IMMOBILIZATION OF POTENTIALLY BIOACTIVE MOIETIES ONTO POLYETHER WITH POLY(ETHYLENE GLYCOL)-SULFONATE SPACER

A new reactive graft copolymer, poly(tetramthylene glycol) - graft-w-propyl sodiumsulfonate-poly(ethylene glycol) (PTMG-g-PEG-CH_2CH_2CH_2SO_3~-Na~+), was synthesizedby the cationic polymerization of a-w-bifunctional PEG macromonomer (O?CH_2—PEG——CH_2 CH_2 CH_2 SO_3 Na) and THF. The obtained copolymer exhibits the expected structureas indicated by the result of characterization. Two amino acids (L-arginine, L-tyrosine)were covalently attached to the copolymer after converting the sulfonate group to sulfonylchloride. So the new reactive graft copolymer (PTMG-g-PEG-CH_2CH_2CH_2SO_3~-Na~+) isexpected to be very useful in attachment of potentially bioactive moieties to polymer viaa hydrophilic PEG spacer.     

Investigation into new materials for optical devices: the miscibility and solvent effects of azobenzene derivative blends

With the increasing demand for novel devices with optical applications the search for new materials to data store and process becomes a priority. By introducing blends, tailor made properties and low cost give added advantage. Miscibility is an essential requirement for a new material, this research thus involves miscibility studies of poly(4‐(N‐(2‐methacryloyloxyethyl)‐N‐ethylamino)‐4′‐nitroazobenzene)₉₀‐co‐(methyl methacrylate)₁₀, (azobenzene derivative) with polymethyl‐methacrylate (PMMA), polyvinylacetate (PVAc) and polyvinylchloride (PVC) prepared in tetrahydrofuran (THF), and/or dimethylformamide (DMF) and/or dichloromethane (CH₂Cl₂). The glass transitions, solvent and varying molecular weight effect were investigated, since these all primarily influence the miscibility. THF was found to encourage miscibility at specific compositions of PVAc and PVC blends. However, with CH₂Cl₂ and DMF immiscibility is encouraged. The Fox–Flory equation was applied to the blends analyzing the PVC blends in DMF as deviations from ideality. Different molecular weights of PMMA were identified as immiscible regardless of solvent. PMMA's lower solubility in THF and CH₂Cl₂ compared to the azobenzene derivative, displayed the existence of PMMA islands. In all blends the favorable and unfavorable interactions between polymer–solvent–polymer systems are considered. Furthermore, the miscibility effect on increasing the MMA content of the azobenzene derivative was also investigated. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis of poly(vinyl ether) polyols with pendant oxyethylene chains and properties of hydrophilic,thermo‐responsive polyurethanes prepared therefrom

Hydroxy‐terminated telechelic poly(vinyl ether)s with pendant oxyethylene chains were synthesized by the reaction of the CH₃CH(OCOCH₃)? O[CH₂]₄O? CH(OCOCH₃)CH₃/Et_1.5AlCl_1.5/THF‐based bifunctional living cationic polymers of 2‐methoxyethyl vinyl ether (MOVE), 2‐ethoxyethyl vinyl ether (EOVE), and 2‐(2‐methoxyethoxy)ethyl vinyl ether (MOEOVE) with water and the subsequent reduction of the aldehyde polymer terminals with NaBH₄. The obtained poly(vinyl ether) polyols were reacted with an equimolar amount of toluene diisocyanates [a mixture of 2,4‐ (80%) and 2,6‐ (20%) isomers] to give water‐soluble polyurethanes. The aqueous solutions of these polyurethanes caused thermally induced precipitation at a particular temperature depending on the sort of the thermosensitive poly(vinyl ether) segments containing oxyethylene side chains. These polyurethanes also function as polymeric surfactants, lowered the surface tension of their aqueous solutions. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 1641–1648, 2010     

Polymerization of substituted phenylacetylenes with a novel,water‐soluble Rh–vinyl complex in water

A novel, water‐soluble Rh complex, (nbd)Rh[PPh₂(m‐NaOSO₂C₆H₄)] [C(Ph)?CPh₂] ( 1 ) was synthesized by the reaction of [(nbd)RhCl]₂, Ph₂P(m‐NaOSO₂C₆H₄) and Ph₂C?C(Ph)Li, whose structure was determined by NMR and IR spectroscopies. The Rh catalyst 1 induced the polymerization of phenylacetylene (PA) in water to give two kinds of polymers; one was soluble in organic solvents such as tetrahydrofuran (THF) and CHCl₃, and the other was insoluble in common organic solvents. The polymerization of sodium p‐ethynylbenzoate (p‐NaOCO‐PA) homogeneously proceeded with 1 in water at 60 °C to give the polymer in high yield. Poly(p‐NaOCO‐PA) was treated with 1 N HCl and then reacted with (CH₃)₃SiCHN₂ to obtain poly(p‐MeOCO‐PA). The methyl‐esterified polymer was insoluble in THF and CHCl₃, which suggests that the formed poly(p‐MeOCO‐PA) has cis–cisoidal structure. The polymer obtained from the polymerization of [p‐CH₃(OCH₂CH₂)₂O₂CC₆H₄]C?CH with 1 in water was soluble in methanol, ethanol, and THF, and partly soluble in water. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 2100–2105, 2004     

Synthesis of Poly(silyne-co-hydridocarbyne) for Silicon Carbide Production

Pre-ceramic polymers have previously been shown to be polymeric precursors to silicon carbide, diamond and diamond-like carbon. Here, we report the synthesis of a pre-ceramic polymer, poly(silyne-co-hydridocarbyne), which was electrochemically synthesized from one monomer containing both silicon and carbon in its structure. The polymer is soluble in common solvents such as CHCl₃, CH₂Cl₂ and THF. Since the polymer contains both silyne and carbyne on its backbone, it can be easily converted to silicon carbide upon heating under an ambient inert atmosphere, or to SiO₂ under ambient air atmosphere. Poly(silyne-co-hydridocarbyne) was characterized with UV/Vis spectroscopy, FTIR, ¹H-NMR, GPC and Raman spectroscopy. Conversion of the polymer to SiC ceramic was accomplished by heating at 1000 and 750°C under an argon atmosphere and characterized with optical microscopy, SEM, X-Ray and Raman spectroscopies.     

An ESR study of PMMA mechanoradicals and of their interaction with oxygen

Analysis of ESR spectra of mechanoradicals from poly(methyl methacrylate) reveals that after mechanical degradation in vacuo at 77°K, the sample contains two types of primary radicals? CH₂? C(CH₃)(COOCH₃) (I) and CH₂? C(CH₃)(COOCH₃)? CH₂ (II) produced by the breaking of the polymer chain, and secondary radicals ? CH₂? C(CH₃)(COOCH₃)? CH? C(CH₃)? (COOCH₃)? CH₂? (III). With increasing temperature, radical I remains stable while II reacts with methylene hydrogen of the polymer chain giving rise to the secondary radical III, which decays and finally disappears as the temperature rises. After admission of oxygen at 113°K, the polymer radicals react with oxygen with formation of polymer peroxy radicals ROO. and diamagnetic dimers. With increasing temperature the latter dissociate again to the original polymer peroxy radicals which gradually decay, if the temperature is increased further. The present results are compared with earlier ones obtained on poly(ethylene glycol methacrylate) (PGMA).     

A cationic bridged zirconocene complex as the catalyst for the stereospecific polymerization of methyl methacrylate

The cationic bridged zirconocene complex [iPr(Cp)(Ind)Zr(Me)(THF)][BPh₄] ( 1 ‐BPh₄) was synthesized. Polymerization of methyl methacrylate with 1 ‐BPh₄ in CH₂Cl₂ at temperatures between –20 and 20°C led to the formation of isotactic poly(methyl methacrylate). The low polydispersity index of the polymer obtained and a successful two step polymerization of methyl methacrylate with 1 ‐BPh₄ are hints towards a living polymerization mechanism. ¹H and ¹³C NMR analysis revealed an enantiomorphic site‐controlled mechanism for the formation of isotactic poly(methyl methacrylate).     

Synthesis and electrochemical behavior of linear oligo(ferrocenylsilane) and hyperbranched poly(ferrocenylsilane)

Linear oligo(ferrocenylsilane) and hyperbranched poly(ferrocenylsilane) (LOFS and HPFS) were synthesized by polycondensation of 1,1′‐dilithioferrocene (FcLi₂) with dimethyldichlorosilane (Me₂SiCl₂) and FcLi₂ with methyltrichlorosilane (MeSiCl₃) in THF under different conditions, respectively. The electrochemical behaviors of LOFS and HPFS in different solvents, such as THF, CH₂Cl₂, and CHCl₃, were investigated systematically by means of cyclic voltammetry (CV). The influences of the solvent, structure of polymer, and scan rate on electrochemical behavior of poly(ferrocenylsilane) solutions are discussed. It is found that ΔE_1/2 decreases with the fall of solvent polarity apart from the solvent donor effect and increases with the increase of the acceptor number (AN) of the solvent. More interestingly, the structure of polymer imposes greatly on the interaction between ferrocene units. According to the result, the mechanism of stepwise oxidation of the ferrocene units was proposed, that is, the different conformations of polymers, attaching to electrode surface, before and after oxidized resulted in the stepwise oxidation of ferrocene groups along a chain. Kinetic parameters from CVs indicate that the electrode processes are controlled by both the electrode reaction and mass diffusion and the electrochemical irreversibility of poly(ferrocenylsilane) solutions may be ascribed to the lower electron exchange efficiency on the electrode surface. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 45: 2880–2889, 2007     

Polymerization of methyl methacrylate using a metallocene catalyst system

Methyl methacrylate was polymerized with Cp₂YCl(THF) or IVB group metallocene compounds (i.e., Cp₂ZrCl₂ and Cp₂HfCl₂, etc.), in the presence of a Lewis acid like Zn(C₂H₅)₂. The Lewis acid was complexed with methyl methacrylate, which avoided the metallocene compounds being poisoned with a functional group. A living polymerization was promoted through the use of metallocene/MAO/Zn(C₂H₅)₂, which gave tactic poly(methyl methacrylate) with a high molecular weight. The polymer yield increases with polymerization time, which indicates that the propagation rate is zero in order in the concentration of the monomer. The polymer yield increases also with the concentration of Cp₂YCl(THF), which indicates the yttrocene to be the real catalyst. When the polymerization temperature exceeds room temperature, the poly(methyl methacrylate) cannot be synthesized by the Cp₂YCl(THF) catalyst. When the reaction temperature reachs −60 °C, the poly(methyl methacrylate) is high syndiotatic and molecular weight by the Cp₂YCl(THF)/MAO catalyst system. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 1184–1194, 2000     

Synthesis of optically active conjugated polymers containing platinum in the main chain: Control of the higher‐order structures by substituents and solvents

The Sonogashira–Hagihara coupling polymerization of d ‐hydroxyphenylglycine‐derived diiodo monomers 1–4 and platinum‐containing diethynyl monomer 5 gave the corresponding polymers [poly( 1–5 )–( 2–5 )] with number‐average molecular weights of 19,000–25,000 quantitatively. The polymers were soluble in CHCl₃, CH₂Cl₂, THF, and DMF. CD and UV–vis spectroscopic analysis revealed that amide‐substituted polymers [poly( 1–5 ) and poly( 2–5 )] formed chiral higher‐order structures in solution, while ester‐substituted polymers [poly( 3–5 ) and poly( 4–5 )] did not. Poly( 1–5 ) formed one‐handed helices in THF/toluene mixtures, while it formed chiral aggregates in THF/MeOH mixtures. Poly( 1–5 ) emitted fluorescence with quantum yields ranging from 0.8 to 1.3%. The polymers usually aggregated in the solid state. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2015 , 53, 2452–2461     

Organometallic Compounds of the Lanthanides. 157 [1] The Molecular Structure of Tris(trimethylsilylmethyl)samarium, ‐erbium, ‐ytterbium,and ‐lutetium

SmCl₃ reacts with Me₃SiCH₂Li in THF yielding Sm(CH₂SiMe₃)₃(THF)₃ ( 1 ). The single crystal X‐ray structural analyses of 1 , Er(CH₂SiMe₃)₃(THF)₂ ( 2 ), Yb(CH₂SiMe₃)₃(THF)₂ ( 3 ), and Lu(CH₂SiMe₃)₃(THF)₂ ( 4 ) show the Sm atom in a fac‐octahedral coordination and the heavier lanthanides Er, Yb, and Lu trigonal bipyramidally coordinated with the three alkyl ligands in equatorial and two THF molecules in axial positions.     

Cationic equilibrium ring-opening polymerization of bicyclic monomers and its application to chemical recycling

Spiro orthoesters give poly(cyclic orthoester)s by single ring-opening polymerization in the presence of acid catalysts, and this process undergoes the equilibrium polymerization. We have applied the function of equilibrium polymerization to chemical recycling of polymeric materials. Crosslinked poly(cyclic orthoester)s, prepared by radical additions of poly(cyclic orthoester)s possessing exomethylene groups and dithiols, efficiently decrosslinked to bifunctional spiro orthoesters in the presence of CF₃CO₂H in CH₂Cl₂. The dithiol-linked bifunctional spiro orthoester monomers, prepared by the radical additions of spiro orthoester possessing exomethylene group and dithiols, afforded the corresponding crosslinked polymers in the presence of CF₃CO₂H as a catalyst in bulk. The decrosslinking of the obtained crosslinked polymer proceeded quantitatively to obtain the corresponding bifunctional monomer at room temperature in CH₂Cl₂. Further, an acid-catalyzed reversible crosslinking-decrosslinking of a polymer having a spiro orthoester group in the side chain was carried out. The copolymer obtained by the radical copolymerization of 2-methylene-1,4,6-trioxaspiro[4.6]undecane with acrylonitrile was treated with CF₃CO₂H at −10 °C in CH₂Cl₂ to afford the crosslinked polymer quantitatively. The crosslinked polymer was then treated with CF₃CO₂H at room temperature at a low concentration in CH₂Cl₂ to recover the original polymer.     

Novel amphiphilic network polymers consisting of nonpolar,short primary polymer chains and polar,long crosslink units: Influence of characteristic dangling chains on swelling behavior of resulting amphiphilic gels

Novel amphiphilic network polymers consisting of nonpolar, short primary polymer chains and polar, long crosslink units were prepared, and the swelling behavior of resulting amphiphilic gels is discussed by focusing on the influence of characteristic dangling chains; that is, benzyl methacrylate (BzMA) was copolymerized with tricosaethylene glycol dimethacrylate [CH₂?C(CH₃)CO(OCH₂CH₂)₂₃OCOC(CH₃)?CH₂, PEGDMA‐23] in the presence of lauryl mercaptan as a chain‐transfer agent because BzMA forms nonpolar, short primary polymer chains and PEGDMA‐23 as a crosslinker contains a polar, long poly(oxyethylene) unit. The enhanced incorporation of dangling chains into the network polymer was brought by shortening the primary polymer chain length, and copolymerization with methoxytricosaethylene glycol methacrylate, a mono‐ene counterpart of PEGDMA‐23, enforced the incorporation of flexible dangling poly(oxyethylene) chains into the network polymer, although the former dangling chains as terminal parts of primary poly(BzMA) chains were rather rigid. Then, the influence of characteristic dangling chains on the swelling behavior of amphiphilic gels was examined in mixed solvents consisting of nonpolar t‐butylbenzene and polar methanol. The profiles of the solvent‐component dependencies of the swelling ratios were characteristic of amphiphilic gels. The introduction of dangling poly(oxyethylene) chains led not only to an increased swelling ratio but also to sharpened swelling behavior of amphiphilic gels. The swelling response of amphiphilic gels was checked by changing the external solvent polarity. The dangling chains with freely mobile end segments influenced the swelling response of gels. The amphiphilic gels with less entangled, collapsed crosslink units exhibited faster swelling response than the ones with more entangled, collapsed primary polymer chains. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 2192–2201, 2004     

Solubility of carbon dioxide,methane, and propane in silicone polymers. Effect of polymer backbone chains

The solubility of carbon dioxide, methane, and propane in poly(dimethyl silmethylene) [(CH₃)₂SiCH₂]_x and poly(tetramethyl silhexylene siloxane) [(CH₃)₂Si (CH₂)₆Si (CH₃)₂O]_x was measured in the temperature range from 10.0 to 55.0°C and at elevated pressures. The present results are compared with similar measurements made with other silicone polymers. At a given temperature and pressure, the solubility of the above three gases is highest in poly(dimethyl siloxane) (Me₂SiO)_x. The gas solubility is decreased by either backbone-chain or side-chain substitutions of functional groups in (Me₂SiO)_x which increase the stiffness of the polymer chains and decrease the specific or fractional free volume of the polymers. It is conjectured that a decrease in the free volume of silicone polymers has a greater effect in decreasing the gas solubility than differences in gas/polymer interactions [with the exception of specific interactions (e.g., between CO₂ and polar groups in the polymer)]. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Synthesis of poly(hydroxymethylene-co-ethylene) by hydrogenation of the ethylene and carbon monoxide copolymer obtained by radical initiator with Ru/α-alumina and oxygen gas permeability

A new polymer (polyalcohol) was synthesized by hydrogenation of an ethylene carbon monoxide (CO) copolymer produced by a radical method with a catalyst and H₂. The Ru/α-alumina catalyst systems showed an excellent activity for hydrogenation of the radical copolymer of CH₂CH₂ and CO. Films prepared by melting and pressing the synthesized polyalcohol had a high gas barrier property and high tensile modulus. This new polymer has hydroxymethylenic units [ CH(OH) ] and ethylenic units [ CH₂CH₂ ] in its molecular structure. The new functional polymer poly(hydroxymethylene-co-ethylene),  [ CH(OH) ]_n[ CH₂CH₂ ]_m , is amorphous and has excellent and important properties as a high oxygen gas barrier film for wrapping and storage. This may be attributed to the new structure of poly(hydroxymethylene-co-ethylene) (PHME as an IUPAC name), or ethylene methine alcohol copolymer (EMOH as a generic name), compared to the other ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer (EVOH as a generic name),  [ CH₂CH₂ ]_m [ CH₂CH(OH) ]_n , which is used as one of the highest gas barrier polymers. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 36: 889–900, 1998     

The use of stable carbene‐CO2 adducts for the polymerization of trimethylene carbonate

The synthesis of poly(trimethylene carbonate) via carbene catalyzed ring‐opening polymerization (ROP) was investigated. The N‐heterocyclic carbenes were protected as CO₂‐adducts to improve their handling (e.g., carbene generation without base). The influence of catalyst structure, different solvents and microwave radiation on conversion, molecular weight and end groups was investigated to gain an insight into the reaction mechanism. Different NHC structures were investigated for their catalytic activity toward the ROP of trimethylene carbonate. The analytic studies were performed by using NMR spectroscopy, SEC and ESI‐IMS mass spectrometry. It was found that the reaction can be performed in acetonitrile, toluene, THF and CH₂Cl₂. Synthesis in CH₂Cl₂ allows the best control over the resulting polymer with regards to polydispersity and molecular weight. Microwave radiation accelerates the reaction at 80 °C. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2017 , 55, 820–829     

Polymerization of vinyloxyaluminum and formation of syndiotactic poly(vinyl alcohol)

The polymerization of diisobutylvinyloxyaluminum, CH₂?CHOAl(i-Bu)₂, and diethylvinyloxyaluminum, CH₂?CHOAlEt₂, did not take place in the presence of typical radical or cationic initiators. The polymerization was realized at 60°C by the addition of tetrahydrofuran (THF) or tetrahydropyran, no conventional initiator being required. Diethyl ether, glyme, and dioxane were not effective on the polymerization. At Dry Ice–acetone temperature, polymerization did not take place, even in the presence of tetrahydrofuran, but did take place in the presence of both THF and SnCl₄. The role of cyclic ethers in the polymerization was studied. Polymers were converted into poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) by solvolysis. All the resulting PVA was syndiotactic; particularly polymers obtained at ?78°C showed syndiotactivity of 89%, which is the highest value ever reported.     

Synthesis and properties of novel polymers having S-methyldibenzothiophenium salt moieties

A polymer having dibenzothiophenium salt moieties [poly(sulfonium salt), 2 ] was prepared by the reaction of poly(2-vinyldibenzothiophene) ( 1 ) with CH₃I and AgBF₄ in CH₂ClCH₂Cl at room temperature for 24 h. The obtained polymer 2 was found to contain 71% of the methyldibenzothiophenium tetrafluoroborate unit. A monomer carrying the sulfonium salt moiety, i.e., 5-methyl-2-vinyldibenzothiophenium tetrafluoroborate ( 4 ), was independently prepared and subjected to radical polymerization to give a polymer ( 5 ) in 88% yield (methyldibenzothiophenium tetrafluoroborate unit: 79%). The thermal decompositions of 2 and 5 took place in two steps; the first step involved the formation of polymer 1 by demethylation. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 36: 1779–1784, 1998     

Synthesis of thermally-induced phase separating polymer with well-defined polymer structure by living cationic polymerization. I. Synthesis of poly(vinyl ether)s with oxyethylene units in the pendant and its phase separation behavior in aqueous solution

Living cationic polymerization of alkoxyethyl vinyl ether [CH₂?CHOCH₂CH₂OR; R: CH₃ (MOVE), C₂H₅ (EOVE)] and related vinyl ethers with oxyethylene units in the pendant was achieved by 1-(isobutoxy)ethyl acetate ( 1 )/Et_1.5AlCl_1.5 initiating system in the presence of an added base (ethyl acetate or THF) in toluene at 0°C. The polymers had a very narrow molecular weight distribution (M?_w/M?_n = 1.1–1.2) and the M?_n proportionally increased with the progress of the polymerization reaction. On the other hand, the polymerization by 1 /EtAlCl₂ initiating system in the presence of ethyl acetate, which produces living polymer of isobutyl vinyl ether, yielded the nonliving polymer. When an aqueous solution of the polymers thus obtained was heated, the phase separation phenomenon was clearly observed in each polymer at a definite critical temperature (T_ps). For example, T_ps was 70°C for poly(MOVE), and 20°C for poly(EOVE) (1 wt % aqueous solution, M?_n ～ 2 × 10⁴). The phase separation for each case was quite sensitive (ΔT_ps = 0.3–0.5°C) and reversible on heating and cooling. The T_ps or ΔT_ps was clearly dependent not only on the structure of polymer side chains (oxyethylene chain length and ω-alkyl group), but also on the molecular weight (M?_n = 5 × 10³-7 × 10⁴) and its distribution. © 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Cationic Ring-Opening Polymerization of 1,3-Dehydroadamantanes

Ring-opening polymerizations of [3.3.1]propellane derivatives, 1,3-dehydroadamantane ( 1 ) and 5-butyl-1,3-dehydroadamantane ( 2 ), were carried out with CF₃SO₃H in CH₂Cl₂ at 0 °C for 6–42 h. The central σ-bonds in 1 and 2 were exclusively opened to afford novel poly([3.3.1]propellane)s, poly(1,3-adamantane)s, in 52–95% yields. The resulting poly( 2 ) possessing flexible butyl substituent was soluble in chloroform, THF, and 1,2-dichlorobenzene, and the degree of polymerization was estimated to be greater than 30, while the poly( 1 ) was hardly soluble in the common organic solvents. All aliphatic poly( 1 ) and poly( 2 ) showed high thermal stability, their 10% weight loss temperatures were 421 and 486 °C, respectively.