Exploring Strain‐Promoted 1,3‐Dipolar Cycloadditions of End Functionalized Polymers

Strain‐promoted 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition of cyclooctynes with 1,3‐dipoles such as azides, nitrones, and nitrile oxides, are of interest for the functionalization of polymers. In this study, we have explored the use of a 4‐dibenzocyclooctynol (DIBO)‐containing chain transfer agent in reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer polymerizations. The controlled radical polymerization resulted in well‐defined DIBO‐terminating polymers that could be modified by 1,3‐dipolar cycloadditions using nitrones, nitrile oxides, and azides having a hydrophilic moiety. The self‐assembly properties of the resulting block copolymers have been examined. The versatility of the methodology was further demonstrated by the controlled preparation of gold nanoparticles coated with the DIBO‐containing polymers to produce materials that can be further modified by strain‐promoted cycloadditions.     

Polymères à propriétés pharmaceutiques potentielles. III. Etude sur molécules modèles

4-Methyl, 4-octene model molecules of the 1–4 polyisoprenic chain have been chemically modified in corresponding alcohol and chloroformate. These model molecules have been allowed to react with pharmaceuticals such as testosterone, cholesterol, and quinine to link the drug with a carbonate bound. Spectral data of these compounds are compared to those of previously synthetized polymers with potential pharamaceutical properties.     

Synthesis and thermal properties of linear aromatic poly(amidehydrazides) and corresponding poly(amide-1,3,4-oxadiazoles) and poly(1,3,4-oxadiazolyl-benzoxazoles)

Some aromatic poly(amid-hydrazides) have been synthesized by solution polycondensation at low temperature of aromatic hydrazides with aroyl dichlorides. By heating these polymers at temperatures near 300, dehydrocyclization occurs to give polymers containing the oxadiazole ring in the main chain. Their excellent thermal stability has been tested by thermogravimetric analysis. Some physical properties of these aromatic heterocyclic polymers have been reported.     

Side chain crosslinking of aromatic polyethers for high temperature polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell applications

Novel aromatic polymers bearing polar pyridine units in the main chain and side chain crosslinkable hydroxyl and propargyl groups have been successfully synthesized. The polymers have been investigated in terms of their critical properties related to their application in high temperature polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells, such as doping ability, mechanical properties, and thermal stability. Crosslinked membranes were prepared by direct crosslinking of hydroxyl side chain groups with decafluorobiphenyl used for the first time as a crosslinking agent. However, further functionalization of hydroxyl groups to the propargyl derivative has also led to crosslinked polymers after thermal curing. Both types of crosslinked membranes exhibited higher glass transition temperatures as well as lower doping levels when doped in phosphoric acid compared with the non crosslinked analogs, confirming the formation of a successfully crosslinked network. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012     

二氧化碳共聚物的合成,性质和应用

二氧化碳是开发中的重要的碳资源,它的一个有效利用方式是和环氧化物等单体共聚生成脂肪族聚碳酸酯。该反应现已能够较顺利地实现。反应中加入第三单体、扩链剂、调节剂,可以使共聚物具有不同的化学结构,以及能随意控制分子量和官能度。在了解反应系统的相平衡特性和共聚动力学以后,可以聚合过程的计算机模拟。使用交联,共混复合或网络互穿等手段,能够使产物具有各种不同的性能。二氧化碳共聚物已在许多方面获得重要的应用,是     

Macromolecular Recognition and Macroscopic Interactions by Cyclodextrins

Herein macromolecular recognition by cyclodextrins (CDs) is summarized. Recognition of macromolecules by CDs is classified as main‐chain recognition or side‐chain recognition. We found that CDs form inclusion complexes with various polymers with high selectivity. Polyrotaxanes in which many CDs are entrapped in a polymer chain were prepared. Tubular polymers were prepared from the polyrotaxanes. CDs were found to recognize side‐chains of polymers selectively. CD host polymers were found to form gels with guest polymers in water. These gels showed self‐healing properties. When azobenzene was used as a guest, the gel showed sol‐gel transition by photoirradiation. When ferrocene was used, redox‐responsive gels were obtained. Macroscopic self‐assembly through molecular recognition has been discovered. Photoswitchable gel association and dissociation have been observed.     

Degradable polyesters through chain linking for packaging and biomedical applications

The major route to convert lactic acid to high-molecular-weight polymers is ring-opening polymerization of lactide. We have investigated alternative synthesis routes based on oligomerization and chain linking to produce high-molecular-weight thermoplastic degradable polymers cost-effectively. Chain linking also offers new possibilities to prepare degradable polyesters for biomedical applications by extending the range of polymer properties achievable. In this paper, we briefly review different chain linking techniques used in our laboratory. Typically, lactic acid prepolymers with molecular weights of around 3,000-15,000 g x mol(-1) have been prepared by direct polycondensation. Hydroxyl terminated oligomers have been chain linked by using diisocyanate coupling agents, preferably 1,4-butane diisocyanate, forming poly(ester-urethanes). Poly(ester-amides) have been prepared by using 2,2'-bis(2-oxazoline) as coupling agent for carboxylic acid telechelic oligomers. Chain linking by end functionalization has been used in the preparation of poly(ester-anhydrides). In addition, a variety of crosslinked degradable polymers and copolymers have been synthesized through different crosslinking routes, by using methacrylic, itaconic or maleic double bonds or triethoxysilane moieties. A biodegradation test and ecotoxicological evaluation of the degradation products were carried out in addition to hydrolysis tests. Lactic acid based chain linked polymers were biodegradable and the degradation products were harmless. In hydrolysis tests, enzymatic degradation was pronounced in the chain linked poly(epsilon-caprolactone).     

Advanced research work on radiation cross-linking of polymers in CIAC

Recent research carried out at the Chinese Institute of Applied Chemistry has contributed significantly to the understanding of the radiation chemistry of polymers. High energy radiation has been successfully used to cross-link fluoropolymers and polyimides. Here chain flexibility has been shown to play an important role, and T-type structures were found to exist in the cross-linked fluoropolymers. A modified Charlesby-Pinner equation, based upon the importance of chain flexibility, was developed to account for the solradiation dose relationship in systems of this type. An XPS method has been developed to measure the cross-linking yields in aromatic polymers and fluoropolymers, based upon the dose dependence of the aromatic shake-up peaks and the F/C ratios, respectively. Methods for radiation cross-linking degrading polymers in polymer blends have also been developed, as have methods for improving the radiation resistance of polymers through radiation cross-linking.     

Polymers with silicon-carbon chains framed by silacycloalkane groups

We have synthesized spiran compounds with the silicon-carbon heterocycles and their analogs with alkyl radicals; and also the tricyolic compound. Their heat-induced polymerization and the properties of the resulting polymers have been investigated. The influence of the groups framing the main chain of the polymers on the stability of the chain to thermal oxidation and on its flexibility has been studied.     

Novel polymers containing carbazole chromophores for nonlinear optics: Photorefractive application

Oligomers and polymers containing carbazole chromophores in the main chain and/or side chain have been designed and synthesized as a model compound of monolithic photorefractive materials. Nonlinear optical properties of these compounds and image processing application have been studied.     

Optically Active Polysilylenes: State‐of‐the‐Art Chiroptical Polymers

Controlled synthesis, chiroptical characterization, and manipulation of artificial helical polymers are challenging issues in modern polymer stereochemistry. Although many artificial polymers adopting a preferential screw‐sense helical structure have been investigated, optically active polysilylenes bearing chiral side chains may be among the most suitable to elucidate the inherent nature of the helical structure, since these polymers offer powerful spectroscopic probes as a result of their ideal chromophoric and fluorophoric main chain properties around 300–330 nm. The present paper will review comprehensively the helix‐property‐functionality relationship between side chain structure, global and local main chain conformation, (chir)optical properties, electronic properties, several helical cooperative phenomena, the effects of temperature and solvent polarity, and molecular imaging. This knowledge and understanding of the nature of the polysilylene helix might constitute a bridge between artificial polymers and biopolymers and will assist in designing and controlling new types of helical polymers directed to diverse screw‐sense‐related properties and applications in the future.     

Topological effects of macrocyclic polymers:from precise synthesis to biomedical applications

Polymer chain architectures play a crucial role in the physical properties of polymers and this unique phenomenon has been recognized as the topological effects.As one of the most representative architectures,macrocyclic polymers characterized by the endless topology have received extensive attention due to their distinct physical properties as compared to the linear counterparts.To understand these differences and unravel the underlying mechanisms,there is a long pursuit to efficiently fabricate macrocyclic polymers.To date,both ring-closing and ring-expansion strategies have been developed,which drastically elevates the accessibility of macrocyclic polymers.The improved availability of macrocyclic polymers enables the further investigation of the biomedical applications and the preliminary results suggest that macrocyclic polymers outperform their linear analogs in terms of improving gene delivery efficiency,elevating blood circulation time,and enhancing colloidal stability of nanoparticles.     

Chemical Reactions on Polymers. II. Modification of Diene Polymers with Triazolinediones via the Ene Reaction

A wide variety of polymers and copolymers of 1,3-dienes have been modified at low temperatures via the ene reaction with 4-substituted l,2,4-triazoline-3,5-diones. The resulting modified polymers were characterized via infrared spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance, intrinsic viscosity, gel-permeation chromatography, differential scanning calorimetry, solubility tests, and tensile measurements. Physical properties measurements support the postulate that the highly polar pendant urazole groups contribute inter molecular and intramolecular hydrogen-bonding interactions and thus impart to the modified polymers thermoplastic elastomer properties. Changes in the solubility character, thermal behavior, and tensile properties of the modified polymers are in accord with this postulate. Since the association between molecules is physical in nature, the modified polymers remain soluble in appropriate solvents. They also show dramatic decreases in molecular size; for example, the average molecular size of polymers at 1% modification is about one tenth that of the unmodified polymer due to intramolecular interactions, a size reduction of the same order of magnitude as that of chemically crosslinked polymers. Poly-1,2-butadiene, when modified to the extent of 5%, gave values for elongation to break, Young's modulus, and tensile strength twice those for the parent polymer, while tensile recoveries were > 90%.     

Effect of molecular structure on mesomorphism XXI. Monodisperse tetrameric model compounds for liquid crystalline polymers

Twinned dimeric mesogens having a rigid-flexible-rigid molecular structure have been shown to be appropriate models for some properties of regularly alternating (rigid-flexible)_n main chain liquid crystalline polymers (lcps). A family of tetrameric monodisperse liquid crystalline model compounds chemically related to known main chain liquid crystalline polymers of the 4-alkoxyphenyl 4'-alkoxy-benzoate type has been synthesized. The tetramers are nematogenic. Alternations in thermodynamic parameters (ΔH, ΔS) for the N-I transition as a function of spacer chain length indicate conformational behaviour of the internal spacers dominates mesophase properties.     

Synthesis and properties of some polyesterimides

New polyesterimides have been obtained by condensation of pyromellitic dianhydride with various aromatic diamines and by esterifying, before the actual dehydration, some carboxyl groups of polyamic acid with 4,4′bis (2-hydroxyethoxy) dinaphthyl 1,1′. Some new polyesterimides containing polynaphthalene rings in the side chain have thus been obtained. Thermal properties of the new polymers were studied by thermogravimetric analysis. Investigations were carried out by determining the decomposition temperatures and measuring the weight losses on heating polymer samples under atmospheric conditions in the presence of air. The influence of the structure of the polymers on their properties was investigated.     

Polymers with macrocyclic architectures: Synthesis and properties

The preparation by living polymerization and the investigation of the properties of polymers with cyclic chain architectures have been recently undertaken. The cyclization involves a unimolecular end-to-end reaction of a heterodifunctional linear precursor. The elementary steps of the cyclization mechanism are examined in the light of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) data obtained on linear polystyrene precursors and cyclized products. The synthetic procedures developed to prepare macrocyclic polymers of various structures, as well as macrocyclic random and block copolymers are then reviewed and discussed. The main characteristics of the cyclic (co)polymers are compared to the corresponding linear chains and some of the original properties that are induced by the cyclic chain architecture are presented.     

Synthesis and photophysical properties of poly(aryleneethynylene)s bearing dialkylsilyl side substituents

A series of poly(aryleneethynylene)s bearing dialkylsilyl (-SiR₂H) side substituents has been synthesized by Sonogashira cross-coupling reactions of 1,4-diethynyl-2,5-bis(dialkylsilyl)benzene and diiodoarylene compounds. Their photophysical properties in solution have been studied. All of the polymers showed intense fluorescence with high quantum yield. Compared with their analogues containing para-phenylene units, the polymers with meta-phenylene units in the main chain showed absorption and emission maxima at shorter wavelengths, whereas the polymers having thiophenylene units in their backbones showed bathochromically shifted spectra. For polymers having the same conjugated parent backbone, silyl substituents have been found to exert negligible effect on their photophysical properties.     

The effects of some transition-metal compounds on the flame retardance of poly(styrene-co-4-vinyl pyridine) and poly(methyl methacrylate-co-4-vinyl pyridine)

Several copolymers of both styrene and methyl methacrylate with 4-vinyl pyridine have been prepared and modified by coordination with the transition-metal compounds vanadium acetylacetonate (VO[acac]₂), vanadyl dichloride (VOCl₂) and ferric chloride. The flame-retardant effects of these modifications have been assessed by measurements of limiting oxygen indices, by thermogravimetric analysis, and by examination of chars by scanning electron microscopy. Effects on mechanical properties have been assessed by dynamic mechanical thermal analysis. The limiting oxygen indices of the modified polymers are significantly higher than those of the parent polymers, and the production of considerable amounts of rigid, intumescent chars suggests predominantly condensed-phase mechanisms of flame retardance.     

“活性”/可控自由基聚合反应制备聚合物-蛋白质/多肽生物结合物

将蛋白质或多肽连接到高分子链上,能够改善蛋白质/多肽的稳定性、生物相溶性和溶解性而赋予其优异的应用性能,所得聚合物-蛋白质/多肽生物结合物已经被广泛应用于药物载体、生物材料、纳米材料等领域。本文介绍借助"活性"/可控自由基聚合反应制备新型功能高分子材料的原理与方法,以及其合成聚合物-蛋白质/多肽生物结合物的国内外研究进展。     

Synthesis and mesomorphic properties of fishbone-like liquid crystalline polysilsesquioxanes V. Pd-coordinating, fishbone-like azo-based liquid crystalline polysilsesquioxanes

New kinds of Pd-coordinating azo-based liquid crystalline polysilsesquioxanes, Pd-H-FBA and Pd-C-FBA, have been synthesized first by hydrosilylation reactions of a vinyl-terminated mesomorphic azo compound with ladder-like homopolyhydrosilsesquioxane (H-T) and copolymethylhydrosilsesquioxane (MH-T) to produce fishbone-like, azo-based liquid crystalline polysilsesquioxanes H-FBA and C-FBA, respectively, followed by a further ortho -palladation reaction with palladium chloride. The mesomorphic properties have been investigated by DSC, optical polarizing microscopy and temperature-variable X-ray diffraction. It is found that their clearing temperatures, Tcl, are much higher and the mesophase ranges, Delta T,are much wider than those of the corresponding comb-like polymers with a single main chain by more than 100 C. This indicates that the double main chain structures of the title polymers have a positive effect on mesomorphic properties. The influence of the contents of Pd2 ions on the liquid crystallinity is also discussed.