A Potential Alternative to Polystyrene: Ring-opening Terpolymerization of Different Epoxides with Phthalic Anhydride Using Metal-free Dual Catalysts

A series of semi-aromatic polyesters named as Poly(PO-CHO-PA) were facilely synthesized via ring-opening terpolymerization of biobased cyclohexane oxide(CHO)/propylene oxide(PO)/phthalic anhydride(PA) using economical U1/PPNCl as dual catalyst. The proportion of CHO-PA and PO-PA segments in polymer can be readily altered by changing the feed ratio of CHO/PO because the reactivity ratios of CHO and PO with PA calculated by Fineman-Ross method are comparable. All synthesized amorphous polyesters with various compositions show one Tg ranging from 62 ℃ to 133 ℃. Significantly, the mechanical, thermal and barrier properties of these amorphous semi-aromatic polyesters are also adjustable and investigated for the first time. The results indicate the semi-polyesters exhibit superior thermostability(T5% ranging from 306 ℃ to323 ℃) and high tensile strength(40.21-55.7 MPa) that is comparable with polystyrene(PS). Furthermore, Poly(PO-CHO-PA) films possess a promising prospect as packaging materials because of its colorless and highly transparent nature, along with low oxygen and water vapor transmission rate. All above performances may guarantee its potential alternative to commercial PS.     

Liquid hydridosilane precursor prepared from cyclopentasilane via sonication at low temperatures without the action of light

We report on a liquid hydridosilane precursor ink prepared via the ultrasonically induced ring-opening polymerisation of cyclopentasilane (Si₅H₁₀) without irradiation by ultraviolet light. The sonication is carried out in N₂ atmosphere at temperatures between 20 and 75 °C. We use size exclusion chromatography (SEC) to show polymer growth and estimate molecular mass with increasing sonication time. In combination with UV–vis transmission measurements, further SEC analysis is used to compare solutions subjected to either purely thermal or ultrasonic treatment at the same process temperature and for the same duration. Our findings provide strong evidence showing that the initiation of the polymerisation is sonocatalytic in nature and not thermic due to the macroscopic temperature of the solution. The liquid precursor is used to produce homogeneous hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) thin films via spin coating and pyrolytic conversion. The optoelectronic properties of the films are subsequently improved by hydrogen radical treatment. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) is used to determine a compact film morphology and electrical conductivity measurements show that the layers attain a light-to-dark photosensitivity ratio of 2 × 10³ making them suitable for application in optoelectronic devices.     

Highly efficient regioselective ring openings of N-tosylaziridines to haloamines using ferric(Ⅲ) halides

FeX3（X = Cl, Br） were found to be very effective reagents and powerful catalysts for regioselective ring openings of a variety of N-tosylaziridines with them to afford the corresponding b-haloamines in good to excellent yields with high regioselectivity under mild conditions. At the same time, 13 new compounds were obtained firstly. Moreover, the b-bromoamine prepared could be transferred into b-nitroamine with NaNO2 in moderate yield.     

Studies on the synthesis of orthogonally protected azalanthionines,and of routes towards β-methyl azalanthionines,by ring opening of N-activated aziridine-2-carboxylates

Orthogonally protected azalanthionines were successfully synthesised by the ring-opening of N-activated aziridine-2-carboxylates with protected diaminopropanoic acids (DAPs). The required DAPs were also prepared by ring-opening of N-activated aziridine-2-carboxylates with para-methoxybenzylamine, but it was found that the choice of aziridine protecting groups dictated both the success of the reaction as well as the regioselectivity of the isolated products. Attempts to extend the methodology to the preparation of the more sterically demanding β-methyl azalanthionines have, so far, been unsuccessful.     

Improved synthesis of (R)-7-hydroxycarvone from (S)-α-pinene

A three-step synthesis of (R)-7-hydroxycarvone (1), which is anticipated to be a valuable building block for the versatile preparation of natural products, is described. Optimization of the reaction conditions for photooxygenation and migration of (S)-α-pinene 2, tetrapropylammonium perruthenate (TPAP) oxidation of the generated alcohol, and a subsequent ring-opening reaction in the presence of Cu(OTf)₂ led to the synthesis of 1 with good reproducibility. The desired product 1 was thus obtained in 46% yield over three steps.     

Convenient synthesis of 1a,1b,2,5-tetrahydro-1H-5a-aza-cyclopropa[a]indenes by base promoted cyclodimerization of 1,1-dicyano-2-aryl-3-benzoylcyclopropanes

1,1-Dicyano-2-aryl-3-benzoylcyclopropanes in acetonitrile in the presence of triethylamine underwent cyclodimerization reaction to afford the novel polyfunctionalized 1a,1b,2,5-tetrahydro-1H-5a-aza-cyclopropa[a]indenes in moderate yields. These polycyclic compounds can be more conveniently synthesized by the one-pot domino reaction of N-phenacylpyridinium bromides with arylidene malononitriles.     

Isoselective Ring-opening Polymerization of Racemic Lactide Catalyzed by N-heterocyclic Olefin/(Thio)urea Organocatalysts

The isoselective ring-opening polymerization of racemic lactide was achieved by combining N-heterocyclic olefin(NHO) with mono(thio)ureas or bis(thio)ureas as catalytic systems. The polymerization process shows high stereoselectivity, controllability and reactivity,delivering multi-block isotactic polylactides with high chain-end fidelity and narrow molecular weight distributions. The enhancement of catalytic performance was observed in the following order: bisthiourea(DTU) monothiourea(TU) bisurea(DU) urea(U). The highest Pm(probability of forming a meso dyad) = 0.91 was observed at-70 °C when using NHO/U1 catalytic system and the high stereoselectivity was attributed to chain-end control mechanism.     

Hybrid Copolymerization via the Combination of Proton Transfer and Ring-opening Polymerization

Phosphazene base,t-BuP2,was employed to catalyze the proton transfer polymerization(PTP)of 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate(HEA),and PTP was further combined with ring-opening polymerization(ROP)to exploit a new type of hybrid copolymerization.The studies on homopolymerization showed that t-BuP2 was a particularly efficient catalyst for the polymerization of HEA at room temperature,giving an excellent monomer conversion.Throughout the polymerization,transesterification reactions were unavoidable,which increased the randomness in the structures of the resulting polymers.The studies on copolymerization showed that t-BuP2 could simultaneously catalyze the hybrid copolymerization via the combination of PTP and ROP at 25°C.During copolymerization,HEA not only provided hydroxyl groups to initiate the ROP ofε-caprolactone(CL)but also participated in the polymerization as a monomer for PTP.The copolymer composition was approximately equal to the feed ratio,demonstrating the possibility to adjust the polymeric structure by simply changing the monomer feed ratio.This copolymerization reaction provides a simple method for synthesizing degradable functional copolymers from commercially available materials.Hence,it is important not only in polymer chemistry but also in environmental and biomedical engineering.     

N-杂环卡宾配体在聚合反应中的研究进展

N-杂环卡宾配体的优异催化性能引起了人们的广泛关注, 已成功应用于多种烯烃聚合反应。本文结合N-杂环卡宾的相关研究报道,首先简要介绍N-杂环卡宾,随后重点介绍N-杂环卡宾在开环易位聚合、烯烃配位聚合和原子转移自由基聚合等聚合反应的应用。在此基础上,指出了今后N-杂环卡宾配体在聚合反应研究的发展方向。     

Organometallic soft materials from the ring-opening polymerization of strained metallocenophanes and related species with π-hydrocarbon ligands

Ring-opening polymerization of a wide variety of strained organometallic rings has allowed the preparation of a variety of new metallopolymers over the past decade or so. The most developed class of materials, polyferrocenylsilanes, has been shown to exhibit interesting properties and a variety of applications as “soft” materials and their study has also led to the discovery of remarkable self-assembly phenomena. This article provides a brief review of some selected recent advances in this interesting area with a focus on the work in the authors group and with their collaborators.