Thermotropic liquid crystalline polymers. I. Cholesterol-containing polymers and copolymers

An approach to the creation of thermotropic cholesterol-containing liquid crystalline polymers by the chemical binding of cholesterol molecules with side chains of comblike polymers is presented. This type of structure permits a decrease in the steric hindrances provided by the backbone chains for the purpose of realizing the liquid crystalline state. A number of new cholesteric esters of poly(N-methacryloyl-ω-aminocarbonic acid)s (PChMAA-n) with different side-chain lengths (n = 2–11) as well as a series of copolymers of ChMA-n with n-alkylacrylates and n-alkylmethacrylates have been synthesized. The experimental evidence of liquid crystalline structure formation in these polymers in glass, viscoelastic, and fluid states is discussed. Molecular and supermolecular structures of cholesterol-containing comblike polymers have been studied and the model of macromolecular packing in the liquid crystalline state is proposed. It is shown that the existence of a layered order of side methylene groups together with ordering of cholesterol groups is necessary to the production of the liquid crystalline state in these polymers.     

Application of novel polymers with S‐alkylsulfonium salt moieties as alkylating agents and thermal latent cationic initiators

Sulfonium‐containing polymers prepared from dibenzothiophene and diphenyl sulfide were applied as both alkylating agents and latent initiators for the cationic polymerization of glycidyl phenyl ether. The alkylation of acetonitrile proceeded smoothly with poly(S‐n‐octyl‐2‐vinyldibenzothiophenium tetrafluoroborate) ( 4 ; 64 mol % octyldibenzothiophenium tetrafluoroborate unit) to give N‐(n‐octyl)acetamide in an excellent yield on the basis of the starting octyldibenzothiophenium tetrafluoroborate unit in 4 . The cationic polymerization of glycidyl phenyl ether was also carried out in the presence of poly(S‐methyl‐2‐vinyldibenzothiophenium tetrafluoroborate) or poly(S‐n‐octyl‐4‐vinyldiphenylsulfonium tetrafluoroborate) to confirm their moderate thermal latent activity. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 39: 3928–3933, 2001     

Spectroscopic study of rigid-rod polymers. I. Structures of model compounds

Poly(p-phenylene benzbisoxazole) and poly(p-phenylene benzbisthiazole) belong to the class of extended-chain, rigid-rod polymers possessing high modulus, high strength, and good thermal and oxidative resistance. Fibers and films of these polymers are processed from anisotropic solutions in strong acids such as methane sulfonic acid or polyphosphoric acid. The electronic absorption and vibrational spectra of the model compounds have been investigated in order to characterize the structures in the solid state and in nonprotonic solvents. The dramatic intensity differences in the spectra obtained have been interpreted by variations in the dihedral angle between the plane of the phenyl group and the plane of the central heterocyclic ring which affect the resonance configuration between the two rings.     

Magnetic circular dichroism studies of aromatic polymers

The magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) spectra of syndiotactic and isotactic polymers which contain aromatic chromophores have been found to be sensitive to configurational and conformational differences. For isotactic polymers it was determined that as the aromatic ring moved farther from the main chain the ration of B terms of the polymers to those of their model compounds reached a minimum but increased significantly when the aromatic ring was separated from the main chain by four atoms. This enhancement of MCD is believed to be caused by the alignment of the more flexible side chains which would allow the interaction of the aromatic rings with neighboring groups and could result in a favorable mixing of the ester electronic transition with the aromatic ¹A_1g?¹B_2u transition. This effect was not felt to any great extent by the syndiotactic polymers because the necessary nearest-neighbor interaction was sterically unfavorable. The ratio of the B terms of isotactic poly(phenyl methacrylate) to its model compound decreased as the polymer coil expanded, whereas it increased for the syndiotactic polymer. This effect reflects the different changes that the side chain interaction and orientations undergo in these polymers during coil expansion. The MCD ratios for iso- and syndiotactic poly(phenylethyl methacrylate) were not so sensitive during coil expansion. The ratio of the dipole strengths of the polymers and model compounds paralleled the MCD results, but the ultraviolet (UV) technique was less sensitive than MCD to subtle conformational differences. Poly(benzyl methacrylate) and benzyl pivalate were unsuitable systems for studying the MCD effect because the B terms of these materials approached zero.     

Polymerization of N-alkyl-substituted itaconimides and N-(alkyl-substituted phenyl)itaconimides and characterization of the resulting polymers

N-alkyl-substituted itaconimides (RII) and N-(alkyl-substituted phenyl)itaconimides (RPhII) with various alkyl substituents were prepared and polymerized in the presence of a radical or anionic initiator to give high molecular weight polymers in high yields. The effects of the alkyl substituents on the polymerization reactivities were investigated. It has been revealed that RII and RPhII have the highest polymerization reactivity compared with other itaconic and citraconic derivatives including dialkyl itaconates and citraconimides. The structure and some properties of poly(RII) and poly(RPhII) were examined. These polymers were found to have excellent thermal stability, better than poly (dialkyl itaconate)s. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Theoretical and experimental study of low band gap polymers for organic solar cells

A combined theoretical and experimental investigation of the electronic structure and optical properties of poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT), poly[3-(4-octylphenyl)thiophene] (POPT) and poly[3-(4-octylphenoxy)thiophene] (POPOT) is reported. In comparison with P3HT, POPT and POPOT exhibit better stabilities and the presence of an oxygen atom and/or a phenyl ring in the side chains enhances conjugation. Quantum chemical calculations have been performed on oligomers of increasing chain length to establish the changes in the electronic and optical properties when going from P3HT to the new derivative POPOT. The knowledge of the structure of these polymers is of utmost importance in understanding their optical properties in different phases (solution and condensed phase). The calculations indicate that, in opposition to P3HT and POPT polymers where the introduction of alkyl chains and the pendant phenyl disturbs the planarity of the backbone of the conjugated segment, POPOT has a better degree of organization in both states: the conjugated chain remains planar even in the presence of the phenoxy groups. Finally, the exciton binding energy is evaluated for these polymers and allows us to conclude that the POPOT is a promising polymer for photovoltaic applications when compared to P3HT and POPT.     

General properties of secondary relaxations in polymers as determined by the thermally stimulated current method

The method of thermally stimulated current (TSC) has been used to study the low-temperature dielectric β relaxations of several polymers including especially poly(vinyl chloride), poly(vinyl acetate), polyamide 6, 6,6,poly(t-butyl acrylate), poly(methyl methacrylate), poly(ethyl methacrylate), poly(phenyl methacrylate), and poly(t-butyl methacrylate). The distribution characteristics of the relaxation processes have been determined from the corresponding TSC peaks by a fractional polarization technique which consists of applying the electric field in several discrete steps during a slow cooling. Several common features have been found in all the polymers investigated: the β peaks are characterized by a distribution of relaxation times resulting from a distribution in activation energy and this distribution is quasisymmetrical and continuous. These facts are in agreement with the hypothesis of a relaxation involving local motions of small polar groups undergoing various interactions with the environment. Some discrepancy remains, however, between our calculated values of the mean activation energy and those obtained from the dielectric loss.     

New aromatic benzazole polymers. I. Benzobisthiazole and benzobisoxazole polymers with main-chain triarylamino units

Thermally stable, nonrigid-rod poly(benzobisthiazoles), (R)TPA-PBZT , where R = H, Me, NMe₂, and OH, and poly(benzobisoxazoles), (R)TPA-PBO , where R = Me, NMe₂ containing electron-rich triarylamine groups with various para-substituents (Rs) on the pendent phenyl ring, were synthesized from either 2,5-diamino-1,4-benzenedithiol dihydrochloride or 2,4-diamino-1,5-benzenediol dihydrochloride and the respective triarylamine-based dinitrile or diacid monomer in polyphosphoric acid. Whereas (R)TPA-PBZT polymers were obtained in moderate molecular weights, analogous (R)TPA-PBO polymers were only prepared in low molecular weights. No lyotropic behaviors, characteristic of the unmodified rigid-rod benzazole polymers, as evidenced by the absence of either stir opalescence or birefringence under crosspolarizers, were observed for these homopolymers at about 10 wt % polymer concentration. Among these polymers, only (Me)TPA-PBZT and (NMe₂)TPA-PBZT formed cast films with good mechanical integrity. In their pristine state, their film conductivity values were in the range of 10⁻¹⁰–10⁻⁹ S/cm at room temperature. Upon exposure to iodine vapor, their conductivities were increased to the maximal values of 5.0 × 10⁻⁵ S/cm ( (Me)TPA-PBZT ) and 4.1 × 10⁻⁴ S/cm ( (NMe₂)TPA-PBZT ). © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 35 : 1909–1924, 1997     

Processable heat-resistant polymers. XI. Synthesis and characterization of unsaturated polyamideimides

Polycondensation of the diacid chloride of 2-(3-carboxy vinyl)phenyl-1,3-dioxoisoindoline-5-carboxylic acid with m-phenylenediamine and the diacid chloride of 2-(4-carboxy phenyl)-1,3-dioxoisoindoline-5-carboxylic acid with 1,5-bis(3-aminophenyl)1,4-pentadien-3-one was carried out in polar solvents to produce new unsaturated polyamide–imides. The solution and the thermal, electrical, and a few other properties of the polymers were studies. The polymers were soluble in highly polar solvents. The solubility parameter of the polymers was calculated from the Small's group contribution. The polymers were fairly thermostable and underwent crosslinking creaction when heated, preferably in the presence of a suitable catalyst. The crosslinked polymers were in soluble even in highly polar solvents and possessed higher thermal stability. The swelling behavior of the polymers was studied and the molecular weight between two consecutive crosslinks was determined. X-ray diffraction and the dielectric properties of the polymers and their crosslinked products were also studied.     

Electrical conduction in olefin oxide polymers

The electrical conductivities in vacuo of poly(ethylene oxide) and two higher olefin oxide polymers have been found to be ～9 orders higher than for other saturated organic polymers. The possibility of ionic transport resulting from the presence of impurities (including water) has been eliminated, and it is proposed that an inherent ionic process is operative, involving the generation of protons and then subsequent transport by a handing-on process. The two general requirements are the presence of proton-accepting atoms (in this case oxygen) in the polymer chains; and proximity to the melting point to ensure adequate chain-mobility. These requirements are met by poly(ethylene oxide), poly(trimethylene oxide), and poly(tetramethylene oxide), which are all close to their melting points at room temperature. poly(methylene oxide), with a melting point of ～180°C., on the other hand, has the low conductivity of a typical insulator.     

Synthesis of Block Copolymers and Asymmetric Star-Branched Polymers Comprised of Polyacetylene and Polystyrene Segments via Ionic Bond Formation

Novel ion-bonded AB diblock copolymers and three-arm AB₂ asymmetric star-branched polymers comprised of polyacetylene (A) and polystyrene (B) segments have been synthesized by the stoichiometric reaction of tert-amine-chain-end-functionalized poly(phenyl vinyl sulfoxide)s with either chain-end- or in-chain-carboxylated polystyrenes to link the two polymer segments via ionic bond, followed by thermal treatment to convert their poly(phenyl vinyl sulfoxide)s to polyacetylene segments. Periodic lamellar morphologies were observed in the cast films of such polymers by TEM measurement. The isolation of the nano-size sheet consisting of polyacetylene lamellar layers was attempted.     

Gas permeation properties of phenylene oxide polymers

Gas permeability (P_i) and diffusion (D_i) coefficients in respect to several gases (H₂, O₂, N₂, CO, CO₂, CH₄) have been measured for poly(2,6-dimethylphenylene oxide) (PMPO), poly(2,6-diphenylphenylene oxide) (PPPO), and phenylene oxide copolymers containing methyl, phenyl, and allyl radicals as side groups. X-ray diffraction study shows that both homopolymers are semicrystalline materials, whereas all the copolymers are completely amorphous. The results show that a replacement of methyl by phenyl groups in PMPO/PPPO pair is accompanied by decrease in the P values. A transition from semicrystalline PMPO to amorphous copolymers results in a decrease in permeability and solubility coefficients and not in a growth of these parameters as can be expected on the basis of the behavior of other semicrystalline polymers (e.g. polyolefins). It is supposed that the crystallites of PMPO, and possibly of PPPO are packed loosely and, hence, take part in sorption and gas transport. This assumption is in agreement with numerous X-ray data as well as the results of positron annihilation study of these polymers.     

Synthesis of Block Copolymers and Asymmetric Star-Branched Polymers Comprised of Polyacetylene and Polystyrene Segments via Ionic Bond Formation

Summary. Novel ion-bonded AB diblock copolymers and three-arm AB₂ asymmetric star-branched polymers comprised of polyacetylene (A) and polystyrene (B) segments have been synthesized by the stoichiometric reaction of tert-amine-chain-end-functionalized poly(phenyl vinyl sulfoxide)s with either chain-end- or in-chain-carboxylated polystyrenes to link the two polymer segments via ionic bond, followed by thermal treatment to convert their poly(phenyl vinyl sulfoxide)s to polyacetylene segments. Periodic lamellar morphologies were observed in the cast films of such polymers by TEM measurement. The isolation of the nano-size sheet consisting of polyacetylene lamellar layers was attempted.     

Metal coordination polymers. II. Molecular weight studies of beryllium phosphinate polymers in toluene

The number-average molecular weights of beryllium 4-biphenyl(phenyl)phosphinate, di-n-pentylphosphinate, di-n-heptylphosphinate, and trifluoromethyl(phenyl)phosphinate are degraded by the presence of water in toluene. It is proposed that easily hydrolyzable P? O? P bonds contribute, in part, to the bonding of these polymers.     

Syntheses and properties of photochromic polymers of the azobenzene and thiazine series

Photochromic polymers of the azobenzene and thiazine series were synthesized via two routes: (1) synthesis of vinyl photochromic monomers and subsequent polymerization and (2) chemical reactions of the substrate polymers with photochromic components. Polyvinylaminoazobenzenes, polyvinylhydroxyazobenzenes, polyacrylamidomethylaminoazobenzenes, and polyacrylamidomethylthionine were thus prepared and their photochromic behavior investigated. In the case of azobenzene polymers, irradiations from a 100-W projection lamp are enough to induced reversible changes in absorption spectra both in benzene solutions and film states, their absorption maxima being located around 400 mμ in the dark. Better results are obtained for some polymers as compared with the corresponding low molecular weight compounds; in the case of the thionine polymer (absorption maximum, ca. 600 mμ), the presence of ferrous ion remarkably enhances the photosensitivity in aqueous solutions, but incorporation of some polymers containing hydroxyl groups, such as poly(vinyl alcohol), are preferable for film states.     

The role of molecular mechanics in the prediction of the chain conformation of polymers in the crystalline state: Syndiotactic polymers

Molecular mechanics methods have been used in order to find the conformations of various syndiotactic polymers in crystals. Three different classes of polymers have been examined: i) polyolefins, such as poly(propylene), polystyrene, poly(1‐butene) and poly(1,2‐butadiene); ii) polydienes, such as cis‐1,4‐poly(1,3‐pentadiene); iii) alternating copolymers of carbon monoxide with styrene or styrene derivatives. The presence of conformational polymorphism in some of the studied polymers is predicted and explained by maps and minimizations of the conformational energy. The calculated internal parameters and chain axis repeats of all the considered polymers result in very good agreement with X‐ray experimental data reported in literature. The role of intramolecular nonbonded interactions in determining the conformations of the polymer chains is thoroughly discussed.     

Sulfur-containing polymers. X. Aromatic poly(sulfenyl thiocarbonates)

Aromatic poly(sulfenyl thiocarbonates) have been synthesized by the interfacial polycondensation of bis(dithiocarbonyl chlorides) with bisphenols. Bisphenols having the hydroxyl groups on separate rings gave polymers in high yields. The inherent viscosities of the polymers ranged from 0.22 to 0.51. In general, they were soluble in chloroform, sym-tetrachloroethane, hexamethylphosphoramide, m-cresol, and dimethylformamide and formed transparent tough films on evaporation of chloroform solutions. Almost all of the polymers were amorphous and gave melt-spun fibers. The polymer films decomposed upon ultraviolet irradiation with liberation of carbonyl sulfide.     

Sulfone-Containing polymers as high barrier materials

Three types of sulfone-containing polymers, poly(carbonate-sulfone)s, poly(ester-sulfone)s, and poly(urethane-sulfone)s, were characterized as high barrier materials. They were made by condensing sulfone-containing diol, 1,3-bis(3-hydroxypropylsulfonyl)propane (Diol-333), or 1,4-bis(3-hydroxypropylsulfonyl)butane (Diol-343), with diphenyl carbonate, diphenyl esters, and diisocyanates, respectively. The incorporation of polar sulfone groups into polymer backbones increases the glass transition temperature of polymers in all cases; however, the increment is different with different functional linkages. The increments in polycarbonates and polyesters are higher than that in polyurethanes. This is because the interactions between carbonate or ester groups are much weaker than the interactions between sulfone groups, whereas the hydrogen bonding between urethane groups is comparable with the polar interaction between sulfone groups. The polymers were coated on 50-μm-thick Kapton films by solution casting and their permeabilities toward carbon dioxide were measured at 25°C using the ASTM D1434 volumetric method. The sulfone-containing polymers have carbon dioxide permeability coefficients at least 50 times smaller than the corresponding polymers without sulfone groups. The carbon dioxide barrier properties of sulfone-containing polymers are comparable with ethylene/vinyl alcohol copolymers (EVAL), which are commercial high barrier polymers. An isomer effect on polymer permeability was observed in the aromatic-aliphatic poly(ester-sulfone) series. The permeability coefficients of the aromatic-aliphatic poly(ester-sulfone)s decrease from terephthalate to isophthalate to phthalate, corresponding to the increase of chain flexibility above the T_g. These results support the hypothesis that high chain flexibility in the rubbery state and a glass transition temperature above room temperature are two key factors that promote low permeability. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Low-temperature mechanical relaxations in polymers containing aromatic groups

Studies have been made of the secondary relaxation processes in the solid state of a number of polymers containing aromatic groups in the polymer chain. The polymers investigated include one, polystyrene, with the aromatic group in side-chain positions, and six high polymers in which phenylene rings lie in the main backbone chain. In polystyrene, wagging and torsional motions of the side chain phenyl rings give rise to a low-temperature δ-relaxation which is centered at 33°K (1.7 Hz) and which has an activation energy of about 2.3 kcal/mol. Most of the polymers with phenylene rings in the main chain exhibit a low-temperature relaxation in the temperature region from 100°–200°K. This relaxation process is centered at 159°K (0.54 Hz) in poly-p-xylylene, at 162°K (0.67 Hz) in polysulfone, and at 165°K (1.24 Hz) in poly(diancarbonate). In poly(2,6-dimethyl-p-phenylene oxide), two overlapping low-temperature relaxations are found, one in the range 125–140°K and the other near 277°K (ca. 1 Hz). The low-temperature secondary relaxation process in all of these polymers is believed to be associated with local reorientational motion of the phenylene, or substituted phenylene, rings or with combined motion of the phenylene rings and nearby chain units. For these low temperature relaxation processes, the activation energy is about 10 kcal/-mole. The temperature location of the relaxation appears to depend on the specific units to which the phenylene rings are attached and on steric and polar effects caused by substituents on the ring. In the poly-p-xylylenes the relaxation is shifted to much higher temperatures by a single Cl substitution on the ring but remains at essentially the same temperature position when dichlorosubstitution is made. The effects of water on the magnitude and temperature location of the observed low temperature relaxations, as well as the implications of the study for other polymers containing aromatic groups in their backbone chains, are discussed.     

Synthesis of phosphate end‐functional polymers and application to thermally latent polymeric initiators

Novel phosphates, O‐p‐(hydroxymethyl)benzyl O,O‐diethyl phosphate ( 1 ) and O‐(2‐bromoisobutyryloxymethyl)benzyl O,O‐diethyl phosphate ( 2 ) were synthesized by the reaction of diethyl phosphorochloridate with 1,4‐benzenedimethanol and the successive reaction with 2‐bromoisobutyryl bromide in the presence of triethylamine and submitted to the polymerization of ?‐caprolactone and methyl methacrylate as the initiators. They afforded phosphate end‐functional poly(?‐caprolactone) and poly(methyl methacrylate) with controlled molecular weights and polydispersity ratios by living ring‐opening polymerization and samarium‐induced polymerization. The polymerization of glycidyl phenyl ether (GPE) was carried out with the phosphate end‐functional polymers as the latent polymeric initiators in the presence of ZnCl₂. The polymerization of GPE did not proceed below 90 °C, but it rapidly proceeded to afford poly(GPE) above the temperature. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 39: 3832–3840, 2001