly(urethane-imide) copolymers

Russian Chemical Bulletin - Poly(urethane-imide) copolymers (PUICs) containing reactive carboxyl groups in hard imide segment were synthesized from poly(propylene glycol) with isocyanate end...     

1,3-PBO扩链改性端羧基聚乳酸的性能表征

以乳酸为原料、辛酸亚锡为催化剂,采用梯度升温法,在170℃、0.098 MPa条件下直接熔融缩聚合成端羧基共聚物P(LA/SA).将其用2,2-(1,3-亚苯基)-二噁唑啉(1,3-PBO)扩链,按n(—COOH)/n(—oxazoline)=1∶1.4比例加入1,3-PBO,在150℃,0.098 MPa条件下反应15 min制得聚酰胺酯(PEA).采用GPC、FTIR、1H-NMR、DSC、XRD、TGA、SEM等手段对聚合物的结构进行了表征和性能测试.结果表明,与P(LA/SA)相比,扩链产物相对分子质量大幅度提高,重均分子量达36×104;产物Tg比PLA升高,材料的刚性增强;产物热稳定性能提高,为一步分解;产物结晶度较P(LA/SA)降低,其柔韧性较P(LA/SA)增强,但相对于PLA有所降低.