Effect of ammonium groups on the properties and alkaline stability of poly(arylene ether)‐based anion exchange membranes

Five kinds of ammonium groups functionalized partially fluorinated poly(arylene ether) block copolymer membranes were prepared for investigating the structure–property relationship as anion exchange membranes (AEMs). Consequently, the pyridine (PYR)‐modified membrane showed the highest alkaline and hydrazine stability in terms of the conductivity, water uptake, and dry weight. The chloromethylated precursor block copolymers were reacted with amines, such as trimethylamine, N‐butyldimethylamine, 1‐methylimidazole, 1,2‐dimethylimidazole, and PYR to provide the target quaternized poly(arylene ether)s. The structures of the polymers, as well as model compounds and oligomers were well characterized by ¹H NMR spectra. The obtained AEMs were subjected to water uptake and hydroxide ion conductivity measurements and stabilities in aqueous alkaline and hydrazine media. The pyridinium‐functionalized quaternized polymers membrane showed the highest alkaline and hydrazine stability with minor losses in the conductivity, water uptake, and dry weight. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2014 , 52, 383–389     

Synthesis of a new 2‐amino‐glycan,poly‐(1→6)‐α‐D‐mannosamine,by ring‐opening polymerization of 1,6‐anhydro‐mannosamine derivatives

A stereoregular 2‐amino‐glycan composed of a mannosamine residue was prepared by ring‐opening polymerization of anhydro sugars. Two different monomers, 1,6‐anhydro‐2‐azido‐mannose derivative ( 3 ) and 1,6‐anhydro‐2‐(N, N‐dibenzylamino)‐mannose derivative ( 6 ), were synthesized and polymerized. Although 3 gave merely oligomers, 6 was promptly polymerized into high polymers of the number‐average molecular weight (M_n) of 2.3 × 10⁴ to 2.9 × 10⁴ with 1,6‐α stereoregularity. The differences of polymerizability of 3 and 6 from those of the corresponding glucose homologs were discussed. It was found that an N‐benzyl group is exceedingly suitable for protecting an amino group in the polymerization of anhydro sugars of a mannosamine type. The simultaneous removal of O‐ and N‐benzyl groups of the resulting polymers was achieved by using sodium in liquid ammonia to produce the first 2‐amino‐glycan, poly‐(1→6)‐α‐D ‐mannosamine, having high molecular weight through ring‐opening polymerization of anhydro sugars.© 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012     

Anionic ring‐opening polymerization of a five‐membered cyclic carbonate having a glucopyranoside structure

Anionic ring‐opening polymerizations of methyl 4,6‐O‐benzylidene‐2,3‐O‐carbonyl‐α‐D ‐glucopyranoside (MBCG) were investigated using various anionic polymerization initiators. Polymerizations of the cyclic carbonate readily proceeded by using highly active initiators such as n‐butyllithium, lithium tert‐butoxide, sodium tert‐butoxide, potassium tert‐butoxide, and 1,8‐diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec‐7‐ene, whereas it did not proceed by using N,N‐dimethyl‐4‐aminopyridine and pyridine as initiators. In a polymerization of MBCG (1.0 M), 99% of MBCG was converted within 30 s to give the corresponding polymer with number‐averaged molecular weight (M_n) of 16,000. However, the M_n of the polymer decreased to 7500 when the polymerization time was prolonged to 24 h. It is because a backbiting reaction might occur under the polymerization conditions. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2013     

Synthesis and self‐assembly of thymine‐ and adenine‐containing homopolymers and diblock copolymers

Atom transfer radical polymerizations (ATRPs) of 1‐(4‐methacryloyloxy‐benzyl)thymine (MAT) and 9‐(2‐methacryloyloxyethyl)adenine (MAA) were conducted for the synthesis of DNA‐base functionalized polymers. The association equilibrium constant K_asso between MAT and MAA and the complexation equilibrium constant K_comp between the corresponding polymers PMAT and PMAA were determined. A zipper‐like diblock copolymer, PMAT‐b‐PMAA, was prepared by anchoring the PMAT and PMAA blocks on the ortho‐positions of a pyridine ring via a successive two‐step ATRP. Dynamic light scattering and atom force microscopy confirmed that the block copolymer had a V‐shaped configuration in dimethylsulfoxide/N,N‐dimethylformamide. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 5995–6006, 2006     

Synthesis of star‐shaped polystyrenes via nitroxide‐mediated stable free‐radical polymerization

High molecular weight star‐shaped polystyrenes were prepared via the coupling of 2,2,6,6‐tetramethyl‐1‐piperidinyloxy (TEMPO) terminated polystyrene oligomers with divinylbenzene (DVB) in m‐xylene at 138 °C. The optimum ratio of the coupling solvent (m‐xylene) to divinylbenzene was determined to be 9 to 1 based on volume. Linear polystyrene oligomers (M_n = 19,300 g/mol, M_w/M_n = 1.10) were prepared in bulk styrene using benzoyl peroxide in the presence of TEMPO at approximately 130 °C under an inert atmosphere. Coupling of the TEMPO‐terminated oligomers under optimum conditions resulted in a product with a number average molecular weight exceeding 300,000 g/mol (M_w/M_n = 3.03) after 24 h, suggesting the formation of relatively well‐defined star‐shaped polymers. Additionally, the intrinsic viscosities of the star‐shaped products were lower than calculated values for linear analogs of equivalent molecular weight, which further supported the formation of a star‐shaped architecture. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 39: 216–223, 2001     

Heterogeneous polycondensation for composition control of poly(p‐mercaptobenzoyl‐co‐p‐benzamide) by shearing

Composition control of aromatic poly(thioester‐amide) was examined by the reaction‐induced phase separation during polymerization of S‐acetyl‐4‐mercaptobenzoic acid (AMBA) and p‐acetylaminobenzoic acid (AABA) in aromatic solvent. The poly(thioester‐amide)s were obtained as precipitates and their yields became lower at the middle range of the content of AMBA in feed (χ_f). The contents of p‐mercaptobenzoyl (MB) moiety (χ_p) in the precipitates prepared without shearing were in good agreement with the χ_f values. In contrast to this, the χ_p values of the precipitates prepared at χ_f of 50–70 mol % under shearing were much lower than the χ_f values. The reaction rate of AMBA increased with shearing, whereas that of AABA was unchanged by shearing. This shearing effect on the reaction rates accelerated to form the homo‐oligomers. The solubility of MB oligomers enhanced by shearing, whereas that of p‐benzamide oligomers did not enhance owing to the strong interaction through hydrogen bonding. The MB oligomers were inhibited to be precipitated, resulting in the lower χ_p values than the χ_f values. The composition could be controlled by the application of the shearing to the heterogeneous polymerization. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2013, 51, 4301–4308     

Oligomer formation in the emulsifier‐free emulsion polymerization of styrene

The formation of oligomers in emulsifier‐free emulsion polymerization of styrene was characterized by means of gel permeation chromatography and surface tension measurements. GPC analysis showed incessant oligomer formation throughout the emulsion polymerization process. Oligomers spanned a molecular weight range of 200–1,500, have an M̄_w of 800–900, an M̄_n of 600–800 and a polydispersity index of 1.3. On average, the oligomers contain 4 to 6 styrene units. UV detection could not be utilized to acquire the weight ratio of oligomers to polymers without correction. Combination was the major mode of termination of free radicals in the aqueous phase, but disproportionation was not negligible: for every three‐combination reactions there was about 1 disproportionation. Surface tension measurements showed that oligomers minimized the surface tension of the latex at about 50 min reaction to only 30 mN/m. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 1323–1336, 2000     

Stereoregular poly‐O‐methyl [m,n]‐polyurethanes derived from D‐mannitol

Novel linear carbohydrate‐derived [m,n]‐polyurethanes are successfully prepared using D ‐mannitol as renewable and low cost starting material. The key comonomer, 1,6‐di‐O‐phenylcarbonyl‐2,3,4,5‐tetra‐O‐methyl‐D ‐mannitol is polymerized with a diamine synthesized from D ‐mannitol or with alkylenediamines. These polymerization reactions afford, respectively, a [6,6]‐polyurethane entirely based on a carbohydrate derivative or [m,n]‐polyurethanes constituted by a poly‐O‐methyl substituted unit alternating with a polymethylene chain. All these polymers are stereoregular, as result of the C₂ axis of symmetry of mannitol. The optically active polyurethanes are characterized by standard methods (FTIR, RMN, GPC, TGA, and DSC). Thus, GPC analysis reveals weight‐average molecular weights between 18,000 and 25,000 Da. Thermal studies (DSC) indicate that the polymers obtained are amorphous materials with T_g values dependent on the structure and chain length of the diamine constituent. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2013     

Synthesis and characterization of new soluble polyamides from 1,1‐bis[4‐(4‐carboxyphenoxy)phenyl]‐4‐tert‐butylcyclohexane and various diamines

A new dicarboxylic acid monomer, 1,1‐bis[4‐(4‐carboxyphenoxy)phenyl]‐4‐tert‐butylcyclohexane, bearing a pendent tert‐butylcyclohexylidene group was prepared in three steps from 4‐tert‐butylcyclohexanone. The monomer was reacted with various diamines to produce a series of new polyamides with triphenyl phosphite and pyridine as condensing agents. These polyamides were produced with inherent viscosities of 0.74 to 1.02 dL g⁻¹. All the polymers were characterized by X‐ray diffraction that revealed this amorphous nature. These polymers exhibited excellent solubility in a variety of solvents. Almost all the polymers could be dissolved in N‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidinone, N,N‐dimethylacetamide (DMAc), N,N‐dimethylformamide, dimethyl sulfoxide, pyridine, and even in tetrahydrofuran and cyclohexanone. These polymers showed glass‐transition temperatures between 223 and 256 °C and decomposition temperatures at 10% weight loss ranging from 468 to 491 °C and 469 to 498 °C in nitrogen and air atmospheres, respectively. Transparent, tough, and flexible films of these polymers were cast from the DMAc solutions. These polymer films had tensile strengths ranging from 76 to 99 MPa, elongations at break from 7 to 19%, and initial moduli from 2.1 to 2.7 GPa. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 797–803, 2000     

Synthesis of water‐soluble allyl‐functionalized oligochitosan and its modification by thiol–ene addition in water

A novel, straightforward and versatile chemical pathway has been studied to functionalize water‐soluble chitosan oligomers. This metal‐free methodology is based on the epoxy‐amine reaction of the allyl glycidyl ether with chitosan, followed by thiol‐ene radical coupling reaction of ω‐functional mercaptans, using 4,4′‐Azobis(4‐cyanovaleric acid) as a free radical initiator. Both reactions were entirely carried out in water. In a preliminary step, chitosan depolymerization was carried out using H₂O₂ in an acetic medium under 100 W microwave irradiation, optimizing the yield of water‐soluble oligomers. Functionalization by six different thiols bearing alcohol, carboxylic acid, ester, and amino groups was then performed, leading to a range of functional oligochitosans with different grafting efficiencies. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2014 , 52, 39–48     

Synthesis and characterization of poly(arylene ether sulfone)s with trans‐1,4‐cyclohexylene ring containing ester linkages

trans‐1,4‐Cyclohexylene ring containing acid chloride monomers were incorporated into poly(arylene ether sulfone) (PAES) backbones to study their effect on mechanical and thermal properties. The trans‐1,4‐cyclohexylene ring containing acid chloride monomers were synthesized and characterized by NMR and high‐resolution mass spectrum. trans‐1,4‐Cyclohexylene containing PAESs were synthesized from the acid chloride monomers and hydroxyl terminated polysulfone oligomers with a pseudo‐interfacial method and a solution method. These PAESs, with trans‐1,4‐cyclohexylene ring containing ester linkages, were fully characterized by NMR, thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), size exclusion chromatography, and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). The tensile properties were also evaluated. The polymers made with the pseudo‐interfacial method had relatively low molecular weights when compared to the solution method where much higher molecular weight polymers were obtained. Crystallinity was promoted in the low molecular weight biphenol‐based PAES samples with the pseudo‐interfacial method. The crystallinity was confirmed by both the DSC and the wide angle X‐ray diffraction results. The tensile test results of the high molecular weight polymers suggested that incorporation of the trans‐1,4‐cyclohexylene ring containing linkage slightly improved the ultimate elongations while maintaining the Young's moduli. The trans‐1,4‐cyclohexylene ring containing PAESs also showed higher sub‐T_g relaxations in DMA when compared with their terephthaloyl containing analog. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011     

Homopolymerization of cyclic esters initiated by lanthanide isopropoxides supported by 2,2′‐ethylene‐bis(4,6‐di‐tert‐butylphenolate) ligands

Lanthanide isopropoxides supported by carbon‐bridged bisphenolate ligands of 2,2′‐ethylene‐bis(4,6‐di‐tert‐butylphenoxo) {[(EDBP)Ln(μ‐OPrⁱ)(THF)₂]₂, where Ln is Nd ( 1 ), Sm ( 2 ), or Yb ( 3 ) and THF is tetrahydrofuran} were synthesized by protic exchange reactions in high yields with Cp₃Ln compounds as raw materials, and complex 1 was structurally characterized. Complexes 1 – 3 were shown to be efficient initiators for the ring‐opening polymerization of ε‐caprolactone (ε‐CL) and 2,2‐dimethyltrimethylene carbonate (DTC). Complexes 1 – 3 could initiate the controlled polymerization of ε‐CL, and the polymerization rate was first‐order with respect to the monomer. The influence of the reaction conditions on the monomer conversion, molecular weight, and molecular weight distribution of the resultant polymers was investigated. End‐group analyses of the oligomers of ε‐CL and DTC showed that the polymerization underwent a coordination–insertion mechanism. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 4409–4419, 2006     

Förster resonance energy transfer in poly(methyl methacrylates) copolymers bearing donor–acceptor 1,3‐thiazole dyes

The Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) properties in poly(methyl methacrylate) copolymers containing 2‐(pyridine‐2‐yl) thiazole dyes were studied upon systematic variation of the donor‐to‐acceptor ratio. To this end, 2‐(pyridine‐2‐yl) thiazole dyes specially designed for the usage as energy donor and acceptor molecules were incorporated within one polymer chain. Poly(methyl methacrylate) copolymers containing these donor and acceptor dyes were synthesized using the RAFT polymerization method. Copolymers with a molar mass (M_n) of nearly 10,000 g/mol were achieved with dispersity index values (?) under 1.3. The presented copolymers act as a model system for the FRET investigation. Förster resonance energy transfer properties of the copolymers are characterized by steady state as well as time resolved fluorescence spectroscopy. The results indicate that the energy transfer rates and the transfer efficiencies are tunable by variation of the donor‐acceptor‐ratio. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2013 , 51, 4765–4773     

Thiol–ene polymerizations using imide‐based monomers

New diene and dithiol monomers, based on aromatic imides such as benzophenone‐3,3′,4,4′‐tetracarboxylic diimide were synthesized and used in thiol‐ene polymerizations which yield poly(imide‐co‐thioether)s. These linear polymers exhibit limited solubility in various organic solvents. The molecular weights of the polymers were found to decrease with increasing imide content. The glass transition temperature (T_g) of these polymers is dependent on imide content, with T_g values ranging from ?55 °C (with no imide) up to 13 °C (with 70% imide). These thermal property improvements are due to the H‐bonding and rigidity of the aromatic imide moieties. Thermal degradation, as studied by thermogravimetric analysis, was not significantly different to the nonimide containing thiol‐ene polymers made using trimethyloylpropane diallyl ether and 3,5‐dioxa‐1,8‐dithiooctane. It is expected that such monomers may lead to increased glass transition temperatures in other thiol‐ene polymer systems as these normally exhibit low glass transition temperatures. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2013 , 51, 4637–4642     

Synthesis of poly(o‐cresol) by oxidative coupling polymerization of o‐cresol

The oxidative coupling polymerization of o‐cresol was investigated using various 2‐substituted pyridine/CuCl catalysts under an oxygen atmosphere, in which 2‐phenylpyridine/CuCl and 2‐(p‐tolyl)pyridine/CuCl catalysts yielded poly(o‐cresol)s with higher regioselectivity for 1,4‐coupling. These polymerizations produced branched and crosslinked polymers in the later stages of polymerization. These polymers showed good thermal properties, such as 5% weight loss temperatures of up to 406 °C and glass transition temperatures of up to 151 °C. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2019 , 57, 878–884     

All‐aromatic liquid crystalline thermosets with high glass transition temperatures

We have synthesized and characterized a new family of low melting all‐aromatic ester‐based liquid crystal oligomers end‐capped with reactive phenylethynyl end groups. In a consecutive, high‐temperature step, the reactive end groups were thermally activated and polymerization was initiated. This reactive oligomer approach allows us to synthesize liquid crystal thermosets with outstanding mechanical and thermal properties, which are superior to well‐known high‐performance polymers such as PPS and PEEK. We have modified an intractable LC formulation based on hydroquinone and terephthalic acid, with M_n = 1000, 5000, and 9000 g mol^?1, and varied the backbone composition using isophthalic acid, resorcinol, 4‐hydroxy‐benzoic acid, 6‐hydroxy‐2‐naphthoic acid, and chlorohydroquinone. All fully cured polymers showed glass transition temperatures in the range of 164–275 °C, and high storage moduli at room temperature (～ 5 GPa) and elevated temperature (～ 2 GPa at 200 °C). All oligomers display nematic mesophases and in most cases, the nematic order is maintained after cure. Rheology experiments showed that the phenylethynyl end group undergoes predominantly chain extension below 340 °C and crosslinking above this temperature. Highly aligned fibers could be spun from the nematic melt, and we found that the order parameter 〈P₂〉 was not affected by the chain extension and crosslink chemistry. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 1368–1380, 2009     

Two‐stage copolycondensation of preformed oligomers with bisphenols by tosyl chloride/dimethylformamide/pyridine from distributions of resulting oligomers determined by a combination of gel permeation chromatography and NMR

A two‐stage co‐oligomerization of the oligomers initially formed from an equimolar mixture of isophthalic acid (IPA) and terephthalic acid (TPA) and 2,2‐bis(4‐hydroxyphenyl)propane (BPA, 50 mol %) with bisphenols (BPs, 20 mol %) was carried out using a tosyl chloride/dimethylformamide/pyridine condensing agent. The distributions of the resulting oligomers (n_x‐mers), which were quenched with methanol, were determined by a combination of gel permeation chromatography (GPC) and NMR. These distributions (presented by molar percentage) were conveniently calculated with the equation n_x (mol %) = n_x (% mol by GPC) × n₀ (mol % by NMR)/n₀ (% mol by GPC), where n_x (% mol) = n_x (wt % by GPC)/its molecular weight. The results showed the distributions of the preformed IPA/TPA‐BPA oligomers to be in fairly good accord with those obtained directly from GPC and to be supported by the NMR results. The calculation was applied to the co‐oligomers prepared up to a reaction of 0.7, at which there was an increase in the number of higher oligomers indivisible by GPC and the distributions could no longer be determined by molar percentage. The calculated distributions are discussed in relation to the results of copolycondensation. The sequence distributions in the resulting co‐oligomers, which were also examined by NMR, are compared with those in the copolymers. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 44–51, 2004     

BF3·OEt2 in alcoholic media,an efficient initiator in the cationic polymerization of phenyl‐1,3‐benzoxazines

3‐Phenyl‐3,4‐dihydro‐2H‐1,3‐benzoxazine ( m ₁ ) underwent cationic ring opening polymerization using BF₃·OEt₂ in alcoholic solution under mild conditions. The polymerization of m ₁ proceeds through an intermediate hemiaminal ether leading mainly to the formation of polybenzoxazines with diphenylmethane bridges, and not only the classical Mannich‐type ones. During the first stages of the reaction, low‐molecular weight soluble oligomers containing benzoxazine rings are formed. At longer polymerization times, the propagation proceeds conventionally through the phenolic active sites. This polymerization mechanism is extensible to other substituted 3‐phenyl‐3,4‐dihydro‐2H‐1,3‐benzoxazines but fails in the case of 3‐alkyl‐3,4‐dihydro‐2H‐1,3‐benzoxazines or when the phenyl group in Position 3 have a substituent in the p‐position. Spectroscopic studies and kinetic experiments using model reactions and deuterium labeled benzoxazines, allow proposing a plausible different polymerization mechanism. These soluble benzoxazine‐containing polymers can be conveniently processed and impregnated on appropriate substrates before underwent crosslinking producing materials with comparable properties to those of conventional bis‐benzoxazines. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2013 , 51, 5075–5084     

New selenophene‐based low‐band gap conjugated polymers for organic photovoltaics

Low‐band gap selenophene‐based polymers were synthesized. Their optoelectronic and photovoltaic properties and space‐charge limited currents were compared with those of the related thiophene‐based polymers. The band gaps of the Se‐based derivatives were approximately 0.05–0.12 eV lower than those of their thiophene counterparts. Organic photovoltaic (OPV) devices based on the blends of these polymers and 1‐(3‐methoxycarbonyl)propyl‐1‐phenyl‐[6,6]‐C₇₁ (PC₇₁BM) were fabricated, and the maximum power conversion efficiency of the OPV device based on PSPSBT and PC₇₁BM was 3.1%—with a short‐circuit current density (J_sc) of 9.3 mA cm^?2, an open‐circuit voltage (V_oc) of 0.79 V, and a fill factor of 0.42—under AM 1.5 G illumination (100 mW cm^?2). © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2013 , 51, 4550–4557     

Synthesis,characterization, and properties of polyurethanes containing 1,4:3,6‐dianhydro‐D‐sorbitol

Two‐ and three‐component polyurethanes containing 1,4:3,6‐dianhydro‐D ‐sorbitol (isosorbide) derived from glucose were synthesized using n‐BuSn(?O)OH·H₂O as a catalyst, and the thermal properties (T_g, T_d) of the polymers were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis. We carried out molds for polyurethanes, the molds of polyurethanes were obtained. The dynamic mechanical analyzes showed that the storage modulus values of the three‐component polymers were constant to a higher temperature than those of the two‐component polymers. The storage moduli (E′), loss moduli (E″), and values of tan δ for the polymers were obtained. The rigidity of three‐component polymers was increased by the introduction of bisphenol A and diphenylmethane group to two‐component polymer. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 6025–6031, 2009