Linear and A2+B3‐type hyperbranched polyesters comprising phenylbenzothiazole unit: Preparation,liquid crystalline,and optical properties

Novel liquid crystalline (LC) hyperbranched (HB) polyesters comprising phenylbenzothiazole (PBT) unit as mesogen in the interiors were prepared at various feed mole ratios (A₂/B₃) by solution polycondensation of a dioxydiundecanol derivative of PBT (A₂ monomer) with trimesic acid trimethyl ester (B₃ monomer) via A₂+B₃ approach and their LC and optical properties were investigated. Analogous linear polyesters containing the PBT unit in the main chains were also prepared by the solution polycondensation of A₂ monomer with aromatic or aliphatic dimethyl esters. FTIR and ¹H‐NMR spectroscopies indicated that the HB polyesters are produced without gelation during the polycondensation and have degree of branching (DB) of 7–46%. The structures of HB polymers changed depending on the feed mole ratios and the polymer prepared in the mole ratio of A₂/B₃ = 3/2 had the highest inherent viscosity and DB. Acetylation of terminal OH group‐having HB polyesters prepared in excess mole ratios of A₂/B₃ afforded ones bearing acetoxy groups in the terminals. DSC measurements, polarizing microscope observations of textures, and X‐ray analyses suggested that only the terminal OH group‐having HB polymer prepared in the mole ratio of A₂/B₃ = 3/1 form smectic C phase. In the linear polymers, the polymers derived by using the aromatic dimethyl esters had no LC melt, but those from the aliphatic dimethyl esters formed LC smectic C phase. The acetoxy group‐bearing HB polymers showed more stable smectic A or C phase than those with the OH terminals. Solution UV‐vis and photoluminescent (PL) spectra indicated that the linear and the HB polymers have analogous optical properties and display maximum absorbances and blue‐light emission on the basis of the PBT unit, where the Stokes shifts were observed because of intermolecular aggregation effects, but there is a large difference between the optical behaviors of the linear and the HB polymers in film, whose E_g values of the linear polymers decreased and those of the HB polymers vice versa. Quantum efficiencies (Φ) had a tendency of increase in the linear polymers and the HB polymers forming LC phases. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 6688–6702, 2008     

Thermotropic liquid‐crystalline polymers containing five‐membered heterocyclic groups. X. Relationships between structures of semirigid polyesters based on three disubstituted 2,5‐diphenyl‐1,3,4‐thiadiazoles and thermotropic liquid‐crystalline and optical properties

Thermotropic liquid‐crystalline (LC) semirigid polyesters based on three terphenyl analogues of 1,3,4‐thiadiazole (2,5‐diphenyl‐1,3,4‐thiadiazole)s (DPTD) linking undecamethyleneoxy chain at different substituted positions were synthesized from three disubstituted (4,4′‐, 3,4′‐, and 3,3′‐) dioxydiundecanols of DPTD and four diesters, and the relationships between polymer structures and LC and optical properties were investigated. DSC measurements, texture observations, and wide‐angle X‐ray analyses revealed that the polymers composed of DPTD moiety having a more linear molecular structure and 1,4‐phenylene unit or short aliphatic chain tend to exhibit LC smectic C and/or A phases. The following observations were made: (1) the emergence of smectic C and/or A phases in all the polymers on the basis of 4,4′‐disubstituted DPTD, (2) formation of enantiotropic smectic C and/or A phases in the polymers containing a 1,4‐phenylene unit in the main chain, (3) formation of a more stable smectic C phase in the polymers having a short aliphatic [(CH₂)₄] chain, and (4) a decrease of the mesomorphic property of the polyesters in the order of 4,4′‐DPTD > 3,4′‐DPTD > 3,3′‐DPTD. Solution and solid‐state ultraviolet–visible and photoluminescent spectra indicated that all the polyesters display maximum absorbances and blue emissions arising from the DPTD moiety, whose peak maxima were shifted to lower wavelengths in the order of 4,4′‐DPTD > 3,4′‐DPTD > 3,3′‐DPTD as well as the aforementioned LC property. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 2676–2687, 2003     

s‐Triazine‐based hyperbranched polyethers: Synthesis,characterization, and properties

A series of s‐triazine‐based hyperbranched polyethers (HBPE) have been synthesized to obtain thermostability but flexible polymers by an interfacial polycondensation of different diols as A₂ and cyanuric chloride as B₃ monomers using A₂ + B₃ approach in the presence of a phase transfer catalyst. The polymerization reaction parameters are optimized, and the results indicate that the optimum conditions for the interfacial polycondensation are a 2:3 mole ratio of cyanuric chloride to diol using butanediol, benzyldimethylhexadecyl ammonium chloride as the catalyst, dichloromethane as the organic solvent, and a three‐step procedure with keeping the reaction mixture at different low temperatures for 2h/2h/5h. Other techniques such as high‐temperature solution, one‐step polycondensation, and transesterification were also carried out to synthesize the HBPE but proved to be not suitable due to large number of side reactions. The synthesized polymers were characterized by FTIR, ¹H NMR, and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy, hydroxyl number determination, solution viscosity measurements, and GPC analysis. The thermal behavior of the hyperbranched polymer was investigated by thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry. All the results were compared with those from an analogous linear polyether, obtained from 2‐methoxy‐4,6‐dichloro‐s‐triazine and butanediol by using the same polymerization technique. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 3994–4004, 2010     

Thermoreversible nonlinear diels‐alder polymerization of furan/plant oil monomers

Novel trifunctional monomers based on renewable resources were prepared and subsequently polymerized via the Diels‐Alder (DA) polycondensation between furan and maleimide complementary moieties. Three basic approaches were considered for these nonlinear DA polycondensations, namely the use of (i) a bisfuran monomer in combination with a trismaleimide (A₂ + B₃ system) and (ii) a trisfuran monomer in conjunction with a bismaleimide (A₃ + B₂ system) leading to branched or crosslinked materials, and (iii) the use of monomers incorporating both furan and maleimide end groups (A₂B or AB₂ systems), which lead to hyperbranched structures. The application of the retro‐DA reaction to the ensuing polymers confirmed their thermoreversible character. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2013     

Intrinsically Microporous Polyesters From Betulin – Toward Renewable Materials for Gas Separation Made From Birch Bark

Betulin, an abundant triterpene, can be extracted from birch bark and can be used as a renewable monomer in the synthesis of microporous polyesters. Cross‐linked networks and hyperbranched polymers are accessible by an A₂ + B₃ reaction, with betulin being the A₂ monomer and B₃ being a trifunctional acid chloride. Reaction of betulin with a diacid dichloride results in linear, soluble polyesters. The present communication proves that the polyreaction follows the classic schemes of polycondensation reactions. The resulting polymers are analyzed with regard to their micro‐porosity by gas sorption, NMR spectroscopy, and X‐ray scattering methods. The polymers feature intrinsic microporosity, having ultrasmall pores, which makes them candidates for gas separation membranes, e.g., for the separation of CO₂ from N₂.     

Unimolecular micelles and reverse micelles based on hyperbranched polyethers—Comparative study of AB2 + A‐R and A2 + B3 + A‐R type strategies

Core‐shell type hyperbranched polymers that are capable of forming unimolecular micelles and reverse micelles in aqueous and hydrocarbon medium, respectively, were synthesized via two approaches, namely AB₂ + A‐R and A₂ + B₃ + A‐R type copolymerizations. In case of micelle‐forming polymers, an AB₂ monomer carrying a decamethylene spacer was used along with heptaethylene glycol monomethyl ether (HPEG) as the A‐R type comonomer. One the other hand, for the preparation of reverse micelle‐forming polymers, an AB₂ monomer containing an oligo(oxyethylene) spacer was used along with cetyl alcohol as the A‐R type comonomer. The former was readily soluble in water while the latter was soluble in hydrocarbon solvents like hexane. NMR spectral studies confirmed that both the approaches generated highly branched structures wherein about 65–70% of the terminal B groups were capped by the A‐R comonomer. Dye‐uptake measurements revealed that the polymers prepared via the AB₂ + A‐R approach exhibited a significantly larger uptake compared with those prepared via the A₂ + B₃ + A‐R approach. This suggests that the AB₂ + A‐R approach generates hyperbranched polymers with better defined core‐shell topology when compared with polymers prepared via the A₂ + B₃ + A‐R approach, which is in accordance with previous studies that suggest that A₂ + B₃ approach yields polymers with significantly lower branching levels and consequently less compact structures. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 80–91, 2009     

Manipulation of the molecular weight and branching structure of hyperbranched poly(arylene ether phosphine oxide)s prepared via an A2 + B3 approach

A series of hyperbranched poly(arylene ether phosphine oxide)s (HB PAEPOs) were prepared via an A₂ + B₃ polymerization scheme with tris(4‐fluorophenyl)phosphine oxide as B₃, and a variety of bisphenols as A₂. The effects of the reactivity of the A₂ monomer, the A:B ratio, the addition mode, the solvent, and the concentration on the final molecular weight, polydispersity index (PDI), and degree of branching (DB) were studied. Soluble HB PAEPOs with weight‐average molecular weights of up to 299,000 Da were achieved. Reactions in which the A₂ component was added slowly resulted in lower DBs (0.2–0.5), whereas the slow addition of the B₃ component provided samples with DBs of approximately 0.75. Reactions performed under high‐dilution conditions afforded completely soluble materials with weight‐average molecular weights of 9000–12,100 Da and PDI values as low as 2.20. The molecular weights achieved under high‐dilution conditions were independent of the mode of monomer addition. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 3871–3881, 2003     

Synthesis of hyperbranched polymers from vegetable oil based monomers via ozonolysis pathway

In this work, a variety of hyperbranched polymers (HBPs), such as hyperbranched polycarbonates, polyesters, polyurethanes and polyacetals, was successfully synthesized from castor oil and soybean oil based monomers via a A₂ + B₃ polycondensation. First, B₃ monomer triols (TriOL), trialdehydes (TriAD), and tricarboxylic acids (TriAC) were obtained by ozonolysis of castor oil and soybean oil with following reductive or oxidative treatment. Their structures were characterized by ¹H NMR and ATR‐FTIR spectroscopy as well as electrospray ionization‐Time of Flight‐mass spectrometry. These trifunctional B₃ monomers were applied in the preparation of HBPs. The resulting HBPs had number averaged molar mass (M_n) up to 9400 g/mol and weight averaged molar mass (M_w) up to 40,000 g/mol. Through adjusting the initial molar ratio of A₂ to B₃ monomers, hydroxyl terminated (from TriOL monomers) or carboxylic acid (from TriAC monomers) terminated HBPs could be obtained. All the HBPs were characterized by ¹H NMR, size exclusion chromatography, and DSC. These HBPs are potential candidates for the synthesis of cross‐linked polymeric materials or in biomedical applications. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2017 , 55, 2104–2114     

Thermotropic liquid‐crystalline polyesters containing biphenyl mesogens in the main chain: The effect of connectivity

A homologous series of main‐chain thermotropic liquid‐crystalline polyesters containing rigid biphenyl mesogen and flexible methylene spacers were synthesized with the AB‐type self‐polycondensation approach. The polyesters were characterized with ¹H NMR, gel permeation chromatography, thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, polarized light optical microscopy, and X‐ray diffraction. These polyesters, containing trimethylene spacers on the acid side and various spacers on the alcohol side of the biphenyl mesogen, showed an odd–even effect in the transition temperatures and mesophase type. The even members showed higher transition temperatures than the odd ones. A normal smectic mesophase was observed for the even members, whereas the odd‐membered counterparts exhibited a tilted smectic mesophase. To study the effect of connectivity, the mesophase characteristics of these polyesters were compared with those of the isomeric AB‐type polyesters without any methylene spacer on the acid side of the biphenyl moiety. The mesophase characteristics were insensitive to whether the mesogen was connected to a carboxyl unit or a methylene unit. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 2734–2746, 2004     

Synthesis,characterization, and in vitro degradation of thermotropic polyesters and copolyesters based on terephthalic acid, 3‐(4‐hydroxyphenyl)propionic acid,and glycols

A new series of thermotropic liquid‐crystalline (LC) polyesters were prepared from a diacyl chloride derivative of 4,4′‐(terephthaloyldioxy)‐di‐4‐phenylpropionic acid (PTP) and glycols with a different number of methylene groups (n) [HO(CH₂)_n OH, n = 6–10, 12] by high‐temperature solution polycondensation in diphenyl oxide. PTP6/10 and PTP6/hydroquinone (H) LC copolyesters were also prepared according to a similar procedure. The chemical structure, LC, phase‐transition behaviors, thermal stability, and solubility were characterized by elemental analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectra, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis, and a polarizing light microscope. The melting and isotropization temperatures decreased in a zigzag manner as the number of n increased. All of the polyesters formed a nematic phase with the exception of PTP8. The temperature ranges of the mesophase (ΔT) were much wider for the polyesters with an odd number of n's than those with an even number. ΔT increased markedly for the PTP6/10 and PTP6/H copolyesters. The in vitro degradations of the polymers were ascertained by enzymatic hydrolysis and alkaline hydrolysis. The model compound, PTP dihexylester, was synthesized and found to be degraded into terephthalic acid, 3‐(4‐hydroxyphenyl)propionic acid, and 1‐hexanol by Rhizopus delemar lipase, but PTPn homopolyesters and PTP6/10 and PTP6/H copolyesters were resistant to Rhizopus delemar hydrolysis. They were degradable in a sodium hydroxide buffer solution of pH 12 at 60 °C, depending on the number of n's and the copolymer composition. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 39: 3043–3051, 2001     

Synthesis and characterization of novel renewable polyesters based on 2,5‐furandicarboxylic acid and 2,3‐butanediol

Novel polyesters from 2,5‐furandicarboxylic acid or 2,5‐dimethyl‐furandicarboxylate and 2,3‐butanediol have been synthesized via bulk polycondensation catalyzed by titanium (IV) n‐butoxide, tin (IV) ethylhexanoate, or zirconium (IV) butoxide. The polymers were analyzed by size exclusion chromatography, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), matrix‐assisted laser ionization‐desorption time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry, electrospray ionization time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry, electrospray ionization quadruple time‐of‐flight mass spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and differential scanning calorimetry. Fully bio‐based polyesters with number average molecular weights ranging from 2 to 7 kg/mol were obtained which can be suitable for coating applications. The analysis of their thermal properties proved that these polyesters are thermally stable up to 270–300 °C, whereas their glass transition temperature (T_g) values were found between 70 and 110 °C. Furthermore, a material was prepared with a molecular weight of 13 kg/mol, with a T_g of 113 °C. This high T_g would make this material possibly suitable for hot‐fill applications. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2013     

Synthesis and characterization of hyperbranched polyesters from glycerol‐based AB2 monomer

This article describes the synthesis of a new glycerol‐based AB₂ type monomer—ethyl{3‐[2‐hydroxy‐1‐(hydroxymethyl)ethoxy]propyl}thioacetate ( 4 ) and its application for the preparation of hyperbranched polyesters. The polycondensation of 4 has been performed over a wide range of catalysts and reaction conditions leading to polymers containing solely primary hydroxyl groups. The polycondensation progress has been monitored by means of ¹H NMR. The degree of branching of the polymers showed to be in the range of 0.5 ± 0.03. The obtained polyesters easily undergo hydrolysis or alcoholysis and may be of interest as recycled materials. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 3860–3868, 2009     

Polyesters containing sulfur. VII. New aliphatic‐aromatic polyesters for synthesis of polyester‐sulfur compositions and polyurethanes

New linear polyesters containing sulfur in the main chain were obtained by melt polycondensation of diphenylmethane‐4,4′‐bis(methylthioacetic acid) (DBMTAA) or diphenylmethane‐4,4′‐bis(methythiopropionic acid) (DBMTPA) and diphenylmethane‐4,4′‐bis(methylthioethanol) (DBMTE) at equimolar ratio of reagents (polyesters E‐A and E‐P) as well as at 0.15 molar excess of diol (polyesters E‐A_OH and E‐P_OH). The kinetics of these reactions was studied at 150, 160, and 170°C. Reaction rate constants (k₂) and activation parameters (ΔG^≠, ΔH^≠, ΔS^≠) from carboxyl group loss were determined using classical kinetic methods. E‐A and E‐P (M̄_n = 4400, 4600) were used for synthesis of new rubber‐like polyester‐sulfur compositions, by heating with elemental sulfur, whereas oligoesterols E‐A_OH and E‐P_OH (M̄_n = 2500, 2900) were converted to thermoplastic polyurethane elastomers by reaction with hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI) or methylene bis(4‐phenyl isocyanate) (MDI). The structure of the polymers was determined by elemental analysis, FT‐IR and liquid or solid‐state ¹H‐, ¹³C‐NMR spectroscopy, and X‐ray diffraction analysis. Thermal properties were measured by DTA, TGA, and DSC. Hardness and tensile properties of polyurethanes and polyester‐sulfur compositions were also determined. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 835–848, 1999     

Synthesis and characterization of A2 + B3 type hyperbranched aromatic-aliphatic polyester with carboxyl end groups

New types of carboxyl-terminated hyperbranched polyesters (HBPEs) with aromatic-aliphatic structure were synthesized by single step-melt polycondensation of adipic acid (as A2 monomer) and phloroglucinol (as B3 monomer) as a core via A₂ + B₃ approach, at three different monomer mole ratios (A₂/B₃ = 1: 1, 1.5: 1, 2: 1, respectively). FTIR spectroscopy indicated that the polymers contained hydroxyl groups, ester bonds, benzene ring, methyl and methylene groups, which were in agreement with the expected HBPEs. The HBPEs have inherent viscosities about 0.24 to 0.27 dL/g. The degree of branching of the HBPEs was estimated to be 0.45–0.49% by ¹H-NMR and ¹³C-NMR measurements. The melting temperature of HBPE-1, HBPE-2 and HBPE-3 were 154, 155 and 160°C respectively measured by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The synthesized polymers were thermally stable; the thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) measurement revealed that HBPEs had 10% weight loss at 310°C in nitrogen.     

Hyperbranched poly(arylene ethynylene)s with triphenylamine core for polymer light‐emitting diodes

A series of light‐emitting hyperbranched poly(arylene ethynylene)s (HB‐PAEs) were prepared by the Sonogashira coupling from bisethynyl of carbazole, fluorene, or dialkoxybenzenes (A₂ type) and tris(4‐iodophenyl)amine (B₃ type). For comparison, two linear polymers (L‐PAEs) of the HB analogs were also synthesized. The polymers were characterized by Fourier transform infrared, NMR, and GPC. The HB polymers showed excellent solubility in chloroform, THF, and chlorobenzene when compared with their linear analogs. The number‐average molecular weight (M_n) of the polymers determined from GPC was found to be in the range of 18,600–34,200. The polymers were thermally stable up to 298–330 °C with only 5% weight loss. The absorption maxima of the polymers were between 354 and 411 nm with optical band gap in the range of 2.5–2.9 eV. The HB polymers were found to be highly fluorescent with photoluminescence quantum yields around 33–42%. The highest occupied molecular orbital energy levels of the polymers calculated from onset oxidation potentials were found to be in the range from ?5.83 to ?6.20 eV. Electroluminescence (EL) properties of three HB‐PAEs and one L‐PAE were investigated with device configuration ITO/PEDOT:PSS/Polymer/LiF/Al. The EL maxima of HB‐PAEs were found to be in the range of 507–558 nm with turn‐on voltages around 7.5–10 V and maximum brightness values of 316–490 cd/m². At the same time, linear analog of one HB‐PAE was found to show a maximum brightness of 300 cd/m² at a turn‐on voltage of 8.2 V. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011     

Self‐controlled synthesis of hyperbranched poly(ether‐ketone)s from A2 + B3 approach in poly(phosphoric acid)

Self‐controlled synthesis of hyperbranched poly(ether‐ketone)s (HPEKs) were prepared from “A₂ + B₃” approach by using different monomer solubility in reaction medium. 1,3,5‐Triphenoxybenzene as a hydrophobic B₃ monomer was reacted with commercially available terephthalic acid or 4,4′‐oxybis(benzoic acid) as a hydrophilic A₂ monomer in a hydrophilic reaction medium, polyphosphoric acid (PPA)/phosphorous pentoxide (P₂O₅). The resultant HPEKs were soluble in various common organic solvents and had the weight‐average molecular weight in the range of 3900–13,400 g/mol. The results implied that HPEKs were branched structures instead of crosslinked polymers. The molecular sizes and shapes of HPEKs were further assured by morphological investigation with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Hence, the applied polymerization condition was indeed strong enough to efficiently facilitate polycondensation via “direct” Friedel‐Crafts reaction without gelation. It could be concluded that the polymer forming reaction was kinetically controlled by automatic and slow feeding of the hydrophobic B₃ monomer into the hydrophilic reaction mixture containing hydrophilic comonomer. As a result, hyperbranched structures were formed instead of crosslinked polymers even at full conversion (equifunctional monomer feed ratio). © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 3326–3336, 2009     

Thermotropic liquid‐crystalline polyesters of 4,4′‐biphenol and phenyl‐substituted 4,4′‐biphenols with 4,4′‐oxybisbenzoic acid

A series of thermotropic polyesters, derived from 4,4′‐biphenol (BP), 3‐phenyl‐4,4′‐biphenol (MPBP), and 3,3′‐bis(phenyl)‐4,4′‐biphenol (DPBP), 4,4′‐oxybisbenzoic acid (4,4′‐OBBA), and other aromatic dicarboxylic acids as comonomers, were prepared by melt polycondensation and were characterized for their thermotropic liquid‐crystalline (LC) properties with a variety of experimental techniques. The homopolymer of BP with 4,4′‐OBBA and its copolymers with either 50 mol % terephthalic acid or 2,6‐naphthalenedicarboxylic acid had relatively high values of the crystal‐to‐nematic transition (448–460 °C), above which each of them formed a nematic LC phase. In contrast, the homopolymers of MPBP and DPBP had low fusion temperatures and low isotropization temperatures and formed nematic melts above the fusion temperatures. Each of these two polymers also exhibited two glass‐transition temperatures, which were associated with vitrified noncrystalline (amorphous) regions and vitrified LC domains, as obtained directly from melt polycondensation. As expected, they had higher glass‐transition temperatures (176–211 °C) than other LC polyesters and had excellent thermal stability (516–567 °C). The fluorescence properties of the homopolymer of DPBP with 4,4′‐OBBA, which was soluble in common organic solvents such as chloroform and tetrahydrofuran, were also included in this study. For example, it had an absorption spectrum (λ_max = 259 and 292 nm), an excitation spectrum (λ_ex = 258 and 292 nm with monitoring at 350 nm), and an emission spectrum (λ_em = 378 nm with excitation at 330 nm) in chloroform. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 141–155, 2002     

High‐temperature elastomers from silarylene‐siloxane‐diacetylene linear polymers

The syntheses and characterization of linear silarylene‐siloxane‐diacetylene polymers 3a–c and their thermal conversion to crosslinked elastomeric materials 4a–c are discussed. Inclusion of the diacetylene unit required synthesis of an appropriate monomeric species. 1,4‐Bis(dimethylaminodimethylsilyl)butadiyne [(CH₃)₂N? Si(CH₃)₂? C?C? C?C? (CH₃)₂Si? N(CH₃)₂] 2 was prepared from 1,4‐dilithio‐1,3‐butadiyne and 2 equiv of dimethylaminodimethylchlorosilane. The linear polymers were prepared via polycondensation of 2 with a series of disilanol prepolymers. The low molecular weight silarylene‐siloxane prepolymers 1a–c (terminated by hydroxyl groups) were synthesized via solution condensation of an excess amount of 1,4‐bis(hydroxydimethylsilyl)benzene with bis(dimethylamino)dimethylsilane. The linear polymers were characterized by ¹H and ¹³C NMR, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, gel permeation chromatography, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and DSC. The elastomers exhibited long‐term oxidative stability up to 330 °C in air as determined by TGA. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 88–94, 2002     

Preparation and characterization of hyperbranched polyaspartimides from bismaleimides and triamines

Hyperbranched polyaspartimides were successfully prepared from bismaleimides (A₂) and triamines (B₃) through the Michael addition reaction. Two bismaleimides of 4,4′‐bismaleimidodiphenylmethane (BMDM) and bis(3‐ethyl‐5‐methyl‐4‐ maleimidophenyl)methane (BEMM) and two triamines of tris(3‐aminophenyl)phosphine oxide (TAPPO) and tris(4‐aminophenyl)amine (TAPA) were employed in the preparation of these hyperbranched polyaspartimides. The chemical structures of the polymers were characterized with Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), ¹H and ³¹P NMR, and elemental analysis. Degrees of branching ranging from 0.51 to 0.69 were found with the polyaspartimides, ensuring their hyperbranched structure. The polymers also showed good solubility in common solvents, high glass‐transition temperatures of 256 °C, and excellent thermal stability above 370 °C. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 5921–5928, 2004     

Ionic conductivity probed in main chain liquid crystalline azobenzene polyesters

Three main chain thermotropic liquid crystalline (LC) azobenzene polymers were synthesized using the azobenzene twin molecule (P4P) having the structure Phenylazobenzene‐tetraethyleneglycol‐Phenylazobenzene as the AA monomer and diols like diethylene glycol, tetraethylene glycol (TEG), and hexaethylene glycol as the BB comonomer. Terminal ? C(O)OMe units on P4P facilitated transesterification with diols to form polyesters. All polymers exhibited stable smectic mesophases. One of the polymers, Poly(P4PTEG) was chosen to prepare composite polymer electrolytes with LiCF₃SO₃ and ionic conductivity was measured by ac impedance spectroscopy. The polymer/0.3 Li salt complex exhibited a maximum ionic conductivity in the range of 10^?5 S cm^?1 at room temperature (25 °C), which increased to 10^?4 S cm^?1 above 65 °C. The temperature dependence of ionic conductivity was compared with the phase transitions occurring in the sample and it was observed that the glass transition had a higher influence on the ionic conductivity compared to the ordered LC phase. Reversible ionic conductivity switching was observed upon irradiation of the polymer/0.3 Li salt complex with alternate UV and visible irradiation. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2015 , 53, 629–641