13C nuclear magnetic resonance studies on the stereochemical configurations of 2,4-dimethoxypentane and poly(alkyl vinyl ethers)

¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance (CMR) spectra were obtained for 2,4-dimethoxypentane, which is a model compound of poly(methyl vinyl ether), and the effects of the solvent and temperature on the chemical shifts were investigated. CMR spectra of poly-(alkyl vinyl ethers) were also determined and analyzed. The diad tacticities were obtained from β-methylene carbon resonances of poly(methyl vinyl ether), poly(ethyl vinyl ether), and poly(isobutyl vinyl ether), but not from those of poly(isopropyl vinyl ether) and poly(tert-butyl vinyl ether). The methoxyl carbon resonance of poly(methyl vinyl ether) and the ethoxyl methylene carbon resonance of poly(ethyl vinyl ether) showed splittings corresponding to pentad and triad sequences, respectively. The α-methine and quaternary carbon resonances of poly(tert-butyl vinyl ether) showed splittings corresponding to pentad and triad sequences, respectively.     

Characterization of ABTS at a Polymer‐Modified Electrode

ABTS, 2,2′‐azinobis(3‐ethylbenzothiazoline‐6‐sulfonate), a colorless dianion that forms a colored radical upon oxidation, was characterized with electrochemistry and spectroscopy and demonstrated to be a detectable analyte in a polymer‐modified spectroelectrochemical sensor. Three positively charged polymers were incorporated into a thin film on an indium tin oxide (ITO) optically transparent electrode and used to concentrate ABTS at the electrode surface. Of the three films, poly(vinylbenzyl trimethyl ammonium chloride)‐poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVTAC‐PVA), poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride)‐silica (PDMDAAC‐SiO₂), and quaternized poly(4‐vinyl‐N‐methylpyridinium nitrate)‐silica (QPVP‐SiO₂), PVTAC‐PVA demonstrated the best ability to absorb ABTS. Within 20 min, a change of 0.2 absorbance units at 417 nm and 13.6 μA/cm² in anodic peak current density in cyclic voltammetry at a scan rate of 0.025 V/s were observed.     

Gas transport in poly(vinyl methylbenzoates)

Permeation of eight gases (He, Ne, Ar, Kr, O₂, N₂, CO₂, and CH₄) in three isomeric poly(vinyl methylbenzoates) was measured by the time-lag method, and the effects of the shape of side groups on gas transport in the polymers were investigated. The p-methylphenyl side group of poly(vinyl p-methylbenzoate), which increases both interchain and intrachain distances, caused an increase in gas diffusivity. The diffusivity and density data were consistent with free volume theory. Two other isomeric polymers, poly(vinyl o-methylbenzoate) and poly(vinyl m-methylbenzoate), had lower gas diffusivities than poly(vinyl p-methylbenzoate) and poly(vinyl benzoate). The o-methyl and m-methyl groups on the phenyl ring were found to hinder gas diffusion, i.e., decrease the free volume. In contrast, the solubility of the gases in all these polymers was similar because of their similar chemical structures. The effects of hydroxyl groups also were investigated by the use of poly(vinyl m-methylbenzoate) containing a small number of vinyl alcohol units. The decrease in gas diffusivity was attributed to the decrease of free volume due to hydrogen bonding, but the change of gas solubility was still negligible.     

Molecular Engineering of Liquid Crystal Polymers by Living Polymerization. XXIII. Synthesis and Characterization of AB Block Copolymers Based on ω-[(4-Cyano-4′ -Biphenyl)-oxy]alkyl Vinyl Ether, 1H, 1H, 2H, 2H-Perfluorodecyl Vinyl Ether,and 2-(4-Blphenyloxy)ethyl Vinyl Ether with 1H, 1H, 2H, 2H-Perfluorodecyl Vinyl Ether

Abstract

This paper describes the synthesis and characterization of AB block copolymers based on ω-[(4-cyano-4′-biphenyl)oxy]alkyl vinyl ether (6-n), with alkyl being ethyl (6-2), propyl (6-3), nonyl (6-9), and undecanyl (6-11), with 1H, 1H, 2H, 2H-perfluorodecyl vinyl ether (CF8), poly[(-6-n)-b-CF8]X/Y (where X/Y refers to the weight ratio of the two segments), and of 2-(4-biphenyloxy)ethyl vinyl ether (BEVE) with 1H,-1H, 2H, 2H-perfluorodecyl vinyl ether, poly[BEVE-b-CF8]X/Y. They were prepared by living cationic polymerization and exhibit a narrow molecular weight distribution. All block copolymers display a micro-phase-separated morphology when the A segment is in the liquid crystalline phase. Block copolymers based on 6-2, 6-3, and BEVE with CF8 also exhibit a microphase-separated morphology in the melt phase of A and B blocks.     

Synthesis,Characterization and Application of Amphiphilic Copolymer Poly(vinyl alcohol)-g-Poly(butyl acrylate)

An amphiphilic graft copolymer poly(vinyl alcohol)-g-poly(butyl acrylate) (PVA-g-PBA) was synthesized by grafting butyl acrylate (BA) onto poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) with potassium persulfate (KPS) as free radical initiator in N₂ atmosphere and aqueous medium. The formation of graft copolymer was confirmed by means of infrared spectroscopy (IR). The influences of initiator, monomer concentration and reaction time on the percentage of monomer conversion(C _M), graft degree(Gd) and graft efficiency(Ge) have been discussed in detail. PVA-g-PBA was used as compatibilizer in blends of chlorinated polyethylene (CPE)/ poly(acrylic acid-co-acrylamide)[P(AA-AM)], and the compatibility between CPE and P(AA-AM) was also investigated.     

Radiation degradation susceptibility of vinyl polymers: Nitriles and anhydrides

The effect of γ irradiation on a series of vinyl polymers, which included polymethacrylonitrile, poly(α-chloroacrylonitrile), poly(dimethyl itaconate), poly(acrylic anhydride), and poly(methacrylic anhydride), was studied as part of a program to develop improved positive lithographic resists. Radiation-induced degradation was observed for polymethacrylonitrile, poly(α-chloroacrylonitrile), and poly(methacrylic anhydride). Molecular weight degradation as a function of dose was monitored by membrane osmometry or GPC techniques. For γ-irradiated poly(dimethyl itaconate) and poly(acrylic anhydride) crosslinking was found to predominate over chain scission. [G(s)–G(x)] values, calculated from molecular weight inverse versus dose curves, indicate that both nitrile polymers degraded more efficiently than a poly(methyl methacrylate) reference standard on the basis of M _n changes. The radiation behavior of the first three polymers confirms earlier findings than vinyl polymers with quaternary carbons predominantly degrade when subjected to ionizing radiation.     

Copolymerization of vinyl acetate with 1-octene and ethylene by cobalt-mediated radical polymerization

The cobalt-mediated radical polymerization of vinyl acetate was extended to copolymerization with 1-alkenes (ethylene or 1-octene). In agreement with the low amount of 1-alkene that could be incorporated into the copolymer, a gradient structure was predictable, but a rather low polydispersity was observed. A poly(vinyl acetate)-b-poly(octene) copolymer was also successfully synthesized, leading to a poly (vinyl alcohol)-b-poly(octene) amphiphilic copolymer upon the methanolysis of the poly (vinyl acetate) block. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 2532–2542, 2007     

Effect of temperature and solvents on stereospecific polymerization of vinyl alkyl ethers catalyzed by aluminum sulfate–sulfuric acid complex

The effect of polymerization temperature and solvents was determined on the crystallinity of polymers of vinyl isobutyl ether and of vinyl n-butyl ether prepared with aluminum sulfate–sulfuric acid complex catalyst. Principally, the methyl ethyl ketone (MEK)-insoluble fractions of these polymers were used for characterization. Density, per cent crystallinity by x-ray diffraction, infrared ratio, and dilatometric volume contraction of these polymer fractions were used as criteria of crystallinity. The MEK-insoluble fractions of poly(vinyl n-butyl ethers) prepared in carbon disulfide in the temperature range of ?30 to +25°C did not show any significant difference in the values of the above crystallinity parameters. The polymer obtained at 50°C. was less crystalline than the rest of the polymers. The MEK-insoluble fractions of poly(vinyl isobutyl ethers) prepared at 0–50°C. in carbon disulfide and n-heptane solvents also did not significantly differ in their degree of crystallinity. They were, however, decidedly less crystalline than the MEK-insoluble fractions of the corresponding polymers obtained at ?20°C. These data a indicate that on increasing the temperature of polymerization the crystallinity of the polymers was either unchanged or decreased slightly. The polymerizations of vinyl n-butyl ether and vinyl isobutyl ethers were also carried out in binary mixtures of carbon disulfide with n-heptane, chlorobenzene, and MEK. Generally, increasing the concentration of carbon disulfide increased the inherent viscosities of polymers as well as the weight percentage of their MEK-insoluble fractions. The MEK-insoluble fraction of poly(vinyl isobutyl ether) prepared in carbon disulfide-MEK mixture (volume ratio 2:1) was isotactic and highly crystalline. Likewise, the MEK-insoluble fractions of two polymers of vinyl n-butyl ether prepared in MEK itself were also isotactic and highly crystalline. Compared to poly(tetramethylene oxide), these latter fractions exhibited less dependence of rate of crystallization upon temperature. Consequently, at low degrees of supercooling they crystallize much more rapidly than does poly(tetramethylene oxide).     

High-resolution proton magnetic resonance and infrared spectra of poly(vinyl formal) and its model compounds

High-resolution proton magnetic resonance and infrared spectra of poly(vinyl formal) were studied in comparison with those of the model formals obtained from stereoisomers of pentane-2,4-diol and heptane-2,4,6-triol in order to learn spectral changes due to differences of the steric structures of the polymer. In the NMR spectrum of transformal obtained from dl diol or dl,dl (syndiotactic) triol, all proton signals were well interpreted by assuming a rapid chair-chair inversion of the formal ring. On the other hand, no such inversion was observed spectroscopically in cis-formal obtained from the meso diol or meso,meso (isotactic) triol, and the cis-formal ring was supposed to take a diequatorial form preferentially. Consequently, dioxymethylene protons gave a single peak (equivalent) in trans-formal and an AB quartet (nonequivalent) in cis-formal. In the spectra of poly(vinyl formal), the dioxymethylene signal was an overlap of the singlet and quartet in dimethylsulfoxide solution. Observations of the spectra of various poly(vinyl formals) obtained from poly(vinyl alcohols) of different tacticities and study of temperature dependence of the signal have shown that the singlet and quartet are attributed to trans- and cis- formals, respectively, in the polymer spectrum also. In the infrared spectra of poly(vinyl formals), the 800 and 785 cm^-1 bands were found to be related to cis- and trans-formal rings respectively. A linear relationship was confirmed between D₇₈₅/D₈₀₀ and trans/cis ratios determined from the peak intensities of the dioxymethylene proton signals.     

Theoretical investigations on the carbazole‐based conjugated polymers containing electron‐donating divinylaryl

The polycarbazoles have been proved to efficiently suppress the keto defect emission. Three carbazole‐based conjugated polymers, poly[9‐methyl‐3‐(4‐vinylstyryl)‐9H‐carbazole] (PBC), poly[9‐methyl‐3‐(2‐(5‐vinylthiophen‐2‐yl)vinyl)‐9H‐carbazole] (PBT) and poly[9‐methyl‐3‐(2‐(5‐vinylfuran‐2‐yl)vinyl)‐9H‐carbazole] (PBF), were investigated by quantum‐chemical techniques, and gain a detailed understanding of the influence of carbazole units and the introduction of electron‐donating on the electronic and optical properties. The electronic properties of the neutral molecules, HOMO‐LUMO gaps (ΔE), in addition to ionization potential (I_p) and electron affinity (E_a), are studied using B3LYP density functional theory. The lowest excitation energies (E_g) and the absorption wavelength are studied using the time dependent density functional theory (TDDFT). The calculated results show that all three series of polymers have good planarity. And the highest‐occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) energies lift about 0.36–0.61 eV and thus the I_P decrease about 0.01–0.19 eV compared to polycarbazole, suggesting the significant improved hole‐accepting and transporting abilities. By introducing the electron‐donating 1,4‐divinylphenylene or 2,5‐divinylthiophene or 2,5‐divinylfuran units in the backbone, and the lowest‐unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) energies decrease 0.20–0.39 eV. In addition, PBC, PBT and PBF have longer maximal absorption wavelengths than polycarbazole. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 47: 706–714, 2009     

Synthesis and hydrogel formation of fluorine‐containing amphiphilic ABA triblock copolymers

Fluorine‐containing amphiphilic ABA triblock copolymers, poly(2‐hydroxyethyl vinyl ether)‐block‐poly[2‐(2,2,3,3,3‐pentafluoropropoxy)ethyl vinyl ether]‐block‐poly(2‐hydroxyethyl vinyl ether) [poly(HOVE‐b‐PFPOVE‐b‐HOVE)] (HFH), poly[2‐(2,2,3,3,3‐pentafluoropropoxy)ethyl vinyl ether]‐block‐poly(2‐hydroxyethyl vinyl ether)‐block‐poly[2‐(2,2,3,3,3‐pentafluoropropoxy)ethyl vinyl ether] [poly(PFPOVE‐b‐HOVE‐b‐PFPOVE)] (FHF), and poly(n‐butyl vinyl ether)‐block‐poly(2‐hydroxyethyl vinyl ether)‐block‐poly(n‐butyl vinyl ether) [poly(NBVE‐b‐HOVE‐b‐NBVE)] (LHL), were synthesized, and their behavior in water was investigated. The aforementioned polymers were prepared by sequential living cationic polymerization of 2‐acetoxyethyl vinyl ether (AcOVE) and PFPOVE or NBVE, followed by hydrolysis of acetyl groups in polyAcOVE. FHF and LHL formed a hydrogel in water, whereas HFH gave a homogeneous aqueous solution. In addition, the gel‐forming concentration of FHF was much lower than that of corresponding LHL. Surface‐tension measurements of the aqueous polymer solutions revealed that all the triblock copolymers synthesized formed micelles or aggregates above about 1.0 × 10^?4 mol/L. The surface tensions of HFH and FHF solutions above the critical micelle concentration were lower than those of LHL, indicating high surface activity of fluorine‐containing triblock copolymers. Small‐angle X‐ray scattering measurements revealed that HFH formed a core‐shell sperical micelle in 1 wt % aqueous solutions, whereas the other block copolymers caused more conplicated assembly in the solutions. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 39: 3751–3760, 2001     

Polymerization of vinyl chloride by the Ti(O-n-Bu)4–AlEt3–epichlorohydrin catalyst system

The polymerization of vinyl chloride was carried out by using a catalyst system consisting of Ti(O-n-Bu)₄, AlEt₃, and epichlorohydrin. The polymerization rate and the reduced viscosity of polymer were influenced by the polymerization temperature, AlEt₃/Ti(O-n-Bu)₄ molar ratios, and epichlorohydrin/Ti(O-n-Bu)₄ molar ratios. The reduced viscosity of polymer obtained in the virtual absence of n-heptane as solvent was two to three times as high as that of polymer obtained in the presence of n-heptane. The crystallinity of poly(vinyl chloride) thus obtained was similar to that of poly(vinyl chloride) produced by a radical catalyst. It was concluded that the polymerization of vinyl chloride by the present catalyst system obeys a radical mechanism rather than a coordinated anionic mechanism.     

Studies of reactions with polymers. V. The reaction mechanism and resultant structure of PVA with PAN in DMSO without any catalyst

The reaction of polyacrylonitrile with poly(vinyl alcohol) in dimethyl sulfoxide without any catalyst was studied, and it showed that the adjacent nitrile groups on polyacrylonitrile could be linked up to form conjugated carbon-nitrogen sequence by the presence of poly(vinyl alcohol). However, no such reaction occurred when poly(vinyl alcohol) was replaced by i-propanol or poly(vinyl alcohol) graft copolymers. The structure of the resulting polymers were proposed by means of IR, UV, ¹H, and ¹³C-NMR spectroscopies. On the basis of the results, the effect of polymer feed and polymerization condition on this reaction were discussed. The compositions were determined by elemental analysis. The viscosity and thermal analysis of the products were also determined. At feed weight ratios of poly(vinyl alcohol) to polyacrylonitrile above one-half, gels were obtained.     

Effects of poly(methyl methacrylate)-block-poly(vinyl acetate) copolymer on the spinodal decomposition of corresponding homopolymer blends

Effects of adding a small amount of poly(methyl methacrylate)-block-poly(vinyl acetate) (PMMA-b-PVAc) to poly(methyl methacrylate)/poly(vinyl acetate) (PMMA/PVAc) blends with a lower critical solution temperature (LCST) phase diagram on the kinetics of late-stage spinodal decomposition (SD) were investigated by time-resolved light scattering at 160°C. It is found that the coarsening process of the structure was slowed down or accelerated upon addition of PMMA-b-PVAc depending on the composition of the block copolymer and the blend. The effect of the block copolymer on the domain size were interpreted as compatibilizing and incompatibilizing effects of the block copolymer on PMMA/PVAc blends based on the evaluation of changes in the stability limits of PMMA/PVAc with the addition of block copolymer using random phase approximation (RPA).     

Radical/Cation Transformation Polymerization and Its Application to the Preparation of Block Copolymers

Propagating radicals could be transformed into corresponding cations in the radical polymerization process of vinyl monomers in the presence of an electron acceptor. The electron transfer reaction from the propagating radicals to the acceptor was confirmed by an electron spin resonance study and by the model compound reaction. The radical/cation transformation polymerization was effectively applied to the preparation of a new type of block copolymer compound of radically polymerized segments and cationically polymerized segments by the one shot method. Thus, a block copolymer of p-methoxystyrene (MOS) and cyclohexene oxide (CHO) was prepared by the radical polymerization of MOS in the presence of Ph₂I⁺PF⁻₆ and CHO. The formation of the block copolymer was confirmed by extraction separation, ¹H-NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance), thin layer chromatography and turbidimetric titration. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Molecular Engineering of Liquid Crystal Polymers by Living Polymerization. VIII. Influence of Molecular Weight on the Phase Behavior of Poly {ω-[(4-Cyano-4′-biphenyl)-oxy]alkyl Vinyl Ether}s with Ethyl,Propyl, and Butyl Alkyl Groups

The synthesis and living cationic polymerization of 2-[4-cyano-4′-biphenyl)oxy]ethyl vinyl ether (6–2), 3-[4-cyano-4′-biphenyl)oxy]-propyl vinyl ether (6-3), and 4-[4-cyano-4′-biphenyl)oxy]butyl vinyl ether (6-4) are described. The mesomorphic behaviors of poly(6–2), poly(6-3), and poly(6-4) with different degrees of polymerization and narrow molecular weight distributions were compared to those of 6–2, 6–3, and 6–4 and of 2-[(4-cyano-4′-biphenyl)oxy]ethyl ethyl ether (8–2), 3-[(4-cyano-4′-biphenyl)oxy]propyl ethyl ether (8–3), and 4-[4-cyano-4′-biphenyl)oxy]butyl ethyl ether (8–4) which are model compounds of the monomeric structural units of poly(6–2), poly(6–3), and poly(6–4). In the first heating scan, all three polymers exhibit an x (unidentified) mesophase which overlaps the glass transition temperature, and an enantiotropic nematic mesophase. In the second and subsequent heating and cooling scans, poly(6–3) and poly(6–4) display only the enantiotropic nematic mesophase. Both in the first and subsequent scans, only poly(6–2) with degrees of polymerization lower than 4 exhibits an enantiotropic nematic mesophase.     

Novel method for preparation of photocrosslinkable poly(vinyl alcohol)

A convenient procedure to prepare photosensitive poly(vinyl alcohol) by acetalization with 1-methyl-4-(p-formylstyryl)pyridinium methosulfate in heterogeneous condition is described. The reaction of fully saponified poly(vinyl alcohol) was carried out in suspension in acidic aqueous solution, while partially saponified poly(vinyl alcohol) was acetalized in acidic aqueous organic solvent. The photosensitive poly(vinyl alcohol) thus prepared was purified by filtration and successive washing out with methanol. The effect of the preparative condition on the electronic absorption spectra of the styrylpyridinium group attached to poly(vinyl alcohol) is discussed.     

Chemical and electrochemical grafting of polyaniline onto poly(vinyl chloride): synthesis,characterization, and materials properties

We have designed and developed a new strategy for the chemical and electrochemical graft copolymerization of aniline onto poly(vinyl chloride). For this purpose, first phenylamine groups were incorporated into poly(vinyl chloride) via a nucleophilic substitution reaction in the presence of a solvent composed of 4‐aminophenol, potassium carbonate, and dry N,N‐dimethylformamide at room temperature, in order to avoid cross‐linking. The macromonomer obtained was used in chemical and electrochemical oxidation copolymerization with aniline monomer to yield a poly(vinyl chloride)‐g‐polyaniline (PVC‐g‐PANI) graft copolymer. The chemical structures of samples as representatives were characterized by means of Fourier transform infrared and ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopies. The electroactivity behaviors of the synthesized samples were verified under cyclic voltammetric conditions. The electrical conductivity and electroactivity measurements showed that the PVC‐g‐PANI graft copolymer has lower electrical conductivity as well as electroactivity than those of the pure PANI. However, the lower electrical conductivity and electroactivity levels in this material can be improved at the price of solubility and processability. Moreover, the thermal behavior and chemical composition of the synthesized graft copolymer were investigated. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Influence of dopant ion and synthesis variables on mechanical properties of polypyrrole films

Oxidized, conductive poly(pyrrolylium anion) films [poly(pyrrolylium) = PP⁺ where there exists about one cation per three pyrrole rings] have been prepared electrochemically in an effort to study the effect of counteranion structure and preparation conditions on the composition, order (crystallinity), and mechanical properties of the films. The counteranion principally employed was p-toluene-sulfonate (OTs^?), although benzenesulfonate (BZs^?), p-ethylbenzene-sulfonate (EBs^?), and p-dodecylbenzenesulfonate (DBs^?) were incorporated in several polypyrrole films. It was found that the amount of OTs^? incorporated increased with increasing potential during synthesis, suggesting a parallel increase in the extent of oxidation of the polymer. Mechanical testing of the same films demonstrated that the ultimate tensile strength decreased as the electrode potential and current density during synthesis increased. X-ray diffraction indicated that the degree of order (reflected by the widths of the diffraction lines), albeit quite small, is dependent upon the anion species and synthesis conditions. Interestingly, samples with the highest degree of order exhibit the highest electrical conductivities.     

Photodegradation behavior of tert-butyl vinyl ketone polymers and copolymers with styrene and α-methylstyrene

Photodegradation behavior of atactic and isotactic polymers of tert-butyl vinyl ketone (t-BVK) and its copolymers with styrene and α-methylstyrene was studied in dioxane as a solvent at room temperature. The quantum yield of main-chain scission of atactic poly(t-BVK) was found to be larger than that of isotactic poly(t-BVK) and atactic poly(methyl vinyl ketone). From the Stern-Volmer plots on the quenching study of atactic poly(t-BVK) with naphthalene and 2,5-dimethyl-2,4-hexadiene, it was found that 60–70% of its photochemical reaction underwent main-chain scission from the triplet state. It was also found that the increase in t-BVK contents of both copolymers accelerated the photodegradation, and the copolymer with styrene was more photodegradable than that with α-methylstyrene. These results seemed to suggest that the main-chain scission of these vinyl ketone polymers and copolymers proceeded through a Norrish type II photoelimination mechanism.