Gas transport properties of soluble poly(amide imide)s

The influence of the molecular structure of five soluble poly(amide imide)s (PAI)s on their gas transport properties for carbon dioxide, oxygen, nitrogen, and methane has been studied. Permeabilities, diffusivities, and solubilities were determined by time lag measurements and correlated to chain packing and mobility as well as to polymer gas interaction. The PAIs were characterized by small‐ and wide‐angle X‐ray scattering. Molar masses and polymerization degrees were measured by light scattering. Additionally, glass transition temperatures, densities, and persistence lengths were determined. Pressure‐ and temperature‐dependent gas transport measurements have been done. It was found that the permeability is increasing with the diffusion coefficient which can be related to the fractional free volume. PAIs containing cardo diamines show higher diffusivities and permeabilities than poly(amide imide)s containing linear aromatic diamines due to higher fractional free volumes. The solubilities for PAIs containing the same imide compound correlate with the molar cohesive energy density. The exchange of hydrogen to fluorine atoms at one aromatic ring of the diamine increases the fractional free volume and cohesive energy density and, in consequence, the diffusion and solubility coefficient. Arrhenius behavior was observed for temperature dependence and decreasing permeability with increasing pressure. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 37: 2183–2193, 1999     

Preparation,characterization and thermal degradation study of poly(amide imide)s based on tri-component mixture of PMDA/BTDA,diamines and acid chloride

A series of poly(amide imide)s (PAIs) having alternate (amide–amide) and (imide–imide) units (polymers 1–14 and 22–35), and random distribution of amide-imide linkages (polymers 15–21 and 36–42) were prepared by low temperature solution polymerization of benzene-1,2,4,5-tetracarboxylic dianhydride (PMDA)/benzophenone-3,3′,4,4′-tetracarboxylic dianhydride (BTDA), diamines (cyclic and aromatic) and acid chloride in dimethylforamide. All the polymers were readily soluble in polar aprotic solvents with inherent viscosities in the range of 0.134–0.878. The process of cycloimidization of poly(amide amic acid)s (PAAs) to PAIs was investigated by TGA and FT-IR techniques at four different temperatures i.e., 175, 200, 225, and 260 °C. The rate of cycloimidization was calculated by taking into account the theoretical weight loss (W_T), obtained from [n × M_w (H₂O)/M_w (R_U)] W, where M_w (H₂O) molecular weight of water, W weight of PAA taken for TGA, M_w (R_U) the molecular weight of repeat unit of PAA, n number of water molecules eliminated per repeat unit of PAA upon cycloimidization. For a particular diamine, the extent of percentage cycloimidization at the end of the isothermal heating was higher for PAAs containing trimellitic anhydride chloride (TMAc) unit, irrespective of the nature of the dianhydride and diamine. Thermal and thermooxidative degradation of PAIs was investigated by TGA in nitrogen and oxygen atmosphere. The initial decomposition temperatures (IDT) of polymers are above 260 °C, and vary widely (from 260 to 501 °C) depending upon the structure of the polymer backbone. PAIs containing TMAc exhibited higher thermal stability as compared to those polymers having diacid chloride units, in both N₂/O₂ atmospheres.     

Synthesis and characterization of poly(aryl amide imide)s derived from diphenyltrimellitic anhydride

The synthesis and characterization of a series of novel poly(aryl amide imide)s based on diphenyltrimellitic anhydride are described. The poly(aryl amide imide)s, having inherent viscosities of 0.39–1.43 dL/g in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone at 30°C, were prepared by polymerization with aromatic diamines in N,N-dimethylacetamide and subsequent chemical imidization. All the polymers were amorphous, readily soluble in aprotic polar solvents such as DMAC, NMP, dimethylsulfoxide, N,N-dimethylformamide, and m-cresol, and could be cast to form flexible and tough films. The glass transition temperatures were in the range of 284–366°C, and the temperatures for 5% weight loss in nitrogen were above 468°C. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 4541–4545, 1999     

Synthesis,characterization, and investigation of structure‐thermal cycloimidization relationship of novel poly(amide amic acid)s to poly(amide imide)s by thermogravimetric analysis

Novel diamic acids (DAAs) and poly(amide amic acid)s (PAAs) were prepared and their thermal cycloimidization to the corresponding imide form was investigated by thermogravimetric analysis under isothermal conditions at four different temperatures, that is, at 175, 200, 225, and 260 °C for 75 min. A general equation, 18NW/R_MW, where, the numerical 18 corresponds to the molecular weight of water, N is the number of water molecules, which would be eliminated per repeat unit of the PAA upon cycloimidization, W is the weight of PAA taken for TGA, and R is the molecular weight of the repeat unit of PAA, has been derived for the calculation of theoretical amount of weight loss of PAA upon complete cycloimidization. The degree of cycloimidization (DCI%) of PAAs to poly(amide imide)s (PAI) has been calculated from their isothermal TGA curves. The variation in DCI on temperature, time, and the structures of diamine and acid chloride, especially, with respect to meta‐ and para‐linkages and the presence of electron withdrawing groups has been discussed. Cycloimidization occurs at faster rate in the initial stages of about 20 min, curing and then proceeds in a gradual manner and reaches almost a plateau within an hour. The DCI was more at higher temperatures, and the final values were 22?60% at 175 °C, 34?78% at 200 °C, 50?96% at 225 °C, and 85?99% at 260 °C after 75 min of heating, depending on the nature of diamine and acid chloride in the PAA. The DCI of PAAs with meta‐linkages in either of diamine or diacid chloride was somewhat lower than those having para‐linkages. The DCI of PAAs containing electron withdrawing group like sulfone in the diamine is somewhat higher compared with those of others. The final DCI (%) values obtained from FT‐IR spectra and isothermal TGA curves were very close to each other. Further, the thermal and thermooxidative stabilities of the PAIs were discussed. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 45: 2937–2947, 2007     

Syntheses and properties of fluorinated polyamides and poly(amide imide)s based on 9,9-bis[4-(4-amino-2-trifluromethylphenoxy)phenyl]fluroene, aromatic dicarboxylic acids, and various monotrimellitimides and bistrimellitimides

A diamine, 9,9-bis[4-(4-amino-2-trifluromethylphenoxy)phenyl]fluroene (I) containing the CF₃ group, was prepared from 9,9-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)fluorene and 2-chloro-5-nitrobenzotrifluoride. The imide-containing diacids (V _a-j and VI _a,b) were prepared by condensation reaction of amino acids, aromatic diamines, and trimellitic anhydride. Then, a series of soluble fluorinated polyamides (VII _a-e) and poly(amide imide)s (VIII _a-j and X _a,b) were synthesized from diamine (I) with various aromatic diacids II _a-h and the imide-containing diacids (V _a-j and VI _a,b) via direct polycondensation with triphenyl phosphate and pyridine. All polymers showed excellent solubility in amide-type solvents such as N-dimethylforamide and can also be dissolved in pyridine, m-cresol, and tetrahydrofuran. Polymers afford transparent and tough films by solvent casting. The glass transition temperature of these polymers were in the range of 278–366°C, and the poly(amide imide)s had better thermal stability than polyamides. In comparison with the isomeric IX _a-d, VIII _a-d showed a lighter color with lower b* (yellowness index) values than the corresponding IX series.     

Synthesis and characterization of novel heat resistant poly(amide imide)s

A series of new poly(amide imide)s was prepared from new diacid containing sulfone, ether, amide and imide groups with various aromatic diamines. The diacid was synthesized via four steps, starting from reaction of 4-aminophenol with 4-nitrobenzoyl chloride in the presence of propylene oxide afforded N-(4-hydroxy phenyl)-4-nitrobenzamide. In the second step, reduction of nitro group resulted in preparation of 4-amino-N-(4-hydroxy phenyl) benzamide. In the next step for the preparation of diamine, the reaction of 4-amino-N-(4-hydroxy phenyl) benzamide with bis-(4-chlorophenyl) sulfone in the presence of K₂CO₃ was achieved. The prepared sulfone ether amide diamine was reacted with two moles of trimellitic anhydride to synthesize related sulfone ether amide imide diacid. The precursors and final monomer were characterized by FT-IR, H-NMR and elemental analysis. Direct polycondensation reaction of the sulfone ether amide imide diacid with different diamines in the presence of triphenyl phosphite afforded five different poly (sulfone ether amide imide amide)s. The obtained polymers were fully characterized and their physical properties including thermal behavior, thermal stability, solubility, and inherent viscosity were studied.     

Synthesis and characterization of fluorinated poly(amide imide)s derived from 1,4‐bis(2′‐trifluoromethyl‐4′‐trimellitimidophenoxy)benzene and aromatic diamines

A series of fluorinated poly(amide imide)s were prepared from 1,4‐bis(2′‐trifluoromethyl‐4′‐trimellitimidophenoxy)benzene and various aromatic diamines [3,3′,5,5′‐tetramethyl‐4,4′‐diaminediphenylmethane, α,α‐bis(4‐amino‐3,5‐dimethyl phenyl)‐3′‐trifluoromethylphenylmethane, 1,4‐bis(4′‐amino‐2′‐trifluoromethylphenoxy)benzene, 4‐(3′‐trifluoromethylphenyl)‐2,6‐bis(3′‐aminophenyl)pyridine, and 1,1‐bis(4′‐aminophenyl)‐1‐(3′‐trifluoromethylphenyl)‐2,2,2‐trifluoroethane]. The fluorinated poly(amide imide)s, prepared by a one‐step polycondensation procedure, had good solubility both in strong aprotic solvents, such as N‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidinone, dimethylacetamide, dimethylformamide, dimethyl sulfoxide, and cyclopentanone, and in common organic solvents, such as tetrahydrofuran and m‐cresol. Strong and flexible polymer films with tensile strengths of 84–99 MPa and ultimate elongation values of 6–9% were prepared by the casting of polymer solutions onto glass substrates, followed by thermal baking. The poly(amide imide) films exhibited high thermal stability, with glass‐transition temperatures of 257–266 °C and initial thermal decomposition temperatures of greater than 540 °C. The polymer films also had good dielectric properties, with dielectric constants of 3.26–3.52 and dissipation factors of 3.0–7.7 × 10^?3, and acceptable electrical insulating properties. The balance of excellent solubility and thermal stability associated with good mechanical and electrical properties made the poly(amide imide)s potential candidates for practical applications in the microelectronics industry and other related fields. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 1831–1840, 2003     

Preparation and properties of new ortho-linked polyamide-imides bearing ether, sulfur, and trifluoromethyl linkages

A CF₃-containing diamine, 2,2′-thiobis-[4-methyl(2-trifluoromethyl)4-aminophenoxy) phenyl ether] (DA), was successfully synthesized from 2-2′-sulfide-bis-(4-methyl phenol) and 2-chloro-5-nitrobenzotrifluoride. The sulfur containing diimide-diacid (DIDA) was prepared by condensation reaction of diamine DA and trimellitic anhydride. A series of novel organic-soluble polyamide-imides (PAIs) bearing flexible ether and sulfide links, electron-withdrawing trifluoromethyl groups and ortho-phenylene units were synthesized from DIDA, by direct polycondensation with various aromatic diamines in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone using triphenyl phosphite and pyridine as a condensing agent in the presence of dehydrating agent (LiCl). The polyamide-imides were obtained in high yields and possessed inherent viscosities in the range of 0.42-0.95 dL g⁻¹. All of the polymers were amorphous in nature, showed outstanding solubility and could be easily dissolved in amide-type polar aprotic solvents (e.g., N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, N,N-dimethylacetamide, and N,N-dimethylformamide) and even dissolved in less polar solvents (e.g., pyridine and tetrahydrofuran). They showed good thermal stability with glass transition temperatures between 195-245 °C, 10% weight loss temperatures in excess of 485 °C, and char yields more than 50% at 700 °C in nitrogen atmosphere. Moreover, these PAIs possessed low refractive indexes (n = 1.57-1.59) and low birefringence (Δ ≈ 0.02) due to the trifluoromethyl pendent groups and thioether bridged ortho-catenated aromatic rings that interrupt chain packing and increase free volume.     

Soluble poly(amide imide)s containing oligoether spacers

A diimide-diacid with oligoether spacer was synthesized from the condensation reaction of trimellitic anhydride with 1,8-diamino-3,6-dioxaoctane. Soluble poly(amide imide)s containing flexible groups were prepared through polycondensation reactions of diimide-diacid with different diamines via direct Yamazaki method. The poly(amide imide)s showed improved solubilty in polar aprotic solvents due to the presence of ether and alkyl flexible groups. According to the differential scanning calorimetry analysis, the glass transition temperatures of the polymers were in the range of 119-157 °C. According to thermogravimetric analysis, the temperatures for 10% weight losses were in the range of 348-387 °C that showed good thermal stabilities for these polymers.     

Synthesis and characterization of new type soluble poly(amide–imide)s based on 6FDA imide modified polyterephthalamides

A series of new poly(amide–imide)s (PAIs, series III ) with good processability and characteristics was synthesized by utilizing organosoluble polyimide (PI, 6FDA–PI series) to improve poor‐solubility polyamide (PA, PTPA series), which used terephthalic acid (TPA) as a monomer. The III series PAIs were synthesized starting from the 2 : 1 molar ratio of aromatic diamines ( I ) and 6FDA to prepare imide ring‐preformed diamines ( II ) and then reacted with equimolar amount of TPA by direct polycondensation. Furthermore, by adjustment of the stoichiometry of the I , II, and TPA monomers, PAIs IV having various components were prepared. Most of the resulting PAIs having inherent viscosities between 0.70 and 1.74 dL/g were obtained in quantitative yields, and they were readily soluble in polar solvents such as N,N‐dimethylacetamide, N‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidone, dimethylformamide, and dimethyl sulfoxide. All of the soluble PAIs afforded transparent, flexible, and tough films. The glass‐transition temperatures of PAIs III were in the range of 236–256 °C, and the 10% weight loss temperatures were recorded at 522–553 °C in nitrogen. The char yields of the III series polymers in nitrogen atmosphere were all higher than 56% even at 800 °C. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 39: 93–104, 2001     

Sulfide and sulfoxide based poly(ether-amide)s: Synthesis and characterization

Two new diacid monomers, 2,2′-sulfide bis(4-methyl phenoxy acetic acid) and 2,2′-sulfoxide bis(4-methyl phenoxy acetic acid) were successfully synthesized by refluxing the 2,2′-sulfide bis(4-methyl phenol) and 2,2′-sulfoxide bis(4-methyl phenol) with chloroacetonitrile in the presence of potassium carbonate, and subsequent basic reduction. Two novel series of poly(sulfide-ether-amide)s and poly(sulfoxide-ether-amide)s with aliphatic units in the main chain were prepared from diacids with various diamines.The polyamides were obtained in quantitative yields and their inherent viscosities were in the range of 0.43-0.89 dl g⁻¹ at a concentration of 0.5 g dl⁻¹ in N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMAc) solvent at 25 °C. They showed good thermal stability. The temperature for 10% weight loss in argon atmosphere was in the range of 350-415 °C. The polymers showed glass transition temperatures between 228 and 261 °C. Almost all of the polyamides were readily soluble in a variety of polar solvents such as N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO).     

New organosoluble and thermally stable poly(amide‐imide)s with benzoxazole or benzothiazole pendent groups: synthesis and characterization

Two new benzoxazole or benzothiazole‐containing diimide‐dicarboxylic acid monomers, such as 2‐[3,5‐bis(N‐trimellitimidoyl)phenyl]benzoxazole ( 2 _o ) or 2‐[3,5‐bis(N‐trimellitimidoyl)phenyl]benzothiazole ( 2 _s ) were synthesized from the condensation reaction between 3,5‐diaminobenzoic acid and 2‐aminophenol or 2‐aminothiophenol in polyphosphoric acid (PPA) with subsequent reaction of trimellitic anhydride in the presence of glacial acetic acid, respectively, and two new series of modified aromatic poly(amide‐imide)s were prepared. This preparation was done with pendent benzoxazole or benzothiazole units from the newly synthesized diimide‐dicarboxylic acid and various aromatic diamines by triphenyl phosphite‐activated polycondensation. In addition, the corresponding unsubstituted poly(amide‐imide)s were prepared under identical experimental conditions for comparative purposes. Characterization of polymers was accomplished by inherent viscosity measurements, FT‐IR, UV–visible, ¹H‐NMR spectroscopy and thermogravimetry. The polymers were obtained in quantitative yields with inherent viscosities between 0.39 and 0.81 dl g^?1. The solubilities of modified poly(amide‐imide)s in common organic solvents as well as their thermal stability were enhanced compared to those of the corresponding unmodified poly(amide‐imide)s. The glass transition temperature, 10% weight loss temperature, and char yields at 800°C were, respectively, 7–26°C, 17–46°C and 2–5% higher than those of the unmodified polymers. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis of Methyl—substituted Phthalazinone—based Aromatic Poly（amide imide）s

A series of novel aromatic poly (amide imide)s containing phthalazinone moietics were prepared from 2-(4-aminophenyl)-4-[3-methyl-4-(4-aminophenoxy)-2,3-phthalazinone-1], a novel diamine 1 with our diimide-dicarboxylic acids by Yamazaki phosphorylation method with the inherent viscosity of 0.36-0.65 dL/g. These polymers had high glass transition temperatures above 300℃ and they lost 10% weight between 426-475℃ in N2. The structure of diamine 1 and the polymers was confirmed by IR,^1H NMR and MS. The obtained polymers were readily soluble in polar solvents such as NMP,m-cresol etc. and easily cast into tough,flexible films. The X-ray indicated that they are all amorphous.     

Synthesis and properties of organosoluble poly(amide imide imide)s based on tetraimide dicarboxylic acid condensed from 4,4′‐(hexafluoroisopropylidene)diphthalic anhydride, 4,4′‐oxydianiline,and trimellitic anhydride and various aromatic diamines

A novel tetraimide dicarboxylic acid was synthesized with the ring‐opening addition of 4,4′‐(hexafluoroisopropylidene)diphthalic anhydride, 4,4′‐oxydianiline, and trimellitic anhydride in a 1/2/2 molar ratio in N‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidone followed by azeotropic condensation to tetraimide dicarboxylic acid. A series of poly(amide imide imide)s (PAIIs) with inherent viscosities of 0.8–1.1 dL/g were prepared from tetraimide dicarboxylic acid with various aromatic diamines by direct polycondensation. Most of the PAIIs were readily soluble in a variety of amide polar solvents and even in less polar m‐cresol and pyridine. Solvent‐cast films had tensile strengths ranging from 99 to 106 MPa, elongations at break ranging from 8 to 13%, and initial moduli ranging from 2.0 to 2.3 GPa. The glass‐transition temperatures of these PAIIs were recorded at 244–276 °C. They had 10% weight losses at temperatures above 520 °C in air or nitrogen atmospheres. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 1092–1102, 2002     

Model studies on the structure of poly(amide oxime)s and their cyclodehydration reactions leading to poly(1,2,4-oxadiazole)s

To obtain an understanding of the low molecular weight character of wholly aromatic poly(1,4-arylene acyldiamide oxime)s (PAAs) having n-alkyloxymethyl side braches and the additional decrease in molecular weight during their cyclodehydration reaction leading to the corresponding poly(1,4-arylene-1,2,4-oxadiazole)s (PAOs), tautomeric structures of poly[1,4-phenylene-2,5-bis(n-octyloxymethyl)terephthaldiamide oxime] (C₈-PAA) were ¹H-NMR-spectroscopically investigated by using two model compounds: O,O'-dibenzoyl terephthaldiamide oxime (H-PAA-M, 4) and O,O'-dibenzoyl-2,5-bis(n-octyloxymethyl) terephthaldiamide oxime (C₈-PAA-M, 5). In solution H-PAA-M existed exclusively as oximino isomer, while C₈-PAA-M consisted only of imino tautomer and C₈-PAA contained both the oximino and imino form, the former being dominant in composition. It was found that the presence of imino tautomer caused serious effects both on the low molecular weight character of C₈-PAA and on the additional decrease in molecular weight during thermal cyclodehydration to C₈-PAO, whereas the presence of oximino tautomer showed practically little effect. A discussion on the results is provided from mechanistic viewpoint. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Synthesis of new poly(amide imide)s with (n‐alkyloxy)phenyloxy side branches

Two series of new poly(amide imide)s having (n‐alkyoxy)phenyloxy side branches with various lengths, poly{p‐phenyleneiminoterephthaloylimino‐p‐phenylene[3,6‐di(n‐alkyloxy)phenyloxy]pyromellitimide}s ( PC _m TA s, m = 4, 8, 12) and poly{p‐phenyleneiminosebacoylimino‐p‐phenylene[3,6‐di(n‐alkyloxy)‐phenyloxy]‐ pyromellitimide}s ( PC _m SeA s, m = 4, 8, 12), were prepared by condensation of terephthalamide‐N,N′‐4,4′‐dianiline ( TA ) and sebacamide‐N,N′‐4,4′‐dianiline ( SeA ) with 3,6‐di[4‐(n‐alkyloxy)phenyloxy]pyromellitic dianhydrides , respectively. The inherent viscosities of the polymers were in the 0.82–1.20 dL/g range. The polymers were highly soluble in N‐methylpyrolidinone (NMP), even at room temperature and soluble in other polar aprotic solvents on heating. The PC _m TA s, which have aromatic backbones, were thermally more stable (431–442 °C) than the PC _m SeA s, which have an octamethylene unit in the main chain (407–409 °C). Degradation of weight up to 900 °C corresponded with the loss of side chain contents. The PC _m TA s exhibited no phase transition, whereas two endothermic peaks were observed for each of the PC _m SeA s. Wide‐angle X‐ray diffractometer investigations revealed that both polymers are amorphous and the n‐alkyloxy side chains are present in a layered structure. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 39: 3818–3825, 2001     

Synthesis and properties of novel soluble poly(amide‐imide)s with different pendant substituents

Two types of novel fluorinated diimide‐diacid monomers—[2,2′‐(4,4′‐(3′‐methylbiphenyl‐2,5‐diyl)bis(oxy)bis(3‐(trifluoromethyl)‐4,1‐phenylene))bis(1,3‐dioxoisoindoline‐5‐carboxylic acid)] (III) and [2,2′‐(4,4′‐(3′‐(trifluoromethyl)biphenyl‐2,5‐diyl)bis(oxy)bis(3‐(trifluoromethyl)‐4,1‐phenylene))bis(1,3‐dioxoisoindoline‐5‐carboxylic acid)] (IV)—were respectively designed and prepared by the condensation of diamines I and II with two molar equivalents of trimellitic anhydride. From both diimide‐diacids, two series of novel poly(amide‐imide)s (PAIs) (IIIa–IIIe and IVa–IVe) bearing different pendant groups were prepared by direct polymerization with various aromatic diamines (a–e). All the PAIs had a high glass transition temperatures (T_gs, 232–265 °C), excellent thermal stability (exhibiting only 5% weight loss at 493–542 °C under nitrogen) and good solubility in various organic solvents due to the introduction of the bulky pendant groups. The cast films of these PAIs (80–90 μm) had good optical transparency (73–81% at 450 nm, 85–88% at 550 nm and 87–89% at 800 nm) and low dielectric constants (2.65–2.98 at 1 MHz). The spin‐coated films of these PAIs presented a minimum birefringence value as low as 0.0077–0.0143 at 650 nm and low optical absorption at the near‐infrared optical communication wavelengths of 1310 and 1550 nm. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2017 , 55, 3243–3252     

Synthesis and characterization of functionalized water soluble cationic poly(ester amide)s

A new family of positively charged, water soluble and functional amino acid‐based poly(ester amide)s ( Arg‐AG PEA ) consisting of four building blocks (L ‐Arginine, DL ‐2‐Allylglycine, oligoethylene glycol, and aliphatic diacid) were synthesized by the solution copolycondensation. Functional pendant carbon–carbon double bonds located in the DL ‐2‐allylglycine unit were incorporated into these Arg‐AG PEAs, and the double bond contents could be adjusted by tuning the feed ratio of L ‐arginine to DL ‐2‐allylglycine monomers. Chemical structures of this new functional Arg‐AG PEA family were confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra. The thermal property of these polymers was investigated; increasing the methylene chain in both the amino acid and diacid segments resulted in a reduction in the polymer glass‐transition temperature. All these cationic Arg‐AG PEAs had good solubility in water and polar organic solvents. The cytotoxity of Arg‐AG PEAs was evaluated by 3‐(4,5‐Dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐2,5‐diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. These preliminary MTT results indicated that Arg‐AG PEAs were nontoxic to bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAECs). © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 3758–3766, 2010     

New amino acid based biodegradable poly(ester amide)s via bis-azlactone chemistry

Abstract

Three new classes of the amino acid based biodegradable (AABB) polymers were synthesized via step growth polymerization of bis-azlactones and amino acid based diamine-diesters with activated fatty diester and alkylenediamine: a) poly(ester amide)s (PEAs) were obtained by polymerization of bis-azlactones with diamine-diesters, b) hydrophobically modified co-poly(ester amide)s (co-PEAs) were synthesized by copolymerization of activated fatty diacid diester and bis-azlactones with diamine-diesters, and c) poly(ester amide-co-amide)s (PEA-co-PAs) were obtained by copolymerization of alkylene diamine and diamine-diesters with bis-azlactones. The new poly(ester amide)s showed relatively low-molecular-weights (M_w within 2,800–19,600?Da, GPC in DMF), whereas the new co-poly(ester amide)s and poly(ester amide-co-amide)s exhibited high-molecular-weights (M_w within 40–100?kDa) leading to good mechanical properties. Incorporation of the bis-azlactone fragments into the poly(ester amide)s backbone increased hydrophobicity and thermal stability, whereas incorporation of diamine-diester units into the backbone of the bis-azlactone based polyamides rendered them biodegradable. Synthesized AABB polymers are potential candidates for constructing resorbable surgical and pharmaceutical devices.