Ion‐exchange resins. III. Functionalization–morphology correlations in the synthesis of some macroporous,strong basic anion exchangers and uranium‐sorption properties evaluation

The synthesis and characterization of a series of macroporous, strong basic anion exchangers (SBAEs), with an average pore radius higher than 50 nm, and the evaluation of their sorption properties for uranyl chlorocomplexes from HCl solutions are reported. Finely divided macroporous styrene–divinylbenzene (S–DVB) copolymers with a narrow distribution of beads sizes, diameters within the range of 90–200 μm, were prepared for this purpose with 2‐ethyl‐1‐hexanol as a porogen, at a high dilution of monomers (D ≥ 0.55 mL/mL). Chloromethyl groups were introduced with (CH₂O)_n/Me₃SiCl as a chloromethylation agent in the presence of a Lewis acid as a catalyst (TiCl₄, SnCl₄, and FeCl₃) in CHCl₃ as a reaction medium. SnCl₄ and FeCl₃ gave comparable chloromethylation degrees in the same reaction conditions. TiCl₄ was not efficient as a catalyst in the chloromethylation with this reagent. Diethyl‐2‐hydroxyethylamine was used as a tertiary amine to prepare SBAEs. Structural and morphological characteristics were determined after every functionalization step of the macroporous network. Both the chloromethylation, in the presence of FeCl₃ as a catalyst, and the amination reactions determined a significant decrease of the pore volume, in the whole range of the nominal crosslinking degree, comparative with the starting copolymer. The specific surface area and the average pore radius varied in a different way as a function of the nominal crosslinking degree. Thus, the specific surface area increased and the average pore radius decreased after chloromethylation and amination for copolymers with a DVB content lower than 10 wt %. Small decreases of the specific surface area and the average pore radius were observed after chloromethylation and amination reactions for copolymers with a DVB content higher than 10 wt %. SBAEs were also characterized by thermogravimetric analysis and sorption capacity for uranyl chlorocomplexes. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 2451–2461, 2004     

Side‐chain effects on phenothiazine‐based donor–acceptor copolymer properties in organic photovoltaic devices

A series of new phenothiazine‐based donor–acceptor copolymers, P1 and P2, were synthesized via a Suzuki coupling reaction. The weight‐averaged molecular weights (M_w) of P1 and P2 were found to be 16,700 and 16,100, with polydispersity indices of 1.74 and 1.39, respectively. The UV–visible absorption spectra of the polymer thin films contained three strong absorption bands in the ranges 318–320 nm, 430–436 nm, and 527–568 nm. The absorption peaks at 320 and 430 nm originated mainly from the phenothiazine‐based monomer units, and the longer wavelength absorption band at 527–568 nm was attributed to the increased effective conjugation length of the polymer backbones. Solution‐processed field‐effect transistors fabricated with these polymers exhibited p‐type organic thin film transistor characteristics. The field‐effect mobilities of P1 and P2 were measured to be 1.0 × 10^?4 and 7.5 × 10^?5 cm² V^?1 s^?1, respectively, with on/off ratios in the order of 10⁴ for all polymers. A photovoltaic device in which a P2/PC₇₁BM (1/3) blend film was used as the active layer exhibited an open‐circuit voltage (V_OC) of 0.70 V, a short‐circuit current (J_SC) of 6.79 mA cm⁽², a fill factor of 0.39, and a power conversion efficiency of 1.86% under AM 1.5 G (100 mW cm^?2) illumination. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012     

Exhaustive and partial alkoxylation of polymethylhydrosiloxane by copper‐catalyzed dehydrocoupling with alcohols: Synthesis,crosslinking behavior,and thermal properties of the products

Polymethylhydrosiloxane (PMHS) reacts with aliphatic and aromatic alcohols at room temperature in the presence of [CuH(PPh₃)]₆ complex catalyst to give poly[(methyl) (alkoxy)siloxane]s in high yields. Reactivity of alcohols decreases in the order of p‐methoxyphenol > p‐cresol > phenol > benzyl alcohol > allyl alcohol > ethanol > isopropanol > tert‐butyl alcohol. Partially p‐cresylated polymers, which still retain unreacted Si? H bonds, react further with ethylene glycol or water to form cross‐linked polymers, which, depending on the extent of cross linking, gelate during the cross‐linking process. Propargyl alcohol reacts with PMHS very rapidly to give exhaustively and partially propargyloxylated PMHS. Resulting polymers, upon heating, undergo crosslinking. Partially propargyloxylated polymers display high thermal stability [T_d5 (temperature of 5% weight loss) > 500 °C] as compared with starting PMHS (243 °C) and exhaustively propargyloxylated one (414 °C). © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011     

Effect of different immobilization strategies on chiral recognition properties of Cinchona‐based anion exchangers

In the enantiomeric separation of highly polar compounds, a traditionally challenging task for high‐performance liquid chromatography, ion‐exchange chiral stationary phases have found the main field of application. In this contribution, we present a series of novel anion‐exchange‐type chiral stationary phases for enantiomer separation of protected amino phosphonates and N‐protected amino acids. Two of the prepared selectors possessed a double and triple bond within a single molecule. Thus, they were immobilized onto silica support employing either a thiol‐ene (radical) or an azide‐yne (copper(I)‐catalyzed) click reaction. We evaluated the selectivity and the effect of immobilization proceeding either by the double bond of the Cinchona alkaloid or a triple bond of the carbamoyl moiety on the chromatographic performance of the chiral stationary phases using analytes with protecting groups of different size, flexibility, and π‐acidity. The previously observed preference toward protecting groups possessing π‐acidic units, which is a typical feature of Cinchona‐based chiral stationary phases, was preserved. In addition, increasing the bulkiness of the selectors’ carbamoyl units leads to significantly reduced retention times, while very high selectivity toward the tested analytes is retained.     

Studies on the equilibrium among poly(sodium 4‐styrenesulfonate), Cu2+, and iminodiacetic acid by ultrafiltration at constant ionic strength

The ultrafiltration technique evaluates the interactions of water‐soluble polymers with metal ions. Aqueous solutions containing poly(sodium 4‐styrenesulfonate) (PSS), Cu(NO₃)₂, NaNO₃, and iminodiacetic acid (IDAA) are examined by this technique. Cu²⁺ undergoes complex formation with IDAA and intreracts electrostatically with PSS. On the other hand, Na⁺ ions are in competition with Cu²⁺ for the electrostatic binding to PSS. The solutions are ultrafiltered keeping the ionic strength constant, so their compositions are allowed to change continuously. The concentration of Cu²⁺ bound to the polymer showed an exponential decay during filtration. The concentration of Cu²⁺ bound to the polymer before ultrafiltration is calculated by extrapolation. The concentration of the different species in solution is proposed as a function of the filtration factor. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 40: 2587–2593, 2002     

Modification of polyisoprene‐block‐poly(vinyl trimethylsilane) block copolymers via hydrosilylation and hydrogenation,and their gas transport properties

Polyisoprene‐block‐poly(vinyl trimethylsilane) (PI‐b‐PVTMS) block copolymers having different isoprene contents are successfully chemically modified and characterized by proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (¹H‐NMR), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, gel permeation chromatography, and thermogravimetric analysis. Gas transport properties of the initial block copolymers and their derivatives modified via hydrosilylation and hydrogenation are measured. The modified block copolymers show higher permeabilities for O₂ and H₂ than the unmodified block copolymers while maintaining similar O₂/N₂ and H₂/N₂ selectivities. Hydrosilylation and hydrogenation of block copolymers with a low isoprene content result in a permeability increase for O₂ and H₂ of 15 to 40%, respectively. Similarly, for block copolymers with high isoprene contents, increases in permeabilities up to 125% are observed compared to initial PI‐b‐PVTMS. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym. Phys. 2013 , 51, 1252–1261     

Transport properties of anion exchange membranes prepared by the reaction of crosslinked membranes having chloromethyl groups with 4‐vinylpyridine and trimethylamine

The electrodialytic transport properties of new anion exchange membranes were evaluated that included the transport numbers of various anions, sulfate, bromide, fluoride, and nitrate ions, relative to chloride ions and current efficiency. The anion exchange membranes were prepared by the reaction of copolymer membranes crosslinked to different extents having chloromethyl groups with 4‐vinylpyridine to form a ladder‐like polymer in the membranes and then with trimethylamine to convert the remaining chloromethyl groups to benzyl trimethylammonium groups. The transport numbers of the sulfate and fluoride ions relative to the chloride ions were markedly less for the membranes that had been reacted with 4‐vinylpyridine and then with trimethylamine compared with those of the membranes that had been reacted only with trimethylamine. On the other hand, the selective permeation of nitrate and bromide ions through the membranes was enhanced by the reaction with 4‐vinylpyridine although the membranes became tighter by the reaction. The decrease in permeation of the sulfate ions was attributed to a synergistic effect involving the decrease in sulfate ions ion‐exchanged with the membranes and the decrease in mobility of the sulfate ions in the membranes with a low degree of crosslinking. Though the ion‐exchanged sulfate ion content was the lowest in the highly crosslinked membranes, the mobility ratio between the sulfate ions and chloride ions did not decrease in the membranes. However, the increase in the permeation of nitrate ions was based on the increase in the ion‐exchanged amount of nitrate ions with the membrane, and not the change in the mobility ratio between the nitrate and chloride ions. The formation of the ladder‐like polymer in the membrane matrix brought on a decrease in the hydrophilicity of the membranes due to pyridine groups and an increase in their tightness. The current efficiency of all membranes was greater than 99% during the electrodialysis of 0.50 N salt solutions. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 37: 1773–1785, 1999     

Poly(ethylene imine)‐graft‐poly(ethylene oxide) brush‐like copolymers: Preparation,thermal properties,and selective supramolecular inclusion complexation with α‐cyclodextrin

Poly(ethylene imine)‐graft‐poly(ethylene oxide) (PEI‐g‐PEO) copolymers were synthesized via Michael addition reaction between acryl‐terminated poly(ethylene oxide) methyl ether (PEO) and poly(ethylene imine) (PEI). The brush‐like copolymers were characterized by means of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. It is found that the crystallinity of the PEO side chains in the copolymers remained unaffected by the PEI backbone whereas the crystal structure of PEO side chains was altered to some extent by the PEI backbone. The crystallization behavior of PEO blocks in the copolymers suggests that the bush‐shaped copolymers are microphase‐separated in the molten state. The PEO side chains of the copolymers were selectively complexed with α‐cyclodextrin (α‐CD) to afford hydrophobic side chains (i.e., PEO/α‐CD inclusion complexes). The X‐ray diffraction (XRD) shows that the inclusion complexes (ICs) of the PEO side chains displayed a channel‐type crystalline structure. It is identified that the stoichiometry of the inclusion complexation of the PEI‐g‐PEO with α‐CD is close to that of the control PEO with α‐CD. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 46: 2296–2306, 2008     

Quantification of ATRP initiator density on polymer latex particles by fluorescence labeling technique using copper‐catalyzed azide‐alkyne cycloaddition

We developed a novel fluorescence labeling technique for quantification of surface densities of atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) initiators on polymer particles. The cationic P(St‐CPEM‐C₄DMAEMA) and anionic P(St‐CPEM) polymer latex particles carrying ATRP‐initiating chlorine groups were prepared by emulsifier‐free emulsion polymerization of styrene (St), 2‐(2‐chloropropionyloxy)ethyl methacrylate (CPEM), and N‐n‐butyl‐N,N‐dimethyl‐N‐(2‐methacryloyloxy)ethylammonium bromide (C₄DMAEMA). ATRP initiators on the surface of polymer particles were converted into azide groups by sodium azide, followed by fluorescent labeling with 5‐(N,N‐dimethylamino)‐N′‐(prop‐2‐yn‐1‐yl)naphthalene‐1‐sulfonamide (Dansyl‐alkyne) by copper‐catalyzed azide‐alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC). The reaction time required for both azidation of ATRP‐initiating groups and successive fluorescence labeling of azide groups with Dansyl‐alkyne by CuAAC were investigated in detail by FTIR and fluorescence spectral measurement, respectively. The ATRP initiator densities on the cationic P(St‐CPEM‐C₄DMAEMA) and anionic P(St‐CPEM) particle surfaces were estimated to be 0.21 and 0.15 molecules nm^?2, respectively, which gave close agreement with values previously determined by a conductometric titration method. The fluorescence labeling through click chemistry proposed herein is a versatile technique to quantify the surface ATRP initiator density both on anionic and cationic polymer particles. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2013 , 51, 4042–4051     

Surface grafting on poly(ethylene terephthalate) track‐etched microporous membrane by activation with trifluorotriazine: Application to the biofunctionalization with GRGDS peptide

A two‐step wet chemistry protocol has been developed for the surface derivatization of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) track‐etched membrane used as cell culturing support, that is, (a) activation by trifluorotriazine (1 M in acetonitrile (ACN), 30 °C, 3 h); (b) coupling to amine‐terminated molecules, namely 3,5‐bis(trifluoromethyl)benzylamine ((F)Tag), (L)‐4,5‐[³H]‐lysine, and Gly‐Arg‐Gly‐Asp‐Ser (GRGDS) pentapeptide (10^?3 M in PB‐ACN, 1:1 (v/v), 20 °C, 17 h). The grafting rates determined by X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, from the F/C and N/C atomic ratios, are in the range of 100–140 pmol/cm² (apparent surface), whereas the liquid scintillation counting assays give higher values (180–230 pmol/cm²) corresponding to the open surface reactivity. PET‐g‐(F)Tag is reasonably stable under two usual sterilization conditions of biomaterials, that is, steam heating at 121 °C and γ‐irradiation at 25 kGy. On the other hand, PET‐g‐GRGDS is found to be stable only under ionization radiation (84% of remaining peptide molecules), but damaged in a large extent by the autoclave treatment (23% of remaining peptide molecules). The surfaces of the sterilized PET and PET‐g‐GRGDS samples have been characterized by water contact angle measurement and by atomic force microscopy analysis in air and under water. Comparatively to the corresponding nonsterilized surfaces, γ‐irradiated surfaces are slightly more hydrophilic and also slightly more rough and jagged. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 195–208, 2010