Direct Observation of α‐Chloro‐p‐quinodimethane as the Real Monomer in the Gilch Polymerization Leading to Poly(p‐phenylene vinylene)s

It is the general consensus that in Gilch polymerizations the 1,4‐bis(chloromethylene)benzene starting material first changes into p‐quinodimethane intermediates which then act as the real monomers. However, direct observation of these intermediates has not been possible so far. This is because usually the p‐quinodimethane auto‐initiates its rapid radical polymerization instantaneously, keeping its concentration extremely low throughout the whole process. Here it is shown that, when the reaction is carried out at very low temperatures, the formation of p‐quinodimethane still proceeds but chain growth is suppressed. Hence, the concentration of the active monomer reaches a level sufficient for NMR analysis.

     

Thin Films by Multilayer Build‐Up of Electron Transport Materials

We present the synthesis and the electrochemical characterization of polymeric electron transport materials, synthesized by polycondensation of substituted triazines and α,ω‐dihaloalkanes. They can be reversibly reduced with the least negative potential at −0.39 V, which is below the reduction potential of oxygen. In addition, the formation of polyelectrolyte multilayers is possible by the electrostatic self‐assembly method. This multilayer formation takes place in a very defined way up to thirty double layers.

An example of one of the polymeric triazine electron transport materials synthesized and a schematic diagram of a self‐assembled multilayer film.     

Mechanism of Conjugated Polymer Organization on SWNT Surfaces

Summary: The interactions between poly{(2,6‐pyridinylenevinylene)‐co‐[(2,5‐dioctyloxy‐p‐phenylene)vinylene]} (PPyPV) and SWNTs have been investigated using UV‐Vis absorption spectroscopy. The SWNTs promoted polymer organization. PPyPV is a Lewis base and can be doped by strong and weak Lewis acids. The basicity strength of the PPyPV depended on the polymer interchain interactions, which were enhanced by the presence of SWNTs. As the SWNT concentration was increased, an increment in the K_b of PPyPV was observed.

     

Novel Biodegradable and Thermosensitive Dex‐AI/PNIPAAm Hydrogel

The dextran‐allyl isocyanate/poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) (Dex‐AI/PNIPAAm) hydrogel was designed and prepared by copolymerization of the modified dextran with N‐isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAm). This novel Dex‐AI/PNIPAAm hydrogel is biodegradable and intelligent due to its biodegradable dextran linkage and thermosensitive PNIPAAm moiety. With an increase in dextran content, it exhibits the increased lower critical solution temperature (LCST) and decreased porous microstructure. Also, the thermosensitivity of this hydrogel is also controllable and adjustable depending on the different compositions.

SEM micrographs of the Dex‐AI/PNIPAAm hydrogels.     

“Clip” and “Click” Chemistries Combination: Toward Easy PEGylation of Degradable Aliphatic Polyesters

α‐Methoxy‐ω‐alkyne poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) was tagged with pendent N‐hydroxy‐succinimidyl activated esters by photografting of a molecular clip. This easily synthesized heterofunctional PEG was found to be a versatile building block for (i) conjugation with an amino derivative and (ii) grafting to azido functional aliphatic polyesters backbone by Huisgen's 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition. This original combination of “clip” and “click” reactions provides a versatile and straightforward pathway for the synthesis of functional amphiphilic and degradable copolymers valuable for biomedical applications such as in drug‐delivery.

     

Surface Fixing Effect of Vacuum Evaporated Particles on Polyethylene Single Crystals

Summary: The recrystallization behavior of high density polyethylene (HDPE) single crystals with vacuum evaporated metal chromium or carbon on their surface has been investigated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and electron diffraction (ED) techniques. The results indicate that the particle‐coated HDPE single crystals can retain their single crystal structure after complete melting and subsequent recrystallization, with the heat‐treated temperature as high as 200 °C. This phenomenon is attributed to a surface fixing effect of vacuum evaporated Cr or carbon on the single crystals.

A bright‐field electron micrograph and the corresponding electron diffraction pattern of recrystallized Cr‐coated HDPE single crystals.     

Ordering Cylindrical Microdomains for Binary Blends of Block Copolymers with Graphoepitaxy

The morphology of a thin film was studied for a binary mixture of asymmetric PS‐b‐PMMA block copolymers on a flat silicon wafer coated with 50 nm thick silicon oxide. AFM and TEM reveal that the PMMA cylinders orient perpendicular to the substrate by tuning the film thickness. Furthermore, grating substrates with different width and depth are used to guide the alignment of the perpendicular cylinders. As a result, an array of highly ordered, hexagonally packed PMMA cylinders in the PS matrix with a domain spacing of less than 25 nm has been produced.

     

Unusual Photopolymerization Behavior of Amino Acid‐Derived Polydiacetylene Supramolecules

UV‐irradiation of aqueous suspensions of amino acid‐derived amphiphilic diacetylene supramolecules promotes a process that involves initial formation of species that absorb at 640 nm followed by the generation of polymers that have longer wavelength (686 nm) absorbance. The initially formed intermediate polydiacetylenes display substantial colorimetric reversibility while the long wavelength absorbing polymers show irreversible thermochromism during heating and cooling cycles. The long wavelength absorbing polydiacetylenes, formed from amino acid‐derived amphiphilic diacetylene supramolecules, are suggested to have more planer backbone structures that allow more efficient overlap of the conjugated p‐orbitals.

     

Chitinase‐Catalyzed Synthesis of a Chitin‐Xylan Hybrid Polymer: A Novel Water‐Soluble β(1 → 4) Polysaccharide Having an N‐Acetylglucosamine‐Xylose Repeating Unit

Summary: A chitin‐xylan hybrid polysaccharide having β(1 → 4)‐linked alternating structure of N‐acetyl‐D ‐glucosamine and D ‐xylose was synthesized via chitinase‐catalyzed polymerization. An oxazoline derivative of D ‐xylosyl‐β(1 → 4)‐N‐acetyl‐D ‐glucosamine ( 1 ) was effectively polymerized by the catalysis of chitinase from Bacillus sp., giving rise to a water‐soluble chitin‐xylan hybrid polysaccharide ( 2 ) in good yields. Molecular weights ( ) of 2 reached 1 500, which corresponds to 8–10 saccharide units.

A chitin‐xylan hybrid polysaccharide ( 2 ) synthesized via chitinase‐catalyzed polymerization.     

Water Soluble Star‐block Copolypeptides: Towards Biodegradable Nanocarriers for Versatile and Simultaneous Encapsulation

The synthesis of water soluble star‐block copolypeptides and their encapsulation properties are described. The star‐block copolypeptides, obtained by ring‐opening polymerization of amino acid N‐carboxyanhydrides, consist of a PEI core, a hydrophobic polyphenylalanine or polyleucine inner shell, and a negatively charged polyglutamate outer shell. The encapsulation study showed that these water soluble, amphiphilic star‐block copolypeptides could simultaneously encapsulate versatile compounds ranging from hydrophobic to anionic and cationic hydrophilic guest molecules.

     

Supramolecular Thermotropic Liquid Crystalline Materials with Nematic Mesophase Based on Methylated Hyperbranched Polyethylenimine and Mesogenic Carboxylic Acid

Summary: Supramolecular interaction of fully methylated hyperbranched polyethylenimines (PEI) with a mesogen‐based carboxylic acid, 5‐(p‐cyanobiphenoxy)pentanoic acid, results in the formation of supramolecular complexes exhibiting thermotropic liquid crystalline (LC) mesophases. In contrast to the common smectic mesophases of most dendritic LC polymers, nematic LC phases were observed. The complexation of PEI and the mesogen units is due to electrostatic interaction between the carboxylate groups and the ammonium end groups of PEI. LC properties were investigated by a combination of differential scanning calorimetry, polarizing light optical microscopy, and X‐ray diffractometry.

Schematic illustration of the supramolecular assembly of CBPA with PEIMe backbone.     

Colorimetric and Fluorometric Detection of Neomycin Based on Conjugated Polydiacetylene Supramolecules

Utilizing the colorimetric and fluorogenic changes, a system based on polydiacetylenes (PDAs) is developed for the detection of neomycin. The PDA supramolecules polymerized from the mixed liposome composed of N‐(3‐hydroxyphenyl)pentacosa‐10,12‐diynamide (PCDA‐AP) and pentacosa‐10,12‐diynoic acid (PCDA) at an optimized ratio of 1:9 display a unique colorimetric change (blue to red) and fluorescent enhancement in the presence of neomycin. The detection limit for neomycin is estimated to be 2.55 × 10⁻⁷ M by the fluorogenic method. The optical changes induced by neomycin can be attributed to the disruption of the hydrogen bonding between phenol and carboxylic acid from PCDA‐AP and PCDA.

     

Design of Heterocomplementary H‐Bonding RAFT Agents – Towards the Generation of Supramolecular Star Polymers

Supramolecular poly(vinyl acetate) PVAc 3‐arms stars were successfully generated by Reversible Addition–Fragmentation chain Transfer (RAFT)‐polymerized chains bearing hydrogen‐bonding heterocomplementary associating units. Chain Transfer Agents (CTA) bearing thymine‐ and diaminopyridine‐based units were first synthesized and proved to mediate efficiently the polymerization of VAc. The binding ability of the chains in solution was then demonstrated by ¹H NMR and GPC measurements, proving the formation of the supramolecular stars.

     

Polymer/Laponite Composite Latexes: Particle Morphology,Film Microstructure,and Properties

Transparent film materials with excellent mechanical and thermal properties were elaborated by drying a latex suspension of armored polymer/Laponite composite particles. Low‐temperature TEM observation of ultrathin cross‐sections of the films indicated a unique network morphology characterized by a “honeycomb” distribution of the Laponite platelets remindful of the original particles morphology.

     

Shape of Micelles Formed From Strongly Adsorbed Grafted Polymers in Poor Solvents

Summary: We consider the shape of strongly adsorbed polymer chains in poor solvents. Using both SCF theory and Monte Carlo simulations, we find these chains undergo an instability which is driven, surprisingly, by polymer entropy. This instability occurs above some critical grafting separation and the intermediate segregation regime. An analytical calculation also suggests that this instability occurs for strongly adsorbed polymer chains. We proceed to study multi‐chain systems and observe a number of novel morphological structures including circular polymer droplets, lamellae and a polymer layer with a solvent‐filled hole.

Shape of strongly adsorbed multi‐chain polymer globules.     

Holes and Ledges Created by Multilayer Assembly on Polyelectrolyte Brushes: A Novel Route for the Three‐Dimensional Nanoscale Design of Surfaces

The layer‐by‐layer (LBL) assembly of poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) and poly(sodium styrene sulfonate) on poly(sulfo propyl methacrylate) brushes resulted in films with nanometer‐ and micrometer‐sized holes and ledges, observed by atomic force microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Polyelectrolyte assembly was followed by the quartz microbalance technique. The formation of ledges and holes is explained by the interaction of the brush polymers with the incoming polyelectrolytes during the LBL assembly, inducing a spatially localized and self‐organized accumulation of the assembled polymers.

     

Thermal Breakdown by the Retro Diels–Alder Reaction of Crosslinking in Poly[styrene‐co‐(furfuryl methacrylate)]

Crosslinked poly[styrene‐co‐(furfuryl methacrylate)] has been produced by the Diels–Alder (D‐A) reaction between the furan ring (within the copolymer) and the maleimide (MI) group (within the other reactant, bismaleimide). The retro D‐A reaction was followed by the analysis of MI groups produced at different times at five constant temperatures. The process was shown to follow first‐order kinetics, and the rate constants were determined. The findings are believed to be the first to provide quantitative information on the breakdown by a retro D‐A reaction of crosslinking in a polymer system. The D‐A and retro D‐A processes constitute a thermoreversible gelling system with respect to the formation and breakdown of crosslinks.

First‐order rate plot for the retro D‐A breakdown of crosslinked poly(ST‐co‐FM).     

Opto‐Mechanical Effect in Photoactive Nematic Side‐Chain Liquid‐Crystalline Elastomers

The mechanical behaviour of monodomain nematic side‐chain liquid‐crystalline elastomers containing azoderivatives as pendant groups or crosslinkers has been studied under UV irradiation and in the darkness at different temperatures. From the evaluation of the opto‐mechanical experiments, the mechanical efficiency, kinetic rates, activation energies and the isomerization mechanism of the azocompounds in the liquid‐crystalline matrix could be determined, as well as the effect of the chemical constitution of the azobenzene derivatives and their role in the elastomeric network.

     

Amphiphilic Poly(4‐acryloylmorpholine)/Poly[2‐(N‐carbazolyl)ethyl acrylate] Random and Block Copolymers Synthesized by NMP

A series of random copolymers and block copolymers containing water‐soluble 4AM and fluorescent VAK are synthesized by NMP. The homopolymerizations of 4AM and VAK and 4AM/VAK random copolymerization are performed in 50 wt% DMF using 10 mol% SG1, resulting in a linear increase in versus conversion, and final polymers with narrow molecular weight distributions ( < 1.4). Reactivity ratios r_VAK = 0.64 ± 0.52 and r_4AM = 0.86 ± 0.66 are obtained for the 4AM/VAK random copolymerization. In addition, a poly(4AM) macroinitiator is used to initiate a surfactant‐free suspension polymerization of VAK. After 2.5 h, the resulting amphiphilic block copolymer has = 12.6 kg · mol^?1, = 1.48, molar composition F_VAK = 0.38 with latex particle sizes between 270 and 475 nm.