Nitroxide‐Mediated Polymerization of Bio‐Based Farnesene with a Functionalized Methacrylate

Farnesene (Far) is a bio‐based terpene monomer that is similar in structure to commercially used dienes like butadiene and isoprene. Nitroxide‐mediated polymerization (NMP) is adept for the polymerization of dienes, but not particularly effective at controlling the polymerization of methacrylates using commercial nitroxides. In this study, Far is statistically copolymerized with a functional methacrylate, glycidyl methacrylate (GMA), by NMP using N‐succinimidyl modified commercial BlocBuilder (NHS‐BB) initiator. Reactivity ratios are determined to be r _Far = 0.54 ± 0.04 and r _GMA = 0.24 ± 0.02. The ability of the poly(Far‐stat‐GMA) chains to reinitiate for chain extension with styrene showed a clear shift in molecular weight and monomodal distribution. Copolymerizations using a new alkoxyamine, Dispolreg 007 (D7), is explored as it is shown to homopolymerize methacrylates, but not yet reported for statistical copolymerizations. Bimodal molecular weight distributions are observed when an equimolar ratio of Far and GMA is copolymerized with D7 due to slow decomposition of the initiator, but chain ends are active as shown by successful chain extension with styrene. Both NHS‐BB and D7 initiators are used to synthesize poly[Far‐b‐(GMA‐stat‐Far)] and poly(Far‐b‐GMA) diblock copolymers. While the NHS‐BB initiated polymer chains have lower dispersity, D7 exhibits more linear polymerization kinetics and maintains more active chain ends.     

Seeded Polymerization of an Amide-Functionalized Diketopyrrolopyrrole Dye in Aqueous Media

The self-assembly of an amide-functionalized dithienyldiketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP) dye in aqueous media was achieved through seed-initiated supramolecular polymerization. Temperature- and time-dependent studies showed that the spontaneous polymerization of the DPP derivative was temporally delayed upon cooling the monomer solution in a methanol/water mixture. Theoretical calculations revealed that an amide-functionalized DPP derivative adopts an energetically favorable folded conformation in the presence of water molecules due to hydration. This conformational change is most likely responsible for the trapping of monomers in the initial stage of the cooperative supramolecular polymerization in aqueous media. However, the monomeric species can selectively interact with externally added fragmented aggregates as seeds through concerted π-stacking and hydrogen-bonding interactions. Consequently, the time course of the supramolecular polymerization and the morphology of the aggregated state can be controlled, and one-dimensional fibers that exhibit a J-aggregate-like bathochromically shifted absorption band can be obtained.     

Room temperature suzuki cross‐coupling polymerizations of aryl dihalides and aryldiboronic acid/acid esters with t‐Bu3P‐coordinated 2‐phenylaniline‐based palladacycle complex as the precatalyst

Room temperature Suzuki cross‐coupling polymerization of aryl dibromides/diiodides with aryldiboronic acids/acid esters with t‐Bu₃P‐coordinated 2‐phenylaniline‐based palladacycle complex, [2′‐(amino‐kN)[1,1′‐biphenyl]‐2‐yl‐kC]chloro(tri‐t‐butylphosphine)palladium, as a general precatalyst is described. Such room temperature Suzuki cross‐coupling polymerization is achieved by employing six equivalents or more of the base and affords polymers within an hour, with the yields and the molecular weights in general comparable to or higher than reported results that required higher reaction temperature and/or longer polymerization time. Our study provides a general catalyst system for the room temperature Suzuki cross‐coupling polymerization of aryl dibromides/diiodides with aryldiboronic acids/acid esters and paves the road for the investigation of employing other monodentate ligand‐coordinated palladacycle complexes including other electron‐rich monophosphine‐coordinated ones for room temperature cross‐coupling polymerizations. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2019, 57, 1606–1611     

Rational design of methacrylate monomers containing oxadiazole moieties for single‐layer organic light emitting devices

Methacrylate derived monomers functionalized with pendant oxadiazole moieties were synthesized and copolymerized with carbazole containing monomers to form polymers with electron and hole transporting fragments in the same molecule. Substituents on the oxidazole moiety were varied with the purpose of bandgap tuning and performance optimization when employed in single‐layer organic light emitting devices (OLED). Quantum mechanical calculations of the HOMO‐LUMO levels of the oxidazole derivatives were used to down‐select promising candidates for chemical synthesis and testing in single‐layer OLEDs. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2015 , 53, 1663–1673     

Synthesis of poly(n‐butyl acrylate) homopolymer and poly(styrene‐b‐n‐butyl acrylate‐b‐styrene) triblock copolymer via AGET emulsion ATRP using a cationic surfactant

Cationic emulsions of triblock copolymer particles comprising a poly(n‐butyl acrylate) (PⁿBA) central block and polystyrene (PS) outer blocks were synthesized by activator generated by electron transfer (AGET) atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). Difunctional ATRP initiator, ethylene bis(2‐bromoisobutyrate) (EBBiB), was used as initiator to synthesize the ABA type poly(styrene‐b‐n‐butyl acrylate‐b‐styrene) (PS‐PⁿBA‐PS) triblock copolymer. The effects of ligand and cationic surfactant on polymerizations were also discussed. Gel permeation chromatography (GPC) was used to characterize the molecular weight (M_n) and molecular weight distribution (MWD) of the resultant triblock copolymers. Particle size and particle size distribution of resulted latexes were characterized by dynamic light scattering (DLS). The resultant latexes showed good colloidal stability with average particle size around 100–300 nm in diameter. Glass transition temperature (T_g) of copolymers was studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2016 , 54, 611–620     

Synthesis of poly(isopropenylphenoxy propylene carbonate) and its facile side‐chain functionalization into hydroxy‐polyurethanes

4‐Isopropenyl phenol ( 4‐IPP ) is a versatile dual functional intermediate that can be prepared readily from bisphenol‐A ( BPA ). Through etherification with epichlorohydrin to the phenolic group of 4‐IPP , it can be converted into 4‐isopropenyl phenyl glycidyl ether ( IPGE ). On further reaction with carbon dioxide in the presence of tetra‐n‐butyl ammonium bromide ( TBAB ) as the catalyst, IPGE was transformed into 4‐isopropenylphenoxy propylene carbonate ( IPPC ) in 90% yield. Cationic polymerization of IPPC with strong acid such as trifluoromethanesulfonic acid or boron trifluoride diethyl etherate as the catalyst at ?40 °C gave a linear poly(isopropenylphenoxy propylene carbonate), poly( IPPC ), with multicyclic carbonate groups substituted uniformly at the side‐chains of the polymer. The cyclic carbonate groups of poly( IPPC ) were further reacted with different aliphatic amines and diamines resulting in formation of polymers with hydroxy‐polyurethane on side‐chains. Syntheses, characterizations of poly( IPPC ) and its conversion into hydroxy‐polyurethane crosslinked polymers were presented. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2016 , 54, 802–808     

“Grafting through” polymerization involving surface-bound monomers

“Grafting through” polymerization represents copolymerization of free monomers in solution and polymerizable units bound to a substrate. Free polymer chains are formed initially in solution and can incorporate the surface-bound monomers, and thereby, get covalently bonded to the surface during the polymerization process. As more growing chains attach to the surface-bound monomers, an immobilized polymer layer is formed on the surface. We use a combination of computer simulation and experiments to comprehend this process for monomers bound to a flat impenetrable substrate. We concentrate specifically on addressing the effect of spatial density of the surface-bound monomers on the formation of the surface-attached polymers. We employ a lattice-based Monte Carlo model utilizing the bond fluctuation model scheme to provide molecular-level insight into the grafting process. For experimental validation, we create gradients of density of bound methacrylate units on flat silicon wafers using organosilane chemistry and carry out “grafting through” free radical polymerization initiated in bulk. We report that the proximity of the surface-bound polymerizable units promotes the “grafting through” process but prevents more free growing chains to “graft through'' the polymerizable units. The “grafting through” process is self-limiting in nature and does not affect the overall density of the surface-bound polymer layer, except in case of the highest theoretical packing density of surface-bound monomers. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2016, 54, 263–274     

Synthesis and structure–property relationship of carbazole‐alt‐benzothiadiazole copolymers

A series of four π‐conjugated carbazole‐alt‐benzothiadiazole copolymers (PCBT) were prepared by Suzuki cross‐coupling reaction between synthesized dibromocarbazoles as electron‐rich subunits and 4,7‐bis(4,4,5,5‐tetramethyl‐1,3,2‐dioxaborolan‐2‐yl)?2,1,3‐benzothiadiazole as electron‐deficient subunits. The subunits were directly linked through 2,7‐ or 3,6‐ positions of the carbazole. In addition, the carbazole monomers have been N‐substituted by a branched or a linear side‐chain. The chemical structure of the copolymers and their precursors was confirmed by NMR and IR spectroscopies, and their molar masses were estimated by SEC. Thermal analysis under N₂ atmosphere showed no weight loss below 329°C, and no glass transition was observed in between 0 and 250°C. The band gaps of all PCBTs evaluated by optical spectroscopies and by cyclic voltammetry analysis were consistent with expectations and ranged between 2.2 and 2.3 eV. Finally, 2,7 and 3,6 linkages were shown to influence optical properties of PCBTs. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2015 , 53, 2059–2068     

Synthesis and liquid crystalline behavior of bulky poly(methacrylamide)s

N‐(Bis(4‐(2‐ethylhexyloxy)phenyl)(phenyl)‐methyl)methacrylamide was synthesized and polymerized via reversible addition‐fragmentation chain‐transfer (RAFT) polymerization. The chain‐transfer agent (4‐cyano‐4‐(phenylcarbonothioylthio) pentanoic acid (CPADB)), combined with a chiral additive, and a radical initiator yielded polymers with dispersities between 1.2 and 1.4. At low concentrations, the polymers are soluble in hexanes and chloroform while at higher concentrations they swell in these solvents. Characterization of the polymers by wide‐angle X‐ray scattering (WAXS) revealed an interplanar distance of 19.0 Å. The WAXS data combined with polarized optical microscopy support a lamellar crystallization and lyotropic liquid crystalline behavior in hexanes and chloroform. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2015 , 53, 2563–2568