Rigid‐rod polyamides and polyimides prepared from 4,3″‐diamino‐2′,6′‐di(2‐naphthyl)‐p‐terphenyl and 2′,6′,3‴,5‴‐tetra(2‐naphthyl)‐4,4″‐diamino‐p‐quinquephenyl

A series of rigid‐rod polyamides and polyimides containing p‐terphenyl or p‐quinquephenyl moieties in backbone as well as naphthyl pendent groups were synthesized from two new aromatic diamines. The polymers were characterized by inherent viscosity, elemental analysis, FT‐IR, ¹H‐NMR, ¹³C‐NMR, X‐ray, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermomechanical analysis (TMA), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), isothermal gravimetric analysis, and moisture absorption. All polymers were amorphous and displayed T_g values at 304–337°C. Polyamides dissolved upon heating in polar aprotic solvents containing LiCl as well as CCl₃COOH, whereas polyimides were partially soluble in these solvents. No weight loss was observed up to 377–422°C in N₂ and 355–397°C in air. The anaerobic char yields were 57–69% at 800°C. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 15–24, 1999     

Cationic organoiron polyelectrolyte three‐arm stars

With nucleophilic aromatic substitution and ester condensation reactions, several new first‐generation dendrimers and star‐shaped molecules containing cationic cyclopentadienyl iron moieties were prepared. Although the solubility of the organoiron star‐shaped molecules with ether bridges in polar solvents was found to decrease with an increase in the size of the molecule, the addition of ester linkages resulted in a sharp decrease in the solubility, regardless of the size. The thermal behavior of these molecules was examined with differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis. The glass‐transition temperatures (T_g's) of these star‐shaped molecules ranged from 123 to 170 °C. However, the addition of the ester functionality allowed for an increase in the T_g's to 151–194 °C. The star‐shaped molecules were thermally stable up to 200 °C, above which a loss of the cationic cyclopentadienyl iron moieties occurred. Degradation of the ester chains started at 321 °C, and degradation of the ether chains started at 408 °C. Electrochemical studies of the ether star‐shaped molecules showed a reduction of the 18‐electron iron centers to 19‐electron centers. This redox system was reversible at low temperatures, whereas it was irreversible at room temperature. Moreover, an increase in the number of metal moieties caused an overlap and broadening of the redox wave. Viscosity studies showed a polyelectrolyte effect for the organoiron star‐shaped molecules. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 1382–1396, 2005     

Synthesis and radical ring‐opening polymerization of vinylcyclopropanes derived from amino acids with hydrophobic moieties

Six 1,1‐disubstituted vinylcyclopropanes (VCP) were synthesized from glycine and amino acids bearing hydrophobic moieties, l ‐alanine, l ‐valine, l ‐leucine, l ‐isoleucine, and l ‐phenylalanine. These VCP derivatives efficiently underwent radical ring‐opening polymerization to afford the corresponding polymers bearing trans‐vinylene moiety in the main chains and the amino acid‐derived chiral moieties in the side chains. The polymers were film‐formable, and in the films of polymers bearing the glycine‐ and alanine‐derived side chains, presence of hydrogen bonding was confirmed by IR analysis. Thermogravimetric analysis of the polymers revealed that the temperatures of 5% weight loss were higher than 300 °C. Differential scanning calorimetry clarified that the polymers were amorphous ones showing glass transition temperatures in a range of 48–80 °C. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2017 , 55, 3996–4002     

Novel doubly polymerizable functional norbornene: Its synthesis,reactivity, and macromolecular architectures from a dual cure via ring‐opening metathesis polymerization and radical photopolymerization

A novel doubly polymerizable functional norbornene, 5‐(methacryloyloxyethylamino carboxylmethyl)bicyclo[2.2.1]hept‐2‐ene (NBMOACM), was prepared. The ring‐opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) of NBMOACM was carried out to prepare polymers with crosslinkable side chains with the Grubbs catalyst. No gel formation occurred during the ROMP of NBMOACM. The ¹H NMR spectrum of poly(NBMOACM) showed broad signals between 5.10 and 5.40 ppm, corresponding to the vinyl protons of the cis and trans double bonds of the ring‐opened polymer. Increasing the ratio of the monomer concentration to the catalyst concentration resulted in the formation of higher molecular weight polymers. Poly(NBMOACM) was incorporated into poly(methyl methacrylate) [poly(MMA)] to produce AB crosslinked materials. These crosslinked materials [1 wt % poly(NBMOACM), 10% weight loss temperature = 300 °C in air] had higher thermal stability than pure poly(MMA) (10% weight loss temperature = 276 °C in air). © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 6287–6298, 2006     

Ring‐opening metathesis polymerization of new norbornene‐based monomers containing various chromophores

Pure exo‐functional norbornene monomers containing various chromophores such as fluorene, pyrene, and carbazole were successfully prepared via the Diels–Alder reaction and condensation reaction. The living ring‐opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) of a fluorene‐containing monomer, exo‐2‐(fluorene‐9‐ylcarboxymethyl)norborn‐5‐ene (exo‐1), was observed and confirmed by the formation of a diblock copolymer and a linear relationship between the number‐average molecular weight and [M]/[I] ratios ([M] = monomer concentration; [I] = initiator concentration). The synthesis and characteristics of novel fluorene‐containing polymers based on pure exo‐1 are reported with Grubbs catalyst I {RuCl₂(CHPh)[P(C₆H₁₁)₃]₂} with a high molecular weight of 3.18 × 10⁴ in 90 s ([M]/[I] = 100). However, the ROMP of pyrene‐ and carbazole‐containing monomers [exo‐5‐(pyrene methoxy carbonyl)bicyclo[2.2.1]hept‐2‐ene and exo‐5‐(carbazole ethoxy carbonyl)bicyclo[2.2.1]hept‐2‐ene, respectively] were carried out in a nonliving fashion. All the chromophore‐containing polymers showed excellent solubility in various organic solvents, particularly in chloroform, N‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidinone, and 1,2‐dichlorobenzene. The glass transition temperatures of polynorbornenes containing various chromophores were determined to be 80–109 °C (by differential scanning calorimetry) higher than that of ring‐opened polynorbornene (glass transition temperature = 35 °C), indicating that the incorporation of the pendant aromatic moieties (e.g., fluorene, pyrene, and carbazole) could enhance the transition temperature for segmental motions of polymer chains. The photoluminescence spectra of all polymer solutions showed a strong emission in the blue region of the visible spectra. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 3022–3031, 2007     

One‐pot synthesis of isocyanate and methacrylate multifunctionalized polyisobutylene and polyisobutylene‐based amphiphilic networks

Amphiphilic polymer networks consisting of hydrophilic poly(2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA) and hydrophobic polyisobutylene (PIB) chains were synthesized from a cationic copolymer of isobutylene (IB) and 3‐isopropenyl‐α,α‐dimethylbenzyl isocyanate (IDI) prepared at ?50 °C in dichloromethane in conjunction with SnCl₄. The isocyanate groups of this random copolymer, PIB(NCO)_n, were subsequently transformed in situ to methacrylate (MA) groups in the dibutyltin dilaurate‐catalyzed reaction with 2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) at 30 °C. The resulting PIB(MA)_n with number–average molecular weight 8200 and average functionality F_n ～ 4 per chain was in situ copolymerized radically with HEMA at 70 °C, giving rise to the amphiphilic networks containing 41 and 67 mol % HEMA. PHEMA–PIB network containing 43 mol % HEMA was also prepared by radical copolymerization of PIB(MA)_n precursor with HEMA using sequential synthesis. An amphiphilic nature of the resulting networks was proved by swelling in both water and n‐heptane. PIB(NCO)_n and PIB(MA)_n were characterized by FTIR spectroscopy, SEC and the latter also by ¹H NMR spectroscopy. Solid state ¹³C NMR spectroscopy was used for characterization of the resulting PHEMA–PIB networks. Whereas single glass‐transition temperature, T_g = ?67.4 °C, was observed for the rubbery crosslinked PIB prepared by reaction of PIB(NCO)_n with water, the PHEMA–PIB networks containing 67 and 41 mol % HEMA showed two T_g's: ?70.4 and 102.7 °C, and ?63 and 107.2 °C, respectively. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 2891–2900, 2006     

Synthesis and characterization of fluorene‐based copolymers containing siloxane or distilbene moieties on their main chain

Two novel types of polyfluorene copolymers containing siloxane linkages or distilbene moieties on their main‐chains were synthesized by Ni(0)‐mediated Yamamoto coupling polymerization. These polymers, designated P2Silo05, P2Silo15, PF‐P02, and PF‐P05 were prepared by copolymerization between 2,7‐dibromo‐9,9′‐dihexylfluorene and bis(bromobenzene)‐terminated disiloxane monomer (for P2Silo05 and P2Silo15) or dibromodistilbene monomer (for PF‐P02 and PF‐P05). All of the polymers were highly soluble in common organic solvents such as chloroform, toluene, and p‐xylene. The glass transition temperatures of the polymers were between 92 and 113 °C, and the decomposition temperatures for a 5% weight loss (T_d) were above 420 °C for all of the polymers, demonstrating high thermal stability. The molecular weight (M_w) of the polymers ranged from 4.2 × 10⁴ to 8.8 × 10⁴. The blue shift of the maximum in the UV‐visible absorption was greater in polymers with a higher molar percentage of siloxane linkages or distilbene moieties than in homo poly (dihexylfluorene) (PDHF). However, the photoluminescence spectra of the polymers were similar to those of PDHF in terms of the onsets and patterns. Single‐layer light‐emitting diodes were fabricated with a configuration of ITO/PEDOT:PSS/polymers/Ca/Al. The maximum electroluminescence emission wavelengths of the polymers were 425–450 nm, corresponding to pure blue light. The CIE co‐ordinates of the polyfluorenes containing siloxane linkages or distilbene moieties ranged from (0.21, 0.21) to (0.17, 0.10), indicating deeper blue light than that of PDHF {CIE co‐ordinates of (0.25, 0.29)}, with P2Silo15 giving the deepest blue‐light {CIE co‐ordinates of (0.17, 0.10)}. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 1595–1608, 2009     

Synthesis of well‐defined polymers end‐functionalized with crosslinkable aziridine groups by living anionic polymerization

Well‐defined end‐functionalized polystyrene, poly(α‐methylstyrene), and polyisoprene with polymerizable aziridine groups were synthesized by the termination reactions of the anionic living polymers of styrene, α‐methylstyrene, and isoprene with 1‐[2‐(4‐chlorobutoxy)ethyl]aziridine in tetrahydrofuran at ?78 °C. The resulting polymers possessed the predicted molecular weights and narrow molecular weight distributions (weight‐average molecular weight/number‐average molecular weight < 1.1) as well as aziridine terminal moieties. The cationic ring‐opening polymerization of the ω‐monofunctionalized polystyrene having an aziridinyl group with Et₃OBF₄ gave the polymacromonomer, whereas the α,ω‐difunctional polystyrene underwent crosslinking reactions to afford an insoluble gel. Crosslinking products were similarly obtained by the reaction of the α,ω‐diaziridinyl polystyrene with poly(acrylic acid)‐co‐poly(butyl acrylate). © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 4126–4135, 2005     

Iron‐mediated atom transfer radical polymerization of styrene with tris(3,6‐dioxaheptyl) amine as a ligand

The atom transfer radical bulk polymerization of styrene with FeX₂ (X = Br or Cl)/tris(3,6‐dioxaheptyl) amine as the catalyst system was successfully implemented at 110 °C. The number‐average molecular weight of the polymers with a narrow molecular weight distribution (weight‐average molecular weight/number‐average molecular weight = 1.2–1.5) increased linearly with the monomer conversion and matched the predicted molecular weight. The polymerization rate, initiation efficiency, and molecular weight distribution were influenced by the selection of the initiator and iron halide. The high functionality of the halide end group in the obtained polymers was confirmed by both ¹H NMR and a chain‐extension reaction. Because of its water solubility, the iron complexes could be removed easily from the reaction mixture through the washing of the polymerization mixture with water. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 483–489, 2006     

Synthesis and characterization of poly(ethylene oxide‐co‐ethylene carbonate) macromonomers and their use in the preparation of crosslinked polymer electrolytes

Methacrylate‐functionalized poly(ethylene oxide‐co‐ethylene carbonate) macromonomers were prepared in two steps by the anionic ring‐opening polymerization of ethylene carbonate at 180 °C, with potassium methoxide as the initiator, followed by the reaction of the terminal hydroxyl groups of the polymers with methacryloyl chloride. The molecular weight of the polymer went through a maximum after approximately 45 min of polymerization, and the content of ethylene carbonate units in the polymer decreased with the reaction time. A polymer having a number‐average molecular weight of 2650 g mol^?1 and an ethylene carbonate content of 28 mol % was selected and used to prepare a macromonomer, which was subsequently polymerized by UV irradiation in the presence of different concentrations of lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide salt. The resulting self‐supportive crosslinked polymer electrolyte membranes reached ionic conductivities of 6.3 × 10^?6 S cm^?1 at 20 °C. The coordination of the lithium ions by both the ether and carbonate oxygens in the polymer structure was indicated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 2195–2205, 2006     

Synthesis and properties of polyimides derived from 9,10‐dialkyloxy‐1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8‐octahydro‐2,3,6,7‐anthracenetetracarboxylic 2,3:6,7‐dianhydrides

A series of new polyimides containing alicyclic units and alkyloxy side chains were prepared from 9,10‐dialkyloxy‐1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8‐octahydro‐2,3,6,7‐anthracenetetracarboxylic 2,3:6,7‐dianhydrides and various aromatic diamines. Their physical properties and structures were investigated. Polymers were obtained with inherent viscosities of 0.24–0.53 dL/g. In comparison with the aromatic polyimides, most polymers were readily soluble in common organic solvent such as N‐methylpyrrolidone and m‐cresol. These polymers had glass‐transition temperatures between 111 and 296 °C depending on the structure of the repeating unit and 10% weight‐loss temperatures of 418–477 °C in nitrogen. Wide‐angle X‐ray diffractometry for as‐polymerized samples revealed very low crystallinity and layered structures, which were better developed in the polymers with longer side chains. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 1764–1774, 2002     

Synthesis and properties of novel sulfonated polyimides containing 1,5‐naphthylene moieties

A series of novel sulfonated polyimides (equivalent weight per sulfonic acid = 310–744 g/equiv) containing 10–70 mol % 1,5‐naphthylene moieties were synthesized as potential electrolyte materials for high‐temperature polymer electrolyte fuel cells. The polycondensation of 1,4,5,8‐naphthalene tetracarboxylic dianhydride, 4,4′‐diamino‐2,2′‐biphenyldisulfonic acid, and 1,5‐diaminonaphthalene gave the title polymer electrolytes. The polyimide electrolytes were high‐molecular‐weight (number‐average molecular weight = 36.0–350.7 × 10³ and weight‐average molecular weight = 70.4–598.5 × 10³) and formed flexible and tough films. The thermal properties (decomposition temperature > 260 °C, no glass‐transition temperature), stability to oxidation, and water absorption were analyzed and compared with those of perfluorosulfonic acid polymers. The polyimide containing 20 mol % 1,5‐naphthylene moieties showed higher proton conductivity (0.3 S cm^?1) at 120 °C and 100% relative humidity than perfluorosulfonic acid polymers. The temperature and humidity dependence of the proton conductivity was examined. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 3901–3907, 2003     

Novel multifunctional polymeric materials with predominant cis microstructures derived from α‐norbornenyl macromonomer and stable macroinitiator via ring‐opening metathesis polymerization and atom transfer radical polymerization

Novel star‐like polymeric materials with high cis content could be obtained by using α‐norbornenyl macromonomers and highly stable macroinitiators derived from an active norbornene derivative [5‐(2‐bromo‐2‐methylpropionylaminomethyl)bicyclo[2.2.1]hept‐2‐ene (NBBrMPAM)], which was synthesized by the reaction of norbornene methylene amine and 2‐bromo‐2‐methylpropionyl bromide. The α‐norbornenyl macromonomer (NBPMMA), which is polymethyl methacrylate containing norbornenyl end group, was prepared by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) using NBBrMPAM as an initiator. Star‐like polynorbornene with high cis microstructure (cis/trans = 72/28) was obtained directly by ring‐opening metathesis polymerization of NBPMMA macromonomer having number molecular weight (Mn ) as low as 6.39 × 10³. Random ring‐opening metathesis copolymerization of NBPMMA and norbornene derivative containing carbazole group (NBCbz) was carried out at 25 °C by using Ru catalyst [(Cy₃P)₂Cl₂Ru = CHPh, Cy = cyclohexyl, Ph = phenyl]. High cis (cis/trans = 63/37) organo‐soluble star‐like random poly(NBPMMA‐co‐NBCbz) was successfully obtained with high number‐average molecular weight (Mn ) of 4.76 × 10⁴ and molecular weight distribution polydispersity index of 1.78. Organo‐soluble comb‐shaped copolymers with MMA could be successfully obtained using ATRP macroinitiator [poly(HNBBrMPAM)] in diluted macroinitiator solution with a concentration less than 3.64 × 10^?2 mol.L^?1. This is the first ever attempt to prepare novel star‐like organo‐soluble polymeric materials with high cis microstructure via the combination of ring‐opening metathesis polymerization and ATRP. Multimodification could be considered to be carried out by using the functional bromo group at the end of side chains. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 3382–3392, 2006     

Synthesis and properties of new aromatic polyamides with redox‐active 2,4‐dimethoxytriphenylamine moieties

A new triphenylamine‐based diamine monomer, 4,4′‐diamino‐2″,4″‐dimethoxytriphenylamine ( 2 ), was synthesized from readily available reagents and was reacted with various aromatic dicarboxylic acids to produce a series of aromatic polyamides ( 4a–h ) containing the redox‐active 2,4‐dimethoxy‐substituted triphenylamine (dimethoxyTPA) unit. All the resulting polyamides were readily soluble in polar organic solvents and could be solution cast into tough and flexible films. These polymers exhibited good thermal stability with glass transition temperatures of 243–289 °C and softening temperatures of 238–280 °C, 10% weight loss temperatures in excess of 470 °C in nitrogen, and char yields higher than 60% at 800 °C in nitrogen. The redox behaviors of the polymers were examined using cyclic voltammetry (CV). All these polyamides showed two reversible oxidation processes in the first CV scan. The polymers also displayed low ionization potentials as a result of their dimethoxyTPA moieties. In addition, the polymers displayed excellent stability of electrochromic characteristics with coloration change from a colorless neutral state to green and blue‐purple oxidized states. These anodically coloring polyamides showed high green coloration efficiency (CE = 329 cm²/C), high contrast of optical transmittance change (ΔT% = 84% at 829 nm), and long‐term redox reversibility. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 3392–3401, 2010     

Synthesis and properties of new organo‐soluble and strictly alternating aromatic poly(ester‐imide)s from 3,3‐bis[4‐(trimellitimidophenoxy)phenyl]phthalide and bisphenols

A series of new strictly alternating aromatic poly(ester‐imide)s having inherent viscosities of 0.20–0.98 dL/g was synthesized by the diphenylchlorophosphate (DPCP) activated direct polycondensation of the preformed imide ring‐containing diacid, 3,3‐bis[4‐(trimellitimidophenoxy)phenyl]phthalide (I), with various bisphenols in a medium consisting of pyridine and lithium chloride. The diimide–diacid I was prepared from the condensation of 3,3‐bis[4‐(4‐aminophenoxy)phenyl]phthalide and trimellitic anhydride. Most of the resulting polymers showed an amorphous nature and were readily soluble in a variety of organic solvents such as N‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidone (NMP) and N,N‐dimethylacetamide (DMAc). Transparent and flexible films of these polymers could be cast from their DMAc solutions. The cast films had tensile strengths ranging 66–105 MPa, elongations at break from 7–10%, and initial moduli from 1.9–2.4 GPa. The glass‐transition temperatures of these polymers were recorded between 208–275 °C. All polymers showed no significant weight loss below 400 °C in the air or in nitrogen, and the decomposition temperatures at 10% weight loss all occurred above 460 °C. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 1090–1099, 2000     

Terpyridine‐substituted,fluorescent polymers and their chelation with zinc ion: The ligand‐to‐metal ratio and optical properties

Soluble, fluorescent, terpyridine‐substituted, conjugated polymers were prepared and characterized. The polymer chains included a defined oligo(phenylenevinylene) fragment, on which the terpyridine‐functional group was attached. The polymers were blue‐fluorescent with emission peaks at 400–427 nm in tetrahydrofuran solutions. Upon chelation with the Zn(II) cation, the emission maxima were shifted to a longer wavelength by as much as 113 to 506–526 nm. A model compound was also prepared to aid the structural characterization. The ratio of terpyridine to Zn²⁺ in the polymer complex was found to be 1:1 on the basis of spectroscopic evidence, which included mass spectrometry, ¹H NMR, and Job titration. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 2338–2345, 2006     

Synthesis and characterization of novel degradable photocrosslinked poly(ether‐anhydride) networks

New degradable poly(ether‐anhydride) networks were synthesized by UV photopolymerization. Dicarboxylated poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) or poly(tetramethylene glycol) (PTMG) was reacted with an excess of methacrylic anhydride to form dimethacrylated macromers containing anhydride linkages. The percent of conversion for the macromer formation was more than 80% at 60 °C after 24 h. ¹H NMR and IR spectroscopies show the presence of anhydride linkages in the macromer. In vitro degradation studies were carried out at 37 °C in PBS with crosslinked polymer networks formed by UV irradiation. All PEG‐based polymers degraded within 2 days, while PTMG‐based polymers degraded by 50% of the initial weight after 14 days. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 1277–1282, 2000     

Polynorbornenes Containing Ferrocene Derivatives and Alkyne‐bis(tricarbonylcobalt)

Coordination of dicobalt hexacarbonyl to the alkyne moiety of norbornene complexes containing either ferrocene or η⁶‐chlorobenzene‐η⁵‐cyclopentadienyliron hexafluorophosphate, gave two unique trimetallic complexes available for ROMP. Polymerization of each monomer using Grubbs second generation catalyst gave organoiron/organocobalt polynorbornenes with weight average molecular weights between 55 300 and 69 000 with PDIs between 1.2 and 1.9. Cyclic voltammetric studies of the monomers and polymers at −40 °C showed a reversible reduction for cationic complexes containing η⁶‐benzene‐η⁵‐cyclopentadienyliron and for the dicobalt hexacarbonyl moieties while, a reversible oxidation for the ferrocene containing complex was observed. Thermal analysis showed that the cobalt carbonyl moiety of the polymers degraded near 130 °C; however, the polymeric backbone was stable up to 350 °C. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and SEM‐EDS indicated that the polymers possessed a fine globular morphology and that the distribution of iron and cobalt atoms was homogenous on the macro‐scale.

     

Synthesis and antibacterial activities of water‐soluble methacrylate polymers containing quaternary ammonium compounds

New water‐soluble methacrylate polymers with pendant quaternary ammonium (QA) groups were synthesized and used as antibacterial materials. The polymers with pendant QA groups were obtained by the reaction of the alkyl halide groups of a previously synthesized functional methacrylate homopolymer with various tertiary alkyl amines containing 12‐, 14‐, or 16‐carbon alkyl chains. The structures of the functional polymer and the polymers with QA groups were confirmed with Fourier transform infrared and ¹H and ¹³C NMR. The degree of conversion of alkyl halides to QA sites in each polymer was determined by ¹H NMR to be over 90% in all cases. The number‐average molecular weight and polydispersity of the functional polymer were determined by size exclusion chromatography to be 32,500 g/mol and 2.25, respectively. All polymers were thermally stable up to 180 °C according to thermogravimetric analysis. The antibacterial activities of the polymers with pendant QA groups against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli were determined with broth‐dilution and spread‐plate methods. All the polymers showed excellent antibacterial activities in the range of 32–256 μg/mL. The antibacterial activity against S. aureus increased with an increase in the alkyl chain length for the ammonium groups, whereas the antibacterial activity against E. coli decreased with increasing alkyl chain length. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 5965–5973, 2006     

New PVK‐based nonlinear optical polymers: Enhanced nonlinearity and improved transparency

A series of poly(vinylcarbazole)‐based polymers containing sulfonyl‐based nonlinear optical chromophores as the side chains were prepared conveniently through a postfunctionalization approach. In the polymers, the subtle structure of the chromophore moieties could be easily modified by the introduction of different isolation group, to adjust the property of the resultant polymers. The polymers exhibited good optical transparency, besides their good processability and thermal stability. The poled polymer films exhibited large second harmonic generation (SHG) coefficients of d₃₃ values (up to 28.6 pm/V) with excellent thermal stability (about 90% of the maximal SHG coefficients remain at ～ 110 °C). © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 2983–2993, 2008