Analysis of ToF‐SIMS spectra of poly(2‐vinylpyridine) and poly(4‐vinylpyridine) with density functional theory calculations

The time‐of‐flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF‐SIMS) positive and negative ion spectra of poly(2‐vinylpyridine) (P2VP) and poly(4‐vinylpyridine) (P4VP) were analyzed using density functional theory calculations. Most of the ions from these structural isomers shared the same accurate mass, but had different relative abundance. This could be attributed to the fact that from a thermodynamics perspective, the disparity in the molecular structures can affect the ion stability if we assume that they shared the same mechanistic pathway of formation with similar reaction kinetics. The molecular structures of these ions were assigned, and their stability was evaluated based on calculations using the Kohn‐Sham density functional theory with Becke's 3‐parameter Lee‐Yang‐Parr exchange‐correlation functional and a correlation‐consistent, polarized, valence, double‐zeta basis set for cations and the same basis set with a triple‐zeta for anions. The computational results agreed with the experimental observations that the nitrogen‐containing cations such as C₅H₄N⁺ (m/z = 78), C₈H₇N^+· (m/z = 117), C₈H₈N⁺ (m/z = 118), C₉H₈N⁺ (m/z = 130), C₁₃H₁₁N₂⁺ (m/z = 195), C₁₄H₁₃N₂⁺ (m/z = 209), C₁₅H₁₅N₂⁺ (m/z = 223), and C₂₁H₂₂N₃⁺ (m/z = 316) ions were more favorably formed in P2VP than in P4VP due to higher ion stability because the calculated total energies of these cations were more negative when the nitrogen was situated at the ortho position. Nevertheless, our assumption was invalid in the formation of positive ions such as C₆H₇N⁺˙ (m/z = 93) and C₈H₁₀N⁺ (m/z = 120). Their formation did not necessarily depend on the ion stability. Instead, the transition state chemistry and the matrix effect both played a role. In the negative ion spectra, we found that nitrogen‐containing anions such as C₅H₄N^? (m/z = 78), C₆H₆N^? (m/z = 92), C₇H₆N^? (m/z = 104), C₈H₆N^? (m/z = 116), C₉H₁₀N^? (m/z = 132), C₁₃H₁₁N₂^? (m/z = 195), and C₁₄H₁₃N₂^? (m/z = 209) ions were more favorably formed in P4VP, which is in line with our computational results without exception. We speculate that whether anions would form from P2VP and P4VP is more dependent on the stability of the ions.     

Synthesis and characterization of well‐defined [polystyrene‐b‐poly(2‐vinylpyridine)]n star‐block copolymers with poly(2‐vinylpyridine) corona blocks

This article describes the synthesis and characterization of [polystyrene‐b‐poly(2‐vinylpyridine)]_n star‐block copolymers with the poly(2‐vinylpyridine) blocks at the periphery. A two‐step living anionic polymerization method was used. Firstly, oligo(styryl)lithium grafted poly(divinylbenzene) cores were used as multifunctional initiators to initiate living anionic polymerization of styrene in benzene at room temperature. Secondly, vinylpyridine was polymerized at the periphery of these living (polystyrene)_n stars in tetrahydrofuran at ?78 °C. The resulting copolymers were characterized using size exclusion chromatography, multiangle laser light scattering, ¹H NMR, elemental analysis, and intrinsic viscosity measurements. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 3949–3955, 2007     

Melt‐processable blends of ionic poly(p‐phenylene terephthalamide) and poly(4‐vinylpyridine): Relaxation behavior

Melt‐processable blends were prepared from rigid molecules of an ionically modified poly(p‐phenylene terephthalamide) (PPTA) and flexible‐coil molecules of poly(4‐vinylpyridine) (PVP). Dynamic mechanical analyses of blends with 50% or more of the ionic PPTA component revealed the presence of two distinct phases. The glass‐transition temperature of the more stable, ionic PPTA‐rich phase increased linearly with the ionic PPTA content. The second phase present in these blends was an ionic PPTA‐poor, or a PVP‐rich, phase. For this phase, a reasonably good fit of the data, showing the glass‐transition temperature as a function of the ionic PPTA content, was achieved between the results of this study and the reported results of previous investigation of molecular composites of the same two components with ionic PPTA contents of 15 wt % or less. The possible influence of annealing on the blend structure of a 90/10 blend of ionic PPTA and PVP was examined. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 41: 1468–1475, 2003     

A thermodynamic analysis of specific interactions in homoblends of poly(styrene‐co‐4‐vinylpyridine) and poly(styrene‐co‐methacrylic acid)

Miscibility and strong specific interactions that occurred within homoblends of poly(styrene‐co‐4‐vinylpyridine) containing 15 mol % of 4‐vinylpyridine (PS4VP15) and poly(styrene‐co‐methacrylic acid) containing 15 mol % of methacrylic acid (PSMA15) have been examined by Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy and DSC. The observed positive deviation of the glass transition temperature of the blends from the linear average line, was analyzed by the frequently used theoretical conventional approaches including the one very recently proposed by Brostow. A better fit was obtained when this latter is used. A reasonable agreement with experimental values was also obtained when the theoretical fitting parameter free method developed by Coleman, is applied to predict the composition dependence of the T_g of this system. A thermodynamic analysis of hydrogen bonding in this system was carried using the Painter‐Coleman association model and the variation of the Gibbs function of mixing and its different contributions and corresponding phase diagrams as a function of temperature and composition were estimated. This analysis predicted PSMA15 to be miscible with PS4VP15 in the whole composition range up to 150 °C. Above this temperature, a partial miscibility is predicted when the PS4VP15 is in excess. The DSC results are in agreement with these predictions. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 47: 923–931, 2009     

Synthesis and characterization of new soluble poly(amide‐imide)s derived from 2,2‐bis[4‐(4‐trimellitimidophenoxy)phenyl]hexafluoropropane

A series of new soluble poly(amide‐imide)s were prepared from the diimide‐dicarboxylic acid 2,2‐bis[4‐(4‐trimellitimidophenoxy)phenyl]hexafluoropropane with various diamines by direct polycondensation in N‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidinone containing CaCl₂ with triphenyl phosphite and pyridine as condensing agents. All the polymers were obtained in quantitative yields with inherent viscosities of 0.52–0.86 dL · g^?1. The poly(amide‐imide)s showed an amorphous nature and were readily soluble in various solvents, such as N‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidinone, N,N‐dimethylacetamide (DMAc), N,N‐dimethylformamide, pyridine, and cyclohexanone. Tough and flexible films were obtained through casting from DMAc solutions. These polymer films had tensile strengths of 71–107 MPa and a tensile modulus range of 1.6–2.7 GPa. The glass‐transition temperatures of the polymers were determined by a differential scanning calorimetry method, and they ranged from 242 to 279 °C. These polymers were fairly stable up to a temperature around or above 400 °C, and they lost 10% of their weight from 480 to 536 °C and 486 to 537 °C in nitrogen and air, respectively. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 39: 3498–3504, 2001     

Spectroelectrochemical Sensing Based on Multimode Selectivity Simultaneously Achievable in a Single Device. 19. Preparation and Characterization of Films of Quaternized Poly(4‐vinylpyridine)‐silica

Quaternized poly(4‐vinylpyridine) (QPVP) has been incorporated as an anion exchanger into sol‐gel derived silica films for use in a spectroelectrochemical sensor. The preparation, characteristics and performance of these films are described. The films, which are spin‐coated onto the surface of a planar optically transparent electrode, are optically transparent and uniform. Scanning electron microscopy and spectroscopic ellipsometry have been used to examine film structure, thickness and optical properties. These films have been shown both spectroscopically and electrochemically to preconcentrate ferrocyanide, a model analyte for the sensor. The films can be regenerated for multiple measurements by exposure to 1 M KNO₃. The effects of polymer molecular weight and storage conditions on film performance are described. The overall response of this film is comparable to the poly(dimethyldiallylammonium chloride)‐silica films previously used for this sensor.     

Melt‐processable poly(oxyphenylalkanoate): Synthesis,properties, and in vitro degradation of poly(4‐oxyphenylacetate)

The homopolyester of 4‐hydroxyphenylacetic acid (HPAA) was synthesized by one‐pot, slurry‐melt, and acidolysis melt polymerization techniques and was characterized by its inherent viscosity and IR and NMR spectra. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), polarizing light microscopy (PLM), and wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction (WAXD) studies of the homopolymer were carried out for its thermal and phase behavior. The results indicated that the yield and molecular weight of the polymer depended on the method of preparation; moreover, the acidolysis melt polymerization of the pure acetoxy derivative of HPAA was the best method for the preparation of high molecular weight poly(4‐oxyphenylacetate) (polyHPAA) without side reactions. DSC and PLM studies also showed that the thermal and optical properties depended largely on the polymerization conditions and inherent viscosity values. PolyHPAA did not show a clear texture typical of liquid‐crystalline polymers, whereas after cooling from the melt, structures similar to spherulitic crystals were observed. WAXD patterns showed a crystalline nature. The in vitro degradability of the polymer was also studied via the water absorption in buffer solutions of pH 7 and 10 at 30 and 60 °C; this was followed by Fourier transform infrared, inherent viscosity, DSC, thermogravimetric analysis, WAXD, and scanning electron microscopy techniques. Unlike Vectra®, which showed no degradation, polyHPAA showed an increase in hydrolytic degradation from 5.0 and 6.0% at 30 °C to 12.5 and 15.0% at 60 °C after 350 h in buffer solutions of pH 7 and 10, respectively. The results indicated a possible biomedical prosthetic application of poly(oxyphenylalkanoate)s such as polyHPAA with better crystallinity coupled with degradability as a substitute for poly(hydroxyalkanoates). © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 39: 2430–2443, 2001     

Multiple Morphologies and Their Transformation of a Polystyrene‐block‐poly(4‐vinylpyridine) Block Copolymer

Summary: We report the multiple morphologies and their transformation of polystyrene‐block‐poly(4‐vinylpyridine) (PS‐b‐P4VP) in low‐alkanol solvents. In order to improve the solubility of polystyrene block in alcohol solvents, the solution of block copolymer sample was treated at a higher temperature, and then the influence of rate of decreasing temperature on multiple morphologies (including spheres, rods, vesicles, porous vesicles, large compound vesicles, and large compound micelles) was observed. The transformation of spheres to rods, to tyre‐shaped large compound micelles, and to sphere‐shaped large compound micelles was also realized. The formation mechanisms of the multiple morphologies and their transformation are discussed briefly.

Aggregates of PS‐P4VP formed in butanol by quenching from 110 °C to room temperature.     

Fluorinated polyamides and poly(amide imide)s based on 1,4‐bis(4‐amino‐2‐trifluromethylphenoxy)benzene,aromatic dicarboxylic acids,and various monotrimellitimides and bistrimellitimides: Syntheses and properties

A CF₃‐containing diamine, 1,4‐bis(4‐amino‐2‐trifluromethylphenoxy) benzene ( I ), was prepared from hydroquinone and 2‐chloro‐5‐nitrobenzotrifluoride. Imide‐containing diacids ( V _a–h and VI _a,b ) were prepared through the condensation reaction of amino acids, aromatic diamines, and trimellitic anhydride. Then, a series of soluble fluorinated polyamides ( VII _a–h ) and poly(amide imide)s ( VIII _a–h and X _a,b ) were synthesized from I with various aromatic diacids ( II _a–h ) and imide‐containing diacids ( V _a–h and VI _a,b ) via direct polycondensation with triphenyl phosphate and pyridine. The polyamides and poly(amide imide)s had inherent viscosities of 1.00–1.70 and 0.79–1.34 dL/g, respectively. All the synthesized polymers showed excellent solubility in amide‐type solvents such as N‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidinone, N,N‐dimethylacetamide, and N‐dimethylformamide and afforded transparent and tough films via solvent casting. Polymer films of VII _a–h , VIII _a–h , and X _a,b had tensile strengths of 91–113 MPa, elongations to break of 8–40%, and initial moduli of 2.1–2.8 GPa. The glass‐transition temperatures of the polyamides and poly(amide imide)s were 254–276 and 255–292 °C, respectively, and the imide‐containing poly(amide imide)s had better thermal stability than the polyamides. The polyamides showed higher transparency and were much lighter in color than the poly(amide imide)s, and their cutoff wave numbers were below 400 nm. In comparison with isomeric IX _{c – h} , poly(amide imide)s VIII _c–h exhibited less coloring and showed lower yellowness indices. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 3116–3129, 2004     

Synthesis and characterization of model 3‐miktoarm star copolymers of poly(dimethylsiloxane) and poly(2‐vinylpyridine)

3‐Miktoarm star copolymers, 3μ‐D₂V, with two poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) and one poly(2‐vinylpyridine) (P2VP) arm, were synthesized by using anionic polymerization–high vacuum techniques and (chloromethylphenylethyl)methyl dichlorosilane, heterofunctional linking agent, with two SiCl groups and one CH₂Cl group. The synthetic strategy involves the selective reaction of the two ? SiCl groups with PDMSOLi living chains, followed by reaction of the remaining chloromethyl group with P2VPLi. Combined molecular characterization results (size exclusion chromatography, membrane osmometry, and ¹H NMR spectroscopy) revealed a high degree of structural and compositional homogeneity. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 614–619, 2006     

Hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions between [60]fullerenated poly(2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate) and poly(1‐vinylimidazole) or poly(4‐vinylpyridine)

Miscible blends of poly(2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA) and poly(1‐vinylimidazole) (PVI) have been formed in methanol/water (3/2 v/v) solutions. The incorporation of 0.6 wt % C₆₀ into PHEMA leads to hydrophobic interactions and enhanced hydrogen bonding in miscible blends of [60]fullerenated poly(2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (FPHEMA) with PVI. The incorporation of 2.6 wt % C₆₀ into PHEMA increases its tendency to form interpolymer complexes with PVI. Interpolymer complexes are formed when FPHEMA samples containing 0.6, 1.4, and 2.6 wt % C₆₀ are blended with poly(4‐vinylpyridine). The yields of the complexes increase with increasing C₆₀ content in FPHEMA. Calorimetry and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy studies suggest the importance of hydrophobic interactions in C₆₀‐containing blends and complexes. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 4316–4327, 2002     

Poly(4‐vinylpyridine) Nanocrosslinked by Polyhedral Oligomeric Silsesquioxane

Summary: Octa(propylglycidyl ether) polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (OpePOSS) was used as the crosslinking agent to prepare the nanocrosslinked poly(4‐vinylpyridine) (P4VP) with POSS content up to 55.2 wt.‐%. The formation of the crosslinked structure is ascribed to the macromolecular reaction between pyridine rings of P4VP and epoxide groups of OpePOSS. The POSS‐crosslinked P4VP displayed enhanced glass transition temperatures (T_gs) and an improved thermal stability in terms of the results of thermal analysis.

Crosslinking of poly(4‐vinylpyridine) with octa(propylglycidyl ether) polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane.     

A green epoxidation system with poly(4‐vinylpyridine) microsphere‐supported molybdenum catalyst

The immobilization of molybdenum (Mo) compounds on poly(4‐vinylpyridine) (P4VP) microspheres for catalytic epoxidation was reported. P4VP‐supported Mo compounds were highly efficient and selective for the epoxidation of cis‐cyclooctene using hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) as oxygen source. When ethanol was used as solvents, outstanding catalytic activity and selectivity were observed for Mo‐containing catalysts in the epoxidation of cis‐cyclooctene. A completely green epoxidation system based on H₂O₂ and cleaner solvent has been achieved, and the heterogenized Mo catalyst can be recovered for five times without loss of its activity. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 558–562, 2010     

Synthesis and characterization of new highly organosoluble poly(etherimide)s derived from 1,1‐bis{4‐[4‐(3,4‐dicarboxyphenoxy)phenyl]‐4‐phenylcyclohexane} dianhydride

A new bulky pendent bis(ether anhydride), 1,1‐bis[4‐(4‐dicarboxyphenoxy)phenyl]‐4‐phenylcyclohexane dianhydride, was prepared in three steps, starting from the nitrodisplacement of 1,1‐bis(4‐hydroxyphenyl)‐4‐phenylcyclohexane with 4‐nitrophthalonitrile to form bis(ether dinitrile), followed by alkaline hydrolysis of the bis(ether dinitrile) and subsequent dehydration of the resulting bis(ether diacid). A series of new poly(ether imide)s were prepared from the bis(ether anhydride) with various diamines by a conventional two‐stage synthesis including polyaddition and subsequent chemical cyclodehydration. The resulting poly(ether imide)s had inherent viscosities of 0.50–0.73 dL g^?1. The gel permeation chromatography measurements revealed that the polymers had number‐average and weight‐average molecular weights of up to 57,000 and 130,000, respectively. All the polymers showed typical amorphous diffraction patterns. All of the poly(ether imide)s showed excellent solubility in comparison with the other polyimides derived from adamantane, norbornane, cyclododecane, and methanohexahydroindane and were readily dissolved in various solvents such as N‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidinone, N,N‐dimethylacetamide (DMAc), N,N‐dimethylformamide, pyridine, cyclohexanone, tetrahydrofuran, and even chloroform. These polymers had glass‐transition temperatures of 226–255 °C. Most of the polymers could be dissolved in chloroform in as high as a 30 wt % concentration. Thermogravimetric analysis showed that all polymers were stable up to 450 °C, with 10% weight losses recorded from 458 to 497 °C in nitrogen. These transparent, tough, and flexible polymer films could be obtained by solution casting from DMAc solutions. These polymer films had tensile strengths of 79–103 MPa and tensile moduli of 1.5–2.1 GPa. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 2066–2074, 2002     

Aromatic poly(1,3,4‐oxadiazole)s and poly(amide‐1,3,4‐oxadiazole)s containing ether sulfone linkages

Polyhydrazides and poly(amide‐hydrazide)s were prepared from two ether‐sulfone‐dicarboxylic acids, 4,4′‐[sulfonylbis(1,4‐phenylene)dioxy]dibenzoic acid and 4,4′‐[sulfonylbis(2,6‐dimethyl‐1,4‐phenylene)dioxy]dibenzoic acid, or their diacyl chlorides with terephthalic dihydrazide, isophthalic dihydrazide, and p‐aminobenzhydrazide via a phosphorylation reaction or a low‐temperature solution polycondensation. All the hydrazide polymers were found to be amorphous according to X‐ray diffraction analysis. They were readily soluble in polar organic solvents such as N‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidone and N,N‐dimethylacetamide and could afford colorless, flexible, and tough films with good mechanical strengths via solvent casting. These hydrazide polymers exhibited glass‐transition temperatures of 149–207 °C and could be thermally cyclodehydrated into the corresponding oxadiazole polymers in the solid state at elevated temperatures. Although the oxadiazole polymers showed a significantly decreased solubility with respect to their hydrazide prepolymers, some oxadiazole polymers were still organosoluble. The thermally converted oxadiazole polymers had glass‐transition temperatures of 217–255 °C and softening temperatures of 215–268 °C and did not show significant weight loss before 400 °C in nitrogen or air. For a comparative study, related sulfonyl polymers without the ether groups were also synthesized from 4,4′‐sulfonyldibenzoic acid and the hydrazide monomers by the same synthetic routes. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 39: 2271–2286, 2001     

Preparation and properties of new poly(amide‐imide)s based on 1,4‐bis(4‐trimellitimidophenoxy)naphthalene and aromatic diamines

A diimide dicarboxylic acid, 1,4‐bis(4‐trimellitimidophenoxy)naphthalene (1,4‐BTMPN), was prepared by condensation of 1,4‐bis(4‐aminophenoxy)naphthalene and trimellitic anhydride at a 1 : 2 molar ratio. A series of novel poly(amide‐imide)s (IIa–k) with inherent viscosities of 0.72 to 1.59 dL/g were prepared by triphenyl phosphite‐activated polycondensation from the diimide‐diacid 1,4‐BTMPN with various aromatic diamines (Ia–k) in a medium consisting of N‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidinone (NMP), pyridine, and calcium chloride. The poly(amide‐imide)s showed good solubility in NMP, N,N‐dimethylacetamide, and N,N‐dimethylformamide. The thermal properties of the obtained poly(amide‐imide)s were examined with differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetry analysis. The synthesized poly(amide‐imide)s possessed glass‐transition temperatures in the range of 215 to 263°C. The poly(amide‐imide)s exhibited excellent thermal stabilities and had 10% weight losses at temperatures in the range of 538 to 569°C under a nitrogen atmosphere. A comparative study of some corresponding poly(amide‐imide)s also is presented. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 1–8, 2000     

Synthesis and properties of new organo‐soluble and strictly alternating aromatic poly(ester‐imide)s from 3,3‐bis[4‐(trimellitimidophenoxy)phenyl]phthalide and bisphenols

A series of new strictly alternating aromatic poly(ester‐imide)s having inherent viscosities of 0.20–0.98 dL/g was synthesized by the diphenylchlorophosphate (DPCP) activated direct polycondensation of the preformed imide ring‐containing diacid, 3,3‐bis[4‐(trimellitimidophenoxy)phenyl]phthalide (I), with various bisphenols in a medium consisting of pyridine and lithium chloride. The diimide–diacid I was prepared from the condensation of 3,3‐bis[4‐(4‐aminophenoxy)phenyl]phthalide and trimellitic anhydride. Most of the resulting polymers showed an amorphous nature and were readily soluble in a variety of organic solvents such as N‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidone (NMP) and N,N‐dimethylacetamide (DMAc). Transparent and flexible films of these polymers could be cast from their DMAc solutions. The cast films had tensile strengths ranging 66–105 MPa, elongations at break from 7–10%, and initial moduli from 1.9–2.4 GPa. The glass‐transition temperatures of these polymers were recorded between 208–275 °C. All polymers showed no significant weight loss below 400 °C in the air or in nitrogen, and the decomposition temperatures at 10% weight loss all occurred above 460 °C. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 1090–1099, 2000     

Syntheses and properties of organosoluble poly(ether imide)s from 1,1‐bis[4‐(3,4‐dicarboxyphenoxy)phenyl]cyclohexane dianhydride and aromatic diamines

A bis(ether anhydride) monomer, 1,1‐bis[4‐(3,4‐dicarboxyphenoxy)phenyl]cyclohexane dianhydride ( IV‐A ), was synthesized from the nitro displacement of 4‐nitrophthalodinitrile by the phenoxide ion of 1,1‐bis(4‐hydroxyphenyl)cyclohexane ( I‐A ), followed by alkaline hydrolysis of the intermediate bis(ether dinitrile) and dehydration of the resulting bis(ether acid). A novel series of organosoluble poly(ether imide)s ( VI _a–i )(PEIs) bearing cyclohexylidene cardo groups was prepared from the bis(ether anhydride) IV‐A with various aromatic diamines V _a–i via a conventional two‐stage process. The PEIs had inherent viscosities in the range of 0.48–1.02 dL/g and afforded flexible and tough films by solution‐casting because of their good solubilities in organic solvents. Most PEIs showed yield points in the range of 89–102 MPa at stress‐strain curves and had tensile strengths of 78–103 MPa, elongations at breaks of 8–62%, and initial moduli of 1.8–2.2 GPa. The glass‐transition temperatures (T_g's) of these PEIs were recorded between 200–234 °C. Decomposition temperatures of 10% weight loss all occurred above 490 °C in both air and nitrogen atmospheres, and their residues were more than 43% at 800 °C in nitrogen atmosphere. The cyclohexane cardo‐based PEIs exhibited relatively higher T_g's, better solubilities in organic solvents, and better tensile properties as compared with the corresponding Ultem® PEI system. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 39: 788–799, 2001     

Thermoresponsive polymeric nanoparticles based on poly(2‐oxazoline)s and tannic acid

Hydrogen bonding is widely present and plays a significant role in material science and supramolecular chemistry. This work reports a straightforward strategy for the preparation of polymeric nanoparticles from neutral poly(2‐oxazoline)s (POx) and tannic acid (TA) driven by their intermolecular hydrogen bonding. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) measurements showed that POx bearing different substituents, that is, methyl, ethyl and n‐propyl in the 2‐position all could assemble with TA into stable nanoparticles in water or ethanol. The diameter of the assembled nanoparticles could be manipulated by varying parameters such as molecular weight of POx, concentration and ratio of POx, and TA. Interestingly, POx/TA nanoparticles exhibited upper critical solution temperature (UCST)‐type thermoresponsive properties in ethanol or water depending on the molecular weight and substituent in the 2‐position of POx. Increasing or decreasing the temperature at the transition point resulted in the reversible transformation between assembled nanoparticles and disassembled poly(2‐n‐propyl‐2‐oxazoline) (PnPrOx) and TA. In view of the tailored size of the stable nanoparticles and the biocompatibilities of POx and TA, the prepared thermoresponsive nanoparticles are promising candidates as carriers for medicine toward related biomedical applications. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2018 , 56, 1520–1527     

Synthesis of poly(4‐vinylpyridine) by reverse atom transfer radical polymerization

Controlled radical polymerization of 4‐vinylpyridine (4VP) was achieved in a 50 vol % 1‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidone/water solvent mixture using a 2,2′‐azobis(2,4‐dimethylpentanitrile) initiator and a CuCl₂/2,2′‐bipyridine catalyst–ligand complex, for an initial monomer concentration of [M]₀ = 2.32–3.24 M and a temperature range of 70–80 °C. Radical polymerization control was achieved at catalyst to initiator molar ratios in the range of 1.3:1 to 1.6:1. First‐order kinetics of the rate of polymerization (with respect to the monomer), linear increase of the number–average degree of polymerization with monomer conversion, and a polydispersity index in the range of 1.29–1.35 were indicative of controlled radical polymerization. The highest number–average degree of polymerization of 247 (number–average molecular weight = 26,000 g/mol) was achieved at a temperature of 70 °C, [M]₀ = 3.24 M and a catalyst to initiator molar ratio of 1.6:1. Over the temperature range studied (70–80 °C), the initiator efficiency increased from 50 to 64% whereas the apparent polymerization rate constant increased by about 60%. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 5748–5758, 2007