Controlled synthesis of glycopolymers with pendant D-glucosamine residues by living cationic polymerization

D -glucosamine-containing glycopolymers with well-controlled structure were synthesized by living cationic polymerization. To this end, D -glucosamine-containing vinyl ether (VE) of the type [CH₂()CH(OCH₂CH₂OR)] was prepared, where R denotes a 3,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-2-deoxy-2-phthalimide-β-D -glucopyranoside, i.e., the hydroxyl and amino groups in D -glucosamine residues are protected by acetyl and phthaloyl groups, respectively. It was found that (1) the efficient living cationic polymerization of VE monomer is achieved by a combination of ethylaluminum dichloride (EtAlCl₂) with an adduct of trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) and isobutyl VE (IBVE) [CH₃CH(OiBu)OCOCF₃] (i.e., TFA/EtAlCl₂ initiating system); and (2) the polymerization in toluene at the elevated temperature (0°C) is most suitable to proceed the homogeneous polymerization over the whole conversion range. The molecular weight distribution of the resulting polymers was very narrow ($ {\bar M}_w/{\bar M}_n \sim 1.1 $). Quantitative deprotection of the resulting precursor polymers was successfully achieved with hydrazine monohydrate to afford the corresponding water-soluble polymers with pendant D -glucosamine residues. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 35: 751–757, 1997     

Vinyl ethers with a functional group: Living cationic polymerization and synthesis of monodisperse polymers

The living cationic polymerization of vinyl ethers (VEs) having a (polar) functional pendant has been achieved by the hydrogen iodide/iodine (HI/I₂) initiating system to give polymers with a very narrow molecular weight distribution (MWD) (M_w/M_n ≤ 1.2). The functional pendants include benzyl, saturated or unsaturated ester, (poly) oxyethylene, and substituted phenoxyl groups. Although these polar groups often disturb cationic vinyl polymerization by inducing chain transfer and termination, the HI/I₂ initiator cleanly polymerized the “functionalized” VEs without side reactions, mostly in nonpolar media at low temperatures below −15 °C. The HI/I₂-initiated living polymerization also provided facile methods to synthesize new functional polymers, including water-soluble polymers, macromolecular amphiphiles, and macromers, all having a narrow MWD. The simplest example is the living polymerization of VEs carrying an oxyethylene chain [-(CH₂CH₂O)_n-R] as pendant, which directly yields water-soluble polymers. The debenzylation of poly(benzyl VE) prepared with HI/I₂ led to poly(vinyl alcohol). Polymers of the saturated ester-containing monomers (2-acetoxyethyl and 2-benzoyloxyethyl VEs) were readily hydrolyzed into poly (2-hydroxyethyl VE), soluble in water and swellable in methanol. This lead was extended to the synthesis of a new amphiphile, poly(cetyl VE-b-2-hydroxyethyl VE), from a block copolymer of cetyl and 2-acetoxyethyl VEs prepared by their sequential living polymerization initiated with HI/I₂. An adduct between HI and 2-vinyloxyethyl methacrylate [CH₃-CH(I)-OCH₂CH₂OCOC(CH₃) =CH₂] was found to initiate living polymerizations of VEs in the presence of iodine; the products were methacrylate-type macromers carrying a poly(VE) side chain with a narrow chain-length distribution.     

Block polymers of isocyanates and vinyl monomers by homogeneous anionic polymerization

The “living” polymer method was used to prepare block polymers of vinyl monomers and isocyanates at low temperatures in toluene–tetrahydrofuran mixtures. Vinyl monomers and diisocyanates, which have one hindered isocyanate group, as in 2,4-toluene diisocyanate, form block polymers which contain pendant reactive isocyanate groups. These block polymers can be crosslinked with water, diols, diamines, etc. The polymerization is apparently limited to block polymer formation, since the polyisocyanate anion is incapable of initiating the polymerization of common vinyl monomers.     

Amphiphilic block and statistical copolymers with pendant glucose residues: Controlled synthesis by living cationic polymerization and the effect of copolymer architecture on their properties

Amphiphilic block and statistical copolymers of vinyl ethers (VEs) with pendant glucose residues were synthesized by the living cationic polymerization of isobutyl VE (IBVE) and a VE carrying 1,2:5,6‐di‐O‐isopropylidene‐D ‐glucose (IpGlcVE), followed by deprotection. The block copolymer was prepared by a two‐stage sequential block copolymerization, whereas the statistical copolymer was obtained by the copolymerization of a mixture of the two monomers. The monomer reactivity ratios estimated with the statistical copolymerization were r₁ (IBVE) = 1.65 and r₂ (IpGlcVE) = 1.15. The obtained statistical copolymers were nearly uniform with the comonomer composition along the main chain. Both the block and statistical copolymers had narrow molecular weight distributions (weight‐average molecular weight/number‐average molecular weight ∼ 1.1). Gel permeation chromatography, static light scattering, and spin–lattice relaxation time measurements in a selective solvent revealed that the block copolymer formed multimolecular micelles, possibly with a hydrophobic poly(IBVE) core and a glucose‐carrying poly(VE) shell, whereas the statistical copolymer with nearly the same molecular weight and segment composition was molecularly dispersed in solution. The surface properties of the solvent‐cast films of the block and statistical copolymer were also investigated with the contact‐angle measurement. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 39: 459–467, 2001     

Living cationic polymerization of vinyl ethers in the presence of added bases: Recent advances

The living cationic polymerization of vinyl ethers was carried out with organoaluminum compounds in the presence of various types of esters and ethers (cyclic and acyclic), to find out the suitable added bases available for the living polymerization. The effects of the basicity and steric hindrance of added bases were investigated in detail. On the basis of these results, a fast living polymerization system was realized. To synthesize water-soluble polymers such as thermally-induced phase separating polymers and polyalcohols with well-defined polymer structure, the living polymerization of various vinyl ethers was examined. The aqueous solution of living poly(vinyl ethers) having oxyethylene units exhibited a quite sensitive (ΔT_ps=0.3–0.5°C) and reversible phase separation on heating and cooling. The effects of polymer structures (pendant substituent, polymer sequence, molecular weight, and MWD) on the phase separation behavior were investigated. PVA and block copolymers containing PVA units with a narrow MWD were also prepared via living cationic polymerization of vinyl ethers and a deprotection reaction.     

Synthesis of brush‐shaped polymers consisting of a poly(phenylacetylene) backbone and pendant poly(vinyl ether)s via selective reaction of 2‐Vinyloxyethyl 4‐Ethynylbenzoate

We have newly designed an original bifunctional monomer (PAVE) containing both a phenylacetylene (PA) group and a vinyl ether (VE) group, which is expected to be a key material for the synthesis of brush‐shaped polymers consisting of a poly(phenylacetylene) (polyPA) main chain and polyVE side chains. Actually, we have demonstrated the selective chemical transformation of the VE moiety of PAVE to an initiator site for the living cationic polymerization of isobutyl vinyl ether (IBVE), and then succeeded in the controlled synthesis of a novel PA‐end‐capped polyIBVE macromonomer. Moreover, using this macromonomer, the first synthesis of a brush‐shaped polyPA bearing polyVE side chains was achieved via Rh complex‐mediated homopolymerization. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2014 , 52, 2800–2805     

Synthetic glycopolymers: an overview

Glycopolymers, synthetic sugar-containing macromolecules, are attracting ever-increasing interest from the chemistry community due to their role as biomimetic analogues and their potential for commercial applications. Recent developments in polymerisation techniques have enabled the synthesis of glycopolymers featuring a wide range of controlled architectures and functionalities. This review covers the syntheses of pendant carbohydrate-carrying linear polymers and their subsequent properties.     

Synthesis of neoglycopolymers by a combination of "click chemistry" and living radical polymerization

The synthesis of novel well-defined alkyne side chain functional polymers featuring narrow molecular weight distributions (PDI = 1.09-1.17) by living radical polymerization is described. Grafting of protected and unprotected carbohydrates is achieved via either a C-6 or an anomeric azide (alpha or beta) onto these polymers by Cu(I)-catalyzed "click chemistry", providing a simple and efficient route to synthetic glycopolymers. The strategy provides an extremely powerful tool for the synthesis of libraries of materials that differ only in the nature of the sugar moiety presented on a well-defined polymer scaffold. A library of multivalent ligands were then prepared following a "coclicking" synthetic protocol, and the reactivity of these glycopolymers in the presence of concanavalin A and Ricinus communis agglutinin, model lectins able to selectively bind appropriate mannose and galactose derivatives, respectively, was assessed.     

Stimuli‐responsive brush‐shaped conjugated polymers with pendant well‐defined poly(vinyl ether)s

For the synthesis of brush‐shaped conjugated polymers consisting of a poly(phenylene butadiynylene) backbone and well‐defined poly(vinyl ether) (polyVE) side chains, we designed polyVE‐based macromonomers bearing a diethynyl benzene group at the terminus and applied them to the grafting through synthesis. The macromonomer (DE‐PIBVE) was synthesized by living cationic polymerization of isobutyl VE (IBVE) using a functionalized initiator (TMS‐DEVE‐TFA) having a TMS protected diethynyl benzene moiety, followed by deprotection of the TMS groups. As a result, we succeeded in the synthesis of the target brush‐shaped conjugated polymers [poly(DE‐PIBVE)] by oxidative coupling reaction of the diethynyl benzene groups. We found that the solution of poly(DE‐PIBVE) with a specific side chain length exhibited solvatochromism and thermochromism depending on the polarity of the media employed. This phenomenon was attributed to self‐assembly in polar media due to the intermolecular π–π interaction between neighboring conjugated polymer backbones, where the self‐assembly behavior would be closely related to the pendant polyVE structure. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2016 , 54, 3318–3325     

Amphiphilic block copolymers of vinyl ethers by living cationic polymerization. II. Synthesis and surface activity of macromolecular amphiphiles with pendant amino groups

Amphiphilic block polymers of vinyl ethers (VEs). $\rlap{--} [{\rm CH}_{\rm 2} {\rm CH}\left( {{\rm OCH}_{\rm 2} {\rm CH}_{\rm 2} {\rm NH}_{\rm 2} } \right)\rlap{--} ]_m \rlap{--} [{\rm CH}_{\rm 2} {\rm CH}\left( {{\rm OR}} \right)\rlap{--} ]_n \left( {{\rm R: }n{\rm - C}_{{\rm 16}} {\rm H}_{{\rm 33}} ,{\rm }n{\rm - C}_{\rm 4} {\rm H}_{\rm 9} ;m \simeq 40,{\rm n} = 1 - 10} \right)$ were prepared, each of which consists of a hydrophilic segment with pendant primary amino groups and a hydrophobic poly(alkyl VE) segment. Their precursors were obtained by the HI/I₂-initiated sequential living cationic polymerization of an alkyl VE and a VE with a phthalimide pendant (CH₂ = CHOCH₂CH₂Im; Im; phthalimide group), where the segment molecular weights and compositions (m/n ratio) could be controlled by regulating the feed ratio of two monomers and the concentration of hydrogen iodide. Hydrazinolysis of the imide functions gave the target polymers which were readily soluble in water under neutral conditions at room temperature. These amphiphilic block polymers lowered the surface tension of their aqueous solutions (0.1 wt%, 25°C) to a minimum ? 30 dyn/cm when the hydrophobic pendant R was n-C₄H₉ (n = 4–9). The polymers with n-C₄H₉ pendants in the hydrophobic segment exhibited a higher surface activity than those with n-C₁₆ H₃₃ pendants. The surface activity of the polymers also depended on the pH of the polymer solutions; the surface activity increased in more basic solutions where the ionization of the amino group (? NH₂)2? NH₃^⊕) is suppressed.     

Immobilization of concanavalin A to glucose‐containing polymers

Sol‐gel reversible hydrogels sensitive to environmental glucose concentration were prepared using concanavalin A (Con A) and glucose‐containing polymers. Since the components of the hydrogels in the sol state can be released to the environment through pores of the dialysis membrane, it was necessary to immobilize Con A to the glucose‐containing polymers. Con A was immobilized by two different approaches. First, vinyl groups were introduced to Con A so that it can participate in the vinyl polymerization of allyl glucoside. Second, glucose‐containing polymers containing chemically reactive pendant groups were synthesized so that Con A could be immobilized to the preformed polymers. Both approaches resulted in effective immobilization of Con A to the glucose‐containing polymers, but the second method appeared to be better in terms of maintaining the bioactivity of Con A.     

Living cationic polymerization of a coumarin‐substituted vinyl ether and reversible photoinduced crosslinking of the resulting homopolymers and amphiphilic block copolymers

Living cationic polymerization of 4‐methyl‐7‐(2‐vinyloxyethoxy)coumarin (CMVE) was achieved using SnCl₄ in the presence of nBu₄NBr as an added salt at 0 °C. The number‐average molecular weight of the resulting polymers increased in direct proportion to the monomer conversion while retaining relatively low polydispersity. Structural analysis revealed that the resulting polymers carried pendant coumarinyl moieties. These coumarinyl moieties were crosslinked by irradiation with UV light at λ_max = 366 nm, and the crosslinked sites were then cleaved by irradiation with UV light at λ_max = 254 nm. The crosslinking behaviors of the polymers were studied by UV and FTIR spectroscopic measurement. PolyCMVE was soluble in dichloromethane but was found to be insoluble upon UV light irradiation. We also synthesized amphiphilic block polymers bearing coumarinyl moieties by living cationic copolymerization with an amphiphilic vinyl ether. The resulting block polymers were soluble in an aqueous medium and also formed micelle‐like aggregates. Upon UV irradiation of aqueous solutions above the critical micelle concentration, an efficient crosslinking reaction occurred. Photoinduced structural changes of these polymer aggregates in the solution state were further investigated. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011     

SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF WELL-DEFINED BLOCK COPOLYMERS CONTAINING PENDANT, SELF-COMPLEMENTARY QUADRUPLE HYDROGEN BONDING SITES

The title block copolymer (defined as PSUEA) containing pendant,self-complementary quadruple hydrogen bonding sites has been prepared successfully by three steps.First,poly(styrene-b-2-hydroxyethyl acrylate) (defined as PSHEA) was prepared by living radical polymerizing 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate (HEA) initiated by polystyrene (PSt) macro- initiator,which was prepared via nitroxide-mediated polymerization (NMP) technique.After treated by excessive 3-isocyanatomethyl-3,5,5-trimethylcyclohexyl isocyanate (IPD...     

Thermotropic liquid crystal behaviour of gemini imidazolium-based ionic amphiphiles

Thermotropic ionic liquid crystals (LCs) are useful for a number of applications such as anisotropic ion transport and as organised reaction media/solvents because of their ordered fluid properties and intrinsic charge units. A large number of different ionic LC architectures are known, but only a handful of examples of gemini (i.e. paired or dimeric) ionic LCs have been prepared and studied. In this work, a series of 20 new symmetric, imidazolium-based, gemini cationic LCs containing two bridged imidazolium cations and two pendant alkyl chains was synthesised, and the thermotropic LC behaviours were characterised. The imidazolium unit provides a highly tunable and modular platform for the design and synthesis of gemini cationic LCs which offers excellent structure control. As expected, the thermotropic LC properties of these new amphilphilic, gemini ionic LCs were found to be strongly influenced by the length of the spacer between the imidazolium units, the length of the pendant alkyl tails, and the nature of the anion. Smectic A (SmA) thermotropic LC phases were observed in more than half of the gemini imidazolium LC systems studied.     

Living cationic polymerization of a vinyl ether with an unprotected pendant alkynyl group and their use for the protecting group‐free synthesis of macromonomer‐type glycopolymers via CuAAC with maltosyl azides

An asymmetric bifunctional monomer having both an unprotected alkynyl group and a vinyl ether (VE) group (3‐[2‐(2‐vinyloxyethoxy)‐ethoxy]‐propyne [VEEP]) was newly designed and found that the polymerization of VEEP smoothly proceeded in a controlled manner under a living cationic polymerization condition to give alkyne‐substituted polyVE (polyVEEP) without any protection of the pendant alkynyl function. Next, the use of an initiator with a methacryloyl moiety for the living cationic polymerization of VEEP afforded macromonomer‐type polyVE (MA‐PVEEP) carrying pendant alkynyl groups. The potential ability of the resultant macromonomer as an alkyne‐substituted polymer for the copper(I)‐catalyzed alkyne‐azide cycloaddition (CuAAC) was also confirmed. A novel macromonomer‐type glycopolymer [MA‐P(VE‐Mal)] having pendant maltose residues and a terminal methacryloyl group was successfully synthesized by CuAAC of MA‐PVEEP with maltosyl azide. Thus, a new pathway to the controlled synthesis of macromonomer‐type glycopolymers of free from any protecting/deprotecting processes was demonstrated. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2019 , 57, 681–688     

Precise synthesis of heterogeneous glycopolymers with well-defined saccharide motifs in the side chain via post-polymerization modification and recognition with lectin

Heterogeneous glycopolymers with different sugar units in the side chain have been receiving considerable attention due to their potential properties in enhancing molecular recognition abilities toward a specific receptor, yet there are limited synthetic approaches to introduce different sugar motifs into the glycopolymer backbone. Herein, a series of heterogeneous glycopolymers consisting of different sugar units in the side chains were synthesized by post-polymerization modification of activated PFPA ester precursor polymers. The functionalized amines bearing two different sugar motifs have been synthesized by gradient CuAAC reaction, which could serve as a platform for achieving heterogeneous sugar units with functional control in concise steps. Isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) measurements of the obtained glycopolymers with Concanavalin A indicated that the heterogeneous glycopolymers, poly(Man-βGlu-OH) and poly(Man-βGa-OH) bearing α-D-mannose and other non-binding β-Glucose or β-Galatose units, show higher affinities toward Concanavalin A in comparison to monoglycopolymer poly(Man-Alkyne-OH) in which the non-binding sugar motifs was substituted with non-sugar unit due to synergistic effects of non-binding sugar units. Moreover, this work allows for precise fabrication of a broad variety of glycopolymers in which it significantly broadens the library of accessible polymer structures, either homogeneous or heterogeneous glycopolymers.     

Monolayers of rod-shaped and disc-shaped liquid crystalline compounds at the air-water interface

Calamitic (rod-shaped) and discotic (disc-shaped) thermotropic liquid crystalline (LC) compounds were spread at the air-water interface, and their ability to form monolayers was studied. The calamitic LCs investigated were found to form monolayers which behave analogously to conventional amphiphiles such as fatty acids. The spreading of the discotic LCs produced monolayers as well, but with a behaviour different from classical amphiphiles. The areas occupied per molecule are too small to allow the contact of all hydrophilic groups with the water surface and the packing of all hydrophobic chains. Various molecular arrangements of the discotics at the water surface to fit the spreading data are discussed.     

A room temperature discotic mesogenic dyad based-on triphenylene and pentaalkynylbenzene

A facile synthesis of a novel room temperature discotic mesogenic dyad based on triphenylene and pentaalkynylbenzene linked via flexible alkyl spacer is reported. The thermotropic liquid crystalline (LC) property of the compound was investigated by polarizing optical microscopy (POM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and X-ray diffractometry (XRD). The LC property of the dyad was further manipulated by preparing charge transfer (CT) complexes with trinitrofluorenone (TNF). The compound self-assembles into a columnar hexagonal mesophase and exhibits an excellent fluorescent emission property which has possible potential for various opto-electronic applications.     

Well‐defined glycopolymer amphiphiles for liquid and supercritical carbon dioxide applications

Well‐defined D ‐glucose‐containing glycopolymers, poly(3‐O‐methacryloyl‐1,2 : 5,6‐di‐O‐isopropylidene‐D ‐glucofuranose) (PMAIpGlc), and diblock copolymers of PMAIpGlc with poly(1,1‐dihydroperfluorooctyl methacrylate) (PFOMA) were synthesized by living anionic polymerization in THF at ?78 °C with 1,1‐diphenylhexyllithium in the presence of lithium chloride. The resulting polymers were found to possess predictable molecular weights and very narrow molecular weight distributions (MWD, M_w/M_n ≤ 1.16). Removal of the acetal protective groups from the protected glycopolymer block copolymer was carried out using 90% trifluoroacetic acid at room temperature, yielding a hydrophilic block copolymer with pendant glucose moieties. Both protected (lipophilic/CO₂‐philic) and deprotected (hydrophilic/CO₂‐philic) fluorocopolymers were proved to be CO₂ amphiphiles. Their solubility in CO₂ was heavily influenced by the amphiphilic structure, such as the copolymer compositions and the polarities of sugar block. Light‐scattering studies showed that, after removal of the protective groups, the deprotected block copolymer formed aggregate structures in liquid CO₂ with an average micellar size of 27 nm. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 39: 3841–3849, 2001     

Design of low-molecular-mass and polymeric discotic mesogenes

Key directions in the molecular design of thermotropic low-molecular-mass and polymeric discotic mesogens are considered. The data on relationships between the molecular structure of disklike compounds, oligomers, and polymers formed on their basis and the manifestation of mesomorphism are generalized. Some application areas of low-molecular-mass and polymeric discotic mesogens are discussed.