Synthesis and properties of soluble,fluorescent polyesters and polyethers with substituted m‐terphenyl segments in the main chain

A new series of rigid polyesters and semiflexible polyethers were synthesized from 4,4″‐dihydroxy‐5′‐phenyl or anthracenyl‐m‐terphenyl. The polymers were characterized by viscometry, Fourier transform infrared, NMR, X‐ray, differential scanning calorimetry, thermomechanical analysis, thermogravimetric analysis, ultraviolet–visible, and luminescence spectroscopy. The polyesters were amorphous, whereas some of the polyethers showed a low degree of crystallinity. All the polymers displayed an enhanced solubility even in 1,1,2,2‐tetrachloroethane and tetrahydrofuran. The glass‐transition temperatures were 123–146 °C for the polyesters and 45–117 °C for the polyethers. The polymers were stable up to 213–340 °C and afforded anaerobic char yields of 36–62% at 800 °C. Their optical properties were investigated both in solution and in the solid state. They showed ultraviolet fluorescence, violet‐blue fluorescence, or both with emission maxima at 333–487 nm. The polymers with anthracenyl pendent groups exhibited higher fluorescence quantum yields and emission maxima redshifted compared with the corresponding polymers with phenyl pendent groups. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 2381–2391, 2000     

Synthesis and characterization of new aromatic polyesters and polyethers derived from 1,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-1,2-diphenylethylene

New polyarylates and aromatic polyethers were synthesized from 1,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-1,2-diphenylethylene, and aromatic dicarboxylic acid chlorides and aromatic dihalides, respectively. The polyarylates having inherent viscosities of 0.28–1.05 dL/g were synthesized by either the two-phase method or the high-temperature solution method. All the polymers were easily soluble in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, N,N-dimethylformamide, pyridine, m-cresol, 1,4-dioxane, and 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane. They have glass transition temperatures in the range of 217–250°C and showed no weight loss below 315°C in both air and nitrogen atmospheres. Aromatic polyethers with inherent viscosities of 0.85–1.21 dL/g were obtained by the polycondensation of 1,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-1,2-diphenylethylene and aromatic difluorides in the presence of potassium carbonate. These polymers having glass transion temperatures of 193–220°C were also soluble in the aforementioned solvents and stable up to around 350deg;C in both atmospheres. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Synthesis and characterization of 1,3,4,-thiadiazole-containing polyethers from 2,5-bis (4-fluorophenyl)-1,3,4-thiadiazole and various aromatic diols

Seven 1,3,4-thiadiazole-containing polyethers with reduced viscosities of 0.27–1.44 dL/g were synthesized by the high-temperature solution polycondensation of novel activated difluoride, 2,5-bis (4-fluorophenyl)-1,3,4-thiadiazole, with aromatic diols possessing a variety of ring structures. The expected chemical structures were confirmed by IR and ¹H-NMR spectroscopy and elemental analysis. Of all the polymers, three polyethers were highly crystalline and soluble only in limited solvents such as concentrated sulfuric acid. The other polyethers were amorphous and dissolved easily in a variety of organic solvents including N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP), phenols, and chlorinated hydrocarbons. Colorless to slightly yellow-colored, transparent, and tough films could be cast from the NMP solutions of the amorphous polyethers. The mechanical properties of the films were excellent, and their tensile strength, elongation at break, and tensile moduli were in the ranges of 48–72 MPa, 5–7%, and 1.3–1.9 GPa, respectively. The amorphous polyethers had high glass transition temperatures of 204–299°C. All the polyethers were highly thermally and thermooxidatively stable and exhibited no weight loss up to 400°C, with 10% weight loss being recorded at 464–513°C in air. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Synthesis and solvatochromism of soluble polyethers containing isolated emissive p‐aryl vinylene derivatives

Two soluble polyethers (η_red > 0.4 dL/g) consisting of isolated emissive p‐aryl vinylene derivatives have been synthesized and characterized. The introductions of ether linkages and aliphatic chains result in enhanced solubility in common organic solvents such as tetrahydrofuran (THF) and chloroform. The polyethers exhibit good thermal stability with onset decomposition temperatures at around 400 °C in nitrogen. The photoluminescence spectra of the two polyethers show a maximum peaks at 446 and 394 nm, respectively. The shifts of the photoluminescence maxima are controlled by the steric conformation of the emissive chromophores. On the other part, an interesting solvatochromism of three polyethers was observed in solution. The absorption maxima of dilute polymeric solutions exhibit bathochromism at first, and then hypsochromism with increasing solvent polarity. This may be due to the alteration of the electronic structure in these emissive polyethers. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 1311–1317, 2000     

Synthesis and Characterization of Novel Aromatic Polyethers from Tetraphenylated Five-Membered Heterocycle-Containing Diols and Activated Aromatic Dihalides

Abstract

New aromatic polyethers having inherent viscosities of 0.23-0.73 dL/g were synthesized from combinations of three tetraphenylated five-membered heterocycle-containing diols, 2,5-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-3,4-diphenyl-furan, -pyrrole, and -thiophene, and three activated aromatic dihalides, 4,4′-difluorobenzophenone, bis(4-hydroxy-phenyl) sulfone, and 2,6-difluorobenzonitrile, by aromatic nucleophilic substitution poly-condensation. These aromatic polyethers, which have an amorphous nature, were soluble in a wide range of organic solvents. They had glass transition temperatures in the 182 to 250°C range with no weight loss below 400°C in either air or nitrogen atmospheres.     

Polyethers with Reactive Side Chains—Hydroxy Polyethers

The author' work on preparing polyethers with reactive side chains is reviewed with emphasis on hydroxy polyethers. High molecular weight hydroxy polyethers were prepared by polymerizing epoxides containing a hydroxyl group protected with an appropriate group such as SiMe₃ and then removing it by hydrolysis.

Atactic and isotactic polyglycidol were made in this way using coordination catalysts. The isotactic polymer was found to be unusual since it did not crystallize readily from the melt and was relatively low melting (60°C). Poly(cis-1,4-dihydroxy-2,3-epoxybutane), PDHEB, was prepared, preferably from the cyclic acetone ketal which polymerized with i-Bu₃Al-0.7H₂o cationic catalyst at ?78°C to a moderate molecular weight (η_inh up to 0.7) atactic polymer. This polymer is readily hydrolyzed with aqueous HCl treatment to atactic, amorphous, water-soluble PDHEB with a T_g of 80°C. PDHEB is melt stable to 200°C and can be molded to give brittle, clear films which readily pick up 5–10% H₂O from the atmosphere to give properties like plasticized poly(vinyl chloride). The bis(trimethylsilyl) ether of cis-1,4-dihydroxy-2,3-epoxybutane was polymerized cationically with the i-Bu₃ Al-0. 7H₂O catalyst at ?78°C to a fairly tactic, presumably racemic diisotactic, amorphous polymer, with η_inh of 0.16. A mechanism is proposed for this stereoregular polymerization based on a complexation of the Si side group of the last chain unit with the propagating oxonium ion. Hydroxy polyethers, in general, merit extensive future study since they are analogues of the biochemically important polysaccharides.     

Synthesis and photoluminescence of linear and hyperbranched polyethers containing phenylquinoxaline units and flexible aliphatic spacers

Ultrahigh‐molecular‐weight linear polyethers were prepared through a reaction between the phenylquinoxaline monomers 2,3‐bis(4‐hydroxyphenyl)‐6‐fluoroquinoxaline and 2,3‐bis(4‐hydroxyphenyl)‐6‐(α,α,α‐trifluoromethyl)quinoxaline and 1,12‐dibromododecane. A new hyperbranched polyether containing a phenylquinoxaline moiety was also prepared from a new self‐polymerizable AB₂ monomer, 2,3‐bis(6‐bromohexyloxyphenyl)‐6‐(4‐hydroxyphenyloxy)quinoxaline. All the polyethers were amorphous and soluble in polar aprotic solvents. Their solution‐cast thin films were light yellow, ductile, and optically transparent. The polymers were thermally stable up to 350 °C and had glass‐transition temperatures in the range of 25–83 °C, which depended on the architecture and monomer structure. The monomers and polymers displayed fluorescence maxima in the blue‐light region in the range of 431–449 nm with relatively narrow peak widths; this indicated that they had pure and intense fluorescence. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 3587–3603, 2004     

Synthesis and Optical Properties on a Series of Polyethers Incorporating Terfluorene Segments and Methylene Spacers

A series of polyethers consisting of a modified terfluorenediol connected with a nonconjugated spacer were synthesized and characterized in respect to their thermal, electrochemical, optical and morphological properties. The polymers were further investigated as thin deposits with the use of the FT‐IR technique after thermal (200°C for 30 min) and photo‐oxidation treatment. After thermal treatment no generation of the carbonyl stretching mode of the fluorenone moiety is observed, while after photo‐oxidation in various times (between 5 to 30 min) the appearance of the fluorenone unit is well established. Furthermore, the length of the flexible spacer used influenced the optical properties of the polyethers after thermal treatment. In particular, odd ones showed more intensely the low energy emission band at 520 nm after the thermal treatment in contrast to even ones.     

Synthesis and characterization of some new polymeric peroxycarbamates

The synthesis and characterization of several polymeric peroxycarbamates prepared by successive reaction of poly(ethylene oxides), first, with diisocyanates, and then with hydroperoxides, are described in detail for bis(2,5-dimethyl-2-hydroperoxyhexane peroxycarbamate) polyethers, the chain-extended analogs of these peroxycarbamyl polyethers and for bis(α-cumyl peroxycarbamate) polyether. The polymerization of styrene with this last initiator was studied at 60, 80, and 100°C. Both low- and high-conversion polymerizations were studied. The relationship between the rates of initiation and the inverse degree of polymerization was determined.     

Macrocyclic Ethers by Free Radical Cyclizations

Tin hydride reduction of ω-iodo-polyoxaalkyl acrylates 1 using syringe pump addition of both reactants to a solution of AIBN in benzene at 80°C afforded the corresponding cyclic polyethers in excellent yields.     

Synthesis and Properties of Phosphorus-Containing Aromatic Polyethers

The phosphorus-containing aromatic polyethers were prepared from bis(p-chlorophenyl)phenylphosphine oxide (BCPO) with the sodium salt of several bisphenols by high temperature solution polycondensation. The best result (yield 84%, n _sp /c = 0.15) was obtained from BCPO with bisphenol A (BPA) in dimethyl sulfoxide. However, the polymerization in the solvents such as N, N′-dimethyl-2-pyrrolidone, hexamethylphosphoramide, and N,N′-dimethylformamide, and the polymerization with the other bisphenols HO-C₆H₄-X-C₆H₄?OH, where X = CO, S0₂, CH₃P(O), C₆H₅P(O) in place of BPA gave gumlike polymers. The polymer prepared from BCPO and BPA did not decompose up to ca. 300°C under air or nitrogen atmosphere, but it decomposed slowly at 300–520°C, and decomposed rapidly at 520–540°C. The activation energy (δE) for the maximum rate of weight loss was 47.8 kcal/mole.     

Polymers from aryl glycidyl ethers

High molecular weight, linear polyethers were prepared by polymerizing a series of ring-substituted phenyl glycidyl ethers by using the ferric chloride–propylene oxide and dibutylzinc–water catalyst systems. The α-naphthyl, β-naphthyl, p-phenylphenyl, the o-, m-, and p-methyl, and the o- and p-chlorophenyl polymers resemble the parent polymer in that they are readily crystallizable polyethers which have melting points above 170°C. The other substituted poly(phenyl glycidyl ethers), including the o- and p-isopropyl, p-tert-butyl, p-octyl, and 2,4,6-trichloro derivatives show much less tendency to crystallize and are lower melting. The x-ray and electron diffraction data established that poly(o-chlorophenyl glycidyl ether) crystallizes in an orthorhombic unit cell; data obtained in a parallel study of unsubstituted poly(phenyl glycidyl ether) did not allow assignment of a specific structure.     

Tri‐block copolymers of polyethylene glycol and hyperbranched poly‐3‐ethyl‐3‐(hydroxymethyl)oxetane through cationic ring opening polymerization

Tri‐block copolymers of linear poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and hyperbranched poly‐3‐ethyl‐3‐(hydroxymethyl)oxetane (poly‐TMPO) are reported. The novel dumb‐bell shaped polyethers were synthesized in bulk with cationic ringopening polymerization utilizing BF₃OEt₂ as initiator, via drop‐wise addition of the oxetane monomer. The thermal properties of the materials were successfully tuned by varying the amount of poly‐TMPO attached to the PEG‐chains, ranging from a melting point of 54 °C and a degree of crystallinity of 76% for pure PEG, to a melting point of 35 °C and a degree of crystallinity of 12% for the polyether copolymer having an average of 14 TMPO units per PEG chain. The materials are of relatively low polydispersity, with M_n/M_w ranging from 1.2 to 1.4. The materials have been evaluated for usage with the energetic oxidizer ammonium dinitramide. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 6191–6200, 2009     

Synthesis and chemical modification of hyperbranched polyethers with terminal hydroxy groups by the anionic ring‐opening polymerization of 3‐alkyl‐3‐hydroxymethyl oxetanes

The anionic ring‐opening polymerization of oxetanes containing hydroxyl groups was carried out with potassium tert‐butoxide as an initiator in the presence of 18‐crown‐6‐ether in N‐methylpyrrolidinone at 180 °C; it yielded corresponding multifunctional hyperbranched polymers: poly(3‐ethyl‐3‐hydroxymethyloxetane)s, with number‐average molecular weights of 2200–4100 in 83–95% yields, and poly(3‐methyl‐3‐hydroxymethyloxetane)s, with number‐average molecular weights of 4600–5200 in 70–95% yields. The synthesized poly(3‐ethyl‐3‐hydroxymethyloxetane)s and poly(3‐methyl‐3‐hydroxymethyloxetane)s were hyperbranched polyethers containing an oxetane moiety and many hydroxy groups at the ends. The postpolymerization of poly(3‐ethyl‐3‐hydroxymethyloxetane)s was performed in the presence of potassium tert‐butoxide and 18‐crown‐6‐ether in N‐methylpyrrolidinone at 180 °C; it yielded corresponding polymers with higher molecular weights in good yields. The cationic polymerization of poly(3‐ethyl‐3‐hydroxymethyloxetane) derivatives was carried out with boron trifluoride etherate as an initiator and was followed by alkaline hydrolysis; this yielded a new branched polymer, a poly(hyperbranched polyether), with many pendant hydroxy groups. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 3739–3750, 2004     

NEW MATERIALS DERIVED FROM POLY(4-HYDROXYSTYRENE) AS LITHIUM BATTERY CELL COMPONENTS

A new class of polyethers has been prepared by the Mitsunobu coupling of poly(4-vinyl phenol), P4VP, with low molecular weight poly(ethylene glycol)methyl ether. These comb-like polymers, having ca. 20–30% residual phenols, were characterized by IR, DSC, and TGA. Results of thermal analysis on the polymers suggest thermal stability to at least 300°C and a glass transition temperature in the range ?30 to ?40°C. Complexes with LiPF₆ gave conductivities of ca. 1 × 10^?5 S/cm at room temperature. The polymers were blended with plasticized poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) to prepare porous films and subsequently infiltrated with lithium salts and ethylene and ethyl methyl carbonate. Ionic conductivities of these hybrid films were measured from ?20°C to 40°C. Conductivities as high as 2.4 × 10^?3 S/cm are observed at room temperature. The electrochemical stability of hybrid materials was studied by cyclic voltammetry.     

Unperturbed dimensions of poly(2-methyl-6-phenyl-1,4-phenylene oxide) and poly(2,6-diphenyl-1,4-phenylene oxide) chains

The unperturbed chain dimensions of unfractionated poly(2-methyl-6-phenyl-1,4-phenylene oxide) and poly-(2,6-diphenyl-1,4-phenylene oxide) have been measured by combining molecular weight data from light scattering with intrinsic viscosity data in chloroform. The unperturbed chain dimensions of the former polymer were also measured directly by light scattering dissymmetry in a critical consolute solvent mixture (methyl cyclohexane: 1,4-dioxane 50:50 by volume). The results of these measurements and of measurements reported by other investigators are satisfactorily explained by postulating no dimension-expanding prejudice in azimuthal angle in chain conformers of the 2,6-substituted-1,4-phenylene oxide polymers. This corresponds to equal population of the two chain rotation energy minima at azimuthal angles 90° and 270°. Accepting this postulate, one calculates from the observed chain dimensions that the C? O? C bond angle is 118–120° in these aromatic polyethers in solution.     

Poly(N-phenyl-2-hydroxytrimethylene amine): Its blends with poly(ϵ-caprolactone) and water-soluble polyethers

A new polymer with pendant hydroxyl groups, namely, poly(N-phenyl-2-hydroxytrime-thylene amine) (PHA), was synthesized by a direct condensation polymerization of aniline and epichlorohydrin in an alkaline medium. The new polymer is amorphous with a glass transition temperature (T_g) of 70°C. Blends of PHA with poly(ϵ-caprolactone) (PCL), as well as with two water-soluble polyethers, poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) and poly(vinyl methyl ether) (PVME), were prepared by casting from a common solvent. It was found that all the three blends were miscible and showed a single, composition dependent glass transition temperature (T_g). FTIR studies revealed that PHA can form hydrogen bonds with PCL, PEO, and PVME, which are driving forces for the miscibility of the blends. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Poly(2,6-diphenyl-1,4-phenyl oxide): Characterization by gel-permeation chromatography,light scattering,and solution viscosity

Ten unfractionated poly(2,6-diphenyl-1,4-phenylene oxide) samples were examined by gel permeation chromatography (GPC) and intrinsic viscosity [η] at 50°C in benzene, by intrinsic viscosity at 25°C in chloroform, and by light scattering at 30°C in chloroform. The GPC column was calibrated with ten narrow-distribution polystyrenes and styrene monomer to yield a “universal” relation of log ([η]M) versus elution volume. GPC-average molecular weights, defined as M?gpc = \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$\Sigma w_i [\eta ]_i M_i /\Sigma w_i [\eta ]_i$\end{document}, w_i denoting the weight fraction of polymer of molecular weight M_i, were computed from the GPC and [η] data on the polyethers. The M?GPC were then compared with the weight-average M?_w from light scattering. The intrinsic viscosity (dl/g) versus molecular weight relations for the unfractionated poly(2,6-diphenyl-1,4-phenylene oxides) determined over the molecular weight range 14,000 ≤ M?_w ≤ 1,145,000 are log [η] = ?3.494 + 0.609 log M?_w (chloroform, 25°C) and log [η] = ?3.705 + 0.638 log M?_w (benzene, 50°C). The M?_w(GPC)/M?_n(GPC) ratios for the polymers in the molecular weight range 14,000 ≤ M?_w ≤ 123,000 approximate 1.5 according to computer integrations of the GPC curves with the use of the “universal” calibration and the measured log [η] versus log M?_w relation. The higher molecular weight polymers (326,000 ≤ M?_w ≤ 1,145,000) show slightly broadened distributions.     

Synthesis and optical properties of soluble polyethers containing oligophenyl in the main chain and p‐styrylbenzene side groups

New polyethers containing alternating conjugated segments of p‐terphenyl or p‐quinquephenyl with p‐styrylbenzene side groups and aliphatic spacers were synthesized with pyrylium salts. They had moderate molecular weights, were amorphous, and dissolved in tetrahydrofuran, chloroform, and other common organic solvents. The glass‐transition temperatures were 68–82 and 110–153 °C for the polymers that carried p‐terphenyl and p‐quinquephenyl moieties, respectively. The absorption spectra showed a peak around 325 nm, and the band gaps were 3.27–3.34 eV, which were calculated from the onset absorption in solution. The photoluminescence maxima were at 393–398 nm in solution and 422–449 nm in thin films, indicating that the polymers were violet‐blue‐emitting materials. The photoluminescence quantum yields in solution were up to 0.25. The polymers displayed both in concentrated solutions and in the solid state intramolecular or intermolecular interactions. The polarity of the solvent influenced the shape of the photoluminescence curve. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 682–693, 2002; DOI 10.1002/pola.10151     

Nanoporous crosslinked macrocyclic polyethers based on diethylene glycol divinyl ether and their superbase complexes with KOH

Nanoporous (11–12 nm) crosslinked macrocyclic polyethers with vinyloxy and hydroxyl groups have been synthesized by the free-radical polymerization of diethylene glycol divinyl ether (AIBN, 80°C, i-octane), followed by acidic hydrolysis. It has been shown that the polymers react with KOH to form insoluble superbase complexes and alcoholates capable of catalyzing vinylation of ethylene glycol by acetylene.