Recent progress in controlled radical polymerization of N-vinyl monomers

This review summarizes recent advances in the controlled radical polymerization of N-vinyl monomers, such as N-vinylcarbazole, N-vinylindole derivatives, N-vinylpyrrolidone, N-vinylcaprolactam, N-vinylformamide, N-vinylacetoamide derivatives, N-vinyl(na)phthalimides, N-vinylimidazolium salts, and N-vinyltriazoles. Recent significant progress of controlled radical polymerization of these N-vinyl monomers has allowed for the synthesis of well-defined functional polymers having various architectures, including block copolymers, branched polymers (stars, star block copolymers, miktoarm star copolymers, and graft copolymers), and hybrids. Characteristic properties, assembled structures, and three-dimensional architectures of these functional polymers derived from N-vinyl monomers are briefly introduced.     

Synthesis of N-vinyl substituted indoles and their acid-catalyzed behavior

A mild cross-coupling reaction has been used to access several N-vinyl substituted indoles. When treated with acid, these unique enamines produce novel dimeric and trimeric products derived from a preferred protonation reaction at the enamine π-bond.     

Radiation synthesis and characterization of poly(N,N-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate-co-N-vinyl 2-pyrrolidone) hydrogels

In this study, radiation synthesis and characterization of swelling behavior and network structure of poly(N,N-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate) (PDMAEMA), and poly(N,N-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate-co-N-vinyl 2-pyrrolidone) (P(DMAEMA-co-VP)), hydrogels were investigated. PDMAEMA and P(DMAEMA-co-VP) hydrogels in the rod forms were prepared by irradiating the ternary mixtures of DMAEMA/VP/cross-linking agent, ethyleneglycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA), by gamma rays at ambient temperature. In composition ranges where the three components were completely miscible, water was also added to the ternary mixture to provide the formation of homogeneous polymerization and gelation. The influence of irradiation dose, comonomer, VP, and cross-linking agent, EGDMA, content on the total percentage gelation and monomer conversion were investigated. The effect of pH and temperature on the swelling behavior of hydrogels have also been examined. Hydrogels showed typical pH response and temperature responses, such as low-pH and low temperature swelling and high-pH and high temperature deswelling. Polymer-solvent interaction parameter (χ) and enthalpy and entropy changes appearing in the χ parameter for the P(DMAEMA-co-VP)-water system were determined by using Flory-Rehner theory of swelling equilibrium. The negative values for ΔH and ΔS indicate that prepared pure PDMAEMA and P(DMAEMA-co-VP) hydrogels have lower critical solution temperature (LCST) and Flory-Rehner theory of swelling equilibrium provides a satisfactory agreement to the experimental swelling data of the hydrogels.     

Study of some properties of poly(N-vinyl imidazole) partially quaternized with n-butyl bromide aqueous solutions

This paper presents a study of the properties of aqueous solutions of poly(N-vinyl imidazole) quaternized with n-butyl bromide (PVIQ3). The influence of the temperature and polymer concentration on refractive index, electrical conductivity and surface tension was studied. The critical micelar concentration of PVIQ3 in aqueous solution was determined and correlated with the polymer solubility in water.All the PVIQ3 aqueous solutions properties were compared with those of poly(N-vinyl imidazole) (PNVI) and the influence of the quaternization process on the polymer properties was evidenced.     

Electrosynthesis of the poly(N-vinyl carbazole)/carbon nanotubes composite for applications in the supercapacitors field

Electrochemical polymerization of N-vinyl carbazole (VK) on carbon nanotube (CN) films was studied by cyclic voltammetry in LiClO₄/acetonitrile solutions. Cyclic voltammograms recorded on a blank Pt electrode were compared with those obtained when single or multi-walled CN films were deposited on the Pt electrode; in the latter case, a down-shift of the VK reduction peak potential was observed. Functionalization of CNs with poly(N-vinyl carbazole) (PVK) was invoked by Raman scattering and UV-VIS-NIR spectroscopic studies. The influence of sweep rate on the electrochemical properties of the PVK/CN nanocomposite and the performance of supercapacitors constructed using PVK-functionalized single-walled carbon nanotube electrodes were also evaluated.     

Rational use of substituted N-allyl and N,N-diallylanilines in the stereoselective synthesis of novel 2-alkenyltetrahydro-1-benzazepines

Two new series of 1,4-epoxy-2-exo-vinyl(isopropenyl)tetrahydro-1-benzazepines and cis-2-vinyl(isopropenyl)-4-hydroxytetrahydro-1-benzazepines were prepared by an efficient three/four-step route from available substituted N,N-diallylanilines and mono N-allylanilines. The amino-Claisen rearrangement and the sequential oxidation/intramolecular 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions were used as the key steps in this synthesis. All the synthesized compounds were fully characterized by IR, GC-MS and NMR techniques.     

Oxoarylation of ynamides with N-aryl hydroxamic acids

Ynamides are electron-rich alkynes with unique reactivities and act as flexible building blocks in organic synthesis. Therefore, the investigation for transformation of ynamides with exceptional selectivity and efficiency is attractive and interesting. Herein, we report an oxoarylation of ynamides with N-aryl hydroxamic acids. In the presence of catalytic Cu(OTf)₂, both the terminal and internal ynamides could undergo an addition/[3,3] sigmatropic rearrangement cascade with N-aryl hydroxamic acids to achieve oxoarylation, along with providing selective entry to (ortho-amino)arylacetamides and oxindoles. Moreover, deuterium-labelling reaction and gram-scale reaction were conducted to probe the mechanism and showcase the scalability.     

Solution properties of poly(N-vinyl carbazole)—II. Thermodynamic properties in various solvents

Thermodynamic properties of dilute solutions of Poly-N-vinyl carbazole obtained by cationic polimerization have been studied by viscometry in various solvents. The validities of some excluded volume theories have been tested and the unperturbed dimensions have been calculated. The dependence of molecular dimensions, 〈s²〉, on molecular weight and viscometric equations have also been determined.     

A synthesis of novel N-sulfonylated β-amino acids

Novel N-sulfonyl β-amino acids were efficiently prepared in a seven-step synthesis starting from Boc protected methanesulfonamide and terminal epoxides. A zinc-mediated allylation of cyclic N-sulfonyl imines readily derived from these building blocks served as a key operation of this sequence.     

One- and two-dimensional NMR studies of methyl acrylate/vinyl acetate/N-vinyl carbazole terpolymers

Terpolymers of methyl acrylate/vinyl acetate/N-vinyl carbazole (M/A/C) with different compositions were synthesized by solution polymerization using AIBN as an initiator. Composition of terpolymers was determined from quantitative ¹³C{¹H} NMR spectrum. Two-dimensional heteronuclear single quantum correlation (HSQC) and total correlated spectroscopy (TOCSY) were used to assign the methylene and methine carbon resonances by analyzing two and three bond order couplings. Various resonance signals were assigned to different compositional and configurational sequences with the help of one- and two-dimensional NMR spectra. Three and four bond order coupling between carbonyl carbon and other neighboring protons have been investigated with the help of 2D heteronuclear multiple bond correlation (HMBC) spectra. The complex and overlapped ¹H NMR spectrum of terpolymer was analyzed completely with the help of 2D HSQC and TOCSY spectra.     

Excimer kinetics in poly(n-vinyl carbazole)

The kinetics of excimer formation and decay in dilute dichloromethane solutions of poly(N-vinyl carbazole) have been investigated using time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy. Further evidence for dual excimer formation in this polymer is presented; interconversion of the excimeric states appears to be a significant process at room temperature.     

Reaction of N-Fmoc aspartic anhydride with glycosylamines: a simple entry to N-glycosyl asparagines

The reaction of N-Fmoc-aspartic anhydride with glycosyl amines in DMSO selectively leads to the formation of β-substituted products, thus providing a simple and efficient route to N-glycosyl asparagine derivatives, the building blocks for glycopeptide synthesis.     

Stereoselective reduction of N-(3-arylcyclobutylidene)amines

N-Alkylimines derived from cyclobutanones have not been evaluated in depth as building blocks for organic synthesis, although these compounds are, among others, good precursors for interesting 3-arylcyclobutylamines. The reduction of various N-alkyl-N-(3-arylcyclobutylidene)amines with LiAlH₄ yielded cis-substituted cyclobutylamines as the only stereoisomers. When borane was used as a reducing agent, an intermediate imine-borane complex could be isolated as a stable compound.     

Helicity of N,N′-diaryl-trans-1,2-diaminocyclohexane derivatives. Implications for molecular helicity manipulations

Derivatives of trans-1,2-diaminocyclohexane (DACH), useful as chiral ligands, scaffolds and building blocks, differ in their conformation. The conformation of N,N′-diaryl-DACH derivatives was studied by the semiempirical and DFT computational methods and by exciton-coupled circular dichroism. It was found that, contrary to M-helical N,N′-diimine, N,N′-diimide and N,N′-diamide derivatives, the aromatic residues in N,N′-diphenyl derivatives are oriented to form a P-helix for the (R,R)-DACH absolute configuration. The helicity of the bis-aryl system is modified in the case of 1-naphthyl or 2-naphthyl derivatives. Further switching of helicity has been demonstrated by either protonation or mono-N-acetylation of N,N′-diaryl DACH derivatives.     

Conductivity and thermal behavior of proton conducting polymer electrolyte based on poly (N-vinyl pyrrolidone)

The polymer electrolytes based on poly N-vinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) and ammonium thiocyanate (NH₄SCN) with different compositions have been prepared by solution casting technique. The amorphous nature of the polymer electrolytes has been confirmed by XRD analysis. The shift in T_g values and the melting temperatures of the PVP-NH₄SCN electrolytes shown by DSC thermo-grams indicate an interaction between the polymer and the salt. The dependence of T_g and conductivity upon salt concentration have been discussed. The conductivity analysis shows that the 20 mol% ammonium thiocyanate doped polymer electrolyte exhibit high ionic conductivity and it has been found to be 1.7 × 10⁻⁴ S cm⁻¹, at room temperature. The conductivity values follow the Arrhenius equation and the activation energy for 20 mol% ammonium thiocyanate doped polymer electrolyte has been found to be 0.52 eV.     

Catalytic asymmetric Payne oxidation under the catalysis of P-spiro chiral triaminoiminophosphorane: application to the synthesis of N-sulfonyl oxaziridines

The studies on the development of a highly enantioselective oxidation of N-sulfonyl imines with hydrogen peroxide–trichloroacetonitrile system utilizing P-spiro chiral triaminoiminophosphoranes as an organic base catalyst are detailed. This method is general and scalable, and exhibits unique chemoselectivity, providing a practical stereoselective route to structurally diverse N-sulfonyl oxaziridines. The mechanistic investigations reveal that the reaction proceeds through the Payne-type oxidation pathway. The synthetic utility of the optically active N-sulfonyl oxaziridines as versatile organic oxidants and chiral building blocks is also demonstrated.     

Unusual influences of temperature and medium on the tacticity of radically polymerised poly(n-vinyl imidazole)

The tacticities of radical poly(N-vinyl imidazole)s prepared in several organic solvents, in water and at various values of pH and temperature have been investigated by ¹H and ¹³C-NMR. It seems most likely that high temperatures favour racemic placements over meso placements but that, at low pH, meso placements are favoured. Thus the changes in polymerisation rate with pH noted by others for this system are accompanied by changes in the stereochemistry of the resulting polymer.     

Organotin polymers—VIII. Binary and ternary copolymerizations of triphenyltin methacrylate with arylonitrile,styrene, N-vinyl pyrrolidone and n-butyl methacrylate

Copolymerizations involving triphenyltin methacrylate (PTMA) were carried out in solution at 70° in the presence of a free radical initiator; the copolymer compositions were determined from tin analyses. The monomer reactivity ratios for the copolymerizations of PTMA with acrylonitrile, styrene, and N-vinyl pyrrolidone were: r₁ = 0.69, r₂ = 0.16; r₁ = 0.76, r₂ = 0.47, and r₁ = 1.22, r₂ = 0.36, respectively. The sequence distribution of the alternation diads for the systems were calculated at various feed compositions. Ternary copolymerization of PTMA-acrylonitrile-butyl methacrylate was studied; the variation of terpolymer composition with conversion fit satisfactorily the experimental results. Ternary azeotropy for PTMA-acrylonitrile-styrene system was verified experimentally.     

Efficient preparation of (Z)-alkenyl derivatives from (Z)-vinyl (N,N-diisopropyl)carbamate via Ni-catalysed coupling reactions

A (Z)-vinyl (N,N-diisopropyl)carbamate treated with Grignard reagents, under Wenkert Nickel-catalysed conditions, gave access to several substituted (Z)-alkenyl derivatives. These Nickel-catalysed reactions, carried out with vinyl-, phenyl-, p-methoxyphenyl-, trimethylsilylmethylmagnesium bromide and benzylmagnesium chloride, led to the corresponding (Z)-alkenyl derivatives in good yields and high stereoselectivities.     

N-Dmc protected amino acid aglycones: versatile hydrogenolysis stable acceptors for O-glycosylation

N^α-(4,4-Dimethyl-2,6-dioxocyclohexylidenemethylene) (Dmc) protected l-serine, l-threonine and l-homoserine have been prepared as tert-butyl esters in excellent yields. These hydrogenolysis stable acceptors underwent efficient α-O-glycosylation with an l-fucopyranosyl bromide donor and also allowed convenient protecting group manipulations to ultimately deliver novel glycoamino acid building blocks suitable for Fmoc based solid-phase glycopeptide synthesis.