Grafting of poly(ε‐caprolactone) onto maghemite nanoparticles

We report the coating of maghemite (γ‐Fe₂O₃) nanoparticles with poly(ε‐caprolactone) (PCL) through a covalent grafting to technique. ω‐Hydroxy‐PCL was first synthesized by the ring‐opening polymerization of ε‐caprolactone with aluminum isopropoxide and benzyl alcohol as a catalytic system. The hydroxy end groups of PCL were then derivatized with 3‐isocyanatopropyltriethoxysilane in the presence of tetraoctyltin. The triethoxysilane‐functionalized PCL macromolecules were finally allowed to react on the surface of maghemite nanoparticles. The composite nanoparticles were characterized by diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform (DRIFT) spectroscopy, thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Effects of the polymer molar mass and concentration on the amount of polymer grafted to the surface were investigated. Typical grafting densities up to 3 μmol of polymer chains per m² of maghemite surface were obtained with this grafting to technique. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 6011–6020, 2004     

Polymerization of α-piperidone with M–AlEt3, MAlEt4, or KAlEt3(piperidone) as catalysts and N-acetyl-α-piperidone as initiator

Low-temperature polymerization of α-piperidone was carried out by using MAlEt₄, KAlEt₃(piperidone), and M–AlEt₃ (where M is Li, Na, or K) as catalysts and N-acetyl-α-piperidone as initiator. The behavior in polymerization of these catalysts was superior to alkali metal or aluminum triethyl, and a polymer having an intrinsic viscosity of 0.8 dl./g. was obtained. Polymerization results and infrared analyses of the metal salts of lactams suggest that a complex, the structure of which was analogous to the one formed from M–AlEt₃, is formed in the case of the alkali metal piperidonate–ethyl aluminum dipiperidonate catalyst system and that it is changed to another complex having a different composition and lower catalytic activity by heat treatment. The infrared absorption band of the metal salts of lactams and of KAlEt₃(piperidone) at 1570–1590 cm.^?1, which is attributable to the C?N group in enolate form, may be considered to be related to the catalytic activities of alkali metals and the polymerizabilities of lactams. Such special catalysts as MAlEt₄, alkali metal–AlEt₃, or KAlEt₃(piperidone) are supposed to suppress the consumption, by alkali metal, of N-acyl-α-piperidone group of growing polymer end. A prolonged polymerization required for obtaining a high molecular weight polymer, even when such catalysts are used, is ascribable to a greater difficulty in re-forming lactam anion from α-piperidone, the basicity of which is higher than that of the other lactams.     

Stereoselective polymerization of rac‐lactide with a bulky aluminum/Schiff base complex

An aluminum/Schiff base complex {[2,2-dimethyl-1,3-propylenebis(3,5-di-tert-butylsalicylideneiminato)](isopropanolato)aluminum(III) ( 2 )} based on a bulky ligand and aluminum isopropoxide was prepared and employed for the stereoselective ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of rac-lactide (rac-LA). The initiator was characterized with nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), crystal structure measurements, and elemental analysis. It contained a five-coordinate aluminum atom that was trigonal bipyramidal in the solid state according to the crystal structure measurements. The two conformational stereoisomers of 2 exchanged quickly on the NMR scale. Compound 2 polymerized rac-LA into a crystalline polymer that was characterized with ¹H NMR, wide-angle X-ray diffraction, electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, and gel permeation chromatography. The kinetics of the polymerization were first-order in both the monomer and initiator, and there was a linear relationship between the rac-LA conversion and the number-average molecular weight of poly(rac-LA) with a narrow molecular distribution (1.04–1.08). These features showed that the polymerization was well controlled. The high melting temperature (196–201 °C) and isotacticity of poly(rac-LA) indicated that complex 2 was a highly stereoselective initiator for the ROP of rac-LA. The stereoselectivity was as high as 90%, and the stereoblocks of poly(rac-LA) by complex 2 contained an average of 20 units (average block length = 20) of enantiomerically pure lactic acid. The activation energy (23.6 kJ mol⁻¹) was obtained according to an Arrhenius equation. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 5974–5982, 2004     

Merging Styrene and Diene Structures to a Cyclic Diene: Anionic Polymerization of 1-Vinylcyclohexene (VCH)

We report the first anionic polymerization of 1-vinylcyclohexene (VCH). This structure may be considered as an intermediate between dienes and styrene. The polymerization of this cyclic 1,2-disubstituted 1,3-diene proceeded quantitatively in cyclohexane at 25 °C with sec-butyllithium as an initiator. The obtained polymers have well-controlled molecular weights in the range of 5 to 142 kg mol⁻¹, controlled by the molar ratio of monomer and initiator, with narrow molecular weight distributions (Đ<1.07–1.20). In situ ¹H NMR kinetic characterization revealed a weak gradient structure for the copolymers of styrene and VCH, (r_Sty=2.55, r_VCH=0.39). P(VCH) obtained in cyclohexane with sec-BuLi as an initiator showed both 1,4- and 3,4-incorporation mode (ratio: 64 : 36). It was demonstrated that the microstructure of the resulting P(VCH) can be altered by the addition of a modifier (THF), resulting in increasing 3,4-microstructure (up to 78 %) and elevated glass-transition temperature up to 89 °C. Thus, the monomer VCH polymerizes carbanionically like a diene, however leading to rigid polymers with high glass transition temperature, which provides interesting options for combination with other dienes to well-defined polymer architectures and materials.     

Lanthanoid isopropoxide as a novel initiator for anionic polymerization of isocyanates

Lanthanum isopropoxide was found to serve as a novel anionic initiator for the polymerization of hexyl isocyanate affording poly(hexyl isocyanate) with very high molecular weight (M _n > 10⁶) under appropriate conditions. Other lanthanoid alkoxides, such as samarium, ytterbium and yttrium isopropoxides, also brought about the polymerization of hexyl isocyanate. Butyl, isobutyl, octyl and m-tolyl isocyanates also underwent the polymerization reaction to form the corresponding polymers by using lanthanum isopropoxide as initiator, while polymerizations of tert-butyl and cyclohexyl isocyanates with lanthanum isopropoxide did not occur under identical conditions.     

Synthesis and characterization of novel aliphatic polycarbonates

A new six‐membered cyclic carbonate monomer, 5‐benzyloxy‐trimethylene carbonate, was synthesized from 2‐benzyloxy‐1,3‐propanediol, and the corresponding polycarbonate, poly(5‐benzyloxy‐trimethylene carbonate) (PBTMC), was further synthesized by ring‐opening polymerization in bulk at 150 °C using aluminum isobutoxide [Al(OⁱBu)₃], aluminum isopropoxide, or stannous octanoate as an initiator. The results showed that a higher molecular weight polycarbonate could be obtained in the case of Al(OⁱBu)_3. The protecting benzyl group was removed subsequently by catalytic hydrogenation to give a polycarbonate containing a pendant hydroxyl group (PHTMC). The polycarbonates obtained were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, ¹H NMR,¹³C NMR, gel permeation chromatography, and DSC. NMR results of PBTMC offered no evidence for decarboxylation occurring during the propagation. The pendant hydroxyl group in PHTMC resulted in an enhancement of the hydrophilicity of the polycarbonate. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 70–75, 2002     

Structure of poly(maleic anhydride)

The bulk polymerization of maleic anhydride initiated with acylperoxides, di-tert-butyl peroxide, AIBN, or pyridine proceeds with evolution of CO₂. The amount of CO₂ generated depends on the nature and the concentration of the initiator. With peroxide initiators, less than 5% of the polymerized maleic anhydride is decarboxylated. ¹H-NMR spectra, obtained on the benzoyl peroxide-initiated polymer and its methyl ester, are consistent with the unrearranged poly(maleic anhydride) structure and rule out the polycyclopentanone structure proposed by Braun and co-workers. Base-initiated polymaleic anhydride is substantially decarboxylated, and the resulting polymer has anhydride and carboxyl groups. Elemental analyses and ¹H-NMR spectra obtained on the pyridine-initiated polymer and its methyl ester refute both the cis-poly(vinylene ketoanhydride) structure suggested by Schopov and the polycylopentanone structure proposed by Braun and co-workers.     

Reversible double insertion of aryl isocyanates into the Ti-O bond of titanium(IV) isopropoxide

The insertion of phenyl isocyanate into titanium isopropoxide leads to the formation of a dimeric complex [Ti(OⁱPr)₂(μ-OⁱPr){C₆H₅N(OⁱPr)CO}]₂ (1) which has been structurally characterized. Reaction of titanium isopropoxide with two and more than 2 equiv. of phenyl isocyanate is complicated by competitive, reversible insertion between the titanium carbamate and titanium isopropoxide. The ligand formed by insertion of phenyl isocyanate into the titanium carbamate has been structurally characterized in its protonated form C₆H₅N{C(OⁱPr)O}C(O)N(H)C₆H₅ (3aH). Insertion into the carbamate is kinetically favored whereas insertion into isopropoxide gives the thermodynamically favored product.     

VINYL RADICAL POLYMERIZATION INITIATED WITH CERIC ION AND N-(SUBSTITUTED PHENYL) ACETAMIDE SYSTEMS

The polymerization of acrylamide (AAM)in H_2O/DMF or in H_2O/CH_3CN mixed solvent initiated with ceric ion (Ce~(4+) )/N-(substituted phenyl)-acetamide systems have been studied. The redox polymerization was revealed by the low value of overall activation energy (E_α) of AAM polymerization using ceric ion/N-(substituted phenyl) acetamide system as an initiator. The end group of polymer formed was detected by IR spectrum analysis method, it revealed the presence of N-(m-acetoxy-methylphenyl) acetamide (m-AAe) moiety end group in the polymer obtained with ceric ion/m-AAe initiation system.     

Synthesis and properties of the addition polymer of benzenedithiol with divinylbenzene

Polyaddition of 1,4-benzenedithiol (BDT) to 1,4-divinylbenzene (DVB) was carried out with 2,2′-azobisisobutyronitrile initiator in toluene at 75°C under a nitrogen atmosphere. The polymerization proceeded without an induction period, to give a white polymer with a high molecular weight (M?_w = 110,000) in ca. 90% yield for 2 hr. It was confirmed by ¹H-NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance), IR (infrared) and sulfur contents that the polymer had an alternating structure of DVB and BDT units. The end-capping reaction of the polymer was also achieved by addition of thiophenol and/or styrene to the polymerization solution at a final stage of the polymerization. The polymer film exhibited a reversible phase transition between a transparent state and an opaque one by thermal mode. The thermal property of the polymer was studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis and polarized optical microscope observation with the polymer film. The detailed DSC analysis showed that the end-capped polymer with a relatively low molecular weight (M?_W = 4400–9600) exhibited similar to liquid crystalline behavior. A diffuse reflectance spectrum of the polymer coated on an aluminum plate showed a marked difference in reflective light intensity in the ultraviolet and visible regions: the reversible phase transition between an opaque and a transparent polymer layers was induced by thermal mode. The light transmittance of the polymer film, which was measured by depolarized light intensity method, was very sensitive toward the temperature variation.     

Controlled synthesis and chemical modification of unsaturated aliphatic (Co)polyesters based on 6,7‐dihydro‐2(3H)‐oxepinone

A pure unsaturated cyclic ester, 6,7‐dihydro‐2(3H)‐oxepinone (DHO2), was prepared by a new synthetic route. The copolymerization of DHO2 with ?‐caprolactone (?CL) was initiated by aluminum isopropoxide [Al(OⁱPr)₃] at 0 °C as an easy way to produce unsaturated aliphatic polyesters with nonconjugated C?C double bonds in a controlled manner. The chain growth was living, as certified by the agreement between the experimental molecular weight at total monomer conversion and the value predicted from the initial monomer/initiator molar ratio. The polydispersity was reasonably low (weight‐average molecular weight/number‐average molecular weight ≤ 1.2). The homopolymerization of DHO2 was, however, not controlled because of fast intramolecular transesterification. Copolymers of DHO2 and ?CL were quantitatively oxidized with the formation of epoxides containing chains. The extent of the epoxidation allowed the thermal properties and thermal stability of the copolyesters to be modulated. The epoxidized copolyesters were successfully converted into thioaminated chains, which were then quaternized into polycations. No degradation occurred during the chemical modification. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 2286–2297, 2002     

Enantiomer‐selective polymerization of (RS)‐(phenoxymethyl)thiirane with diethylzinc/L‐amino acid

Enantiomer‐selective polymerization of (RS)‐(phenoxymethyl)thiirane (RS‐ 1 ) was carried out with ZnEt₂/L ‐α‐amino acid as an initiator system, and the effect of the initiator system on the enantiomer selectivity was examined with various amino acids. All polymerizations heterogeneously proceeded, and every initiating system was effective in producing optically active polymers. For the polymerization of RS‐ 1 with diethylzinc (ZnEt₂)/L ‐leucine (1/1), the conversion was 43.7% in 12 days, and the number‐average molecular weight of the polymer was 18,000. The enantiomer selectivity was maximum when the molar ratio of the two components in the ZnEt₂/L ‐α‐amino acid system was 1:1. When the ZnEt₂/L ‐leucine (1/1) system was used in the polymerization, the best result was obtained with an enantiomer‐selectivity value of 5.36. During the polymerization, the S enantiomer was preferentially consumed, and the isotactic‐rich polymer was enriched in the S configurational units produced. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 3443–3448, 2002     

Studies on microwave-assisted ring-opening polymerization and property of poly(9-phenyl-2,4,8,10-tetraoxaspiro-[5,5]undcane-3-one)

Poly(9-phenyl-2,4,8,10-tetraoxaspiro-[5,5]undcane-3-one)(PPTC) was synthesized by the microwave-assisted ring-opening polymerization(MROP) of a six-membered cyclic carbonate monomer 9-phenyl-2,4,8,10-tetraoxaspiro-[5,5]undcane-3-one(PTC) with tin(Ⅱ) 2-ethylhexanoate(Sn(Oct)_2) or aluminum isopropoxide(Al(O~iPr)_3) as the catalysts. The obtained polycarbonates were further reduced by apalladium/carbonate catalyst(10% Pd/C) to afford partly deprotected polycarbonates containing hydroxyl groups(HPPTC). These two types of polycarbonates were characterized by ~1H-NMR, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy(FTIR), UV, gel permeation chromatography(GPC), differential scanning calorimetry(DSC), and automatic contact-angle measurements. The influence of the feed molar ratio of monomer-to-catalyst, the microwave irradiation power and the reaction time on the polymerization was also studied. The experimental results showed that HPPTC possessed significantly higher hydrophilicity and water absorption rate than PPTC.     

ICP-AES analysis of aluminum isopropoxide,yttrium, and neodymium oxide nanopowders

A technique has been developed for analysis of impurities in precursors of the optic ceramics: aluminum isopropoxide, yttrium and neodium oxide nanopowders (weight fraction of Nd ≤5%) by atomic-emission spectroscopy with inductively coupled plasma. In the case of aluminum isopropoxide, the effect of matrix is compensated by applying Bi as an internal standard. The detection limits of impurities were found to be 10^?5–10^–6 wt.%.     

Synthesis of nano-pore size Al(III)-imprinted polymer for the extraction and preconcentration of aluminum ions

In this study, an ion imprinted polymer (IIP) was prepared for the selective separation and preconcentration of trace levels of aluminum. Al(III) IIP was synthesized in the presence of Al(III)-8-hydroxyquinoline (oxine) complex using styrene and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate as a monomer and crosslinker, respectively. The imprinted Al(III) ions were completely removed by leaching the IIP with HCl (50 % v/v) and were characterized by FTIR and scanning electron microscopy. The maximum sorption capacity for Al(III) ions was found to be 3.1 mg g^?1 at pH 6.0. Variables affecting the IIP solid phase extraction were optimized by the univariable method. Under the optimized conditions, a sample volume of 400 mL resulted in an enhancement factor of 194. The detection limit (defined as 3 S _b/m) was found to be 1.6 μg L^?1. The method was successfully applied to the determination of aluminum in natural water, fruit juice and cow milk samples.     

Experimental studies on the ring opening polymerization of p-dioxanone using an Al(OPr)3-monosaccharide initiator system

The ring opening polymerization (ROP) of p-dioxanone using a protected monosaccharide (1,2;3,4-di-O-isopropylidene-α-d-galactopyranose)/Al(OⁱPr)₃ initiator system to yield polydioxanone with a protected monosaccharide end-group is described. The products were synthesized at 60-100 °C and characterized by ¹H and ¹³C NMR, and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. Besides the desired polydioxanone functionalised with a monosaccharide end-group, also polydioxanone with an OⁱPr end-group was formed (20-30%). Systematic studies showed that the polymer yield is a function of the reaction temperature and the reaction time, with higher temperatures (100 °C) leading to lower yields. The average chain length of the polymers is between 7 and 58 repeating units and may be tuned by the monomer to monosaccharide ratio (at constant Al(OⁱPr)₃ intake). A statistical model has been developed that successfully describes the experimentally observed relation between the average chain length of the functionalized polymer and reaction parameters.     

Polymerization of ε-Caprolactone and its Copolymerization with γ-Butyrolactone using Metal Complexes

Solution polymerization of ε-caprolactone (ε-CL) was performed using four different initiators namely: tin(II) octanoate (Sn(Oct)₂)/ethanolamine, aluminium Schiff's base complex-HAPENAlOⁱPr, lithium diisopropyl amide (LDA) and aluminium isopropoxide. The reaction conditions varied with the initiator used. LDA gave rise to the most rapid polymerization with the highest amount of cyclic species as detected by ¹³C NMR. However, no cyclic species were detected when HAPENAlOⁱPr was used as initiator. The tin(II) octanoate/ethanolamine system lead to an α,ω-dihydroxy-polycaprolactone (PCL). The copolymerization of ε-CL was then performed with the hard to oligomerize γ-butyrolactone using the four initiators. GPC (Gel Permeation Chromatography) analyses showed the formation of copolymers. The highest incorporation of polybutyrolactone (PBL) in the copolymer was obtained using HAPENAlOⁱPr as evidenced by ¹H NMR. ¹³C NMR indicated the presence of pseudoperiodic random copolymers with short blocks of PCL whose block length varied with initiator used. The longest and shortest block length were obtained using Sn(Oct)₂ and HAPENAlOⁱPr respectively as calculated from ¹³C NMR. The reactivity ratios were determined using the Finemann-Ross method at low conversion with HAPENAlOⁱPr as initiator. The values obtained, r_CL = 19.4 and r_BL = 0.11, confirmed the presence of long blocks of CL units in the copolymer.     

Kinetics and mechanism of the ring opening polymerization of (R,S)-β-butyrolactone initiated with dibutylmagnesium

Ring opening polymerization (ROP) of (R,S)-β-butyrolactone (BL) using dibutylmagnesium (Bu₂Mg) as initiator was investigated both in bulk and in solution. The synthetic poly-3-hydroxybutyrates (P3HB) were characterized by ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, FT-IR and GPC. Effects of molar ratio of initiator to monomer, reaction temperature and time on the monomer conversion and the polymer molecular weight and its distribution were discussed. The kinetics of the solution polymerization of BL was examined and showed a first order both in monomer concentration and initiator concentration. The end groups analysis suggested that the monomer inserted into the growing chain proceeding through the coordination-insertion mechanism based on the acyl-oxygen bond scission rather than the alkyl-oxygen bond cleavage of the BL ring. Furthermore, a possible mechanism for the initiation and propagation procedures of P3HB synthesized from BL with Bu₂Mg was proposed.     

Spectral studies of the newly synthesized azomethine derivatives of zirconium(IV)

Equimolar and bimolar reactions of zirconium isopropoxide with bibasic tridentate azomethine (AZH₂) having the donor system ONO have been carried out and derivatives of the type Zr(OPr¹)₂(AZ) and Zr(AZ)₂ [Where AZ²⁻ is the anion of the azomethine molecule] have been isolated. The labile nature of the isopropoxy groups in 1∶1 derivatives has been shown by carrying out exchange reactions with equimolar amount of 2-methylpentane-2,4-diol. All the newly synthesized derivatives have been characterized on the basis of elemental analysis, conductance measurements, molecular weight determinations and infrared, ultraviolet, visible and proton magnetic resonance spectral studies.     

Improving electrochemical performance of poly(vinyl butyral)-based electrolyte by reinforcement with network of ceramic nanofillers

This study has concerned the development of polymer composite electrolytes based on poly(vinyl butyral) (PVB) reinforced with calcinated Li/titania (CLT) for use as an electrolyte in electrochemical devices. The primary aim of this work was to verify our concept of applying CLT-based fillers in a form of nano-backbone to enhance the performance of a solid electrolyte system. To introduce the network of CLT into the PVB matrix, gelatin was used as a sacrificial polymer matrix for the implementation of in situ sol–gel reactions. The gelatin/Li/titania nanofiber films with various lithium perchlorate (LiClO₄) and titanium isopropoxide proportions were initially fabricated via electrospinning, and ionic conductivities of electrospun nanofibers were then examined at 25 °C. In this regard, the highest ionic conductivity of 2.55 × 10⁻⁶ S/cm was achieved when 10 wt% and 7.5 wt% loadings of LiClO₄ and titania precursor were used, respectively. The nanofiber film was then calcined at 400 °C to remove gelatin, and the obtained CLT film was then re-dispersed in solvated PVB-lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (PVB-LiTFSI) solution before casting to obtain reinforced composite solid electrolyte film. The reinforced composite PVB polymer electrolyte film shows high ionic conductivity of 2.22 × 10⁻⁴ S/cm with a wider electrochemical stability window in comparison to the one without nanofillers.