Phase characterization of LC (meth)acrylic monomers based on ω-hexyloxy- and ω-undecyloxy-salicylaldimine groups with different alkoxy tail substitutions

The synthesis and phase characterization of three homologous series of liquid crystalline acrylic and methacrylic monomers, consisting of 21 new compounds are presented. They are based on ω-hexyloxy- and ω-undecyloxysalicylaldimine groups with different alkoxy tail substitutions. The liquid crystalline materials were characterized by polarizing optical microscopy and differential thermal analysis. Smectic A and tilted smectic C phases were observed in the compounds. Near the transition to the isotropic, a narrow nematic phase, coexisting with the smectic A phase, was detected for the pentyloxy and hexyloxy derivatives in the M11 and A11 series. In case of M11R11 and M11R12 only a tilted smectic C phase was detected. The clearing point was comparable for all series, around 100°C.     

Studies of first- and second-order phase transitions in LC methacrylic monomers based on the ω-hexyloxysalicylaldimine group

The synthesis and phase characterization of two liquid crystalline methacrylic monomers based on the ω-hexyloxysalicylaldimine group with octyl and decyloxy chain substitutions is presented. The liquid crystalline materials were characterized by polarizing optical microscopy, differential thermal analysis and X-ray diffractometry. Nematic and tilted smectic C phases were observed in the compounds. Their liquid crystalline properties where compared with previously studied samples of homologous compounds. In contrast to previous results, this structural modification induces pronounced enantiotropic first-order phase transitions between nematic and smectic C mesophases. A correlation between the phase transition behaviour and structural features of the sample is included.     

Synthesis and characterisation of two homologous series of LC acrylic monomers based on phenolic and resorcinic azobenzene groups

The synthesis and phase characterisation of two homologous series of monomers of acrylic azo-compounds has been presented. The characterisation comprises polarising optical microscopy (POM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and powder X-ray diffractometry (PXRD). All studied monomers exhibit a narrow nematic phase with decrease in temperature range while increasing the alkoxy tail length. For the resorcinic azo benzenes at higher tail lengths, SmA and SmC phases are present. Phenolic azo compounds show only SmA phase. The resorcinic family showed more stable phases, with broader liquid crystalline temperature range than its phenolic equivalent.     

Coordination polymerization of ω-alkenoates and ω-epoxyalkanoates

As functional polymers have become more and more used, the need for a general synthesis of addition polymers with functional groups became greatly important. We have achieved the polymerization of ω-alkenoates with coordination initiators of the Ziegler-Natta initiation type using titanium trichloride-based transition metal initiators modified with dialkylaluminum chloride. To accomplish this polymerization required that the ω-alkenoates be precomplexed with dialkylaluminum chloride. High molecular weight homopolymers and copolymers with olefins have been obtained. The polymerization of ω-epoxyalkanoates with coordinative anionic polymerization systems based on triethylaluminum/water/acetylacetone (1.0/0.5/1.0) has also been accomplished. Homo- and copolymers of high molecular weight and of relatively narrow molecular weight distribution have been prepared. All polymers and copolymers of functional olefins and epoxides have been characterized and the study of the reactivity of the functional groups attached via a flexible spacer to the polymer main chain has been started. Special attention was given to the classical cationic copolymerization of trioxane with derivatives of ω-epoxyundecanoate to prepare novel functional polyoxymethylenes of potential commercial interest.     

X-ray investigations on some liquid crystalline methacrylic polymers with ω-hexyloxysalicylaldimine side groups carrying p -alkyl or p -alkyloxy terminal substituents

X-ray diffraction data for four different liquid crystalline side group methacrylic polymers based on the omega-hexyloxysalicylaldimine moiety with p -alkyl or p -alkyloxy terminal substituents are presented. For the decyloxy, dodecyloxy and octyl derivatives, a smectic C 2 phase occurs over a broad temperature range, while for the tetradecyl derivative a complex behaviour was observed on cooling from the isotropic state. In this last case a smectic Ad phase arises, changing to a smectic C 2 phase and a further smectic C d phase. A possible explanation for the observed phenomena is presented.     

Cyclopolymerization of α,ω‐heterodifunctional monomers containing styrene and maleimide moieties

A series of α,ω‐heterodifunctional monomers with styrene (St) and maleimide moieties bridged by a varied length of oligo‐ethylene glycol (OEG) linkers were synthesized. Cyclopolymerizations of these monomers through reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer‐mediated alternating radical copolymerization between intramolecular St and maleimide moieties were investigated. For the monomers with three or more ethylene glycol (EG) units, their cyclopolymerizations can be realized properly in low monomer feeding concentrations, affording well‐defined cyclopolymers with crown ether encircled in their main chains. Importantly, the cyclopolymerizations of monomers with six or seven EG units in the presence of KPF₆ could be enhanced by the supramolecular effects between the OEG linkers and the potassium metal ion. Thus, the monomer feeding concentration could be largely improved, which may benefit preparation of the cyclopolymers with high degrees of copolymerization. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2014 , 52, 330–338     

Structural Factors Affecting the Basicity of ω-Pyridylalkanols, ω-Pyridylalkanamides and ω-Pyridylalkylamines

The present paper describes the preparation by conventional methods (when not available commercially) and the pK_a-determination of the α-, β- and γ-isomers of pyridylethanamide, 3-pyridylpropanamide. 4-pyridylbutanamide, 5-pyridyl-pentanamide, pyridylmethanol, 2-pyridylethanol, 3-pyridylpropanol, 4-pyridyl-butanol, 5-pyridylpentanol, pyridylmethylamine, 2-pyridylethylamine, 3-pyridyl-propylamine, 4-pyridylbutylamine, and 5-pyridylpentylamine. While a field effect accounts for many variations in pK_a as a function of chain length, marked inductive effects are operative in some methyl and ethyl homologs. The pK_a-decreasing influence of an intramolecular H-bond is also apparent in some lower homologs belonging to the α-series.     

Time-resolved ESR and endor during the photolysis of ω,ω-dimethoxy-ω-phenyl-acetophenone

The ketone ω,ω-dimethoxy-ω-phenyl-acetophenone (DMPA) is an efficient initiator in UV-curing polymerization processes started by photochemically generated radicals. The short-lived radical intermediates created during the photolysis of DMPA have been investigated by time-resolved ESR and ENDOR spectroscopy taking advantage of a strong CIDEP effect.     

Cyclization reactions of ω-tosyloxy-1-alkynyl- and ω-tosyloxy-1-alkenylborates and their ω-halo analogues

The reaction of trialkylboranes with ω-tosyloxy-1-lithio-1-alkynes can induce transfer of an alkyl group from the boron atom to the alkynyl carbon atom with concomitant formation of four- through six-membered carbocycles via intramolecular displacement of the ω-tosyloxy group. The stereoselectivity of the reaction, however, is low (anti/syn≃1.6–1.7). The corresponding reaction of ω-halo- or ω-tosyloxy-1-alkenylborates also gives exocyclic alkenes via 1,2-migration-cyclization followed by dehydroboration. In the cases of cyclopropanation, cyclopropylcarbinyl-to-homopropargyl rearrangement rather than dehydroboration takes place. Diphenylzirconocene reacts similarly with 6-lithio-5-hexynyl tosylate to give phenylmethylenecyclopentane in 45% yield. On the other hand, attempts to induce a similar migration with phenyl derivatives of Y, V, Cr, and Mn have led to < 5–10% yields of the same cyclization product.     

Bifunctional even-electron ions: 1—Fragmentation behaviour of ω-methoxy-, ω-hydroxy- and ω-chloro-oxonium ions

Bifunctional oxonium ions—generated from tertiary aliphatic alcohols containing an additional hydroxy, methoxy or chloro group at the end of an alkyl side-chain—do not markedly exhibit fragmentations typical of ordinary oxonium ions, but show as the main reactions those caused by functional group interaction, through-space interaction being the dominant factor. The main primary fragmentation is loss of the additional functional group X as HX, followed by loss of the side-chain originally separating the two functional groups, leading to carbonyl cations. This typical reaction sequence is initiated by proton migration from the oxonium moiety to the additional functional group. The reaction behaviour of the bifunctional ions is discussed. The lowest homologues show specific deviations from the general fragmentation behaviour.     

Synthesis of ω‐ and α,ω‐sulfonatotelechelics based on homopolymers and block copolymers of n‐butyl methacrylate and t‐butyl methacrylate

The synthesis of ω‐ and α,ω‐telechelics with sulfonate end groups through the sulfoalkylation of homopolymers and block copolymers of n‐butyl methacrylate and t‐butyl methacrylate with 1,3‐propane sultone is described. The polymerizations are initiated in tetrahydrofuran at −78 °C with either 1,1‐diphenyl‐3‐methylpentyllithium or dilithium 1,1,4,4‐tetraphenylbutane to obtain monofunctional or difunctional polymethacrylate anions, respectively. Narrow molecular weight distributions are obtained for the homopolymers and copolymers in the presence of LiCl in a 10/1 ratio relative to the initiator. The direct reaction of the poly(n‐butyl methacrylate) anions with the sultone results in low functionalization levels: f = 0.24–0.29 for the monofunctional anions and f = 0.32–0.35 for the difunctional anions. The reaction of the poly(t‐butyl methacrylate) anions or end‐capping of the poly(n‐butyl methacrylate) anions with t‐butyl methacrylate units before sulfoalkylation yields telechelics with f = 0.81–1.0 for the monofunctional anions and f = 1.74–1.94 for the difunctional anions. The telechelic polymers, purified by ultrafiltration, have been characterized by size exclusion chromatography, Fourier transform infrared, and ¹H NMR spectroscopy. The yield of the sulfoalkylation reactions, determined by colorimetric analysis of a complex formed with methylene blue, is in good agreement with the results obtained by nonaqueous titration of the acidified telechelics. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 3711–3721, 2000     

端位苯甲羧取代单苯环取代全氟二苯乙炔类化合物的合成及液晶性研究

本文设计合成了四类端位4-氰基和4-硝基苯甲羧取代的二苯乙炔类化合物，并通过DSC和偏光显微镜对它们的液晶性进行了研究。讨论了二苯乙炔核中全氟亚苯基的左右位置对液晶性的影响，比较了氰基取代和硝基取代的苯甲羧二苯乙炔类化合物的液晶性差异。     

Anionic synthesis and characterization of ω‐carboaldehyde‐functionalized polybutadienes and polyisoprenes

Attempted preparation of ω‐formyl‐functionalized polydienes by termination of poly(butadienyl)lithium and poly(isoprenyl)lithium with 4‐morpholinecarboaldehyde resulted in 73 and 38% dimer formation (SEC), respectively, under conditions that quantitativey produced ω‐formyl‐functionalized polystyrene. Dimer formation was attributed to postfunctionalization, base‐catalyzed, aldol‐type condensation based on FTIR and ¹H‐NMR analysis of the dimer products. High yields (>97%) of ω‐formyl‐functionalized polydienes were formed by workup using acidic methanol; quantitative functionalization resulted from end capping the polymeric organolithium chain ends with 1,1‐diphenylethylene prior to the functionalization reaction. The ω‐formylpolydienes were characterized by hydroxylamine end‐group titration, FTIR, and both ¹H‐ and ¹³C‐NMR spectroscopy. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 1143–1156, 1999     

Near‐monodisperse α‐hydroxy and α,ω‐dihydroxy amine‐based polymers: Synthesis and characterization

α‐Hydroxy and α,ω‐dihydroxy polymers of 2‐(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA) of various molecular weights were synthesized by group transfer polymerization (GTP) in tetrahydrofuran (THF), using 1‐methoxy‐1‐(trimethylsiloxy)‐2‐methyl propene (MTS) as the initiator and tetrabutylammonium bibenzoate (TBABB) as the catalyst. The hydroxyl groups were introduced by adding one 2‐(trimethylsiloxy) ethyl methacrylate (TMSEMA) unit at one or at both ends of the polymer chain. The ends were converted to 2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) units after the polymerization by acid‐catalyzed hydrolysis. Gel permeation chromatography (GPC) in THF and proton nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H‐NMR) spectroscopy in CDCl₃ were used to determine the molecular weight and composition of the polymers. These mono‐ and difunctional methacrylate polymers can be covalently linked at the hydroxy termini to form star polymers and model networks, respectively. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 1597–1607, 1999