Synthesis of trifluoromethyl‐1,2,4‐triazine‐ and trifluoromethylpyrimidine‐fused uracils

A variety of trifluoromethyl‐1,2,4‐triazine‐ and trifluoromethylpyrimidine‐fused uracils ( 9 ), ( 12 ), ( 15 ) and ( 18 ) were synthesized from trifluoroacetaldehyde ethyl hemiacetal or trifluoroacetic anhydride and corresponding uracil derivatives.     

Pyrene‐Functionalised,Alternating Copolyimide for Sensing Nitroaromatic Compounds

A novel, pyrene‐functionalised copolymer has been synthesised in a single step via imidisation of poly(maleic anhydride‐alt‐1‐octadecene) with 1‐pyrenemethylamine, and its potential for the detection of volatile nitro aromatic compounds (NACs) evaluated. The new copolymer forms complexes in solution with NACs such as 2,5‐dinitrobenzonitrile, as shown by ¹H NMR, UV‐vis and fluorescence spectroscopy. Moreover, thin films of this copolymer, cast from THF solution, undergo almost instantaneous fluorescence quenching when exposed to the vapour of 2,5‐dinitrobenzonitrile (a model for TNT) at ambient temperatures and pressures.

     

Synthesis of Dendritic Oligo‐Spiro(fluorene‐9,9′‐xanthene) Derivatives with Carbazole and Fluorene Pendants and their Thermal,Optical, and Electroluminescent Properties

Two novel spiro‐configured ter(arylene‐ethynylene) derivatives, TSF‐Cz and TSF‐F , have been designed and synthesized using spiro(fluorene‐9,9′‐xanthene) (SFX) as building blocks, introducing a hole‐transporting carbazole and a fluorene chromophore as the peripheral functional group into the backbone through an oxygen atom. The two well‐defined oligomers possess good solubility, film‐forming quality, and high T_g's at 140 and 126 °C, respectively. In addition, these oligomers exhibit blue photoluminescence (PL) emission both in solution and solid states. The double‐layered devices fabricated using the two materials as the emitter show a sky‐blue emission with a brightness and a current efficiency of 7 613 cd · m⁻² and 1.11 cd · A⁻¹ for TSF‐Cz , and 1 507 cd · m⁻² and 0.36 cd · A⁻¹ for TSF‐F , respectively.

     

A Rapid Eco‐Friendly Synthesis of Poly(butylene succinate) by a Direct Polyesterification under Microwave Irradiation

Summary: A rapid and eco‐friendly synthesis of poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) using microwaves was developed in the presence of 1,3‐dichloro‐1,1,3,3‐tetrabutyldistannoxane as catalyst. To determine the optimum conditions, the effect of catalyst concentration, bulk vs. solution polymerization, reaction time, temperature, and stoichiometry of the monomers were studied. Based on the optimum conditions, PBS with a weight‐average molecular weight of 2.35 × 10⁴ was obtained in a short time of 20 min.

Synthesis of poly(butylene succinate) under microwave irradiation.     

High‐Resolution Separation of Oligo(acrylic acid) by Capillary Zone Electrophoresis

Summary: Oligo(acrylic acid)s, produced by RAFT polymerization, have been separated and analyzed for the first time by capillary zone electrophoresis. The resolution obtained by capillary electrophoresis in borate buffers is far higher than that currently achieved using size exclusion chromatography. This work demonstrates that capillary electrophoresis is the technique of choice for the characterization of oligomers of acrylic acid and of other water‐soluble monomers involved in emulsion polymerization processes.

Electropherograms of different acrylic acid (AA) oligomers obtained by CZE.     

Multi‐Morphological Complex Aggregates Formed from Amphiphilic Poly(ethylene oxide)‐block‐Polydimethylsiloxane‐block‐Poly(ethylene oxide) Triblock Copolymers

Summary: Amphiphilic triblock copolymers (PEO_x‐b‐PDMS_y‐b‐PEO_x) with different block lengths were synthesized and multi‐morphological complex crew‐cut, star‐like, and short‐chain aggregates were prepared by self‐assembly of the given copolymers. The morphologies and dimensions of the aggregates can be well controlled by variation of the preparation conditions. TEM, SEM, FFR‐TEM, and LLS studies show the resulting morphologies range from LCMs, unilamellar or multilayer vesicles, LCVs, porous spheres to nanorods.

TEM images of the vesicles formed from PEO‐b‐PDMS‐b‐PEO.     

Synthesis and Characterization of α,ω‐Heterofunctional Poly(ethylene oxide) Macromonomers

A novel α,ω‐heterofunctional poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) macromonomer possessing methacryloyl and thienyl end groups was prepared by ring‐opening polymerization of ethylene oxide initiated by potassium thienylethoxide and termination of the living PEO ends with methacryloyl chloride. Incorporation of methacryloyl and thienyl groups was confirmed by free‐radical and oxidative polymerization processes, respectively, and by means of ¹H NMR analysis.

     

Metallo‐Polymerization/‐Cyclization of a C16‐Bridged Di‐Terpyridine Ligand and Iron(II) Ions

Summary: The coordinative polymerization/cyclization of a flexible monodisperse di‐terpyridine ligand with iron(II ) chloride is reported. Matrix‐assisted laser desorption ionization time‐of‐flight (MALDI‐TOF) investigations showed the preferred formation of a [2 + 2] macrocycle, but also larger aggregates (cycles or linear oligomers) with up to 10 monomer units were found. Because of its C₁₆‐spacer, the solubility is sufficient for performing viscosity experiments in CHCl₃/MeOH solution. A viscosity titration revealed a maximum in viscosity at the 1‐to‐1 ratio of iron(II ) ions to di‐terpyridine‐ligands, which indicates the formation of extended oligomers, polymers, catenanes and/or cycles at that ratio.

Schematic representation of intra‐ and intermolecular metallo‐macrocycles.     

Multifunctional Poly(N‐vinylcarbazole)‐Based Block Copolymers and their Nanofabrication and Photosensitizing Properties

The synthesis of poly(N‐vinylcarbazole)‐based block copolymers functionalized with rhenium diimine complexes or pendant terpyridine ligands is reported. The copolymers are synthesized by reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization, and they exhibit interesting morphological properties as a result of the phase separation between different blocks. The rhenium complex polymer block may function as a photosensitizer, while the terpyridine‐containing polymer block can be used as the template for nanofabrication by selective deposition of zinc complexes.

     

Supramolecular Assembly of Gold Nanoparticles Mediated by Polypseudorotaxane with Thiolated β‐Cyclodextrin

Summary: A water‐soluble gold nanoparticle aggregate 2 was prepared by chloroauric acid and a polypseudorotaxane 1 of mono‐6‐thio‐β‐cyclodextrin with poly(propylene glycol) bis(2‐aminopropyl ether) ( ≈ 2 000) in the presence of sodium borohydride in N,N‐dimethylformamide (DMF) solution. The investigative results indicated that the gold nanoparticle aggregate 2 might act as an efficient DNA‐cleavage reagent.

A typical TEM image of gold nanoparticle aggregate 2 .     

Thermosensitive and Switchable Terpyridine‐Functionalized Metallo‐Supramolecular Poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide)

Metallo‐supramolecular polymers offer attractive possibilities to combine the properties of polymers with the characteristics offered by the metal–ligand coordination. Here we present for the first time the combination of metal‐bis(terpyridine) complexes and lower critical solution temperature (LCST) polymers that can be switched by addressing either the thermosensitive polymer or the metal complex. We describe a new strategy for the synthesis of poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) end functionalized with a terpyridine moiety, which is further used for the preparation of Fe^II and Zn^II‐bis(terpyridine PNIPAM). The comparison of the LCST behavior of the uncomplexed ligands and their metal complexes that bear different counter ions is included. Furthermore, the switchability of the synthesized Fe^II system is demonstrated by a decomplexation reaction followed by the characterization of the uncomplexed ligand.

     

Vapor‐Based Synthesis of Poly[(4‐formyl‐p‐xylylene)‐co‐(p‐xylylene)] and Its Use for Biomimetic Surface Modifications

Summary: The vapor‐based synthesis and characterization of a reactive polymer, poly[(4‐formyl‐p‐xylylene)‐co‐(p‐xylylene)] ( 1 ), have been reported. The reactive polymer coating enables the immobilization of oligosaccharides via the chemoselective aldehyde‐hydrazide coupling reaction.

     

Self‐Catalysis of Phthaloylchitosan for Graft Copolymerization of ε‐Caprolactone with Chitosan

Summary: A protection‐graft‐deprotection method was developed to prepare chitosan‐g‐polycaprolactone graft copolymers, during which the ring‐opening copolymerization of ε‐caprolactone onto phthaloylchitosan (PHCS) happened without any additional catalysis. The intermediate PHCS was introduced primarily to protect the active amino group of chitosan. After controlled experiments, the phthalimido compound was proposed to be a novel kind of organic catalyst for the ring‐opening polymerization of caprolactone monomers, while the hydroxyl group acted as an initiator. Hence, in this graft system, PHCS was endowed with both self‐catalysis and self‐initiation at the same time, and the PCL side chains grew from the hydroxyl groups of the chitosan backbone.

     

Nano Grape Formation by isotactic‐Poly(methacrylic acid)‐block‐Poly(butyl acrylate)

A novel approach is employed to produce core–corona nanospheres, which introduces a stereoregular hydrophilic part to an amphiphilic block copolymer. The resultant morphology is reported using isotactic‐poly(methacrylic acid)‐block‐poly(butyl acrylate). Infrared spectroscopy revealed a supramolecular interaction, and X ray diffraction revealed the crystallization of the outer isotactic‐poly(methacrylic acid) part. The nanostructure, which looks like a nanosized ‘grape’, was formed when nanospheres and nanofibers coexisted simultaneously and partially fused.

     

Redox‐Responsive Hydrogel System Using the Molecular Recognition of β‐Cyclodextrin

Summary: We have successfully constructed a redox‐responsible hydrogel system by combination of β‐cyclodextrin (β‐CD), dodecyl‐modified poly(acrylic acid) [p(AA/C₁₂)], and a redox‐responsive guest, ferrocenecarboxylic acid (FCA). In the reduced state of FCA, the ternary mixture exhibited a gel‐like behavior, whereas, in its oxidized state, the mixture exhibited a sol behavior.

Conceptual illustration for the redox‐responsive hydrogel system.     

Linear High Molecular Weight Ladder Polymer via Fast Polycondensation of 5,5′,6,6′‐Tetrahydroxy‐3,3,3′,3′‐tetramethylspirobisindane with 1,4‐Dicyanotetrafluorobenzene

A high molecular weight ladder polymer based on 5,5′,6,6′‐tetrahydroxy‐3,3,3′,3′‐tetramethylspirobisindane and 1,4‐dicyanotetraflurobenzene has been synthesized by polycondensation under high‐intensity mixing conditions at about 155 °C and cyclic‐free products were obtained in high yield with low molecular weight distribution (1.7–2.3). The reaction could be completed within a few minutes. The polymer properties were characterized by GPC, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, F NMR, FT‐IR, and MALDI‐TOF MS. In addition, the mechanical properties, apparent surface areas and gas permeability are also reported. This procedure can also be used for the synthesis of other ladder polymers by irreversible polycondensations of tetraphenols with activated tetrafluoro aromatics.