New Poly(arylene ethynylene)s Consisting of Electron‐Deficient Aryleneimide Units

Summary: A new class of poly(arylene ethynylene)s (PAEs) containing an electron‐deficient N‐alkylphthalimide unit was prepared by means of a Sonogashira reaction. Complete solubility of the PAEs was observed by utilizing a 2,6‐diisopropylphenyl side chain. The chemical structure of the novel soluble polymer 3c was confirmed by NMR spectra, whereas the insoluble polymers were characterized by elemental analysis and IR spectra. Fluorescence measurements of 3c indicate a rigid structure and high symmetry in the excited state.

     

Tuning the Properties of Graphdiyne by Introducing Electron‐Withdrawing/Donating Groups

The properties of graphdiyne (GDY), such as energy gap, morphology, and affinity to alkali metals, can be adjusted by including electron‐withdrawing/donating groups. The push–pull electron ability and size differences of groups play a key role on the partial property adjusting of GDY derivatives MeGDY, HGDY, and CNGDY. Cyano groups (electron‐withdrawing) and methyl groups (electron‐donating) decrease the band gap and increase the conductivity of the GDY network. The cyano and methyl groups affects the aggregation of GDY, providing a higher number of micropores and specific surface area. These groups also endow the original GDY additional advantages: the stronger electronegativity of cyano groups increase the affinity of GDY frameworks to lithium atoms, and the larger atomic volume of methyl groups increases the interlayer distance and provides more storage space and diffusion tunnels.     

Remarkable Change in Fluorescence Emission of Poly(diphenylacetylene) Film via in situ Desilylation Reaction: Correlation with Variations in Microporous Structure,Chain Conformation,and Lamellar Layer Distance

Fluorescence (FL) emission properties, microporous structures, energy‐minimized chain conformations, and lamellar layer structures of the silicon‐containing poly(diphenylacetylene) derivative of p‐PTMSDPA before and after desilylation were investigated. The nitrogen‐adsorption isotherms of p‐PTMSDPA film before and after desilylation were typical of type I, indicating microporous structures. The BET surface area and pore volume of the p‐PTMSDPA film were significantly reduced after the desilylation reaction, simultaneously, its FL emission intensity remarkably decreased. The theoretical calculation on both model compounds of p‐PTMSDPA and its desilylated polymer, PDPA, showed a remarkable difference in chain conformation: The side phenyl rings of p‐PTMSDPA are discontinuously arranged in a zig‐zag pattern, while the PDPA is continuously coiled in a helical manner. The lamellar layer distance (LLD) in the p‐PTMSDPA film significantly decreased after the desilylation reaction.

     

聚二苯基乙炔耐溶剂纳滤膜的制备与性能

聚二苯基乙炔(PDPA)不溶于有机溶剂,是理想的新型耐溶剂纳滤膜材料。采用溶液浇铸法制备聚[1-(4-三甲基硅基)苯基-2-苯乙炔](PTMSDPA)均质膜,经脱硅反应得到PDPA膜,研究其乙醇渗透性能和染料截留性能。结果表明,乙醇渗透通量与压力呈正相关性,传质机理可能介于孔流机理和溶解扩散机理之间的过渡区。染料的分子尺寸、电荷性质以及染料和膜之间的相互作用共同影响PDPA膜的截留性能。     

Fabrication of Poly(L‐lactide)‐block‐Poly(ethylene glycol)‐block‐Poly(L‐lactide) Triblock Copolymer Thin Films with Nanochannels: An AFM Study

This paper aims to report the fabrication of biodegradable thin films with micro‐domains of cylindrical nanochannels through the solvent‐induced microphase separation of poly(L ‐lactide)‐block‐poly(ethylene glycol)‐block‐poly(L ‐lactide) (PLA‐b‐PEG‐b‐PLA) triblock copolymers with different block ratios. In our experimental scope, an increase in each of the block lengths of the PLA and PEG blocks led to both a variation in the average number density (146 to 32 per 100 µm²) and the size of the micro‐domains (140 to 427 nm). Analyses by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and fluorescence microscopy indicated that the hydrophilic PEG nanochannels were dispersed in the PLA matrix of the PLA‐b‐PEG‐b‐PLA films. We demonstrated that the micro‐domain morphology could be controlled not only by the block length of PEG, but also by the solvent evaporation conditions.

     

Packing Studies on Poly(di‐n‐alkylsilylenemethylene)s

The packing of poly(di‐n‐alkylsilylenemethylene) (PDASMs) chains was studied by using X‐ray, electron diffraction, and molecular modeling methods. X‐ray and electron diffraction measurements revealed unit cells in which the PDASMs were efficiently packed. The PDASM with the longer alkyl side chains, such as poly(di‐n‐propylsilylenemethylene) (PDPrSM), showed packing with the alkyl side chains interlocked with each other like cross‐shaped gears in the two‐dimensional monoclinic unit cell. The PDASM with the shorter ethyl substituent, poly(di‐n‐ethylsilylenemethylene) (PDESM), showed a lack of ability to interlock its side chains due to the short length of the alkyl groups. In these studies, we found that the length of the alkyl side chains could change the packing arrangement of PDASMs from monoclinic to orthorhombic to hexagonal with only short‐range order as the alkyl side chain length decreases at room temperature.

The ab projection of a 4 × 4 chain array of poly(di‐n‐propylsilylenemethylene) (PDPSM) in the monoclinic unit cell.     

Poly(cyclic imino ether)s Beyond 2‐Substituted‐2‐oxazolines

2‐Oxazolines (2‐OZO) are 5‐membered cyclic imino ethers whose cationic ring‐opening polymerization (CROP) mechanism and resulting polymer properties are extensively studied. However, also 6‐ and 7‐membered cyclic imino ethers can be polymerized via CROP. Together with the much less studied 4‐ and 5‐substituted main‐chain chiral poly(2‐oxazoline)s (P‐2‐OZO), these compounds are interesting monomers to enhance the versatility of (co)poly(cyclic imino ether)s. To emphasize the potential of such alternative cyclic imino ether monomers, we provide an overview on the polymerizations of 2‐oxazine (2‐OZI) and chiral 4‐ and 5‐substituted 2‐OZO as well as of selected properties of the resulting polymers. In addition, the hydrolysis of these polymers into the corresponding poly(alkylene imine)s will be addressed.

     

侧链对聚对苯撑乙炔溶解性和光谱性能的影响

利用钯催化反应合成了一类侧链含不同烷氧取代基(甲氧基，辛烷氧基，十二烷氧基)的聚时苯撑乙炔，讨论了侧链烷氧取代基对聚对苯撑乙炔的分子量和溶解性的影响，比较了聚合物的紫外吸收光谱和荧光光谱特征。     

Strong Fluorescence of Poly(N‐vinylpyrrolidone) and Its Oxidized Hydrolyzate

Discovering fluorescence of existing compounds, which are generally regarded as non‐fluorescent, is of important academic and technical significance. This article reports the fluorescence of common compounds containing pyrrolidone ring(s) and their oxidized hydrolyzates. Poly(N‐vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP), polymerized from a very weak fluorescent monomer N‐vinyl‐2‐pyrrolidone (NVP), exhibits strong intrinsic fluorescence. Moreover, the fluorescence of its “hydrolyzate” is dramatically enhanced by about 1000 times. The “hydrolyzate” of N‐methyl‐pyrrolidone (NMP) also exhibits significantly enhanced fluorescence. By studying the chemical structures and fluorescence of the hydrolyzates, the enhanced fluorescence is attributed to the formation of secondary amine oxide. The much stronger fluorescence of the polymers compared to the corresponding small molecular compounds is ascribed to the “aggregation‐induced emission” (AIE) effect of the luminophores. PVP and its oxidized hydrolyzate also show some phenomena different to the common AIE effect. The fluorescence of PVP and its oxidized hydrolyzate shows stimuli response to metal ions and pH values. This study introduces novel fluorescent materials for various potential applications.

     

New Water‐Soluble Cationic Poly(p‐phenylenevinylene) Derivative: the Interaction with DNA and Selective Fluorescence Enhancement Induced by ssDNA

A new cationic cyano‐substituted poly(p‐phenylenevinylene) (N‐CNPPV) is synthesized by Knoevenagel condensation. The water‐soluble polymer shows different emission spectra in different solvents and displays unique fluorescent behaviors in the mixed solvents of water and THF. The new polymer can form a complex with ssDNA by adopting a more planar conformation, exhibiting red shift of emission wavelength and enhancement of fluorescence intensity. By investigating the fluorescent response of N‐CNPPV to various surfactants, we demonstrate that the hydrophobic interaction and electrostatic interaction result in the selective response of N‐CNPPV to ssDNA. This is the first report on selective fluorescence enhancement of conjugated polyelectrolyte induced by ssDNA.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Poly(phenylacetylene)s with Ru(II) Bis‐Terpyridine Complexes in the Side‐Chain

An alkyne‐functionalized ruthenium(II) bis‐terpyridine complex is directly copolymerized with phenylacetylene by alkyne polymerization. The polymer is characterized by size‐exclusion chromatography (SEC), ¹H NMR spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry (CV) measurements, and thermal analysis. The photophysical properties of the polymer are studied by UV–vis absorption spectroscopy. In addition, spectro‐electrochemical measurements are carried out. Time‐resolved luminescence lifetime decay curves show an enhanced lifetime of the metal complex attached to the conjugated polymer backbone compared with the Ru(tpy)₂²⁺ model complex.

     

Substituent effects in trans‐p,p′‐disubstituted azobenzenes: X‐ray structures at 100 K and DFT‐calculated structures

The crystal and molecular structures of two para‐substituted azobenzenes with π‐electron‐donating –NEt₂ and π‐electron‐withdrawing –COOEt groups are reported, along with the effects of the substituents on the aromaticity of the benzene ring. The deformation of the aromatic ring around the –NEt₂ group in N,N,N′,N′‐tetraethyl‐4,4′‐(diazenediyl)dianiline, C₂₀H₂₈N₄, (I), may be caused by steric hindrance and the π‐electron‐donating effects of the amine group. In this structure, one of the amine N atoms demonstrates clear sp²‐hybridization and the other is slightly shifted from the plane of the surrounding atoms. The molecule of the second azobenzene, diethyl 4,4′‐(diazenediyl)dibenzoate, C₁₈H₁₈N₂O₄, (II), lies on a crystallographic inversion centre. Its geometry is normal and comparable with homologous compounds. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations were performed to analyse the changes in the geometry of the studied compounds in the crystalline state and for the isolated molecules. The most significant changes are observed in the values of the N=N—C—C torsion angles, which for the isolated molecules are close to 0.0°. The HOMA (harmonic oscillator model of aromaticity) index, calculated for the benzene ring, demonstrates a slight decrease of the aromaticity in (I) and no substantial changes in (II).     

Poly(pyridinium salt)s with stilbene or distyrylbenzene chromophores

A new series of poly(pyridinium salt)s that contained side stilbenyl groups or p‐distirylbenzene segments in the main chain were synthesized from the reactions of bis(pyrylium salts) with diamines. They were characterized by viscometry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, NMR, X‐ray scattering, differential scanning calorimetry, thermomechanical analysis, ultraviolet–visible analysis, and luminescence spectroscopy. The polymers were amorphous and soluble in polar aprotic solvents such as dimethylacetamide, dimethylformamide, and dimethyl sulfoxide. The glass‐transition temperatures were in the range of 59–123 °C. These polymers had initial decomposition temperatures of 240–295 °C and afforded anaerobic char yields of 29–53% at 800 °C. Both the absorption and photoluminescence (PL) spectra of the polymers were studied, and the PL quantum yields in solution were determined. The polymers showed violet‐blue fluorescence in solution with PL maxima at 408–416 nm and violet‐green fluorescence in thin film with PL maxima at 454–523 nm. The structure of the diamine utilized for the preparation of the polymers did not influence their PL maxima. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 39: 2454–2462, 2001     

Thermoresponsive Poly(2‐oxazine)s

The monomers 2‐methyl‐2‐oxazine (MeOZI), 2‐ethyl‐2‐oxazine (EtOZI), and 2‐n‐propyl‐2‐oxazine (nPropOZI) were synthesized and polymerized via the living cationic ring‐opening polymerization (CROP) under microwave‐assisted conditions. pEtOZI and pnPropOZI were found to be thermoresponsive, exhibiting LCST behavior in water and their cloud point temperatures (T_CP) are lower than for poly(2‐oxazoline)s with similar side chains. However, comparison of poly(2‐oxazine) and poly(2‐oxazoline)s isomers reveals that poly(2‐oxazine)s are more water soluble, indicating that the side chain has a stronger impact on polymer solubility than the main chain. In conclusion, variations of both the side chains and the main chains of the poly(cyclic imino ether)s resulted in a series of distinct homopolymers with tunable T_CP.     

Poly(amido‐amine)s Carrying Primary Amino Groups as Side Substituents

Poly(amido‐amine)s carrying primary amino groups as side substituents have been obtained by polyaddition of N‐triphenylmethyl‐monosubstituted 1,2‐diaminoethane (TPHMAE) to 2,2‐bisacrylamido acetic acid or 1,4‐bisacryloylpiperazine and subsequent removal of the protecting triphenylmethyl group by treating the resultant polymers with aqueous hydrochloric acid. Soluble polymers can be also obtained directly by the polyaddition of monoprotonated 1,2‐diaminoethane to 2,2‐bisacrylamido acetic acid in the presence of a limited amount of added acetic or hydrochloric acid. The resultant polymers are of a higher molecular weight than the corresponding ones prepared from TPHMAE. By adding a limited amount of N‐triphenylmethyl‐monosubstituted 1,2‐diaminoethane to the monomer mixtures leading to poly(amido‐amine)s with a recognised potential as nonviral vectors, such as ISA 23 and ISA 1, a controlled number of pendant primary amino groups have been introduced. By this procedure, ISA 23 and ISA 1 become suitable as polymer carriers for carboxylated drugs as well as amenable to the labelling techniques by fluorescent probes commonly employed for proteins.

Formation of monoprotected primary diamines.     

Synthesis of Poly(ethylene oxide)s Bearing Functional Groups along the Chain

Well‐defined poly(ethylene oxide)s (PEOs) bearing reactive sites regularly distributed along the chain have been synthesized by the polycondensation of PEO containing a central tertiary amino group with dichloromethane, followed by quaternization with suitable reagents to obtain polyzwitterionic or cationic PEOs with alkyl, allyl, or fluorocarbon pendant groups. The pendant allyl groups have been converted into primary amino groups by reaction with 2‐aminoethanethiol hydrochloride to obtain polyamino‐functionalized PEO.

Polyfunctional PEOs bearing different pendant groups.     

Water‐soluble poly(ethylene oxide)‐block‐poly(p‐phenylene vinylene) copolymer: Synthesis and characterization

Water‐soluble and photoluminescent block copolymers [poly(ethylene oxide)‐block‐poly(p‐phenylene vinylene) (PEO‐b‐PPV)] were synthesized, in two steps, by the addition of α‐halo‐α′‐alkylsulfinyl‐p‐xylene from activated poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) chains in tetrahydrofuran at 25 °C. This copolymerization, which was derived from the Vanderzande poly(p‐phenylene vinylene) (PPV) synthesis, led to partly converted PEO‐b‐PPV block copolymers mixed with unreacted PEO chains. The yield, length, and composition of these added sequences depended on the experimental conditions, namely, the order of reagent addition, the nature of the monomers, and the addition of an extra base. The addition of lithium tert‐butoxide increased the length of the PPV precursor sequence and reduced spontaneous conversion. The conversion into PPV could be achieved in a second step by a thermal treatment. A spectral analysis of the reactive medium and the composition of the resulting polymers revealed new evidence for an anionic mechanism of the copolymerization process under our experimental conditions. Moreover, the photoluminescence yields were strongly dependant on the conjugation length and on the solvent, with a maximum (70%) in tetrahydrofuran and a minimum (<1%) in water. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 4337–4350, 2005     

Poly(phenylene ethynylene)s with alkoxyphenyl substituents

Two new poly(phenylene ethynylene)s with alkoxyphenyl substituents were synthesized and characterized. The polymers were amorphous, dissolved readily in common organic solvents, and showed glass‐transition temperatures at 162–175 °C. They showed blue photoluminescence both in solution and in the solid state due to the steric interaction between the substituents and the main chain that caused an interruption of the conjugation length. The quantum yields in a tetrahydrofuran solution were up to 0.63. Excimer emission was the dominant product of the photoexcitation of thin films of the polymers. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 1449–1455, 2002     

Poly(p‐phenylenevinylene) presenting pendent pentaphenylene dendron groups for light‐emitting diodes

We have synthesized, using the Gilch method, a novel poly(p‐phenylenevinylene) derivative (PPV‐PP) containing two pendent pentaphenylene dendritic wedges, and have characterized its structure and properties. The incorporated side chain pentaphenylene dendrons serve as solubilizing groups, prevent π‐stacking interactions from occurring between the polymer main chains, and suppress the formation of excimers in the solid state. Photoluminescence studies indicate that efficient intramolecular energy transfer occurred from the photoexcited pentaphenylene groups to the poly(p‐phenylenevinylene) backbone. The polymer film exhibits a maximum emission at 510 nm and had a photoluminescence efficiency of 46%, which is similar to that measured in dilute solution. The photoluminescence spectra remained almost unchanged after thermal annealing at 150 °C for 20 h, and displayed inhibited excimer formation. Polymer light‐emitting diodes that we fabricated in the configuration ITO/PEDOT/PPV‐PP/Mg:Ag/Ag exhibited a maximum emission peak at 513 nm, corresponding to the green region [x = 0.30 and y = 0.62 in the Commission Internationale de L'Eclairage (CIE) chromaticity coordinates]. The maximum brightness and maximum luminance efficiency were 1562 cd/m² and 1.93 cd/A, respectively. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 5147–5155, 2005     

Light‐emitting copolymers based on fluorene and selenophene—Comparative studies with its sulfur analogue: Poly(fluorene‐co‐thiophene)

A series of soluble conjugated copolymers derived from 9,9‐dioctylfluorene (FO) and selenophene (SeH) was synthesized by a palladium‐catalyzed Suzuki coupling reaction with various feed ratios of SeH to FO less than or equal to 50%. The efficient energy transfer from fluorene segments to narrow band‐gap selenophene sites was observed. In comparison with the very well studied copolymer poly(fluorene‐co‐thiophene), poly(9,9‐dioctylfluorene‐co‐selenophene) (PFO‐SeH) shows redshifted photoluminescence (PL) and electroluminescence (EL) emission. PL spectra of the PFO‐SeH copolymers show a significant redshift along with increasing selenophene content in the copolymers and also with increasing polymer concentration in solution. PL quantum efficiency of the selenophene‐containing PFO copolymer is much lower than that of corresponding PFO‐thiophene (Th) copolymers. All these features of PFO‐SeH copolymers can be explained by the difference in aromaticity of selenophene and thiophene heterocycles and the heavy atom effect of Se in comparison with S‐atoms. The device fabricated with PFO‐SeH15 as the emissive layer exhibited high external quantum efficiency (0.51%) at a luminance of 1570 cd/m². Device performance is limited by electron injection and the strong quenching effect of Se atoms. Devices with PFO‐SeH copolymers blended into PFO homopolymers show significant improvement in device performance. External quantum efficiency as high as 1.7% can be obtained for PFO‐SeH30/PFO blend devices. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 823–836, 2005