Composites of hydrophilic polymers and organic nanocrystals enable enhanced robustness

We describe a new family of composite materials, polymer/organic nanocrystal (ONC) hybrids. These were prepared from soluble ONCs based on perylene diimides (PDI) and water‐soluble polymers (sodium alginate and polyvinyl alcohol). Polymer/ONC films were characterized by optical spectroscopy, electron microscopy, and tensile strength studies. The films show enhanced chemical and mechanical stability due to synergy between the constituents. The hybrid films are stable in both water and organic solvents, unlike the individual components. The ONCs we employed possess nonlinear optical activity (second harmonic generation, SHG); they showed improved photostability (stable SHG under laser light) in the hybrids. Tensile strength enhancement (as high as twofold in the film having just 2.4% ONCs by weight) was observed as revealed by mechanical measurements. Hybrids with aligned ONCs were also prepared using simple extrusion via syringe needle followed by gelation. Employing ONCs in polymeric hybrid materials enables facile fabrication in aqueous media, synergy, chemical, mechanical, and photostability as well as useful photofunction (SHG), introducing a versatile class of composite materials.     

Highly Ordered Nanoporous Films from Supramolecular Diblock Copolymers with Hydrogen‐Bonding Junctions

We designed efficient precursors that combine complementary associative groups with exceptional binding affinities and thiocarbonylthio moieties enabling precise RAFT polymerization. Well defined PS and PMMA supramolecular polymers with molecular weights up to 30 kg mol^?1 are synthesized and shown to form highly stable supramolecular diblock copolymers (BCPs) when mixed, in non‐polar solvents or in the bulk. Hierarchical self‐assembly of such supramolecular BCPs by thermal annealing affords morphologies with excellent lateral order, comparable to features expected from covalent diblock copolymer analogues. Simple washing of the resulting materials with protic solvents disrupts the supramolecular association and selectively dissolves one polymer, affording a straightforward process for preparing well‐ordered nanoporous materials without resorting to crosslinking or invasive chemical degradations.     

Polyether macrocycles from intramolecular cyclopropanation and ylide formation. Effect of catalyst and coordination

The use of catalytic metal carbene methodology with diazoacetates for the construction in high yield of polyether macrocycles having ring sizes greater than 25 has been achieved by preventing access to gamma-C-H positions for intramolecular insertion. Cyclopropanation is the exclusive outcome of reactions performed with dirhodium(II) catalysts, and product yields of greater than 70% are obtained without resorting to high dilution with solvents. With copper(I) catalysts having multiple sites for polyether coordination, intramolecular oxonium ylide formation occurs at the terminal oxygen, followed by [2,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement of the pendant allyl group, in competition with cyclopropanation. Sodium ion coordination with the reactant diazo compound inhibits oxonium ylide formation in copper-catalyzed reactions. The composite results are consistent with copper serving as a template for the substrate as well as the site in the ether complex for diazo decomposition and subsequent metal carbene reactions.     

Stereoselective Polymerization of Aromatic Vinyl Polar Monomers

Polar vinyl polymers, a class of polymers with polar groups as side chains, have significant advantages over conventional nonpolar polyolefin materials in terms of viscosity, toughness, interfacial properties (dyeability and printability), and compatibility with solvents or other polymers. Among them, aromatic polar vinyl polymers are of interest because of their good heat resistance properties. In addition, stereoselective polymerization of aromatic polar vinyl monomers has been rapidly developed because the steric structure of the polymer has a significant impact on its physical properties. In this paper, we review the research progress of stereoselective polymerization catalysts for aromatic polar vinyl monomers in recent years, discuss in detail the influence of ligand structure, electronic effect of substituents, spatial site resistance effect, central rare earth metal species and polymerization solvents on the activity and stereoselectivity of polymerization reactions, and explore the possible mechanism of polymerization reaction.     

Role of solvents in the gelation process: can light scattering studies shed some light?

Sol–gel reactions continue to be of interest for the preparation of nanostructured materials. Two chemical reactions that are important in the sol–gel process are the hydrolysis and condensation reactions. The rate of the these two reactions are affected by a number of factors such as reaction pH, temperature, humidity, amount of water, type of alkoxide, molar ratio of alkoxide to water, and nature of solvent. Moreover, there is a physical process, that of particle aggregation that is also important in the overall gelation process. The role of solvents in these chemical and physical processes is still not very clear. In order to clarify the role of solvents in the gelation process, small angle light scattering studies (SALS) were carried out. A model system chosen was a colloidal silica solution that contained preformed silica particles of 10–15 nm in diameter. SALS studies indicate that gelation times are independent of the nature of solvent.     

Selective chemical reactions in supercritical carbon dioxide,water, and ionic liquids

Abstract

Alternative solvents such as supercritical carbon dioxide, water, and ionic liquids are receiving an increase of interest as better replacements for conventional solvents in chemical reactions. They have been called sustainable green solvents because they are highly promising reaction mediums for organic synthesis. This review presents an overview of some selected chemical reactions that have been developed in these green solvents with a particular emphasis on metal-catalyzed reactions.     

NMR Analysis to Identify Biuret Groups in Common Polyureas

Polyureas(PU) are well known as a class of high impact engineering materials, and widely used also in emerging advanced applications. As a general observation, most of them are only soluble in a very limited number of highly protonic solvents, which makes their chemical structure analysis a great challenge. Besides the presence of abundant hydrogen bonding, the poor solubility of PU in common organic solvents is often ascribed to the formation of biuret crosslinking in their molecular chains. To clarify the presence of biuret groups in PU has been of great interest. To this end, two samples, based on hexamethylene diisocyanate(HDI) and toluene diisocyanate(TDI) respectively, were synthesized by precipitation polymerization of each of these diisocyanates in water-acetone at30 °C. Their chemical structures were analyzed by high resolution magic angle spinning(HR-MAS) NMR, and through comparison of their NMR spectra with those of specially prepared biuret-containing polyurea oligomers, it was concluded that biuret group was absent in all the PU prepared at 30 °C. In addition, this NMR analysis was also applied to a PU obtained by copolymerization of TDI with ethylene diamine(EDA) and water at 65 °C in EDA aqueous solution. It was confirmed that biuret unit was also absent in this PU and that EDA was more active than water towards TDI. The presence of EDA was crucial to the formation of uniform PU microspheres. This study provides therefore a reliable method for the analysis of PU chemical structure.     

Aqueous Catalytic Polymerization of Olefins

Catalytic conversions in aqueous environments by transition metal complexes have become a well‐established field over the past two decades. However, the vast majority of investigations have focussed on small‐molecule synthesis. This may appear somewhat surprising as water is a particularly attractive reaction medium, especially for polymerization reactions. For example, aqueous emulsion and suspension polymerization is carried out today on a large scale by noncatalytic free‐radical routes. Polymer latices can be obtained as a product, that is, stable aqueous dispersions of polymer particles in the size range of 50 to 1000 nm. Such latices possess a unique property profile. Amongst other advantages, the use of water as a dispersing medium is particularly environmentally friendly. In comparison to these free‐radical reactions, aqueous catalytic polymerizations of olefinic monomers have received less attention. However, considerable advances and an increased awareness of this field have emerged during the past few years. A variety of high molecular weight polymers ranging from amorphous or semicrystalline polyolefins to polar‐substituted hydrophilic materials have now been prepared by catalytic polymerization of olefinic monomers in water. Polymer latices based on a number of readily available monomers are accessible and catalytic activities as high as 10⁵ turnovers per hour have already been reported. As another example, materials prepared by aqueous catalytic polymerization have been investigated as protein inhibitors. A versatile field spanning colloids, polymer, and coordination chemistry has emerged.     

Classical Reactive Molecular Dynamics Implementations: State of the Art

Reactive molecular dynamics (RMD) implementations equipped with force field approaches to simulate both the time evolution as well as chemical reactions of a broad class of materials are reviewed herein. We subdivide the RMD approaches developed during the last decade as well as older ones already reviewed in 1995 by Srivastava and Garrison and in 2000 by Brenner into two classes. The methods in the first RMD class rely on the use of a reaction cutoff distance and employ a sudden transition from the educts to the products. Due to their simplicity these methods are well suited to generate equilibrated atomistic or material‐specific coarse‐grained polymer structures. In connection with generic models they offer useful qualitative insight into polymerization reactions. The methods in the second RMD class are based on empirical reactive force fields and implement a smooth and continuous transition from the educts to the products. In this RMD class, the reactive potentials are based on many‐body or bond‐order force fields as well as on empirical standard force fields, such as CHARMM, AMBER or MM3 that are modified to become reactive. The aim with the more sophisticated implementations of the second RMD class is the investigation of the reaction kinetics and mechanisms as well as the evaluation of transition state geometries. Pure or hybrid ab initio, density functional, semi‐empirical, molecular mechanics, and Monte Carlo methods for which no time evolution of the chemical systems is achieved are excluded from the present review. So are molecular dynamics techniques coupled with quantum chemical methods for the treatment of the reactive regions, such as Car–Parinello molecular dynamics.     

New applications of multiply charged ionic probes as cleavable cross-linker and polymerization reagent

We have designed new cleavable cross-linkers for biomolecules containing the 2,6-bis(oxazolinyl)pyridine (pybox) lanthanum complex. These species can effectively donate multiple charges to afford cross-linker ions for target biomolecules. The cross-linkers are cleaved easily by adding water. Moreover, we were able to detect chain structures of target molecules, including biomolecules and carbon clusters, such as fullerene C₆₀, by the addition of some MS ionic probes. Cold-spray ionization mass spectrometry demonstrated the applications of multiply charged ionic probes as cleavable cross-linkers and polymerization reagents.     

Fluorogenic Strain‐Promoted Alkyne–Diazo Cycloadditions

Fluorogenic reactions, in which non‐ or weakly fluorescent reagents produce highly fluorescent products, are attractive for detecting a broad range of compounds in the fields of bioconjugation and material sciences. Herein, we report that a dibenzocyclooctyne derivative modified with a cyclopropenone moiety (Fl‐DIBO) can undergo fast strain‐promoted cycloaddition reactions under catalyst‐free conditions with azides, nitrones, nitrile oxides, as well as mono‐ and disubstituted diazo‐derivatives. Although the reaction with nitrile oxides, nitrones, and disubstituted diazo compounds gave cycloadducts with low quantum yield, monosubstituted diazo reagents produced 1H‐pyrazole derivatives that exhibited an approximately 160‐fold fluorescence enhancement over Fl‐DIBO combined with a greater than 10 000‐fold increase in brightness. Concluding from quantum chemical calculations, fluorescence quenching of 3H‐pyrazoles, which are formed by reaction with disubstituted diazo‐derivatives, is likely due to the presence of energetically low‐lying (n,π*) states. The fluorogenic probe Fl‐DIBO was successfully employed for the labeling of diazo‐tagged proteins without detectable background signal. Diazo‐derivatives are emerging as attractive reporters for the labeling of biomolecules, and the studies presented herein demonstrate that Fl‐DIBO can be employed for visualizing such biomolecules without the need for probe washout.     

Diisocyanate route as a convenient method for the preparation of novel optically active poly(amide-imide)s based on N-trimellitylimido-S-valine

A new class of optically active poly(amide-imide)s based on an α-amino acid was synthesized via direct polycondensation reaction of different diisocyanates with a chiral diacid monomer. The step-growth polymerization reactions of N-trimellitylimido-S-valine (TISV) (1) with 4,4′-methylene-bis(4-phenylisocyanate) (MDI) (2) was performed under microwave irradiation, as well as solution polymerization under graduate heating and reflux conditions. The optimized polymerization conditions for each method were performed with tolylene-2,4-diisocyanate (TDI) (3), hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI) (4), and isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI) (5) to produce optically active poly(amide-imide)s via diisocyanate route. The resulting polymers have inherent viscosities in the range of 0.02-1.10 dL/g. Decomposition temperatures for 5% weight loss (T₅) occurred above 300 °C (by TGA) in nitrogen atmospheres. These polymers are optically active, thermally stable and soluble in amide-type solvents. Some structural characterization and physical properties of this new optically active poly(amide-imide)s are reported.     

Synthesis of Aryl Allyl Ether in the Recyclable Ionic Liquid [bmim]PF_6

Ionic liquids, especially imidazonium salts, have recently gained recognition as possible environmentally benign alternative chemical process solvents. This is mainly due to their nonvolatile nature, insolubility in some solvents as well as their ability to dissolve a wide range of organic and inorganic materials, allowing the ionic liquids easy recovery and recycling. Examples of their application in organic reactions have been summarized in a number of recent review articles. 1 Aryl allyl et…     

纤维素的均相化学反应

本文回顾了近10多年来的纤维素均相反应发展过程,研究了PF/DMSO、LiCl/DMAc、N₂O₄/DMF、苯/DMSO、LiCl/DMI和水等溶剂体系的纤维素均相反应条件(如酯化反应、交联反应、醚化反应、接枝共聚等),并总结了纤维素均相衍生化的分析方法,讨论了各种方法的优缺点以及发展前景.     

Development of Microdroplet Generation Method for Organic Solvents Used in Chemical Synthesis

Recently, chemical operations with microfluidic devices, especially droplet-based operations, have attracted considerable attention because they can provide an isolated small-volume reaction field. However, analysis of these operations has been limited mostly to aqueous-phase reactions in water droplets due to device material restrictions. In this study, we have successfully demonstrated droplet formation of five common organic solvents frequently used in chemical synthesis by using a simple silicon/glass-based microfluidic device. When an immiscible liquid with surfactant was used as the continuous phase, the organic solvent formed droplets similar to water-in-oil droplets in the device. In contrast to conventional microfluidic devices composed of resins, which are susceptible to swelling in organic solvents, the developed microfluidic device did not undergo swelling owing to the high chemical resistance of the constituent materials. Therefore, the device has potential applications for various chemical reactions involving organic solvents. Furthermore, this droplet generation device enabled control of droplet size by adjusting the liquid flow rate. The droplet generation method proposed in this work will contribute to the study of organic reactions in microdroplets and will be useful for evaluating scaling effects in various chemical reactions.     

Peculiarities of Ethylene Polymerization Reactions with Heterogeneous Ziegler–Natta Catalysts: Kinetic Analysis

The previously developed kinetic scheme for olefin polymerization reactions with heterogeneous Ziegler–Natta catalysts states that the catalysts have several types of active centers which have different activities, different stabilities, produce different types of polymer materials, and respond differently to reaction conditions. In the case of ethylene polymerization reactions, each type of center exhibits an unusual chemical feature: a growing polymer chain containing one ethylene unit, Ti—C₂H₅, is unusually stable and can decompose with the formation of the Ti—H bond. This paper examines quantitative kinetic ramifications of this chemical mechanism. Modeling of the complex kinetics scheme described in the Scheme demonstrates that it correctly and quantitatively predicts three most significant peculiarities of ethylene polymerization reactions, the high reaction order with respect to the ethylene concentration, reversible poisoning with hydrogen, and activation in the presence of α‐olefins.     

Development of methods for synthesis of surface-modified fluoropolymer-containing composite materials

The results of studies into development of methods for synthesizing new modified fluoropolymer-containing composite materials were summarized. The issues covered include: new modes and initiation methods of graft polymerization of fluoromonomers onto the surface of items of various nature and dispersity without homopolymer formation; nature of the surface active centers of the modified material and how it affects the kinetics and mechanism of both postradiation graft polymerization of tetrafluoroethylene and the subsequent chemical modification of the graft-polymer; major mechanisms and methods of blocking the terminal radicals of the grafted fluoropolymer layer, including those based on reaction with some perfluoroolefins at their double bond, yielding stable long-lived radicals, which allows controlling the physicochemical properties of composite materials; and new methods of synthesis of selective biocompatible sorbents with specific adsorption properties. Accelerating effect of oxygen on polymerization was analyzed, and the phenomenon of ozone initiation of low-temperature polymerization of tetrafluoroethylene was revealed and examined; a new class of high-performance polymerization initiators, namely, perflouroolefin ozonides, was synthesized; and new methods of initiation of polymerization and copolymerization of fluoromonomers, as well as of some other monomers with their use were developed.     

钯催化重氮化合物反应的研究进展

重氮化合物在过渡金属催化剂作用下的分解以及后续反应在有机合成上得到了非常广泛的应用. 综述了近年来钯催化重氮化合物反应的研究进展, 主要包括环丙烷化反应、聚合反应、插入反应、交叉偶联反应及其机理的探讨.     

Ionic liquids in the synthesis and modification of polymers

Ionic liquids are organic salts that are liquid at ambient temperatures, preferably at room temperature. They are nonvolatile, thermally and chemically stable, highly polar liquids that dissolve many organic, inorganic, and metallo‐organic compounds. Many combinations of organic cations with different counterions are already known, and the properties of ionic liquids may be adjusted by the proper selection of the cation and counterion. In the last decade, there has been increasing interest in using ionic liquids as solvents for chemical reactions. The interest is stimulated not only by their nonvolatility (green solvents) but also by their special properties, which often affect the course of a reaction. In recent years, ionic liquids have also attracted the attention of polymer chemists. Although the research on using ionic liquids in polymer systems is still in its infancy, several interesting possibilities have already emerged. Ionic liquids are used as solvents for polymerization processes, and in several systems they indeed show some advantages. In radical polymerization, the k_p/k_t ratio (where k_p is the rate constant of propagation and k_t is the rate constant of termination) is higher than in organic media, and thus better control of the process can be achieved. Ionic liquids, as electrolytes, have also attracted the attention of researchers in the fields of electrochemical polymerization and the synthesis of conducting polymers. Finally, the blending of ionic liquids with polymers may lead to the development of new materials (ionic liquids may act as plasticizers, electrolytes dispersed in polymer matrices, or even porogens). In this article, the new developments in these fields are briefly discussed. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 4675–4683, 2005     

Radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate in the presence of stereoregular poly(methyl methacrylate). IV. Influence of solvent type

Methyl methacrylate (MMA) was polymerized by radical initiation at 25°C or 35°C in various solvents in the presence of stereoregular poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA). The occurrence of stereospecific replica polymerization appeared to be related to the capability of stereoassociation of isotactic and syndiotactic PMMA. The solvents can be roughly divided into three types. Type A solvents are polar solvents, which promote stereoassociation resulting in gelation and precipitation. Examples are dimethylformamide, dimethyl sulfoxide, and acetone. Type B solvents are nonpolar aromatic solvents like benzene and toluene, wherein stereoassociation is weaker but still leads to gelation. Type C solvents are very good solvents, in which stereoassociation does not occur. Chloroform and dichloromethane belong to this class. In solvents of type A as well as type B, polymerization in the presence of i-PMMA as a polymer matrix was syndiospecific. However, in the presence of s-PMMA as a polymer matrix the polymerization was isospecific only in type A solvents. The syndiotactic or isotactic triad contents of the polymer formed could be as high as ca. 90% at low conversions. In solvents of type C, polymerization in the presence of stereoregular PMMA proceeds according to a normal radical mechanism. Syndiotacticity was always less than 70%. Stereocomplexes formed in situ during replica polymerization were partly crystalline as detected by x-ray diffraction. The highest crystallinity was detected in those formed in type A solvents.