Preparation and properties of alkoxy(methyl)silsesquioxanes as coating agents

Polysilsesquioxanes were prepared through the acid‐catalyzed hydrolytic polycondensation of triethoxy(methyl)silane, triisopropoxy(methyl)silane, or triisobutoxy(methyl)silane and subjected to dip coating to form coating films. The film formation depended on the polarity and crystallinity of the substrate, and a correlation was found between the substrate and polysilsesquioxane solubility parameters. When the coating film was heated, thermal condensation occurred at about 500 °C between hydroxy groups or between hydroxy and alkoxy groups. The methyl group attached to silicon decomposed, and siloxane bonding formed at about 800 °C. The adhesion and hardness of the coating films were evaluated with the Japanese Industrial Standard K5400 protocol, and they increased with increases in the heating time and heat‐treatment temperature. The refractive index of the coating films decreased when the heat‐treatment temperature was increased to 500 °C because of the combustion of organic groups. In contrast, the surface electric resistance increased with the heat‐treatment temperature up to 500 °C. The dielectric constant was 2.6–2.8 and decreased with an increases in the molecular weight and the degree of crosslinking of the polysilsesquioxanes. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 3676–3684, 2004     

Novel organic–inorganic hybrid materials from renewable resources: Hydrosilylation of fatty acid derivatives

Novel hybrid organic–inorganic materials were prepared from 10‐undecenoyl triglyceride and methyl 3,4,5‐tris(10‐undecenoyloxy)benzoate via hydrosilylation. 1,4‐Bis(dimethylsilyl)benzene, tetrakis(dimethylsilyloxy)silane, and 2,4,6,8‐tetramethylcyclotetrasiloxane were used as crosslinkers. The hydrosilylation reaction was catalyzed by Karstedt's catalyst [Pt(0)–divinyltetramethyldisiloxane complex]. The networks were structurally characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, ¹³C NMR, and ²⁹Si magic‐angle‐spinning NMR. The thermal properties of these hybrids were studied with differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, and dynamic mechanical analysis. The obtained materials showed good transparency and promising properties for optical applications. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 6295–6307, 2005     

Preparation and properties of polysilsesquioxanes: Polysilsesquioxanes and flexible thin films by acid‐catalyzed controlled hydrolytic polycondensation of methyl‐ and vinyltrimethoxysilane

Polymethylsilsesquioxane (PMS) and polyvinylsilsesquioxane (PVS) were prepared by acid‐catalyzed controlled hydrolytic polycondensation of methyl‐ and vinyltrimethoxysilane (MTS and VTS), respectively. The spinnabilities and molecular weights of polysilsesquioxanes were easily controlled by the reaction conditions, such as the molar ratios of water, hydrochloric acid, and methanol to MTS or VTS; nitrogen flow rate; temperature; and stirring rate. PMS and PVS showed spinnability of more than 200 cm when their molecular weights were up to 42,000 (PMS) and 19,000 (PVS) M_w. Transparent, colorless, and flexible films of 0.02–0.10 mm thick were prepared by casting a 20 wt % acetone–methanol (V/V = 1) solution of PMS and PVS on a polymethylpentene shale, followed by heating at 80°C for 3 weeks. The tensile strength of the films, approximately 26 (PMS) and 17 (PVS) MPa, was found to be correlated with the structure of the polysilsesquioxanes. The surface contact angle and electroconductivity of films were also measured. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 1017–1026, 1999     

Novel synthesis of polyphosphonates by the polyaddition of bis(epoxide) with diaryl phosphonates

The polyaddition of bisphenol A diglycidyl ether (BPGE) with bis(4‐chlorophenyl) phenylphosphonate was carried out using quaternary onium salts or crown ether complexes as catalysts. When the polyaddition was performed using tetrabutylammonium chloride, tetrabutylphosphonium chloride, or 18‐crown‐6/KCl in N‐ methyl‐2‐pyrrolidone at 110°C for 48 h, the corresponding polyphosphonate with moderated molecular weights was obtained in 88–96% yields. The structure of the resulting polyphosphonate was confirmed by IR and ¹H‐NMR spectra. The polyaddition of BPGE with various diaryl phosphonates also proceeded very smoothly to produce the corresponding polyphosphonates with moderate molecular weights. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 959–965, 1999     

Basic ionic liquid/FeCl3·6H2O as an efficient catalyst for AGET ATRP of methyl methacrylate

A basic ionic liquid, 1‐butyl‐3‐methyl imidazolium hydroxide ([Bmim]OH), was synthesized and used as the additives in an iron‐mediated atom transfer radical polymerization with activators generated by electron transfer (AGET ATRP) of methyl methacrylate in bulk and solution, using FeCl₃ · 6H₂O as the catalyst, ethyl 2‐bromoisobutyrate as the initiator, vitamin C (Vc) as the reducing agent, and tetrabutylammonium bromide or tetra‐n‐butylphosphonium bromide as the ligand. Catalytic amount of [Bmim]OH could enhance the polymerization rate and produce poly(methyl methacrylate) with controllable molecular weights and narrow molecular weight distributions (M_w/M_n = 1.3–1.4). The nature of controlled/“living” free radical polymerization in the presence of basic ionic liquid was further confirmed by chain‐extension experiments. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012     

Mechanism of the anionic polymerization of methyl methacrylate initiated by tetramethylammonium–triphenylmethide in tetrahydrofuran

A tetramethylammonium (TMA)–triphenylmethide (TPM) initiator generated in situ by the reaction of trimethyltriphenylmethylsilane with tetramethylammonium fluoride in tetrahydrofuran was found to have greater stability than the corresponding tetrabutylammonium or tetrahexylammonium derivatives. The predominant mode of degradation of TMA–TPM was found to be the TMA‐mediated methylation of TPM anions. The initiation of methyl methacrylate by TMA–TPM in tetrahydrofuran at ?78 °C was demonstrated to produce quantitative yields of poly(methyl methacrylate) with polydispersities of less than 1.1. Although the initiator efficiencies were low (9–40%) because of relatively slow initiation on the polymerization timescale, the initiation appeared to be rapid enough to give relatively narrow molecular weight distributions. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 237–244, 2004     

Synthesis of cyclic polysulfides: Controlled ring‐expansion polymerization of cyclic tetrathioester with thiirane

We synthesized cyclic tetrathioesters containing thioester moieties at the o‐position (o‐CTE) and m‐position (m‐CTE) of an aromatic skeleton. The reaction of phenoxy propylenesulfide (PPS) with o‐CTE and m‐CTE was examined using tetrabutylammonium chloride as a catalyst in 1‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidinone, yielding the corresponding cyclic polysulfides poly[o‐CTE(PPS)_n] with M_n's = 37,000–54,000 at 34–61% yields and poly[m‐CTE(PPS)_n] with M_n's = 46,600–107,200 at 63–>99% yields. Although the molecular weights of poly[o‐CTE(PPS)_n] could not be controlled, those of poly[m‐CTE(PPS)_n] could be controlled by the feed ratios of PPS and reaction temperature. Furthermore, the glass transition temperature (T_g) and thermal decomposition temperature (T_dⁱ) of poly[m‐CTE(PPS)_n] increased with decreasing molecular weights. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2014 , 52, 857–866     

Synthesis of photoreactive calixarene derivatives containing pendant cyclic ether groups

New photoreactive calixarene derivatives containing cationically polymerizable pendant oxetane groups (calixarenes 1a , b , 2a , b , and 3a , b ) were synthesized in good yields by the substitution reaction of C‐methylcalix[4]resorcinarene (CRA), p‐methylcalix[6]arene (MCA), and p‐tert‐butylcalix[8]arene (BCA) with (3‐methyloxetan‐3‐yl)methyl 4‐toluenesulfonate and (3‐ethyloxetan‐3‐yl)methyl 4‐toluenesulfonate with potassium hydroxide as a base and tetrabutylammonium bromide as a phase‐transfer catalyst in N‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidone, respectively. Calixarene derivatives containing cationically polymerizable pendant oxirane groups (calixarenes 4 , 5 , and 6 ) were also prepared in good yields by the substitution reaction of CRA, MCA, and BCA with epibromohydrin, respectively, with cesium carbonate as a base in N‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidone. The thermal stability of the obtained calixarene derivatives containing pendant oxetane groups or oxirane groups was examined with thermogravimetric analysis, and it was found that these calixarene derivatives had thermal stability beyond 340 °C. The photochemical reaction of calixarenes 1 , 2 , and 3 containing pendant oxetane groups was examined with certain photoacid generators in the film state. In this reaction system, calixarene 1a , composed of a CRA structure and pendant (3‐methyloxetan‐3‐yl)methyl groups, showed the highest photochemical reactivity when bis‐[4‐(diphenylsulfonio)phenyl]sulfide bis(hexafluorophosphate) was used as the catalyst. The photochemical reaction of calixarenes 4 , 5 , and 6 containing pendant oxirane groups was also examined, and it was found that the photoinitiated cationic polymerization of calixarenes 4 , 5 , and 6 proceeded smoothly under the same conditions; however, the reaction rates were lower than those of the corresponding calixarenes 1 , 2 , and 3 containing pendant oxetane groups. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 39: 1169–1179, 2001     

Synthesis of alkaline‐developable,photosensitive hyperbranched polyimides through the reaction of carboxylic acid dianhydrides and trisamines

Hyperbranched polyimides (HBPI)s with high glass‐transition temperatures and excellent thermal stability were synthesized through the reaction of commercially available carboxylic acid dianhydrides with tris[4‐(4‐aminophenoxy)phenyl]ethane (TAPE). In particular, hyperbranched polyimide HBPI(TAPE‐DSDA), prepared through the reaction of TAPE with 3,3′,4,4′‐diphenylsulfonetetracarboxylic dianhydride (DSDA), showed higher thermal stability and good solubility. Furthermore, alkaline‐developable, photosensitive HBPI(TAPE‐DSDA)‐MA‐CA was prepared through the reaction of HBPI(TAPE‐DSDA) with glycidyl methacrylate with tetrabutylammonium bromide as a catalyst in N‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidinone (NMP) followed by the addition reaction of cis‐1,2,3,6‐tetrahydrophthalic anhydride with triphenylphosphine as a catalyst in NMP. The glass‐transition temperatures of HBPI(TAPE‐DSDA)‐MA‐CA were greater than 300 °C. A resist composed of 74 wt % HBPI(TAPE‐DSDA)‐MA‐CA, 22.2 wt % trimethylpropane triacrylate, and 3.8 wt % Irgacure 907 as a photoinitiator achieved a resolution of a 55‐μm line pattern and a 275‐μm space pattern by UV irradiation (1000 mJ/cm²). © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 3697–3707, 2004     

Novel heterocyclic poly(arylene ether ketone)s: Synthesis and polymerization of 4‐(4′‐hydroxyaryl)(2H)phthalazin‐1‐ones with methyl groups

Based on green chemistry, a simple and efficient direct synthesis of 4‐(4′‐hydroxyaryl)(2H)phthalazin‐1‐ones ( 2a–2f ) was developed in a two‐step reaction, in which the Friedel–Crafts acylation reaction of six phenols with phthalic anhydride was initially carried out and then followed by cyclization with hydrazine hydrate in good to excellent yields with high regioselectivity. A number of novel heterocyclic poly(arylene ether ketone)s were prepared conveniently from several unsymmetrical, twist, and noncoplanar phthalazinone‐containing monomers ( 2a–2f ) and an activated difluoro monomer via a N? C coupling reaction. It was very interesting that the obtained monomers and polymers exhibited diverse properties with the variation of the number and location of the substituted methyl groups. All these polymers had a high molecular weight with M_n and η_inh in the range of 44,960–169,000 Da and 0.38–0.79 dL/g, respectively. Actually, the obtained polymers displayed excellent thermal properties with T_g's ranging from 222 to 248 °C and 5% weight loss temperatures in nitrogen higher than 430 °C. Moreover, these polymers were readily soluble in common organic solvents, such as N‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidone, chloroform, pyridine, and m‐cresol, and could be cast into flexible and colorless or nearly colorless films by spin‐coating or casting processes. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 1525–1535, 2007     

Novel route to poly(p‐phenylene vinylene) polymers

Poly(p‐phenylene vinylene) (PPV), poly(2,5‐dioctyl‐p‐phenylene vinylene) (PDOPPV), and poly[2‐methoxy‐5‐(2′‐ethylhexyloxy)‐p‐phenylene vinylene] (MEHPPV) were synthesized by a liquid–solid two‐phase reaction. The liquid phase was tetrahydrofuran containing 1,4‐bis(bromomethyl)benzene, 1,4‐bis(chloromethyl)‐2,5‐dioctylbenzene, or 1,4‐bis(chloromethyl)‐2‐methoxyl‐5‐(2′‐ethylhexyloxy)benzene as the monomer and a certain amount of tetrabutylammonium bromide as a phase‐transfer catalyst. The solid phase consisted of potassium hydroxide particles with diameters smaller than 2 mm. The experimental results demonstrated that the reaction conversions of PPV and PDOPPV were fairly high (～65%), but the conversion of MEHPPV was only 45%. Moreover, gelation was found in the polymerization processes. As a result, PPV was insoluble and PDOPPV and MEHPPV were partially soluble in the usual organic solvents, such as tetrahydrofuran and chloroform. Soluble PDOPPV and MEHPPV were obtained with chloromethylbenzene or bromomethylbenzene as a retardant regent. The molar mass of soluble PDOPPV was measured to be 2 × 10⁴ g mol^?1, and that of MEHPPV was 6 × 10⁴ g mol^?1. A thin, compact film of MEHPPV was formed via spin coating, and it emitted a yellow light. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 449–455, 2003     

Highly soluble conducting poly(ethylene oxide) grafted at two sites of poly(o‐aminobenzyl alcohol)

Poly(o‐aminobenzyl alcohol) (POABA) was grafted with poly(ethylene oxide)s (PEOs) through the reaction of tosylated PEO with both the hydroxide and amine moieties of reduced POABA. Reduced POABA was prepared through the acid‐mediated polymerization of o‐aminobenzyl alcohol, followed by neutralization with an aqueous ammonium hydroxide solution and reduction with hydrazine. The grafted copolymers were very soluble in common polar solvents, such as chloroform, tetrahydrofuran, and dimethylformamide, and the copolymers with longer PEO side chains (number‐average molecular weight > 164) were even water‐soluble. The conductivities of the doped grafted copolymers decreased with increasing PEO side‐chain length because of the nonconducting PEO and its torsional effect on the POABA backbone. The conductivity of highly water‐soluble POABA‐g‐PEO‐350 was 0.689 × 10^?3 S/cm, that is, in the semiconducting range. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 4756–4764, 2004     

Synthesis and characterization of near‐monodisperse electron acceptor homopolymers of 2‐[(3,5‐dinitrobenzoyl)oxy]ethyl methacrylate

Homopolymers of 2‐(trimethylsiloxy)ethyl methacrylate of degrees of polymerization from 5 to 50 were synthesized by group transfer polymerization in tetrahydrofuran (THF) using 1‐methoxy‐1‐(trimethylsiloxy)‐2‐methyl propene as the initiator and tetrabutylammonium bibenzoate as the catalyst. These polymers were first converted to poly[2‐(hydroxy)ethyl methacrylate]s by removal of the trimethylsilyl‐protecting groups by acidic hydrolysis, and subsequently transformed to poly{2‐[(3,5‐dinitrobenzoyl)oxy]ethyl methacrylate}s by reaction with 3,5‐dinitrobenzoyl chloride in the presence of triethylamine. Gel permeation chromatography in THF and proton nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H NMR) spectroscopy in CDCl₃ and d₆ dimethyl sulfoxide were used to characterize the polymers in terms of their molecular weight and composition. The molecular weights were found to be close to the values expected from the polymerization stoichiometry and the molecular weight distributions were narrow, with polydispersity indices around 1.1. The hydrolysis and reesterification steps were found to be almost quantitative for all polymers. Differential scanning calorimetry and thermal gravimetric analysis were also employed to measure the glass transition temperatures (T_g 's) and decomposition temperatures, which were determined to be approximately 80 and 320 °C, respectively. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 1457–1465, 2000     

Metalization of polymer beads via polymer‐supported hydrazines as reducing agents

A new method for depositing metal onto a polymer surface has been developed in which the metal coating of polymer beads is performed with hydrazine functions as reducing agents on the surface of the polymer itself. In this study, glycidyl methacrylate–methyl methacrylate–divinyl benzene terpolymer was prepared as spherical beads with a suspension polymerization methodology. Beads of the polymer sample (210–420‐μm fraction) containing 3.4 mmol g^?1 epoxy were treated with an excess of hydrazinium hydroxide to yield a polymer with 2.3 mmol g^?1 hydrazine functions. The hydrazine functions on the polymer surfaces were efficient in metal reductions. Therefore, the modified bead polymer samples, when soaked in aqueous ammonia solutions of Ni(II), Ag(I), and Cu(II) ions (0.1 M), were covered rapidly by the corresponding zero‐valent metal ions. Metal deposition took place almost quantitatively (ca. 4.5 mmol/g of the polymer) within 60 min of the contact times. The accumulations of metal were followed visually and occurred only on the polymer beads. There was no evidence that the reaction occurred within the solution. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 748–754, 2002; DOI 10.1002/pola.10158     

High‐quality poly[2‐methoxy‐5‐(2′‐ethylhexyloxy)‐p‐phenylenevinylene] synthesized by a solid–liquid two‐phase reaction: Characterizations and electroluminescence properties

Poly[2‐methoxy‐5‐(2′‐ethylhexyloxy)‐p‐phenylenevinylene] (MEH‐PPV) with a molar mass of 26–47 × 10⁴ g mol^?1 and a polydispersity of 2.5–3.2 was synthesized by a liquid–solid two‐phase reaction. The liquid phase was tetrahydrofuran (THF) containing 1,4‐bis(chloromethyl)‐2‐methoxy‐5‐(2′‐ethylhexyloxy)benzene as the monomer and a certain amount of tetrabutylammonium bromide as a phase‐transfer catalyst. The solid phase consisted of potassium hydroxide particles with diameters smaller than 0.5 mm. The reaction was carried out at a low temperature of 0 °C and under nitrogen protection. No gelation was observed during the polymerization process, and the polymer was soluble in the usual organic solvents, such as chloroform, toluene, THF, and xylene. A polymer light‐emitting diode was fabricated with MEH‐PPV as an active luminescent layer. The device had an indium tin oxide/poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxylthiophene) (PEDOT)/MEH‐PPV/Ba/Al configuration. It showed a turn‐on voltage of 3.3 V, a luminescence intensity at 6.1 V of 550 cd/m², a luminescence efficiency of 0.43 cd/A, and a quantum efficiency of 0.57%. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 3049–3054, 2004     

Synthesis,characterization, thermal properties,and antimicrobial activity of 4‐chloro‐3‐methyl phenyl methacrylate/8‐quinolinyl methacrylate copolymers

4‐Chloro‐3‐methyl phenyl methacrylate (CMPM) and 8‐quinolinyl methacrylate (8‐QMA) were synthesized through the reaction of 4‐chloro‐3‐methyl phenol and 8‐hydroxy quinoline, respectively, with methacryloyl chloride. The homopolymers and copolymers were prepared by free‐radical polymerization with azobisisobutyronitrile as the initiator at 70 °C. Copolymers of CMPM and 8‐QMA of different compositions were prepared. The monomers were characterized with IR spectroscopy and ¹H NMR techniques. The copolymers were characterized with IR spectroscopy. UV spectroscopy was used to obtain the compositions of the copolymers. The monomer reactivity ratios were calculated with the Fineman–Ross method. The molecular weights and polydispersity values of the copolymers were determined with gel permeation chromatography. The thermal stability of the polymers was evaluated with thermogravimetric analysis under a nitrogen atmosphere. The homopolymers and copolymers were tested for their antimicrobial activity againstbacteria, fungi, and yeast. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 157–167, 2005     

Preparation of co‐polymethyl(alkoxy)siloxanes by acid‐catalyzed controlled hydrolytic copolycondensation of methyl(trialkoxy)silane and tetraalkoxysilane

Polymethyl(alkoxy)siloxane copolymers, poly(MTES‐co‐TEOS), and poly(MTMS‐co‐TMOS), are prepared by acid‐catalyzed controlled hydrolytic co‐polycondensation of methyl(trialkoxy)silane MeSi(OR)₃ (R = Et (MTES) and Me (MTMS)) and tetra‐alkoxysilane Si(OR)₄ (R = Et (TEOS) and Me (TMOS)), respectively. The products are purified by fractional precipitation to provide polymethyl(alkoxy)siloxane copolymers with molecular weight 1000–10,000 (poly(MTES‐co‐TEOS)) or 1700–100,000 (poly(MTMS‐co‐TMOS)) that are stable to self‐condensation. These polymers are soluble in common organic solvents except for hexane, and form flexible and transparent free‐standing films with a tensile strength of 4.0–10.0 MPa. The structure of the polymethyl(alkoxy)siloxane copolymers is thought to be a random or a block co‐polymer. They are found to provide coating films with an adhesive strength up to 10, a refractive index of 1.36–1.40, and a dielectric constant of 3.5–3.6. The products also show better weathering stability than polyethoxysiloxane due to the hydrolytic polycondensation of TEOS. Field emission‐scanning electron micrography analysis reveals that coating films are composed of a micro‐phase separated structure. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2013 , 51, 4732–4741     

New approaches for the synthesis of hindered C60‐containing polyphosphazenes via functionalized intermediates

Two new approaches were developed to synthesize C₆₀‐containing polyphosphazenes. Accordingly, two new reactive macromolecular intermediates ( P4 and P8 ) were obtained from poly(dichlorophosphazene) by the direct nucleophilic substitution reaction. In one approach, a predesigned amimo end–functionalized polyphosphazene ( P4 ) was prepared and then reacted with C₆₀ molecules in chlorobenzene to yield C₆₀‐containing polyphosphazene; in the other approach, a polyphosphazene containing 4‐methyl phenoxy groups as side chains was first prepared, and then part of the 4‐methyl groups were converted to azidomethyl groups (in P8 ), which reacted with C₆₀ to yield C₆₀‐containing polyphosphazene. The polymers were characterized by ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, IR, and UV–visible spectra and by gel permeation chromatography. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 2877–2885, 2004     

Synthesis of imidazole‐terminated hyperbranched polymers with POSS‐branching points and their pH responsive and coordination properties

An imidazole‐terminated hyperbranched polymer with octafunctional POSS branching units denoted as POSS‐HYPAM‐Im was prepared by the polymerization of excess amounts of tris(2‐aminoethyl)amine with the first‐generation methyl ester‐terminated POSS‐core poly(amidoamine)‐typed dendrimer, reacting with methyl acrylate, and ester‐amide exchange reaction with 3‐aminopropylimidazole. The imidazole‐terminated hyperbranched poly(amidoamine) denoted as HYPAM‐Im was also synthesized with 1‐(3‐aminopropyl)imidazole from a methyl ester‐terminated hyperbranched poly(amidoamine) by the ester‐amide exchange reaction. The transmittance of the POSS‐HYPAM‐Im solution drastically decreased when the solution pH was greater than 8.2. On the other hand, the transmittance of the HYPAM‐Im solution gradually decreased when the solution pH at 8.5 and was greater than 9. Spectrophotometric titrations of the hyperbranched polymer aqueous solutions with Cu²⁺ ions indicated the variation of the coordination modes of POSS‐HYPAM‐Im from the Cu²⁺–N₄ complex to the Cu²⁺–N₂O₂ complex and the existence of the only one complexation mode of Cu²⁺–N₄ between Cu²⁺ ion and HYPAM‐Im with increasing the concentrations. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2013, 51, 2695–2701     

Synthesis and characterization of poly(L‐lactic acid)–poly(ε‐caprolactone) multiblock copolymers by melt polycondensation

An Erratum has been published for this article in J. Polym. Sci. Part A: Polym. Chem. (2004) 42(22) 5845 New multiblock copolymers derived from poly(L‐lactic acid) (PLLA) and poly(ε‐caprolactone) (PCL) were prepared with the coupling reaction between PLLA and PCL oligomers with ? NCO terminals. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), ¹³C NMR, and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) were used to characterize the copolymers and the results showed that PLLA and PCL were coupled by the reaction between ? NCO groups at the end of the PCL and ? OH (or ? COOH) groups at the end of the PLLA. DSC data indicated that the different compositions of PLLA and PCL had an influence on the thermal and crystallization properties including the glass‐transition temperature (T_g), melting temperature (T_M), crystallizing temperature (T_c), melting enthalpy (ΔH_m), crystallizing enthalpy (ΔH_c), and crystallinity. Gel permeation chromatography (GPC) was employed to study the effect of the composition of PLLA and PCL and reaction time on the molecular weight and the molecular weight distribution of the copolymers. The weight‐average molecular weight of PLLA–PCL multiblock copolymers was up to 180,000 at a composition of 60% PLLA and 40% PCL, whereas that of the homopolymer of PLLA was only 14,000. A polarized optical microscope was used to observe the crystalline morphology of copolymers; the results showed that all polymers exhibited a spherulitic morphology. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 5045–5053, 2004