Influence of Mixed Common Solvent on the Co-assembled Morphology of PS-b-PEO and CdS Quantum Dots

The hybrid structures of polystyrene-b-poly(ethylene oxide)(PS-b-PEO) block copolymer and inorganic nanoparticles with good stability and biocompatibility have potential applications in drug delivery and bioimaging. Spherical co-assemblies of PS120-b-PEO318 and oleylamine-capped Cd S quantum dots(QDs) are produced successfully in this work by adding water to a mixed common solvent, such as N,N-dimethylmethanamide(DMF)/chloroform, DMF/tetrahydrofuran(THF), or DMF/toluene. The energy dispersive X-ray(EDX) spectrum indicates that QDs are located at the interface between the core and shell of the spherical co-assemblies. The co-assembly process during water addition is traced by transmission electron microscopy(TEM) and turbidity measurement. Spherical co-assemblies are formed through budding from bilayers of the block copolymer and QDs. The morphology of the co-assemblies is related to the miscibility of the QD-dispersing solvents with water and the morphology changes from a spherical to a vesicle-like structure with DMF/toluene. Increasing THF content in the mixed solvent causes morphological transitions from spherical co-assemblies to multi-branched cylinders and micelles where QDs are located in the central core. Increasing chloroform content yields vesicle-like structures with protruding rods on the surface. The mechanism of the morphological transitions is also discussed in detail.     

RAFT polymerization of linear ABC triblock copolymer P<Emphasis Type="Italic">t</Emphasis>BA-<Emphasis Type="Italic">b</Emphasis>-PS-<Emphasis Type="Italic">b</Emphasis>-P2VP and regulation of its hierarchical self-assembly structure in solution

Linear ABC triblock copolymer PtBA₁₅₄-b-PS₃₀₀-b-P2VP₂₄₀ was successfully synthesized by RAFT polymerization. Block copolymer micelles were prepared by the two-step hierarchical self-assembly process. Size exclusion chromatography and ¹H NMR were used to characterize the structure of samples. Morphologies and size of micelles were determined by transmission electron microscope. The results showed that the densely dispersed spherical micelles of PtBA₁₅₄-b-PS₃₀₀-b-P2VP₂₄₀ were obtained in the first step of the hierarchical self-assembly process. In the second step, core-compartmentalized micelle strings with different lengths and distribution densities were obtained when the primary self-assembled solution was dialyzed in distilled water with pH ≈ 3. When distilled water with pH ≈ 3 was added drop-wise to this solution, uniformly dispersed spherical core-compartmentalized micelles of PtBA₁₅₄-b-PS₃₀₀-b-P2VP₂₄₀ were prepared. Thus, hierarchical self-assembly structure of linear ABC triblock copolymer was obtained successfully and the preparation of uniformly dispersed spherical micelles of triblock copolymers was realized simply by changing the secondary self-assembly methods.     

Self-assembly and electrochromic property of electroactive tetraaniline-<Emphasis Type="Italic">b</Emphasis>-PEG diblock copolymer

A kind of amphiphilic rod-coil diblock copolymer consisting both of tetraaniline (TAni) and polyethylene glycol (PEG) blocks, TAni-b-PEG, was synthesized. The diblock copolymer shows excellent electrochromic properties, especially, in switching time and coloration efficiency compared with tetraaniline. TAni-b-PEG is able to self-assemble into spherical structure, which is attributed to the formation of conducting channels and increase of ion-exchange capacity of TAni-b-PEG, implying that a block copolymer with electrochromic block and high ionic conductive block simultaneously possesses improving electrochromic properties.     

The doubly thermo-responsive triblock copolymer nanoparticles prepared through seeded RAFT polymerization

The doubly thermo-responsive triblock copolymer nanoparticles of polystyrene-block-poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)-block-poly[N,N-(dimethylamino) ethyl methacrylate] (PS-b-PNIPAM-b-PDMAEMA) are successfully prepared through the seeded RAFT polymerization in situ by using the PS-b-PNIPAM-TTC diblock copolymer nanoparticles as the seed. The seeded RAFT polymerization undergoes a pseudo-first-order kinetics procedure, and the molecular weight increases with the monomer conversion linearly. The hydrodynamic diameter (D _h) of the triblock copolymer nanoparticles increases with the extension of the PDMAEMA block. In addition, the double thermo-response behavior of the PS-b-PNIPAM-b-PDMAEMA nanoparticles is detected by turbidity analysis, temperature-dependent 1H-NMR analysis, and DLS analysis. The seeded RAFT polymerization is believed as a valid method to prepare triblock copolymer nanoparticles containing two thermo-responsive blocks.     

Synthesis of isotactic polystyrene-block-polyethylene by the combination of sequential monomer addition and hydrogenation of 1,4-<Emphasis Type="Italic">trans</Emphasis>-polybutadiene block

Herein, we demonstrate the synthesis of a well-defined diblock copolymer consisting of isotactic polystyrene (iPS) and linear polyethylene, isotactic polystyrene-block-polyethylene (iPS-b-PE), by the combination of sequential monomer addition and hydrogenation. Isospecific living polymerization of styrene and living trans-1,4-polymerization of 1,3-butadiene were catalyzed by 1,4-dithiabutandiyl-2,2′-bis(6-cumenyl-4-methylphenoxy) titanium dichloride (complex 1) activated by triisobutyl aluminum modified methylaluminoxane (MMAO) at room temperature to provide highly isotactic polystyrene (iPS) and 1,4-trans-polybutadiene (1,4-trans-PBD) with narrow molecular weight distribution. Furthermore, the iPS-b-1,4-trans-PBD was synthesized via sequential monomer addition in the presence of complex 1 and MMAO. The hydrogenation of the 1,4-trans-PBD block was promoted by RuCl₂(PPh₃)₃ used as a catalyst to produce iPS-b-PE.     

When does a diblock copolymer probe the interfacial rheological effect?

Lateral diffusion of diblock copolymer residing on the interfaces between two immiscible liquids is investigated at single molecular level. Fluorescence correlation spectroscopy was used to study the diffusion of fluorescence-labeled diblock copolymer, polystyrene-b-polyisoprene, at the interface formed between two immiscible liquids. The interfaces are formed between N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) and a few immiscible liquids, n-alkane and polyisoprene. Interfacial diffusion coefficient of the diblock copolymer probe is found to decrease monotonously with the increase of the molecular length of the interface constituting liquids. The decrease of diffusion coefficient follows the prediction by Einstein relation using the viscosity of the constituting liquids as the variables only for interfaces between DMF and very small n-alkanes. For interfaces formed between DMF and bigger alkanes and especially between DMF and polyisoprene, the diffusion coefficient is much higher than the calculated value, indicating that the probe molecule starts to probe the much less viscous interfacial region because the interfacial width gets larger, whose thickness is comparable to the molecule size of the liquids.     

Reactions of 2-(2-propynylsulfanyl)-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobenzo[<Emphasis Type="Italic">b</Emphasis>]thieno[2,3-<Emphasis Type="Italic">d</Emphasis>]pyrimidin-4(<Emphasis Type="Italic">3H</Emphasis>)-one with arylsulfenyl chlorides

2-(2-propynylsulfanyl)-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobenzo[b]thieno[2,3-d]pyrimidin-4(3H)-one with arylsulfenyl chlorides in chloroform gave products of anti-Markownikoff Ad _E-addition. The use of nitromethane as solvent in the presence of lithium perchlorate additives favored intramolecular electrophilic cyclization into 1-arylsulfanyl-1,2,6,7,8,9-hexahydro-4H-benzo[4,5]thieno[3,2-e][1,3]thiazolo[3,2-a]-pyrimidin-5-one.     

Secondary self-assembly behaviors of PEO-<Emphasis Type="Italic">b</Emphasis>-P<Emphasis Type="Italic">t</Emphasis>BA-<Emphasis Type="Italic">b</Emphasis>-PS triblock terpolymers in solution

A series of PEO₄₅-b-PtBA₅₃-b-PS _x (x = 42, 84, 165) triblock terpolymers were synthesized by the atom transfer radical polymerization and characterized by size exclusion chromatography and ¹H NMR. Their self-assemblies were conducted by a two-step hierarchical self-assembly method and a one-step dialysis method and the self-assembly behaviors were investigated. The morphologies, sizes, and size distributions of micelles produced by the self-assembly were determined by transmission electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering. The secondary self-assembled structure of PEO₄₅-b-PtBA₅₃-b-PS _x obtained by the two-step hierarchical self-assembly could be controlled by tuning the length of PS block, the core forming block. The micelles were uniform with diameters of 20–25 nm and their size distributions, except for that of PEO₄₅-b-PtBA₅₃-b-PS₁₆₅, were narrow with particle size distribution indexes ranging from 0.014 to 0.246. The one-step dialysis of the triblock terpolymers produced vesicular micelles with distinct vesicle walls that exhibited similar thicknesses. The vesicles did not show significant aggregation. The size distribution of PEO₄₅-b-PtBA₅₃-b-PS₄₂ vesicle was the narrowest with a particle size distribution index value of 0.135. The PEO₄₅-b-PtBA₅₃-b-PS₁₆₅ vesicles tended to overlap with each other.     

Structural analysis of modulated crystals. A new structure of Ce<Subscript>4</Subscript>Pd<Subscript>13.6</Subscript>Sn<Subscript>5.9</Subscript>

Incommensurate modulated structure of Ce₄Pd_13,6Sn_5,9 intermetallic is studied by (3+1)D analysis in a rhombic basic cell a = 2.08458(4) nm, b = 0.47129(1) nm, and c = 0.92874(1) nm; q = 0,2407(1)b*. Xmmm(0β0)000 group determines the symmetry of the crystal. The superspace analysis is compared to the analysis of the superstructure with a, 4b, and c periods in three dimensions.     

Solvent dependent swelling behaviour of poly(<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-vinylcaprolactam) and poly(<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-vinylcaprolactam-<Emphasis Type="Italic">co</Emphasis>-itaconic acid) gels and determination of solubility parameters

Swelling behaviour of poly(N-vinylcaprolactam) (PVC) and poly(N-vinylcaprolactam-co-itaconic acid) (P(VC-co-IA)) gels was investigated in different solvents (water, ethanol, methanol, isopropyl alcohol (IPA), chloroform, toluene, acetone) and in binary solvent mixtures (ethanol/chloroform, ethanol/methanol, IPA/chloroform, ethanol/water, IPA/water). Gels were synthesised in ethanol by the free radical cross-linking polymerisation method at 60°C for 24 h in the presence of azo-bis(isobutyronitrile) and allyl methacrylate as the initiator and cross-linker, respectively. And also, ethanol/distilled water mixture (?_r = 4:1) was used as the synthesis medium to determine its effect on the swelling of gels. It was found that the presence of water in the synthesis medium significantly affected the equilibrium swelling value (ESV) and the swelling tendency of gels both in solvents and in solvent mixtures. All gels synthesised in ethanol showed the highest swelling in chloroform. The gels synthesised in the ethanol/water mixture displayed different swelling behaviour. In this case, while chloroform was still valid for maximum swelling of PVC, P(VC-co-IA) had the highest swelling in methanol. Solubility parameters of gels were predicted by the van Krevelen-Hoftyzer (VKH) and Hoy methods (group contribution methods) and theoretical calculations verified the experimental swelling order.     

Synthesis,crystal structure,and electrochemical properties of the complex [Ni(imidazole)<Subscript>6</Subscript>](DBSH)<Subscript>2</Subscript> · 2DMF

The title complex [Ni(Im)₆](DBSH)₂ · 2DMF(H₂DBSH = 3,5-dibromosalicylaldehyde, Im = imidazole, DMF = N,N-dimethylformamide) has been prepared and characterized by X-ray diffraction analysis. It crystallizes in the monoclinic system, space group P2₁/c with a = 14.7271(13), b = 9.0221(8), c = 18.1143(16) Å, β = 100.408(2)°, V = 2367.2(4) ų, Z = 2, M _r = 1171.22, F(000) = 1172, ρ _c = 1.643 g/cm³ and μ(MoK _α) = 3.844 mm^?1. The structure was refined to R = 0.0425 and wR = 0.1052 for 3646 observed reflections. The X-ray crystal structure analysis revealed that the center nickel(II) cation is bonded to six nitrogen atoms from six imidazole to form a six-coordinated elongated octahedron. The complex includes a DBSH^2? anion and two DMF solvates. The intramolecular and intermolecular hydrogen bonds in the crystal structure play remarkably important role in the thermostability of the title complex. The electrochemical properties were studied in DMF with an electrochemical analyzer.     

Synthesis and crystal structure of two complexes [Cu<Subscript>2</Subscript>(NiL)<Subscript>2</Subscript>Cl<Subscript>4</Subscript>] and [Cd<Subscript>2</Subscript>(CuL)<Subscript>2</Subscript>Cl<Subscript>4</Subscript>]

Macrocyclic and supermolecular complexes [Cu₂(NiL)₂Cl₄] (I) and [Cd₂(CuL)₂Cl₄] (II) (H₂L = 2,3-dioxo-5,6,14,15-dibenzo-1,4,8,12-tetraazacyclo-pentadeca-7,13-diene) have been synthesized and structurally determined by X-ray diffraction and IR spectrum. Complex I crystallizes in the monoclinic system with P2₁/n group, a = 10.9019(15), b = 14.3589(19), c = 12.4748(17) 0A, β = 108.645(2)°, Z = 4. Complex II crystallizes in the monoclinic system with P2₁/n group, a = 10.9784(16), b = 14.580(2), c = 12.8904(18) Å, β = 109.339(2)°, Z = 4.     

A thermodynamic study of complexation process between <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>,<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>′-dipyridoxylidene(1,4-butanediamine) and Cd<Superscript>2+</Superscript> in some binary mixed solvents using conductometry

Complexation of the Cd²⁺ ion with N,N′-dipyridoxylidene(1,4-butanediamine) Schiff base was studied in pure solvents including acetonitrile (AN), ethanol (EtOH), methanol (MeOH), tetrahydrofuran (THF), dimethylformamide (DMF), water (H₂O), and various binary solvent mixtures of acetonitrile–ethanol (AN–EtOH), acetonitrile–methanol (AN–MeOH), acetonitrile–tetrahydrofuran (AN–THF), acetonitrile–dimethylformamide (AN–DMF), and acetonitrile–water (AN–H₂O) systems at different temperatures using the conductometric method. The conductance data show that the stoichiometry of complex is 1: 1 [ML] in all solvent systems. A non-linear behavior was observed for changes of log K_f of [Cd(N,N′-dipyridoxylidene(1,4-butanediamine)] complex versus the composition of the binary mixed solvents, which was explained in terms of solvent–solvent interactions. The results show that the thermodynamics of complexation reaction is affected by the nature and composition of the mixed solvents.     

Crystal structure and antitumor activities of a dinuclear cobalt(II) complex based on <Emphasis Type="Italic">meso</Emphasis>-1,2,3,4-tetra(1H-benzo[<Emphasis Type="Italic">d</Emphasis>]imidazol-2-yl)butane

The [Co₂(tbb)Cl₄]?4DMF complex, where tbb is meso-1,2,3,4-tetra(1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl)butane, is synthesized and characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction. For the complex: C₄₄H₅₄Co₂C_l4N₁₂O₄, M_r = 1074.65, monoclinic crystal system, space group P21/n, a = 9.2350(13) Å, b = 11.3566(15) Å, c = 23.879(3) Å, β = 90.547(2)°, V = 2504.3(6) ų, Z = 2, D_c = 1.425 g/cm³, λ = 0.71073 Å, μ(MoK_α) = = 0.929 mm^–1, F(000) = 1112, S = 1.047, R = 0.0765, and wR = 0.2110 for 13668 observed reflections with I > 2σ(I). It is a neutral dinuclear complex. One meso-1,2,3,4-tetra(1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl)butane coordinates two cobalt(II) ions. Each cobalt(II) ion is formed by two tbb nitrogen atoms and two chloride ions. The antiproliferative activities of the complex are screened by MTT assay against Eca109 cancer cells. The complex exhibits inhibition on the growth of Eca109 cancer cells with IC₅₀ of 22.1±6.7 μM after 48 h treatment. The cobalt complex has potential application in treatment of Eca109 cancer. CCDC 1015791.     

Synthesis and properties of manganese complexes of <Emphasis Type="Italic">meso</Emphasis>-tetraphenyltetrabenzoporphyrin

The coordination of meso-tetraphenyltetrabenzoporphyrin and metal exchange of its Cd(II) complex with manganese(II) chloride and acetate in DMF and a chloroform–methanol mixture have been studied by spectrophotometry. The Mn(III) chloride and acetate acido complexes formed in these reactions have been isolated and characterized. The dissolution of the synthesized complexes in DMF in the presence of solid KOH gives Mn(II) meso-tetraphenyltetrabenzoporphyrinate.     

Crystal structure of KPb<Subscript>2</Subscript>Cl<Subscript>5</Subscript> and KPb<Subscript>2</Subscript>Br<Subscript>5</Subscript>

The KPb₂Cl₅ and KPb₂Br₅ crystals are monoclinic (P2₁/c) with a microtwinned structure. X-ray analysis of chloride resulted in the parameters a = 8.854(2) Å, b = 7.927(2) Å, c = 12.485(3) Å; β = 90.05(3)°, d_calc = 4.78(1) g/cm³ (STOE STADI4, MoK_α, 2θ_max = 80°), R₁ = 0.0702 for 4094 F ≥ 4 σ(F) reflections. For bromide, a = 9.256(2) Å, b = 8.365(2) Å, c = 13.025(3) Å; β = 90.00(3)°, d_calc = 5.62(1) g/cm³ (Bruker P4, MoK_α, 2θ_max = 70°), R₁ = 0.0692 for 3076 F ≥ 4 (F) reflections.     

Peculiarities of the reaction of alkali metal bis(trimethylsilyl)amides with halobenzenes

Lithium and sodium bis(trimethylsilyl)amides react with fluoro-, bromo-, and chlorobenzenes in THF or toluene to give a mixture of N,N-bis(trimethylsilyl)aniline and N,2-bis(trimethylsilyl)aniline. The latter compound is resulted from 1,3-shift of the trimethylsilyl group from nitrogen to ortho-carbon atom of the benzene ring. Effects of the solvent, halogen, and alkali metal nature as well as the reaction conditions on the ratio of isomers were examined. Reaction of iodobenzene with sodium bis(trimethylsilyl)amide in THF produces N,N-bis(trimethylsilyl)aniline and 2-iodo-N,N-bis(trimethylsilyl)aniline, while in toluene a mixture of three products, two indicated above and N,N-bis(trimethylsilyl)benzylamine, was obtained.     

Adjustable crystalline stereocomplexes from enantiopure gradient polycarbonates

Stereoselective interaction was observed in the mixture of enantiopure gradient polycarbonate (denoted as PCOPC-g-PCPC, originated from the enantioselective terpolymerization of CO₂, 3,4-epoxytetrahydrofuran (COPO) and cyclopentene oxide (CPO)) and various isotactic polycarbonates with opposite configuration in chloroform solution. The resultant crystalline stereocomplexes exhibit enhanced thermal stability and new crystalline behaviors, significantly distinct from their parent polymers. It was found that the cocrystallization selectively occurred between (R)-PCOPC (CO₂/COPO copolymer) and (S)-PCOPC-enriched segment in the gradient terpolymer (S)-PCOPC-g-PCPC, while (R)-PCPC (CO₂/CPO copolymer) selectively complexed with (S)-PCPC-enriched segment. No stereocomplexation was observed between (S)-PCOPC-g-PCPC and (S)-PCOPC or (S)-PCPC. This study is beneficial to finding new routes to prepare various semicrystalline materials having a wide variety of physical properties and degradability.     

Synthesis of water soluble metalloporphyrin-cored amphiphilic star block copolymer photocatalysts for an environmental application

Two series of water-soluble metalloporphyrin-cored amphiphilic star block copolymers were synthesized by controlled radical polymerizations such as atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) and reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT), which gave eight amphiphilic block copolymer arm chains consisting of poly(n-butyl acrylate-b-poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacylate) (PnBA-b-PEGMEMA, M_n,GPC = 78,000, M_w/M_n = 1.2, 70 wt% of PPEGMEMA) and poly(styrene-b-2-dimethylamino ethyl acrylate) (PS-b-PDMAEA, M_n,GPC = 83,000, M_w/M_n = 1.2, 67 wt% of PDMAEA), yielding porphyrin(Pd)-(PnBA-b-PPEGMEMA)₈ and porphyrin(Pd)-(PS-b-PDMAEA)₈, respectively. Obtained metalloporphyrin polymer photocatalysts were homogeneously solubilized in water to apply to the removal of chlorophenols in water, and was distinguished from conventional water-insoluble small molecular metalloporphyrin photocatalysts. Notably, we found that the water-soluble star block copolymers with hydrophobic–hydrophilic core–shell structures more effectively decomposed the chlorophenol, 2,4,6-trichlorophenol (2,4,6-TCP), in water under visible light irradiation (k = 1.39 h^?1, t_1/2 = 0.5 h) in comparison to the corresponding water-soluble star homopolymer, because the hydrophobic core near the metalloporphyrin effectively captured and decomposed the hydrophobic chlorophenols in water.     

CO<Subscript>2</Subscript>-responsive Polymeric Fluorescent Sensor with Ultrafast Response

Abstract Response speed is one of the most important evaluation criteria for CO₂ sensors. In this work, we report an ultrafast CO₂ fluorescent sensor based on poly[oligo(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate]-b-poly[N,N-diethylaminoethyl methacrylate-r-4-(2-methylacryloyloxyethylamino)-7-nitro-2,1,3-benzoxadiazole] [POEGMA-b-P(DEAEMA-r-NBDMA)], in which DEAEMA units act as the CO₂-responsive segment and 4-nitrobenzo-2-oxa-1,3-diazole (NBD) is the chromophore. The micelles composed of this copolymer could disassemble in 2 s upon CO₂ bubbling, accompanying with enhanced fluorescence emission with bathochromic shift. Furthermore, the quantum yield of the NBD chromophore increases with both the CO₂ aeration time and the NBD content. Thus we attribute the fluorescent enhancement to the inhibition of the photo-induced electron transfer between unprotonated tertiary amine groups and NBD fluorophores. The sensor is durable although it is based on “soft” materials. These micellar sensors could be facilely recycled by alternative CO₂/Ar purging for at least 5 times, indicating good reversibility.