Synthesis and characterization of novel biodegradable aliphatic poly(ester amide)s containing cyclohexane units

Polyesters provide a good basis to work on for designing novel biodegradable materials that are also mechanically and thermally resistant. In this study, a series of aliphatic poly(ester amide)s (PEA) based on cyclohexane units was synthesized. Block‐copolymers of cyclohexyl sebacate and cyclohexyl sebacamide were produced by controlling the length of the ester block and the amount of amide during a two‐step melt/interfacial polycondensation reaction. Films produced from these materials could retain their shape above 373 K due to the physical network of amide hydrogen‐bonding. Thermal properties were also evaluated, with various melting and softening points obtained depending on the PEA composition. The determining factor for mechanical properties was the amount of amide introduced, with films containing up to 10 mol % amide showing the best handleability and flexibility. Tensile properties typical of an amorphous viscoelastic material were observed, but with much superior elongation to break achievable (～1700%). These materials were also shown to be hydrolyzable, noncytotoxic, and favorable for cell attachment: they may therefore have a promising future in the area of medical devices or packaging, especially as their properties can be tuned by changing their composition. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 1785–1795, 2006     

Synthesis and characterization of calcium containing poly(urethane-ether)s

Calcium containing poly(urethane-ether)s (PUEs) were synthesized by the reaction of hexamethylene diisocyanate or toluylene 2,4-diisocyanate (HMDI or TDI) with a mixture of calcium salt of mono(hydroxybutyl)phthalate [Ca(HBP)₂] and polyethylene glycol (PEG₂₀₀ or PEG₄₀₀). A series of calcium containing PUEs having different composition were synthesized by taking the mole ratio of Ca(HBP)₂:PEG₂₀₀ or PEG₄₀₀:diisocyanate (HMDI or TDI) as 3:1:4, 2:2:4 and 1:3:4 to study the effect of calcium content on the properties of the copolymer. The structure of the polymers were confirmed by IR, ¹H-NMR, ¹³C-NMR, and solid state ¹³C-CP-MAS NMR. The polymers were soluble in dimethyl sulfoxide and dimethyl formamide. The initial decomposition temperature of the polymers decreases with increase in calcium content. The T_g value of PUEs increases with increase in calcium content and decreases with increase in soft segment content and length. A single T_g value is observed for the calcium containing PUEs based on PEG₂₀₀ shows the presence of homogeneous phase. However, two T_g values for the PUEs based on PEG₄₀₀ for various composition of Ca(HBP)₂, PEG₄₀₀ and diisocyanate (HMDI or TDI) shows the presence of heterogeneous phase. The viscosity of the calcium containing PUEs increases with increase in the soft segment content as well as its length and decreases with increase in calcium content. X-ray diffraction patterns of the polymers show that the HMDI based polymers are partially crystalline and TDI based polymers are amorphous in nature. The dynamic mechanical analysis of the calcium containing PUEs based on HMDI shows that at any given temperature modulus (g^′ and g^″) increases with increase in the ionic content in the polymers.     

Synthesis of hydrogen-terminated aliphatic bis(ethynyl ketone)s and aliphatic poly(enamine-ketone)s and poly(enonesulfide)s

Hydrogen-terminated aliphatic bis(ethynyl ketone)s (H-ABEKs): 1,9-decadiyne-3,8-dione ( 3a ) and 1,13-tetradecadiyne-3,12-dione ( 3b ) were prepared by the Friedel-Crafts reaction of bis(trimethylsilyl) acetylene (BTMSA) with adipoyl chloride and sebacoyl chloride, followed by desilylation with an aqueous buffer solution. Aliphatic poly(enamine-ketone)s (APEKs) and aliphatic poly(enonesulfide)s (APESs) were prepared in nearly quantitative yield by the nucleophilic addition polymerization of 3a,b with various diamines and dithiols in N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) and m-cresol at room temperature during 14-22 h. Aromatic diamines and dithiols gave polymers that were soluble only in m-cresol. Primary diamines gave exclusively APEKs with the cis (Z) configuration. Dithiols gave APESs which contained more cis (Z) than trans (E) configurations. The inherent viscosities (η_inh) of the APEKs ranged from 0.05 to 0.73 dL/g. The APESs gave η_inh ranging from 0.36 to 2.21 dL/g.     

Synthesis and characterization of novel poly(amide-imide)s containing hexafluoroisopropylidene linkage

A series of novel soluble poly(amide-imide)s were prepared from the diimide-dicarboxylic acid, 2,2-bis[N-(4-carboxyphenyl)-phthalimidyl]hexafluoropropane, with various diamines by the direct polycondensation in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone containing CaCl₂ using triphenyl phosphite and pyridine as condensing agents. All the polymers were obtained in quantitative yields with inherent viscosities of 0.78–1.63 dL g⁻¹. The polymers were amorphous and readily soluble in aprotic polar solvents such as N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone, N,N-dimethylacetamide, N,N-dimethylformamide, and dimethyl sulfoxide as well as in less polar solvents such as pyridine and γ-butyrolactone, and also in tetrahydrofuran. The polymer films had tensile strength of 84–129 MPa, an elongation at break range of 6–22%, and a tensile modulus range of 2.0–2.7 GPa. The glass transition temperatures of the polymers were determined by DSC method and they were in the range of 240–282°C. These polymers were fairly stable up to a temperature around or above 400°C, and lose 10% weight in the range of 450–514°C and 440–506°C in nitrogen and air, respectively. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 2629–2635, 1999     

Synthesis and properties of novel aliphatic poly(carbonate-ester)s

The biodegradable poly(5-methyl-5-methoxycarbonyl-1,3-dioxan-2-one-co-d,l-lactide) [poly(MMTC-co-d,l-LA)] copolymers were synthesized by the ring-opening copolymerization. The results show that the yield and molecular weight of copolymers are significantly influenced by reaction conditions. The chemical structure of the resultant copolymers was characterized by FTIR, ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR methods. Their molecular weight was measured by gel permeation chromatography (GPC). Study of monomer coreactivity ratios indicates that d,l-LA reacts faster than MMTC in the copolymerization. The enzymatic degradation of the polymers with various compositions was studied at 37 °C in pH = 8.6 Tris-HCl buffer solution in the presence of proteinase K. Their mechanical properties were also preliminarily investigated.     

Synthesis and characterization of poly(aryl ether)s containing the pyrimidine moiety

A series of new poly(aryl ether)s containing the pyrimidine moiety were prepared by a nucleophilic aromatic substitution polymerization reaction in an aprotic solvent (DMAc) in the presence of excess potassium carbonate. These polymers are high molecular weight, amorphous, and soluble in common solvents at room temperature. The polymers are easily cast from solution into flexible, colorless, and transparent films. They showed high glass transition temperatures ranging from 198 to 304°C by DSC analysis. The 5% weight losses by thermogravimetric analysis ranged from 478 to 580°C, indicating that these polymers are very thermostable in nitrogen and air. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 36: 1107–1110, 1998     

Synthesis and characterization of new AB-type poly(etherimide)s containing bisphenol moieties

A series of new AB-type poly(etherimide)s having bisphenol-type moiety was prepared by the one-pot polyimidization using triphenylphosphite(TPP) in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone(NMP)/pyridine solution at 150°C. Complete cyclodehydration was observed in the polymerizations as well as in model reactions. Polymers were obtained with inherent viscosities in the 0.27–0.49 dL/g range. The M_n and M_w/M_n of poly[4-(1,4-phenyleneoxy-1,4-phenylenehexafluoro-isopropylidene-1,4-phenylene)oxyphthalimide] (4d) with η_inh = 0.49 dL/g were 73,400 g/mol and 1.5, respectively. Most polymers could readily be dissolved in common organic solvents such as DMAc, NMP, and m-cresol. The polymer 4d was soluble even in chloroform. These polymers had glass transition temperatures between 205 and 235°C, and 5% weight loss temperatures in the range of 511–532°C in nitrogen. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 3530–3536, 1999     

Synthesis and characterization of novel poly（aryl ether）s containing naphthyl moieties

Two poly(aryl ether)s containing naphthyl moieties were prepared from bis(3,5-dimethyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)naphthyl methane (monomer 1) via nucleophilic aromatic substitution polycondensation with bis(4-fluorophenyl) ketone and bis(4-fluorophenyl) sulfone.The structures of these polymers were confirmed by ~1H NMR.The M_n values of the two polymers were 96,200 and 88,600, respectively.The polymers exhibited good thermal stabilities with 5%mass loss at T>400℃and high glass-transition temperature(T_g) of T>250℃...     

Synthesis and characterization of aromatic poly(ether ketone)s containing cyclotriphosphazene units

Bis(4-oxybenzoic acid) tetrakis(phenoxy) cyclotriphosphazene (IUPAC name: 4-[4-(carboxyphenoxy)-2,4,6,6-tetraphenoxy-1,3,5,2λ⁵,4λ⁵,6λ⁵-triazatriphosphinin-2-yl]oxy-benzoic acid) was synthesized and direct polycondensed with diphenylether or 1,4-diphenoxybenzene in Eaton's reagent at the temperature range of 80–120°C for 3 hours to give aromatic poly(ether ketone)s. Polycondensations at 120°C gave polymer of high molecular weight. Incorporation of cyclotriphosphazene groups in the aromatic poly(ether ketone) backbone greatly enhanced the solubility of these polymers in common organic polar solvents. Thermal stabilities by TGA for two polymer samples of polymer series ranged from 390 to 354°C in nitrogen at 10% weight loss and glass transition temperatures (T_g) ranged from 81.4 to 89.6°C by DSC. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 36: 1227–1232, 1998     

Synthesis and characterization of poly(amideimide)s containing pendent flexible alkoxy chains

A series of aromatic diacylhydrazides containing pendent flexible alkoxy chains, viz., 5-butyloxyisophthalicacid dihydrazide, 5-octyloxyisophthalicacid dihydrazide, 5-dodecyloxyisophthalicacid dihydrazide and 5-hexadecyloxyisophthalicacid dihydrazide were synthesized by the hydrazinolysis reaction of the corresponding aromatic esters with hydrazine hydrate. Diacylhydrazides were each polycondensed with aromatic dianhydrides, viz., 4,4′-oxydiphthalic anhydride (ODPA), 3,3′,4,4′-biphenyltetracarboxylic dianhydride (BPDA) and pyromellitic dianhydride (PMDA) to obtain new poly(amideimide)s. Poly(amideimide)s had inherent viscosity in the range 0.55-0.88 dL/g in N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMAc) at 30 ± 0.1 °C. Poly(amideimide)s were found to be soluble in DMAc, N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF), 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone (NMP) and pyridine and could be cast into tough, flexible and transparent films from a solution in DMAc. X-ray diffractograms revealed that poly(amideimide)s with longer alkoxy chains had layered structures. Glass transition temperature of poly(amideimide)s containing pendent flexible alkoxy chains were in the range 215-245 °C. Temperature at 10% weight loss was in the range 380-410 °C in nitrogen atmosphere indicating good thermal stability of poly(amideimide)s.     

Synthesis and characterization of new cardo poly(bisbenzothiazole)s containing cyclohexylidene units

A new diaminobenzenethiol 1,1-bis(4-amino-3-mercaptophenyl) cyclohexane dihydrochloride (BAMPCH · 2HCl) containing the bulky pendant cyclohexylidene group was synthesized from cyclohexanone in three steps. Its chemical structure was characterized by ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, MS, FT-IR and EA. Aromatic poly(bisbenzothiazole)s (PBTs) were prepared from the new monomer and five aromatic dicarboxylic acids by direct polycondensation. The inherent viscosities were in the range of 0.78-2.04 dL/g. These polymers exhibited good solubility and thermal stability. Most of the prepared PBTs were soluble in various polar solvents. The decomposition temperatures at 10% weight loss were in the range of 482-518 °C in nitrogen. X-ray diffractograms of PBTs showed that all polymers were amorphous.     

Synthesis and characterization of new cardo poly(bisbenzoxazole)s containing fluorenylidene unit

A series of poly(bisbenzoxazole)s (PBOs V) containing fluorenylidene unit are prepared from 9,9-bis(3-amino-4-hydroxyphenyl)fluorene (BAHPF) and various aromatic or alkene diacids by direct polycondensation. These polymers exhibit improved solubility and good thermal stability. The decomposition temperatures at 10% weight loss of them are above 500 °C. X-ray diffractograms of PBOs V_1–5 show that all of them are amorphous. The maximum absorption wavelengths of PBOs V_1–5 are blue or red shifted relative to poly(p-phenylene-2,6-benzobisoxazole) (PBO). The bandgaps of PBOs V_1–5 are in the range of 2.48–2.98 eV, which widen the tunable range of the optical bandgap. The results of photoluminescence (PL) emission spectra indicate the energy transportation has happened between the fluorenylidene and benzoxazole ring. The emission wavelengths of PBOs V_1–5 are blue shifted in contrast to PBO and the emission wavelengths of them are in the region of blue or green light, respectively. The PL quantum yields of them are improved due to the introduction of fluorenylidene group. The results of EPR studies show the intrinsic paramagnetic defects in this class of polymers.     

Aliphatic-aromatic poly(ether amide)s containing oxyethylene units. Synthesis and characterization

The synthesis and characterization of aromatic polyamides containing oxyethylene units is reported, and the differences observed in polycondensation yields, molecular weights, and molecular weight distributions, as a function of the method of synthesis, are discussed. Four diamines containing oxyethylene units and aromatic rings, meta and para oriented, and their corresponding hydrochlorides were prepared as condensation monomers to be combined with isophthaloyl chloride (IPC) and terephthaloyl chloride (TPC). High molecular weight polyamides were obtained by interfacial and low-temperature solution methods. Values of (OVERLINE)M(/OVERLINE)_n up to 6 × 10⁴ g/mol and (OVERLINE)M(/OVERLINE)_w up to 2 × 10⁵ g/mol could be measured by gel permeation chromatography using aromatic polyamide standards, and values of (OVERLINE)M(/OVERLINE)_n up to 2 × 10⁵ g/mol and (OVERLINE)M(/OVERLINE)_w up to 5 × 10⁵ g/mol by using polystyrene standards. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Synthesis and characterization of poly(urethane-sulfone)s

Eight poly(urethane-sulfone)s were synthesized from two sulfone-containing diols, 1,3-bis(3-hydroxypropylsulfonyl)propane (Diol-333) and 1,4-bis(3-hydroxypropylsulfonyl)butane (Diol-343), and three diisocyanates, 1,6-hexamethylene diisocyanate (HMDI), 4,4′-diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI), and tolylene diisocyanate (TDI, 2,4- 80%; 2,6-20%). As a comparison, eight polyurethanes were also synthesized from two alkanediols, 1,9-nonanediol and 1,10-decanediol, and three diisocyanates. Diol-333 and Diol-343 were prepared by the addition of 1,3-propanedithiol or 1,4-butanedithiol to allyl alcohol and subsequent oxidation of the resulting sulfide-containing diols. The homopoly(urethanesulfone)s from HMDI and MDI are semicrystalline, and are soluble in m-cresol and hot DMF, DMAC, and DMSO. The copoly(urethane-sulfone)s from a 1/1 molar ratio mixture of Diol-333 and Diol-343 with HMDI or MDI have lower crystallinity and better solubility than the corresponding homopoly(urethane-sulfone)s. The poly(urethane-sulfone)s from TDI are amorphous, and are readily soluble in m-cresol, DMF, DMAC, and DMSO at room temperature. Differential scanning calorimetry data showed that poly(urethane-sulfone)s have higher glass transition temperatures and melting points than the corresponding polyurethanes without sulfone groups. The rise in glass transition temperature is 20–25°C while the rise in melting temperature is 46–71°C. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Synthesis and characterization of poly(amide-sulfonamide)s

Novel poly(amide-sulfonamide)s have been prepared by reacting terephthaloyl, isophthaloyl, and sebacoyl chloride with variously substituted dianilines containing preformed sulfonamide linkages. Inherent viscosities of the prepared polymers ranged from 0.19 to 0.58 dL/g. Despite low apparent viscosities, the polymers had film forming properties. Clear, tough, flexible films were obtained from the prepared polymers, in particular the poly(terephthalamide-sulfonamide)s. Glass transition temperatures, determined by differential scanning calorimetry, ranged from 84 to 247°C. Thermogravimetric analyses of the polymers showed that they have moderate thermal stability with weight losses ranging from 12 to 35% at 350°C.     

Synthesis and characterization of poly(ester-sulfone)s

Aliphatic and aromatic-aliphatic poly(ester-sulfone)s were synthesized by the transesterifications of diphenyl adipate and diphenyl phthalates (ortho, meta, para) with two sulfonecontaining diols, 1,3-bis (3-hydroxypropylsulfonyl) propane (Diol-333) and 1,4-bis(3-hydroxypropylsulfonyl) butane (Diol-343). Based on DSC and WAXD studies, the aliphatic homopoly(ester-sulfone)s are semicrystalline at room temperature and liquid crystalline at elevated temperature, while their copolymers with alkanediols are liquid crystalline. The liquid crystalline phase formation in aliphatic poly(ester-sulfone)s is attributed to the strong dipole-dipole interactions between sulfone groups. The aromatic-aliphatic poly(estersulfone)s from diphenyl phthalate (ortho) and isophthalate (meta) are amorphous. They are soluble in trifluoroacetic acid and m-cresol at room temperature, and DMF, DMAC, and DMSO at elevated temperature. The aromatic-aliphatic poly(ester-sulfone)s from diphenyl terephthalate are semicrystalline and are soluble only in trifluoroacetic acid. For a given diol, the glass transition temperatures of aromatic-aliphatic poly(ester-sulfone)s increase from phthalate to isophthalate to terephthalate. This is because the flexibility of the benzene ring in the polymer backbone decreases from ortho to meta to para substitution. As a comparison, polyesters without sulfone groups were synthesized from two alkanediols, 1,9-nonanediol and 1,10-decanediol, and the diphenyl esters. The poly(ester-sulfone)s have glass transition temperatures 60–80°C higher than the corresponding polyesters without sulfone groups, due to the strong dipolar interactions between sulfone groups. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Synthesis and characterization of halogen‐containing poly(ether ketone ketone)s

A series of novel poly(ether ketone ketone)s (PEKKs) were synthesized from diphenyl ether and isophthaloyl chloride derivatives such as 5‐halo‐ and 5‐tert‐butyl‐isophthaloyl chloride. The aromatic electrophilic substitution route to polyketones was a convenient route for the preparation of the polymers in high yields via precipitation polycondensation at a low temperature with aluminum trichloride as a catalyst. High molecular weight PEKKs were achieved with number‐average molecular weights of 15,000–100,000 g/mol for polymers that showed good solubility in organic solvents. The presence of substituents greatly modified the spectroscopic features in comparison with those of unsubstituted isophthaloyl poly(ether ketone ketone)s, particularly for the series containing halogens, for which significant variations of the chemical shifts in both ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectra were observed; these shifts could be related to the nature of the halogen. Thermal properties were also affected by the presence of pendent substituents, with clear enhancements of the glass‐transition temperatures, which could be ascribed to the nature and bulkiness of the substituents. Thermogravimetric analyses showed that the new polymers had good thermal resistance, although an important drop in thermal resistance was observed for polymers bearing large halogen atoms, such as bromine and iodine. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 2601–2608, 2002