Synthesis of diisocyanides with phenolic groups and their polymerization to helically chiral poly(quinoxaline‐2,3‐diyl)s

The development of synthetic routes which lead to five new diisocyanide monomers with one or two phenolic groups is described. Their polymerization behavior is studied with Pd‐ and Ni‐based initiators, as well as under microwave irradiation. The polymerizability is mainly dominated by steric effects as is concluded from experiments using different protecting groups. Chiroptical properties of these new polymers are studied by CD‐spectroscopy. After deprotection, helically chiral poly(quinoxalin‐2,3‐diyl)s are obtained which display a Brønsted function attached to a stereolabile biaryl axis whose configuration should be influenced by the chiral polymer backbone. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2015 , 53, 1320–1329     

DFT mechanistic study of the H2‐assisted chain transfer copolymerization of propylene and p‐methylstyrene catalyzed by zirconocene complex

DFT computations have been performed to investigate the mechanism of H₂‐assisted chain transfer strategy to functionalize polypropylene via Zr‐catalyzed copolymerization of propylene and p‐methylstyrene (pMS). The study unveils the following: (i) propylene prefers 1,2‐insertion over 2,1‐insertion both kinetically and thermodynamically, explaining the observed 1,2‐insertion regioselectivity for propylene insertion. (ii) The 2,1‐inserion of pMS is kinetically less favorable but thermodynamically more favorable than 1,2‐insertion. The observation of 2,1‐insertion pMS at the end of polymer chain is due to thermodynamic control and that the barrier difference between the two insertion modes become smaller as the chain length becomes longer. (iii) The pMS insertion results in much higher barriers for subsequent either propylene or pMS insertion, which causes deactivation of the catalytic system. (iv) Small H₂ can react with the deactivated [Zr]?pMS?PP_n facilely, which displace functionalized pMS?PP_n chain and regenerate [Zr]? H active catalyst to continue copolymerization. The effects of counterions are also discussed. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2015 , 53, 576–585     

Norbornene derivatives from a metal‐free,strain‐promoted cycloaddition reaction: New building blocks for ring‐opening metathesis polymerization reactions

The preparation of new ring opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) monomers using a 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition between aryl azides and norbornadiene is described. Various norbornenetriazolines, obtained through a solvent‐and catalyst‐free reaction, can subsequently be incorporated into polymer backbones through ROMP reactions. Furthermore, thermal decomposition of the triazoline moiety can allow for further polymer functionalization. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2015 , 53, 2357–2362     

Synthesis of coumarins by Pt-catalyzed hydroarylation of propiolic acids with phenols

Synthesis of coumarins from phenols and propiolic acids was examined by using a Pt catalyst such as PtCl₂/AgOTf, K₂PtCl₄/AgOTf, and K₂PtCl₄/AgOAc. Propiolic acid reacted even with less reactive phenols in trifluoroacetic acid to give coumarins and dihydrocoumarins. In the case of substituted propiolic acids, phenylpropiolic acid and 2-octynoic acid, the reactions proceeded selectively to afford coumarins in good to high yields.     

Effect of induced shielding current transmission in longitudinal direction on levitation force of melt grown single-domain YBa_2Cu_3O_(7-x) cylindrical superconductor

YBa2Cu3O7-x (YBCO) bulk is one of the most important high temperature superconducting materials for magnetic levitation applications, because it has a high magnetic irreversibility field Hirr at liquid nitrogen temperature, and can grow into large grains. The levitation force of YBCO bulk is proportional to the critical current density (Jc) and grain radius (r)[1], so higher Jc and r are appreciated for YBCO bulks to achieve higher levitation force. Now single-domain YBCO bulks up to s…     

Acyl chloride‐facilitated condensation polymerization for the synthesis of heat‐sensitive poly(anhydride‐ester)s

We succeeded in developing the acyl chloride‐facilitated condensation polymerization method for the synthesis of new poly(anhydride‐ester)s with aromatic side groups, which cannot be polymerized by the classic melt condensation polymerization method. Using chlorinated and acylated carboxylic acids as the intermediates, the polymerization was carried out at low temperatures of 120 or 135 °C to yield pure poly(anhydride‐ester)s of molecular weights as high as 1.55 × 10⁵ with minimal side‐reactions. A homogeneous route of preparation was developed and optimized, using butyric anhydride as the acylating reagent and oxalyl chloride as the chlorinating reagent. A comparison of the mechanisms of the classic method and the new method indicates that the effects of transacylation—cyclization and oligomer formation—were greatly reduced due to the high reactivity of carboxylic acid chloride and the steric effect of bulky acyl groups. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 5899–5915, 2007     

New poly(butylene succinate)/layered silicate nanocomposites. II. Effect of organically modified layered silicates on structure,properties, melt rheology,and biodegradability

A series of new poly(butylene succinate) (PBS)/layered silicate nanocomposites were prepared successfully by simple melt extrusion of PBS and organically modified layered silicates (OMLS). Three different types of OMLS were used for the preparation of nanocomposites: two functionalized ammonium salts modified montmorillonite and a phosphonium salt modified saponite. The structure of the nanocomposites in the nanometer scale was characterized with wide-angle X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopic observations. With three different types of layered silicates modified with three different types of surfactants, the effect of OMLS in nanocomposites was investigated by focusing on four major aspects: structural analysis, materials properties, melt rheological behavior, and biodegradability. Interestingly, all these nanocomposites exhibited concurrent improvements of material properties when compared with pure PBS. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 41: 3160–3172, 2003     

Sulfonated poly(aryl ether ketone)s containing naphthalene moieties obtained by direct copolymerization as novel polymers for proton exchange membranes

A series of sulfonated poly(aryl ether ketone)s (SPAEKs) were prepared by aromatic nucleophilic polycondensation of 2,6‐dihydroxynaphthalene with 5,5′‐carbonyl‐bis(2‐fluorobenzenesulfonate) and 4,4′‐difluorobenzophenone. The structure and degree of sulfonation (DS) of the SPAEKs were characterized using ¹H NMR spectroscopy. The experimentally observed DS values were close to the expected values derived from the starting material ratios. The thermal stabilities of the SPAEKs were characterized by thermogravimetric analysis, which showed that in acid and sodium salt forms they were thermally stable in air up to about 240 and 380 °C, respectively. Transparent membranes cast from the directly polymerized SPAEKs exhibited good mechanical properties in both dry and hydrated states. The dependence of water uptake and of membrane swelling on the DS at different temperatures was studied. SPAEK membranes with a DS from 0.72 to 1.60 maintained adequate mechanical properties after immersion in water at 80 °C for 24 h. The proton conductivity of SPAEK membranes with different degrees of sulfonation was measured as a function of temperature. The proton conductivity of the SPAEK films increased with increased DS, and the highest room temperature conductivity (4.2 × 10^?2 S/cm) was recorded for a SPAEK membrane with a DS of 1.60, which further increased to 1.1 × 10^?1 S/cm at 80 °C. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 2866–2876, 2004     

New functionalized polyesters to achieve controlled architectures

Following our continued interest in the production of bioerodible and biodegradable functional polymers for biomedical applications, we synthesized and characterized new unsaturated polyesters. The presence of functional groups in the polymer backbone provided sites for chemical modification, and through a variation in the structure, the physical properties, such as the hydrophilicity and solubility, could be affected. With 1,1-di-n-butyl-stanna-2,7-dioxacyclo-4-heptene as the initiator in the ring-opening polymerization of polyesters, a new set of functionalized polyesters was created. The polymerization of ϵ-caprolactone resulted in poly(ϵ-caprolactone) with a double bond incorporated into the structure. The polymers were obtained in a controlled manner with low molecular dispersities. The double bond was previously incorporated into L -lactide polymers, and the two reactions were compared in this study. The conversion of ϵ-caprolactone, with a degree of polymerization of 50, was completed within 140 min, whereas for L -lactide, only a 45% conversion took place in the same period of time. The dispersities were somewhat higher with ϵ-caprolactone because of the higher reaction rate and, therefore, lower selectivity. The incorporated CC double bond in the polyesters provided a variety of opportunities for further modifications. In this case, the double bond of the L -lactide macromonomers was oxidized into epoxides. Epoxidation was carried out with m-chloroperoxybenzoic acid as a chemical reagent. The conversion of the double bonds into epoxides was completed, and the obtained yields were good (>95%). As a result of the mild reaction conditions, the epoxidation of the double bond was carried out quantitatively without any side reactions. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 444–452, 2004