Synthesis of narrow‐polydispersity degradable dendronized aliphatic polyesters

The divergent dendronization of an ?‐caprolactone‐based polymer has been performed to provide access to dendronized polymers with sufficient biocompatibility and degradability for use as drug‐delivery scaffolds. The synthesis was performed through the tin(II) 2‐ethylhexanoate‐catalyzed polymerization of a γ‐functionalized ?‐caprolactone monomer, followed by the divergent growth of pendant polyester dendrons at each repeat unit. The resulting dendronized polymers were obtained up to the fourth generation with molecular weights as high as 80,000 Da and with polydispersities between 1.11 and 1.22. The fourth‐generation hydroxyl‐terminated dendronized polymer was degradable under a variety of aqueous conditions. A comparison of the dendronization approach with a procedure involving the ring‐opening polymerization of a second‐generation dendritic macromonomer reveals that the former procedure is best suited for the preparation of this family of dendronized polyesters because it requires shorter reaction times and affords materials with higher degrees of polymerization. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 3563–3578, 2004     

Dendronized polymers via Diels–Alder “click” reaction

A modular approach toward the synthesis of polymers containing dendron groups as side chains is developed using the Diels–Alder “click” reaction. For this purpose, a styrene‐based polymer appended with anthracene groups as reactive side chains was synthesized. First through third‐generation polyester dendrons containing furan‐protected maleimide groups at their focal point were synthesized. Facile, reagent‐free, thermal Diels–Alder cycloaddition between the anthracene‐containing polymer and latent‐reactive dendrons leads to quantitative functionalization of the polymer chains to afford dendronized polymers. The efficiency of this functionalization step was monitored using ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy and FTIR and UV–vis spectrometry. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 410–416, 2010     

Synthesis of dendronized polymers through bergman cyclization of enediyne‐containing Frechet‐type dendrimers

In this article, dendronized polymers with rigid backbones were synthesized from enediyne‐containing Frechet‐type dendrimers. Two generations of dendrimers were conically incorporated with 3‐(2‐(2‐(trimethylsilyl)ethynyl)phenyl)prop‐2‐yn‐1‐ol. The trimethylsilyl protection groups of enediyne units were subsequently removed, and two types of brush polymers with rigid conjugated backbone were prepared through Bergman cyclization polymerization at elevated temperature under vacuum. The dendronized polymers were characterized with GPC, IR, UV–vis, and NMR spectroscopy. Furthermore, the morphology of the dendronized polymer was revealed by atomic force microscopy. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011     

Synthesis of dendronized polymer brushes containing metallo‐supramolecular polymer side chains

A new kind of dendronized polymer brush with metallo‐supramolecular polymer side chains was fabricated by a combination of macromonomer and graft‐to approach. The alternating copolymers of maleic anhydride and styryl macromonomers pendant with Fréchet‐type dendrons of three generations were reported previously. In this article, terpyridine groups were introduced along the backbone of the dendronized polymers through the amidolysis of anhydride groups. The terpyridine functionalized PEO linear chains were then incorporated through the complexation of terpyridine and Ru(II) ion. Thus, dendronized polymer brushes with amphiphilic properties were synthesized. AFM analysis showed worm‐like single molecular morphologies of the polymers of three generations, and ¹H NMR analysis indicated that such molecular brushes had an amphiphilic nature in solution. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 3303–3310, 2007     

End‐functionalization of semiconducting species with dendronized terpyridine–Ru(II)–terpyridine complexes

Semiconducting oligomers and polymers decorated with two or one dendronized tpy‐Ru(II)‐tpy metallocomplexes are presented. Initially, free terpyridine end‐functionalized semiconducting oligomers (distyrylanthracene, quinquephenylene, mono‐ and trifluorenes) were prepared while in a second approach, atom transfer radical polymerization was employed for the preparation of side‐chain oligomeric and polymeric (oxadiazole)s using a terpyridine initiator. These terpyridine‐bearing oligomers and polymers were complexated with a Percec‐type first‐generation (G1) dendronized terpyridine–Ru(III)Cl₃ monocomplex, having two dodecyloxy groups. All oligomeric and polymeric metallocomplexes were characterized via NMR spectroscopies for their structural perfection and via UV‐Vis and PL spectroscopies for their optical properties. The existence of the organic semiconducting blocks in combination with the terpyridine–Ru(II)–terpyridine groups afforded hybrid metallo‐semiconducting species presenting the optical features of both their components. Moreover, their thin‐film morphologies were investigated through atomic force microscopy, revealing, in some cases, an organization tendency in the nanometer scale. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 1939–1952, 2009     

Synthesis,characterization, and self‐assembly of comb‐dendronized amphiphilic block copolymers

Novel amphiphilic comb‐dendronized diblock copolymers composed of hydrophobic Percec‐type dendronized polystyrene block and hydrophilic comb‐like poly(ethylene oxide) grafted polymethacrylate P(PEOMA) block were designed and synthesized via two steps of atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). The comb‐like P(PEOMA) prepared by ATRP of macromonomers (PEOMA) with two different molecular weights (M_n = 300 and 475) were used to initiate the sequent ATRP of dendritic styrene macromonomer (DS). The molecular weights and compositions of the obtained block copolymers were determined by ¹H NMR analysis. The copolymers with relatively narrow polydispersities (1.27–1.38) were thus obtained. The bulk properties of comb‐dendronized block copolymers were studied by using differential scanning calorimetry, polarized optical microscopy and wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction (WAXD). Similar to dendronized homopolymers, the block copolymers exhibited hexagonal columnar liquid‐crystalline phase structure. By using such amphiphilic comb‐dendronized block copolymers as building blocks, the rich self‐assembly morphologies, such as twisted string, vesicle, and large compound micelle (LCM), were obtained in a mixture of CH₃OH and THF. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 4205–4217, 2008     

Synthesis and characterization of a poly(GMA)‐graft‐poly(Z‐L‐lysine) graft copolymer with a rod‐like structure

This study applied the macromonomers and glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) to synthesize a series of the graft copolymers, poly(GMA)‐graft‐poly(Z‐L ‐lysine), and investigated the conformation of the graft copolymer. The graft copolymers were synthesized with different GMA monomer ratios (28 to 89%) and different degrees of polymerization (DP) (8 to 15) of the poly(Z‐L ‐lysine) side chain to analyze secondary structure relationships. Atomic force microscopy (AFM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and both wide angle and small angle X‐ray scattering spectroscopy (WAXS, SAXS) were used to investigate the relationship between the microstructure and conformation of the graft copolymers and the different monomer ratios and side chain DP. In AFM images, n8‐G89 (the graft copolymer containing 89% GMA units and the macromonomer DP is 8) showed tiny and uniform rod‐like structures, and n14‐G43 (the graft copolymer containing 43% GMA units and the macromonomer DP is 14) showed uniform rod‐like structures. FTIR spectra of the graft copolymers showed that the variations of α‐helix and β‐sheet secondary structures in the graft copolymers relate to the monomer ratios of the graft copolymers. However, the X‐ray scattering patterns indicated that the graft copolymer conformations were mainly dependent on the poly(Z‐L ‐lysine) side chain length, and these results were completely in accordance with the AFM images. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 4655–4669, 2009     

Synthesis of an anionically chargeable, high-molar-mass, second-generation dendronized polymer and the observation of branching by scanning force microscopy

An efficient synthesis of a methacrylate-based, second-generation (G2) dendronized macromonomer and its free radical polymerization to the corresponding high-molar-mass G2 dendronized polymer are described. The molar mass is determined by gel permeation chromatography (GPC), light-scattering, and analytical ultracentrifugation and compared with values estimated from a scanning force microscopy (SFM) contour lengths analysis of individualized polymer strands on mica. The polymer carries terminal tert-butyl-protected carboxyl groups, the degree of deprotection of which with trifluoroacetic acid is quantified by NMR spectroscopy using the highest molar mass sample. SFM imaging of both protected (noncharged) and unprotected (charged) dendronized polymers on solid substrates reveals mostly linear chains but also some with main-chain branches. The nature of these branches is investigated and the degree roughly estimated to which they are formed. Finally, a synthetic model experiment is described which sheds some light on the aspect of whether chain transfer, a process that could lead to covalent branching, is of importance in the synthesis of the present dendronized polymers.     

Laccase‐catalyzed polymerization of lignocatechol and affinity on proteins of resulting polymers

For the synthesis of a new biologically functional polymer from a natural resource by an environment‐friendly method, the laccase‐catalyzed polymerization of a lignin‐based macromonomer, lignocatechol, was carried out for the first time in ethanol–phosphate buffer solvent system to give crosslinked polymers in good yields. Lignocatechol was prepared by the phase separation system of lignin and catechol in aqueous sulfuric acid. The copolymerization was also performed with urushiol to afford the corresponding copolymers in high yields. The polymerization mechanism was estimated by the IR and pyrolysis GC‐MS measurements, suggesting that the polymerization proceeded mainly at the catechol ring through a quinone radical intermediate. The thermal properties were measured by the DSC, TG, and TMA analyses, indicating that the polymers had high thermal stabilities because of the crosslinked structures. In addition, it was found that the resulting polymers had the affinity of bovine serum albumin (BSA) and glucoamylase. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 824–832, 2009     

Facile synthesis of dumbbell‐shaped dendritic‐linear‐dendritic triblock copolymer via reversible addition‐fragmentation chain transfer polymerization

We report the first instance of facile synthesis of dumbbell‐shaped dendritic‐linear‐dendritic triblock copolymer, [G‐3]‐PNIPAM‐[G‐3], consisting of third generation poly(benzyl ether) monodendrons ([G‐3]) and linear poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM), via reversible addition‐fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. The key step was the preparation of novel [G‐3]‐based RAFT agent, [G‐3]‐CH₂SCSSCH₂‐[G‐3] (1), from third‐generation dendritic poly(benzyl ether) bromide, [G‐3]‐CH₂Br. Due to the bulky nature of [G‐3]‐CH₂Br, its transformation into trithiocarbonate 1 cannot go to completion, a mixture containing ～80 mol % of 1 and 20 mol % [G‐3]‐CH₂Br was obtained. Dumbbell‐shaped [G‐3]‐PNIPAM₃₁₀‐[G‐3] triblock copolymer was then successfully obtained by the RAFT polymerization of N‐isopropylacylamide (NIPAM) using 1 as the mediating agent, and trace amount of unreacted [G‐3]‐CH₂Br was conveniently removed during purification by precipitating the polymer into diethyl ether. The dendritic‐linear‐dendritic triblock structure was further confirmed by aminolysis, and fully characterized by gel permeation chromatography (GPC) and ¹H‐NMR. The amphiphilic dumbbell‐shaped triblock copolymer contains a thermoresponsive PNIPAM middle block, in aqueous solution it self‐assembles into spherical nanoparticles with the core consisting of hydrophobic [G‐3] dendritic block and stabilized by the PNIPAM central block, forming loops surrounding the insoluble core. The micellar properties of [G‐3]‐PNIPAM₃₁₀‐[G‐3] were then fully characterized. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 1432–1445, 2007     

Micellar polymerization of amphiphilic poly(vinyl alcohol) macromonomer having a methacrylate end group prepared by aldol‐type group‐transfer polymerization

Amphiphilic and heterotactic‐rich poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) macromonomer, that is, PVA having a phenyl or phenoxyethyl methacrylate unit as the polymerizable end group, was synthesized via the aldol‐type group‐transfer polymerization (aldol‐GTP) technique. Aldol‐GTPs of vinyloxytriethylsilane (VOTES) were carried out in dichloromethane with 4‐methacryloylbenzaldehyde and 4‐(2‐methacryloylethoxy)benzaldehyde as the initiators with various Lewis acids. The polymerizations proceeded smoothly to give silylated PVA macromonomers (number‐average molecular weights: 1.3 × 10³–1.96 × 10⁴). Poly(VOTES) was easily desilylated to give heterotactic‐rich PVA macromonomer in good yield. The critical micelle concentration of the PVA macromonomer was determined by surface‐tension measurement. Micellar polymerization of the amphiphilic macromonomer gave comb‐shaped (graft) polymer having PVA side chains effectively (conversion: 80–82%), whereas polymerization in dimethyl sulfoxide (homogeneous state) did not. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 4477–4484, 2002     

Living cationic polymerization of a vinyl ether with an unprotected pendant alkynyl group and their use for the protecting group‐free synthesis of macromonomer‐type glycopolymers via CuAAC with maltosyl azides

An asymmetric bifunctional monomer having both an unprotected alkynyl group and a vinyl ether (VE) group (3‐[2‐(2‐vinyloxyethoxy)‐ethoxy]‐propyne [VEEP]) was newly designed and found that the polymerization of VEEP smoothly proceeded in a controlled manner under a living cationic polymerization condition to give alkyne‐substituted polyVE (polyVEEP) without any protection of the pendant alkynyl function. Next, the use of an initiator with a methacryloyl moiety for the living cationic polymerization of VEEP afforded macromonomer‐type polyVE (MA‐PVEEP) carrying pendant alkynyl groups. The potential ability of the resultant macromonomer as an alkyne‐substituted polymer for the copper(I)‐catalyzed alkyne‐azide cycloaddition (CuAAC) was also confirmed. A novel macromonomer‐type glycopolymer [MA‐P(VE‐Mal)] having pendant maltose residues and a terminal methacryloyl group was successfully synthesized by CuAAC of MA‐PVEEP with maltosyl azide. Thus, a new pathway to the controlled synthesis of macromonomer‐type glycopolymers of free from any protecting/deprotecting processes was demonstrated. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2019 , 57, 681–688     

Synthesis of well‐defined second‐generation dendritic polymers of isoprene (I) and styrene (S): (S2I)3, (SI′I)3, (I″I′I)3, and (I′2I)4

The synthesis of second‐generation (G‐2) dendritic polymers of isoprene (I) and styrene (S) was achieved with anionic polymerization high‐vacuum techniques and by performing the following steps: (1) selective reaction of a living chain with the chlorosilane group of 4‐(chlorodimethylsilyl)styrene (a dual‐functionality compound) to produce a macromonomer, (2) addition of a second living chain (same or different) to the double bond of the macromonomer, (3) polymerization of I with the anionic sites, and (4) reaction of the produced off‐center living species with trichloromethyl silane or tetrachlorosilane (CH₃SiCl₃ or SiCl₄). The combined characterization results showed that the G‐2 dendritic macromolecules synthesized—(S₂I)₃, (SI′I)₃, (I″I′I)₃, (I′₂I)₄—have a high molecular and compositional homogeneity. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 1519–1526, 2002     

Water‐soluble polymers from acid‐functionalized norbornenes

Unprotected exo,exo‐5‐norbornene‐2,3‐dicarboxylic acid and exo,exo‐7‐oxa‐5‐norbornene‐2,3‐dicarboxylic acid were polymerized via ring‐opening metathesis polymerization. This reaction yielded polymers with molecular weights (M_n from GPC) ranging from 31 to 242 kg/mol and polydispersity indices between 1.05 and 1.12, using Grubbs' third generation catalyst. The water solubility as a function of pH value of the polymers was investigated by dynamic light scattering (DLS). DLS and acid‐base titration revealed that the oxanorbornene polymer was water soluble over a wider pH range than its norbornene analog. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 1266–1273, 2009     

Synthesis of porphyrin‐embedded dendronized polymers by Suzuki polycondensation

Porphyrin‐embedded high molecular weight dendronized polymers up to fourth generation have been synthesized by Suzuki polycondensation of Fréchet‐type dendritic dibromo macromonomers and porphyrin diboronic pinacol ester. Higher generation lateral dendritic wedges not only endow the dendronized polymers with good solubility in commonly used organic solvents, but also prevent planar porphyrins and conjugated polymer backbones from aggregating by their “site isolation” effect. This type of porphyrin‐embedded dendronized polymers can be used as saturated red light‐emitting materials. With the increase of the generation of the lateral dendrons, the quantum yields of the dendronized polymers also gradually increased. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 4030–4037, 2008     

Synthesis of four‐arm star poly(L‐lactide) oligomers using an in situ‐generated calcium‐based initiator

Using an in situ‐generated calcium‐based initiating species derived from pentaerythritol, the bulk synthesis of well‐defined four‐arm star poly(L ‐lactide) oligomers has been studied in detail. The substitution of the traditional initiator, stannous octoate with calcium hydride allowed the synthesis of oligomers that had both low PDIs and a comparable number of polymeric arms (3.7–3.9) to oligomers of similar molecular weight. Investigations into the degree of control observed during the course of the polymerization found that the insolubility of pentaerythritol in molten L ‐lactide resulted in an uncontrolled polymerization only when the feed mole ratio of L ‐lactide to pentaerythritol was 13. At feed ratios of 40 and greater, a pseudoliving polymerization was observed. As part of this study, in situ FT‐Raman spectroscopy was demonstrated to be a suitable method to monitor the kinetics of the ring‐opening polymerization of lactide. The advantages of using this technique rather than FTIR‐ATR and ¹H NMR for monitoring L ‐lactide consumption during polymerization are discussed. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 4736–4748, 2009     

Melt rheology of hyperbranched‐polystyrene synthesized with multisite macromonomer

Melt rheological behaviors of hyperbranched‐polystyrene (PS) copolymerized by dendric macromonomer technique are presented. The time–temperature superposition principle was applicable to the hyperbranched‐PS. The branched‐PS showed slightly lower zero‐shear viscosity in comparison with linear PS regardless of a presence of a number of branches expected from the dendric macromonomer technique. Although the influence of use of multimethacryloyl macromonomer in the polymerization process was marginal for linear viscoelastic regime, nonlinear shear and uniaxial elongational flows showed distinct differences between linear and branched‐PS. The strain dependence of the damping function became weak as increase of macromonomer content. The branched‐PS exhibited the growing elongational viscosity function comparing with linear PS. This prominent effect on the elongational flow behavior can be explained by the molecular architecture of the branched‐PS. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 47: 2226–2237, 2009     

Ring‐opening metathesis polymerization of cis‐cyanocyclooct‐4‐ene: Search for active catalysts,variation of monomer to catalyst ratios and monomer concentrations

The ring‐opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) of cis‐cyanocyclooct‐4‐ene initiated by ruthenium‐based catalysts of the first, second, and third generation was studied. For the polymerization with the second generation Grubbs catalyst [RuCl₂(?CHPh)(H₂IMes)(PCy₃)] (H₂IMes = N,N′‐bis(mesityl)‐4,5‐dihydroimidazol‐2‐ylidene), the critical monomer concentration at which polymerization occurs was determined, and variation of monomer to catalyst ratios was performed. For this catalyst, ROMP of cis‐cyanocyclooct‐4‐ene did not show the features of a living polymerization as M_n did not linearly increase with increasing monomer conversion. As a consequence of slow initiation rates and intramolecular polymer degradation, molar masses passed through a maximum during the course of the polymerization. With third generation ruthenium catalysts (which contain 3‐bromo or 2‐methylpyridine ligands), polymerization proceeded rapidly, and degradation reactions could not be observed. Contrary to ruthenium‐based catalysts of the second and third generation, a catalyst of the first generation was not able to polymerize cis‐cyanocyclooct‐4‐ene. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011     

Controlled cyclopolymerization of 4,5-disubstituted 1,7-octadiynes and its application to the synthesis of a dendronized polymer using Grubbs catalyst

Cyclopolymerization of 1,7-octadiynes using a ruthenium-based Grubbs catalyst, to produce conjugated polymers containing six-membered rings as repeat units is generally much slower than the corresponding polymerization of 1,6-heptadiynes, and thus it is considered less useful. Here, we demonstrate the regioselective cyclopolymerization of 4,5-disubstituted 1,7-octadiynes with considerably enhanced reactivity. Using a third generation Grubbs catalyst with a rapid initiation step, various conjugated polymers with low polydispersity indices (PDIs) could be synthesized under optimized conditions. Among the various monomers tested, those with bulky substituents underwent controlled polymerization within 1 h at room temperature, which was a significant improvement over previous reports. This led us to a more efficient preparation of fully conjugated block copolymers. Finally, owing to the fast cyclopolymerization, a synthetically challenging dendronized polymer was successfully prepared from a macromonomer containing two second generation dendrons at the 4 and 5 positions of 1,7-octadiyne, and its rod-like conformation was visualized using atomic force microscopy. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2015 , 53, 274–279     

Dendronized supramolecular polymers self‐assembled from dendritic ionic liquids

The synthesis, structural, and retrostructural analysis of a library of self‐assembling dendrons containing triethyl and tripropyl ammonium, pyridinium and 3‐methylimidazolium chloride, tetrafluoroborate, and hexafluorophosphate at their apex are reported. These dendritic ionic liquids self‐assemble into supramolecular columns or spheres which self‐organize into 2D hexagonal or rectangular and 3D cubic or tetragonal liquid crystalline and crystalline lattices. Structural analysis by X‐ray diffraction experiments demonstrated the self‐assembly of supramolecular dendrimers containing columnar and spherical nanoscale ionic liquid reactors segregated in their core. Both in the supramolecular columns and spheres the noncovalent interactions mediated by the ionic liquid provide a supramolecular polymer and therefore, these assemblies represent a new class of dendronized supramolecular polymers. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 4165–4193, 2009