Poly(3,3′-dimethoxy-2,2′-bithiophene): Synthesis and comparison with poly(3-methoxythiophene)

A new electroactive polymer, namely poly(3,3′-dimethoxy-2,2′-bithiophene) has been prepared by voltammetric polymerization of 3,3′-dimethoxy-2,2′-bithiophene. Due to a different coupling pattern (equivalent to “head-to-head,” and “tail-to-tail” coupled alkoxythiophene rings), poly(3,3′-dimethoxy-2,2′-bithiophene) exhibits different voltammetric properties than the corresponding “head-to-tail” coupled polymer, i.e., poly(3-methoxythiophene). Poly(3,3′-dimethoxy-2,2′-bithiophene) gives very sharp oxidation and reduction peaks indicating an abrupt insulator to conductor transition. This hypothesis was corroborated by the studies of relative resistance as a function of electrode potential. Sharper and better-defined redox peaks may indicate better stereoregularity of poly(3,3′-dimethoxy-2,2′-bithiophene) as compared to poly(3-methoxythiophene) since in this compound the 5,5′-coupling positions are geometrically equivalent and no coupling defects are expected. © 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Regioselective Oligomerization of 3-(Alkylsulfanyl)thiophenes with Ferric Chloride

The action of FeCl(3) on 3-(alkylsulfanyl)thiophenes (3-(alkylthio)thiophenes) leads to the one-step formation of regioregular alpha-conjugated oligothiophenes, from trimer to octamer, depending on the solvent used and on the length of the alkyl chain. The regiochemistry of these oligomers is characterized by one inner head-to-head linkage between adjacent rings and by a variable number of lateral head-to-tail junctions. The reaction of ferric chloride with the head-to-head and head-to-tail bis(methylsulfanyl)-2,2'-bithiophenes gives the corresponding tetramers, while the reaction with the tail-to-tail counterpart affords a high molecular weight insoluble material. With the aid of theoretical calculations, these results are interpreted on the basis of the joint effects of the orienting power of the substituents and of the stability of the radical cations formed during the oxidative process.     

New fluorinated aromatic poly(ether-amide)s derived from 2,2′-bis(3,4,5-trifluorophenyl)-4,4′-diaminodiphenyl ether and various dicarboxylic acids

A new class of highly fluorinated aromatic poly(ether-amide)s was prepared through triphenyl phosphite-activated polycondensation of 2,2′-bis(3,4,5-trifluorophenyl)-4,4′-diaminodiphenyl ether (FPAPE) and four dicarboxylic acid comonomers. All the resulting polymers were thoroughly characterized by FT-IR, UV, and NMR spectroscopic methods. The effects of the fluorine atoms directly linked to the lateral phenyl rings as well as fluoro-containing phenyl groups attached to the macromolecular chains on some properties of the polymers were investigated by comparing with poly(ether-amide)s prepared from 4,4′-oxydianiline (4,4′-ODA) and 2,2′-diphenyl-4,4′-diaminodiphenyl ether (PAPE). The FPAPE-derived polymers exhibited excellent solubility in a variety of organic solvents. Results obtained from X-ray studies showed that the presence of the bulky fluoro-containing phenyl groups attached to the chains disrupts their structural order in a great amount, and leads to a decrease in crystallinity extent of the macromolecules. Furthermore, the highly fluorinated polymeric chains showed a significant enhancement in organo-solubility, heat-stability and T_g values when compared to their non-fluorinated counterparts.     

Characteristic ratio of the mean-square end-to-end distance of poly(vinylidene fluoride) with microstructural defects

The segment length distribution of isoregic head-to-head and tail-to-tail sequences in poly-(vinylidene fluoride) (PVF₂)

1 System. name: poly(1,1-difluoroethylene).

chains is calculated from ¹⁹F NMR literature data. It is found that the average length of inverse segments is very close to one unit; therefore almost all head-to-head defects are immediately repaired by an adjacent tail-to-tail addition. The role of microstructure on the characteristic ratio of the end-to-end distance is then investigated. Results obtained by two different methods indicate that, in agreement with previous Monte Carlo calculations, defects play a minor role for the conformational characteristics of PVF₂. However, a slight contraction of about 4% is expected for very defective chains.     

Synthesis of poly(tert-butoxycarbonyl-p-phenylene): precursor to poly(p-phenylene)

Poly[2-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-1,4-phenylene] ( 2 ) was prepared by the Ni-catalyzed polymerization of tert-butyl 2,5-dichlorobenzoate ( 1 ). The microstructure of polymer 2 was probably alternating head-to-head and tail-to-tail. This polymer was soluble in dipolar aprotic solvents, chloroform, tetrahydrofuran, and dichloromethane. Polymer 2 was saponified easily by thermal or acid treatment to yield poly[2-carboxy-1,4-phenylene] ( 3 ). Decarboxylation of polymer 3 in quinoline in the presence of copper(II) oxide produced poly(p-phenylene) (PPP) ( 4 ).     

Microstructure of poly(alkylene phosphates) related to biopolymers (teichoic acids)

The microstructure of polyphosphites and polyphosphates obtained by the ring-opening polymerization of asymmetrically substituted 5-membered cyclic phosphites was studied. It has been established, using ³¹P NMR, that 4-substituted 2-hydro-2-oxo-1,3,2-dioxaphospholanes underwent polymerization giving polymers with head-to-tail dyads as well as head-to-head and tail-to-tail structures. Analyses of ³¹P NMR spectra of racemic and optically active poly(2-hydro-4-methyl-2-oxo-1,3,2-dioxaphospholane) and model compounds estimated the statistical mode of ring scission of cyclic phosphites. Similar results were obtained for the polymerization of 4-acetoxymethyl-2-hydro-2-oxo-1,3,2-dioxaphospholane, which provided the simplest model of teichoic acid, namely poly(1,2-glycerol phosphate).     

A selective and direct synthesis of 2-bromo-4-alkylthiophenes: Convenient and straightforward approaches for the synthesis of head-to-tail (HT) and tail-to-tail (TT) dihexyl-2,2′-bithiophenes

A straightforward method for the synthesis of 2-bromo-4-alkylthiophenes was developed, and the desired products were obtained in the highest chemical yields (>90%) reported to date. 2-Bromo-4-alkylthiophenes were synthesized by regioselective lithiating of 3-alkylthiophenes with n-BuLi and quenching with bromine at −78 °C. Moreover, a simple and efficient protocol for the synthesis of dihexyl-2,2′-bithiophenes was developed by employing 2-bromo-4-hexylthiophene instead of the commonly used monomer, 2-bromo-3-hexylthiophene. Kumada and Suzuki cross-coupling reactions were conducted to synthesize the desired products as head-to-tail (HT) and tail-to-tail (TT) regioisomers in high yields and excellent selectivity.     

Side chain length affects backbone dynamics in poly(3‐alkylthiophene)s

Charge transport in conjugated polymers may be governed not only by the static microstructure but also fluctuations of backbone segments. Using molecular dynamics simulations, we predict the role of side chains in the backbone dynamics for regiorandom poly(3‐alkylthiophene‐2,5‐diyl)s (P3ATs). We show that the backbone of poly(3‐dodecylthiophene‐2‐5‐diyl) (P3DDT) moves faster than that of poly(3‐hexylthiophene‐2,5‐diyl) (P3HT) as a result of the faster motion of the longer side chains. To verify our predictions, we investigated the structures and dynamics of regiorandom P3ATs with neutron scattering and solid state NMR. Measurements of spin‐lattice relaxations (T₁) using NMR support our prediction of faster motion for side chain atoms that are farther away from the backbone. Using small‐angle neutron scattering (SANS), we confirmed that regiorandom P3ATs are amorphous at about 300 K, although microphase separation between the side chains and backbones is apparent. Furthermore, quasi‐elastic neutron scattering (QENS) reveals that thiophene backbone motion is enhanced as the side chain length increases from hexyl to dodecyl. The faster motion of longer side chains leads to faster backbone dynamics, which in turn may affect charge transport for conjugated polymers. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2018 , 56, 1193–1202     

The thermal transformation of an aromatic poly (amide), poly (ortho-oxyamide) and poly (benzoxazole)

The thermal behaviour of three aromatic polymers, poly(3,3-dioxy-4,4-diphenylmethane) (POA), poly(2,2-m-phenylene-5,5-dibenzoxazolemethane) (PBO) and a commercial poly-(phenyleneisophthalamide) (Phenylon) was studied by thermal analysis, i.e. DSC and TG. PBO was formed by the progressive thermocyclization of POA. By transforming POA into PBO the thermal stability was increased proportionally to the degree of cyclization, due to the stiffening of the polymer chain. PBO was found to be more thermally stable than Phenylon. The activation energies of the desorption of moisture, cyclization and thermal degradation of the polymers in both nitrogen and air were determined from non-isothermal TG data.     

Sulfonated poly(pyromellitimides) and poly(naphthylimides)

A comparative synthesis of poly(imides) based on benzidine-2,2′-disulfonic acid and dianhydrides of pyromellitic and naphthalene-1,4,5,8-tetracarboxylic acids via the high-temperature polycyclocondensation in m-cresol in the presence of triethylamine has been performed for the purpose of designing proton-exchange membranes for fuel cells. The polymers are shown to be water-soluble with poly(naphthylimide) showing by a much higher hydrolytic stability than poly(pyromellitimide). To render poly(naphthylimide) insoluble in water, copoly(naphthylimide) has been synthesized using 4,4′-bis(4-aminophenoxy)diphehyl sulfone as a comonomer. Copoly(naphthylimides) combine solubility in organic solvents with insolubility in water. These polymers demonstrate high viscosity characteristics and excellent film-forming behavior. They combine excellent thermal stability and hydrolytic resistance with proton conductivity, which is higher than the proton conductivity of Nafion commercial membranes in wide temperature and relative conductivity ranges.     

Stereoregularity of fractionally crystallized poly(propylene oxide) samples by 13C-NMR spectroscopy

Several stereoregular poly(propylene oxide) (PPO) samples were synthesized employing either trimethyl aluminum hydrolyzates or Pruitt–Baggett type catalysts. Dilute isooctane solutions of these samples were fractionally crystallized by stepwise cooling from 333 K down to 273 K. The fractions which dissolve at 273 K were noncrystallizable and were further fractionated by GFC. The isolated fractions were characterized by ¹³C-NMR, DSC, and viscometry techniques. Both structural (head-to-head and tail-to-tail linkages) and steric (syndiotactic dyads) irregularities were found in otherwise isotactic chains and their abundance apparently increased as the melting point and the chain length of the fractions decreased.     

Novel heat-resistant and organosoluble poly(amide-imide)s containing laterally-attached phenoxy phenylene groups

In this research a new diimide-diacid monomer, 2,2′-bis(4-phenoxyphenyl)-4,4′-bis(N-trimellitoyl)diphenyl ether (BPDPE) containing two laterally-attached phenoxy phenylene groups was prepared by the reaction of 2,2′-bis[(p-phenoxy phenyl)]-4,4′-diaminodiphenyl ether (PPAPE) with trimellitic anhydride in refluxing glacial acetic acid. Ether-hinged wholly aromatic poly(amide-imide)s with limited viscosity number values of 0.61–0.87 dL g⁻¹ were prepared by triphenyl phosphate (TPP)-activated polycondensation of BPDPE with diamines including PPAPE and 4,4′-diaminodiphenyl ether (DADPE). For comparative purposes, reference poly(amide-imide)s were also prepared by reacting diimide-diacid monomer lacking phenoxy phenylene lateral groups namely 4,4′-bis(N-trimellitoyl)diphenyl ether (BTDPE) with the same diamines under similar conditions. A model compound MODEL was also synthesized by the reaction of BTBPE with two mole equivalents of aniline to compare the spectral characteristics results. Number and weight average molecular weights were determined by gel permeation chromatography (GPC) technique. The phenoxy phenylene-containing poly(amide-imide)s (all, except that of resulted from BTDPE and DADPE) had excellent organosolubility in common polar solvents. A low crystallinity extent was only observed using their wide-angle X-ray diffractograms (WAXD). A qualitative study showed the prepared polymers could also be cast into optically-transparent and flexible thin films. The ether-containing lateral groups attached to the ether-hinged macromolecular main chains had no substantial diminishing effect on the thermal stability of these structurally-modified poly(amide-imide)s.     

New processable poly(ether-keto-sulfone)s,poly(arylene sulfone)s,and polyesters curable by intramolecular cyclization. XVII

New processable polyaromatic ether-keto-sulfones were prepared from 2,2′-diiododiphenyl-4,4′-dicarbonyl dichloride (I), bis(p-phenoxybenzene)sulfone (V), isophthaloyl chloride (VI), terephthaloyl chloride (VII), and diphenylether (IX) in Friedel-Crafts-type polymerizations. By varying (VI):(VII) ratio and (V):(IX) ratio and by reducing the polymerization time, soluble, processable polymers were obtained. In these polymers, phenylacetylenyl groups were introduced by replacing the iodine. This process led to soluble and curable polymers. Transparent, tough films and fairly flexible glass fiber laminates can readily be prepared. After curing, the polymers were insoluble and showed excellent chemical and thermal resistance. The curing process increased the polymers' softening temperature by ca. 20°C and produced intersting new useful materials for laminates. Processable poly(arylene sulfone)s were prepared from I, V, and diphenylether-4,4′-disulfonylchloride (X) in a Friedel-Crafts-type polymerization. Different monomer ratios and polymerization times were used. Only low-molecular-weight polymers were obtained. The same result was shown by curable polyester formation from I, VI, VII, and 4,4′-sulfonyldiphenol (XI) in an interfacial polycondensation.     

Potentiometric response of poly(3-octylthiophene), poly(3-methylthiophene) and polythiophene in aqueous solutions

The potentiometric response of some polythiophenes in aqueous solutions has been investigated. Polythiophene (PT), poly(2,2'-bithiophene) (PBT), poly(3-methylthiophene) (PMT), poly(3-octylthiophene) (POT) and poly(4,4'-dioctyl2,2'-bithiophene) (POTd) were electrochemically deposited on platinum in 0.1M LiBF(4)-propylene carbonate solution containing the corresponding monomer or dimer. Polymer electrodes were also prepared by solution casting of chemically synthesized poly(3-octylthiophene) (POTc) dissolved in chloroform. After film deposition (electrochemical or chemical) the polymer coated electrodes were used as indicator electrodes in potentiometric measurements. The open-circuit potential of the polymer electrodes was measured in aqueous solutions containing inorganic salts (10(-1)-10(-4)M). Interestingly, all the polythiophenes studied were found to give a cationic response to monovalent cations such as H(+), Li(+), Na(+), K(+) and NH(+)(4) (Cl(-) salts). The slope, calculated from the linear part of the response curve, was found to depend on the polythiophene used but always remained lower than that predicted for a Nernstian response. The polythiophenes also showed some sensitivity to divalent cations such as Mg(2+) and Ca(2+) (Cl(-)-salts). POT was used as the polymer to study the influence of the polymerization conditions on the potentiometric response. By investigating different polymers from the polythiophene family it was possible to evaluate how the starting material (monomer or dimer) and the presence of alkyl side-chains influence the potentiometric response of the polymer membranes.     

Synthesis and properties of aromatic poly (ether sulfone)s and poly (ether ketone)s based on methyl-substituted biphenyl-4,4′-diols

Novel methyl-substituted aromatic poly (ether sulfone)s and poly (ether ketone)s were synthesized from combinations of 3,3′,5,5′-tetramethylbipheny-4,4′-diol and 2,2′,3,3′,5,5′-hexamethylbiphenyl-4,4′-diol, and 4,4′-dichlorodiphenyl sulfone and 4,4′-difluorobenzo-phenone by nucleophilic aromatic substitution polycondensation. The polycondensations proceeded quantitatively in a N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone-toluene solvent system in the presence of anhydrous potassium carbonate to afford the polymers with inherent viscosities between 0.86 and 1.55 dL/g. The methyl-substituted poly (ether sulfone)s and poly (ether ketone)s showed good solubility in common organic solvents such as chloroform, tetrahydrofuran, pyridine, m-cresol, and N,N-dimethylacetamide. The tetramethyl- and hexamethyl-substituted aromatic polyethers had higher glass transition temperatures than the corresponding unsubstituted polymers, and did not decompose below 350°C in both air and nitrogen atmospheres. The films of the methyl-substituted poly (ether ketone)s became insoluble in chloroform by the irradiation of ultraviolet light, indicating the occurrence of photochemical crosslinking reactions. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Thermal and dynamic mechanical analysis of cross-linked poly(esterurethanes)

New cross-linked poly(esterurethanes) (PEU) based on unsaturated olygo(alkyleneester)diol (OAE), 4,4’-diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI) and styrene or methyl methacrylate as curing monomers were prepared. The synthesis of PEU was performed in two steps. In the first step OAE was obtained from adipic acid, maleic anhydride and ethylene glycol. In the second step a prepolymer was obtained in a reaction of OAE with different amounts of 4,4’-diphenylmethane diisocyanate followed by crosslinking using previously mentioned curing monomers. The influence of structure of the poly(esterurethanes) on thermal and dynamic mechanical properties is studied. Thermogravimetric analysis shows that cross-linked poly(esterurethanes) demonstrate high thermal stability. Moreover the dynamic mechanical thermal analysis shows that the presence of styrene cross-linking chains in polymers lead to the phase separation in cross-linked poly(esterurethanes).     

EQCM study of the p- and n-doping processes of a poly[4,4-bis(butylsulphanyl)-2,2-bithiophene]

Electrogenerated deposits of poly[4,4^′-bis(butylsulphanyl)-2,2^′-bithiophene] have been characterised in the presence of different supporting electrolytes, by coupling current (charge) to microgravimetric measurements from the electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance (EQCM). The simultaneous collection of voltammetric measurements and of data relative to mass changes shows the influence exerted by the nature of the supporting electrolyte on the charge-discharge steps of both p- and n-doping processes. Interestingly, the microgravimetric data collected corresponding to the pre-peaks of both doping processes suggest the occurrence of two opposite motions of ions (ingress into and exit out from the polymer) in the relevant potential region, giving a contribution to the study of the `residual charge' phenomenon.     

Poly(dimethyl biphenylene)

Two methods were investigated for the preparation of poly(dimethyl biphenylene) in a search for polymers combining good solubility with sufficiently high chain extension to produce a lyotropic nematic phase. The Ullmann reaction was used to condense 4,4′-diiodo-3,3′-dimethyl biphenyl and the corresponding 2,2′-dimethyl derivative with copper, and 4,4′-dibromo-2,2′-dimethyl biphenyl was polymerized using the coupling reagent, bis(1,5-cyclooctadiene)nickel(0), developed by Semmelhack. The Ullmann polymers were completely soluble in CHCl₃ but only partially soluble in toluene, whereas earlier work had indicated similar polymers of higher molecular weight to be completely soluble in toluene. All the polymers produced were of low molecular weight and no evidence of the nematic phase was found by polarized light microscopy for CHCl₃ solutions over the concentration range 6.8–25% by weight.     

Head-to-head units in poly(propylene oxide) by ozonation

By extensive ozonation and lithium aluminum hydride reduction, poly(propylene oxide) can be converted to material containing dipropylene glycol. Since the diprimary, disecondary, and primary-secondary isomers are readily separable by vapor-phase chromatography, it has been possible to show that some (but not all) noncrystalline PPO samples contain many head-to-head, tail-to-tail monomer units. Correlation of the fraction of head-to-head units with the optical rotation of noncrystalline fractions from optically active monomer, indicates that there is one asymmetric center inverted for every unit inserted head-to-head. The earlier suggestion that the noncrystalline fraction was due to atactic stereochemistry is thus shown to be generally incorrect in favor of an explanation due to positional isomerization.     

Intermolecular interactions in pi-stacked conjugated molecules. Synthesis,structure, and spectral characterization of alkyl bithiazole oligomers

Syntheses are reported of new 4,4'-dialkyl-2,2'-bithiazole oligomers that have alkenoxy side chains that are capable of easy conversion to oligomers with functionalized side chains, e.g., terminally substituted hydroxy chains. The crystal structures of two representative oligomers (4,4',4' ',4' "-tetra-(2-propenoxymethyl)-2,2',5',5' ',2' ',2' "-quaterthiazole (3P2) and 4,4',4' ',4' "-tetra-(3-hydroxypropyloxymethyl)-2,2',5',5' ',2' ',2' "-quaterthiazole (3H2)) were determined; 3P2 crystallizes in a pi-stacked motif with two molecules per unit cell, whereas 3H2 forms pi-stacks that are linked with hydrogen bonds to form infinite two-dimensional sheets with one molecule per unit cell. A comparison of the UV-vis spectra of the compounds in solution and in the solid state provides unequivocal evidence for the presence of a Davydov splitting, W(D) approximately 0.2 eV, in solid 3P2. The spectra are interpreted in the framework of molecular exciton theory to extract a value of the intermolecular transfer integral, J approximately 0.2 eV, for a total exciton bandwidth of ca. 0.8 eV. Monte Carlo calculations were used to determine the density of states of the exciton band and the absorption and emission line shapes of the 0 <-- 0 transition. It is suggested that the "three-humped" absorption profile typical of partially crystalline, regioregular polymers is the "optical signature" of pi-stacking.