Synthesis and properties of blue light‐emitting,silicon‐containing,regio‐ and stereoregular conjugated polymers

This article concerns the hydrosilylation polyaddition of 1,4‐bis(dimethylsilyl)benzene ( 1 ) with 4,4′‐diethynylbiphenyl, 2,7‐diethynylfluorene ( 2b ), and 2,6‐diethynylnaphthalene with RhI(PPh₃)₃ catalyst. Trans‐rich polymers with weight‐average molecular weights (M_w's) ranging from 19,000 to 25,000 were obtained by polyaddition in o‐Cl₂C₆H₄ at 150–180 °C, whereas cis‐rich polymers with M_w's from 4300 to 34,000 were obtained in toluene at 0 °C–r.t. These polymers emitted blue light in 4–81% quantum yields. The cis polymers isomerized into trans polymers upon UV irradiation, whereas the trans polymers did not. The device having a layer of polymer trans‐ 3b obtained from 1 and 2b demonstrated electroluminescence without any dopant. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 2774–2783, 2004     

Synthesis and polymerization of N‐(4‐tetrahydropyranyl‐oxyphenyl)maleimide

N‐(4‐Tetrahydropyranyl‐oxy‐phenyl)maleimide (THPMI) was prepared and polymerized by radical or anionic initiators. THPMI could be polymerized by 2,2′‐azobis(isobutyronitrile) (AIBN) and potassium tert‐butoxide. Radical polymers (poly(THPMI)r) were obtained in 15–50% yields for AIBN in THF at 65°C after 2–5 h. The yield of anionic polymers (poly(THPMI)a) obtained from potassium tert‐butoxide in THF at 0°C after 20 h was 91%. The molecular weights of poly(THPMI)r and poly(THPMI)a were M_n = 2750–3300 (M_w/M_n = 1.2–3.3) and M_n = 11300 (M_w/M_n = 6.0), respectively. The difference in molecular weights of the polymers was due to the differences in the termination mechanism of polymerization and the solubility of these polymers in THF. The thermal decomposition temperatures were 205 and 365°C. The first decomposition step was based on elimination of the tetrahydropyranyl group from the poly(THPMI). Positive image patterns were obtained by chemical amplification of positive photoresist composed of poly(THPMI) and 4‐morpholinophenyl diazonium trifluoromethanesulfonate used as an acid generator. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 341–347, 1999     

Addition of five‐membered cyclic carbonate with amine and its application to polymer synthesis

A bifunctional five‐membered cyclic carbonate was synthesized from carbon dioxide and diglycidyl terephthalate, and its polyaddition with alkyl diamines were carried out in DMF at room temperature to obtain the corresponding poly(hydroxyurethane)s with M_n s in the range of 6300–13200 in good yields. The structures of the obtained polymers were confirmed by IR and NMR spectroscopy and their glass‐transition and decomposition temperatures were observed at 3–29 °C and 182–277 °C, respectively. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 2375–2380, 2000     

Synthesis of cyclic polysulfides: Controlled ring‐expansion polymerization of cyclic tetrathioester with thiirane

We synthesized cyclic tetrathioesters containing thioester moieties at the o‐position (o‐CTE) and m‐position (m‐CTE) of an aromatic skeleton. The reaction of phenoxy propylenesulfide (PPS) with o‐CTE and m‐CTE was examined using tetrabutylammonium chloride as a catalyst in 1‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidinone, yielding the corresponding cyclic polysulfides poly[o‐CTE(PPS)_n] with M_n's = 37,000–54,000 at 34–61% yields and poly[m‐CTE(PPS)_n] with M_n's = 46,600–107,200 at 63–>99% yields. Although the molecular weights of poly[o‐CTE(PPS)_n] could not be controlled, those of poly[m‐CTE(PPS)_n] could be controlled by the feed ratios of PPS and reaction temperature. Furthermore, the glass transition temperature (T_g) and thermal decomposition temperature (T_dⁱ) of poly[m‐CTE(PPS)_n] increased with decreasing molecular weights. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2014 , 52, 857–866     

Homologous series of alkylsilylphenyl‐substituted poly (p‐phenylenevinylene)s for light‐emitting diodes

Substituent‐induced electroluminescence polymers—poly[2‐(2‐dimethyldodecylsilylphenyl)‐1,4‐phenylenevinylene] [(o‐R₃Si)PhPPV], poly[2‐(3‐dimethyldodecylsilylphenyl)‐1,4‐phenylenevinylene] [(m‐R₃Si)PhPPV], and poly[2‐(4‐dimethyldodecylsilylphenyl)‐1,4‐phenylenevinylene] [(p‐R₃Si)PhPPV]—were synthesized according to the Gilch polymerization method. The band gap and spectroscopic data were tuned by the dimethyldodecylsilyl substituent being changed from the ortho position to the para position in the phenyl side group along the polymer backbone. The weight‐average molecular weights and polydispersities were 8.0–96 × 10⁴ and 3.0–3.4, respectively. The maximum photoluminescence wavelengths for (o‐R₃Si)PhPPV, (m‐R₃Si)PhPPV, and (p‐R₃Si)PhPPV appeared around 500–530 nm in the green emission region. Double‐layer light‐emitting diodes with an indium tin oxide/poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene)/polymer/Al configuration were fabricated with these polymers. The turn‐on voltages and the maximum brightness of (o‐R₃Si)PhPPV, (m‐R₃Si)PhPPV, and (p‐R₃Si)PhPPV were 6.5–8.7 V and 1986–5895 cd/m², respectively. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 2347–2355, 2004     

Living cationic polymerization of α‐methyl vinyl ethers using SnCl4

Cationic polymerization of α‐methyl vinyl ethers was examined using an IBEA‐Et_1.5AlCl_1.5/SnCl₄ initiating system in toluene in the presence of ethyl acetate at 0 ～ ?78 °C. 2‐Ethylhexyl 2‐propenyl ether (EHPE) had a higher reactivity, compared to corresponding vinyl ethers. But the resulting polymers had low molecular weights at 0 or ?50 °C. In contrast, the polymerization of EHPE at ?78 °C almost quantitatively proceeded, and the number‐average molecular weight (M_n) of the obtained polymers increased in direct proportion to the EHPE conversion with quite narrow molecular weight distributions (weight‐average molecular weight/number‐average molecular weight ≤ 1.05). In monomer‐addition experiments, the M_n of the polymers shifted higher with low polydispersity as the polymerization proceeded, indicative of living polymerization. In the polymerization of methyl 2‐propenyl ether (MPE), the living‐like propagation also occurred under the reaction conditions similar to those for EHPE, but the elimination of the pendant methoxy groups was observed. The introduction of a more stable terminal group, quenched with sodium diethyl malonate, suppressed this decomposition, and the living polymerization proceeded. The glass transition temperature of the obtained poly(MPE) was 34 °C, which is much higher than that of the corresponding poly(vinyl ether). This poly(MPE) had solubility characteristics that differed from those of poly(vinyl ethers). © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 2202–2211, 2008     

Synthesis of new poly(amide imide)s with (n‐alkyloxy)phenyloxy side branches

Two series of new poly(amide imide)s having (n‐alkyoxy)phenyloxy side branches with various lengths, poly{p‐phenyleneiminoterephthaloylimino‐p‐phenylene[3,6‐di(n‐alkyloxy)phenyloxy]pyromellitimide}s ( PC _m TA s, m = 4, 8, 12) and poly{p‐phenyleneiminosebacoylimino‐p‐phenylene[3,6‐di(n‐alkyloxy)‐phenyloxy]‐ pyromellitimide}s ( PC _m SeA s, m = 4, 8, 12), were prepared by condensation of terephthalamide‐N,N′‐4,4′‐dianiline ( TA ) and sebacamide‐N,N′‐4,4′‐dianiline ( SeA ) with 3,6‐di[4‐(n‐alkyloxy)phenyloxy]pyromellitic dianhydrides , respectively. The inherent viscosities of the polymers were in the 0.82–1.20 dL/g range. The polymers were highly soluble in N‐methylpyrolidinone (NMP), even at room temperature and soluble in other polar aprotic solvents on heating. The PC _m TA s, which have aromatic backbones, were thermally more stable (431–442 °C) than the PC _m SeA s, which have an octamethylene unit in the main chain (407–409 °C). Degradation of weight up to 900 °C corresponded with the loss of side chain contents. The PC _m TA s exhibited no phase transition, whereas two endothermic peaks were observed for each of the PC _m SeA s. Wide‐angle X‐ray diffractometer investigations revealed that both polymers are amorphous and the n‐alkyloxy side chains are present in a layered structure. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 39: 3818–3825, 2001     

Anionic polymerization of N,N‐dialkyl‐2‐methylenebut‐3‐enamide: Effect of alkyl substituents on polymerization behavior

Anionic polymerizations of three 1,3‐butadiene derivatives containing different N,N‐dialkyl amide functions, N,N‐diisopropylamide (DiPA), piperidineamide (PiA), and cis‐2,6‐dimethylpiperidineamide (DMPA) were performed under various conditions, and their polymerization behavior was compared with that of N,N‐diethylamide analogue (DEA), which was previously reported. When polymerization of DiPA was performed at ?78 °C with potassium counter ion, only trace amounts of oligomers were formed, whereas polymers with a narrow molecular weight distribution were obtained in moderate yield when DiPA was polymerized at 0 °C in the presence of LiCl. Decrease in molecular weight and broadening of molecular weight distribution were observed when polymerization was performed at a higher temperature of 20 °C, presumably because of the effect of ceiling temperature. In the case of DMPA, no polymer was formed at 0 °C and polymers with relatively broad molecular weight distributions (M_w/M_n = 1.2) were obtained at 20 °C. The polymerization rate of PiA was much faster than that of the other monomers, and poly(PiA) was obtained in high yield even at ?78 °C in 24 h. The microstructure of the resulting polymers were exclusively 1,4‐ for poly(DMPA), whereas 20–30% of the 1,2‐structure was contained in poly(DiPA) and poly(PiA). © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 3714–3721, 2010     

Synthesis of well‐defined,soluble poly(3‐alkyl‐4‐benzamide) by chain‐growth condensation polymerization

Well‐defined poly(3‐alkyl‐4‐benzamide) was synthesized by means of chain‐growth condensation polymerization of phenyl 3‐octyl‐4‐(4‐octyloxybenzyl(OOB)amino)benzoate ( 1c ) from initiator 2 , followed by removal of the OOB groups on amide nitrogen of poly 1c . Polymerization of 1c with phenyl 4‐(trifluoromethyl)benzoate ( 2b ) in the presence of 1,1,1,3,3,3‐hexamethyldisilazide (LiHMDS) and LiCl in THF at ?10 °C gave poly 1c with a narrow molecular weight distribution (M_w/M_n ≤ 1.08) and a well‐defined molecular weight (M_n = 4480–12,700) determined by the feed ratio of monomer to initiator (from 10 to 30). The OOB groups of poly 1c were removed with H₂SO₄ to give the corresponding N‐unsubstituted poly(p‐benzamide) (poly 1c′ ) with low polydispersity. The solublity of poly 1c′ in polar organic solvents was dramatically higher than that of poly(p‐benzamide), demonstrating that introduction of an alkyl group on the aromatic ring is very effective for improving the solubility of poly(p‐benzamide). © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2014 , 52, 360–365     

Synthesis of macrocycles by the ring‐crossover reaction of a cyclic dithioester

The ring‐crossover polymerization of cyclic dithioester 1 was performed in the presence of quaternary onium salts as catalysts at 70–150 °C for 24 h in NMP. It was found that predictable cyclic polymers with the same repeating structures as 1 were obtained with M_ns in the range between 700 and 3,500, quantitatively. It was observed that intermolecular and intramolecular thioester‐exchange reactions proceeded between cyclic monomer 1 and resulting cyclic polymers under thermodynamic control to give a lower‐molecular‐weight cyclic polymer with a lower polydispersity ratio (M_n = 2,400, M_w/M_n = 1.70). © 2006Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 680–687, 2007     

Synthesis of well‐defined cyclodextrin‐core star polymers

The synthesis of 21‐arm methyl methacrylate (MMA) and styrene star polymers is reported. The copper (I)‐mediated living radical polymerization of MMA was carried out with a cyclodextrin‐core‐based initiator with 21 independent discrete initiation sites: heptakis[2,3,6‐tri‐O‐(2‐bromo‐2‐methylpropionyl]‐β‐cyclodextrin. Living polymerization occurred, providing well‐defined 21‐arm star polymers with predicted molecular weights calculated from the initiator concentration and the consumed monomer as well as low polydispersities [e.g., poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), number‐average molecular weight (M_n) = 55,700, polydispersity index (PDI) = 1.07; M_n = 118,000, PDI = 1.06; polystyrene, M_n = 37,100, PDI = 1.15]. Functional methacrylate monomers containing poly(ethylene glycol), a glucose residue, and a tert‐amine group in the side chain were also polymerized in a similar fashion, leading to hydrophilic star polymers, again with good control over the molecular weight and polydispersity (M_n = 15,000, PDI = 1.03; M_n = 36,500, PDI = 1.14; and M_n = 139,000, PDI = 1.09, respectively). When styrene was used as the monomer, it was difficult to obtain well‐defined polystyrene stars at high molecular weights. This was due to the increased occurrence of side reactions such as star–star coupling and thermal (spontaneous) polymerization; however, low‐polydispersity polymers were achieved at relatively low conversions. Furthermore, a star block copolymer consisting of PMMA and poly(butyl methacrylate) was successfully synthesized with a star PMMA as a macroinitiator (M_n = 104,000, PDI = 1.05). © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 39: 2206–2214, 2001     

Synthesis of poly(o‐cresol) by oxidative coupling polymerization of o‐cresol

The oxidative coupling polymerization of o‐cresol was investigated using various 2‐substituted pyridine/CuCl catalysts under an oxygen atmosphere, in which 2‐phenylpyridine/CuCl and 2‐(p‐tolyl)pyridine/CuCl catalysts yielded poly(o‐cresol)s with higher regioselectivity for 1,4‐coupling. These polymerizations produced branched and crosslinked polymers in the later stages of polymerization. These polymers showed good thermal properties, such as 5% weight loss temperatures of up to 406 °C and glass transition temperatures of up to 151 °C. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2019 , 57, 878–884     

Amino acid‐based bioanalogous polymers. Synthesis,and study of regular poly(ester amide)s based on bis(α‐amino acid) α,ω‐alkylene diesters,and aliphatic dicarboxylic acids

The purpose of this research was to synthesize new regular poly(ester amide)s (PEAs) consisting of nontoxic building blocks like hydrophobic α‐amino acids, α,ω‐diols, and aliphatic dicarboxylic acids, and to examine the effects of the structure of these building block components on some physico‐chemical and biochemical properties of the polymers. PEAs were prepared by solution polycondensation of di‐p‐toluenesulfonic acid salts of bis‐(α‐amino acid) α,ω‐alkylene diesters and di‐p‐nitrophenyl esters of diacids. Optimal conditions of this reaction have been studied. High molecular weight PEAs (M_w = 24,000–167,000) with narrow polydispersity (M_w/M_n = 1.20–1.81) were prepared under the optimal reaction conditions and exhibited excellent film‐forming properties. PEAs obtained are mostly amorphous materials with T_g from 11 to 59°C. α‐Chymotrypsin catalyzed in vitro hydrolysis of these new PEA substrates was studied to assess the effect of the building blocks of these new polymers on their biodegradation properties. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 391–407, 1999     

Living cationic polymerization of 2‐adamantyl vinyl ether

Living cationic polymerization of 2‐adamantyl vinyl ether (2‐vinyloxytricyclo[3.3.1.1]^3,7decane; 2‐AdVE) was achieved with the CH₃CH(OiBu)OCOCH₃/ethylaluminum sesquichloride/ethyl acetate [CH₃CH(OiBu)OCOCH₃/Et_1.5AlCl_1.5/CH₃COOEt] initiating system in toluene at 0 °C. The number‐average molecular weights (M_n's) of the obtained poly(2‐AdVE)s increased in direct proportion to monomer conversion and produced the polymers with narrow molecular weight distributions (MWDs) (M_w/M_n = ～1.1). When a second monomer feed was added to the almost polymerized reaction mixture, the added monomer was completely consumed and the M_n's of the polymers showed a direct increase against conversion of the added monomer. Block and statistical copolymerization of 2‐AdVE with n‐butyl vinyl ether (CH₂?CH? O? CH₂ CH₂CH₂CH₃; NBVE) were possible via living process based on the same initiating system to give the corresponding copolymers with narrow MWDs. Grass transition temperature (T_g) and thermal decomposition temperature (T_d) of the poly(2‐AdVE) (e.g., M_n = 22,000, M_w/M_n = 1.17) were 178 and 323 °C, respectively. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 1629–1637, 2008     

Synthesis of polyacetals with various main‐chain structures by the self‐polyaddition of vinyl ethers with a hydroxyl function

To establish the optimum conditions for obtaining high molecular weight polyacetals by the self‐polyaddition of vinyl ethers with a hydroxyl group, we performed the polymerization of 4‐hydroxybutyl vinyl ether (CH₂?CH? O? CH₂CH₂CH₂CH₂? OH) with various acidic catalysts [p‐toluene sulfonic acid monohydrate, p‐toluene sulfonic anhydride (TSAA), pyridinium p‐toluene sulfonate, HCl, and BF₃OEt₂] in different solvents (tetrahydrofuran and toluene) at 0 °C. All the polymerizations proceeded exclusively via the polyaddition mechanism to give polyacetals of the structure [? CH(CH₃)? O? CH₂CH₂CH₂CH₂? O? ]_n quantitatively. The reaction with TSAA in tetrahydrofuran led to the highest molecular weight polymers (number‐average molecular weight = 110,000, weight‐average molecular weight/number‐average molecular weight = 1.59). 2‐Hydroxyethyl vinyl ether, diethylene glycol monovinyl ether, cyclohexane dimethanol monovinyl ether, and tricyclodecane dimethanol monovinyl ether were also employed as monomers, and polyacetals with various main‐chain structures were obtained. This structural variety of the main chain changed the glass‐transition temperature of the polyacetals from approximately ?70 °C to room temperature. These polyacetals were thermally stable but exhibited smooth degradation with a treatment of aqueous acid to give the corresponding diol compounds in quantitative yields. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 4053–4064, 2002     

Synthesis of arborescent (Dendritic) polystyrenes via controlled inimer‐type reversible addition‐fragmentation chain transfer polymerization

The reversible addition‐fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) copolymerization of styrene and 4‐vinylbenzyl dithiobenzoate, a RAFT‐based inimer (initiator‐monomer), is described. Controlled polymerization was achieved in bulk conditions using thermal initiation at 110 °C to give arborescent polystyrene (arbPSt). The number‐average molecular weights of the polymers increased linearly with conversion and were much higher than theoretically calculated for a linear polymerization, reaching M_n = 364,000 g/mol with M_w/M_n = 2.65. Branching analysis by NMR showed an average of 3.5 branches per chain. SEC data, which were similar to those measured in arborescent polyisobutylene, supported the architectural analysis. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 7621–7627, 2008     

Self‐polyaddition of hydroxyalkyl vinyl ethers

With tetrahydrofuran as a solvent and pyridium p‐toluenesulfonate as a catalyst, the hydroxyalkyl vinyl ethers 2‐hydroxyethyl vinyl ether (2E), 4‐hydroxybutyl vinyl ether (4B), and 6‐hydroxyhexyl vinyl ether (6H) underwent step‐growth self‐polyaddition, generating polymers with an acetal main‐chain structure. The molecular weight of the resulting polymers increased gradually during the initial polymerization period at room temperature. However, decomposition occurred after about 22–24 h, and the presence of a large amount of catalyst accelerated the latter process. The three monomers exhibited different polymerization capabilities. In contrast to the smooth polymerization of 6H, cyclization side reactions usually took place during the polymerizations of 4B and 2E, which resulted in low polymer yields and low molecular weights because of the formation of unreactive small cyclic acetals. In the self‐polyaddition of 4B, this side reaction was greatly restricted at high concentrations of the monomer. Higher temperatures (60–70 °C) remarkably accelerated the self‐polyaddition process to produce polymers with high molecular weights. However, the polymerizations at high temperatures had to be terminated within about 2 h to avoid the severe decomposition of the polymers. Copolymers were also obtained via the copolyaddition of any two of the monomers. The easiness of the incorporation of the monomers into the copolymers was in the sequence 6H > 4B > 2E. Poly(6H), poly(4B), poly(2E), and the copolymers possessed different hydrophilicities and were stable in basic, neutral, and even weak acidic media but exhibited degradation in the presence of a strong acid. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 3751–3760, 2000     

Construction of PIB‐b‐PDEAEMA well‐defined amphiphilic diblock copolymers via sequential living carbocationic and RAFT polymerization

A series of well‐defined amphiphilic diblock copolymers consisting of hydrophobic polyisobutylene (PIB) and hydrophilic poly(2‐(diethylamino)ethyl methacrylate) (PDEAEMA) segments was synthesized via the combination of living carbocationic polymerization and reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. Living carbocationic polymerization of isobutylene followed by end‐capping with 1,3‐butadiene was first performed at ?70 °C to give a well‐defined allyl‐Cl‐terminated PIB with a low polydispersity (M_w/M_n =1.29). This end‐functionalized PIB was further converted to a macromolecular chain transfer agent for mediating RAFT block copolymerization of 2‐(diethylamino)ethyl methacrylate at 60 °C in tetrahydrofuran to afford the target well‐defined PIB‐b‐PDEAEMA diblock copolymers with narrow molecular weight distributions (M_w/M_n ≤1.22). The self‐assembly behavior of these amphiphilic diblock copolymers in aqueous media was investigated by fluorescence spectroscopy and transmission electron microscope, and furthermore, their pH‐responsive behavior was studied by UV‐vis and dynamic light scattering. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2014 , 52, 1478–1486     

Kinetic study of copper(I)‐catalyzed click chemistry step‐growth polymerization

Oligomers and polymers containing triazole units were synthesized by the copper(I)‐catalyzed 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition step‐growth polymerization of four difunctional azides and alkynes. In a first part, monofunctional benzyl azide was used as a chain terminator for the polyaddition of 1,6‐diazidohexane and α,ω‐bis(O‐propargyl)diethylene glycol, leading to polytriazole oligomers of controlled average degree of polymerization (DP_n = 3–20), to perform kinetic studies on low‐viscosity compounds. The monitoring of the step‐growth click polymerization by ¹H NMR at 25, 45, and 60 °C allowed the determination of the activation energy of this click chemistry promoted polyaddition process, that is, E_a = 45 ± 5 kJ/mol. The influence of the catalyst content (0.1–5 mol % of Cu(PPh₃)₃Br according to azide or alkyne functionalities) was also examined for polymerization kinetics performed at 60 °C. In a second part, four high molar mass polytriazoles were synthesized from stoichiometric combinations of diazide and dialkyne monomers above with p‐xylylene diazide and α,ω‐bis(O‐propargyl)bisphenol A. The resulting polymers were characterized by DSC, TGA, SEC, and ¹H NMR. Solubility and thermal properties of the resulting polytriazoles were discussed based on the monomers chemical structure and thermal analyses. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 5506–5517, 2008     

Chain‐growth condensation polymerization of 4‐aminobenzoic acid esters bearing tri(ethylene glycol) side chain with lithium amide base

Chain‐growth condensation polymerization of p‐aminobenzoic acid esters 1 bearing a tri(ethylene glycol) monomethyl ether side chain on the nitrogen atom was investigated by using lithium 1,1,1,3,3,3‐hexamethyldisilazide (LiHMDS) as a base. The methyl ester monomer 1a afforded polymer with low molecular weight and a broad molecular weight distribution, whereas the polymerization of the phenyl ester monomer 1b at ?20 °C yielded polymer with controlled molecular weight (M_n = 2800–13,400) and low polydispersity (M_w/M_n = 1.10–1.15). Block copolymerization of 1b and 4‐(octylamino)benzoic acid methyl ester ( 2 ) was further investigated. We found that block copolymer of poly 1b and poly 2 with defined molecular weight and low polydispersity was obtained when the polymerization of 1b was initiated with equimolar LiHMDS at ?20 °C and continued at ?50 °C, followed by addition of 2 and equimolar LiHMDS at ?10 °C. Spherical aggregates were formed when a solution of poly 1b in THF was dropped on a glass plate and dried at room temperature, although the block copolymer of poly 1b and poly 2 did not afford similar aggregates under the same conditions. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 1357–1363, 2010