Isotope Effects on the Crystallization Kinetics of Selectively Deuterated Poly(ε‐Caprolactone)

Deuterium labeling of semi‐crystalline polymers can dramatically affect their crystallization behaviors. However, the influence of different labeled positions in a partially deuterated polymer on its crystallization is still far from understood. Here, we synthesized a series of selectively deuterated poly(ε‐caprolactones) (PCLs) through ring‐opening polymerization of ε‐caprolactone with controlled deuteration sites, including fully protiated (D0), fully deuterated (D10), tetra deuteration at the 3‐ and 7‐ caprolactone ring positions (D4) and hexa deuteration at the 4‐, 5‐, and 6‐ caprolactone ring positions (D6). All the PCLs showed a similar lamellar structure and parameters. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis revealed that the equilibrium melting temperature $T_m^0$, melting temperature T_m , crystallization temperature T_c , and crystallization kinetics changed systemically with the deuterium content except for D4, which indicates that the presence of ? CD₂? moieties on either side of ester group in the polymer chain combined with isotopic inhomogeneity could influence the chain packing. The nonmonotonic trend of T_m as a function of deuterium content could be attributed to the difference in a hydrogen‐bond like intermolecular interaction between different PCLs. Partially deuterated PCLs (D4 and D6) showed an Avrami index near 2. After analyzing the parameters at the same supercooling temperature ΔT_c , the existence of two crystallization regimes of PCLs were detected. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2019 , 57, 771–779     

Cationic ring‐opening polymerization of trimethylene carbonate to α,ω‐dihydroxy telechelic and star‐shaped polycarbonates catalyzed by reusable o‐benzenedisulfonimide

Cationic ring‐opening polymerization of trimethylene carbonate using o‐benzenedisulfonimide as a reusable catalyst under mild conditions was described. The polymerization proceeded homogeneously without decarboxylation and poly(trimethylene carbonates) (PTMCs) were synthesized with well‐controlled molecular weights and narrow polydispersities (M_w/M_n = 1.12–1.18). The spectra of ¹H‐NMR, SEC, and MALDI–ToF MS clearly demonstrated the incorporation of the initiator residue into the polymer chains and the controlled/living nature of the polymerizations. Furthermore, the catalyst can be easily recovered, and its efficiency was fully retained. In addition, 1,3‐propanediol, 1,1,1‐trimethylolpropane, and pentaerythritol were successfully used as initiators to produce telechelic and star‐shaped polycarbonates which were determined by intrinsic viscosity experiments. The number of arms estimated by the shrinking factors ( ) were 2.0, 2.6, and 3.5, respectively, indicating the successful syntheses of the two‐, three‐, and four‐armed PTMCs. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2015 , 53, 729–736     

Minor amounts of glycerol improve the properties of polyisobutylene‐based polyurethane and its nanocomposites

The synthesis of primary hydroxyl‐telechelic polyisobutylene, HOCH₂‐PIB‐CH₂OH, often yields product the number average terminal functionality ( $f_{n,{\mathrm{CH}}_2\mathrm{OH}}$) of which is less than theoretical 2.0, typically $f_{n,{\mathrm{CH}}_2\mathrm{OH}}$ = 1.75–1.95. Polyurethane (PU) prepared with such low‐cost imperfect PIB‐diols, unsurprisingly, exhibit poor overall properties. Herein we report that mechanical, rheological, and thermal properties of polyisobutylene‐based polyurethane (PIB‐PU) and PIB‐PU reinforced with organically modified montmorillonite (OmMMT) prepared with PIB‐diol of $f_{n,{\mathrm{CH}}_2\mathrm{OH}}$ = 1.85 are significantly enhanced by glycerol. Specifically, we document that calculated minor amounts of glycerol substantially improves tensile strength, ultimate elongation, elastic modulus, toughness, rubbery plateau, flow temperature, creep, permanent set, rate of recovery after loading, and thermal properties of PIB‐PU and OmMMT‐reinforced PIB‐PU prepared with PIB‐diol of $f_{n,{\mathrm{CH}}_2\mathrm{OH}}$ = 1.85. The observations are summarized and discussed in terms of chemistry, micromorphology, and viscoelasticity. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2019 , 57, 929–935     

Thermodynamic features of perfectly crystalline poly(3‐hexylthiophene) based on Flory's relation

Poly(3‐hexylthiophene) (P3HT) as a conjugated polymer has many electrical and photovoltaic applications. However, reliable values for the equilibrium melting temperature ( ${T°}_m$) and for the enthalpy of fusion of a perfect P3HT crystal ( ${\Delta H°}_m$) are still in doubt. In the published works, ${\Delta H°}_m$ ranges from 33 to 99 J/g. Here, the melting point of P3HT in P3HT‐diluent mixtures is measured with changing the diluent concentration. By satisfying the requirements of Flory relation, “working with the same polymer crystals” and “working in the equilibrium state,” usually neglected in the literature, a reliable value of ${\Delta H°}_m$ = 83 ± 2 J/g is obtained. The reported values for ${T°}_m$ of P3HT are also in a wide range, 260?300 °C. In this work, accurate applying of the Hoffman‐Weeks relation, against the effects of lamellar thickening, yields ${T°}_m$ = 272 ± 2 °C rather than 300 ± 2°C reported in the literature. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2019 , 57, 431–437     

Polyisobutylene containing covalently bound antioxidant moieties

Polyisobutylene (PIB) bearing covalently bound antioxidants is reported. TiCl₄‐catalyzed cleavage/alkylation reactions were conducted on poly(isobutylene‐co‐isoprene) (EXXON® Butyl 068; ${\overline{\mathrm{M}}}_{\mathrm{n}}$ = 3.37 × 10⁵ g/mol, (Ð) = 1.29, and 1.08 mol % isoprene) at ?70 °C in 60/40 hexane/dichloromethane in the presence of 2,6‐di‐tert‐butylphenol (DTP). Resulting PIB ${\overline{\mathrm{M}}}_{\mathrm{n}}$ s ranged from 30,000 to 85,300 g/mol and number average DTP functionalities (F_n) ranged from 4.3 to 12.0. ¹H NMR showed that 25%–40% of the DTP moieties underwent de‐tert‐butylation to form mono‐tert‐butyl phenol moieties. DTP‐functionalized and nonfunctionalized control PIBs were subjected to thermogravimetric analysis in nitrogen and in air. In nitrogen, commercial control PIBs (olefinic end groups) showed delayed onset of thermal degradation (T₁₀ = 380–381 °C) relative to both control PIBs produced by living polymerization (tert‐chloride end groups) and DTP‐functionalized PIBs (T₁₀'s all within the range of 366–370 °C). All PIBs showed lower degradation temperatures in air compared to nitrogen. Various control PIBs suffered 90% weight loss in air at temperatures ranging from 372 °C to 410 °C; DTP‐functionalized PIBs did not suffer 90% weight loss in air until 412–414 °C. Oxidative induction time analysis showed that all control PIBs suffered catastrophic degradation within 6 min, and most within 1 min, but DTP‐functionalized PIBs resisted degradation for >100 min. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2019 , 57, 1836–1846     

Nanostructure stability and swelling of ternary block copolymer/homopolymer blends: A direct comparison between dissipative particle dynamics and experiment

Ternary block copolymer (BCP)‐homopolymer (HP) blends offer a simple method for tuning nanostructure sizes to meet application‐specific demands. Comprehensive dissipative particle dynamic (DPD) simulations were performed to study the impact of polymer interactions, molecular weight, and HP volume fraction (φ_HP ) on symmetric ternary blend morphological stability and domain spacing. DPD reproduces key features of the experimental phase diagram, including lamellar domain swelling with increasing φ_HP , the formation of an asymmetric bicontinuous microemulsion at a critical HP concentration ${\phi }_{\mathrm{HP}}^{*}$, and macrophase separation with further HP addition. Simulation results matched experimental values for ${\phi }_{\mathrm{HP}}^{*}$ and lamellar swelling as a function of HP to BCP chain length ratio, α = N_HP/N_BCP . Structural analysis of blends with fixed φ_HP but varying α confirmed that ternary blends follow the wet/dry brush model of domain swelling with the miscibility of HPs and BCPs depending on α . Longer HPs concentrate in the center of domains, boosting their swelling efficiencies compared to shorter chains. These results advance our understanding of BCP‐HP blend phase behavior and demonstrate the value of DPD for studying polymeric blends. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2019 , 57, 794–803     

Morphology diagram of PE gel films in wide range temperature‐strain space: An in situ SAXS and WAXS study

Deformation‐induced structural evolution of polyethylene (PE) gel films were investigated by in situ synchrotron radiation SAXS and WAXS techniques during stretching at temperatures from 25°C to 110°C. The structural evolutions along tensile strains showed distinct behaviors in the four temperature regions divided by $T_{{\alpha }_{\mathrm{I}}}$ and $T_{{\alpha }_{\mathrm{II}}}$ given by DMA and the onset point of melting measured by DSC, respectively, which was determined by the coupling effects of external stretching field and temperature. Finally, the morphological diagrams of PE gel films on distinct scales including long period of lamellae, crystallinity, and crystal size in 2D temperature‐strain space were established, which can give a direct sight of membrane morphologies and act as a map for processing parameters selection. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2019 , 57, 748–757     

Synthesis and properties of long‐chain branched poly(ether sulfone)s by self‐polycondensation of AB2 type macromonomers

Long‐chain branched poly(ether sulfone)s (PESs) were synthesized via self‐polycondensation of AB₂ macromonomers. The linear PES oligomers synthesized by self‐polycondensation of 4‐chloro‐4′‐(4‐hydroxyphenyloxy)diphenyl sulfone were terminated with 4‐(3,5‐methoxyphenoxy)‐4′‐fluorodiphenyl sulfone to form AB₂ macromonomer precursors. After conversion from methoxy to hydroxy groups, the AB₂ macromonomers were self‐polycondensed to form long‐chain branched PESs. NMR measurements support the formation of the target macromonomers ( = 2930–67,800 (g mol^?1); M_n = number average molecular weight) and long‐chain branched PESs. Gel permeation chromatography with multiangle light scattering measurements indicated the formation of high‐molecular‐weight (M_w) polymers over 10⁴. The root‐mean‐square radius of gyration (R_g) suggests that the shape of the long‐chain branched PES synthesized from small AB₂ macromonomers in solution is similar to that of hyperbranched polymers. Increasing resulted in larger R_g, suggesting a transition from hyperbranched to a linear‐like architecture in the resulting long‐chain branched PESs. Rheological measurements suggested the presence of strongly entangled chains in the long‐chain branched PES. Higher tensile modulus and smaller elongation at the break were observed in the tensile tests of the long‐chain branched PESs. It is assumed that the enhanced molecular entanglement points may act as physical crosslinks at room temperature. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2014 , 52, 1825–1831     

Novel pendent thiophene side‐chained benzodithiophene for polymer solar cells

In this article, pendent thiophene (2‐butyl‐5‐octylthiophene) side chain is used to modify the backbone of the polymers containing benzo[1,2‐b:4,5‐b′]dithiophene (BDT) and thieno[3,4‐c]pyrrole‐4,6‐dione (TPD). Compared with the dodecyloxy side‐chained polymer (P1), pendent thiophene‐based polymers (P2 and P3) show similar number‐average molecular weight (M_n), polydispersity index, thermal stability (T_d ～ 334–337 °C), and optical band gaps ( ) (～1.8 eV). Polymer (P2)‐based BDT with pendent thiophene and ethylhexyl‐modified TPD shows relatively low‐lying HOMO energy level (?5.52 eV) and nearly 1 V high open circuit voltage (V_OC). The polymer solar cell devices based on three copolymers show power conversion efficiencies from 2.01% to 4.13%. The hole mobility of these polymers tested by space charge limited current method range from 3.4 × 10^?4 to 9.2 × 10^?4 cm²V^?1s^?1. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2015 , 53, 1558–1566     

Photo‐Fenton and Riboflavin‐photosensitized Processes of the Isoxaflutole Herbicide

The proherbicide Isoxaflutole (IXF) hydrolyzes spontaneously to diketonitrile (DKN) a phytotoxic compound with herbicidal activity. In this work, the sensitized degradation of IXF using Riboflavin (Rf), a typical environmentally friendly sensitizer, Fenton and photo‐Fenton processes has been studied. The results indicate that only the photo‐Fenton process produces a significant degradation of the IXF. Photolysis experiments of IXF sensitized by Riboflavin is not a meaningful process, IXF quenches the Rf excited triplet (³Rf*) state with a quenching rate constant of 1.5 · 10⁷ m ^?1 s^?1 and no reaction is observed with the species O₂(¹Δ_g) or ${\mathrm{O}}_2^{·?}$ generated from ³Rf*. The Fenton reaction produces no changes in the IXF concentration. While the photo‐Fenton process of the IXF, under typical conditions, it produces a degradation of 99% and a mineralization to CO₂ and H₂O of 88%. A rate constant value of 1.0 × 10⁹ m ^?1 s^?1 was determined for the reaction between IXF and HO˙. The photo‐Fenton process degradation products were identified by UHPLC‐MS/MS analysis.     

Using controlled radical polymerization to confirm the lower critical solution temperature of an N‐(alkoxyalkyl) acrylamide polymer in aqueous solution

N‐(3‐Methoxypropyl) acrylamide (MPAM) was polymerized by controlled radical polymerization (CRP) methods such as nitroxide‐mediated polymerization (NMP) and reversible addition–fragmentation chain‐transfer polymerization (RAFT). CRP was expected to yield well‐defined polymers with sharp lower critical solution temperature (LCST) transitions. NMP with the BlocBuilder (2‐([tert‐butyl[1‐(diethoxyphosphoryl)‐2,2‐dimethylpropyl]amino]oxy)‐2‐methylpropanoic acid) and SG1 ([tert‐butyl[1‐(diethoxyphosphoryl)‐2,2‐dimethylpropyl]amino] oxidanyl) initiating system revealed low yields and lack of control (high dispersity, ? ～ 1.5–1.6, and inhibition of chain growth). However, RAFT was far more effective, with linear number average molecular weight, , versus conversion, X, plots, low ? ～ 1.2–1.4 and the ability to form block copolymers using N,N‐diethylacrylamide (DEAAM) as the second monomer. Poly(MPAM) (with = 13.7–25.3 kg mol^?1) thermoresponsive behavior in aqueous media revealed cloud point temperatures (CPT)s between 73 and 92 °C depending on solution concentration (ranging from 1 to 3 wt %). The and the molecular weight distribution were the key factors determining the CPT and the sharpness of the response, respectively. Poly(MPAM)‐b‐poly(DEAAM) block copolymer ( = 22.3 kg mol^?1, ? = 1.41, molar composition F_DEAAM = 0.38) revealed dual LCSTs with both segments revealing distinctive CPTs (at 75 and 37 °C for poly(MPAM) and poly(DEAAM) blocks, respectively) by both UV–Vis and dynamic light scattering. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2015 , 53, 59–67     

Short-chain polyphosphates: Extraction effects on migration and size estimation of Saccharomyces cerevisiae extracts with polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis

Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis is commonly used to characterize the chain length of polyphosphates (polyP), more generally called condensed phosphates. After separation, nonradioactive, optical polyP staining is limited to chain lengths greater than 15 ${\mathrm{PO}}_3^{-}$monomers with toluidine blue or 4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole. PolyP chain lengths longer than 62${\mathrm{PO}}_3^{-}$monomers were correlated to the shortest DNA ladders. In this study, synthetic linear polyPs (Sigma-Aldrich “Type 45”, estimated mean length of 45 ${\mathrm{PO}}_3^{-}$ monomers), trimetaphosphate (trimetaP: 3 ${\mathrm{PO}}_3^{-}$ ring), tripolyphosphate (tripolyP), pyrophosphate (PP_i), and inorganic orthophosphate (o-P_i) were visualized after separation by an in situ hydrolytic degradation process to o-P_i that was subsequently stained with methyl green. Statistically insignificant migration reduction of synthetic short-chain polyP after perchloric acid or phenol–chloroform extraction was confirmed with the Friedman test. ³¹P diffusion–ordered NMR spectroscopy confirmed that extraction also reduced PP_i diffusivity by <10%. Linear regression between the R_f peak migration value and the logarithm of synthetic polyP molecular weights enabled estimation of extracted polyP chain lengths from 2 to 45 ${\mathrm{PO}}_3^{-}$monomers. Linear polyP extracts from Saccharomyces cerevisiae grown in aerobic conditions were generally shorter than extracts cultured in anaerobic conditions. Extractions from both aerobic and anaerobic S. cerevisiae included tripolyP and o-P_i, but no PP_i.     

Kinetics Investigation of Reaction of Naphthalene with OH Radicals at 1–3 Torr and 240–340 K

The combination of relative rate method with discharge flow and mass spectrometry (RR/DF/MS) technique was employed to determine the rate constant for the gas‐phase reaction of hydroxyl radicals (OH) with naphthalene at 240?340 K and a total pressure of 1–3 Torr. At 298 K, the rate constant was measured to be cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1, which is in good agreement with reported literature values determined using different techniques. The reaction of OH with naphthalene was found to be essentially independent of pressure in a range of 1?3 Torr at both 298 and 340 K. At 240–340 K, the rate constant of this reaction was found to be negatively dependent on temperature, with an Arrhenius expression of k₁(T) cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1 and k₁(T) cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1 using 1,4‐dioxane and styrene as the reference compounds, respectively. The atmospheric lifetime of naphthalene was estimated to be 9.6 h using the rate constant of naphthalene + OH determined at 277 K in the present work.     

Inherent Adaptivity of Alzheimer Peptides to Crowded Environments

Amyloid β (Aβ) is the major constituent in senile plaques of Alzheimer's disease in which peptides initially undergo structural conversions to form elongated fibrils. The impact of crowding on the fibrillation pathways of Aβ₄₀ and Aβ₄₂, the most common peptide isoforms are studied. PEG and Ficoll are used as model crowders to mimic a macromolecular enriched surrounding. The fibrillar growth is monitored with the help of ThT-fluorescence assays in order to extract two rates describing primary and secondary processes of nucleation and growth. Techniques as fluorescence correlation spectroscopy and analytical ultracentrifugation are used to discuss oligomeric states; fibril morphologies are investigated using negative-staining transmission electron microscopy. While excluded volume effects imposed by macromolecular crowding are expected to always increase rates of intermolecular interactions and structural conversion, a vast variety of effects are found depending on the peptide, the crowder, or ionic strength of the solution. While investigations of the obtained rates with respect to a reactant-occluded model are capable to display specific surface interactions with the crowder, the employment of crystallization-like models reveal the crowder-induced entropic gain with $\mathrm{\Delta }\mathrm{\Delta }{G}_{\text{fib}}^{\text{crow}}=-116\pm 21k$J mol⁻¹ per volume fraction of the crowder.     

Heterofunctional RAFT‐derived PNIPAM via cascade trithiocarbonate removal and thiol‐yne coupling click reaction

An efficient one‐pot process to functionalize the α‐ and ω‐positions of RAFT‐derived poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) by two inherently different mechanistic pathways is reported. The method relies on the RAFT polymerization of NIPAM using a new alkyne‐based RAFT agent, namely 2‐cyano‐5‐oxo‐5‐(prop‐2‐yn‐1‐ylamino)pentan‐2‐yl dodecyltrithiocarbonate (COPYDC) and the combination of thiol‐yne click chemistry and thiocarbonylthio chain‐end removal reactions. COPYDC was prepared in good yield and used as an efficient chain transfer agent during the RAFT polymerization of NIPAM. Well‐defined polymers with controlled molar masses ( = 7500–14,700 g.mol^?1) and narrow dispersities (? = 1.18–1.26) are thus obtained. Cascade thiol‐yne click reaction at the alkyne α‐chain end and trithiocarbonate removal at the ω‐chain end are successfully achieved using benzyl mercaptan and excess AIBN. The reported method provides a facile and mild route to heterofunctional telechelic RAFT polymers with predictable molar masses and low dispersities. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2017 , 55 , 3597–3606     

Polymerization of sterically congested α‐alkylacrylates under high pressure

A series of α‐alkylacrylates, including methyl ethacrylate (MEA), methyl α‐propylacrylate, methyl α‐isopropylacrylate (MiPA), methyl α‐butylacrylate (MnBA), and methyl α‐isobutylacrylate (MiBA), were successfully polymerized at 65 °C under high pressure (1–9 kbar). In contrast to results obtained at ambient pressure, all monomers yielded high molecular weight polymers (number‐average molecular weight = 4–18 × 10⁴), except for MiPA (number‐average molecular weight = 8 × 10³), probably because of the high steric hindrance of the isopropyl group. Polymerization kinetics under high pressure were obtained for MEA, MnBA, and MiBA. Overall activation volumes were estimated to be ?14.9, ?17.0, and ?11.6 mL mol^?1 for MEA (3–7 kbar), MnBA (3–7 kbar), and MiBA (5–9 kbar), respectively. Extrapolation to ambient pressure provided rates of polymerization for these monomers unaffected by the ceiling temperature effect. These values were further used to quantitatively assess the steric influence exerted by the α‐substituent on the polymerizability of these sterically congested acrylates with Meyer's steric parameter. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 836–843, 2002; DOI 10.1002/pola.10161     

Effects of Ultraviolet Radiation (UV‐A+UV‐B) on the Antioxidant Metabolism of the Red Macroalga Species Acanthophora spicifera (Rhodophyta,Ceramiales) From Different Salinity and Nutrient Conditions

Acanthophora spicifera (M.Vahl) Børgesen is a macroalga of great economic importance. This study evaluated the antioxidant responses of two algal populations of A. spicifera adapted to different abiotic conditions when exposed to ultraviolet‐A+ultraviolet‐B radiation (UV‐A+UV‐B). Experiments were performed using the water at two collection points for 7 days of acclimatization and 7 days of exposure to UVR (3 h per day), followed by metabolic analyses. At point 1, water of 30 ± 1 practical salinity unit (psu) had concentrations of 1.06 ± 0.27 mm ${\text{NH}}_4^{+}$, 8.47 ± 0.01 mm ${\text{NO}}_3^{?}$, 0.17 ± 0.01 mm ${\text{PO}}_4^{?3}$ and pH 7.88. At point 2, water of 35 ± 1 psu had concentrations of 1.13 ± 0.05 mm ${\text{NH}}_4^{+}$, 3.73 ± 0.01 mm ${\text{NO}}_3^{?}$, 0.52 ± 0.01 mm ${\text{PO}}_4^{?3}$ and pH 8.55. Chlorophyll a, phycobiliproteins, carotenoids, mycosporins, polyphenolics and antioxidant enzymes (catalase, superoxide dismutase and guaiacol peroxidase) were evaluated. The present study demonstrates that ultraviolet radiation triggers antioxidant activity in the A. spicifera. However, such activation resulted in greater responses in samples of the point 1, with lower salinity and highest concentration of nutrients.     

Radical‐initiated polymerization of β‐methyl‐α‐methylene‐γ‐butyrolactone

β‐Methyl‐α‐methylene‐γ‐butyrolactone (MMBL) was synthesized and then was polymerized in an N,N‐dimethylformamide (DMF) solution with 2,2‐azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) initiation. The homopolymer of MMBL was soluble in DMF and acetonitrile. MMBL was homopolymerized without competing depolymerization from 50 to 70 °C. The rate of polymerization (R_p) for MMBL followed the kinetic expression R_p = [AIBN]^0.54[MMBL]^1.04. The overall activation energy was calculated to be 86.9 kJ/mol, k_p/k_t^1/2 was equal to 0.050 (where k_p is the rate constant for propagation and k_t is the rate constant for termination), and the rate of initiation was 2.17 × 10^?8 mol L^?1 s^?1. The free energy of activation, the activation enthalpy, and the activation entropy were 106.0, 84.1, and 0.0658 kJ mol^?1, respectively, for homopolymerization. The initiation efficiency was approximately 1. Styrene and MMBL were copolymerized in DMF solutions at 60 °C with AIBN as the initiator. The reactivity ratios (r₁ = 0.22 and r₂ = 0.73) for this copolymerization were calculated with the Kelen–Tudos method. The general reactivity parameter Q and the polarity parameter e for MMBL were calculated to be 1.54 and 0.55, respectively. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 1759–1777, 2003     

The effect of microwave irradiation on the kinetics and activation thermodynamics of ring‐opening polymerization of ε‐caprolactone

We examined the ring‐opening polymerization of ε‐caprolactone in toluene between 50 and 70 °C, and catalyzed by some Lewis and Brønsted acids to investigate the effects of microwave versus conventional heating on the kinetics and activation thermodynamics of the reaction. The polymerizations proceeded more rapidly when microwave heating, instead of conventional heating, was used to control the temperature. The number‐average molecular weight (M_n) of the polymer could be controlled even when microwave heating was used. To identify which thermodynamic activation constants were responsible for the accelerated polymerizations, we performed the reaction at different temperatures to obtain data for the Arrhenius and Eyring equations. Although the values for the activation energies and the activation enthalpies were larger when microwave heating rather than conventional heating was used, the frequency factors and the activation entropies (ΔS^?) over compensated for the less favorable activation energies and enthalpies. The more favorable ΔG^? found for the microwave‐assisted polymerizations mainly reflect the larger ΔS^? values, and the rate accelerations appear to be a consequence of differently arranged intermediates and/or transition states. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2013, 51, 3732–3739     

CoP‐Doped MOF‐Based Electrocatalyst for pH‐Universal Hydrogen Evolution Reaction

Although electrocatalysts based on transition metal phosphides (TMPs) with cationic/anionic doping have been widely studied for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), the origin of performance enhancement still remains elusive mainly due to the random dispersion of dopants. Herein, we report a controllable partial phosphorization strategy to generate CoP species within the Co‐based metal‐organic framework (Co‐MOF). Density functional theory calculations and experimental results reveal that the electron transfer from CoP to Co‐MOF through N‐P/N‐Co bonds could lead to the optimized adsorption energy of H₂O (ΔG ) and hydrogen (ΔG_H*), which, together with the unique porous structure of Co‐MOF, contributes to the remarkable HER performance with an overpotential of 49 mV at a current density of 10 mA cm^?2 in 1 m phosphate buffer solution (PBS, pH 7.0). The excellent catalytic performance exceeds almost all the documented TMP‐based and non‐noble‐metal‐based electrocatalysts. In addition, the CoP/Co‐MOF hybrid also displays Pt‐like performance in 0.5 m H₂SO₄ and 1 m KOH, with the overpotentials of 27 and 34 mV, respectively, at a current density of 10 mA cm^?2.