Raman spectroscopic studies of the solid-state polymerization of diacetylenes. I. Thermal polymerization of 1,6-di-p-toluenesulfonyloxy-2,4-hexadiyne

The resonance Raman spectra of polymer chains in partially polymerized crystals of 1,6-di-p-toluenesulfonyloxy-2,4-hexadiyne are reported. The polymer chain distortion is deduced using the results obtained previously for fully polymerized samples under tensile strain. Changes in crystal lattice dimensions both parallel and lateral to the polymer chains are found to be important in interpreting the variations in frequency of the Raman-active vibrational modes. Further evidence is found for the resonant interaction of backbone and side-group vibrations reported previously. This interaction is affected by the lateral dimensional changes and is also sensitive to residual strain fields in the monomer crystals. It is not necessary in the interpretation of the Raman spectra to take any account of changes in polymer chain length during polymerization.     

Solid-state polymerization of long-chain vinyl compounds. IV. Effects of chain length on the polymorphic behavior and postpolymerization of n-alkyl methacrylates

Polymorphic behavior and γ-ray-initiated postpolymerization of the even-numbered long-chain Methacrylates (C₁₈-C₁₂) have been investigated. Phase transition behaviors of octadecyl, hexadecyl, tetradecyl, and dodecyl methacrylates are respectively, which become simpler with shortening of the chain length. The methacrylate monomers with sufficiently long hydrocarbon chains, such as octadecyl and hexadecyl, can be polymerized rapidly in the α-form crystal (hexagonal packing) by a fully two-dimensional mechanism, whereas in the β-form crystal (triclinic packing), polymerization can hardly occur. In the case of dodecyl methacrylate, however, an accelerated polymerization in the β form occurs after an induction period of several hours and the resultant polymer is gel-like. This can be interpreted by the propagation reaction across the polymer chain already formed. It has been found that the solid-state post-polymerization of n-alkyl methacrylates is affected by the chain length through the packing mode of the monomer molecules and also by the aggregation state of side chains in the resultant comblike polymer.     

Raman spectroscopic studies of the solid-state polymerization of diacetylenes. II. Thermal polymerization of 1,6-di-p-methoxybenzene-sulfonyloxy-2,4-hexadiyne

The Raman spectra of 1,6-di-p-methoxybenzene-sulfonyloxy-2,4-hexadiyne (MBS) have been recorded during thermal polymerization. The spectra are similar to those of the related p-toluene-sulfonyloxy monomer but indicate a higher strain in the initially formed MBS polymer chains. Despite this similarity, the polymerization kinetics for the two monomers are markedly different. The polymerization behavior of MBS shows that the polymer chain initiation and propagation are practically independent of lattice strain. Possible causes for this independence are discussed.     

In situ resonant Raman and ESR spectroelectrochemical study of electrochemically synthesized poly(<Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-phenylenevinylene)

The electrochemical synthesis of poly(p-phenylenevinylene) (PPV) and different modifications in the electronic distribution upon electrochemical p-doping (oxidation) and n-doping (reduction) of this polymer film have been studied in situ by resonance Raman spectroscopy, optical absorption spectroscopy and ESR spectroscopy. The polymer film has been prepared by electrochemical reduction of α,α,α′,α′-tetrabromo-p-xylene in dimethylformamide using tetraethylammonium tetrafluoroborate as the electrolyte salt. During electrochemical polymerization the position and relative intensities of the Raman bands change regularly as the chain length increases and finally converge on values reported for chemically prepared PPV. The Raman spectra for electrochemically polymerized PPV is compared to infrared-active vibration bands for electrochemically n-doped PPV. When the polymer undergoes redox reactions (doping-dedoping), shifts and broadening of Raman bands, compared to neutral PPV, are observed. Interpretation of the Raman spectra and the ESR results led to the conclusion that charge transfer in this system is mainly accomplished by polaron species formed upon doping of the polymer. In this reaction the quinoid structure is formed rather than the benzenoid structure. Electronic Publication     

Determination of Monomer Transfer Constants in Emulsion Polymerization

The monomer transfer constant, C_m can be determined from the chain length distribution (CLD) under conditions in which the monomer transfer reaction rate is much larger than the other chain termination processes. Such reaction conditions are feasible in emulsion polymerization where bimolecular termination reactions are relatively less important. We conducted theoretical investigations aimed at finding the necessary reaction conditions to apply the CLD method to emulsion polymerization. The number of polymer chains per polymer particle needs to be large enough in order to keep the effects of unknown chain lengths to a minimum, i.e., the unknown chains formed during the nucleation period and those which stop growing when the polymerization is stopped for sampling. In emulsion polymerization, the polymer concentration at the polymerization locus is higher than the corresponding bulk polymerization as long as monomer droplets exist, and the polymer transfer reaction may possess significant effects under conditions where monomer transfer reactions are important. The Monte Carlo (MC) simulation results have shown that although the CLD profile becomes broader due to the polymer transfer reactions, they do not significantly change the slope, from which C_m is determined. According to the present simulation results, the CLD method is considered applicable even when the polymer transfer reaction cannot be neglected. The MC simulation method can be used to find the experimental conditions where the CLD method is applicable.     

Molecular Weight Distribution in Living Polymerization Proceeding with Reshuffling of Polymer Segments due to Chain Transfer to Polymer with Chain Scission, 2. Monte Carlo Simulation of Polymer Reshuffling Proceeding with Disproportionation of Chain Functionalities

The method for analyzing the reshuffling of polymer segments developed previously has been extended to systems involving the disproportionation of chain functionalities. The effect of interchain exchange reactions of this type, leading to the redistribution of chain lengths and of the chain functionalities (redistribution of living and dead chain ends), was analyzed by means of the Monte Carlo simulations. In the systems, in which no propagation occurs (monomer concentration equal to zero), a set of polymer chains containing one living and one dead end was taken as an initial material. A series of simulations were performed for systems with differing molecular weight distributions of the starting macromolecules. Uniform (no chain length distribution polymer – all chains are of the same length), Poisson, and the most probable (geometric) distributions were taken into consideration. Although the molecular weight distributions (MWDs) of functionally different chains of the same polymer were different apart from the eventual equilibrium conditions, the overall MWD was very close to that observed in analogous systems without disproportionation. The same was observed concerning MWDs in modeled polymerization systems, in which reshuffling and disproportionation accompanied propagation. Consequently, a method of estimating the ratio of rate constants of propagation and reshuffling (i. e. k_p /k _tr) in the relevant polymerization systems, using the observed polydispersity indexes, was proposed. The extent of disproportionation can be evaluated from the determined relationships of the polydispersity index and of the monofunctional chains fraction as functions of the average number of chain transformations.     

Internal Architecture of Zwitterionic Polymer Brushes Regulates Nonfouling Properties

In this work, we study how film thickness and chain packing density affect the protein‐resistant properties of polymer brushes in complex media. Polymer brushes based on dual‐functional poly(carboxybetaine acrylamide) (pCB) were prepared via surface‐initiated photoiniferter‐mediated polymerization. By adjusting UV radiation time and solvent polarity, pCB films with different thicknesses can be achieved and characterized using an ellipsometer. The packing density of pCB polymer chains is directly related to the swelling ratio of swollen to collapsed film thicknesses. Results showed that the dry film thickness alone, used often in the literature, is not sufficient to correlate with nonfouling properties and the chain packing density must be considered for the design of nonfouling surface coatings.     

Radiation-induced heterogeneous polymerization of methyl methacrylate in precipitants

The radiation-induced heterogeneous polymerization of methyl methacrylate in various precipitants, mainly methyl alcohol, was carried out, and the effects of reaction conditions on the polymerization behavior and the molecular weight distribution of polymer were studied. Bimodal molecular weight distributions were found for the polymer produced by the heterogeneous polymerizations in methyl alcohol and in tert-butyl alcohol. The apparent activation energy is 1.0 and 4.5 kcal/mole, respectively, for the polymerization at a monomer concentration of 10 vol-% in methyl alcohol above and below 35°C. The polymerization at a monomer concentration lower than 40 vol-% in methyl alcohol proceeded with the precipitation of polymer. The dose rate exponent of the mean rate of heterogeneous polymerization decreased from 0.5 to a smaller value as the polymerization progressed. The ratio of the two peaks in the bimodal molecular weight distributions of polymer produced in methyl alcohol was affected by the reaction conditions. These results show the coexistence in the polymerizations of two different physical states of propagating chain, a loose state and a rigid one. The reaction scheme is discussed in connection with the physical factors which affect the solubility or the mobility of propagating chains, and the rate of elementary reactions, which influences the degree of propagating chains.     

SYNTHESIS OF POLY(VINYLIDENE FLUORIDE) WITH LOW CONTENTS OF HEAD-TO-HEAD CHAIN

The relations between polymerization conditions of vinylidene fluoride and contents of head-tohead chain in the polymer have been studied. It shows that the contents of head-to-head chain of the polymer are related to its polymerization temperature, but are not related with the kinds of initiators used. Therefore, poly(vinylidene fluoride) with low contents of head-to-head chain (ca. 3%) can be prepared under lower polymerization temperature. Plot of the contents of A chains against melting points of the polymer is linear, which can be expressed by an equation: A=24.8 + 0.362 T_m(%).     

MOLECULAR PACKING IN TRIACYL-sn-GLYCEROLS: INFLUENCES OF ACYL CHAIN LENGTH AND UNSATURATION

The molecular packing in triacylglycerols having different acyl chains has been examined by differential scanning calorimetry, powder X-ray diffraction and vibrational spectroscopy (infrared and Raman) techniques. In the triacylglycerols examined, the acyl chain length, unsaturation or the position of substitution on the glycerol were changed systematically to observe their influence on the molecular packing in different polymorphic forms. Variation in the 3-acyl chain length of 1,2-dipalmitoyl-3-acyl-sn-glycerols (PPX) influenced the molecular packing along the long axis in the stable polymorphic forms. Three different modes of packing were observed. If X ≤ 4, the compounds packed in a bilayer structure similar to diacylglycerols, or if X ≥ 10 and ≤ 16 the compounds packed in a bilayer structure but similar to mono acid triacylglycerols. However for intermediate 3-acyl chain lengths, as in PP6 and PP8 the stable packing can occured only through chain segregation resulting in a trilayer structure. In the triacylglycerols containing unsaturated acyl chains, 1,2-dioleoyl-3-acyl-sn-glycerols (00X) and 1,3-dioleoyl-Z-acyl-sn-glycerols (0X0) the stable polymorphic forms packed in a trilayer structure where the odd acyl chains segregated and formed a middle layer. In a metastable hexagonal packing (α-phase) the long range ordering is minimal. Because of this lack of specific chain-chain interaction the 3-short acyl chain compounds of PPX packed in a unimolecular length structure (except PP2) whereas the 3-long acyl chain compounds packed in a bilayer structure. In orthorhombic perpendicular and triclinic parallel packing where the specific chain-chain interaction is increased, the end plane methyl packing and the glycerol conformation played important roles in the formation of bi-, tri- and hexalayer structures. The driving force in the formation of these different structures is to minimize the crystal defects created by the odd acyl chains and to enhance the specific chain-chain interactions. The presence of an odd acyl chain influenced the lateral chain packing as well, e.g., the stability of the orthorhombic perpendicular packing is enhanced by the presence of an odd acyl chain and even in some cases it is favored over the triclinic parallel packing. The odd acyl chain at the 1- or 3position of -sn-glycerol stabilized the orthorhombic perpendicular packing. This indicates the glycerol conformation is probably perpendicular to the layer plane and thus is different from the monoacid triacylglycerols.     

Anionic polymerization of hexafluoro-1,3-butadiene and characterization of the polymer

The present review describes the anionic polymerization of hexafluoro-1,3 -butadiene (HFBD) and the characterization of the polymer. HFBD which is hardly polymerized under radical polymerization conditions yielded the polymer with cesium and rubidium compounds as initiators in moderate conditions. X-ray photoelectron spectra and Raman spectra showed the structure of the polymer was similar to that of poly(hexafluoro-2-butyne). The polymerization mechanism, an addition reaction of the propagating anion to the 2-carbon of HFBD followed by isomerization of the propagating end group to yield the polyene structure, is proposed from the results of the investigation of initiation reaction and the structure of the polymers. Poly(HFBD) shows higher thermostability than poly(tetrafluoroethylene) in spite of bearing functional -CC-groups in the polymer main chain.     

Development of a simultaneous measurement system of x‐ray diffraction and raman spectra: Application to structural study of crystalline‐phase transitions of chain molecules

The development of a bench‐top‐type system for simultaneous measurement of X‐ray diffraction and Raman spectra has been made to investigate structural changes in the phase transitions of chain molecules such as polyethylene, n‐alkane, and so forth from various viewpoints. For the X‐ray diffraction measurement an imaging plate or a charge‐coupled device camera was used as a two‐dimensional detector. For the Raman spectral measurement a miniature Raman spectrometer was used with optical fibers for the irradiation of incident laser beams and collection of scattered signals. For example, in the heating process of the n‐C₃₀H₆₂ sample, the phase transition from orthorhombic‐to‐hexagonal lattices could be detected clearly by the X‐ray and Raman measurements. By comparing these two different types of data in detail, an intimate relationship between conformational disordering and rotational motion of molecular chains is detected more clearly than before. Also, similar discussion can be made for the orthorhombic‐to‐hexagonal phase transition of the geometrically constrained polyethylene sample occurring immediately below the melting point. Another example concerns the structural change in the photoinduced solid‐state polymerization of cis,cis‐diethylmuconate single crystal. From the shifts in the X‐ray reflection position and Raman frequency characteristic of the produced polymer, it was found that the molecular deformation of the polymer chains and lattice strain was induced in the early stage of the polymerization reaction. For the ferroelectric‐phase transition of vinylidene fluoride copolymer, the simultaneous measurement was made for collecting triple information of small‐angle and wide‐angle X‐ray scatterings and Raman spectra to know the relationship between the structural change in the crystal lattice and the morphological change in the lamellar stacking mode. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 40: 495–506, 2002; DOI 10.1002/polb.10112     

Photochromic polymers: effects of structure and environment on photoresponsiveness

In this review paper the photoresponsiveness of photochromic macromolecules under different structural and environmental conditions is discussed with reference to results from the authors' laboratories. Polypeptides, in particular poly(L -glutamic acid) and poly(L -lysine), with spirobenzopyrane side chains show photoinduced conformational variations which are amplified by addition of organic acids or bases to hexafluoro-2-propanol (HFP) solutions. Thus combination of light and environment effects allows modulation of order–disorder conformational transitions. Such photoindiced conformational changes are not observed in the case of macromolecules with a hydrocarbon main chain and azobenzene or stilbene side chains, obtained by polymerization of acrylic monomers. However, even in these systems structural variations affect the dependence of optical properties on irradiation. Moreover, the combination of organic solvents and water shows that polymer solubility can be modulated by light.     

Fluorinated comblike homopolymers: The effect of spacer lengths on surface properties

A series of polyacrylate monomers with F‐alkylalkyl [F(CF₂)_n(CH₂)_n′] side groups were prepared by free‐radical polymerization. The effect of the chemical structure on the surface properties of poly(ethylene terephthalate)s was evaluated by variations in the relative length of the fluorocarbon and hydrocarbon units in the side group. The resulting polymers were quite surface‐active in the solid state. The surface and bulk organization was investigated by X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis. A strong correlation between the bulk organization and surface properties of the polymers was established. The outmost layer, formed from trifluoromethyl groups and some ester functions, suggests that the side chain is arranged irregularly in the polymer–air interface. The length of the lateral chain governs this organization: long fluorinated chains and short hydrocarbon spacers are essential elements of the molecular design for such low‐surface‐energy materials. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 3737–3747, 2005     

Thermal dependence of Raman descriptors of ceramides. Part II: effect of chains lengths and head group structures

The outermost layer of the mammalian skin, the stratum corneum (SC), represents the main skin barrier. The SC lipids have a very exceptional composition, as the main lipid classes are ceramides (CER), long-chain fatty acids and cholesterol. Information on the function of each CER subclass and on the relation between CER lipid organisation and composition is of great importance to unravel the mechanism controlling the skin barrier function. Raman spectroscopy has been increasingly used for the study of intra- and inter-molecular structures of long-chain lipid compounds. In this study, we employed Raman spectroscopy to evaluate the effect of (1) the chain length and (2) the polar head architecture on the conformational order and organisational behaviour of CERs. The relation between the structure and the stability of the organisation was studied by monitoring the thermotropic response of each CER in the temperature range between 25 and 95 °C. This work enabled the determination of a correlation between the gauche/trans ratio in the νCC region and the state of the lateral packing. Moreover, it was shown that –OH groups in the α position of the fatty acids reduce the stability while long alkyl chains reinforces the intra- and inter-chains order.     

表面活性(可控)接枝聚合研究进展

表面是材料与外界接触的窗口,材料的众多性质,如耐磨性、耐腐蚀性、生物相容性等均在很大程度上取决于表面的构成.可通过在材料表面接枝不同的聚合物链使之满足不同的需要.表面引发的活性(可控)聚合可得到分布均匀、厚度可控的接枝层,因而成为表面改性中的重要方法.本文介绍了一系列表面引发的活性(可控)聚合技术及其应用举例,对这一领域所取得的研究进展及现状作一综述.     

梳状高分子烷基侧链构象和堆积结构的红外光谱研究

以正十九烷和两种接枝烷基链的梳状高分子N-十八烷基聚乙烯亚胺(PEI18C)、N-十八烷基聚对苯甲酰胺(PBA18C)为研究对象,利用红外光谱对处于受限和自由状态的烷基链的构象和堆积结构随温度的变化进行了对比研究.结果表明,处于受限和自由状态的烷基链的构象排列和堆积结构及其转变行为不同,且受限于柔性PEI主链和刚性PBA主链的烷基链也不相同.从主链刚性的角度,探讨了影响烷基侧链构象和堆积结构的原因.     

聚噻吩制备条件对其结构和导电性能的影响

通过改变聚噻吩合成条件(温度、浓度、反应时间)得到各种不同样品, 用FESEM, FTIR光谱, Raman光谱, XRD, UV-Vis光谱和TG等手段对样品进行研究. 结果表明, 不同的制备条件会影响噻吩环的连接方式, 直接影响聚噻吩结构的分布. 导电性能研究表明, 聚噻吩的结构差异和其导电性能直接相关, 实验证明以α-α相连接的聚噻吩有更高的电导率.     

Light‐driven atom transfer radical polymerization on supramolecular complexes of conjugated polymers and single‐walled carbon nanotubes

Previous approaches used to decorate latently reactive conjugated polymer‐coated carbon nanotube complexes have utilized “grafting‐to” strategies. Here, we coat the carbon nanotube surface with a conjugated polymer whose side chains contain the radical initiator, α‐bromoisobutyrate, which enables atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) from the polymer–nanotube surface. Using light to generate Cu(I) in situ, ATRP is used to grow narrow dispersity polymer chains from the polymer–nanotube surface. We confirm the successful polymerization of (meth)acrylates from the polymer–nanotube surface using a combination of gel permeation chromatography and infrared spectroscopy. Strikingly, we demonstrate that nanotube optoelectronic properties are preserved after radical‐mediated polymer grafting using Raman spectroscopy and photoluminescence mapping. Overall, this work elucidates a method to grow narrow dispersity polymer chains from the polymer–nanotube surface using light‐driven radical chemistry, with concurrent preservation of nanotube optoelectronic properties. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2019, 57, 2015–2020     

Effects of packing structure on the optoelectronic and charge transport properties in poly(9,9-di-n-octylfluorene-alt-benzothiadiazole)

Spin-coated poly(9,9-di-n-octylfluorene-alt-benzothiadiazole) (F8BT) films of different molecular weights (Mn= 9-255 kg/mol), both in the pristine and annealed state, were studied in an effort to elucidate changes in the polymer packing structure and the effects this structure has on the optoelectronic and charge transport properties of these films. A model based on quantum chemical calculations, wide-angle X-ray scattering, atomic force microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, photoluminescence, and electron mobility measurements was developed to describe the restructuring of the polymer film as a function of polymer chain length and annealing. In pristine high molecular weight films, the polymer chains exhibit a significant torsion angle between the F8 and BT units, and the BT units in neighboring chains are close to one another. Annealing films to sufficiently high transition temperatures allows the polymers to adopt a lower energy configuration in which the BT units in one polymer chain are adjacent to F8 units in a neighboring chain ("alternating structure"), and the torsion angle between F8 and BT units is reduced. This restructuring, dictated by the strong dipole on the BT unit, subsequently affects the efficiencies of interchain electron transfer and exciton migration. Films exhibiting the alternating structure show significantly lower electron mobilities than those of the pristine high molecular weight films, due to a decrease in the efficiency of interchain electron transport in this structure. In addition, interchain exciton migration to low energy weakly emissive states is also reduced for these alternating structure films, as observed in their photoluminescence spectra and efficiencies.