Preparation and characterization of core-shell polystyrene/polychloromethylstyrene and hollow polychloromethylstyrene micrometer-sized particles of narrow-size distribution

Polystyrene core microspheres of narrow-size distribution were prepared by dispersion polymerization of styrene in a mixture of ethanol and 2-methoxy ethanol. Polystyrene/polychloromethylstyrene and polystyrene/poly(chloromethylstyrene-divinylbenzene) core-shell microspheres of narrow-size distribution were prepared by seeded emulsion polymerization of chloromethylstyrene or chloromethylstyrene and divinylbenzene in the presence of the polystyrene core microspheres at 71 °C. Core-shell particles with different properties (size, surface morphology, and composition) have been prepared by changing various parameters belonging to the emulsion polymerization process, e.g., volume of the chloromethylstyrene and the volume ratio of chloromethylstyrene to divinylbenzene. Dissolution of the polystyrene core of the polystyrene/poly(chloromethylstyrene-divinylbenzene) core-shell particles resulted in the formation of crosslinked hollow polychloromethylstyrene microspheres, broken crosslinked polychloromethylstyrene shells, or particles containing voids, depending on the composition of the polystyrene/poly(chloromethylstyrene-divinylbenzene) particles.     

Solid-state 13C-NMR analysis of hypercrosslinked polystyrene

Hypercrosslinked polystyrenes, synthesized by reaction of linear or lightly crosslinked polystyrene with chloromethyl methyl ether (CME) and a Lewis acid in a good solvent, swell even in nonsolvents for polystyrene. Structures and dynamics of hypercrosslinked polystyrenes in both dry solid and solvent-swollen gel states have been determined by ¹³C-NMR spectroscopy. Deconvolution of ¹³C solid-state CP/MAS spectra gave the relative numbers of quaternary carbon atoms in monosubstituted and disubstituted benzenes. A typical sample, crosslinked by reaction of a mixture containing 0.5 mol of CME per mol of repeat units, contains 35% of unreacted and 65% of crosslinked aromatic rings, and no residual chloromethyl groups. Gels swollen in CDCl₃ and in CH₃OH have residual static dipolar interactions enabling crosspolarization and require magic angle spinning (MAS) and high power ¹H decoupling to reduce chemical shift anisotropy from ∼ 10⁴ Hz to ∼ 10³ Hz. A single proton spin-lattice relaxation time in the rotating frame measured from all peaks in the ¹³C spectra of dry samples indicates homogeneity on a nanometer scale. Proton NMR line widths indicate no substantial molecular motions in a dry hypercrosslinked polystyrene up to at least 200°C. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 35: 695–701, 1997     

Preparation and functionalization of reactive monodisperse macroporous poly(chloromethylstyrene-co-styrene-co-divinylbenzene) beads by a staged templated suspension polymerization

Reactive monodisperse porous poly(chloromethylstyrene-co-styrene-co-divinylbenzene) beads have been prepared by a staged templated suspension polymerization method with different concentrations of linear polystyrene porogen and chloromethylstyrene in the polymerization mixture. The presence of a small amount of linear polystyrene in the polymerization mixture leads to a dramatic increase in both the pore size and the pore volume of the resulting beads. In contrast, addition of chloromethylstyrene leads to lower surface areas and smoother surfaces due to the reduced compatibility between the polystyrene porogen and the newly formed crosslinked chains. The modification of chloromethylstyrene beads by Gabriel synthesis to obtain aminated beads has also been studied. The final number of primary amino groups is related to the starting concentration of functional benzyl chloride moieties rather than to the porous properties. Both π-basic and π-acidic type chiral selectors, (R)-1-(1-naphthyl)-ethylamine and (R)-N-(3,5-dinitrobenzoyl)phenylglycine, respectively, have been attached to the amino functionalized beads, and the resulting chiral beads have been used in the model HPLC separations of enantiomers. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 35: 2631–2643 1997     

NMR investigations of phase transition in aqueous polymer solutions and gels

The use of NMR spectroscopy in investigations of phase transitions in aqueous polymer solutions and gels is reviewed. Results on this subject as obtained mostly for thermoresponsive polymers (e.g., poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) and its copolymers, poly(N-isopropylmethacrylamide) and its copolymers, poly(vinyl methyl ether)) from temperature dependences of ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectra, spin–lattice and spin–spin relaxation times, diffusion coefficients and NMR images are discussed.     

Laser Raman spectroscopy of polyacrylamide

The Raman spectra of polyacrylamide and its covalently crosslinked gel (with N,N′-methylenebis-acrylamide as the crosslinking agent) in the region of 200–3600 cm^?1 are discussed. The vibrational band assignments for polyacrylamide are made on the basis of a comparison with the spectra of acrylamide, acrylic acid, polyacrylic acid, poly(vinyl alcohol), and other vinyl polymers. The Raman spectra of polyacrylamide in the solid phase and in aqueous solution have similar spectral features. The Raman spectra of gels with low crosslink content and of polyacrylamide in aqueous solution are comparable except that one new band, predominantly due to the residual monomer, appears in the gel phase. An analysis based on polarized Raman, infrared and NMR spectra, model building, and group theoretical calculations suggests a structure dominated by isotactic species.     

Initiator selectivity during free radical copolymerizations of styrene and methyl methacrylate initiated by anaerobic copper(II) oxidation of carbon‐13 labeled acetophenone

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analysis of the ¹³C‐labeled chain ends of polystyrene, polyMMA, and styrene‐MMA copolymers prepared by polymerizations initiated using ¹³C‐labeled‐phenacyl radicals were investigated. The phenacyl radicals were generated by anaerobic oxidation of acetophenone‐methyl‐¹³C using a Cu(II) octanoate‐pyridine complex in the presence of triethylamine and triphenylphosphine. NMR analysis of the ¹³C‐labeled chain ends of these polymers afforded insight into the initiation mechanism. In copolymerization experiments using ¹³C‐labeled acetophenone initiator, the NMR spectra provided evidence that the phenacyl radical reacts 2.7 times faster with styrene than with MMA. The resonances of the labeled phenacyl carbons also showed that the sequence and stereosequence distributions of monomer units at the chain ends are nearly the same as those that prevail along the polymer chains. Styrene–styrene, styrene–MMA, and MMA–styrene enchainments at the chain ends are equally likely to have meso (erythro) or racemic(threo) configurations but the ratio of meso to racemic MMA‐MMA enchainments is ～ 3/7. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 2347–2356, 2008     

Spectres ultrasonores de solutions diluées de polystyrène et de quelques derivés—I. Poly(α-Méthylstyrène) et poly(o-bromostyrène)

Ultrasonic absorption data were obtained over the frequency range 0·3–150 MHz for dilute solutions of polystyrene, poly(α-methylstyrene) and poly(o-bromostyrene). We have shown that for polystyrene and poly(α-methylstyrene) the spectra are very similar and can be resolved into two relaxations. A bromine atom ortho in the benzene ring affects the ultrasonic spectrum which shows three relaxation times at least. Investigation of the temperature dependence also has shown a different behaviour for poly(o-bromostyrene).     

Pre-irradiation induced grafting of styrene into crosslinked and non-crosslinked polytetrafluoroethylene films for polymer electrolyte fuel cell applications. II: Characterization of the styrene grafted films

Crosslinked and non-crosslinked polytetrafluoroethylene films (RX-PTFE and V-PTFE films, respectively) were irradiated by γ-ray and then grafted with styrene in liquid phase. Microscope FT-IR spectroscopy, TGA, solid state ¹³C CP/MAS and high resolution HS/MAS NMR spectroscopy, wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD) study were used to get the structural information of the styrene grafted RX-PTFE and V-PTFE films. From microscope FT-IR spectra of the grafted RX-PTFE films, the “grafting front mechanism” was proved. TGA analysis showed that the grafted films have a small degradation step and two main degradation steps. In the ¹³C CP/MAS NMR spectra of the non-grafted films, there are no signal due to the absence of the hydrogen atom. While in the spectra of the grafted films, there are signals attributed to the polystyrene grafts. In the ¹³C HS/MAS NMR spectra of the grafted films, the relative intensity of the peaks attributed to the polystyrene grafts increased while the relative intensity of the peak attributed to PTFE matrix decreased with the increase in the DOG. From WAXD patterns, the intensity of the crystalline peak decrease with the increase in the DOG. The grafted films were sulfonated by chlorosulfonic acid and the results of highest IEC value exceeded 3.0. Those results will be reported in the near future.     

Synthesis of graft copolymers by combination of radical photopolymerization and iniferter process

Various PS‐based graft copolymers including polystyrene‐graft‐poly(methyl methacrylate) and poly(styrene‐graft‐poly(ethylene glycol) methacrylate) are prepared via subsequent visible light radical photopolymerization and iniferter processes. Thus, poly(styrene‐co‐4‐chloromethylstyrene) P(S‐co‐VBC) is synthesized by light induced free‐radical polymerization. Then, chloride moieties are substituted with triphenylmethyl (trityl) groups to give trityl‐substituted PS (PS‐trityl) under visible light irradiation using dimanganese decacarbonyl (Mn₂(CO)₁₀) photochemistry. Side chains are then grafted from PS‐trityl backbone via iniferter process to give desired graft copolymers in a controlled manner. The precursor intermediates and the final graft copolymers are analyzed by ¹H NMR, FT‐IR, and GPC measurements. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2019, 57, 1344–1348     

Photocrosslinked poly(vinylbenzophenone)‐core micelles via mild Friedel–Crafts benzoylation of polystyrene amphiphiles

Photocrosslinkable poly(vinylbenzophenone)‐containing polymers were synthesized via a one‐step, Friedel–Crafts benzoylation of polystyrene‐containing starting materials [including polystyrene, polystyrene‐block‐poly(tert‐butyl acrylate), polystyrene‐block‐poly(ethylene oxide), polystyrene‐block‐poly(methyl methacrylate), and polystyrene‐block‐poly(n‐butyl acrylate)] with benzoyl trifluoromethanesulfonate as a benzoylation reagent. The use of this mild reagent (which required no added Lewis acid) permitted polymers with well‐defined compositions and narrow molecular weight distributions to be synthesized. Micelles formed from one of these benzoylated polymers, [polystyrene_0.25‐co‐poly(vinylbenzophenone)_0.75]₁₁₅‐block‐poly(acrylic acid)₁₄, were then fixed by the irradiation of the micelle cores with UV light. As the irradiation time was increased, the pendent benzophenone groups crosslinked with other chains in the glassy micelle cores. Dynamic light scattering, spectrofluorimetry, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy were all used to verify the progress of the crosslinking reaction. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 2604–2614, 2006     

Thymine‐functionalized polystyrenes for applications in biotechnology. III. Increasing the thymine loading via a new synthetic pathway

In this article, we report an efficient method for the synthesis of thymine‐functionalized polystyrene microspheres. First, poly(styrene‐co‐4‐chloromethylstyrene) copolymers slightly crosslinked with divinylbenzene were synthesized in batch free‐radical emulsion copolymerization. Microspheres with a particle size of ～40–70 nm were obtained with greater than 99% conversion. The chloromethylstyrene (CMS) groups were then converted into thymylmethylstyrene (TMS) in a two‐phase system with greater than 80% efficiency, and up to a 45 mol % thymine loading was achieved. The functionalized microspheres were characterized by elemental analysis, Fourier transform infrared, and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The analyses revealed partial hydrolysis of the CMS functionalities, yielding hydroxymethyl functional groups in addition to the thymine functionalities. These copolymers have potential applications in biotechnology. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 5545–5553, 2005     

Surface modification of crosslinked poly(styrene-divinyl benzene) micrometer-sized particles of narrow size distribution by ozonolysis

Micrometer-sized polystyrene template particles of narrow size distribution were prepared by dispersion polymerization of styrene in 2-methoxyethanol. Uniform micrometer-sized polystyrene/crosslinked poly(styrene-divinyl benzene) composite particles were formed by a single-step swelling process of the template particles with styrene, divinyl benzene and benzoyl peroxide, followed by polymerization at 70 degrees C. Uniform micrometer-sized crosslinked poly(styrene-divinyl benzene) particles of higher surface area were produced by dissolution of the template polystyrene part of the former composite particles with N,N-dimethylformamide. Hydroperoxide conjugated crosslinked poly(styrene-divinyl benzene) particles were produced by ozonolysis of these particles. The effect of ozonolysis conditions, such as exposure time and flow rate of the ozone, on the hydroperoxide conjugation to the crosslinked particles was also studied. Functionalization of the crosslinked poly(styrene-divinyl benzene) particles was performed by graft polymerization of vinylic monomers such as acrylonitrile and chloromethylstyrene on the hydroperoxide conjugated crosslinked particles. This was accomplished by raising the temperature (e.g., 70 degrees C) of deairated acetonitrile dispersions containing the hydroperoxide conjugated particles and the vinylic monomers. The influence of various polymerization parameters on the grafting yield, e.g., monomer concentration, conjugated hydroperoxide concentration, and temperature, was also elucidated.     

Dual crosslinked phenylethynyl end‐capped sulfonated polyimides via the ethynyl and sulfonate groups promoted by PEG

Typically, phenylethynyl (PE) end‐capped oligomides require a temperature of 370 °C for 1 h to develop a crosslinked system. A published method using poly(ethylene glycol)s (DM‐PEG‐250 and PEG‐400) as cosolvents with NMP was effective in crosslinking the ethynyl end‐caps at 250 °C/3 h in nonsulfonated oligomides. The application of this novel crosslinked method to PE end‐capped sulfonated oligomides was effective but caused a secondary crosslinked network via the sulfonic acid groups and ethylene glycol solvents. The solid‐state ¹³C NMR spectral data on ¹³C‐labeled end‐caps in the PE‐3F‐SPI‐3 oligomide provide evidence for the ethynyl to ethynyl and ethylene oxide sulfonate ester dual crosslinked structure. Infrared spectroscopy of model compounds also provides evidence for the presence of crosslinked sulfonate ester and appended sulfonate ester side chains. ¹³C NMR also provided quantitative data on the extent of the ethynyl to ethynyl crosslinking reaction and sulfonate ester crosslinks and side chains. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011     

Structure,dynamics and interactions in polymer systems as studied by NMR spectroscopy

The possibilities of NMR spectroscopy in studies of interactions in polymer systems are demonstrated on the example of two types of macromolecular complexes: (i) By measuring ¹H NMR high resolution line intensities, the formation of ordered associated structures of syndiotactic (s) poly(methyl methacrylate)(PMMA) in mixed solvents was quantitatively characterized. The obtained results permit us to assume that the mechanism by which the solvent affects self-association of s-PMMA involves specific interactions of the solvent molecules with PMMA units. Solid state high resolution ¹³C NMR spectra of associated s-PMMA gels were also measured and compared with the spectra of a solid s-PMMA sample. (ii) By using ¹³C solid state NMR spectroscopy, the differences in the structure of the amorphous and crystalline phases in pure poly(ethylene oxide) and its complexes with p-dichlorobenzene or p-nitrophenol were characterized. Prounounced differences also in the dynamic structure of the crystalline phase in these systems are indicated by the relaxation times T₁(C), T_1ρ(C) and T_1ρ(H).     

Cationic grafting from carbon black. VII. Grafting of polyacetals by cationic ring-opening polymerization of trioxane and 1,3-dioxolane initiated by CO+ClO4− groups on carbon black

The cationic ring-opening polymerization of trioxane and 1,3-dioxolane was found to be initiated by CO⁺CIO₄^? groups on a carbon black surface, which were introduced by the reaction of COCI groups with AgCIO₄. The activation energy of the ring-opening polymerization of trioxane was estimated to be 15.5 kcal/mol. In the polymerization system, poly(oxymethylene) and poly(1,3-dioxolane) formed were effectively grafted onto carbon black depending upon the propagation of these polymers from the carbon black surface; for instance, the grafting ratio of poly(oxymethylene) onto carbon black increased with an increase in conversion and went up to about 180%. Although the grafted chain of poly(oxymethylene) was subject to stepwise thermal depolymerization from the chain ends, the thermal stability of poly(oxymethylene)-grafted carbon black was improved by acetylation of hemiformal end groups. The molecular weight of ungrafted poly(oxymethylene) formed in the polymerization was determined to be 1.8–2.0 × 10⁴. Furthermore, the copolymerization of trioxane with 1,3-dioxolane, styrene, and other comonomers initiated by CO⁺CIO₄^? groups and the thermal stability of these acetal copolymer-grafted carbon black were investigated.     

Formation of hydrogen bonding in ionized poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) gels by continuous water exchange

The effects of continuous water exchange on the swelling behavior of poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide‐co‐sodium acrylate) gel were studied. The diameter of gels and the Na⁺ concentration in the solvent were measured at several constant intervals after the solvent (the distilled deionized water) was exchanged. The diameter decreased at room temperature as the solvent was exchanged with water, and it continued to decrease even after more than about 97% of the initial Na⁺ diffused into the water. Thus, the final swelling ratio of the gel was only slightly larger than that of the neutral poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) gel. To reveal the structural change in molecular level, solid‐state ¹³C cross‐polarization/magic‐angle spinning, solid‐state ¹H combined rotation and multiple‐pulse spectroscopy, and swollen‐state ¹³C dipolar decoupled/magic‐angle spinning NMR experiments were carried out for several dried and swollen samples by varying the times of water exchange. As a result, the intensity and position of the carboxyl peak changed, and the relative intensity of the nonionized carboxyl groups of gels increased with an increasing number of water exchanges. These results indicated that hydrogen bonding was formed between the two, nonionized carboxyl groups (? COOH) and/or between the ? COOH and ? CONH? groups. The macroscopic polymer network shrinkage is discussed in terms of the replacement of counterions Na⁺ by H⁺ and of the formation of intermolecular hydrogen bonding. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 42: 1090–1098, 2004     

The heat capacity of solid and liquid polystyrene,p-substituted polystyrenes,and crosslinked polystyrenes

Heat capacities were measured for poly(4-methylstyrene) [300–500K], poly(4-fluorostyrene) [130–350K], poly(4-chlorostyrene) [300–550K], poly(4-bromostyrene) [300–550K], poly(4-iodostyrene) [300–550K] and poly(styrene-co-divinylbenzene) with 1, 2, 4, 8, and 12 wt.% divinylbenzene (technical grade) [300–550K]. Polystyrene and poly(α-methylstyrene) data were found to match the ATHAS data bank collections. Crosslinking causes no significant change in heat capacity, but substitution does. The heat capacities in the solid state are evaluated using approximate group and skeletal vibration spectra. Glass transitions are discussed, and full thermodynamic functions (C_p, H, S, G) can be calculated for amorphous, crystalline, and deuterated polystyrene as well as poly(α-methylstyrene). Glassy polystyrene has an entropy of 7.5 J K^?1 mol^?1 at absolute zero. Changes of the heat capacity at the glass transition are explained and are predicted to go to zero for 50% poly(styrene-co-divinylbenzene) at about 550K.     

Regio‐selective peroxybromination of poly(vinyl methyl ketone) as versatile tool for generation active ATRP initiation sites on solid surfaces

Peroxybromination or so‐called radical bromination is an environmentally friendly process which involves the use of in situ generated bromine by action of hydrogen peroxide on sodium or ammonium bromide in acid medium. The reaction takes place at room temperature without eliminating hydrobromic acid and no needs the use of elemental bromine. The reaction with poly(vinyl methyl ketone) in biphasic system was demonstrated to result in quantitative bromination exclusively at the methyne carbon of the polymer. The brominated polymer was successfully used as multifunctional macroinitiator for atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of styrene and MMA to give bottlebrush polymers, as evidenced by ¹H NMR and GPC. This strategy was demonstrated to provide a means of easy bromination of solid polystyrene microspheres (210–420 μm) constituting with vinyl methyl ketone copolymer segments. Bromoalkyl groups generated (1.3 mmol g^?1) in aqueous mixture were used for surface initiated ATRP of glycidyl methacrylate and styrene monomers to give dense graft chains tethered to the surfaces with hydrolysis‐proof linkages. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2013 , 51, 3892–3900     

13C-NMR spectroscopic analysis of vinyl groups in styrene–divinylbenzene networks

p-Divinylbenzene (DVB) ¹³C-labeled at the methine carbon of the vinyl group was copolymerized in suspension with styrene at 70, 70–95, and 135–155°C using 2,2′-azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) as the initiator. The number of unreacted vinyl groups in each copolymer was determined by ¹³C CP–MAS NMR analysis of solid samples, direct polarization ¹³C-NMR analysis of CDCl₃-swollen gels, and bromination. Results from the three methods agree methods agree qualitatively. Even the 1% DVB-crosslinked networks contained 40% unreacted DVB-vinyl groups when prepared by high conversion polymerization at 70°C and 16% unreacted DVB-vinyl groups when polymerization was finished at 95°C. The analyses were also applied to some commercial crosslinked polystyrenes. Every sample examined contained pendent vinyl groups