The crosspropagation of 1‐ethylcyclopentyl methacrylate (ECPMA) and methyl methacrylate (MMA) has been studied using a combination of quantum chemistry calculations and experiment. Our computational work utilizes a trimer‐to‐tetramer reaction model, coupled with an ONIOM (B3LYP/6‐31G(2df,p): B3LYP/6‐31G(d)) method for geometry optimization and an M06‐2X/6‐311+G(2df,p) method plus SMD solvation model for single point energy calculations. The results show several trends: the identity of the ultimate unit of a trimer radical affects not only the preferred conformation of the region where the reaction takes place, but also the reactivity of the radical; the addition of an ECPMA monomer to the radicals is generally favored compared to an MMA monomer; the pen‐penultimate unit of a trimer radical shows a nonnegligible entropic effect; the penultimate unit effect is implicit for the ECPMA–MMA copolymer system. Finally, terminal model reactivity ratios fitted based on the explicit rate coefficients calculated from the quantum chemical results are compared with those from experimental measurements. The computations not only agree qualitatively with experimentally derived results in terms of the selectivity of ECPMA–MMA crosspropagation, but also give reasonable quantitative predictions of reactivity ratios.
The structural determination and manipulation of bottle‐brush polymers, a class of polymers with serially grafted side‐chains, is challenging due to the interplay of side‐chain and backbone interactions over various length scales. The present work performs a detailed analysis, using molecular dynamics simulation techniques, to unravel these interactions by probing the distinct rod to a flexible real‐chain with self‐avoiding walk (SAW) type crossover in the backbone static structure factor. This analysis elucidates the deviation from flexible chain behavior, while also providing a quantitative measure of persistence length, . Significantly, the results identify a trend in which is consistent with the debated theoretical prediction of , where Ns is the number of monomers in each side‐chain of the bottle‐brush polymer.
Step‐growth polymerized systems of general type “AfiBgi” are considered. One or more of the monomer species carries at least three reactive groups and thus can act as a branching point in a polymeric molecule. An algorithmic method is presented to calculate the topology‐averaged square radius of gyration, R 2[s ], of the molecules in the class of s‐mers. The degree of polymerization, s , may run through its full range. In addition to R 2[s ], the shrinking factor, g [s ], is calculated. The method uses integer arithmetic, generating functions, and computer algebra.
Living ethylene/1‐olefin copolymerization with multiple comonomer feeding stages allows the production of living block copolymers (LBCs) with well‐controlled microstructures. A dynamic Monte Carlo model is developed to simulate the production of LBCs in a semibatch reactor, and it is used to study how the polymer microstructure evolves during the polymerization. The model also describes how chain transfer reactions affect the microstructure of LBC blocks. These model predictions provide useful guidelines for producing LBCs with precisely designed microstructures.
Triptycene‐based micorporous polymer is functionalized with CO2‐philic tetrazole moieties via ZnCl2‐catalyzed post‐polymerization. Gas adsorption experiments indicate that it possesses high CO2 uptake capacity, reaching 134 cm3 g−1 (26.5 wt%) at 1.0 bar and 273 K, along with high selectivity towards CO2 over N2 and CH4. The porous polymeric networks present the promising potentials as efficient adsorbents in clean energy applications.
Two novel intrinsically microporous copolyimides synthesized by condensation reaction of 4,4′‐(hexafluoroisopropylidene) diphthalic anhydride (6FDA), 3,3,3′,3′‐tetramethyl‐1,1′‐spirobisindane‐5,5′‐diamino‐6,6′‐diol, and 3,5‐diaminobenzoic acid with diamine ratios of 80/20 (Co‐80/20) and 50/50 (Co‐50/50) are reported. Unexpectedly, the Co‐80/20 not only demonstrates higher microporosity (300 m2 g−1) than the PIM‐6FDA‐OH homopolymer (190 m2 g−1) but also exhibits simultaneously enhanced CO2 permeability (from 119 to 171 Barrer) and CO2/CH4 selectivity (from 35 to 41) after thermal annealing at 250 °C. This higher permeability originates from enhanced diffusivity (DCO2) and the higher selectivity results from its increased diffusion selectivity (DCO2/DCH4). After crosslinking at 300 °C, the Co‐80/20 exhibits an even higher CO2 permeability (261 Barrer) and almost unchanged CO2/CH4 selectivity.
Five three‐component chiral polymers incorporating (S )‐1,1′‐binaphthyl, tetraphenylethene (TPE) and fluorene moieties are designed and synthesized by Pd‐catalyzed Sonogashira reaction. All these polymers show obvious aggregation induced emission enhancement response behavior in the fluorescence emission region of 460–480 nm. Interestingly, three of them show aggregation‐induced circularly polarized luminescence (AICPL) signals in tetrahydrofuran–H2O mixtures. Most importantly, these AICPL signals can be tuned by changing the molar ratios of TPE and fluorene components through fluorescence resonance energy transfer and give the highest glum = ±4.0 × 10−3. This work provides a novel strategy for developing AICPL‐enhanced materials.
Furfuryl glycidyl ether (FGE) represents a highly versatile monomer for the preparation of reversibly cross‐linkable nanostructured materials via Diels–Alder reactions. Here, the use of FGE for the mid‐chain functionalization of a P2VP‐b‐PEO diblock copolymer is reported. The material features one furan moiety at the block junction, P2VP68‐FGE‐b‐PEO390, which can be subsequently addressed in Diels–Alder reactions using maleimide‐functionalized counterparts. The presence of the FGE moiety enables the introduction of dyes as model labels or the formation of hetero‐grafted brushes as shell on hybrid Au@Polymer nanoparticles. This renders P2VP68‐FGE‐b‐PEO390, a powerful tool for selective functionalization reactions, including the modification of surfaces.
Orthogonal self‐assembly of multiple components represents an efficient strategy to afford hierarchical and multifunctional assemblies. Here, we demonstrate the orthogonal recognition behaviors between benzo‐21‐crown‐7/secondary ammonium salt and terpyridine/metal ions (Fe2+ or Zn2+) recognition motifs. Main‐chain supramolecular polymers are subsequently achieved via “one‐pot” mixing of the three monomers together (heteroditopic monomer 1 , homoditopic secondary ammonium salt monomer 2, and Fe(BF4)2•6H2O or Zn(OTf)2), which are confirmed by 1H NMR, UV–Vis, DOSY, and viscosity measurements. Moreover, different metal ions (Fe2+ or Zn2+) exert considerable effects on the size of the resulting supramolecular polymers. Integration of two different types of non‐covalent interactions renders dynamic and responsive properties for the resulting supramolecular polymers, as triggered by a variety of external stimuli such as temperature, potassium cation, as well as stronger chelating ligands. Therefore, the current work is a prerequisite for the future application of such orthogonal assemblies as intelligent supramolecular materials.
Hyperbranched polymers formed through step polymerization of AB2‐type monomer with equal reactivity for both B groups in a continuous flow stirred‐tank reactor (CSTR) are investigated theoretically. The weight fraction distribution at high molecular weight tail follows a power law, W (P ) ∝ P −1/ξ for ξ ≤ 0.5 with , where is the mean residence time. The degree of branching (DB) at the large degree of polymerization (P ) limit is DBP →∞ = 0.6 irrespective of the ξ‐value, which is larger than the case for the corresponding batch polymerization that gives DBP →∞ = 0.5. The relationship between the radius of gyration 〈s 2〉0 and P shows that the hyperbranched polymers formed in a CSTR are very compact, and the 〈s 2〉0‐values for large polymers are even smaller than the smallest possible case for a batch reactor with DBP →∞ = 1. For large polymers, the power law 〈s 2〉0∝P 1/3 holds, which is 〈s 2〉0∝P 1/2 for batch polymerization.
A heterotritopic copillar[5]arene monomer by introducing effective neutral guest moieties (methylene chains end‐capped with cyano and triazole groups) to a pillar[5]arene macrocycle is prepared. This well‐designed AB2‐type copillar[5]arene contains strong host–guest recognition motifs that are connected with relatively flexible and long linkers, thus efficiently assembles to form supramolecular hyperbranched polymer (SHP) in chloroform solution, which is characterized by various techniques including 1H NMR, DOSY, viscosity, DLS, and TEM. Particularly, this supramolecular polymer can be effectively depolymerized by adding a competitive butanedinitrile guest.
Hyperbranched polymer formation during step polymerization of AB2 type monomer with equal reactivity of two B's is investigated theoretically, focusing the attention to the degree of branching (DB) and the mean square radius of gyration for the unperturbed chains, . It is found that the DB‐value at large degree of polymerization (P) limit, = 0.5 is unchanged during the whole course of polymerization. The average value of having the same P is invariant throughout the polymerization. The universal curve between and P agrees perfectly with that for the self‐condensing vinyl polymerization (SCVP), another method to synthesize hyperbranched polymers, when the reactivity ratio for SCVP, rSCVP, is 2.589 that gives = 0.5. The power law, is found for large values of P.
The general concept for nitroxide‐mediated radical terpolymerization is advanced. This concept is based on activation‐deactivation equilibria for terminal polymer‐nitroxide adducts. Depending on monomer activity and the stability of terminal nitroxide adducts, terpolymerization can be equilibrium living, quasi‐equilibrium (gradient) living, decaying living, decaying gradient, or non‐living. Expressions for the effective activation‐deactivation equilibrium constant, Kef, and the rate of terpolymerization are derived from theoretical speculations on equilibrium living and decaying living terpolymerization. For quasi‐equilibrium living terpolymerization, various types of gradient terpolymers are predicted. When activity of the active monomer M1 is, at least, one order of magnitude different from that of the two other monomers, the effective constant Kef is shown to approach K1 of the most active monomer. Experimental kinetic and equilibrium constants agree with the advanced concept for the equilibrium living terpolymerization of styrene with methyl methacrylate, and acrylonitrile in the presence of nitroxide SG1, as well as for decaying living terpolymerization in the same system in the presence of nitroxide TEMPO.
Four novel conjugated polymers ( P1‐4 ) with 9,10‐disubstituted phenanthrene (PhA) as the donor unit and 5,6‐bis(octyloxy)benzothiadiazole as the acceptor unit are synthesized and characterized. These polymers are of medium bandgaps (2.0 eV), low‐lying HOMO energy levels (below −5.3 eV), and high hole mobilities (in the range of 3.6 × 10−3 to 0.02 cm2 V−1 s−1). Bulk heterojunction (BHJ) polymer solar cells (PSCs) with P1‐4 :PC71BM blends as the active layer and an alcohol‐soluble fullerene derivative (FN‐C60) as the interfacial layer between the active layer and cathode give the best power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 4.24%, indicating that 9,10‐disubstituted PhA are potential donor materials for high‐efficiency BHJ PSCs.
The present review focuses on the recent progress made in thin film orientation of semi‐conducting polymers with particular emphasis on methods using epitaxy and shear forces. The main results reported in this review deal with regioregular poly(3‐alkylthiophene)s and poly(dialkylfluorenes). Correlations existing between processing conditions, macromolecular parameters and the resulting structures formed in thin films are underlined. It is shown that epitaxial orientation of semi‐conducting polymers can generate a large palette of semi‐crystalline and nanostructured morphologies by a subtle choice of the orienting substrates and growth conditions.
This study considers step‐growth polymerizing systems of general type “AfiBgi” whereby one or more of the reacting monomer species bear at least three reactive groups. The random polymerization process will lead to a population of polymer molecules in which the individual molecules may differ widely with respect to degree of polymerization and number of branch points. This study presents an algorithmic method to calculate the statistical distribution of weight over these two molecular properties. The method uses bivariate generating functions, recurrences, and integer arithmetic.
In this work, the synthesis of various halogenated thiophenol derivatives is presented. These thiophenols are used as monomers in light‐initiated SRN1‐type radical polymerization reactions. The method provides easy access to industrially relevant poly(paraphenylene sulfide) and poly(metaphenylene sulfide). The influence of the halide leaving group and of other substituents in the thiophenol monomer on the polymerization process is investigated.
Photoinitiated reversible addition‐fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) dispersion polymerization of 2‐hydroxypropyl methacrylate is conducted in water at low temperature using thermoresponsive copolymers of 2‐(2‐methoxyethoxy) ethyl methacrylate and oligo(ethylene glycol) methacrylate (Mn = 475 g mol−1) as the macro‐RAFT agent. Kinetic studies confirm that quantitative monomer conversion is achieved within 15 min of visible‐light irradiation (405 nm, 0.5 mW cm−2), and good control is maintained during the polymerization. The polymerization can be temporally controlled by a simple “ON/OFF” switch of the light source. Finally, thermoresponsive diblock copolymer nano‐objects with a diverse set of complex morphologies (spheres, worms, and vesicles) are prepared using this particular formulation.
In the last decades, metallopolymers have received great attention due to their various applications in the fields of materials and chemistry. In this article, a neutral 18‐electron exo‐substituted η4‐cyclopentadiene CpCo(I) unit‐containing polymer is prepared in a controlled/“living” fashion by combining facile click chemistry and ring‐opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP). This Co(I)‐containing polymer is further used as a heterogeneous macromolecular catalyst for atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of methyl methacrylate and styrene.
The coil‐globule transition of short hydrophobic‐polar (HP) chains, composed of 24 hydrophilic monomers and 24 polar monomers, in solution and on hydrophobic surface and the adsorption of the HP chain on hydrophobic surface are simulated. The coil‐globule transition point of the HP chain is dependent on sequence of chain but is roughly independent of the surface adsorption strength. Whereas the critical adsorption point of the HP chain is roughly independent of sequence. In addition, the lowest energy states can be obtained for the HP chain in solution or on surface by Monte Carlo simulated annealing method. Results show that the statistical conformation is strongly dependent on the intrachain H‐H attraction strength and the surface adsorption strength.
