Double-helical dinuclear bis(dipyrromethene) complexes formed by self-assembly

Bis(dipyrromethene) ligands linked by an alkyl spacer between beta and beta' positions are shown to give helical dimers or monomers, dependent upon the length of the alkyl linker, upon complexation. Ligands consisting of methylene, ethylene, and propylene linkers -(CH(2))(n)()- (n = 1, 2, and 3) give helical dimers, while longer linking chains (n = 4, 5, or 6) give monomers or mixtures of dimers and monomers. X-ray crystal structures of the dimeric zinc complexes (n = 1, 2, and 3) reveal that the angles between dipyrromethene planes and the extent of helicity in the complexes differ as the length of the linker varies. The extent of helicity was assessed and found to be dependent upon the length and, specifically, the conformational preferences of the alkyl spacer unit. The presence of an ethylene linker gave complexes of greatest helicity. The use of a methylene spacer gave less helical structures upon complexation, while propylene spacers gave only slightly helical complexes. Our studies identify the crucial importance that the conformational preferences of the beta-beta' alkyl spacer group plays in the coordination algorithm of self-assembly to form dipyrromethene based complexes.     

Novel trifunctional building blocks for fluorescent polymers

[reaction: see text] Herein, we describe the synthesis of fluorescent 2-(arylsulfonyl)methacrylates and its polymers. These novel trifunctional monomers, possessing a fluorescent arylsulfonyl (ArSO(2)) group, an alkyl group (R), and a polymerizable olefin, serve as useful building blocks for functionalized fluorescent polymers.     

Introducing multicomponent reactions to polymer science: Passerini reactions of renewable monomers

Combination of the Passerini three component-reaction (3CR) and olefin metathesis led to the formation of poly[1-(alkyl?carbamoyl)alkyl?alkanoates], a new class of polyesters with amide moieties in their side chain, from renewable resources. Two different approaches were studied and compared to each other. First, monomers were synthesized by the Passerini-3CR and then polymerized via acyclic diene metathesis. Alternatively, bifunctional monomers were synthesized by self-metathesis and then polymerized by Passerini-3CR. Both approaches led to the formation of high-molecular-weight polymers. Moreover, Passerini-3CRs were shown to be a versatile grafting-onto method. The results clearly demonstrate that the Passerini-3CR offers an interesting new access to monomers and polymers and thus broadens the synthetic portfolio of polymer science.     

Effects of alkyl chain length of monomer and dye-doped type on the electro-optical properties of polymer-dispersed liquid crystal films prepared by nucleophile-initiated thiol-ene click reaction

ABSTRACT

Polymer-dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) films containing a series of monomers with different alkyl chain lengths were prepared by nucleophile-initiated thiol-ene click reaction. The effect of alkyl chain length of monomers, dye and temperature on electro-optical properties of PDLC films was investigated. It was found that the alkyl chain length and polymerisation rate of monomers together determine the size of liquid crystal (LC) droplets, thus affecting the electro-optical properties of PDLC. In addition, the type and content of dyes could be optimised to obtain PDLC materials with better comprehensive properties for display.     

Copolymerization of 2-phenylvinyl alkyl ethers and maleic anhydride

A series of 2-phenylvinyl alkyl ethers (I) having as alkyl group methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, n-butyl, 2-methylbutyl, 3-methylpentyl, and optically active 1-methylpropyl of (S) absolute configuration, were copolymerized with maleic anhydride to alternating copolymers. The copolymerizations were carried out in bulk at 70°C in the presence of AIBN as initiator. Monomer I (R = Et) was also polymerized with lauroyl and benzoyl peroxide as initiator. The yield and molecular weight were highest when equimolar amounts of both monomers were used. The equilibrium constant of charge-transfer complex of monomer I (R = Et) and maleic anhydride was determined by the transformed Benessi-Hildebrand NMR method and has a value of 0.28 mole/1.     

Mechanical and thermomechanical properties of densely crosslinked polymers based on triethylene glycol dimethacrylate copolymers

The static mechanical (uniaxial compression at a low strain rate $\dot \varepsilon $ ≤ 10^?4 s^?1) and thermomechanical properties of triethylene glycol dimethacrylate (M₁) copolymers with vinyl monomers (M₂) were studied and analyzed by means of a program developed earlier for identification of structural and physical features of macromolecular networks. The copolymer composition for each monomer pair was varied over the entire range of 0–100 mol % with a step size of 25 mol %. As M₂, monomers that ensure different types of unit distribution in chains were selected: alkyl methacrylates (random distribution), styrene (unit alternation tendency), butyl acrylate (block formation tendency), and vinyl acetate (tendency to form chains that are enriched initially in M₁ and finally, as M₁ is consumed, in M₂). To reveal the possible shielding effect capable of lowering the likelihood of the side process of intrachain crosslinking (cyclization), alkyl methacrylates with different degrees of bulkiness of the alkyl radical—methyl, butyl, and lauryl—were used. A systematic study of this representative set of test compounds showed that copolymerization imparted unusual and a priori unpredictable properties to the copolymers formed.     

SYNTHESIS OF A GROUP OF MESOGEN JACKETED LIQUID CRYSTAL POLYMERS

A group of the mesogen jacketed liquid crystal polymers based on the monomers 2,5-bis (4-substituted benzoyl)oxystyrenes are synthesized. The substituents include alkoxy, alkyl, and cyano groups. The synthesis and the primary characterization of the liquid crystal phase of the monomers and the polymers are described. While some of the monomers give smectic textures the polymers are found to be nematic above their melting or glass transition temperatures. Interestingly the unsubstituted monomer and its polymer poly 2,5-di( benzoyloxy ) styrene are also liquid crystalline. The single crystal structure of one of the monomers is also discussed.     

Preparation of monoliths from single crosslinking monomers for reversed-phase capillary chromatography of small molecules

Highly cross-linked networks resulting from single crosslinking monomers were found to enhance the concentrations of mesopores in, and the surface areas of, polymeric monoliths. Four crosslinking monomers, i.e., bisphenol A dimethacrylate (BADMA), bisphenol A ethoxylate diacrylate (BAEDA, EO/phenol=2 or 4) and pentaerythritol diacrylate monostearate (PDAM), were used to synthesize monolithic capillary columns for reversed phase liquid chromatography (RPLC) of small molecules. Tetrahydrofuran (THF) and decanol were chosen as good and poor porogenic solvents for BAEDA-2 and BAEDA-4 monoliths. For the formation of the BADMA monolith, THF was replaced with dimethylformamide (DMF) to improve the column reproducibility. Appropriate combinations of THF, isopropyl alcohol and an additional triblock poly(ethylene oxide)-poly(propylene oxide)-poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO-PPO-PEO) or PPO-PEO-PPO porogen were found to be effective in forming rigid PDAM monoliths with the desired porosities. Selection of porogens for the BADMA and PDAM monoliths was investigated in further detail to provide more insight into porogen selection. Isocratic elution of alkyl benzenes at a flow rate of 0.3 μL/min was conducted for BADMA and PDAM monoliths. The peaks showed little tailing on both monoliths without addition of acid to the mobile phase. The column efficiency measured for pentylbenzene using the BADMA monolithic column was 60,208 plates/m (k=7.9). Gradient elution of alkyl benzenes and alkyl parabens was achieved with high resolution. Optimized monoliths synthesized from all four crosslinking monomers showed high permeability, and demonstrated little swelling or shrinking in different polarity solvents. Column preparation was highly reproducible; relative standard deviation (RSD) values were less than 1.2% and 7.5% based on retention times and peak areas, respectively, of alkyl benzenes.     

Synthesis and characterization of graft polymethacrylates containing conducting diphenyldithiophene for organic thin‐film transistors

A class of [5,5′]‐diphenyl‐[5,5′]‐dithiophene (PTTP)‐modified methacrylates has been synthesized and free radically polymerized to form graft polymethacrylates with the conducting PTTP segments as pendant side chains. Both the terminal alkyl side chain and spacer between the PTTP segments and polymer backbone could be varied to study fundamental structure–property relationships for this class of materials. Specifically, a group of three different PTTP graft polymethacrylates has been successfully synthesized with the alkyl side chain varying from hexyl to dodecyl. For the dodecyl‐terminated poly(4‐(5′‐(4‐dodecylphenyl)‐[2,2′‐bithiophen]‐5‐yl)phenethyl methacrylate), p(DPTTPEM), a counterpart, poly(4‐(5′‐(4‐dodecylphenyl)‐[2,2′‐bithiophen]‐5‐yl)phenbutyl methacrylate), p(DPTTPBM), where the ethyl spacer was replaced by a butyl group, was synthesized. The experimental results indicated that both the alkyl side chain and spacer significantly affected the reactivity of the PTTP‐modified methacrylates during free radical polymerization as well as the physical properties of the resultant graft polymers including solubility, morphology, and electrochemical and electrical properties. Typical field‐effect mobilities on the order of 10^?5 cm² V^?1 s^?1 were observed for all the PTTP monomers in air, which was attributed to their crystalline phase as revealed by differential scanning calorimetry and X‐ray diffraction studies. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012     

Synthesis and characterization of optically active poly(2-phenylvinyl alkyl ethers) and corresponding monomers

cis-(S) (+)-2-phenylvinyl alkyl ethers having as alkyl groups 1-methylpropyl (I), 2-methylbutyl (II), and 3-methylpentyl (III) were synthesized by condensation of phenylacetylene with the corresponding sodium alcoholates. Polymerization of monomers was performed cationically with BF₃ · Et₂O or SnCl₄ in toluene or CH₂Cl₂. Specific rotations of polymers were compared with those of low molecular weight model compounds prepared by hydrogenation of monomers, and it was concluded that the difference in the rotation of poly I and model compound ([α]_D 19.3° and 5.68°, respectively) and poly II and model compound ([α]_D 11.4° and 3.00°, respectively) can be attributed to the asymmetric induction at carbon atoms of the principal polymer chain.     

Effect of spacer length on the liquid crystalline property of azobenzene-containing ABA-type triblock copolymers via ATRP

The effect of flexible spacer length on the liquid crystalline property of ABA-type triblock copolymers containing azobenzene groups was investigated.For the study,the monomers,n-[4-(4-ethoxyphenylazo)phenoxy]alkyl methacrylates with varying methylene groups(n=0,2,6)were used to synthesize a series of azobenzene-containing amphiphilic triblock copolymers PAnC-PEG-PAnC by atom transfer radical polymerization(ATRP).Differential scanning calorimetry(DSC),polarizing optical microscopy(POM),and one-dimensional X-ray diffraction(1D WAXD)have shown that the glass transition temperatures of these copolymers decreased with increasing n,PAOC-PEG-PAOC has no mesophase,while both PA2C-PEG-PA2C and PA6C-PEG- PA6C have a nematic mesophase.These differences derive from the length of spacer groups between the polymer backbone and side-chain LC monomers.     

Ab initio evaluation of the thermodynamic and electrochemical properties of alkyl halides and radicals and their mechanistic implications for atom transfer radical polymerization

High-level ab initio molecular orbital calculations are used to study the thermodynamics and electrochemistry relevant to the mechanism of atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). Homolytic bond dissociation energies (BDEs) and standard reduction potentials (SRPs) are reported for a series of alkyl halides (R-X; R = CH 2CN, CH(CH 3)CN, C(CH 3) 2CN, CH 2COOC 2H 5, CH(CH 3)COOCH 3, C(CH 3) 2COOCH 3, C(CH 3) 2COOC 2H 5, CH 2Ph, CH(CH 3)Ph, CH(CH 3)Cl, CH(CH 3)OCOCH 3, CH(Ph)COOCH 3, SO 2Ph, Ph; X = Cl, Br, I) both in the gas phase and in two common organic solvents, acetonitrile and dimethylformamide. The SRPs of the corresponding alkyl radicals, R (*), are also examined. The computational results are in a very good agreement with the experimental data. For all alkyl halides examined, it is found that, in the solution phase, one-electron reduction results in the fragmentation of the R-X bond to the corresponding alkyl radical and halide anion; hence it may be concluded that a hypothetical outer-sphere electron transfer (OSET) in ATRP should occur via concerted dissociative electron transfer rather than a two-step process with radical anion intermediates. Both the homolytic and heterolytic reactions are favored by electron-withdrawing substituents and/or those that stabilize the product alkyl radical, which explains why monomers such as acrylonitrile and styrene require less active ATRP catalysts than vinyl chloride and vinyl acetate. The rate constant of the hypothetical OSET reaction between bromoacetonitrile and Cu (I)/TPMA complex was estimated using Marcus theory for the electron-transfer processes. The estimated rate constant k OSET = approximately 10 (-11) M (-1) s (-1) is significantly smaller than the experimentally measured activation rate constant ( k ISET = approximately 82 M (-1) s (-1) at 25 degrees C in acetonitrile) for the concerted atom transfer mechanism (inner-sphere electron transfer, ISET), implying that the ISET mechanism is preferred. For monomers bearing electron-withdrawing groups, the one-electron reduction of the propagating alkyl radical to the carbanion is thermodynamically and kinetically favored over the one-electron reduction of the corresponding alkyl halide unless the monomer bears strong radical-stabilizing groups. Thus, for monomers such as acrylates, catalysts favoring ISET over OSET are required in order to avoid chain-breaking side reactions.     

Radiation-induced copolymerization of phenylvinyl alkyl ethers and maleic anhydride

Alternating copolymers of phenylvinyl ethyl ether ( I ) and phenylvinyl sec-butyl ether ( II ) with maleic anhydride (MAn) were prepared in bulk or in benzene solution by high-energy irradiation at dose rates of 42, 160, and 540 Gy/h, respectively. The overall energies of activation in copolymerization of I and II with MAn were 15.5 and 18.8 kJ/mol, respectively. The reaction proceeds by the free-radical mechanism and was found to be largely dependent on the bulkiness of the alkyl group. In the copolymerization of I and MAn, the molecular weight increases with conversion. By applying the model described by Shirota and co-workers, it was established that participation of charge-transfer-complex monomers increases with the increase of the total monomer concentration and with the bulkiness of the alkyl group in electron donor monomer.     

Density functional study on the effect of substituent group for the monomer of donor‐acceptor copolymer

The effect of the substituent groups (alkyl or aryl) on the structure, electronic, optical properties, ionization potentials (IPs), electron affinities (EAs), and reorganization energy of the donor–acceptor monomers 5,8‐di‐2‐thienyl‐quinoxaline (T[Q]T), 4,9‐di‐2‐thienylpyrazine[2,3‐g]quinoxaline (T[PQ]T) were studied theoretically. The lowest‐lying absorption in assigned to π→π* transition, and the fluorescence can be described as originating from the ¹[ππ*] excited state. The lowest‐lying absorption and emission spectrum of T[Q]T and T[PQ]T with alkyl groups exhibit blue‐shifted, while T[Q]T and T[PQ]T with aryl groups exhibit the opposite result. The extra absorption bond at 400 nm of T[Q]T‐Bph is contributed by the π‐π* transitions between the biphenyl and acceptor fragment. Orbital compositions transfer coefficient (χ) of the donor in LUMOs is reduced with the aryl groups on the acceptor, which illuminates that the aryl contributes to intramolecular charge transfer, and the result is in accord with the analysis of reorganization energy. IPs is brought down by both of the alkyl and aryl groups, but EAs is raised only by aryl, therefore, aryl is conductive to forming excitons for D‐A‐D molecule. Consequently, T[Q]T and T[PQ]T with aryl groups are more reasonable monomers of donor–acceptor copolymers as a solar cell materials comparing with the alkyl‐introduced ones. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys, 2010     

Radical polymerization of alkyl crotonates as 1,2-disubstituted ethylenes leading to thermally stable substituted polymethylene

Radical polymerization of several alkyl crotonates (RCr) was carried out in bulk or in benzene in the presence of radical initiators. Homopolymerization of RCr bearing bulky ester alkyl groups, e.g. tert-butyl (tBCr), 1-adamantyl (AdCr), and 3,5-dimethyl-1-adamantyl crotonate (DMAdCr) proceeded to give a polymer with molecular weight of several thousands despite of the steric hindrance and chain transfer by the presence of the β-methyl group, while the methyl and ethyl esters gave no polymer. The kinetics of the polymerization was examined in detail and absolute rate constants were evaluated by means of electron spin resonance spectroscopy. The propagation rate constants of RCr were 0.41–1.0 L/mol s, being much smaller than those of the corresponding methacrylates (530–570 L/mol s). The termination rate constants were also determined from the analyses of steady state and non-steady state polymerizations. Radical copolymerizations of AdCr (M₂) with several vinyl monomers (M₁) were carried out in bulk at 60°C and the rate constants for cross propagations were calculated to examine reactivities of the monomer and its polymer radical. The structure and thermal properties of the resulting poly (AdCr) were also investigated. Onset temperature of decomposition and glass transition temperature of poly(AdCr) were revealed to be much high as 302 and 234°C, respectively. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Towards a universal polymer backbone: design and synthesis of polymeric scaffolds containing terminal hydrogen-bonding recognition motifs at each repeating unit

Polymers containing terminal hydrogen-bonding recognition motifs based on diaminotriazine and diaminopyridine groups in their side chains for the self-assembly of appropriate receptors have been prepared by ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) of norbornenes. A new synthetic method for the preparation of norbornene monomers based on pure alkyl spacers is introduced. These monomers show unprecedented high reactivity using ROMP. To suppress self-association of diaminotriazine-based polymers, polymerizations were run in presence of N-butylthymine. The butylthymine acts as a protecting group via self-assembly onto the hydrogen-bonding sites of the polymeric scaffold, thereby solubilizing the polymer. Diaminopyridine monomers do not require the presence of a protecting group due to their low propensity to dimerize. In addition, they exhibit a high affinity for hydrogen-bonded receptors on both monomeric and polymeric level. These polymers present our first building blocks towards the design and synthesis of a "universal polymer scaffold".     

In vitro stability study of organosilane self-assemble monolayers and multilayers

The stability of self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) and multilayers formed on silicon surface by amino-terminated silanes and SAMs formed by alkyl and glycidyl terminated silanes were investigated in vitro with saline solution at 37 degrees C for up to 10 days. FTIR and XPS results indicated that amino-terminated SAMs and multilayers are very unstable if the alkyl chain is short ((CH2)3), while stable if the alkyl chain is long ((CH2)11). On the other hand, alkyl-terminated SAMs are very stable regardless of the alkyl chain length, and glycidyl terminated SAM retained approximately 77% of the organosilane molecules after 10 days. Hydrogen bonding between the organosilane monomer and silicon surface and among the organosilane monomers is believed to contribute to the instability of the SAM and multilayer formed by amino-terminated silane with a short alkyl chain ((CH2)3). Therefore, the widely used (3-aminopropyl) trimethoxysilane (APTMS) SAM and multilayer may not be suitable for implantable biomedical applications.     

Well-defined crosslinked materials via ring opening metathesis polymerisation

The work reported here is part of our ongoing programme of work directed. towards the synthesis and characterisation of polymeric materials via ROMP-RIM and ROMP-RTM. It describes the synthesis and characterisation of well-defined linear and crosslinked polymeric materials via ROMP-RTM. The process involves in-mould polymerisation of monofunctional imidonorbornene monomers, with different alkyl side chain lengths, to give a range of linear polymers. The process also involves in-mould copolymerisation of monofunctional imidonorbornene monomers, with different alkyl side chain lengths and difunctional monomers with different alkylene spacer lengths, to produce well-defined crosslinked polymers. The glass transition temperature (T_g) of the linear polymers was found to depend on the length of the alkyl side chain. For the crosslinked materials the results show that as the percentage of the difunctional, crosslinking unit, is increased (1, 5 and 10 molar percentage of the difunctional monomer) the glass transition shifts to a higher temperature, the height of the tanδ peak decreases and the plateau shear modulus above T_g increases. These results are as expected for an increase in the crosslink density of a polymer.     

Monolayers and Multilayers of Amphiphilic Phospholipid Analogous Poly(Acrylamide)s

Abstract

A series of amphiphilic phospholipid analogous acrylamide monomers and homopolymers containing long alkyl chains as the hydrophobic groups and phosphatidylcholine analogues as the hydrophilic groups were used to study the properties of monolayers and multilayers. The P-A isotherms of the monolayers for these monomers and polymers were measured at different temperatures. The temperature and length dependence of alkyl chains, and the difference between monomers and polymers were investigated, respectively. On the other hand, the LB multilayers of all monomers and polymers were prepared. The contact angles of LB films obtained with pure water were also measured.     

Effect of Substituents on the Homopolymerization Activity of Methyl Alkyl Diallyl Ammonium Chloride

Among nitrogen-containing cationic electrolytes, diallyl quaternary ammonium salt is a typical monomer with the highest positive charge density, which has attracted the most attention, especially in the research on homopolymers and copolymers of dimethyl diallyl ammonium chloride (DMDAAC), which occupy a very unique and important position. In order to improve the lipophilicity of substituted diallyl ammonium chloride monomers under the premise of high cationic charge density, the simplest, most direct, and most efficient structure design strategy was selected in this paper. Only one of the substituents on DMDAAC quaternary ammonium nitrogen was modified by alkyl; the substituents were propyl and amyl groups, and their corresponding monomers were methyl propyl diallyl ammonium chloride (MPDAAC) and methyl amyl diallyl ammonium chloride (MADAAC), respectively. The effect of substituent structure on the homopolymerization activity of methyl alkyl diallyl ammonium chloride was illustrated by quantum chemical calculation and homopolymerization rate determination experiments via ammonium persulfate (APS) as the initiator system. The results of quantum chemistry simulation showed that, with the finite increase in substituted alkyl chain length, the numerical values of the bond length and the charge distribution of methyl alkyl diallyl ammonium chloride monomer changed little, with the activation energy of the reactions in the following order: DMDAAC < MPDAAC < MADAAC. The polymerization activities measured by the dilatometer method were in the order DMDAAC > MPDAAC > MADAAC. The activation energies E_a of homopolymerization were 96.70 kJ/mol, 97.25 kJ/mol, and 100.23 kJ/mol, and the rate equation of homopolymerization of each monomer was obtained. After analyzing and comparing these results, it could be easily found that the electronic effect of substituent was not obvious, whereas the effect of the steric hindrance was dominant. The above studies have laid a good foundation for an understanding of the polymerization activity of methyl alkyl diallyl ammonium chloride monomers and the possibility of preparation and application of these polymers with high molecular weight.