Silicon-mediated synthesis of new amphiphilic oligomers

A series of amphiphilic oligomers have been synthesized in which the hydrophobic component was polyisobutylene, polystyrene, poly(methyl methacrylate) or dodecane, and the hydrophilic component was poly(vinyl alcohol) or poly(methacrylic acid). These syntheses exploited the chain extension chemistry of aldehyde-functionalized materials using silyl aldol polymerization or the group transfer polymerization of methacrylates. The interfacial character of these new amphiphilic oligomers was examined using water/toluene emulsification tests. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

A novel class of materials for ferroelectric liquid crystals containing siloxy chain end groups

Novel liquid crystals containing a siloxy chain as an end tail group instead of an alkyl chain were synthesized. The substitution effects were studied for ferroelectric liquid crystal materials. It was found that the temperature range for the chiral smectic C phase was reduced and shifted to lower temperature in comparison with the analogous alkyl chain derivatives. The crystallinity of the siloxy chain derivatives decreased and cholesteric phases were not observed. The influence of siloxy chains on ferroelectric liquid crystal properties, especially spontaneous polarizations and tilt angles, also greatly depended upon the mesogenic group structure. The X-ray diffraction results showed that the end tail group occupied a larger thickness in the chiral smectic C layer for the siloxy chain derivative than that for the alkyl chain derivative.     

A new class of low-molecular-weight amphiphilic gelators

A new powerful class of low-molecular-weight amphiphilic compounds has been synthesized and their structure-property relationships with respect to their gelation ability of organic solvents have been investigated. These compounds are able to gel organic solvents over a broad range of polarity. Especially polar solvents such as valeronitrile and gamma-butyrolactone can be gelled even at concentrations far below 1 wt %. It was found that the gelation ability of these asymmetrically substituted p-phenylendiamines depends on a well-balanced relation of the terminal head group, the units involved in hydrogen bonding (amide or urea groups), and on the length of the alkyl chain. With this class of new gelators it is possible to tailor thermal and mechanical properties in different organic solvents and open various application possibilities.     

Extended peptoids: a new class of oligomers based on aromatic building blocks

Peptoids (N-substituted polyglycines) represent a class of bioinspired oligomers that have unique physical and structural properties. Here, we report the construction of ‘extended peptoids’ based on aromatic building blocks, in which the N-alkylaminoacetyl group of the peptoid backbone has been replaced by an N-alkylaminomethylbenzoyl spacer. Both meta- and para-bromomethylbenzoic acids were synthesized, providing access to a new class of peptoids. Further, inclusion of hydrophilic side chains confers water solubility to these compounds, showing that, like simple peptoids, extended peptoids add an extra dimension to synthetic poly-amide oligomers with potential application in a variety of biological contexts.     

Synthesis, characterization, and aqueous properties of new amphiphilic copolymer with fluorocarbon groups

A series of amphiphilic copolymers with fluorocarbon groups (Poly(AMPS-co-FS), PAMFS) were synthesized by the radical copolymerization of sodium 2-acryamido-2-methylpropanesulfonate (AMPS) and styrene derivatives with a fluorocarbon side chain (FS). The structures and molecular characteristics of PAMFS were confirmed by ¹H-NMR, ¹⁹F-NMR, elemental analysis, and static light scattering. The aggregation behavior of the copolymer in aqueous solution was studied by surface tension, electrical conductivity, dynamic laser light scattering, transmission electron microscopy, and fluorescence measurements at different conditions. The results indicated that the surface activity of PAMFS is dependent on the content of fluorocarbon groups in the copolymer structure. The surface tension (γ _cmc) and critical micelle concentration of PAMFS decrease with the increase of sodium chloride concentration. The copolymers formed micelle-like aggregates and the fluorocarbon groups exhibited a strong tendency for intermolecular association.     

Peptoid oligomers with alpha-chiral, aromatic side chains: effects of chain length on secondary structure.

Oligomeric N-substituted glycines or "peptoids" with alpha-chiral, aromatic side chains can adopt stable helices in organic or aqueous solution, despite their lack of backbone chirality and their inability to form intrachain hydrogen bonds. Helical ordering appears to be stabilized by avoidance of steric clash as well as by electrostatic repulsion between backbone carbonyls and pi clouds of aromatic rings in the side chains. Interestingly, these peptoid helices exhibit intense circular dichroism (CD) spectra that closely resemble those of peptide alpha-helices. Here, we have utilized CD to systematically study the effects of oligomer length, concentration, and temperature on the chiral secondary structure of organosoluble peptoid homooligomers ranging from 3 to 20 (R)-N-(1-phenylethyl)glycine (Nrpe) monomers in length. We find that a striking evolution in CD spectral features occurs for Nrpe oligomers between 4 and 12 residues in length, which we attribute to a chain length-dependent population of alternate structured conformers having cis versus trans amide bonds. No significant changes are observed in CD spectra of oligomers between 13 and 20 monomers in length, suggesting a minimal chain length of about 13 residues for the formation of stable poly(Nrpe) helices. Moreover, no dependence of circular dichroism on concentration is observed for an Nrpe hexamer, providing evidence that these helices remain monomeric in solution. In light of these new data, we discuss chain length-related factors that stabilize organosoluble peptoid helices of this class, which are important for the design of helical, biomimetic peptoids sharing this structural motif.     

Thermodynamics of mixing of ethylene oxide oligomers with different end groups in tetrachloromethane: theoretical treatment

In a previous paper we reported the enthalpies of mixing of oligomers of ethylene oxide with different end groups in tetrachloromethane. This paper shows the applicability of the modified theoretical treatment, based on a quasichemical equilibrium of the contacting segmental surfaces originated from Huggins, to our experimental results. The experimental data of ethylene oxide oligomers with methoxy end groups can be described with the energy parameter Δε_αβ, the equilibrium constant K_αβ and the surface ratio r_σ assuming a chemically uniform surface of the oligomer in CCI₄. Ethylene oxides with strong polar OH end groups can be treated successfully with an extended version of the theory with two additional parameters K and ΔΔε for systems containing three different kinds of chemical units.     

Model problems in depolymerization kinetics of chain oligomers: 1. Successive detachment of monomer units from the chain end

For the successive detachment of monomer units from the end of a macroradical (one of the two main depolymerization mechanisms, of which the other is random chain scission), the time dependence of the monomers concentration, the average chain length, and width of the chain-length distribution of oligomers with allowance for the reverse reactions of monomer attachment to the radicals has been revealed without the use of the quasi-steady state approximation. The conditions under which the chain scission and the monomer evaporation occur at thermal equilibrium have been found.     

Dielectric relaxation analysis of cellulose oligomers and polymers in dependency on their chain length

For all cellulose‐like oligo‐ and polyglucans, beginning with the dimer cellobiose, a broad relaxation process at low temperatures is observed using the dielectric relaxation spectroscopy method. This relaxation has its molecular origin in orientational motions of the sugar rings via the glucosidic linkages. We investigated the dynamics of this main chain motion for β(1‐4) oligoglucans with 2, 3, 4, or 5 anhydroglucose units (AGUs), as well as for β(1‐4) polyglucans having a degree of polymerization molecular weight averages (DP_w) of 23, 37, 50, and 140 up to 3000. As a result we found that the activation energy (E_a) of the segmental chain motion has the lowest value (32 ± 1 kJ/mol) for cellobiose, followed by passing through a maximum for a DP between 7 and 15 with E_a = 51 ± 1 kJ/mol. Subsequently, the activation energy is decreased at a value around 44.8 ± 1.2 kJ/mol for chains containing more than 100 AGUs. Obviously, from a distinctly molecular dimension (DP_w ～ 100) the mean number of AGUs that take part in the local chain motions and cross‐correlation between the motions of neighboring AGUs are nearly the same and the chain length has no influence on the segmental motion. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 39: 2491–2500, 2001     

Dielectric relaxation analysis of starch oligomers and polymers with respect to their chain length

Starch belongs to the polyglucan group. This type of polysaccharide shows a broad β-relaxation process in dielectric spectra at low temperatures, which has its molecular origin in orientational motions of sugar rings via glucosidic linkages. This chain dynamic was investigated for α(1,4)-linked starch oligomers with well-defined chain lengths of 2, 3, 4, 6, and 7 anhydroglucose units (AGUs) and for α(1,4)-polyglucans with average degrees of polymerization of 5, 10, 56, 70, and so forth (up to 3000; calculated from the mean molecular weight). The activation energy (E_a) of the segmental chain motion was lowest for dimeric maltose (E_a = 49.4 ± 1.3 kJ/mol), and this was followed by passage through a maximum at a degree of polymerization of 6 (E_a = 60.8 ± 1.8 kJ/mol). Subsequently, E_a leveled off at a value of about 52 ± 1.5 kJ/mol for chains containing more than 100 repeating units. The results were compared with the values of cellulose-like oligomers and polymers bearing a β(1,4)-linkage. Interestingly, the shape of the E_a dependency on the chain length of the molecules was qualitatively the same for both systems, whereas quantitatively the starch-like substances generally showed higher E_a values. Additionally, and for comparison, three cyclodextrins were measured by dielectric relaxation spectroscopy. The ringlike molecules, with 6, 7, and 8 α(1,4)-linked AGUs, showed moderately different types of dielectric spectra. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 42: 188–197, 2004     

1H and 13C NMR of PMMA macromonomers and oligomers - end groups and tacticity

¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR have been used to study the end groups and tacticity in PMMA macromonomers and oligomers. These macromonomers are terminated almost exclusively in one vinylidene group per chain. The end group signals from the macromonomers are identified in both the ¹³C and ¹H NMR spectra. The spectra of the purified oligomers (n = 1-4) were used to aid in assignment. The macromonomers are predominantly syndiotactic, and the tacticity measured is consistent with Bernoullian statistics. The tetramer is a mixture of r and m isomers in a 4:1 ratio. It is shown that T₁ experiments can provide a useful method of distinguishing resonances due to low molecular weight impurities from those due to stereochemical or isomeric effects in macromonomers. The absence of internal double bonds was confirmed by isomerizing the vinylidene group of several oligomers and of the macromonomer, and verifying the absence of the isomerized signals in the NMR spectra of the original materials.     

Theoretical evolution of the third-order molecular polarizabilities as a function of chain length in thiophene and pyrrole oligomers

On the basis of INDO (intermediate neglect of differential overlap)/MRD -CI (multireference determinant–configuration interaction) calculations, the SOS (sum-over-states) formalism is applied to calculate the third-order polarizabilities, γ, in thiophene and pyrrole oligomers. For both types of oligomers, the chain-length dependence of γ can be divided into three regimes: Describing γ as a power law of the number of rings (N), we observe that the power value first strongly increases with N, than reaches a nearly constant value (power regime), and, finally, decreases toward one, indicating the appearance of a saturation regime. Very good agreement with the experimental evolution has been found in the case of the oligothiophenes. The comparison of the results obtained for the two types of oligomers indicates a lower polarizability in the oligopyrroles. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Mixed acenannellated metallotetraazaporphins: a new class of amphiphilic photosensitizers for the photodynamic therapy of cancer

The first synthesis of amphiphilic mixed acenannellated metallotetraazaporphins compounds, designed with the aim of improving cell membrane penetration, is described and the preliminary results on their photocytotoxicity are presented.     

Studies on main - chain liquid - crystalline model oligomers of defined length and structure

Oligomers of defined sequence and structure modelling main chain LC polymers were prepared a) by solution synthesis; b) by a novel liquid phase synthesis using two monomethoxy-poly (ethylene glycol) supports. Benzyl- and tert.butyl-groups were used as orthogonal pair of protecting groups for route a), and also as compatible anchor groups for carriers in route b). Depending on chain structure and end groups, at least ca. 3 mesogenic elements are required to allow for LC phase transitions. The phase behaviour of oligomers with free carboxylic ends can be explained by their association tendency.     

Aggregates in solution of binary mixtures of amphiphilic diblock copolymers with different chain length

The polydispersity effect of amphiphilic AB diblock copolymers on the self-assembled morphologies in solution has been investigated by the real-space implementation of self-consistent field theory (SCFT) in two dimensions (2D). The polydispersity is artificially obtained by mixing binary diblock copolymers where the hydrophilic or hydrophobic blocks are composed of two different lengths while the other block length is kept the same. The main advantage is that this simple polydispersity can easily distinguish the difference of aggregates in the density distribution of long and short block length intuitionally and quantitatively. The morphology transition from vesicles to micelles is observed with increasing polydispersity of copolymers due to the length segregation of copolymers. For polydisperse hydrophilic or hydrophobic blocks, the short blocks tend to distribute at the interfaces between hydrophilic and hydrophobic blocks while the long blocks stretch to the outer space. More specifically, by quantitatively taking the sum of all the concentration distribution of long and short chains over the inside and outside surface areas of the vesicle, it is found that long blocks prefer to locate on the outside surface of the vesicle while short ones prefer the inside. Such length segregation leads to large curvature of the aggregate, thus resulting in the decrease of the aggregate size.     

Photophysics of diplatinum polyynediyl oligomers: chain length dependence of the triplet state in sp carbon chains

The series of polyynes with the structure trans, trans-[Ar-Pt(P 2)-(C[triple bond]C) n -Pt(P 2)-Ar], where P = tri( p-tolyl)phosphine, Ar = p-tolyl, and n = 3, 4, 5, 6 (6, 8, 10, 12 sp carbon atoms), has been subjected to a comprehensive photophysical investigation. At low temperature ( T < 140 K) in a 2-methyltetrahydrofuran (MTHF) glass, the complexes exhibit moderately efficient phosphorescence appearing as a series of narrow (fwhm < 200 cm (-1)) vibronic bands separated by ca. 2100 cm (-1). The emission is assigned to a (3)pi,pi* triplet state that is concentrated on the sp carbon chain, and the vibronic progression arises from coupling of the excitation to the -C[triple bond]C- stretch. The 0-0 energy of the phosphorescence decreases with increasing sp carbon chain length, spanning a range of over 6000 cm (-1) across the series. Transient absorption spectroscopy carried out at ambient temperature confirms that the (3)pi,pi* triplet is produced efficiently, and it displays a strongly allowed triplet-triplet absorption. In the MTHF solvent glass ( T < 140 K), the emission lifetimes increase with emission energy. Analysis of the triplet nonradiative decay rates reveals a quantitative energy gap law correlation. The nonradiative decay rates can be calculated by using parameters recovered from a single-mode Franck-Condon fit of the emission spectra.     

Determination of end groups as a function of molecular size for aliphatic polyesters by derivatization of end groups and size-exclusion chromatography with infrared detection

End groups of poly(ethyleneglycol sebacate) having number average molecular weights less than 2500 were characterized as a function of molecular size by derivatizing end groups separately to form 3,5-dinitrobenzoyl and p-nitrobenzyl esters. A hydroxyl end group was reacted with 3,5-dinitrobenzoyl chloride (DNBC) and a carboxyl end group was reacted with O-(p-nitrobenzyl)-N,N′-diisopropyl isourea (PNBD). After separation of these derivatized polyesters by size-exclusion chromatography, the effluent was monitored by using a highly sensitive infrared detector. Concentrations of polyesters were monitored at 1740 cm^?1 for a carbonyl group in the main chain, polyesters derivatized with DNBC at 1560 cm^?1 for a hydroxyl end group (characteristic absorption band for the nitro group of DNBC), and polyesters derivatized with PNDB at 1537 cm^? for a carboxyl end group (a characteristic absorption band for the nitro group of PNBD). By this technique, three types of polyesters having different end groups were characterized: a diol-type polyester, a mixture of polyesters of a diol type and a mono-ol/monocarboxyl type, and a mixture of polyesters of a dicarboxyl type a mono-ol/monocarboxyl type.