A versatile approach for the syntheses of poly(ester amide)s with pendant functional groups

Poly(ester amide)s (PEAs) are emerging as promising materials for a wide range of biomedical applications due to their potential for both hydrolytic and enzymatic degradation, as well as the ease with which their properties can be tuned by the choice of monomers. The incorporation of pendant functional handles along the PEA backbone has the potential to further expand their applications by allowing the charge and hydrophilicity of the polymers to be altered, and facilitating the conjugation of active molecules such as drugs, targeting groups, and cell signaling molecules. Described here is a simple and versatile strategy based on orthogonal protecting groups, by which L ‐lysine and L‐ aspartic acid can be incorporated into several families of PEAs based on monomers including the diacids succinic and terephthalic acid, the diols 1,4‐butanediol and 1,8‐octanediol, and the amino acids L‐ alanine and L‐ phenylalanine. All polymers were thoroughly characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy, size exclusion chromatography, thermogravimetric analysis, and differential scanning calorimetry. It was demonstrated that the side chain protecting groups could be readily removed, allowing the pendant amines or carboxylic acids to be functionalized. In particular, the carboxylic acid groups on a polymer containing L‐ aspartic acid units were converted to N‐hydroxysuccinimidyl esters, providing a useful template for further derivatization. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 3757–3772, 2009     

Syntheses,characterization, and functionalization of poly(ester amide)s with pendant amine functional groups

Poly(ester amide)s (PEAs) comprising α‐amino acids, diols, and diacids are promising materials for biomedical applications such as tissue engineering and drug delivery because of their tunability and potential for either hydrolytic or enzymatic degradation. Although a number of PEAs of different compositions have been reported, there is a significant need for the incorporation of amino acids with functional side chains. This will allow for the conjugation of drugs or cell signaling molecules in tissue engineering scaffolds, thus expanding the potential applications of these materials. The objective of this work was the incorporation of l ‐lysine into PEAs to provide functionalizable pendant amine groups. Thus, varying percentages of lysine were incorporated into PEAs comprised of l ‐phenylalanine, 1,4‐butanediol, and succinic acid by tuning the ratio of ε‐protected‐l ‐lysine and l ‐phenylalanine derived monomers. The polymers were characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy, size exclusion chromatography, and differential scanning calorimetry. The lysine ε‐protecting group was removed, then the reactivity of the pendant amines was demonstrated by reaction with amino acid and tri(ethylene glycol) derivatives. The degradation of thin films of polymers were studied using scanning electron microscopy and the incorporation of lysine was found to significantly accelerate both the hydrolytic and enzymatic degradation. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 6376–6392, 2008     

Synthesis and investigation of the effect of nematic phases on the glass‐transition behavior of novel cycloaliphatic liquid‐crystalline poly(ester amide)s

We designed and developed novel cycloaliphatic liquid‐crystalline (LC) poly(ester amide)s to investigate the effects of nematic LC phases and hydrogen‐bonding interactions on the glass‐transition behavior. Three series of poly(ester amide)s based on commercially important poly(1,4‐cyclohexanedimethylene terephthalate) were synthesized with two new cycloaliphatic diamines {3,8‐bis(aminomethyl)‐tricyclo [5.2.1.0.(2,6)]decane (tricyclic) and 1,3‐cyclohexane bismethylene amine (monocyclic)} and a linear counterpart (1,6‐hexamethylene diamine). The compositions of the ester/amide units in the copolymers were varied up to 50% by the adjustment of the amounts of the diol and diamine in the feed. The structures of the polymers were confirmed with NMR and Fourier transform infrared, and their inherent viscosities were measured at 30 °C with an Ubbelohde viscometer. Thermal analysis revealed that the poly(ester amide)s having less than 25 mol % amide linkages were thermotropic and LC, and threadlike nematic phases were observed under a polarizing microscope. The introduction of nematic, LC phases drastically affected the glass‐transition temperatures of the copolymers, and a plot of the composition versus the glass‐transition temperature passed through a maximum for lower amide incorporation, regardless of the structural differences of the amide units (cyclic or linear). This nonlinear Flory–Fox trend was correlated to the cooperative effect of the strong alignment of polymer chains in the nematic phases and intermolecular packing induced by the hydrogen bonding in the poly(ester amide)s. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 5557–5571, 2006     

Synthesis and liquid crystalline properties of new amide‐modified poly(1,4‐cyclohexanedimethylene terephthalate)

New series of cycloaliphatic poly(ester‐amide)s, poly(1,4‐cyclohexanedimethyleneterephthalate‐co‐1,3‐cyclohexanedimethylene terephthalamide), were synthesized through solution polymerization route. The compositions of ester/amide units in the copolymers were varied from 0 to 100% by varying the amount of 1,4‐cyclohexanedimethanol and 1,3‐cyclohexanebis(methylamine) in the feed. The structures of the polymers were confirmed by NMR and FTIR, and the molecular weights were determined by inherent viscosity. The composition analysis by NMR reveals that the reactivity of the diamine toward the acid chlorides is lowered than that of diol, which results in the formation of more ester content in the poly (ester‐amides). The thermal analysis indicate that the new poly(ester‐amide)s having less than 10 mol % of amide linkages are thermotropic liquid crystalline from 200 to 250 °C and a thread like nematic phases are observed under the polarizing microscope. WXRD studies suggest that the liquid crystalline domains promote the nucleation process in the polyester chains and increases the percent crystallinity of the poly(ester‐amide)s. The glass transition temperature of the copolymers initially increases with increase in amide units because of the presence of nematic phases and subsequently follows the Flory–Fox behavior. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 42–52, 2006     

Oligopeptide‐based amide functional initiators for ATRP

Polymer–peptide conjugates are receiving significant interest. Here, we show that, under the appropriate conditions, a small family of oligopeptide‐based initiators can be used successfully to initiate the polymerization of methacrylic monomers by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP), generating new examples of such materials. However, the use of the peptidic amide‐based initiators results in polymers which have a higher molecular weight than expected and a significantly higher polydispersity than those prepared from ester‐based initiators. In many cases significant initiator remains, suggesting that either not all peptides successfully initiate polymerization or that significant termination reactions occur early in the reaction. This low initiator efficiency agrees with other reports for amino acid‐based initiators. It therefore appears that such amide‐based initiators can be used successfully, but have a significantly lower applicability than the more commonly used ester‐based initiators. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 6082–6090, 2008     

Synthesis and characterization of novel biodegradable aliphatic poly(ester amide)s containing cyclohexane units

Polyesters provide a good basis to work on for designing novel biodegradable materials that are also mechanically and thermally resistant. In this study, a series of aliphatic poly(ester amide)s (PEA) based on cyclohexane units was synthesized. Block‐copolymers of cyclohexyl sebacate and cyclohexyl sebacamide were produced by controlling the length of the ester block and the amount of amide during a two‐step melt/interfacial polycondensation reaction. Films produced from these materials could retain their shape above 373 K due to the physical network of amide hydrogen‐bonding. Thermal properties were also evaluated, with various melting and softening points obtained depending on the PEA composition. The determining factor for mechanical properties was the amount of amide introduced, with films containing up to 10 mol % amide showing the best handleability and flexibility. Tensile properties typical of an amorphous viscoelastic material were observed, but with much superior elongation to break achievable (～1700%). These materials were also shown to be hydrolyzable, noncytotoxic, and favorable for cell attachment: they may therefore have a promising future in the area of medical devices or packaging, especially as their properties can be tuned by changing their composition. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 1785–1795, 2006     

Poly(ester amide)s derived from L‐tartaric acid and amino alcohols. II. Aregic polymers

A series of aregic poly(ester amide)s (a‐PEAT6) with ester/amide ratios (a : b) varying from 1 : 19 to 1 : 2 were prepared with L ‐tartaric acid, 6‐aminohexanol, and 1,6 hexanediamine as the starting materials. Polycondensation in a solution of the diamine with mixtures of pentachlorophenyl‐activated di‐O‐methyl‐L ‐tartaric and 6‐aminohexyl‐di‐O‐methyl‐L ‐tartaric acids led to a‐PEAT6(a : b), with the a : b ratio determined by the composition of the feed. The newly synthesized poly(ester amide)s were characterized by elemental analysis, size exclusion chromatography, and IR and NMR spectroscopy. They had number‐average molecular weights between 25,000 and 45,000 and were highly crystalline, showing melting temperatures ranging from 100 to 230 °C and glass‐transition temperatures oscillating between 50 and 100 °C. The thermal degradation of a‐PEAT6(a : b) began above 200 °C and concluded with a final weight loss between 60 and 90% of the initial mass. The process evolved with the formation of cyclic tartarimide units and extensive main‐chain scissions. The degradation mechanism is discussed in relation to the chemical composition and microstructure of the polymers. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 2687–2696, 2000     

Crystallization and crystal structure of poly(ester amide)s derived from L‐tartaric acid

The crystal structure and crystallization behavior of a series of poly(ester amide)s derived from L ‐tartaric acid, 1,6‐hexanediamine, and 6‐amino‐1‐hexanol were examined. The study included aregic polymers containing 5, 10, and 20% of ester groups in addition to the syndioregic polymer containing equal amounts of amide and ester groups. X‐ray diffraction data revealed that all the aregic poly(ester amide)s adopt the same crystal structure as the parent polyamide made of L ‐tartaric acid, and 1,6‐hexanediamine. In this structure, chains are slightly compressed and arranged as in the α‐form of nylon 66. Solid‐state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) revealed that ester groups are excluded from the crystal phase except for the case of the syndioregic polymer. Isothermal crystallization kinetics was analyzed according to the Avrami theory. Crystallization rates were found to decrease regularly with increasing contents in ester groups and with increasing crystallization temperature. Avrami exponent values close to 2 were found whereas spherulitic morphologies were observed by optical microscopy. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 45: 116–125, 2007     

Role of the in‐plane orientation of polyimide films in graphitization

Poly(amide acid) labeled with perylenetetracarboxydiimide (PEDI) was prepared from 3,3′,4,4′‐biphenyltetracarboxylic dianhydride (BPDA), p‐phenylenediamine (PDA), and diamino‐PEDI. Poly(amide acid) was then reacted with sodium hydride and various kinds of alkyl iodides for transformation into various poly(amide ester)s. The cast films were imidized while fixed on glass substrates to give BPDA/PDA polyimide films. The degree of in‐plane molecular orientation (f) of the polyimides and their precursors, poly(amide acid) and poly(amide ester)s, were determined via measurements of the visible dichroic absorption at an incidence angle for a rodlike dye (PEDI) bound to the main chain. All precursor films showed relatively low degrees of in‐plane orientation. After imidization of the precursors fixed on glasses, however, striking spontaneous in‐plane orientation behavior was observed. The f value for polyimide film from a poly(amide acid) precursor was as high as 0.7–0.8. The f value for polyimide film from a methyl ester precursor, however, was lowered to 0.4–0.5, but it increased with the increasing size of the alkyl groups. Good correlations of the in‐plane orientation of the polyimide films with the tensile modulus of the films and the in‐plane orientation of the graphitized films were observed. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 39: 3011–3019, 2001     

New poly(ester amide ether amide)s from a novel flexible diamine and different diacid chlorides using TMSCl for in situ silylation

A novel flexible diamine with built-in ester, amide and ether groups named terephthalic acid bis(4-{2-[2-(2-amino ethoxy)ethoxy]ethyl carbamoyl}phenyl) ester (TABE), was synthesized via two steps. Nucleophilic reaction of 4-hydroxybenzoic acid with terephthaloyl chloride in the presence of NaOH yielded terephthaloyl bis (4-oxybenzoic) acid (TOBA). The diamine (TABE) was prepared via two direct and indirect methods. In the indirect method TOBA was converted to related diacid chloride and reacted with 1,8-diamino-3,6-dioxaoctane (DADO). Direct method was achieved through the reaction of TOBA with DADO via Yamazaki method. TOBA and TABE were fully characterized and TABE was used to prepare new poly(ester amide ether amide)s through polycondensation with different diacid chlorides in the presence of trimethylchlorosilane (TMSCl). The polymers were characterized using conventional methods and their physical properties including inherent viscosity, thermal behavior, thermal stability, crystallinity, and solubility were studied. The polymers showed good thermal stability and improved solubility.     

Lysine‐based functional blocked isocyanates for the preparation of polyurethanes provided with pendant side groups

This article describes a methodology to prepare polyurethanes (PUs), decorated with pendant (bio)functional side groups, by polymerizing (bio)functionalized blocked diisocyanates with polyols. Caprolactam blocked lysine diisocyanate methyl ester (BLDI‐OMe) was prepared in high yields, by reacting the methyl ester of lysine with carbonyl biscaprolactam. In the absence of a catalyst, the polymerization of BLDI‐OMe with polycaprolactone and polytetrahydrofuran resulted in strictly linear PUs due to the high selective reactivity of the blocked isocyanates (BIs). Although the ester appeared to be less reactive, we found hydrolyzing conditions for the ester, without affecting the BIs. The free acid groups were converted into a N‐hydroxysuccinimide (NHS) activated ester, which was a versatile intermediate for further functionalization. After having demonstrated that model amines were able to substitute NHS without effecting the BIs groups, the same chemistry was used to couple biotin, giving a biotin functional caprolactam blocked lysine diisocyanate. The polymerization with polyols afforded the corresponding biotin‐functional PUs. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2015 , 53, 2036–2049     

Exploring molecular recognition pathways within a family of gelators with different hydrogen bonding motifs

We report the synthesis of a family of gelators in which alkyl chains are connected to the amino groups of l-lysine methyl ester using a range of different hydrogen bonding linking groups (carbamate, amide, urea, thiourea and diacylhydrazine) using simple synthetic methodology based on isocyanate or acid chloride chemistry. The ability of these compounds to gelate organic solvents such as toluene or cyclohexane can be directly related to the ability of the linking group to form intermolecular hydrogen bonds. In general terms, the ability to structure solvents can be considered as: thiourea<carbamate<amide<urea∼diacylhydrazine. This process has been confirmed by thermal measurements, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and infrared and circular dichroism spectroscopies. By deprotecting the methyl ester group, we have demonstrated that a balance between hydrophobic and hydrophilic groups is essential—if the system has too much hydrophilicity (e.g., diacylhydrazine, urea) it will not form gels due to low solubility in the organic media. However, the less effective gelators based on amide and carbamate linkages are enhanced by converting the methyl ester to a carboxylic acid. Furthermore, subsequent mixing of the acid with a second component (diaminododecane) further enhances the ability to form networks, and, in the case of the amide, generates a two-component gel, which can immobilise a wide range of solvents of industrial interest including petrol and diesel (fuel oils), olive oil and sunflower oil (renewable food oils) and ethyl laurate, isopropyl myristate and isopropyl palmitate (oils used in pharmaceutical formulation). The gels are all thermoreversible, and may therefore be useful in controlled release/formulation applications.     

Surface free energy of ladderlike polyepoxysiloxane–diamine reaction systems

We studied three kinds of ladderlike polyepoxysiloxanes, which have different side groups grafted on the ladderlike backbones. 1,3‐Bis(aminopropyl)tetramethyl disiloxane (diamine) was used as the curing agent. The reaction between ladderlike polyepoxysiloxanes and diamine was investigated by contact angle measurements and surface free energy study. Several factors such as diamine amount, reaction time, and temperature can affect the systems' surface tension (or surface free energy), which were determined by two‐liquid geometric and three‐liquid acid‐base methods. The experimental results showed that an increase in the diamine amount in the reaction systems results in an increase in the polar part of surface free energy because of electron donate characteristics of the diamine. However, because epoxy (electron acceptor) and diamine (electron donor) react fast at elevated temperatures, increasing reaction temperature decreases the polar part of the surface free energy, while increases the nonpolar part of the surface free energy. The evolution of surface free energy with time for various epoxy–diamine reaction systems at various temperatures has also been studied. It was found that it took a relatively long time (50–60 h) to reach the equilibrium state. The experimental results can be well interpreted by the epoxy–diamine reaction mechanism and van Oss–Good's Lewis acid‐base theory. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 38: 1449–1460, 2000     

Synthesis of poly(ester amide)s by the melt polycondensation of semiaromatic polyesters with ethanolamine and their characterization

Semiaromatic poly(ester amide)s (PEAs) were synthesized by the melt polycondensation of ethanolamine (EA) derivatives with dimethyl terephthalate and ethylene glycol in the presence of tetrabutyl titanate as a catalyst, and their crystallization and thermal properties were investigated. The introduction of an amide group into a semiaromatic polyester such as poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) produced PEAs (EA-modified PET polymers) with an increase in the melting point. However, these PEAs were found to decompose at a lower temperature than PET on the basis of TGA. Moreover, direct pyrolysis/mass spectrometry measurements suggested that an initial step of the thermal decomposition was a β-CH hydrogen-transfer reaction via asix-member ring transition state at the ester–ethylene–amide unit, at which carbon–oxygen bond scission took place to yield carboxyl and N-vinylamide end groups. Furthermore, molecular orbital calculations using trimer models bis[2-[[4-(methoxycarbonyl)benzoyl]oxy]ethyl]terephthalate, N-[2-[[4-(methoxycarbonyl)benzoyl]oxy]ethyl]-4-[2-[[4-(methoxycarbonyl)benzoyl]oxy]ethyloxycarbonyl]benzamide, and N,N′-bis[2-[[4-(methoxycarbonyl)benzoyl]oxy]ethyl]terephthalamide strongly supported the idea that the β-CH hydrogen-transfer reaction in the thermal decomposition of PEAs might occur more easily at the methylene group next to the amide group in an ester–ethylene–amide unit rather than at the methylene group next to the ester group in an ester–ethylene–ester unit. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 2184–2193, 2007     

Crystalline structure of sequential poly(ester amide)s derived from glycolic acid, 1,6‐hexanediamine,and even aliphatic dicarboxylic acids

Basic structural data of two sequential poly(ester amide)s derived from glycolic acid, 1,6‐hexanediamine, and adipic acid or dodecanodioic acid have been determined by means of X‐ray and electron diffraction patterns from fibers and single crystals. Chain‐folded lamellar crystals were obtained by isothermal crystallization from diol or glycerine solutions, and the crystalline habit was investigated by real space electron microscopy. Polyethylene decoration techniques were applied to evaluate the regularity of the folding surfaces. Spherulites prepared from evaporation of formic acid solutions were also studied. The two sequential poly(ester amide)s crystallized according to triclinic and monoclinic unit cells, in which the a crystallographic parameter was close to the typical distance between hydrogen‐bonded chains. Projections viewed down the chain axis revealed differences in the packing mode since oblique and rectangular cells were found for the adipic acid and dodecanodioic acid derivatives, respectively. Both structures can be envisaged as a stacking of hydrogen‐bonded sheets although clear differences concerning the shift between consecutive sheets and the number of layers comprising the unit cell were found. The large unit cells that have been deduced seem to be a consequence of the different packing preferences of the diester and diamide moieties. Both polymers have a molecular conformation that deviates from the all‐trans conformation typical of aliphatic polyamides and polyesters with a large number of methylene groups. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 47: 194–206, 2009     

New amino acid based biodegradable poly(ester amide)s via bis-azlactone chemistry

Abstract

Three new classes of the amino acid based biodegradable (AABB) polymers were synthesized via step growth polymerization of bis-azlactones and amino acid based diamine-diesters with activated fatty diester and alkylenediamine: a) poly(ester amide)s (PEAs) were obtained by polymerization of bis-azlactones with diamine-diesters, b) hydrophobically modified co-poly(ester amide)s (co-PEAs) were synthesized by copolymerization of activated fatty diacid diester and bis-azlactones with diamine-diesters, and c) poly(ester amide-co-amide)s (PEA-co-PAs) were obtained by copolymerization of alkylene diamine and diamine-diesters with bis-azlactones. The new poly(ester amide)s showed relatively low-molecular-weights (M_w within 2,800–19,600?Da, GPC in DMF), whereas the new co-poly(ester amide)s and poly(ester amide-co-amide)s exhibited high-molecular-weights (M_w within 40–100?kDa) leading to good mechanical properties. Incorporation of the bis-azlactone fragments into the poly(ester amide)s backbone increased hydrophobicity and thermal stability, whereas incorporation of diamine-diester units into the backbone of the bis-azlactone based polyamides rendered them biodegradable. Synthesized AABB polymers are potential candidates for constructing resorbable surgical and pharmaceutical devices.     

New Method of Synthesis of Poly(ester amide)s Derived from the Incorporation of Glycolic Acid Residues into Aliphatic Polyamides

Summary: A new method for the preparation of poly(ester amide)s derived from glycolic acid units has been developed. Glycolic acid units can be incorporated with a high yield into a nylon‐n or a nylon‐n,m. The synthesis is based on a final thermal polycondensation with the formation of a metal halide salt as a driving force. New poly(ester amide)s have high molecular weights, good mechanical behaviour, and variable thermal properties, giving rise to a group of materials with potential interest as biodegradable materials in applications like surgical sutures.

Results of the differential scanning calorimeter heating runs for the sodium (a) and potassium (b) salts of N‐chloroacetyl‐6‐aminohexanoic acid.     

Isomeric compositions in amide acids and poly(amic acid)s derived from 1-(trifluoromethyl)-2,3,5,6-benzenetetracarboxylic dianhydride

Two different poly(amic acid)s were synthesized by the polycondensations of 1-(trifluoromethyl)-2,3,5,6-benzenetetracarboxylic dianhydride (CF3DAN) with p-phenylene diamine and benzidine. In addition, an amide acid model compound was prepared from CF3DAN and aniline. Isomeric units in the poly(amic acid)s as well as the amide acid were investigated by ¹H and ¹³C-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopies. Spectroscopic results indicate that the major isomeric component was a CF3-meta-isomeric unit centered on the aromatic carbon substituted with the trifluoromethyl group. In particular, the amide acid compound was determined to be composed of 80 mol % CF3-meta-isomer and 20 mol % H-meta-isomer. Therefore, for the poly(amic acid)s, the minor isomeric component is speculated to be a H-meta-isomeric unit rather than a para-isomeric unit. The result might result mainly from the strong electron-withdrawable and bulky trifluoromethyl substituent in the CF3DAN monomer. The strong electron withdrawability might significantly enhance the reactivities of the adjacent carbons in the monomer to the nucleophilic attack of the amino nitrogen in the aniline and diamines, and consequently overcome the role of the bulkyness, ultimately leading to the amide acid and poly(amic acid)s rich with the CF3-meta-isomeric unit. In addition, a portion of the imide form was detected in the dried AN-CF3DAM-AN amide acid. Thus, the formation of imide linkage might be involved in a small portion for the dried poly(amic acid)s. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 36: 1755–1765, 1998     

Novel thermotropic esters‐based polymers with broad nematic processing windows

In this study, a new series of semiflexible liquid crystalline (LC) polyesters and poly(ester‐amide)s were synthesized and characterized. Polymers based on 4‐hydroxybenzoic acid (4‐HBA), 6‐hydroxy‐2‐naphthoic acid (HNA), suberic acid (SUA), and sebacic acid (SEA) were modified with hydroquinone (HQ) and different concentrations of 4‐acetamidophenol (AP) to obtain a polyester and two poly(ester‐amide)s, respectively. All polymers were successfully prepared using conventional melt‐condensation techniques. The polymers were characterized by inherent viscosity measurements, SEC, hot‐stage polarizing microscopy, DSC, and TGA. The mechanical behavior was investigated using DMTA and tensile testing. All linear polymers have T_gs in the range of 50–80 °C and melt between 120 and 150 °C. Our polymers display good thermooxidative stabilities (5% wt loss at ～ 400 °C) and exhibit homogeneous nematic melt behavior over a wide temperature range (ΔN ～ 250 °C). The liquid crystal phase was lost when high concentrations of nonlinear monomers such as 3‐HBA (>27 mol %) and resorcinol (RC) (>23 mol %) were incorporated. The LC polyester based on 4‐HBA/HNA/HQ/SUA/SEA could easily be processed into good quality films and fibers. The films display good mechanical properties (E′ ～ 4 GPa) and high toughness, that is, ～ 15% elongation at break, at room temperature. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 6565–6574, 2008     

Synthesis and photochemical properties of poly(ester–amide)s containing norbornadiene (NBD) residues

N,N′‐Bis[(3‐carboxynorbornadien‐2‐yl)carbonyl]‐N,N′‐diphenylethylenediamine (BNPE) was synthesized in 70% yield by the reaction of 2,5‐norbornadiene‐2,3‐dicarboxylic acid anhydride with N,N′‐diphenylethylenediamine. Other dicarboxylic acid derivatives containing norbornadiene (NBD) residues having N,N′‐disubstituted amide groups were also prepared by the reaction of 2,5‐NBD‐2,3‐dicarboxylic acid anhydride with certain secondary diamines. When the polyaddition of BNPE with bisphenol A diglycidyl ether (BPGE) was carried out using tetrabutylammonium bromide as a catalyst in N‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidone at 100°C for 12 h, a polymer with number average molecular weight of 69,800 was obtained in 98% yield. Polyadditions of other NBD dicarboxylic acid derivatives containing N,N′‐disubstituted amide groups with BPGE were also performed under the same conditions. The reaction proceeded very smoothly to give the corresponding NBD poly(ester–amide)s in good yields. Photochemical reactions of the obtained polymers with N,N′‐disubstituted amide groups on the NBD residue were examined, and it was found that these polymers were effectively sensitized by adding appropriate photosensitizers such as 4‐(N,N‐dimethylamino)benzophenone and 4,4′‐bis(N,N‐diethylamino)benzophenone in the film state. The stored energies in the quadricyclane groups of the polymers were also evaluated to be about 94 kJ/mol by DSC measurement of the irradiated polymer films. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 917–926, 1999