Synthesis and characterization of 6‐ and 12‐arm star polymers by nitroxide‐mediated radical polymerization of St and MA from dendritic TIPNO‐based hexafunctional and dodecafunctional macroinitiators

Dendritic multifunctional macroinitiators having six and 12 TIPNO‐based alkoxyamines, TIPNO‐6 and TIPNO‐12 , were synthesized and used in the living radical polymerization of styrene (St), methyl acrylate (MA), N,N‐dimethylacrylamide (DMAAm), and isoprene (IP). The polymerizations of St initiated with TIPNO‐6 gave 6‐arm star polymers with narrow polydispersities of 1.14–1.18. In the polymerizations of MA initiated with TIPNO‐6 and TIPNO‐12 , the influences of added TIPNO on the polydispersity indexes (PDIs) of the resulting star polymers were first investigated, and this led to the successful formation of poly(MA) star polymers with narrow polydispersities (1.10–1.18). Moreover, the polymerizations of DMAAm and IP from TIPNO‐6 in the presence or absence of TIPNO were briefly investigated. The benzyl ether bonds of the poly(St) and poly(MA) star polymers were cleaved by treating with Me₃SiI or Pd/C, and the resulting arm's parts were analyzed with SEC. The PDIs of the resulting arm parts were low (1.19–1.23), and the M_ns agreed with the M_n,theor, indicating that the poly(St) and poly(MA) star polymers had well‐controlled arms. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 4364–4376, 2007     

Syntheses and characterization of 16‐arm star and star diblock copolymer and AB8 9‐miktoarm star copolymer via NMRP and ROP from dendritic multifunctional macroinitiators

A dendritic macroinitiator having 16 TEMPO‐based alkoxyamines, Star‐16 , was prepared by the reaction of a dendritic macroinitiator having eight TEMPO‐based alkoxyamines, [G‐3]‐OH , with 4,4′‐bis(chlorocarbonyl)biphenyl. The nitroxide‐mediated radical polymerization (NMRP) of styrene (St) from Star‐16 gave 16‐arm star polymers with PDI of 1.19–1.47, and NMPR of 4‐vinylpyridine from the 16‐arm star polymer gave 16‐arm star diblock copolymers with PDI of 1.30–1.43. The ring‐opening polymerization of ε‐caprolactone from [G‐3]‐OH and the subsequent NMRP of St gave AB₈ 9‐miktoarm star copolymers with PDI of 1.30–1.38. The benzyl ether linkages of the 16‐arm star polymers and the AB₈ 9‐miktoarm star copolymers were cleaved by treating with Me₃SiI, and the resultant poly(St) arms were investigated by size exclusion chromatography (SEC). The SEC results showed PDIs of 1.23–1.28 and 1.18–1.22 for the star polymers and miktoarm stars copolymers, respectively, showing that they have well‐controlled poly(St) arms. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 1159–1169, 2007.     

Homopolymerization and Copolymerization of Isoprene and Styrene with a Neodymium Catalyst Using an Alkylmagnesium Cocatalyst

The catalyst system Nd(acac)₃·2 H₂O/Bu₂Mg/CHCl₃ shows a fairly high activity in both the homo‐ and copolymerization of isoprene (IP) and styrene (St) in toluene at 60°C. Copolymers obtained from various comonomer feed ratios were characterized by means of NMR spectroscopy and gel‐permeation chromatography. The polyisoprene and poly(IP‐co‐St) obtained predominantly consist of cis‐1,4 IP units. Monomer reactivity ratios were evaluated to be r_IP = 5.4 and r_St = 0.38 in the copolymerization.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Novel Methacrylate Monomers Having Pendant Oxime Esters and Their Copolymerization with Styrene

New methacrylate monomers, 2‐{[(diphenylmethylene)amino]oxy}‐2‐oxoethyl methacrylate (DPOMA) and 2‐{[(1‐phenylethylidene)ami no]oxy}‐2‐oxoethyl methacrylate (MMOMA) were prepared by reaction of sodium methacrylate with diphenylmethanone O‐(2‐chloroacetyl) oxime and 1‐phenylethanone O‐(2‐chloroacetyl) oxime, respectively. They were obtained from a reaction of chloroacetyl chloride with benzophenone oxime or acetophenone oxime. The free‐radical‐initiated copolymerization of (DPOMA) and (MMOMA) with styrene (St) were carried out in 1,4‐dioxane solution at 65°C using 2,2‐azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) as an initiator with different monomer‐to‐monomer ratios in the feed. The monomers and copolymers were characterized by FTIR, ¹H‐ and ¹³C‐NMR spectral studies. The copolymer compositions were evaluated by nitrogen content in polymers. The reactivity ratios of the monomers were determined by the application of Fineman–Ross and Kelen–Tüdös methods. The molecular weights (M¯_w and M¯_n) and polydispersity index of the polymers were determined by using gel permeation chromatography. Thermogravimetric analysis of the polymers reveals that the thermal stability of the copolymers increases with an increase in the mole fraction of St in the copolymers. The activation energies of the thermal degradation of the polymers were calculated with the MHRK method. Glass transition temperatures of the copolymers were found to decrease with an increase in the mole fraction of DPOMA or MMOMA in the copolymers. The antibacterial and antifungal effects of the monomers and polymers were also investigated on various bacteria and fungi. The photochemical properties of the polymers were investigated by UV and FTIR spectra.     

Synthesis,characterization, and crosslinking of novel stars comprising eight poly(isobutylene‐azeotropic‐styrene) copolymer arms with allyl or hydroxyl termini. I. Living azeotropic copolymerization of isobutylene and styrene

The overall objective of this research is the creation of novel star polymers consisting of well‐defined stable cores out of which radiate multiple poly(isobutylene‐co‐styrene) [P(IB‐co‐St)] arms whose glass‐transition temperature (T_g) can be controlled over a wide range (?73 to +100 °C) and whose arm termini are fitted with multipurpose (e.g., crosslinkable) functionalities. The first article of this series relates the synthesis and characterization of azeotropic IB/St copolymers [P(IB‐aze‐St)], which are to be subsequently used as end‐functional arms of the target stars. The P(IB‐aze‐St)s are models for statistical IB/St copolymers. The azeotropic composition is 21/79 (mol/mol) IB/St, and NMR, Fourier transform infrared, and gel permeation chromatography techniques demonstrate copolymer compositional homogeneity over the 12–96% conversion range. Conditions were developed for living azeotropic IB/St copolymerization. The livingness of the azeotropic copolymerization was proven by kinetic investigations. P(IB‐aze‐St)s with number‐average molecular weights of up to 24,000 g/mol and polydispersity indices (weight‐average molecular weight/number‐average molecular weight) less than 1.5 were prepared. The copolymerization reactivity ratios were determined: r_IB = 3.41 ± 0.23 and r_St = 1.40 ± 0.26. The effect of the P(IB‐aze‐St) molecular weight on T_g was studied by DSC. T_g increases linearly with the number‐average molecular weight and reaches a plateau at 62 °C at 24,000 g/mol. The heat stability of P(IB‐aze‐St) was investigated by thermogravimetric analysis, and a 5% weight loss was found at 250 °C in air. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 39: 1515–1524, 2001     

Syntheses of 12‐arm star polymers and star diblock copolymers by nitroxide‐mediated radical polymerization using dendritic dodecafunctional macroinitiators

Dendritic multifunctional macroinitiators having 12 TEMPO‐based alkoxyamines were prepared by the reaction of a benzyl alcohol having 4 TEMPO‐based alkoxyamines with 1,3,5‐tris[(4‐chlorocarbonyl)phenyl]benzene and 1,3,5‐tris(4‐isocyanatophenyl)benzene. Using the dodecafunctional macroinitiators, TEMPO‐mediated radical polymerizations of styrene (St) were carried out at 120 °C, and 12‐arm star polymers ( star‐12 ) with narrow polydispersities of M_w/M_n = 1.06–1.26 were obtained. To evaluate the livingness for the TEMPO‐mediated radical polymerizations of St, hydrolysis of the ester bonds of the 12‐arm star polymers and subsequent SEC measurements were carried out. Furthermore, using star‐12 as the macroinitiator, TEMPO‐mediated radical polymerization of 4‐vinylpyridine (4‐VP) was carried out, and well‐defined poly(St)‐b‐poly(4‐VP) 12‐arm star diblock copolymers with M_w/M_n = 1.18–1.19 were obtained. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 3689–3700, 2005     

Novel adsorptive materials by adenosine 5ʹ‐triphosphate imprinted‐polymer over the surface of polystyrene nanospheres for selective separation of adenosine 5ʹ‐triphosphate biomarker from urine

In this study, we have developed a method to assess adenosine 5?‐triphosphate by adsorptive extraction using surface adenosine 5′‐triphosphate‐imprinted polymer over polystyrene nanoparticles (412 ± 16 nm) for selective recognition/separation from urine. Molecularly imprinted polymer was synthesized by emulsion copolymerization reaction using adenosine 5′‐triphosphate as a template, functional monomers (methacrylic acid, N‐isopropyl acrylamide, and dimethylamino ethylmethacrylate) and a crosslinker, methylenebisacrylamide. The binding capacities of imprinted and non‐imprinted polymers were measured using high‐performance liquid chromatography with UV detection with a detection limit of 1.6 ± 0.02 µM of adenosine 5′‐triphosphate in the urine. High binding affinity (Q_MIP, 42.65 µmol/g), and high selectivity and specificity to adenosine 5′‐triphosphate compared to other competitive nucleotides including adenosine 5?‐diphosphate, adenosine 5?‐monophosphate, and analogs such as adenosine, adenine, uridine, uric acid, and creatinine were observed. The imprinting efficiency of imprinted polymer is 2.11 for urine (Q_MIP, 100.3 µmol/g) and 2.51 for synthetic urine (Q_MIP, 48.5 µmol/g). The extraction protocol was successfully applied to the direct extraction of adenosine 5′‐triphosphate from spiked human urine indicating that this synthesized molecularly imprinted polymer allowed adenosine 5′‐triphosphate to be preconcentrated while simultaneously interfering compounds were removed from the matrix. These submicron imprinted polymers over nano polystyrene spheres have a potential in the pharmaceutical industries and clinical analysis applications.     

Effect of prepolymer molecular weight on solid state polymerization of poly(bisphenol a carbonate) with nitrogen as a sweep fluid

The effect of prepolymer molecular weight on the solid‐state polymerization (SSP) of poly(bisphenol A carbonate) was investigated using nitrogen (N₂) as a sweep fluid. Prepolymers with different number–average molecular weights, 3800 and 2400 g/mol, were synthesized using melt transesterification. SSP of the two prepolymers then was carried out at reaction temperatures in the range 120–190 °C, with a prepolymer particle size in the range 20–45 μm and a N₂ flow rate of 1600 mL/min. The glass transition temperature (T_g), number–average molecular weight (M_n), and percent crystallinity were measured at various times during each SSP. The phenyl‐to‐phenolic end‐group ratio of the prepolymers and the solid‐state synthesized polymers was determined using 125.76 MHz ¹³C and 500.13 MHz ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. At each reaction temperature, SSP of the higher‐molecular‐weight prepolymer (M_n = 3800 g/mol) always resulted in higher‐molecular‐weight polymers, compared with the polymers synthesized using the lower molecular weight prepolymer (M_n = 2400 g/mol). Both the crystallinity and the lamellar thickness of the polymers synthesized from the lower‐molecular‐weight prepolymer were significantly higher than for those synthesized from the higher‐molecular‐weight prepolymer. Higher crystallinity and lamellar thickness may lower the reaction rate by reducing chain‐end mobility, effectively reducing the rate constant for the reaction of end groups. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 4959–4969, 2008     

Novel anhydrous proton conducting copolymers of 1‐vinyl‐1,2,4‐triazole and diisopropyl‐p‐vinylbenzyl phosphonate

Phosphonic acid functional polymers are currently of interest because of their high proton conductivity in humidified and anhydrous systems. In addition, heterocyclic compounds are used in anhydrous proton conducting polymer membranes. In that study, a new copolymer based on 1‐vinyl‐1,2,4‐triazole (VTri) and diisopropyl‐p‐vinylbenzyl phosphonate (VBP) was synthesized, and their thermal, chemical, and proton conducting properties were investigated. The copolymers were synthesized by free radical copolymerization of the corresponding monomers at several monomer feed ratios to obtain P(VTri‐co‐VBP) copolymers. The copolymer samples were then hydrolyzed to produce poly(vinyl triazole‐co‐vinyl phosphonic acid) copolymers. The composition of the copolymers was determined by elemental analysis. The copolymerization and hydrolysis reactions were verified by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and ion exchange capacity measurements. Thermogravimetry analysis indicates that the copolymers are thermally stable up to 300°C. In order to increase the proton conductivity, the copolymers were doped with H₃PO₄ at several stoichometric ratios. The proton conductivity increases with triazole and phosphoric acid content. In the absence of humidity, the copolymer electrolyte, P(VTri‐co‐VBPA)1:0.5 X = 2, showed a proton conductivity of 0.005 S/cm at 150°C. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The synthesis and properties of a reactive flame‐retardant unsaturated polyester resin from a phosphorus‐containing diacid

A transparent flame‐retardant unsaturated polyester resin (FR‐UPR) was obtained by reacting propylene glycol (PG) with maleic anhydride (MA), phthalic anhydride (PA), and 9,10‐dihydro‐10[2,3‐di(hydroxy carbonyl)propyl]‐10‐phosphaphenanthrene‐10‐oxide (DDP) synthesized from 9,10‐dihydro‐9‐oxa‐10‐phosphaphenanthrene 10‐oxide (DOPO) and itaconic acid (ITA). The chemical structure of the resulting FR‐UPR was confirmed by FTIR, ¹H‐NMR and ³¹P‐NMR. The average molecular weight and viscosity of the FR‐UPR were determined by gel permeation chromatography (GPC) and viscometer, respectively. Thermal stability was studied by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) both in air and nitrogen to determine the thermal decomposition mechanism, and the apparent activation energy (E_a) was calculated by both the Kissinger and Ozawa methods. Compared to unsaturated polyester resin (UPR), the higher E_a of FR‐UPR3 implied an improved thermal stability. According to variations of the limited oxygen index (LOI) values, the UL 94 rating of vertical burning test and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) photographs of char residues, the flame retardance of cured FR‐UPR was enhanced with increasing DDP content. The study of fire reaction tests, using a cone calorimeter, suggested that there was a significant reduction of flammability in the FR‐UPR. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effects of elastomer on morphology,flammability and rheological properties of HIPS/PS‐encapsulated Mg(OH)2 composites

The effects of elastomer type on morphology, flammability and rheological properties of high‐impact polystyrene/Mg(OH)₂ based on encapsulated by polystyrene have been investigated. The ternary composites characterized by cone calorimetry, horizontal burning rate, limiting oxygen index (LOI), rheology and SEM. Morphology was controlled using poly[styrene‐b‐(ethylene‐co‐butylene)‐b‐styrene] triblock copolymer (SEBS) or the corresponding maleinated SEBS (SEBS‐g‐MA). As revealed by SEM observations, composites of HIPS/SEBS/Mg(OH)₂ exhibit separation of the filler and elastomer and good adhesion between SEBS and the filler, whereas composites of HIPS/SEBS‐g‐MA/Mg(OH)₂ exhibit encapsulation of the filler by SEBS‐g‐MA. The flame retardant and rheological properties of ternary composites were strongly dependent on microstructure. The rheological test showed that the composites with encapsulation structure exhibit a stronger solid‐like response at low frequency than those of the composites with separate dispersion structure. The combustion tests showed that the composites with encapsulation structure showed higher flame retardant properties than those of separate dispersion structure at optimum use level of SEBS‐g‐MA. However, with the increase of the content of SEBS‐g‐MA, the flame retardancy of the composite declined somewhat which can be explained that the SEBS‐g‐MA coating acts as a heat and mass transfer barrier due to the formation of encapsulation structure. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 45: 2023–2030, 2007     

Poly(styrene‐b‐isobutylene) multiarm star‐block copolymers

Multiarm star‐branched polymers based on poly(styrene‐b‐isobutylene) (PS‐PIB) block copolymer arms were synthesized under controlled/living cationic polymerization conditions using the 2‐chloro‐2‐propylbenzene (CCl)/TiCl₄/pyridine (Py) initiating system and divinylbenzene (DVB) as gel‐core‐forming comonomer. To optimize the timing of isobutylene (IB) addition to living PS⊕, the kinetics of styrene (St) polymerization at −80°C were measured in both 60 : 40 (v : v) methyl cyclohexane (MCHx) : MeCl and 60 : 40 hexane : MeCl cosolvents. For either cosolvent system, it was found that the polymerizations followed first‐order kinetics with respect to the monomer and the number of actively growing chains remained invariant. The rate of polymerization was slower in MCHx : MeCl (k_app = 2.5 × 10⁻³ s⁻¹) compared with hexane : MeCl (k_app = 5.6 × 10⁻³ s⁻¹) ([CCl]_o = [TiCl₄]/15 = 3.64 × 10⁻³M; [Py] = 4 × 10⁻³M; [St]_o = 0.35M). Intermolecular alkylation reactions were observed at [St]_o = 0.93M but could be suppressed by avoiding very high St conversion and by setting [St]_o ≤ 0.35M. For St polymerization, k_app = 1.1 × 10⁻³ s⁻¹ ([CCl]_o = [TiCl₄]/15 = 1.82 × 10⁻³M; [Py] = 4 × 10⁻³M; [St]_o = 0.35M); this was significantly higher than that observed for IB polymerization (k_app = 3.0 × 10⁻⁴ s⁻¹; [CCl]_o = [Py] = [TiCl₄]/15 = 1.86 × 10⁻³M; [IB]_o = 1.0M). Blocking efficiencies were higher in hexane : MeCl compared with MCHx : MeCl cosolvent system. Star formation was faster with PS‐PIB arms compared with PIB homopolymer arms under similar conditions. Using [DVB] = 5.6 × 10⁻²M = 10 times chain end concentration, 92% of PS‐PIB arms (M_n,PS = 2600 and M_n,PIB = 13,400 g/mol) were linked within 1 h at −80°C with negligible star–star coupling. It was difficult to achieve complete linking of all the arms prior to the onset of star–star coupling. Apparently, the presence of the St block allows the PS‐PIB block copolymer arms to be incorporated into growing star polymers by an additional mechanism, namely, electrophilic aromatic substitution (EAS), which leads to increased rates of star formation and greater tendency toward star–star coupling. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 1629–1641, 1999     

Sustainable Co‐Synthesis of Glycolic Acid,Formamides and Formates from 1,3‐Dihydroxyacetone by a Cu/Al2O3 Catalyst with a Single Active Sites

Glycolic acid (GA), as important building block of biodegradable polymers, has been synthesized for the first time in excellent yields at room temperature by selective oxidation of 1,3‐dihyroxyacetone (DHA) using a cheap supported Cu/Al₂O₃ catalyst with single active Cu^II species. By combining EPR spin‐trapping and operando ATR‐IR experiments, different mechanisms for the co‐synthesis of GA, formates, and formamides have been derived, in which ^.OH radicals formed from H₂O₂ by a Fenton‐like reaction play a key role.     

Sustainable Co‐Synthesis of Glycolic Acid,Formamides and Formates from 1,3‐Dihydroxyacetone by a Cu/Al2O3 Catalyst with a Single Active Sites

Glycolic acid (GA), as important building block of biodegradable polymers, has been synthesized for the first time in excellent yields at room temperature by selective oxidation of 1,3‐dihyroxyacetone (DHA) using a cheap supported Cu/Al₂O₃ catalyst with single active Cu^II species. By combining EPR spin‐trapping and operando ATR‐IR experiments, different mechanisms for the co‐synthesis of GA, formates, and formamides have been derived, in which ^.OH radicals formed from H₂O₂ by a Fenton‐like reaction play a key role.     

Synthesis and characterization of novel poly(cycloalkyl methacrylate) bearing fused‐ring structure and its copolymers

A new family of cycloaliphatic fused‐ring acrylic polymers based on 8‐hydroxymethyltricyclo[5.2.1.0^2,6]decane (TCD) has been synthesized by free‐radical polymerization. TCD‐methacrylate (TCD‐MA) was synthesized by reacting TCD with methacrylic acid in toluene via transesterification with p‐toluenesulfonic acid as a catalyst. TCDMA was polymerized in toluene with benzoyl peroxide as a free‐radical initiator at 80 °C. Copolymers were synthesized by polymerizing TCDMA with styrene and methyl methacrylate. The composition of the comonomers was varied from 0 to 100%. Homo‐ and copolymers were characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy. Molecular weight determination by gel permeation chromatography showed that the polymers were obtained in very high molecular weights in the range of M_n > 50,000 and M_w > 80,000 with relatively low polydispersity. The composition analysis of both the copolymer series were determined by ¹H NMR. The thermal properties of the homo‐ and copolymers were studied with differential scanning calorimetry and all the polymers were found to be amorphous. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 5617–5626, 2004     

Comparative study of electrostatic binding vs. complexation of Cu2+ ions with water‐soluble polymers containing styrene sulphonic acid and/or maleic acid units or their sodium salt forms

The interaction of Cu²⁺ ions with the homopolymer poly(styrene sulfonic acid) (PSSH), as well as with the copolymers of maleic acid (MAc) with styrene sulfonic acid (SSH) or vinyl acetate (VAc), was investigated in dilute aqueous solution through turbidimetry, potentiometry, viscometry, and spectrophotometry in the visible region. Cu²⁺ ions were introduced either through neutralization with Cu(OH)₂ of the acid form of the (co)polymers (PSSH, P(SSH‐co‐MAc) and P(VAc‐co‐MAc)) or through mixing of the sodium salt form of the (co)polymers (PSSNa, P(SSNa‐co‐MANa) and P(VAc‐co‐MANa)) with CuSO₄. Turbidimetry, potentiometry, and spectrophotometry revealed that the first carboxylic group of MAc or both carboxylate groups of MANa are involved in the complexation with Cu²⁺ ions when neutralization with Cu(OH)₂ or mixing with CuSO₄ are applied, respectively. The increased values of the reduced viscosity observed mainly at the first stages of neutralization of P(VAc‐co‐MAc) with Cu(OH)₂ indicate that interchain polymer‐Cu²⁺ complexation takes possibly place. Finally, the spectrophotometric behavior observed upon neutralization of P(SSH‐co‐MAc) with Cu(OH)₂ or mixing of P(SSNa‐co‐MANa) with CuSO₄ revealed that the strength of counterion binding by the sulfonate groups is, in fact, comparable with the complexation of Cu²⁺ ions with the carboxylate groups of MAc. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 46: 1149–1158, 2008     

Synthesis and properties of copolymers of methyl methacrylate with 2,3,4,5,6‐pentafluoro and 4‐trifluoromethyl 2,3,5,6‐tetrafluoro styrenes: An intrachain interaction between methyl ester and fluoro aromatic moieties

2,3,4,5,6‐Pentafluoro and 4‐trifluoromethyl 2,3,5,6‐tetrafluoro styrenes were readily copolymerized with methyl methacrylate (MMA) by a free radical initiator. The copolymers were soluble in tetrahydrofuran and acetone. The films obtained were transparent and flexible. The glass transition temperatures (T_gs) of the copolymers were found positively deviated from the Gordon–Taylor equation. The positive deviation could be accounted for by dipole–dipole intrachain interaction between the methyl ester group of MMA and the highly fluorinated aromatic moiety, which resulted in a decrease in the segmental mobility of the polymer chains and the enhanced T_g values of the copolymers. The water absorption of PMMA was greatly decreased by copolymerization of MMA with the highly fluorinated styrenes. With as little as 10 mol % of pentafluoro styrene content in the copolymer, the water absorption was decreased to one‐third of that for pure PMMA. The fluorinated styrenes‐MMA copolymers were thermally stable up to 420 °C under air and nitrogen atmospheres. With 50 mol % of MMA in the copolymer, the copolymer was still stable up to 350 °C. Since these copolymers contain a large number of fluorine atoms, the light absorption in the region of the visible to near infrared is decreased in comparison with nonfluorinated polymers. Thus, these copolymers may be suitable for application in optical devices, such as optical fibers and waveguides. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2010     

Linear and A2+B3‐type hyperbranched polyesters comprising phenylbenzothiazole unit: Preparation,liquid crystalline,and optical properties

Novel liquid crystalline (LC) hyperbranched (HB) polyesters comprising phenylbenzothiazole (PBT) unit as mesogen in the interiors were prepared at various feed mole ratios (A₂/B₃) by solution polycondensation of a dioxydiundecanol derivative of PBT (A₂ monomer) with trimesic acid trimethyl ester (B₃ monomer) via A₂+B₃ approach and their LC and optical properties were investigated. Analogous linear polyesters containing the PBT unit in the main chains were also prepared by the solution polycondensation of A₂ monomer with aromatic or aliphatic dimethyl esters. FTIR and ¹H‐NMR spectroscopies indicated that the HB polyesters are produced without gelation during the polycondensation and have degree of branching (DB) of 7–46%. The structures of HB polymers changed depending on the feed mole ratios and the polymer prepared in the mole ratio of A₂/B₃ = 3/2 had the highest inherent viscosity and DB. Acetylation of terminal OH group‐having HB polyesters prepared in excess mole ratios of A₂/B₃ afforded ones bearing acetoxy groups in the terminals. DSC measurements, polarizing microscope observations of textures, and X‐ray analyses suggested that only the terminal OH group‐having HB polymer prepared in the mole ratio of A₂/B₃ = 3/1 form smectic C phase. In the linear polymers, the polymers derived by using the aromatic dimethyl esters had no LC melt, but those from the aliphatic dimethyl esters formed LC smectic C phase. The acetoxy group‐bearing HB polymers showed more stable smectic A or C phase than those with the OH terminals. Solution UV‐vis and photoluminescent (PL) spectra indicated that the linear and the HB polymers have analogous optical properties and display maximum absorbances and blue‐light emission on the basis of the PBT unit, where the Stokes shifts were observed because of intermolecular aggregation effects, but there is a large difference between the optical behaviors of the linear and the HB polymers in film, whose E_g values of the linear polymers decreased and those of the HB polymers vice versa. Quantum efficiencies (Φ) had a tendency of increase in the linear polymers and the HB polymers forming LC phases. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 6688–6702, 2008     

Synthesis of graft polymers with poly(isoprene) as main chain by living anionic polymerization mechanism

The graft polymers [poly(isoprene)‐graft‐poly(styrene)] (PI‐g‐PS), [poly(isoprene)‐graft‐poly(isoprene)] (PI‐g‐PI), [poly(isoprene)‐graft‐(poly(isoprene)‐block‐poly(styrene))] PI‐g‐(PI‐b‐PS), and [poly(isoprene)‐graft‐(poly(styrene)‐block‐poly(isoprene))] PI‐g‐(PS‐b‐PI) with PI as main chain were synthesized through living anionic polymerization (LAP) mechanism and the efficient coupling reaction. First, the PI was synthesized by LAP mechanism and epoxidized in H₂O₂/HCOOH system for epoxidized PI (EPI). Then, the graft polymers with controlled molecular weight of main chain and side chains, and grafting ratios were obtained by coupling reaction between PI^?Li⁺, PS^?Li⁺, PS‐b‐PI^?Li⁺, or PI‐b‐PS^?Li⁺ macroanions and the epoxide on EPI. The target polymers and all intermediates were well characterized by SEC,¹H NMR, as well as their thermal properties were also evaluated by DSC. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012     

Synthesis of star‐shaped polystyrenes via nitroxide‐mediated stable free‐radical polymerization

High molecular weight star‐shaped polystyrenes were prepared via the coupling of 2,2,6,6‐tetramethyl‐1‐piperidinyloxy (TEMPO) terminated polystyrene oligomers with divinylbenzene (DVB) in m‐xylene at 138 °C. The optimum ratio of the coupling solvent (m‐xylene) to divinylbenzene was determined to be 9 to 1 based on volume. Linear polystyrene oligomers (M_n = 19,300 g/mol, M_w/M_n = 1.10) were prepared in bulk styrene using benzoyl peroxide in the presence of TEMPO at approximately 130 °C under an inert atmosphere. Coupling of the TEMPO‐terminated oligomers under optimum conditions resulted in a product with a number average molecular weight exceeding 300,000 g/mol (M_w/M_n = 3.03) after 24 h, suggesting the formation of relatively well‐defined star‐shaped polymers. Additionally, the intrinsic viscosities of the star‐shaped products were lower than calculated values for linear analogs of equivalent molecular weight, which further supported the formation of a star‐shaped architecture. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 39: 216–223, 2001