Synthesis of functional polycarbonates by lipase-catalyzed ring-opening polymerization

Poly(5-benzyloxy-trimethylene carbonate) (PBTMC), a new functional polycarbonate was synthesized by enzymatic ring-opening polymerization in bulk at 150°C using Porcine pancreas lipase (PPL) or Candida rugosa lipase (CL) as catalyst. Influences of different polymerization conditions such as the source of enzyme, enzyme concentration and polymerization time on the molecular weight and yield were studied. The results showed that PPL exhibited higher activity than CL. Both higher molecular weight(Mn, 18953) and yield(98%) could be obtained by the use of PPL as catalyst. ¹H NMR spectrum showed no decarboxylation occurrence during the ring-opening polymerization.     

Enzymatic ring-opening polymerization of 2,2-dimethyltrimethylene carbonate catalyzed by PPL immobilized on silica nanoparticles

Silica nanoparticles were first used as the carrier for the porcine pancreas lipase (PPL) immobilization. The result of transmission electron microscopy (TEM) showed that the immobilized lipase was still in nanosize after enzyme immobilization. The ring-opening polymerization of 2,2-dimethyltrimethylene carbonate (DTC) catalyzed by this immobilized PPL (IMPPL) was explored. ¹H NMR spectra suggested no evidence of decarboxylation during propagation. Influences of IMPPL concentration and reaction temperature on the molecular weight and yield of poly(DTC) were studied. The recovery and reuse of IMPPL for the ring-opening polymerization of DTC was also investigated. The recycling IMPPL showed even higher catalytic activity and a higher molecular weight of polycarbonate could be achieved.     

Chemo-enzymatic synthesis of comb polymers

The paper describes the synthesis and characterization of comb polymers by a two-step chemo-enzymatic process. In the first step macromonomers bearing unsaturation at the chain end were prepared by lipase catalyzed ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of ε-caprolactone (CL) and 1,5-dioxepane-2-one (DXO). The ROP was carried out in bulk at 60 °C under anhydrous conditions using 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) as the initiator. The DP of the macromonomers was controlled by regulating the monomer: HEMA molar feed concentration. The macromonomers were then homo- or co-polymerized in the second step with alkyl methacrylate monomers (methyl methacrylate or HEMA) using AIBN initiated free radical polymerization. Characterization of the polymers was done by ¹H NMR, SEC and DSC techniques.     

POLYMERIZATION OF ETHYLENE METHYL PHOSPHATE IN THE PRESENCE OF SODIUM POLY(ETHYLENE GLYCOL)ATE*

Poly(ethylene methyl phosphate)-poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(ethylene methyl phosphate) triblockcopolymers carrying hydroxyl group at both chain ends were synthesized with sodium poly(ethyleneglycol)ate as initiator. The effects of the factors such as solvent, amount of the initiator and reaction timewere investigated. The copolymers were characterized by IR, ~1H-NMR, ~1H{~(31)P}-NMR, ~(13)C-NMR, ~(31)P{~1H}-NMR, and DSC. High molecular weight of the copolymer and high yield of the polymerization were achievedwithin 3 min at 25℃. The polymerization process was studied by ~(31)P{~1H}-NMR and transesterification wasfound during longer polymerization time.     

Atom transfer radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate using copper-based homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysts

This study aimed at polymerization of methyl methacrylate with novel catalysts in the atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) condition at 90 °C. This was accomplished using CuBr/N-(2-aminoethyl)-3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane (CuBr–AEAPTMS) as a homogeneous catalyst and one time with CuBr@AEAPTMS/SBA-15 as a heterogeneous catalyst. Catalysts were characterized using TGA, FT-IR, and UV–Vis spectroscopy. The structural analysis of the polymer was carried out by ¹³C NMR spectroscopy and GPC. Three characteristic parts of polymer produced by ATRP method including the initiator, monomer units, and end group was shown in ¹³C NMR spectra. In addition, the presence of C–Br unit showed that the polymerization process is alive. The ¹H NMR analysis was used for kinetic investigation of methyl methacrylate polymerization with homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysts that showed high monomer conversion (98 and 90% after 35 min, respectively) and good control of molecular weight with a dispersity (Р= 1.5–1.7). In addition, the plot of ln ([monomer]₀/[monomer] _t ) versus time gave linear relationships indicating a constant concentration of the propagating species throughout the polymerization. Finally, the results of the polymerization using heterogeneous catalyst compared with homogeneous catalyst revealed that it was according to ATRP method.     

Kinetic Study of the Al-Schiff's Base Initiated Polymerization of ε-caprolactone and Synthesis of Graft Poly(methylmethacrylate-g-caprolactone)

Graft copolymers of polycaprolactone (PCL) on polymethacrylate (PMMA) backbone have been successfully synthesized and characterized by SEC, ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy. The strategy used consisted of polymerizing ε-CL, followed by end-functionalization of the resulting PCL using methacryloyl chloride. Free radical polymerization of the methacryl double bond lead to the C-C polymer backbone and an overall graft copolymer. The polymerization of ε-caprolactone was achieved using Al-Schiff's base isopropoxide (HAPENAlOⁱPr) in DCM at ambient temperature. SEC and MALDI analysis of the polymers confirmed that mostly linear chains were obtained with the Al initiator, up until high monomer conversion. The low molar mass PCL was then end-capped with a methacryloyl group, in a quantitative manner, as evidenced by ¹H NMR. The macromonomer thus obtained was copolymerized in small proportions with methyl methacrylate by conventional free radical polymerization and atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). Analysis of the products by NMR and SEC showed the presence of true graft copolymers and the absence of homopolymers.     

Atom transfer radical polymerization of 2-methoxy ethyl acrylate and its block copolymerization with acrylonitrile

2-Methoxy ethyl acrylate (MEA), a functional monomer was homopolymerized using atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) technique with methyl 2-bromopropionate (MBP) as initiator and CuBr/N,N,N′,N′,N″-pentamethyldiethylenetriamine (PMDETA) as catalyst system; polymerization was conducted in bulk at 60 °C and livingness was established by chain extension reaction. The kinetics as well as molecular weight distribution data indicated towards the controlled nature of polymerization. The initiator efficiency and the effect of initiator concentration on the rate of polymerization were investigated. The polymerization remained well-controlled even at low catalyst concentration of 10% relative to initiator. The influence of different solvents, viz. ethylene carbonate and toluene on the polymerization was investigated. End-group analysis for the determination of high degree of functionality of PMEA was determined with the help of ¹³C{¹H} NMR spectra. Chain extension experiment was conducted with PMEA macroinitiator for ATRP of acrylonitrile (AN) in ethylene carbonate at 70 °C using CuCl/bpy as catalyst system. The composition of individual blocks in PMEA-b-PAN copolymers was determined using ¹H NMR spectra.     

Group‐transfer polymerization of cyclic trimethylsilyl dienolate as a new monomer

This communication reports the group‐transfer polymerization of a cyclic trimethylsilyl dienolate, 2‐(trimethylsilyloxy)furan ( 1 ), initiated with benzaldehyde. The polymerization proceeded in the presence of a tetrabutylammonium salt as the catalyst in THF solvent at 0–50°C. The product was isolated as an ethyl acetate insoluble fraction after acidic work‐up. The structure of the product polymer was determined by means of ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, and IR spectroscopy to be polylactone 3 . The mechanism of the polymerization can be explained by a Michael‐type addition of 1 onto the propagating end.     

13C and 1H NMR analysis of structural defects in PVC: Application to the production of defects at various polymerization stages

High resolution ¹H and ¹³C NMR data were obtained on PVC and PVC reduced with Bu₃SnH. The reduction is never complete and CH₂Cl groups preferentially remain. It causes almost complete formation of cyclopentane structures from both internal and chain end unsaturation. ¹H NMR gives total unsaturation as well as chain end unsaturation except if there are interferences with initiator residues; in that case, its combination with ¹³ C NMR of reduced PVC gives the chain end unsaturation. By the last method short branches and long ends are determined. Residual primary chlorine in all kinds of branches (methyl, ethyl, butyl, long ends) is taken into account. Long end contents are to be corrected (factor around 1.5), due to incomplete relaxation in standard analysis conditions. ¹H NMR of reduced PVC can be used to get the total non-reduced structures, both -CH₂Cl and -CHCl-. PVC was prepared by suspension or solution (trichlorobenzene) polymerization at 55° C, using dicetyl peroxydicarbonate as an initiator. The initiator residue content is higher in suspension PVC at very low conversion, and then levels off at a low value; in solution polymerization, it chiefly depends on the monomer/initiator ratio. At low conversion, more chain end and less short branches are present in suspension polymerization. Otherwise, only the butyl branch content shows a definite trend to increase with conversion. In solution polymerization, the number of defects is chiefly dependent on the initial monomer concentration; it is generally much higher than in suspension, except for the chloromethyl branches where both processes give about the same results.     

INITIATION VIA HALOBORATION IN LIVING CATIONIC POLYMERIZATION. 6. A NOVEL METHOD FOR THE SYNTHESIS OF PRIMARY AMINE FUNCTIONAL POLYISOBUTYLENES

Polyisobutylene (PIB) benzyl amine was synthesized by reacting benzyl azide with the dichloroboron head group of PIB obtained by polymerization of isobutylene (IB) via haloboration-initia-tion with boron trichloride. The facile, one-pot reaction at room temperature resulted in quantitative conversion of the PIB dichloroboron head groups into benzyl amine functionality, determined by ¹H NMR spectroscopy and titration with per-chloric acid. The hydrogenation of the secondary amine was attempted with various hydrogenation catalysts, of which only palladium yielded primary amine functional PIB. Pt and PtO hydrogenated the benzene ring resulting in PIB cyclohexyl methylene amine. With Pd only about 80% of the chain ends carried the primary amine functional group, apparently due to a side reaction. The side reaction was studied by ¹H NMR spectroscopy using PIB benzyl amine prepared from deuterated IB. Although direct evidence was not obtained, the ¹H NMR spectrum of the debenzylated product indicates that elimination of the amine group from the α carbon and elimination of a methyl group from the β carbon take place simultaneously, presumably due to the crowded nature of the neopentyl-type structure. The primary amine functional PIB was converted into PIB acetyl amide and imide via acylation with acetyl chloride. The products were analyzed by IR, ¹H NMR, and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy.     

Kinetic Study of the Thermal Polymerization Reactions between Diazide and Internal Diyne

The reaction kinetics between diazide(4,4′‐biphenyl dibenzyl azide) and internal diyne(bis[2‐(phenyl)ethynyl]dimethylsilane) was studied in this study by means of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and nuclear magnetic resonance spectra (¹H NMR). DSC was carried out to analyze the reaction in bulk polymerization condition, whereas ¹H NMR for solution reaction polymerization. The apparent activation energy (e_α) calculated by Kissinger's method was 90.83 kJ/mol, which was confirmed by Friedman's method, and 87.67 kJ/mol by ¹H NMR, respectively. The polymerization between the diazide and internal diyne was the second‐order reaction based on calculation from both of DSC and ¹H NMR.     

Synthesis of Glucose‐Containing Polyaniline by the Oxidative Polymerization of N‐Glucosylaniline

Summary: The oxidative polymerization of N‐glucosylaniline was carried out using ammonium persulfate as the oxidant in phosphate buffer. The structure of the isolated polymer was determined by ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, and UV‐vis spectroscopy to be the polyaniline having glucose residues attached to the general polyaniline unit. Participation of the ortho‐position of the aromatic ring in the polymerization was also confirmed by the analyses.

The oxidative polymerization of N‐glucosylaniline.     

Radical copolymerization of fullerene (C60) and n‐butyl methacrylate (BMA) using triphenylbismuthonium ylide and characterization of C60–BMA copolymers

Radical copolymerization of fullerene (C₆₀) and n‐butyl methacrylate (BMA) has been carried out using triphenylbismuthonium ylide as an initiator at 70°C for 4 h in a dilatometer under nitrogen atmosphere. The kinetic expression of the polymerization is R_pα [Ylide]^0.5[C₆₀]^?1.0[BMA]^1.2, which is similar to that expected for ideal kinetics. The rate of polymerization increases with an increase in the concentration of initiator and BMA. However, it decreases with an increase in the concentration of fullerene. Fullerene acts as radical scavengers causing retardation in polymerization. The activation energy of copolymerization was estimated to be 72.2 K J mol^?1. The fullerene‐containing BMA copolymers were characterized by FTIR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, UV–vis, and GPC analyses. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 43: 608–619, 2011     

Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization of MMA Initiated by 2‐(4‐chloromethyl‐phenyl)‐benzoxazole and Fluorescent Property of PMMA

Atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of MMA was conducted using 2‐(4‐chloromethyl‐phenyl)‐benzoxazole as initiator, CuCl as catalyst, and PMDETA as ligand. The results show that the polymerization is a first order reaction with respect to monomer concentration. The polymerization displayed living character as evidenced by a liner increase of monomer weight with conversation and a relatively narrow distribution (Mn/Mw range from 1.30 to 1.45). The structure of PMMA was analyzed by ¹H‐NMR and proved the polymerization could be controlled to some degree. The optical property of the initiator was well preserved in the resulting PMMA, and the end‐functionalized PMMA exhibited fluorescent emission at 360 nm whether in DMF solution or in film state.     

Synthesis of amphiphilic poly(methyl methacrylate‐ b‐ethylene oxide) copolymers from monohydroxy telechelic poly(methyl methacrylate) as macroinitiator

The synthesis of well‐defined poly(methyl methacrylate)‐block‐poly(ethylene oxide) (PMMA‐b‐PEO) dibock copolymer through anionic polymerization using monohydroxy telechelic PMMA as macroinitiator is described. Living anionic polymerization of methyl methacrylate was performed using initiators derived from the adduct of diphenylethylene and a suitable alkyllithium, either of which contains a hydroxyl group protected with tert‐butyldimethylsilyl moiety in tetrahydrofuran (THF) at ?78 °C in the presence of LiClO₄. The synthesized telechelic PMMAs had good control of molecular weight with narrow molecular weight distribution (MWD). The ¹H NMR and MALDI‐TOF MS analysis confirmed quantitative functionalization of chain‐ends. Block copolymerization of ethylene oxide was carried out using the terminal hydroxyl group of PMMA as initiator in the presence of potassium counter ion in THF at 35 °C. The PMMA‐b‐PEO diblock copolymers had moderate control of molecular weight with narrow MWD. The ¹H NMR results confirm the absence of trans‐esterification reaction of propagating PEO anions onto the ester pendants of PMMA. The micellation behavior of PMMA‐b‐PEO diblock copolymer was examined in water using ¹H NMR and dynamic light scattering. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 2132–2144, 2008     

Synthesis characterizations and properties of a new fluoro-maleimide polymer

Novel 4-(4-trifluoromethyl)phenoxy N-phenyl-maleimide (FPMI) was synthesized. The free radical-initiated polymerization of FPMI was carried out in 1,4-dioxane solution using azobisisobutyronitrile as initiator. The monomer was investigated by FTIR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR and elemental analysis, while the polymer was investigated by FTIR, ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR. The effect of the monomer concentration, initiator concentration and temperature on the rate of polymerization (R_p) was studied. The activation energy of the polymerization was calculated (ΔE = 48.94 kJ/mol). The molecular weight of PFPMI and polydispersity index of the polymer were determined by gel permeation chromatography and were equal to 73,500, 16,700 and 2.27, respectively. The properties of PFPMI, including thermal behavior, thermal stability, the glass transition temperature (T_g = 236 °C), photo-stability, solubility and solution viscosity were studied.     

环状磷酸酯的酶促开环聚合

研究了环状磷酸酯的酶促开环聚合反应,讨论了环状磷酸酯取代烷基对于酶促开环聚合及相应聚磷酸酯性能的影响,发现烷基取代基长度对于聚合度没有明显影响; 但随着环状磷酸酯的取代基长度增加,产率随之降低,聚磷酸酯的亲脂性增强. 猪胰脂肪酶和假丝酵母皱褶酶显示出比碱性磷脂酶更高的活性.     

Living polymerization of D,L‐3‐methylglycolide initiated with bimetallic (Al/Zn) μ‐oxo alkoxide and copolymers thereof

D,L ‐3‐Methylglycolide (MG) was successfully polymerized with bimetallic (Al/Zn) μ‐oxo alkoxide as an initiator in toluene at 90 °C. The effect of the initiator concentration and monomer conversion on the molecular weight was studied. It is shown that the polymerization of MG follows a living process. A kinetic study indicated that the polymerization approximates the first order in the monomer, and no induction period was observed. ¹H NMR spectroscopy showed that the ring‐opening polymerization proceeds through a coordination–insertion mechanism with selective cleavage of the acyl–oxygen bond of the monomer. On the basis of ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR analyses, the selective cleavage of the acyl–oxygen bond of the monomer mainly occurs at the least hindered carbonyl groups (P₁ = 0.84, P₂ = 0.16). Therefore, the main chain of poly(D,L ‐lactic acid‐co‐glycolic acid) (50/50 molar ratio) obtained from the homopolymerization of MG was primarily composed of alternating lactyl and glycolyl units. The diblock copolymers poly(ϵ‐caprolactone)‐b‐poly(D,L ‐lactic acid‐alt‐glycolic acid) and poly(L ‐lactide)‐b‐poly(D,L ‐lactic acid‐alt‐glycolic acid) were successfully synthesized by the sequential living polymerization of related lactones (ϵ‐caprolactone or L ‐lactide). ¹³C NMR spectra of diblock copolymers clearly show their pure diblock structures. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 39: 357–367, 2001     

Synthesis of poly(D,L‐lactic acid‐alt‐glycolic acid) from D,L‐3‐methylglycolide

D ,L ‐3‐Methylglycolide (MG) was synthesized via two step reactions with a good yield (42%). It was successfully polymerized in bulk with stannous octoate as a catalyst at 110 °C. The effects of the polymerization time and catalyst concentration on the molecular weight and monomer conversion were studied. Poly(D ,L ‐lactic acid‐co‐glycolic acid) (D ,L ‐PLGA50; 50/50 mol/mol) copolymers were successfully synthesized from the homopolymerization of MG with high polymerization rates and high monomer conversions under moderate polymerization conditions. ¹H NMR spectroscopy indicated that the bulk ring‐opening polymerization of MG conformed to the coordination–insertion mechanism. ¹³C NMR spectra of D ,L ‐PLGA50 copolymers obtained under different experimental conditions revealed that the copolymers had alternating structures of lactyl and glycolyl. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 4179–4184, 2000     

Light-Triggered Transformation of Molecular Baskets into Organic Nanoparticles

Discovering novel and functional photoresponsive materials is of interest for improving controlled release of molecules and scavenging toxic compounds for cleaning our environment or designing chemosensors. In this study, we report on the photoinduced decarboxylation of basket 1 ⁶⁻, containing three glutamic acids at its rim. This concave compound is, in an aqueous environment (30 mm phosphate buffer at pH 7.0), monomeric (¹H NMR DOSY, DLS) with glutamic acid residues randomly oriented about its rim (¹H NMR and MM-OPLS3). The irradiation (300 nm) of 1 ⁶⁻ leads to the exclusive removal of its α-carboxylates to give amphiphilic 2 ³⁻ possessing γ-carboxylates. The photochemical transformation is a consecutive reaction with mono- and bis-decarboxylated products observed with ¹H NMR spectroscopy and ESI mass spectrometry. Amphiphilic 2 ³⁻ is a preorganized molecule (MM-OPLS3) that, in water, aggregates into organic nanoparticles (ca. 50–200 nm in diameter; DLS, TEM and cryo-TEM) having a critical aggregation concentration of 12 μm (UV/Vis). As the transition of monomeric 1 ⁶⁻ into nanoparticulate 2 ³⁻ is triggered with light, we reasoned that stimuli-responsive formation of the soft material lends itself to nanotechnology applications such as controlled release or scavenging of targeted compounds.