Synthesis of high‐molecular‐weight aliphatic–aromatic copolyesters from poly(ethylene‐co‐1,6‐hexene terephthalate) and poly(L‐lactic acid) by chain extension

A series of aliphatic–aromatic multiblock copolyesters consisting of poly(ethylene‐co‐1,6‐hexene terephthalate) (PEHT) and poly(L ‐lactic acid) (PLLA) were synthesized successfully by chain‐extension reaction of dihydroxyl terminated PEHT‐OH prepolymer and dihydroxyl terminated PLLA‐OH prepolymer using toluene‐2,4‐diisoyanate as a chain extender. PEHT‐OH prepolymers were prepared by two step reactions using dimethyl terephthalate, ethylene glycol, and 1,6‐hexanediol as raw materials. PLLA‐OH prepolymers were prepared by direct polycondensation of L ‐lactic acid in the presence of 1,4‐butanediol. The chemical structures, the molecular weights and the thermal properties of PEHT‐OH, PLLA‐OH prepolymers, and PEHT‐PLLA copolymers were characterized by FTIR, ¹H NMR, GPC, TG, and DSC. This synthetic method has been proved to be very efficient for the synthesis of high‐molecular‐weight copolyesters (say, higher than M_w = 3 × 10⁵ g/mol). Only one glass transition temperature was found in the DSC curves of PEHT‐PLLA copolymers, indicating that the PLLA and PEHT segments had good miscibility. TG curves showed that all the copolyesters had good thermal stabilities. The resulting novel aromatic–aliphatic copolyesters are expected to find a potential application in the area of biodegradable polymer materials. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 5898–5907, 2009     

Synthesis and characterization of a series of biodegradable and biocompatible PEG‐supported poly(lactic‐ran‐glycolic acid) amphiphilic barbell‐like copolymers

A series of multihydroxyl (2, 4, and 8) terminated poly(ethylene glycol)s and their biodegradable, biocompatible, and branched barbell‐like (PLGA)_n‐b‐PEG‐b‐(PLGA)_n (n = 1, 2, 4) copolymers have been synthesized. The lengths of the PLGA arms were varied by controlling the molar ratio of monomers to hydroxyl groups of PEG ([LA+GA]₀/[? OH]₀ = 23, 45, 90). Chemical structures of synthesized barbell‐like copolymers were confirmed by both ¹H and ¹³C‐NMR spectroscopies. Molecular weights were determined by ¹H‐NMR end‐group analysis and gel permeation chromatography. The result of hydrolytic degradation indicated that the rate of degradation increased with the increase of arm numbers or with the decrease of arm lengths. The thermal properties were evaluated by using differential scanning calorimetry and a thermogravimetric analysis. The results indicated that the thermal properties of barbell‐like copolymers depended on the structural variations. The morphology of (PLGA)_n‐PEG‐(PLGA)_n copolymers self‐assembly films were investigated by atomic force microscope, the results indicated that the microphase separation existed in (PLGA)_n‐PEG‐(PLGA)_n copolymers. Because of the favorable biodegradability and biocompatibility of the PLGA and PEG, these results may therefore create new possibilities for these novel structural amphiphilic barbell‐like copolymers as potential biomaterials. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 3802–3812, 2008     

Interaction of Plasma Proteins with Tri‐quaternary Ammonium Salt Cationic Surfactant Studied by QCM‐D

A tri‐quaternary ammonium salt cationic surfactant was synthesized. Its structure was confirmed by using Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy, ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy analyses. Three model surfaces, including Au‐CH₃, Au‐OH and Au‐COOH, were fabricated. Adsorptions of surfactant on the three model surfaces and subsequent plasma proteins adsorption were investigated by quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation (QCM‐D). The mass of surfactant on the Au‐COOH surface was the largest, followed by that on the Au‐CH₃ surface, and that on the Au‐OH surface. These results suggested that the main driving force of surfactant immobilization was electrostatic interaction followed by hydrophobic interaction. Based on the results obtained, we concluded that the protein mass adsorbed on Au‐CH₃‐ S , Au‐OH‐ S , and Au‐COOH‐ S surfaces depended on the protein size and orientation. The mass and thickness of S on the Au‐COOH surface is the largest and the protein adsorption capacity of Au‐COOH‐ S surface is inferior to that of Au‐CH₃‐ S . The Au‐COOH‐ S surface could inhibit lysozyme adsorption, maintain the adsorption balance of bovine serum albumin, and induce fibrinogen‐binding protein adsorption.     

Flexibilized styrene‐N‐substituted maleimide copolymers. I. Multiblock copolymers prepared from styrene‐maleimide telechelics and polytetrahydrofuran

Telechelic copolymers of styrene and different N‐substituted‐maleimides (SMIs) with a molecular weight of 2000–8000 g/mol were synthesized using the starved‐feed‐reactor technique and were nearly bifunctional when the monomer feed had a high styrene concentration. The COOH‐terminated rigid SMI blocks were polycondensated with OH‐terminated poly(tetrahydrofuran) (PTHF) blocks, with a molecular weight of 250–1000 g/mol, which are the flexible parts in the generated homogeneous multiblock copolymer. The entanglement density, which is closely related to the toughness of materials, increased in these flexible SMI copolymers (ν_e = 5.2 · 10²⁵ m⁻³) compared to the unflexibilized ones (ν_e = 2.4 · 10²⁵ m⁻³). The glass transition temperature of these flexibilized, single‐phase multiblock copolymers was still high enough to qualify them as engineering plastics. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 3550–3557, 2000     

Dihydrophilic block copolymers with ionic and nonionic blocks. I. Poly(ethylene oxide)‐b‐polyglycidol with OP(O)(OH)2, COOH,or SO3H functions: Synthesis and influence for CaCO3 crystallization

Dihydrophilic block copolymers of poly(ethylene oxide)‐b‐polyglycidol were prepared and polyglycidol blocks converted into ionic blocks containing  OP(O)(OH)₂,  COOH, or  SO₃H groups. Although phosphorylation of polyhydroxy compounds with POCl₃ usually leads to insoluble products, phosphorylation of poly(ethylene oxide)‐b‐polyglycidol using a POCl₃/ OH ratio equal to 1/1 gave soluble products, predominantly monoester of phosphoric acid (after hydrolysis) (provided that the reaction was conducted in triethyl phosphate as solvent). All copolymers were characterized by ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, and/or ³¹P NMR spectra for confirming their structure. The degree of substitution was determined from quantitative ¹³C NMR spectroscopy (inverted‐gate decoupling‐acquisition mode). Preliminary results indicate that from these three groups of block copolymers the phosphoric acid esters are the most effective ones at least in controlling the growth of CaCO₃ crystals in aqueous solution. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 39: 955–963, 2001     

Well‐defined non‐linear polyethylene‐based macromolecular architectures

Polyethylene (PE)‐based 3‐ and 4‐miktoarm star [PE(PCL)₂, PE(PCL)₃] and H‐type [(PCL)₂PE(PCL)₂] block copolymers [polycaprolactone (PCL)] were synthesized by a combination of polyhomologation, chlorosilane chemistry, and ring opening polymerization (ROP). The following steps were used for the synthesis of the miktoarm stars: (a) reaction of a hydroxy‐terminated polyethylene (PE‐OH), prepared by polyhomologation of dimethylsulfoxonium methylide with a monofunctional boron initiator followed by oxidation/hydrolysis, with chloromethyl(methyl)dimethoxysilane or chloromethyltrimethoxysilane; (b) hydrolysis of the produced ω‐di(tri)methoxysilyl‐polyethylenes to afford ω‐dihydroxy‐polyethylene (difunctional initiator) and ω‐trihydroxy‐polyethylene (trifunctional initiator); and (c) ROP of ɛ‐caprolactone with the difunctional (3‐miktoarm star) or trifunctional macroinitiator (4‐miktoarm star), in the presence of 1‐tert‐butyl‐2,2,4,4,4‐pentakis(dimethylamino)‐2λ⁵,4λ⁵‐catenadi(phosphazene) (t‐BuP₂). The H‐type block copolymers were synthesized using the same strategy, but with a difunctional polyhomologation initiator. All intermediates and final products were characterized by HT‐GPC, ¹H NMR and FTIR analyses. Thermal properties of the PE precursors and all final products were investigated by DSC and TGA. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2018 , 56, 2129–2136     

New biodegradable polymers from renewable sources: Polyester‐carbonates based on 1,3‐propylene‐co‐1,4‐cyclohexanedimethylene succinate

α,ω‐Dihydroxy‐terminated copolymeric oligomers of a 1,3‐propylene/1,4‐cyclohexanedimethylene succinate structure were obtained by the thermal polycondensation of 1,3‐propanediol/1,4‐cyclohexanedimethanol/succinic acid mixtures. They were subsequently chain‐extended via phosgene synthesis to high molecular weight aliphatic/alicyclic copolyester‐carbonates. These new polymers, besides having a biodegradable backbone, originate from two monomers, namely, 1,3‐propanediol and succinic acid, which can be obtained by renewable sources. Therefore, they have a potential as environmentally friendly materials. All synthesized materials were characterized in reference to their molecular structure by ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR. Their molecular weights and molecular weight distributions were determined by size exclusion chromatography, and their main thermal properties were measured by DSC. Spectroscopic characterizations were in full agreement with the proposed structures. 1,4‐Cyclohexanedimethanol was used as a diol comonomer to improve the overall thermal properties of poly(1,3‐propylene succinate). The results of the characterization performed show that the initial expectations were only partially satisfied. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 39: 2508–2519, 2001     

Synthesis and properties of high‐molecular‐weight stereo di‐block polylactides with nonequivalent D/L ratios

Di‐stereoblock polylactides (di‐sb‐PLA: PLLA‐b‐PDLA) having high molecular weight (M_n > 100 kDa) were successfully synthesized by two‐step ring‐opening polymerization (ROP) of L ‐ and D ‐lactides using tin(2‐ethylhexanoate) as a catalyst. By optimizing the polymerization conditions, the block sequences were well regulated at non‐equivalent feed ratios of PLLA and PDLA. This synthetic method consisted of three stages: (1) polymerization of either L ‐ or D ‐lactide to obtain a PLLA or PDLA prepolymer with a molecular weight less than 50 kDa, (2) purification of the obtained prepolymer to remove residual lactide, and (3) polymerization of the enantiomeric lactide in the presence of the purified prepolymer. Their ¹³C and ³¹P NMR spectra of the resultant di‐sb‐PLAs strongly supported their di‐stereo block structure. These di‐sb‐PLAs, having weight‐average molecular weights higher than 150 kDa, were fabricated into polymer films by solution casting and showed exclusive stereocomplexation. The thermomechanical analysis of the films revealed that their heat deformation temperature was limited probably because of their low crystallinity owing to the non‐equivalent PLLA/PDLA ratio. The blend systems of the di‐sb‐PLAs having complementary stereo‐sequences (the one with a long PLLA block and the other with long PDLA block) were also prepared and characterized to enhance the sc crystallinity. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 794–801, 2010     

Platin(0)‐Komplexe mit amino‐substituierten Alkinen: Neue Metallorganische Bausteine für supramolekulare Architekturen und „Kristall‐Engineering”︁

Platinum(0) Complexes with Amino‐Substituted Alkynes: Novel Organometallic Building Blocks for Supramolecular Architectures and “Crystal Engineering” Homoleptic Bis(alkyne)platinum(0) compounds containing either NH₂‐ or NH₂‐/OH‐substituents are formed by reaction of Pt(cod)₂ with alkynes as stable compounds. They can be used as variable building blocks for supramolecular networks. The crystal structure analyses of Bis(2‐amino‐2,5dimethyl‐5‐hydroxy‐hex‐3‐yne)platinum(0) ( 1 ) and of Bis(1(3‐amino‐3‐methyl‐but‐1‐inyl)‐cyclohexane‐1‐ol)platinum(0) ( 2 ) exhibit that the low‐valent Pt atom is tetrahedrally surrounded by the four sp‐hybridizated carbonatoms of the alkynes. Despite the fact that the bond lengths and ‐angles of the PtC₄ units are equal, the supramolecular structures are different. While in 1 polymer strands are formed in which the bis(alkyne)‐Pt⁰ units are connected by (OH)₂(NH₂)₂‐ tetrahedrons, 2 yields only a dimer containing a network of four OH‐ and two NH₂‐groups. Platinum(0) complexes with cationic alkynes bearing ammonium substituents can be isolated as thermal stable compounds. The X‐ray structures of [Cl( FH ⁺)Pt(cod)]₄ ( 8 ) reveals that four molecular units form a cube with both four NH₃⁺ groups and Cl^– at the corners connected by hydrogen bridges. In the bis(alkyne)Pt⁰ complex [Cl_1.5( FH ⁺)_1.5( F )_0.5Pt] ( 9 ) only 1,33 of two NH₂ groups are protonated and a hydrogen bridged network connects four bis(alkyne)Pt⁰ units (cod: cycloocta‐1.5‐diene, F : 1‐(trimethylsilylethinyl)‐1‐amino‐cyclohexane).     

Optimization of preparation of thermally stable cellulose nanofibrils via heat‐induced conversion of ionic bonds to amide bonds

Improving the thermal stability of nanocelluloses is important for practical applications such as melt compounded nanocellulose‐reinforced polymer composites and flexible substrates for nanocellulose‐containing electronic devices. Here, we report optimum conditions for a straightforward surface modification strategy for improving the thermal stability of 2,2,6,6‐tetramethypiperidine‐1‐oxyl (TEMPO)‐oxidized cellulose nanofibrils (TOCNs); the heat‐induced conversion of TOCN alkyl ammonium carboxylates to amides. Different amine‐terminated compounds (R‐NH₂) were grafted onto the surface of TOCNs under aqueous conditions. The influences of R‐NH₂ molecular weight, R‐NH₂/TOCN‐COOH molar ratio, and thermal stability of R‐NH₂ on the properties of the grafted TOCN films were investigated through infrared spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis. For maximum thermal improvement of up to 90 °C, complete ionic bonding of TOCN carboxy groups with R‐NH₂ was required, as well as proper selection of the R‐NH₂ compound. A controlled heating process was also needed to achieve effective ionic‐to‐amide bond conversion. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2017 , 55, 1750–1756     

Synthesis of phenanthroline‐terminated polymers and their Fe(II)‐complexes

Well‐defined mono‐ and bifunctional, phenanthroline‐terminated poly(ethylene glycol) and polyisobutylene capable of polymer network formation were synthesized. The starting materials mono‐ and bi‐phenanthroline‐ (phen) terminated poly(ethylene glycols) (mPEG‐phen, phen‐PEG‐phen) and polyisobutylenes (PIB‐phen, phen‐PIB‐phen) were prepared by the Williamson synthesis and characterized by means of ¹H NMR and MALDI‐TOF mass spectrometry. According to UV–Vis spectrophotometry and ESI‐TOF mass spectrometry, the phenanthroline‐terminated polymers underwent quantitative complex formation with ferrous ions in solution. The aqueous solution of mPEG‐phen shows self‐assembly behavior. Important parameters, such as critical micelle concentration and hydrodynamic radius of the aggregates were also determined. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 2709–2715, 2010     

High‐temperature elastomers from silarylene‐siloxane‐diacetylene linear polymers

The syntheses and characterization of linear silarylene‐siloxane‐diacetylene polymers 3a–c and their thermal conversion to crosslinked elastomeric materials 4a–c are discussed. Inclusion of the diacetylene unit required synthesis of an appropriate monomeric species. 1,4‐Bis(dimethylaminodimethylsilyl)butadiyne [(CH₃)₂N? Si(CH₃)₂? C?C? C?C? (CH₃)₂Si? N(CH₃)₂] 2 was prepared from 1,4‐dilithio‐1,3‐butadiyne and 2 equiv of dimethylaminodimethylchlorosilane. The linear polymers were prepared via polycondensation of 2 with a series of disilanol prepolymers. The low molecular weight silarylene‐siloxane prepolymers 1a–c (terminated by hydroxyl groups) were synthesized via solution condensation of an excess amount of 1,4‐bis(hydroxydimethylsilyl)benzene with bis(dimethylamino)dimethylsilane. The linear polymers were characterized by ¹H and ¹³C NMR, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, gel permeation chromatography, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and DSC. The elastomers exhibited long‐term oxidative stability up to 330 °C in air as determined by TGA. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 88–94, 2002     

Rigid‐rod polyamides and polyimides prepared from 4,3″‐diamino‐2′,6′‐di(2‐naphthyl)‐p‐terphenyl and 2′,6′,3‴,5‴‐tetra(2‐naphthyl)‐4,4″‐diamino‐p‐quinquephenyl

A series of rigid‐rod polyamides and polyimides containing p‐terphenyl or p‐quinquephenyl moieties in backbone as well as naphthyl pendent groups were synthesized from two new aromatic diamines. The polymers were characterized by inherent viscosity, elemental analysis, FT‐IR, ¹H‐NMR, ¹³C‐NMR, X‐ray, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermomechanical analysis (TMA), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), isothermal gravimetric analysis, and moisture absorption. All polymers were amorphous and displayed T_g values at 304–337°C. Polyamides dissolved upon heating in polar aprotic solvents containing LiCl as well as CCl₃COOH, whereas polyimides were partially soluble in these solvents. No weight loss was observed up to 377–422°C in N₂ and 355–397°C in air. The anaerobic char yields were 57–69% at 800°C. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 15–24, 1999     

Hydroxyl‐ and amine‐terminated hyperbranched polyurethanes using AB2‐type azide monomers: Synthesis,characterization, fluorescence,and charge‐transfer complexation studies

Novel AB₂‐type azide monomers such as 3,5‐bis(4‐methylolphenoxy)carbonyl azide (monomer 1) , 3,5‐bis(methylol)phenyl carbonyl azide (monomer 2) , 4‐(methylol phenoxy) isopthaloyl azide (monomer 3) , and 5‐(methylol) isopthaloyl azide (monomer 4) were synthesized. Melt and solution polymerization of these monomers yielded hydroxyl‐ and amine‐terminated hyperbranched polyurethanes with and without flexible ether groups. The structures of theses polymers were established using FT‐IR and NMR spectroscopy. The molecular weights (M_w) of the polymers were found to vary from 3.2 × 10³ to 5.5 × 10⁴ g/mol depending on the experimental conditions used. The thermal properties of the polymers were evaluated using TGA and DSC: the polymer obtained from monomer ( 1 ) exhibited lowest T_g and highest thermal stability and the polymer obtained from monomer ( 2 ) registered the highest T_g and lowest thermal stability. All the polymers displayed fluorescence maxima in the 425–525 nm range with relatively narrow peak widths indicating that they had pure and intense fluorescence. Also, the polymers formed charge transfer (CT) complexes with electron acceptor molecules such as 7,7,8,8‐tetracyano‐quino‐dimethane (TCNQ) and 1,1,2,2‐tetracyanoethane (TCNE) as evidenced by UV‐visible spectra. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 3337–3351, 2009     

Natural Abundance 15N NMR by Dynamic Nuclear Polarization: Fast Analysis of Binding Sites of a Novel Amine‐Carboxyl‐Linked Immobilized Dirhodium Catalyst

A novel heterogeneous dirhodium catalyst has been synthesized. This stable catalyst is constructed from dirhodium acetate dimer (Rh₂(OAc)₄) units, which are covalently linked to amine‐ and carboxyl‐bifunctionalized mesoporous silica (SBA‐15?NH₂?COOH). It shows good efficiency in catalyzing the cyclopropanation reaction of styrene and ethyl diazoacetate (EDA) forming cis‐ and trans‐1‐ethoxycarbonyl‐2‐phenylcyclopropane. To characterize the structure of this catalyst and to confirm the successful immobilization, heteronuclear solid‐state NMR experiments have been performed. The high application potential of dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) NMR for the analysis of binding sites in this novel catalyst is demonstrated. Signal‐enhanced ¹³C CP MAS and ¹⁵N CP MAS techniques have been employed to detect different carboxyl and amine binding sites in natural abundance on a fast time scale. The interpretation of the experimental chemical shift values for different binding sites has been corroborated by quantum chemical calculations on dirhodium model complexes.     

Synthesis of novel 5‐aryl‐1H‐tetrazoles

In this study phenylselenocyanate and some of its derivatives (o‐Cl, p‐Cl, p‐Br, o‐NO₂, p‐NO₂, o‐CH₃, p‐CH₃, o‐COOH, p‐COOH, p‐OCH₃ substituted) were synthesized ( 3a–3j ). The synthesized compounds were converted to 5‐aryl‐1H‐tetrazole ( 4a–4j ), by Et₃N ċ HCl‐NaN₃ in toluene, which are a new series of phenylselanyl‐1H‐tetrazoles. The structure of all the presently synthesized compounds were confirmed using spectroscopic methods (FTIR, ¹H NMR, MS). © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 18:255–258, 2007; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/hc.20293     

Controlled radical polymerization by carboxyl‐ and hydroxyl‐terminated dithiocarbamates and xanthates

Carboxyl‐ and hydroxyl‐terminated dithiocarbamates and xanthates were practically synthesized. Carboxyl‐ and hydroxyl‐terminated polymers were made from them. These reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) agents had low chain‐transfer constants that resulted in wider molecular distributions for the polymers. Nevertheless, kinetic studies showed that the polymerization behaved like a RAFT‐mediated process after a fast start. ¹H NMR and matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization spectra confirmed that the functional group or groups were cleanly transferred to the polymer end or ends. The copolymerization of methacrylates and acrylates could bring the former under control during radical polymerization. Block copolymers were synthesized through the condensation of the functional polymers with other types of functional polymers or through the condensation of the functional agents followed by radical polymerization. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 4298–4316, 2006     

Substituent effects on the Bergman cyclization of (Z)‐1,5‐hexadiyne‐3‐enes: a systematic computational study

The effects of several substituents (? BH₂, ? BF₂, ? AlH₂, ? CH₃, ? C₆H₅, ? CN, ? COCH₃, ? CF₃, ? SiH₃, ? NH₂, ? NH₃⁺, ? NO₂, ? PH₂, ? OH, ? OH₂⁺, ? SH, ? F, ? Cl, ? Br) on the Bergman cyclization of (Z)‐1,5‐hexadiyne‐3‐ene (enediyne, 3 ) were investigated at the Becke–Lee–Yang–Parr (BLYP) density functional (DFT) level employing a 6‐31G* basis set. Some of the substituents (? NH₃⁺, ? NO₂, ? OH, ? OH₂⁺, ? F, ? Cl, ? Br) are able to lower the barrier (up to a minimum of 16.9 kcal mol^?1 for difluoro‐enediyne 7rr ) and the reaction enthalpy (the cyclization is predicted to be exergonic for ? OH₂⁺ and ? F) compared to the parent system giving rise to substituted 1,4‐dehydrobenzenes at physiological temperatures. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Comput Chem 22: 1605–1614, 2001     

Polyethylene‐poly(L‐lactide) diblock copolymers: Synthesis and compatibilization of poly(L‐lactide)/polyethylene blends

A model polyethylene‐poly(L ‐lactide) diblock copolymer (PE‐b‐PLLA) was synthesized using hydroxyl‐terminated PE (PE‐OH) as a macroinitiator for the ring‐opening polymerization of L ‐lactide. Binary blends, which contained poly(L ‐lactide) (PLLA) and very low‐density polyethylene (LDPE), and ternary blends, which contained PLLA, LDPE, and PE‐b‐PLLA, were prepared by solution blending followed by precipitation and compression molding. Particle size analysis and scanning electron microscopy results showed that the particle size and distribution of the LDPE dispersed in the PLLA matrix was sharply decreased upon the addition of PE‐b‐PLLA. The tensile and Izod impact testing results on the ternary blends showed significantly improved toughness as compared to the PLLA homopolymer or the corresponding PLLA/LDPE binary blends. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 39: 2755–2766, 2001     

A series of novel side chain liquid crystalline polysiloxanes containing cyano‐ and cholesterol‐terminated substituents: Where will the structure‐dependence of terminal behavior of the side chain reappear?

A series of polysiloxane side chain liquid crystal polymers with strong polarity cyano substitution‐terminated achiral side chains and cholesterol‐terminated chiral side chains was successfully synthesized via thiol‐ene click chemistry. ¹H‐NMR, FT‐IR, and thermogravimetric analysis were used to confirm their chemical structures and thermal stabilities. Their phase transition behaviors and phase structures were systematically investigated by a combination of analysis methods such as differential scanning calorimetry, polarized optical microscopy, and X‐ray. Results revealed that attributing to the decisive role of the polarity interaction, all the polymers only developed a monolayer interdigitated SmA phase in which the period arrangement was determined by the cyano‐terminated side chains, the increased content of cholesterol‐terminated chiral side chains (X_chol) just expanded the distance between neighboring molecules within a layer. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2017 , 55, 1765–1772