Polycondensation route leading to poly(alkylene phosphate)s

A polytransesterification method of preparation of the high-molecular-weight poly(alkylene H-phosphonates) - polymers bearing a reactive -OP(O)(H)O-units, is described: Mechanism of transesterification involves mostly -OP(O)(H)O^⊖, Mt^⊕ “growing species”. The polyphosphonates were converted into a number of derivative polymers, like poly(alkylene phosphates), prepared by a direct oxidation, without decreasing of the DP_n of the parent polymers.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Amphiphilic PEG Based Aliphatic and Aromatic Polymers and their Self-Assembling Behavior

Twelve amphiphilic polymers were synthesized using poly(ethylene glycols) (PEGs) of different molecular weights, viz. 1000, 2000 and 4000 as hydrophilic block and linkers namely azelaic acid, sebacic acid, dimethyl isophthalate acid and dimethyl terephthalate as hydrophobic block in the presence of catalyst Conc. H₂SO₄. Synthesized polymers were characterized by using ¹H-NMR, ¹³C-NMR and IR spectroscopy. Micellar sizes of the polymers were determined using Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) which ranged from 51.6–174 nm for aliphatic polymers and 135.5–371 nm for aromatic polymers. Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) results confirm the findings of DLS. Critical Micelle Concentrations (CMC) of the synthesized polymers were determined using electrical conductivity meter which ranged from 95 to 130 mg L^?1 for aliphatic polymers and 420–1500 mg L^?1 for aromatic polymers.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Novel Surfactant Molecules Based on Amphiphilic Polymers

Twelve amphiphilic polymers were synthesized using poly(ethylene glycols) (PEGs) of different molecular weights, viz. 300, 600 and1000 as hydrophilic block and aliphatic diacids namely glutaric acid, adipic acid, pimelic acid and suberic acid as hydrophobic block in presence of catalyst Conc. H₂SO₄. Synthesized polyesters were characterized by using ¹H-NMR, ¹³C-NMR and IR spectroscopy. Micellar sizes of the polymers were determined using Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) which ranged from 127.5–354 nm. Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) results confirm the findings of DLS. Critical Micelle Concentrations (CMC) of the synthesized polymers were determined using electrical conductivity meter which ranged from 112 to 155 mg L^?1.     

Organolithium cleavage of aliphatic polyethers,polysulfides and polyimines

Organolithium compounds and other Group IA organometallics cleave high molecular weight poly(alkylene oxides) very rapidly at room temperature in dilute benzene solution. This reaction also works on a dimeric polyepoxide such as bis(2-n-butoxyethyl)ether and much less readily on a monomeric one as 1,2-dimethoxyethane. On the other hand, a simple aliphatic monoether such as di-n-butyl ether is not cleaved under conditions several orders of magnitude more drastic than were effective on the polyethers. The mechanism for this facile polyether cleavage is proposed as a β-elimination in which the organolithium is greatly activated by chelation with the main-chain oxygen atoms of the polyether. This cleavage method has been used broadly on high molecular weight polyethers to obtain quantitative yields of hydroxyl-ended, amorphous, and crystalline polyethers (M_n = 500–10,000), many of which cannot be made by direct polymerization. Aliphatic polysulfides and an N-substituted aliphatic polyamine cleave by this same method to, respectively, mercapto-ended and secondary amine-ended polymers. The mechanism aspects of these results are discussed.     

Polyurethanes and polyureas having long methylene chain units

Polyurethanes and polyureas containing long methylene chain units have been prepared from the following six series of monomer combinations; aliphatic diisocyanates with aliphatic glycols or diamines, methylene bis(4-phenyl isocyanate) with aliphatic glycols or diamines, and p-xylylene diisocyanate with aliphatic glycols or diamines. A good linear relationship was noted between the polymer melting points of each series against the concentration of functional groups. Both polyurethanes and polyureas from p-xylylene diisocyanate showed higher melting points than those from methylene bis(4-phenyl isocyanate) with corresponding aliphatic monomers. The relations between the melting points of these polymers with long methylene chains, including polyamides which were previously reported, and the chain components were discussed. The higher melting points of polymers containing p-xylylene group are attributed to the high rigidity of this group.     

The influence of alkylene spacers on conformational and thermal properties of poly (aryl methacrylates)

The effect of introducing alkylene spacers on the thermal and conformational properties of poly(aryl methacrylates) has been studied. Poly(2-phenylethyl-1-methacrylate) (PPEMA) and poly(4-phenylbutyl-1-methacrylate) (PPBMA) samples of narrow poly-dispersities and covering a very broad range of molecular weights were produced by free radical solution polymerization, followed by fractionation. These materials were studied by a combination of differential scanning calorimetry, light scattering, and viscometry measurements to allow evaluation of their glass transition temperatures (T_g) and characteristic ratios (C_∞). These results are compared with literature data available for poly(phenyl methacrylate) (PPMA), which has no alkylene spacer, and poly(benzylmethacrylate) (PBMA), which has a methylene spacer. A progressive decrease in T_g is observed as the length of the alkylene spacer is increased, reflecting the enhancement of side group (local) flexibility. C_∞ decreases substantially on going from PPMA to PBMA but then increases on going to PPEMA and PPBMA. This behavior is attributed to the fact that while side group flexibility increases for the materials with longer alkylene spacers, and this would be expected to decrease C_∞, the side group size is progressively increasing. Larger side groups generally increase C_∞ of polymethacrylates. Thus the observed C_∞ behavior for these polymers reflects both the size and flexibility of the substituents. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Formation of poly(ethylene phosphates) in polycondensation of H3PO4 with ethylene glycol. Kinetic and mechanistic study

Conditions of synthesis of poly(ethylene phosphates) in reaction of H₃PO₄ with HOCH₂CH₂OH (EG), the actual path of polycondensation, and structure of the obtained polymers (mostly oligomers) and kinetics of reaction are described. Preliminary kinetic information, based on the comparison of the MALDI‐TOF‐ms and ³¹P{¹H} NMR spectra as a function of conversion is given as well. Because of the dealkylation process fragments derived from di‐ and triethylene glycols are also present in the repeating units. Structures of the end groups (? CH₂CH₂OH or ? OP(O)(OH)₂) depend on the starting ratio of [EG]₀/[H₃PO₄]₀, although even at the excess of EG the acidic end groups prevail because of the dealkylation process. In MALDI‐TOF‐ms products with P_n equal up to 21 have been observed. The average polymerization degrees (P_n) are lower and have been calculated from the proportion of the end groups. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 830–843, 2008     

pH and thermo responsive aliphatic tertiary amine chromophore hyperbranched poly(amino ether ester)s from oxa-Michael addition polymerization

In this research, we developed a novel and facile strategy to prepare aliphatic tertiary amine chromophore hyperbranched poly(amino ether ester)s with pH and thermo responsiveness via phosphazene base (t-BuP₂) catalyzed oxa-Michael addition polymerization of triethanolamine with ethylene glycol diacrylate at room temperature. UV–vis and fluorescence analyses results showed that the tertiary amine at branching point for hyperbranched poly(amino ether ester)s is very important to retain strong blue fluorescence of tertiary amine chromophore. Moreover, the hyperbranched poly(amino ether ester)s exhibit an aggregation caused quenching (ACQ) fluorescence, solvent induced red-shifted emission, molecular weight, and temperature dependent emission characters. More interestingly, the hyperbranched poly(amino ether ester)s show extreme acid induced quenching fluorescence phenomenon, and also display good water solubility, specific recognition of Fe³⁺ ion, low cytotoxicity, and bright cell imaging, which could serve as a microenvironment-responding fluorescent probe for application in chemical sensing, cell imaging, drug delivery, or disease diagnostics. This research provides a versatile method for the preparation of stimuli-responsive aliphatic tertiary amine chromophore polymers, and supplies ideas for researchers to explore other unconventional fluorescent polymers for application.     

Synthesis of new conducting poly(2,5-thienylene)s containing alkylhydroxy and alkylester side chains

The chemical synthesis of new electroconducting poly(2,5-thienylene)s containing alkylhydroxy and alkylester side-chains in the β-position of the thiophene rings is reported. The polymers were obtained by oxidative homopolymerization or copolymerization of 2-(3-thienyl)ethanol and 2-(3-thienyl)ethyl hexanoate by FeCl₃ in nitromethane. Structural characterization using elemental analysis, FT-IR and NMR spectroscopy shows that a partial nucleophilic substitution of the hydroxy group by chlorine and a partial cleavage of the ester function take place during polymerization. The presence of the ester function with a long aliphatic chain makes the polymers soluble and allows them to be processed into films. The polymers can be doped using a solution of FeCl₃ to the maximum electrical conductivity of 10⁻³ Ω⁻¹ cm⁻¹.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Amphiphilic PEG Based Polymers and Their Self Assembling Behavior

Sixteen amphiphilic polymers were synthesized using poly(ethylene glycols) (PEGs) of different molecular weights, viz. 1000, 1500, 2000 and 4000 as hydrophilic block and linkers namely azelaic acid, suberic acid, terephthalic acid and glycolic acid as hydrophobic block in the presence of catalyst conc. H₂SO₄ out of which four with glycolic acid as linker are new. Synthesized polymers were characterized by using ¹H-NMR, ¹³C-NMR and IR spectroscopy. Micellar sizes of the polymers were determined using Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) technique which ranged from 32.1–262.0 nm and confirmed by Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) analysis. Molecular weights were determined using HORIBA SZ-100 scientific and varied from 6.5?×?10² to 6.5?×?10³ Kilo Daltons(kDa) by Debye plot. Critical Micelle Concentrations (CMC) of the synthesized polymers was determined using electrical conductivity meter and it ranged from 105 to 125 milligrams per litre (mg L^?1).     

Amino acid‐based bioanalogous polymers. Synthesis,and study of regular poly(ester amide)s based on bis(α‐amino acid) α,ω‐alkylene diesters,and aliphatic dicarboxylic acids

The purpose of this research was to synthesize new regular poly(ester amide)s (PEAs) consisting of nontoxic building blocks like hydrophobic α‐amino acids, α,ω‐diols, and aliphatic dicarboxylic acids, and to examine the effects of the structure of these building block components on some physico‐chemical and biochemical properties of the polymers. PEAs were prepared by solution polycondensation of di‐p‐toluenesulfonic acid salts of bis‐(α‐amino acid) α,ω‐alkylene diesters and di‐p‐nitrophenyl esters of diacids. Optimal conditions of this reaction have been studied. High molecular weight PEAs (M_w = 24,000–167,000) with narrow polydispersity (M_w/M_n = 1.20–1.81) were prepared under the optimal reaction conditions and exhibited excellent film‐forming properties. PEAs obtained are mostly amorphous materials with T_g from 11 to 59°C. α‐Chymotrypsin catalyzed in vitro hydrolysis of these new PEA substrates was studied to assess the effect of the building blocks of these new polymers on their biodegradation properties. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 391–407, 1999     

One‐pot synthesis and characterization of hyperbranched poly(ester‐amide)s from commercially available dicarboxylic acids and multihydroxyl secondary amines

A convenient and cost‐effective strategy for synthesis of hyperbranched poly(ester‐amide)s from commercially available dicarboxylic acids (A₂) and multihydroxyl secondary amine (CB₂) has been developed. By optimizing the conditions of model reactions, the AB₂‐type intermediates were formed dominantly during the initial reaction stage. Without any purification, the AB₂ intermediate was subjected to thermal polycondensation in the absence of any catalyst to prepare the aliphatic and semiaromatic hyperbranched poly(ester‐amide)s bearing multi‐hydroxyl end‐groups. The FTIR and ¹H NMR spectra indicated that the polymerization proceeded in the proposed way. The DBs of the resulting polymers were confirmed by a combination of inverse‐gated decoupling ¹³C NMR, and DEPT‐135 NMR techniques. The DBs of the hyperbranched poly(ester‐amide)s were in the range of 0.44–0.73, depending on the structure of the monomers used. The hyperbranched polymers exhibited moderate molecular weights with relatively broad distributions determined by SEC. All the polymers displayed low inherent viscosity (0.11–0.25 dL/g) due to the branched nature. Structural and end‐group effects on the thermal properties of the hyperbranched polymers were investigated using DSC. The thermogravimetric analysis revealed that the resulting polymers exhibit reasonable thermal stability. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 5077–5092, 2008     

Synthesis of a triblock copolymer: Poly(ethylene glycol)‐poly(alkylene phosphate)‐poly(ethylene glycol) as a modifier of CaCO3 crystallization

Triblock copolymer poly(ethylene glycol)‐poly(alkylene phosphate)‐poly(ethylene glycol) was prepared by first reacting hexamethylene glycol with dimethyl‐H‐phosphonate at conditions of transesterification and then replacing the CH₃OP(O)(H)O‐… end‐groups by monomethyl ether of poly(ethylene glycol). The course of reaction was studied by ³¹P NMR indicating complete conversion. After oxidation the poly(alkylene H‐phosphonate was converted into the final triblock polyphosphate. This triblock copolymer was used as a modifier of CaCO₃ crystallization. Unusual semi open empty spheres resulted, composed of small crystallites of the size (diameter) equal to 40–90 nm. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 650–657, 2005     

Study on the thermotropic liquid crystalline polycarbonates. IV. Synthesis and properties of liquid crystalline poly(imide-carbonate)s

Two series of novel thermotropic liquid crystalline poly(imide-carbonate)s were prepared by melt polycondensation from various arylene or alkylene bis(phenylcarbonate)s by using N,N′-bis(hydroxyethyl)pyromellitimide and N,N′-bis(hydroxypropyl)pyromellitimide as monomers. Thermotropic liquid crystalline properties were characterized by a polarizing microscope with a heating stage and a differential scanning calorimeter (DSC). Nematic melts were found for the synthesized aromatic poly(imide-carbonate)s. In order to investigate whether the pyromellitimide unit could be used as a mesogenic unit for preparing LC polymers, a series of aliphatic poly(imide-carbonate)s was prepared in this study. However, no significant LC textures were found under the observation by polarizing microscope. It was suggested that the aspect ratio of the pyromellitimide unit was too short to form liquid crystalline poly(imide-carbonate)s. In addition, it was interesting that the aliphatic poly(imide-carbonate)s with a longer spacer (n = 3) in the pyromellitimide unit showed better crystallinity. Thermostabilities of all synthesized poly(imide-carbonate)s were measured by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Dominant factors affecting the pressure dependence of melting temperatures in homologous series of aliphatic polyesters

The pressure dependence of the melting temperature of six aliphatic polyesters belonging to two different homologous series, poly(x-succinate) and poly(x-adipate) having even number of methylene groups (2,4,6) in the alkylene segment (x) was investigated by high pressure differential thermal analysis (HP-DTA) up to 500 MPa. The phase diagrams of these polyesters were newly determined except for poly(ethylene adipate). The dT_m/dp_o at atmospheric pressure was obtained from the quadratic equation and the trend of dT_m/dp_o with respect to the number of methylene groups in the monomer unit in each homologous series is discussed. Amorphous densities at 25 °C, expansion and compressibility coefficients in the melt of these polyesters are also reported. The entropy of fusion (ΔS_m), enthalpy of fusion (ΔH_m), volume change on melting (ΔV_m), conformational entropy (ΔS^or) and volume entropy (ΔS^v) were correlated with respect to the number of methylene groups in the alkylene segment. ΔV_m and ΔS^v displayed a similar trend as that of dT_m/dp_o while ΔS_m, ΔS^or and ΔH_m showed an increasing trend. The influence of these parameters on dT_m/dp_o is discussed in the context of the Clapeyron equation.     

Synthesis and in vitro degradation of poly(alkylene carbonate anhydride)

A novel degradable poly(alkylene carbonate anhydride) (PACA) was synthesized by the melt polycondensation reaction of the corresponding mixed anhydrides of the dicarboxylic acid derived from oligo(tetramethylene carbonate)diol (OTMCD) and oligo(hexamethylene carbonate)diol (OHMCD). The polymer's structure was confirmed by IR and ¹H NMR spectroscopy. DSC analysis showed PACA had a low T_g (< –30°C). In vitro degradation tests indicated that the degradation rate of poly(alkylene carbonate) was more controlled with the incorporation of anhydride groups.     

Synthesis and characterization of functionalized amphiphilic polymers for utilization as surfactants

Eight novel PEG-based amphiphilic block copolymers having self-assembling properties has been reported in the present study. The polymers have been synthesized by reacting Poly(ethylene glycols) (PEGs) of different molecular weights viz. 600, 1000, 1500 and 2000 and dimethyl-5-hydroxyisophthalate in presence of concentrated H₂SO₄ as catalyst in solventless condition at 80–90°C and further alkylating the resulting polymers by attaching octyl and hexadecanyl chains to phenolic hydroxyl group. The resulting functionalized amphiphilic polymers have been characterized by ¹H and ¹³C-NMR spectroscopy. These polymers, when dissolved in water, aggregate to form micelles, giving sizes ranging from 13.00 to 87.24 nm as determined by Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) instrument. The molecular weights have been also calculated from the DLS and are in the range 3.5×10⁴ to 1.8×10⁶ KDa (Kilo Daltons). Critical Micelle Concentrations (CMC) of the synthesized polymers was determined using electrical conductivity meter with values in the range of 105 to 138 mg L^?1 (milligrams per litre).     

CHEMO-ENZYMATIC SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF NOVEL FUNCTIONALIZED AMPHIPHILIC POLYMERS

ABSTRACT

The condensation copolymerization of Dimethyl 5-hydroxyisophthalate (1) with Polyethylene glycols (PEGs) (2a–2d) of varying molecular weights, catalyzed by Novozyme-435 (immobilized Candida antarctica lipase B) in bulk is reported. The structures of the resulting polymers, Poly[(poly(oxyethylene)-oxy-5-hydroxyisophthaloyl] (3a–3c) were characterized by ¹H (1D and 2D) and ¹³C-NMR spectroscopic experiments. Further, these polymers have been derivatized by attaching decanyl and 12-hydroxydodecanyl chains to the phenolic hydroxyl group. The resulting amphiphilic polymeric systems were characterized by detailed spectroscopic analysis. Light Scattering Photometry as well as Gel Per meation Chromatography were used to evaluate the particle size and molecular weights of the polymers. In principle, the method developed is flexible so that it can be used to generate a wide array of functionalized amphiphilic polymers. In the absence of biocatalytic transformation, such structural control would be extremely difficult or currently impossible to obtain.     

Effect of molecular weight on the refractive index increments of polystyrene,poly(ethylene glycol), poly(propylene glycol), and poly(dichlorophenylene oxide) in solution

The variation of refractive index increments with molecular weight has been studied using solutions of polystyrene (2.2 × 10³ < M_w < 1.8 × 10⁶), poly(ethylene glycol) (1.0 × 10³ < M_w < 2.0 × 10⁴), and poly(dichlorophenylene oxide) (3.3 × 10³ < M_w < 4.8 × 10⁵) in toluene and poly(propylene glycol) (1.2 × 10³ < M_w < 4.0 × 10³) in benzene. The refractive index increments of polyglycols containing aliphatic ether moieties are negative in these solvents. However, poly(dichlorophenylene oxide) polymers, which contain aromatic ether moieties, give positive values. Linear and branched halogenated poly(phenylene oxide)s show an asymptotic approach of the refractive index increment to the same limiting value, but the approach is more rapid for the branched polymer.     

Base cleavage of epichlorohydrin polymers

Epichlorohydrin polymers cleave much more readily with organolithium compounds than do other poly(alkylene oxides). In dilute toluene solution (1–2%) at ?78°C, the cleavage of polyepichlorohydrin occurs as rapidly as BuLi is added. The end-groups formed are about equimolar amounts of hydroxyl and carbonyl with small amounts of acetylene ends. This same cleavage reaction but without acetylene ends can be obtained with NaOH or NaOCH₃ in dimethyl sulfoxide at 65°C. The carbonyl groups can be reduced with LiAlH₄ in tetrahydrofuran to give hydroxyl-ended polymers. A mechanism is presented for this unusual cleavage reaction.