Nitroxide‐Mediated Controlled/Living Free Radical Copolymerization of Styrene and Divinylbenzene in Aqueous Miniemulsion

Summary: The nitroxide‐mediated controlled/living free radical copolymerization of styrene and divinylbenzene using a polystyrene‐TEMPO macroinitiator in aqueous miniemulsion and in bulk have been investigated. The crosslink densities were estimated based on the content of pendant vinyl groups as determined by ¹H NMR. Considerably lower crosslink densities were revealed in the miniemulsion than in the corresponding bulk system. The rate of polymerization in the miniemulsion increased with decreasing particle size, and was significantly higher than in bulk.

Crosslink density for the TEMPO‐mediated free radical copolymerization of S(1) and DVB(2) (f = 0.99, f = 0.01) at 125 °C in bulk (□) and in miniemulsions with d_n = 585 nm (○) and 53.3 nm (•).     

Shape of Micelles Formed From Strongly Adsorbed Grafted Polymers in Poor Solvents

Summary: We consider the shape of strongly adsorbed polymer chains in poor solvents. Using both SCF theory and Monte Carlo simulations, we find these chains undergo an instability which is driven, surprisingly, by polymer entropy. This instability occurs above some critical grafting separation and the intermediate segregation regime. An analytical calculation also suggests that this instability occurs for strongly adsorbed polymer chains. We proceed to study multi‐chain systems and observe a number of novel morphological structures including circular polymer droplets, lamellae and a polymer layer with a solvent‐filled hole.

Shape of strongly adsorbed multi‐chain polymer globules.     

Supramolecular Assembly of Gold Nanoparticles Mediated by Polypseudorotaxane with Thiolated β‐Cyclodextrin

Summary: A water‐soluble gold nanoparticle aggregate 2 was prepared by chloroauric acid and a polypseudorotaxane 1 of mono‐6‐thio‐β‐cyclodextrin with poly(propylene glycol) bis(2‐aminopropyl ether) ( ≈ 2 000) in the presence of sodium borohydride in N,N‐dimethylformamide (DMF) solution. The investigative results indicated that the gold nanoparticle aggregate 2 might act as an efficient DNA‐cleavage reagent.

A typical TEM image of gold nanoparticle aggregate 2 .     

Sequential Electrografting and Ring‐Opening Metathesis Polymerization: a Strategy for the Tailoring of Conductive Surfaces

Summary: An electrografting technique has been combined with ring‐opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP). Poly(allyl methacrylate) chains have been chemisorbed onto steel and carbon plates under an appropriate cathodic potential in N,N‐dimethylformamide. The allyl moieties have been converted into Ru catalysts active in ROMP of norbornene and its derivatives. Initiation of ROMP from the surface is an efficient strategy to prepare strongly adhering coatings of tunable thickness and hydrophilic/hydrophobic balance, depending on the norbornene derivative polymerized at the surface.

The hydrophobicity of the polymer coating may be controlled by hydrolysis of the polynorbornene derivative.     

Low‐Band Gap Polyplatinaynes with Electron‐Accepting Silole Units

Summary: The synthesis and thermal, redox and photoluminescence properties of a soluble donor‐acceptor polyplatinayne with the electron‐accepting silole ring and its model compound are described. The polymer has an optical band gap of 2.10 eV which is much lower than that of thienyl‐ or silyl‐bridged congeners. The incorporation of electron‐accepting silole unit in the metallopolymer main chain creates a new π‐conjugated system that features unique donor‐acceptor characteristics.

     

Mechanism of inhibiting action of quinones in oxidizing polymers and model compounds

Quinones (Q) do not affect the liquid-phase oxidation of hydrocarbons and retard the solid-phase oxidation of polymers terminating chains in reactions with alkyl macroradicals. This difference is the result of specific influence of a polymer matrix on the kinetics of free radical reactions. Quinones were found to terminate chains in oxidizing polypropylene containing hydroperoxide groups by the reaction with hydroperoxyl radicals. This is the result of peroxide group's decomposition with hydrogen peroxide production and chain termination in the following reactions: The equilibrium reaction between hydroquinone (QH₂) and quinonimine (QI) was evidenced to proceed as a chain reaction with chain propagation in reactions of •QH with QI and HQI• with QH₂. Analysis of the reactions of quinone with phenols (ArOH) proved that it can be important as an additional way of chain termination in oxidizing polymers and hydrocarbons at elevated temperatures.     

Narrowly Distributed Dendronized Polymethacrylates by Reversible Addition‐Fragmentation Chain Transfer (RAFT) Polymerization

Summary: RAFT is applied to the dendronized macromonomers of the first and second generation, 1 and 2 , respectively. Good results are obtained in the presence of AIBN as radical initiator, with compound 6 as mediator and at mediator to monomer ratios of 2:200 for monomer 1 ( = 320 000, PDI = 1.24) and monomer 2 ( = 178 000, PDI = 1.20). The common characteristics of a controlled polymerization are reasonably met. The more sterically demanding G2 monomer 2 requires higher polymerization temperatures.

     

Selectivity in Polystyryllithium Chain Coupling Induced by Monobromoalkane Additives

Summary: The end coupling of living PSLi chains in hydrocarbon media by the addition of monoalkylbromides has been examined. A very selective PS–PS coupling reaction was obtained with neo‐pentylbromide (94%) at a ratio of PSLi/alkylbromide equal to 1 while the secondary and tertiary bromine derivatives yield only very limited coupling. The coupling mechanism is likely to involve a lithium‐bromine interchange at the PS chain end, generating polystyryl‐bromide which then reacts selectively with the remaining polystyryllithium chains.

     

Mesogen‐Free Supramolecular Liquid Crystalline State Formed by a Polyelectrolyte/Amphiphile Complex

Summary: The microstructure and phase transformation of a highly‐branched polyethyleneimine/octadecanoic acid (PEI(OA)_1.0) complex were investigated using a combination of DSC, XRD, optical polarised microscopy and temperature dependent FT‐IR spectroscopy. A mesogen‐free thermotropic liquid crystalline state was observed in a certain temperature region. The strong ionic interaction between  COO⁻ (from OA) and  NH (from PEI) and the hydrophobic interaction between the alkyl side chains contributes to the formation of a thermotropic liquid crystalline structure.

     

Living Ring-Opening Polymerization of Cyclic Esters with Epoxide-Derived Titanium Alkoxides

Summary: The Ti^IIICp₂Cl-catalyzed radical ring opening of epoxides produces Ti alkoxides which initiate the ring-opening polymerization of ε-caprolactone. A linear dependence of on conversion, linear kinetics, low values, and the synthesis of block copolymers demonstrate a living process, while NMR spectroscopy confirms the presence of the initiator chain end. Epoxides are thus introduced as a new class of initiators for the Ti-catalyzed living ring-opening polymerization of cyclic esters.

The TiCp₂Cl-catalyzed radical ring opening of epoxides followed by the initiation of the living ring-opening polymerization of ε-caprolactone.     

Synthesis and Characterization of α,ω‐Heterofunctional Poly(ethylene oxide) Macromonomers

A novel α,ω‐heterofunctional poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) macromonomer possessing methacryloyl and thienyl end groups was prepared by ring‐opening polymerization of ethylene oxide initiated by potassium thienylethoxide and termination of the living PEO ends with methacryloyl chloride. Incorporation of methacryloyl and thienyl groups was confirmed by free‐radical and oxidative polymerization processes, respectively, and by means of ¹H NMR analysis.

     

Fabrication of Metal‐Block‐Copolymer Composite Films by a Palladium‐Catalyzed Electroless Nickel‐Plating Process

Summary: Homogeneous films of PI‐b‐PDMAEMA are prepared on top of silicon (100) substrates. The free film surface shows microdomains of PDMAEMA within a PI matrix. These microdomains act as templates for the highly site‐selective synthesis of metal nanoparticles via palladium‐catalyzed electroless nickel plating. The particle formation is studied by atomic force microscopy in tapping mode and implications for a redox reaction and a nanoparticle growth mechanism on the surface of nanopatterned films are discussed.

Chemical structure of the PI‐b‐PDMAEMA copolymer and AFM phase image of a PI‐b‐PDMAEMA film on Si (100) substrate.     

RAFT Polymerization of Pentafluorophenyl Methacrylate: Preparation of Reactive Linear Diblock Copolymers

Summary: Reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization of pentafluorophenyl methacrylate (PFMA) was carried out in the presence of cumyldithiobenzoate and 4‐cyano‐4‐((thiobenzoyl)sulfanyl)pentanoic acid, respectively. These chain transfer agents with 2,2′‐azoisobutyronitrile (AIBN) as initiator yielded the active ester polymer poly(PFMA) with up to 17 000 g · mol⁻¹ and low polydispersity index ( < 1.2). Kinetic analysis using ¹⁹F NMR spectroscopy and gel permeation chromatography (GPC) measurements showed controlled polymerization behavior for both chain transfer agents. Successful preparation of linear diblock copolymers consisting of an active ester block and methyl methacrylate, N‐acryloylmorpholine, or N,N‐diethylacrylamide, respectively, could be demonstrated. These polymers could easily react with amines in a polymer analogous reaction to form multifunctional polymers.

     

Ring‐Opening Polymerization of ε‐Caprolactone by Poly(ethylene glycol) by an Activated Monomer Mechanism

Summary: The polymerization of ε‐caprolactone (CL) in the presence of HCl · Et₂O by an activated monomer mechanism was performed to synthesize diblock or triblock copolymers composed of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and poly(ε‐caprolactone) (PCL). The obtained PCLs had molecular weights close to the theoretical values calculated from the CL to PEG molar ratios and exibited monomodal GPC curves. We successfully prepared PEG and PCL block copolymers by a metal‐free method.

The non‐metal catalyzed living ring‐opening polymerisation of ε‐caprolactone by PEG.     

Single‐Chain‐Particles of Poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide)

Spherical single‐chain‐particles of poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) were prepared in aqueous solution above the lower critical solution temperature upon the addition of sodium dodecyl sulfate. The size of the single‐chain‐particles was investigated by means of transmission electron microscopy and viscosity measurements of the corresponding solutions, indicating the absence of inter‐chain entanglements among the single‐chain‐particles.

Schematic of the preparation of PNIPAM single‐chain‐globules in solution.     

Controlled Synthesis of a Chitosan‐Based Graft Copolymer Having Polysarcosine Side Chains Using the NCA Method with a Carboxylic Acid Additive

Summary: A novel chitosan derivative with polysarcosine side chains, i.e., chitosan‐graft‐polysarcosine [chitosan‐graft‐poly(N‐methylglycine)], was synthesized by ring‐opening polymerization of sarcosine N‐carboxyanhydride (NCA) with chitosan as a macroinitiator in the presence of carboxylic acids in dimethyl sulfoxide at 27 °C. Degree of substitution ( ) for polysarcosine side chains introduced to chitosan was controlled successfully by the feed amount of the additive nicotinic acid ( = 0.21–0.71). Independent of control, degree of polymerization ( ) for polysarcosine side chains was controlled by adjusting feed ratios of NCA monomer to chitosan ( = 14–43). Kinetic analysis of the propagation of sarcosine NCA was conducted by measuring CO₂ evolution. Apparent k_p values decreased with increased feed amounts of nicotinic acid, supporting the theory that propagation of NCA in the presence of nicotinic acid proceeds via equilibrium between active amine and dormant ammonium species.

Propagation mechanism of carboxylic acid‐mediated polymerization of sarcosine N‐carboxyanhydride.     

Addition‐Fragmentation Chain Transfer Involving Dimers of α‐Methylvinyl Monomers Studied by ESR Spectroscopy: Competition between Fragmentation and Bimolecular Termination

Detection of the adduct radical by ESR spectroscopy and after‐effect ESR measurements of the adduct radical concentrations in the photosensitized polymerization of styrene (St) in the presence of dimers of α‐methylstyrene (MSD) and methyl methacrylate have revealed that the dominant mechanism of adduct radical loss changes from bimolecular termination to fragmentation as the temperature is increased beyond 90 °C for St/MSD.

     

Hairy PEO‐Silica Nanoparticles through Surface‐Initiated Polymerization of Ethylene Oxide

Summary: The grafting of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) onto silica nanoparticles was performed in situ by the ring‐opening polymerization of the oxirane monomer initiated from the mineral surface using aluminium isopropoxide as an initiator/heterogeneous catalyst. Alcohol groups were first introduced onto silica by reacting the surfacic silanols with prehydrolyzed 3‐glycidoxypropyl trimethoxysilane. The alcohol‐grafted silica played the role of a coinitiator/chain‐transfer agent in the polymerization reaction and enabled the formation of irreversibly bonded polymer chains. Silica nanoparticles containing up to 40 wt.‐% of a hairy layer of grafted PEO chains were successfully produced by this technique.

The grafting of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) onto silica nanoparticles by in‐situ ring‐opening polymerization of the oxirane monomer.     

DMAP/Cr(III) Catalyst Ratio: The Decisive Factor for Poly(propylene carbonate) Formation in the Coupling of CO2 and Propylene Oxide

Highly efficient formation of poly(propylene carbonate) can be achieved in the coupling of CO₂ and propylene oxide assisted by 4‐(N,N‐dimethylamino)pyridine (DMAP) and catalyzed with salen chromium(III) chloride by using DMAP/Cr ratios of less than 2. Under these conditions a possible backbiting mechanism is suppressed, leading to only minor amounts of cyclic carbonate as a side product.

     

One‐Component Bimolecular Photoinitiating Systems, 2

The compounds 2‐thioxanthone‐thioacetic acid and 2‐(carboxymethoxy)thioxanthone, bimolecular photoinitiators for free radical polymerization, are synthesized and characterized. Their capability to act as initiators for the polymerization of methyl methacrylate was examined. The postulated mechanism is based on the intermolecular electron‐transfer reaction of the excited photoinitiator with the sulfur or oxygen atom of the ground state of the respective photoinitiator followed by decarboxylation. The resulting alkyl radicals initiate the polymerization.

Structures of the photoinitiators.