New polymer structures based on vinyl ether polymerization

Sequential living cationic polymerization of octadecyl vinyl ether (ODVE) and methyl vinyl ether (MVE) was used for the preparation of amphiphilic ABA‐type block copolymers. The polymerization of ODVE was initiated with the trimethyl silyl iodide/1,1,3,3‐tetramethoxy propane/ZnI₂ system at 0°C in toluene. The living bifunctional polyODVE thus obtained was used as initiator for the polymerization of MVE. Below the LCST of polyMVE (37°C), the copolymers are amphiphiles. Above the LCST of polyMVE, the polyMVE‐blocks become hydrophobic and the amphiphilic nature of the block copolymer is lost. This was demonstrated by using the block copolymers as emulsifiers for water/decane mixtures. The emulsions were stable for several hours at room temperature, while the emulsion stability decreased to about 30 seconds at 40°C. PolyMVE‐α,ω‐bis‐methacrylates were obtained by end‐capping of living bifunctional polyMVE with 2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA). Copolymerization of these bis‐macromers with HEMA leads to segmented networks. The networks showed a reversible swelling/deswelling behavior in water as a function of temperature. This is caused by a change of the hydrophilicity of the polyMVE segments in the networks. Hexa(chloromethyl)melamine, combined with zinc chloride was found to be an efficient hexafunctional initiator for the living cationic polymerization of vinyl ethers. This simple initiating system opens new ways for the synthesis of endgroup‐functionalized star‐shaped poly(vinyl ethers).     

Bis-macromonomers of 2-alkyl-2-oxazolines–synthesis and polymerization

Poly(2-alkyl-2-oxazoline)s having an acrylate group at both chain ends were synthesized by terminating living bifunctional poly(2-methyl-2-oxazoline) or poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline) with acrylic acid. These macromonomers have been polymerized to the corresponding polyoxazoline networks. Thermal as well as UV-initiated free radical polymerization were applied and the influence of the polymerization conditions and molecular weight of the prepolymer used on the properties of the networks were investigated. Both methods of polymerization produced high fractions of soluble material, probably due to the low concentration of the acrylate end groups.     

Tailor-made polymers and copolymers from aziridines and 1,3-oxacyclanes

Telechelic poly(tert-butylaziridine)s (polyTBA) and poly(1,3,6-trioxocane)s (polyTOC) and macromonomers were synthesized mainly by living cationic polymerization. Both, molecular weight and end-functionality distributions of polyTOC oligomers and polymers were studied using a combination of HPLC under “critical conditions”, gradient HPLC and SEC with double detection following a preparative HPLC fractionation. Monofunctional and bifunctional polyTBA with various end-groups were synthesized by the end-capping method. Several modification reactions were examined for terminal transformation of polyTBA and polyTOC hydroxy-telechelics into mono- and bifunctional vinyl ether macromonomers. Various tailor-made polymers based on uniform size telechelics and macromonomers were prepared using: 1. polymer-polymer coupling to produce block copolymers; 2. polyaddition of amino-functionalized telechelics to bisacrylamides; 3. addition of amino-polyTBA to polydienes; 4. synthesis of graft copolymers with well-defined graft component and networks.     

Reactions of cationic living poly(tert-butyl aziridine)

The cationic polymerization of N-tert-butyl aziridine (TBA) can be conducted in such a way that the rate of termination is much slower than the rate of propagation, thus permitting preparation of a corresponding polymer which is “temporarily living”. Reactions of N-methyl-N-tert-butyl aziridinium triflate (which is the model for the active species of the living polymer) with different nucleophiles show that, at room temperature, the aziridinium ring reacts almost instantaneously with nucleophiles to form the corresponding ring-opened product. Analogous reactions with the aziridinium end group of living poly-TBA lead to polymers with varying end groups such as hydroxy, ester, primary, secondary or tertiary amino, halogen, and others. End group analysis by means of 360-MHz ¹H-NMR nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy showed that the concentration of the end groups was in all cases equal to the concentration of the methyl head group, originating form the initiation reaction, if the terminating nucleophile was added five minutes after initiation (at 15°C). Under these conditions the polymerization is quantitative for initiator concentrations down to 0.01 mol L^?1.     

Synthesis and reactions of poly-tetrahydrofuran with azetidinium salt end-groups

The bulk polymerization of tetrahydrofuran (THF) intiated by methyl trillate or triflic anhydride leads to poly-THF's of polydispersity < 1.2 and possessing one or two oxonium chain ends, if the conversion is kept below 15%. Reaction of these “living” polymers with an N-substituted azetidine leads to the corresponding poly-THF's with one or two quaternary azetidinium chain ends. These polymers can be isolated in pure form by precipitation in water without affecting the azetidinium functions. At increased temperature, these functions undergo ring-opening reactions with nucleophiles. This process has been used to prepare block-copolymers and polymer networks containing poly-THF segments and to synthesize mono or bifunctional ester-terminated poly-THF's. The last reaction is achieved by simple precipitation of the azetidinium-terminated poly-THF into an aqueous solution of the sodium carboxylate at room temperature.     

Synthesis and study of poly(ethylene oxide) membranes obtained from homopolymerization of peo macromonomers

Hydrogels were obtained by free-radical polymerization of bifunctional macromonomers. This reaction can be conducted in water solution or in organic solvent. The k_p value is yet strongly depending on the solvent used. The properties of these networks will be compared to those of networks obtained by end-linking procedures. These materials were also used as a semi-permeable membrane in the conception of an artificial pancreas.     

On catenate network formation by end-linking reactions

Catenate network formation by end-linking reactions of linear chains with bifunctional regents is studied theoretically and by computer simulations. It is found that the reaction cannot reach its stationary limit, and catenate networks are never formed by this method. An alternative method that will lead to catenate networks nearly in the topological equilibrium state is proposed. It is pointed out that catenate networks are an ideal system for studying the role of entanglement in rubber elasticity. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Modulating the properties of quadruple hydrogen bonded supramolecular polymers by photo-cross-linking between the coumarin moieties

Novel linear supramolecular polymers were successfully constructed by self-assemblies of coumarin-bridged bifunctional UPy derivative.Benefitting from the photodimerization ability of the coumarin moieties,the linear supramolecular polymers could form the large three-dimensional polymer networks upon UV light irradiation via photo-cross-linking,which provides a viable and alternative procedure to modulate the properties of supramolecular polymers.     

Synthesis of ring-shaped macromolecules

Ring-shaped macromolecules have been synthesized by the reaction of a bifunctional “living” polystyrene with a stoichiometric amount of dibromo-p-xylene, at very low concentration. The reaction is carried out step by step, leading both to the expected cyclic polymer and to a “polycondensate”. Fractionatal precipitation and one-step fractionation lead to well defined macrocycles of known size.     

Synthesis of fluorine‐containing star‐shaped poly(vinyl ether)s via arm‐linking reactions in living cationic polymerization

Various types of fluorine‐containing star‐shaped poly(vinyl ether)s were successfully synthesized by crosslinking reactions of living polymers based on living cationic polymerization. Star polymers with fluorinated arm chains were prepared by the reaction between a divinyl ether and living poly(vinyl ether)s with fluorine groups (C₄F₉, C₆F₁₃, and C₈F₁₇) at the side chain using cationogen/Et_1.5AlCl_1.5 in a fluorinated solvent (dichloropentafluoropropanes), giving star‐shaped fluorinated polymers in high yields with a relatively narrow molecular weight distribution. The concentration of living polymers for the crosslinking reaction and the molar feed ratio of a bifunctional vinyl ether to living polymers affected the yield and molecular weight of the star polymers. Star polymers with block arms were prepared by a linking reaction of living block copolymers of a fluorinated segment and a nonfluorinated segment. Heteroarm star‐shaped polymers containing two‐ or three‐arm species were synthesized using a mixture of different living polymer species for the reaction with a bifunctional vinyl ether. The obtained polymers underwent temperature‐induced solubility transitions in various organic solvents, and their concentrated solutions underwent sol–gel transitions, based on the solubility transition of a thermoresponsive fluorinated segment. Furthermore, a slight amount of fluorine groups were shown to be effective for physical gelation when those were located at the arm ends of a star polymer. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012     

Synthesis and Characterization of Ligand-Linked Pt Nanoparticles: Tunable,Three-Dimensional,Porous Networks for Catalytic Hydrogen Sensing

Porous networks of Pt nanoparticles interlinked by bifunctional organic ligands have shown high potential as catalysts in micro-machined hydrogen gas sensors. By varying the ligand among p-phenylenediamine, benzidine, 4,4‘‘-diamino-p-terphenyl, 1,5-diaminonaphthalene, and trans-1,4-diaminocyclohexane, new variants of such networks were synthesized. Inter-particle distances within the networks, determined via transmission electron microscopy tomography, varied from 0.8 to 1.4 nm in accordance with the nominal length of the respective ligand. While stable structures with intact and coordinatively bonded diamines were formed with all ligands, aromatic diamines showed superior thermal stability. The networks exhibited mesoporous structures depending on ligand and synthesis strategy and performed well as catalysts in hydrogen gas microsensors. They demonstrate the possibility of deliberately tuning micro- and mesoporosity and thereby transport properties and steric demands by choice of the right ligand also for other applications in heterogeneous catalysis.     

Critical conversion during three-dimensional living copolymerization

A general expression that relates the value of the critical conversion of gelation during the living copolymerization of mono- and bifunctional comonomers to the ratio of concentrations of the latter and active sites is derived and analyzed. The results of calculation via the derived formula are compared with the experimental data given in the literature.     

Theoretical studies on the bifunctionality of chiral thiourea-based organocatalysts: competing routes to C-C bond formation

The mechanism of enantioselective Michael addition of acetylacetone to a nitroolefin catalyzed by a thiourea-based chiral bifunctional organocatalyst is investigated using density functional theory calculations. A systematic conformational analysis is presented for the catalyst, and it is shown that both substrates coordinate preferentially via bidentate hydrogen bonds. The deprotonation of the enol form of acetylacetone by the amine of the catalyst is found to occur easily, leading to an ion pair characterized by multiple H-bonds involving the thiourea unit as well. Two distinct reaction pathways are explored toward the formation of the Michael product that differ in the mode of electrophile activation. Both reaction channels are shown to be consistent with the notion of noncovalent organocatalysis in that the transition states leading to the Michael adduct are stabilized by extensive H-bonded networks. The comparison of the obtained energetics for the two pathways allows us to propose an alternative mechanistic rationale for asymmetric C-C bond forming reactions catalyzed by bifunctional thiourea derivatives. The origin of enantioselectivity in the investigated reaction is also discussed.     

N,P‐Codoped Carbon Networks as Efficient Metal‐free Bifunctional Catalysts for Oxygen Reduction and Hydrogen Evolution Reactions

The high cost and scarcity of noble metal catalysts, such as Pt, have hindered the hydrogen production from electrochemical water splitting, the oxygen reduction in fuel cells and batteries. Herein, we developed a simple template‐free approach to three‐dimensional porous carbon networks codoped with nitrogen and phosphorus by pyrolysis of a supermolecular aggregate of self‐assembled melamine, phytic acid, and graphene oxide (MPSA/GO). The pyrolyzed MPSA/GO acted as the first metal‐free bifunctional catalyst with high activities for both oxygen reduction and hydrogen evolution. Zn–air batteries with the pyrolyzed MPSA/GO air electrode showed a high peak power density (310 W g^?1) and an excellent durability. Thus, the pyrolyzed MPSA/GO is a promising bifunctional catalyst for renewable energy technologies, particularly regenerative fuel cells.     

Cyclic macromolecules. Synthesis and characterization of ring-shaped polystyrenes

A method has been developed to synthesize cyclic polystyrene molecules, by reacting bifunctional “living” polystyrene with α,α′ dibromo-p-xylene. The ability of the method to yield cyclic polymers over a molecular weight range from 7000 to 250,000 has been thoroughly investigated and discussed. Characterization of the cyclic macromolecules with respect to linear homologues of the same molecular weight has been performed by means of viscometry. The effect of cyclization tends to decrease as the molecular weight increases.     

Synthesis of vinyl ether-capped telechelic poly(tetrahydrofuran)

Vinyl ether-terminated telechelic poly(tetrahydrofuran) (poly(THF)) was synthesized by the reaction of a bifunctional living cationic polymer of THF with an excess of Na⊕⊖OCH₂CH₂ O CHCH₂ in THF at 0°C. The obtained polymer has narrow molecular weight distribution and end functionality close to two.     

阴离子嵌段共聚的交联聚苯乙烯的网络链长多分散性与网络结构非均一性

用链长分布不同的活性聚苯乙烯子聚物与二乙烯基苯进行阴离子嵌段共聚,合成了一系列两相模型交联网络。以作者等提出的方法测定了所合成网络的结构非均一因子Z。实验测定的网络结构非均一因子Z与交联前聚苯乙烯活性链的分子量分布宽度指数d之间有平行的相应变化规律,表明所给予的非均一因子Z的物理意义是合理的。同时说明,子聚物链长分布较宽时,在网络的高交联区中除了二乙烯基苯外,还有一些对溶胀无贡献的子聚物以悬挂链的形式存在。     

TREN versus Me6‐TREN as ligands in SET‐LRP of methyl acrylate

The commercially available tris(2‐aminoethyl)amine (TREN) was used as ligand to mediate the single‐electron transfer‐living radical polymerization (SET‐LRP) of methyl acrylate in dimethyl sulfoxide initiated with the bifunctional initiator bis(2‐bromopropionyl)ethane and catalyzed by both nonactivated and activated Cu(0) wire. A comparative study between TREN and tris(2‐dimethylaminoethyl)amine (Me₆‐TREN) ligand, that is more commonly used in SET‐LRP, demonstrated that TREN provided a slower polymerization but the chain‐ends functionality of the resulting bifunctional poly(methyl acrylate) was near quantitative and comparable to that obtained when Me₆‐TREN was used as a ligand. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012.     

Exploring the Binding Proteins of Glycolipids with Bifunctional Chemical Probes

Glycolipids are important structural components of biological membranes and perform crucial functions in living systems, including signaling transduction and interaction with extracellular environment. However, the mechanistic exploration of glycolipids in vivo is challenging because they are not genetically encoded. Herein, we designed and synthesized a series of bifunctional monogalactosyldiacylglycerol (MGDG) probes as a model by introducing diazirine and terminal alkyne moieties on an aliphatic chain. In combination with proteome profiling and molecular modeling, we have demonstrated that MGDG alleviates inflammation by antagonizing TLR4.     

Topological classification and supramolecular chirality of 21-helical ladder-type hydrogen-bond networks composed of primary ammonium carboxylates: bundle control in 21-helical assemblies

The supramolecular chirality of 1D ladder-type hydrogen-bond networks composed of primary ammonium carboxylates was determined based on topological considerations. Chirality in such networks is based on the absolute configuration of the primary ammonium cation, which arises from discrimination between the two oxygen atoms of the carboxylate anion. The configurations of the cations and anions generate topological diversity in the networks, which are classified into six subgroups. In the Cambridge Structural Database, salts based on ladder type 1 constitute over 70 % of salts with a 1D-ladder-type network. Ladder type 1, based on a 2(1)-axis, is not superimposable on its mirror image, which leads to the first definition of right- or left-handedness of 2(1)-helicity on the basis of supramolecular tilt chirality. Helical assemblies of 2(1)-type with triaxial chirality can be assembled in various ways to yield chiral bundles and crystals. On the basis of these considerations, we constructed clay mimic structures with several bundle patterns by connecting the hydrogen-bond networks by using bifunctional molecules. These results open up the possibility of in-depth crystal engineering based on hydrogen-bond topology.