Phosphorylated copolymers containing pendant,crosslinkable spiro orthoester moieties

The synthesis of a novel spiro orthoester containing monomer, 1,4,6‐trioxaspiro[4.4]‐2‐nonylmethyl acrylate, is presented. This monomer was polymerized via a free‐radical system to yield the homopolymer and a series of copolymers with phosphorus‐containing comonomers. Diethyl vinyl phosphonate, allyldiphenylphosphine oxide, and diethyl(methacryoyoxymethyl)phosphonate were used in various feed ratios to produce copolymers with different phosphorous concentrations containing crosslinkable spiro orthoester side‐chain units. The crosslinking of the polymers was performed cationically with ytterbium triflate, and in all cases, the expansion of the polymer was observed. Moreover, the incorporation of phosphorus into the copolymers increased the limiting oxygen indices, regardless of the percentage of phosphorus used. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 6728–6737, 2006     

Amphiphilic block copolymer self‐assemblies of poly(NVP)‐b‐poly(MDO‐co‐vinyl esters): Tunable dimensions and functionalities

Functional, degradable polymers were synthesized via the copolymerization of vinyl acetate (VAc) and 2‐methylene‐1,3‐dioxepane (MDO) using a macro‐xanthate CTA, poly(N‐vinylpyrrolidone), resulting in the formation of amphiphilic block copolymers of poly(NVP)‐b‐poly(MDO‐co‐VAc). The behavior of the block copolymers in water was investigated and resulted in the formation of self‐assembled nanoparticles containing a hydrophobic core and a hydrophilic corona. The size of the resultant nanoparticles was able to be tuned with variation of the hydrophilic and hydrophobic segments of the core and corona by changing the incorporation of the macro‐CTA as well as the monomer composition in the copolymers, as observed by Dynamic Light Scattering, Static Light Scattering, and Transmission Electron Microscopy analyses. The concept was further applied to a VAc derivative monomer, vinyl bromobutanoate, to incorporate further functionalities such as fluorescent dithiomaleimide groups throughout the polymer backbone using azidation and “click” chemistry as postpolymerization tools to create fluorescently labeled nanoparticles. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2015 , 53, 2699–2710     

Graft and block copolymers with polysiloxane and vinyl polymer segments

A convenient new process to make silicone/organic block and graft copolymers has been recently demonstrated. This dual copolymerization process combines conventional condensation polymerization of the siloxane segments with free radical polymerization of the organic vinyl polymer segments. The copolymerization process is relatively simple and economical compared with other copolymerization techniques as it uses commonly available starting materials and available process equipment. Silicone segments containing alkene side chains or end-groups are prepared in the usual way by polycondensation using an acid or base catalyst. The double bonds of the alkene groups are oxidized to carbonyls which are then used to initiate vinyl monomer polymerization and link the siloxane with the vinyl segments. This initiation step is based on a redox system of copper^(II) salts which generates free radicals on the alpha carbons next to the carbonyl groups. This copolymerization process is relatively fast and proceeds at high yields.     

Supramolecular structure and properties of specially designed two-phase macromolecular systems

Multiphase polymer systems with special phase structures and properties can be achieved by the proper design of the polymer constitution and the appropriate sample treatment. Multiblock copolymers consisting of molecularly uniform polyurethane segments of various molecularly engineered structures and connected by highly flexible polyether segments have been synthesized. The segregation of the hard segments and the size, shape and perfection of the hard domains can be controlled by the hard segment's architecture in that either extended chain crystallization or chain folding occurs. The same superstructure and properties as of the above multiblock copolymers can be mimicked by specially designed graft copolymers with polyether backbone and polyurethane branches, again uniform and molecularly engineered. This study has shown that the morphology and superstructure of macromolecular systems can be precisely controlled by the molecularly designed chain architecture and the sample history, and is correlated with special material properties.     

Block Copolymerization of Vinyl Monomers with Macroiniferer

Abstract

Block copolymers composed of a polyether, such as poly(oxytetra-methylene), and vinyl polymers, such as polystyrene, poly(methyl methacrylate), poly(butyl acrylate), and poly(vinyl acetate), were prepared by photopolymerizations of vinyl monomers initiated with a polyether macroiniferter, α - (diethyldithiocarbamylacetyl) - ω - (diethyldithiocar-bamylacetoxy)-poly(oxytetramethylene). ESR spectroscopy and end-group analysis of diethyldithiocarbamyl indicated that block copolymers should be predominantly ABA-type copolymers. The block copolymers were characterized in detail by NMR, GPC, and DSC analysis.     

Synthesis and properties of segmented block copolymers based on mixtures of poly(ethylene oxide) and poly(tetramethylene oxide) segments

The synthesis and characterisation of segmented block copolymers based on mixtures of hydrophilic poly(ethylene oxide) and hydrophobic poly(tetramethylene oxide) polyether segments and monodisperse crystallisable bisester tetra-amide segments are reported. The PEO length was varied from 600 to 8000 g/mol and the PTMO length was varied from 650 to 2900 g/mol. The influence of the polyether phase composition on the thermal mechanical and the elastic properties of the resulting copolymers was studied.The use of high melting monodisperse tetra-amide segments resulted in a fast and almost complete crystallisation of the rigid segment. The copolymers had only one polyether glass transition temperature, which suggests that the amorphous polyether segments were homogenously mixed. Thermal analysis of the copolymers showed one polyether melting temperature that was lower than in the case of ideal co-crystallisation between the two polyether segments. However, at PEO or PTMO lengths larger than 2000 g/mol two polyether melting temperatures were observed. The copolymer with the best low temperature properties was based on a mixture of PEO and PTMO segments, both having a molecular weight of 1000 g/mol, at a weight ratio of 30/70.     

Two‐dimensional liquid chromatography with active solvent modulation for studying monomer incorporation in copolymer dispersants

A pseudo‐comprehensive two‐dimensional liquid chromatography approach with size exclusion chromatography in the first dimension and gradient reversed‐phase liquid chromatography in the second dimension was successfully developed for the characterization of vinyl acetate/acrylic acid copolymers and vinyl acetate/itaconic acid/acrylic acid terpolymers. Active solvent modulation was exploited to prevent the polymer breakthrough in the second dimension separation caused by the strong solvent used in the first dimension. The conditions of the active solvent modulation valve were optimized to achieve sufficient on‐line dilution and to completely prevent polymer breakthrough without adding excessive time to the modulation cycle. Using this approach, copolymers made with different monomer ratios and processes were studied. Heterogeneous composition distribution due to insufficient monomer incorporation was detected in some of the copolymer samples. We demonstrated that with active solvent modulation, the two‐dimensional liquid chromatography approach is no longer limited to water‐soluble polymers and can be used for a broader range of polymers and copolymers.     

Synthesis of poly(vinyl ether)‐based,ABA triblock‐type thermoplastic elastomers with functionalized soft segments and their gas permeability

The ABA‐type triblock copolymers consisting of poly(2‐adamantyl vinyl ether) [poly(2‐AdVE)] as outer hard segments and poly(6‐acetoxyhexyl vinyl ether) [poly(AcHVE)], poly(6‐hydroxyhexyl vinyl ether) [poly(HHVE)], or poly(2‐(2‐methoxyethoxy)ethyl vinyl ether) [poly(MOEOVE)] as inner soft segments were synthesized by sequential living cationic polymerization. Despite the presence of polar functional groups such as ester, hydroxyl, and oxyethylene units in their soft segments, the block copolymers formed elastomeric films. The thermal and mechanical properties and morphology of the block copolymers showed that the two polymer segments of these triblock copolymers were segregated into microphase‐separated structure. Effect of the functional groups in the soft segments on gas permeability was investigated as one of the characteristics of the new functional thermoplastic elastomers composed solely of poly(vinyl ether) backbones. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2015 , 53, 1114–1124     

聚丙烯与聚酯-聚醚多嵌段共聚物共混的研究

聚丙烯和聚酯-聚醚多嵌段共聚物的熔融共混物是微多相分散体系,其力学性能和软链段的结构有关。DSC和偏光显微镜图分别表明共混物中聚丙烯结晶度以及球晶尺寸随聚酯-聚醚的混入量而变小。聚丙烯和少量聚酯-聚醚多嵌段共聚物共混,可改进聚丙烯的流变性,吸湿性和染色性。     

Preparation and polymerization of some vinyl ester amides of pinic acid

The preparation of vinyl 2,2-dimethyl-3-morpholinocarbonylcyclobutaneacetate, vinyl 2,2-dimethyl-3-piperidinocarbonylcyclobutaneacetate, and vinyl 2,2-dimethyl-3-di-n-butylaminocarbonylcyclobutaneacetate has been achieved by selective amination followed by vinyl interchange. Homopolymers and vinyl chloride copolymers containing 25 and 30 wt.-% of the vinyl esteramides were prepared and evaluated as nonrigid plastics. The vinyl esteramides incorporated in vinyl chloride copolymers did impart some plasticization, but their effect was far below the effect of added plasticizer to a vinyl chloride polymer.     

Impact of initiator characteristics on the thermal stability of vinylidene chloride copolymers

Two standard vinylidene chloride copolymers, the first containing approximately 9 mass% methyl acrylate and the second containing vinyl chloride at a nominal 15 mass% were prepared by radical suspension techniques using a series of peroxide and azo initiators (all of approximately the same half-life temperature for decomposition). The nature of the initiator could impact the stability of the resulting polymer in two ways. Instability could be introduced either via end-group effects or by attack of residual initiator fragments on the finished polymer during isolation and residual monomer stripping. In this case, the relative thermal stability of the resins produced was assessed by exposing samples to heat and shear in an air environment in a two-roll mill (Brabender Prep-Mill). The rate and extent of degradation was most readily apparent from color development during this treatment. The more thermally stable polymers were produced using initiator radicals that did not attack the polymer during isolation/stripping processes.     

Molecular architecture and physicochemical properties of some vinyl alcohol-vinyl acetate copolymers

Two series of vinyl alcohol-vinyl acetate copolymers were prepared by homogeneous and heterogeneous acetylation of the same precursor poly(vinyl alcohol). Their intramolecular monomer distributions were analyzed by IR spectrometry, calorimetry, and differential thermal analysis. The results show a more blocky distribution for the heterogeneously prepared copolymers. The properties of these (co)polymers in dilute aqueous solution were determined by means of viscometry. Whereas the copolymer-solvent interaction parameter of the homogeneously acetylated, random copolymers hardly varied with acetate content, a definite minimum was found for the blocky copolymers at about 7 mole% vinyl acetate. These findings were attributed to the incompatibility of dissimilar sequences, which sharply decreases with decreasing vinyl acetate sequence length. Up to about 17 mole% vinyl acetate content, the solvent quality for the copolymers is at least as good as for poly(vinyl alcohol). In addition, the dilute solution properties of the samples were established in water saturated with 1-butanol. For copolymers with up to about 17 mole% vinyl acetate, at 25°C this mixture is a better solvent than water. The highest increase in solvent quality was found for the homopolymer, whereas the increase diminished with acetate content, irrespective of the intramolecular vinyl acetate distribution. These findings are explained in terms of preferential adsorption of 1-butanol onto the (co)polymer backbone due to hydrophobic interactions and prevention of this process by the bulky acetate groups.     

Hydrophilic poly(ethylene oxide)–aramide segmented block copolymers

The present paper discusses block copolymers with segments of either poly(ethylene oxide), poly(propylene oxide), or mixtures of poly(ethylene oxide)/poly(propylene oxide) and monodisperse aramide segments. The length of the polyether segments as well as the concentration of polyethylene oxide was varied. The synthesized copolymers were analyzed by DSC, FTIR, AFM and DMTA. In addition, the hydrophilicity was studied.The crystallinity of the monodisperse aramide segments was found to be high and the crystals, dispersed in the polyether phase, displayed a nano-ribbon morphology. The PEO segments were able to crystallize and this crystalline phase reduced the low-temperature flexibility. The PEO crystallinity and melting temperature could be strongly reduced by copolymerization with PPO segments. By using mixtures of PEO and PPO segments, hydrophilic copolymers with decent low-temperature properties could be obtained.     

Thermal degradation of graft copolymers of PVC prepared by mastication with styrene and methyl methacrylate,and of further PVC mixtures and vinyl chloride copolymers

Graft copolymers prepared by mastication of PVC in the presence of styrene or of a styrene/ methyl methacrylate mixture, have been studied by thermogravimetry, estimation of hydrogen chloride, thermal volatilization analysis, and flash pyrolysis/g.l.c. The degradation behaviour of PVC/ polystyrene mixtures, vinyl chloride/styrene random copolymers, a random copolymer of methyl methacrylate and styrene, and PVC/poly-α-methylstyrene mixtures has also been studied. The graft copolymers resemble the PVC/methacrylate graft copolymers previously studied in showing retardation of the dehydrochlorination reaction, but contrast with them in yielding chain fragments but no monomer during HCl production. Some stabilization of the second component at higher temperatures is also found. PVC/polystyrene mixtures behave in the same way as the corresponding graft copolymers, but vinyl chloride/styrene copolymers show reduced stability towards both dehydrochlorination and monomer production compared with the homopolymers. PVC/poly-α-methylstyrene mixtures yield some monomer concurrently with HCl loss, and display marked retardation of the latter reaction. Stabilization of the second polymer at higher temperatures is again observed. Many of these results add further strong support to the view that chlorine atoms are involved as chain carriers in the thermal dehydrochlorination of PVC.     

Thermosensitive polyalcohols: Synthesis via living cationic polymerization of vinyl ethers with a silyloxy group

Thermosensitive homopolymers and copolymers with hydroxy groups were synthesized via the living cationic polymerization of Si‐containing vinyl ethers. The cationic homopolymerization and copolymerization of five vinyl ethers with silyloxy groups, each with a different spacer length, were examined with a cationogen/Et_1.5AlCl_1.5 initiating system in the presence of an added base. When an appropriate base was added, the living cationic polymerization of Si‐containing monomers became feasible, giving polymers with narrow molecular weight distributions and various block copolymers. Subsequent desilylation gave well‐defined polyalcohols, in both water‐soluble and water‐insoluble forms. One of these polyalcohols, poly(4‐hydroxybutyl vinyl ether), underwent lower‐critical‐solution‐temperature‐type thermally induced phase separation in water at a critical temperature (T_PS) of 42 °C. This phase separation was quite sensitive and reversible on heating and cooling. The phase separation also occurred sensitively with random copolymers of thermosensitive and hydrophilic or hydrophobic units, the T_PS values of which in water could be controlled by the monomer feed ratio. The thermal responsiveness of this polyalcohol unit made it possible to prepare novel thermosensitive block and random copolymers consisting solely of alcohol units. One example prepared in this study was a 20 wt % aqueous solution of a diblock copolymer consisting of thermosensitive poly(4‐hydroxybutyl vinyl ether) and water‐soluble poly(2‐hydroxyethyl vinyl ether) segments, which transformed into a physical gel above 42 °C. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 3300–3312, 2003     

Synthesis of ABA‐triblock and star‐diblock copolymers with poly(2‐adamantyl vinyl ether) and poly(n‐butyl vinyl ether) segments: New thermoplastic elastomers composed solely of poly(vinyl ether) backbones

ABA‐type triblock copolymers and AB‐type star diblock copolymers with poly(2‐adamantyl vinyl ether) [poly(2‐AdVE)] hard outer segments and poly(n‐butyl vinyl ether) [poly(NBVE)] soft inner segments were synthesized by sequential living cationic copolymerization. Although both the two polymer segments were composed solely of poly(vinyl ether) backbones and hydrocarbon side chains, they were segregated into microphase‐separated structure, so that the block copolymers formed thermoplastic elastomers. Both the ABA‐type triblock copolymers and the AB‐type star diblock copolymers exhibited rubber elasticity over wide temperature range. For example, the ABA‐type triblock copolymers showed rubber elasticity from about ?53 °C to about 165 °C and the AB‐type star diblock copolymer did from about ?47 °C to 183 °C with a similar composition of poly(2‐AdVE) and poly(NBVE) segments in the dynamic mechanical analysis. The AB‐type star diblock copolymers exhibited higher tensile strength and elongation at break than the ABA‐type triblock copolymers. The thermal decomposition temperatures of both the block copolymers were as high as 321–331 °C, indicating their high thermal stability. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2013     

Preparation of block copolymers by use of peroxide-terminated prepolymer

Block copolymers containing poly(tetramethylene oxide) and poly(methyl methacrylate) segments were prepared. A commercially available poly(tetramethylene oxide) terminated with tolylene diisocyanate was capped with tert-butyl hydroxymethyl peroxide and the resulting prepolymer peroxide was used as a free-radical initiator of vinyl polymerization. Block copolymers formed in temperature-programmed vinyl polymerizations possessed improved impact strengths over poly(methyl methacrylate) from 0.35 to 1.18 for a fixed (nonoptimized) block length of poly(tetramethylene oxide).     

Synthesis of Vinyl Polymer—Poly (α-Amino Acid) Block Copolymers by End-Reactive Oligomers

In order to synthesize block copolymers consisting of segments having dissimilar properties, vinyl polymer - poly (α-amino acid) block copolymers were synthesized by two different methods. In the first method, the terminal amino groups of polysarcosine, poly(γ-benzyl L-glutamate), and poly(γ-benzyloxycarbonyl-L-lysine) were haloacetylated. The mixture of the terminally haloacetylated poly (α-amino acid) and styrene or methyl methacrylate was photoirradiated in the presence of Mo (CO)₆ or heated with Mo(CO)₆, yielding A-B-A-type block copolymers consisting of poly(α-amino cid) (the A component) and vinyl polymer(the B component). The characterization of block copolymers revealed that the thermally initiated polymerization of vinyl compounds by the trichloroacetyl poly(α-amino acid)/Mo(CO)₆ system was most suitable for the synthesis of vinyl polymer - poly-(α-amino acid) block copolymers. In the second method, poly (methyl methacrylate) and polystyrene having a terminal amino group were synthesized by the radical polymerization in the presence of 2-mercaptoethylammonium chloride. Using these polymers having a terminal amino group as an initiator, the block polymerizations of γ-benzyl L-glutamate NCA and e-benzyloxycarbonyl-L-lysine NCA were carried out, yielding A-B-type block copolymer. By eliminating the protecting groups of the side chains of poly(α-amino acid) segment, block copolymers such as poly(methyl methacrylate) with poly(L-glutamic acid) or poly(L-lysine) and polystyrene with poly(L-glutamic acid) and poly(L-lysine) were successfully synthesized.     

Function of vinyl copolymers with pendant porphyrin or metalloporphyrin dimers as photoredox catalyst

Photoredox catalytic functions of water-soluble vinyl copolymers with pendant porphyrin or metalloporphyrin dimers were investigated. With FRA-L-ascorbic acid in aqueous solution, a vinyl copolymer bearing Mg-porphyrin dimer linked with the shortest N,N′-methylenebisamide bridge was found to have a remarkable accelerating effect under illumination of visible light as compared with that bearing Mg-porphyrin monomer and other copolymers with longer dimer bridges as well as vinyl copolymers bearing porphyrin dimers and monomer. A copolymer bearing Zn-porphyrin dimer was much inferior to that bearing monomer. Copolymers with other metals such as Co(II), Ni(II), and Cu(II) were almost inert.     

1:1 alternating copolymers of 1-bicyclobutanecarbonitrile with styrene

High molecular weight, 1:1 alternating copolymers of 1-bicyclobutanecarbonitrile with styrene were prepared in tetramethylenesulfone solution by complexing the electron-poor bicyclobutane monomer with zinc chloride. Methyl 1-bicyclobutanecarboxylate under these conditions gave copolymers containing a slight excess of styrene units (ratio 1:1.3 to 1:1.8). High molecular weight homopolymers of 1-bicyclobutanecarbonitrile and of methyl 1-bicyclobutanecarboxylate were prepared similarly. The tendency of the bicyclobutane nitrile to form 1:1 alternating copolymers is as great as that of its vinyl analog, acrylonitrile, and the synthesis of other alternating copolymers from this monomer should be possible.