Attempt to investigate the temperature effect on polycondensation from the solution copolyesterification of preformed oligomers and bisphenols with tosyl chloride/dimethylformamide/pyridine

Two‐stage copolycondensations of isophthalic acid/terephthalic acid (50/50) and a bisphenol (BP) first and then a comonomer BP were carried at 80 and 120 °C. BPs were divided into two groups: those with polar substituents and those without polar substituents. The copolycondensation with any combination of BPs proceeded nearly equally well at 80 °C. However, the reaction at 120 °C was retarded differently by the groups of comonomers. For the preformed oligomers from BPs without polar substituents, the temperature did not affect the reaction very much, but the reaction was significantly retarded with BPs containing polar groups. All of the reactions of the oligomers from BPs having polar groups with comonomer BPs, regardless of their substituents, were greatly disturbed by the temperature rising. The results were attributed to the temperature effect on the way in which the oligomers reacted with comonomers due to the interactions between them, and they were examined in terms of the distributions of comonomers determined by ¹H NMR. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 4556–4562, 2002     

Synthesis and characterization of N‐substituted hyperbranched polyureas

N,N′‐disubstituted hyperbranched polyureas with methyl, benzyl, and allyl substitutents were synthesized starting from AB₂ monomers based on 3,5‐diamino benzoic acid. Carbonyl azide approach, which generates isocyanate group in situ on thermal decomposition, was used for the protection of isocyanate functional groups. The N‐substituted hyperbranched polymers can be considered as the new class of internally functionalized hyperbranched polyureas wherein the substituent can function either as receptor or as a chemical entity for selective transformations as a tool to tailor the properties. The chain‐ends were also modified by attaching long chain aliphatic groups to fully realize the interior functionalization. This approach opens up a possible synthetic route wherein different functional substituents can be used to generate a library of internally functionalized hyperbranched polymers. All the hyperbranched polyureas were characterized by FTIR, ¹H‐NMR, DSC, TGA, and size exclusion chromatography. Degree of branching in these N,N′‐disubstituted hyperbranched polyureas, as calculated by ¹H‐NMR spectroscopy using model compounds, was found to be lower than the unsubstituted hyperbranched polyurea and is attributed to the lower reactivity of N‐substituted amines compared to that of unsubstituted amines. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 5134–5145, 2004     

Preparations of regioselectively methylated cellulose acetates and their 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopic analyses

Seven possible regioselectively methylated cellulose acetates (RS‐MCAs)—2,3,6‐tri‐O‐methyl cellulose acetate, 3,6‐di‐O‐methyl cellulose acetate, 2,6‐di‐O‐methyl cellulose acetate, 2,3‐di‐O‐methyl cellulose acetate, 6‐O‐methyl cellulose acetate, 3‐O‐methyl cellulose acetate, and 2‐O‐methyl cellulose acetate—were prepared for the first time from chemically synthesized cellulose derivatives obtained by cationic ring‐opening polymerization and then were analyzed by ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy. The chemical shifts of ring protons and carbons were influenced by substituent groups (methyl or acetyl) and clearly reflected the pattern of substituent distribution in anhydroglucose units. These data may conveniently be used for the determination of the substituent distribution of methyl cellulose. The synthesized RS‐MCAs also may be used for the elucidation of the structure–property relationship. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 4167–4179, 2002     

A one-pot method for the preparation of latices of telechelic oligomers,by ozonolysis of latices of polymers containing main-chain unsaturation

Poly(methyl methacrylate-co-butadiene), Poly(butyl methacrylate-co-butadiene) and Poly(methyl methacrylate-co-2,3-dimethyl butadiene) latices (a.k.a. latexes) were prepared by monomer-starved emulsion polymerization. The polymerizations were followed by GPC. It was found that the molecular-weight distribution did not alter significantly with conversion if the polymerizations were carried out at a feed rate of 0.03 cm³ s⁻¹ per 1000 cm³ of reaction medium and a temperature of 70°C. Slower rates of monomer addition led to broadening of the molecular-weight distribution. The resultant latices were swollen with varying amounts of toluene. Ozonolysis of the swollen and nonswollen latices yielded latices of polymer ozonides. Oxidation, with selenium oxide/hydrogen peroxide reagent, converted the ozonides to latices of carboxylic acid or methyl ketone ended telechelic oligomers. It was found that the molecular weights of the oligomers were a function of toluene concentration. Colloidal stability was found to be a function of end-group structure. Thus, carboxylic acid end groups impart extra stability to the colloid while methyl ketone end groups do not. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 35: 3255–3262, 1997     

Modification of polycondensation of isophthalic and terephthalic acids and bisphenols with tosyl chloride/dimethylformamide/pyridine by the presence of additives

In copolycondensation with 2,2‐bis(4‐hydroxyphenyl)propane (BPP) and bisphenols (BPs) containing various alkylidene linkages, the associative interactions between BP moieties in the resulting oligomers most likely affected the reaction. To modify the interactions to favorably control the reaction, several additives were examined in a two‐stage polycondensation of an equimolar mixture of isophthalic acid and terephthalic acid, first with BPP (50 mol %) and next with additional BPP. Of additives used, diphenylmethane of an equivalent to BPP in the preformed oligomers was most effective. The results are discussed in terms of the distributions of resulting oligomers prepared at 70% extent of reaction. Better results were obtained when the distributions showed profiles similar to the theoretical one calculated on the basis that the reactivity of the oligomers is the same independent of their chain lengths. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 970–975, 2003     

Novel polyimides with p-nitrophenyl pendant groups. Synthesis and characterization

Polyimides derived from a new dianhydride with p-nitrophenyl pendant groups have been synthesized and their properties compared with those of a reference series, without side groups. The polymers were obtained by combination of the novel monomer with aromatic diamines, in a two-step procedure that involved the synthesis of poly(amic acid) or poly(amic silyl ester) intermediates and the cyclization of them to polyimides by thermal treatment. The introduction of the polar nitro groups caused significant increase of the T_gs. On the contrary, the thermal stability was reduced because of the breakdown of C_Ar—NO₂ linkages around 400^oC. A slight decrease in mechanical properties was observed, due to the bulkiness of the side groups, that also produced an important decrease in the strength of the β relaxation, as determined by dynamic mechanical analysis. The solubility of the current polyimides in organic solvents was as poor as that of the parent unsubstituted polymers. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 3377–3384, 1999     

Additional evidence of possible structural effect of diol units in preformed oligoesters on solution copolycondensation with x,y‐dihydroxytoluenes and their isomers promoted by tosyl chloride/dimethylformamide/pyridine

A two‐stage copolycondensation of a mixture of equal parts of isophthalic acid and terephthalic acid was conducted using a tosyl chloride/dimethylformamide/pyridine condensing agent. In the initial stage x,y‐dihydroxytoluenes (x,y‐DHTs) or 2,4‐dihydroxyethylbenzene (2,4‐DHEB) was used and in the next stage isomeric DHTs or the DHEB was used. The results were examined in terms of how the reaction of the resulting oligomers with the next monomers proceeded, which was evaluated from distributions of the next monomers in the resultant copolymers as determined by ¹H NMR. A structurally selective reaction was observed. The preformed oligomers from symmetrically substituted 3,5‐DHT reacted randomly with similarly substituted 2,6‐DHT or asymmetric 2,4‐DHEB, but those from 2,4‐DHEB reacted selectively with both of 3,5‐ and 2,6‐DHT. In the reactions of the oligomers from 2,6‐DHT, they reacted randomly with 2,6‐DHT but selectively with 2,4‐DHEB. Such selective reactions were also observed in the reaction of p‐isomeric 2,5‐DHT with the oligomers prepared from 3,5‐ or 2,6‐DHT. When the monomers were copolymerized simultaneously instead of stepwise, they distributed randomly in the resultant copolymers. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 5687–5694, 2004     

Kinetics of the polycondensation and copolycondensation of bis(3‐hydroxypropyl) terephthalate and bis(4‐hydroxybutyl) terephthalate

The kinetics of the polycondensation and copolycondensation reactions of bis(3‐hydroxypropyl) terephthalate (BHPT) and bis(4‐hydroxybutyl) terephthalate (BHBT) as monomers were investigated at 270 °C in the presence of titanium tetrabutoxide as a catalyst. BHPT was prepared by the ester interchange reaction of dimethyl terephthalate and 1,3‐propanediol (1,3‐PD). Through the same method adopted for BHPT synthesis, BHBT was prepared with 1,4‐butanediol instead of 1,3‐PD. With second‐order kinetics applied for polycondensation, the rate constants of the polycondensation of BHPT and BHBT, k₁₁ and k₂₂, were calculated to be 4.08 and 4.18 min^?1, respectively. The rate constants of the cross reactions in the copolycondensation of BHPT and BHBT, k₁₂ and k₂₁, were calculated with results obtained from proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy analysis. The rate constants during the copolycondensation of BHPT and BHBT at 270 °C decreased in the order k₁₂ > k₂₂ > k₁₁ > k₂₁, indicating that the reactivity of BHBT was larger than that of BHPT at 270 °C. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 2435–2441, 2002     

Syntheses and characterizations of aniline/butylthioaniline copolymers: Comparisons of copolymers prepared by the new concurrent reduction and substitution route and the conventional oxidative copolymerization method

New highly solution‐processable aniline/butylthioaniline copolymers were prepared via oxidative copolymerization (OCP) and by concurrent reduction and substitution (CRS). Butylthio‐substituted polyaniline obtained via the CRS route (Pan‐SBu), being in line with the expected property changes after the addition of an electron‐donating substituent to an aromatic ring, displayed a lowered redox potential (E⁰) and a redshifted maximum wavelength (λ_max; ultraviolet–visible) in comparison with its parent unsubstituted polyaniline (Pan). However, copolymers CP1–CP4 (obtained via the OCP method) displayed opposite behaviors, showing higher E⁰ values and blueshifts in λ_max than the unsubstituted Pan. The results suggested that CP1–CP4 had shorter conjugation lengths than the unsubstituted Pan, possibly because of their chain conjugation defects (e.g., 1,3‐ring linkage structures), as evidenced by IR studies. The results of ¹H NMR studies also indicated that Pan‐SBu had much higher structural homogeneity than copolymer CP4. Because the CRS synthetic route involved no backbone alternations, the resultant copolymer (Pan‐SBu) should have maintained the same backbone structure and hence the high conductivity of the parent unsubstituted Pan. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 1767–1777, 2005     

Novel synthesis of cyclic methylvinylsiloxanes by the reaction of methylvinyl diethoxysilane with phosphorous pentachloride

We report a novel synthesis of the cyclic oligomers [(H₂C?CH)(CH₃)SiO]_n obtained by the reaction between phosphorous pentachloride and methylvinyl diethoxysilane. According to gas chromatography/mass spectrometry data, the reaction product consisted of a mixture of cyclic oligomers in which the most important fractions were composed of cycles with n = 5, 6, or 7. The reaction product was also characterized by Fourier transform infrared and ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy. Experimental results suggested a new kind of reaction between the phosphorous pentachloride and terminal olefins directly bonded to silicon, which was probably associated with sterical effects favoring C? O? Si bond cleavage of ethoxy groups instead of the conventional addition of phosphorous pentachloride to olefinic linkages. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 3182–3189, 2002     

Preparation of the thermotropic copoly(amide ester) of p‐aminobenzoic acid and m‐hydroxybenzoic acid with diphenyl chlorophosphate/pyridine

A thermotropic copoly(amide ester) exhibiting a nematic mesophase within the range of 240–360 °C was prepared by the solution copolycondensation of p‐aminobenzoic acid (40–70 mol %) and m‐hydroxybenzoic acid with diphenyl chlorophosphate in pyridine in the presence of LiCl. For control of the sequence distribution of p‐aminobenzoic acid, the amount of LiCl and the dropwise addition of the phosphate were examined. The transition temperatures (from a solid phase to a nematic mesophase) of the resultant copolymers were affected by the period of addition and the amounts of the aminobenzoic acid and LiCl and were investigated in terms of the distributions of the monomers determined by ¹H NMR. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 1775–1780, 2002     

Synthesis and properties of carbamate‐ and amine‐containing poly(phenylacetylenes)

The 3‐ and 4‐aminophenylacetylenes protected by t‐butoxycarbonyl (t‐Boc) and 9‐fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl (Fmoc) groups ( 3a – 6a ) were synthesized and polymerized using [(nbd)RhCl]₂ ( 1 ) and [(nbd)Rh⁺‐η⁶‐PhB^?Ph₃] ( 2 ) catalysts. The t‐Boc‐containing polymers [poly( 3a ) and poly( 4a )] were obtained in high yield (82–91%). Among the Fmoc‐protected monomers, the para‐derivative polymerized well [poly( 6a ); yield = 85–94%], whereas its meta‐substituted analogue did not afford high molecular weight polymer in good yield [poly( 5a ); yield = 10–15%]. The use of KN(SiMe₃)₂ as a cocatalyst in conjunction with 1 led to a dramatic increase in the molecular weight of the polymers. The acid‐ and base‐catalyzed removal of the t‐Boc and the Fmoc groups, respectively, generated primary amine‐containing polymers [poly( 3b )–poly( 6b )] which cannot be obtained directly by the polymerization of the corresponding monomers. The solubility characteristics of the polymers bearing protected amino groups were quite different from those of the unprotected ones, the former being soluble in polar solvents, whereas the latter displayed poor solubility even in polar protic or highly polar aprotic solvents. The attempts to accomplish the free‐standing membrane fabrication by solution casting were successful only for poly( 3a ), and an augmentation in the gas permeability and CO₂/N₂ permselectivity was discerned in comparison with the unsubstituted poly(phenylacetylene) and poly(m‐t‐butyldimethylsiloxyphenylacetylene). © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 1853–1863, 2009     

The effect of compositions and combinations of the reactants upon the copolycondensation of isophthalic acid/terephthalic acid with a combination of hydroquinones and bisphenols by tosyl chloride/dimethylformamide/pyridine

Copolycondensation of isophthalic acid (IPA)/terephthalic acid (TPA) with various combinations of 2,2‐bis(4‐hydroxyphenyl)propane (BPA) and hydroquinones (HQs) or bisphenols (BPs) was conducted to study the effects of the compositions of IPA/TPA and of BPA/HQs or BPA/BPs upon the reaction. Different from homopolycondensation of each of diol components examined where most of the reaction was facilitated by lower contents of IPA at about 70 mol %, the copolycondensation was influenced by a combination of diol components. With chlorohydroquinone (ClHQ) or bis(4‐hydroxyphenyl)sulfone (BPS) having a polar chlorine or sulfonyl substituent, the reaction proceeded most satisfactorily at IPA/TPA = 30/70, whereas it was IPA/TPA = 50/50 for the reaction with nonpolar methyl substituted methylhydroquinone (MeHQ). The reaction with 2,2‐bis(3,5‐dichloro‐4‐hydroxyphenyl)propane (TC‐BPA), despite having polar chlorine substituents in TC‐BPA, was not affected by IPA/TPA compositions. Alternatively, from the viewpoint of the compositions of diol components, the reactions containing 30–50 mol % of HQs or BPS yielded better results except for the reaction of IPA/TPA = 70/30, in which higher contents of MeHQ was more favorable. On the basis of sequence distributions of diol components in the resultant copolymers determined by NMR, compositions of IPA/TPA or diol components and combinations of the diols producing random copolymers yielded better results in copolycondensation. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 1100–1106, 2004     

Synthesis of photocrosslinkable fluorinated polydimethylsiloxanes: Direct introduction of acrylic pendant groups via hydrosilylation

The synthesis of photocrosslinkable fluorinated polydimethylsiloxanes was achieved through direct hydrosilylation with copoly(dimethyl)(methyl‐hydrogen) siloxane. First, the hydrosilylation of a fluorinated olefin allowed the introduction of a fluorinated group onto the polysiloxane. Then, a second hydrosilylation of allyl methyl methacrylate led to the polysiloxane bearing both fluorinated and photocrosslinkable groups. This method, compared with a previous method of copolycondensation, is shown to be easier and more efficient. All the new products synthesized were characterized by IR, ¹H NMR, ¹⁹F NMR, and ²⁹Si NMR. A formulation containing the fluorosilicone was crosslinked after being coated on a mesoporous membrane and was evaluated as a vapor permeation membrane. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 3722–3728, 2000     

New branched oligophenylenefluorenes: Synthesis and spectral-luminescent properties

The fluorenyl dendrimers 1,3,5-tris(2-fluorenyl)benzene and 1,3,5-tris[2-(9,9-dioctylfluorenyl)]benzene, which are model compounds for branched oligophenylenefluorenes, are prepared via the cyclocondensation of unsubstituted and dioctyl-substituted acetylfluorenes, respectively. Branched oligophenylenefluorenes are synthesized via the copolycondensation of phenyl-bis(pinacol diborate) with tribromoarylenes in the presence of the ferrocenyl complex of Pd via the Suzuki reaction A₃ + B₂. For solutions of model compounds and oligophenylenefluorenes, absorption and fluorescence spectra are measured and interpreted. In the case of the branched oligomers, no aggregation of luminophore fragments occurs, an advantageous feature that distinguishes the branched oligomers from well-known linear luminescent polymers.     

Characterization of copolyesteramides from reactive blending of PET and MXD6 in the molten state

Poly(ethylene terephthalate)‐poly(m‐xylylene adipamide) PET‐MXD6 copolymers were prepared by reactive blending of equimolar PET/MXD6 blends at 285 °C for different times in presence of terephthalic acid (1 wt %). First, the partial hydrolysis of PET and MXD6 occurs, yielding oligomers terminated with the reactive aromatic carboxyl groups. These oligomers quickly react with ester and amide inner groups producing a PET‐MXD6 copolymer that may compatibilize the initial biphasic blend. In this homogeneous environment, the aliphatic carboxyl‐terminated MXD6 chains, inactive in the initial biphasic blend, may promote the exchange reactions determining the formation of a random copolymer at longer reaction time (120 min). The progress of exchange reactions, and the microstructure of the formed copolyesteramides, versus the reaction time was followed by ¹H and ¹³C NMR analyses using a CDCl₃/TFA‐d/(CF₃CO)₂O mixture as solvent and applying appropriate mathematical models. Dyads and triads sequences were thoroughly characterized by NMR. Semicrystalline block copolymers were obtained at reaction time lower than 45 min. All PET‐MXD6 copolymers show a single T_g that change as a function of the dyads molar composition in the copolymers. The measured T_g values match with those calculated by a proposed modified Fox equation that take into account the weight fraction of the four dyad components of the PET‐MXD6 copolymers. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2010     

Mesophase stability in binary mixtures of monotropic nematogens

Binary phase diagrams were constructed from laterally substituted methyl azo/ester derivatives, namely 4-(4″-substituted phenylazo)-3-methyl phenyl-4″-alkoxy benzoates (In_a–d). In this group of compound the unsubstituted and chloro-substituted derivatives possess the nematic phase monotropically, while the nitro and methyl analogues are enantiotropically nematogenic. The binary phase diagrams constructed were made once from the monotropic nematogens with each other, and another with the enantiotropic nematogens. In both the cases enantiotropic nematic phase was observed that covers a wide range of composition. The mesophase behaviour of all binary mixtures was investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and polarised light microscopy (PLM). The nematic phase was exhibited in all binary mixtures. Independent of the alkoxy chain length, the entropy change, ΔS_N–I of the N–I transition of pure components was found to vary irregularly with the anisotropy of polarisability (?α_X) of the polar substituent, X.     

Dimethyldioxirane as a new and effective oxidation agent for the epoxidation of α,ω‐di(isobutenyl)polyisobutylene: A convenient synthesis of α,ω‐di(2‐methyl‐3‐hydroxypropyl)‐polyisobutylene

The synthesis and characterization of α,ω‐di(2‐methyl‐2,3‐epoxypropyl)polyisobutylene are reported. The epoxidation of α,ω‐di(isobutenyl)polyisobutylene was achieved at room temperature with dimethyldioxirane, which proved to be a very effective reagent for epoxidation without the formation of byproducts. A very good agreement was found for the conversion determined by ¹H NMR and matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI HMS). The epoxy end groups were converted quantitatively into aldehyde termini with zinc bromide as a catalyst. The aldehyde groups were then reduced with LiAlH₄ into primary hydroxyl functions to obtain α,ω‐di(2‐methyl‐3‐hydroxylpropyl)polyisobutylene with high efficiency. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 3974–3986, 2002     

Effect of substituent polarity,bulk, and substitution site toward enhancing gas permeation in dibromohexafluorobisphenol‐a based polyarylates

The gas permeation properties of polyarylates were tuned by varying nature and site of substituents present on both of its monomers, viz., bisphenol and dicarboxylic acid. The phenyl rings of hexafluorobisphenol‐A were substituted in asymmetric manner by polar bromine to obtain dibromohexafluorobisphenol‐A. This bisphenol was polymerized with equimolar mixture of iso‐ and terephthalic acid (base case), bromo‐ and nitroterephthalic acid (polar group substituted acids), 4,4′‐hexafluoroisopropylidene bis(benzoic acid), and t‐butyl isophthalic acid (bulky group containing acids). Physical properties and gas permeation properties of these polyarylates were investigated to assess combined effects of asymmetric nature of bisphenol substitution, polar nature of substituent bromine, hexafluoroisopropylidene group present at the bridge position of bisphenol, and substituent present on the acid moiety. The combination of these substituent types led these polyarylates to lie near Robeson upper bound. The gas sorption analysis and estimation of diffusivity in these polyarylates shed a light on observed variations in gas permeation properties by attempted structural variations. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 45: 3156–3168, 2007     

Dual Benzophenone/Copper-Photocatalyzed Giese-Type Alkylation of C(sp3)−H Bonds

Photocatalyzed Giese-type alkylations of C(sp³)−H bonds are very attractive reactions in the context of atom-economy in C−C bond formation. The main limitation of such reactions is that when using highly polymerizable olefin acceptors, such as unsubstituted acrylates, acrylonitrile, or methyl vinyl ketone, radical polymerization often becomes the dominant or exclusive reaction pathway. Herein, we report that the polymerization of such olefins is strongly limited or suppressed when combining the photocatalytic activity of benzophenone (BP) with a catalytic amount of Cu(OAc)₂. Under mild and operationally simple conditions, the Giese adducts resulting from the C(sp³)−H functionalization of amines, alcohols, ethers, and cycloalkanes could be synthesized. Preliminary mechanistic studies have revealed that the reaction does not proceed through a radical chain, but through a dual BP/Cu photocatalytic process, in which both Cu^II and low-valent Cu^I/0 species, generated in situ by reduction by the BP ketyl radical, may react with α-keto or α-cyano intermediate radicals, thus preventing polymerization.