Photoresponsive Gels Prepared by Ring‐Opening Metathesis Polymerization

This communication describes photoresponsive gels, prepared using ring‐opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP), that dissolve upon irradiation with ultraviolet light. Exposure of mixtures of norbornene‐type ROMP monomers and new photoreactive cross‐linkers comprising two norbornene units bound through a chain containing o‐nitrobenzyl esters (NBEs) to well‐known ruthenium carbene catalysts gave cross‐linked polymer networks that swelled in organic solvents or water depending on the structure of the monomer. These gels became homogeneous upon irradiation with UV light, consistent with breaking of the cross‐links through photolysis of the NBE groups. The irradiation time required for homogenization of the gels depended on the cross‐link density and the structure of the photoresponsive cross‐linker.

     

Novel Highly Active Niobium Catalysts for Ring Opening Metathesis Polymerization of Norbornene

Ring‐opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) of norbornene catalyzed by niobium(V) N,N‐dialkylcarbamates Nb(O₂CNR₂)₅, R = Et ( 1 ), Me ( 2 ) was studied in the presence of methylaluminoxane (MAO) as a cocatalyst. These novel catalytic systems resulted very active in chlorobenzene: 1 in the presence of methylaluminoxane catalyzes the ROMP of norbornene with the highest activity (29 000 kg of polymer/mol of catalyst × hour) never reported up to now for niobium catalysts. The high productivity appears particularly attractive considering that these precursors are rather cheap and easy to synthesize and to handle. Polynorbornenes were characterized by FT‐IR and NMR spectroscopies and by DSC calorimetry. A new FT‐IR method for the swift determination of the cis/trans content of the polymer is presented.

     

开环易位聚合(ROMP)在星型聚合物合成中的应用进展

开环易位聚合(ROMP)是一种单环或多环烯烃进行开环聚合反应形成功能化聚合物的方法, 已经发展成为一种合成先进聚合物材料的高效方法之一. 而星型聚合物由于特殊的结构和性能将在学术和工业的材料科学和纳米技术领域中发挥越来越重要的作用. 本综述从聚合方法、聚合单体、引发剂、交联剂等方面讨论了ROMP在星型聚合物合成中的应用, 并介绍了ROMP合成的星型聚合物的应用领域和前景, 客观地评价了各种ROMP方法的优势和局限性. 这项工作旨在促进ROMP在合成星型聚合物的研究, 为合成功能性复杂星型聚合物提供新的科学研究途径, 为加快星型聚合物材料商业化的脚步添砖加瓦.     

Poly(para‐phenylene vinylene) and Polynorbornadiene Containing Rod‐Coil Block Copoylmers via Combination of Acyclic Diene Metathesis and Ring‐Opening Metathesis Polymerization

Poly(para‐phenylene vinylene) (PPV) and its derivatives are important semiconducting polymers for organic electronics. Herein, an alkene metathesis approach to obtain PPVs is reported. Tri(iso propyl)silyl‐substituted norbornadienes are employed as solubilizing agents. As PPV precursors divinylbenzene is used for acyclic diene metathesis and paracyclophane diene for a ring‐opening metathesis polymerization‐type approach. The resulting polymers are analyzed by gel permeation chromatography (GPC), UV‐vis, fluorescence, and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. All of the polymers show good solubility in common solvents.

     

A Facile,Controlled Synthesis of Soluble Star Polymers Containing a Sugar Residue by Ring-Opening Metathesis Polymerization (ROMP)

Summary: Precise syntheses of soluble star polymers containing a sugar residue could be attained by adopting sequential ring-opening metathesis polymerizations of norbornene, 1,4,4a,5,8,8a-hexahydro-1,4,5,8-exo-endo-dimethanonaphtalene, and then 1,2:3,4-di-O-isopropylidene-α-D-galacto-pyranos-6-O-yl 5-norbornene-2-carboxylate using Mo(CHCMe₂Ph)(N-2,6-ⁱPr₂C₆H₃)(O^tBu)₂. The resultant polymers possessed uniform molecular weight distributions, and the M_n values could be varied by the monomer/Mo molar ratios; their spherical images were observed in the TEM micrographs.     

可溶液加工的聚(多金属氧簇降冰片烯)和聚(己酸降冰片烯)嵌段和无规共聚物的合成及催化功能的研究

将一种可有机功能化的Wells-Dawson POM与降冰片烯相连接,制备了多金属氧簇降冰片烯单体.再利用活性可控的开环易位聚合方法(ROMP),在Grubbs 3~(rd)催化剂的作用下,合成了聚(多金属氧簇降冰片烯)-聚(己酸降冰片烯)的杂化嵌段和无规共聚物(H-CPs),分别简写为Poly(POM)_m-b-Poly(COOH)_n和Poly(POM)_m-r-Poly(COOH)_n.采用~1H-NMR、~(31)P-NMR和FTIR等方法对共聚物结构进行表征,确认我们成功地合成了由共价键连接这2种单体形成的H-CPs.最后,利用带有光散射和红外探测器的凝胶渗透色谱(SEC)测定聚合物的绝对分子量和分子量分布,证明所得到的H-CPs不仅分子量可控,而且分子量分布系数较窄.最后,研究了H-CPs催化氧化四氢噻吩(THT)成环丁亚砜(THTO)反应,结果表明,相比于聚(多金属氧簇)的均聚物(Poly(POM)),H-CPs的催化活性有所下降,原因是POM催化剂含量较低以及H-CPs在催化介质中溶解性的差异.     

Antimicrobial Polymers Prepared by Ring‐Opening Metathesis Polymerization: Manipulating Antimicrobial Properties by Organic Counterion and Charge Density Variation

The synthesis and characterization of a series of poly(oxanorbornene)‐based synthetic mimics of antimicrobial peptides (SMAMPs) is presented. In the first part, the effect of different organic counterions on the antimicrobial properties of the SMAMPs was investigated. Unexpectedly, adding hydrophobicity by complete anion exchange did not increase the SMAMPs’ antimicrobial activity. It was found by dye‐leakage studies that this was due to the loss of membrane activity of these polymers caused by the formation of tight ion pairs between the organic counterions and the polymer backbone. In the second part, the effect of molecular charge density on the biological properties of a SMAMP was investigated. The results suggest that, above a certain charge threshold, neither minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC₉₀) nor hemolytic activity (HC₅₀) is greatly affected by adding more cationic groups to the molecule. A SMAMP with an MIC₉₀ of 4 μg mL^?1 against Staphylococcus aureus and a selectivity (=HC₅₀/MIC₉₀) of 650 was discovered, the most selective SMAMP to date.     

Ring‐Opening Metathesis Polymerization of 18‐e Cobalt(I)‐Containing Norbornene and Application as Heterogeneous Macromolecular Catalyst in Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization

In the last decades, metallopolymers have received great attention due to their various applications in the fields of materials and chemistry. In this article, a neutral 18‐electron exo‐substituted η⁴‐cyclopentadiene CpCo(I) unit‐containing polymer is prepared in a controlled/“living” fashion by combining facile click chemistry and ring‐opening meta­thesis polymerization (ROMP). This Co(I)‐containing polymer is further used as a heterogeneous macromolecular catalyst for atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of methyl methacrylate and styrene.

     

开环易位聚合合成瓶刷聚合物

瓶刷聚合物是一类具有独特侧链结构的梳形聚合物。功能性瓶刷聚合物在光子晶体、表面活性剂、医药载体、防污涂层以及智能材料等领域具有良好的应用价值。通过开环易位聚合合成瓶刷聚合物的方法具有合成步骤简单、聚合物接枝密度高和侧链组成均一等优点,在控制聚合物组成、分子量和分散性等方面具有显著优势。本文基于开环易位聚合,简述了合成瓶刷均聚物以及嵌段型、混合型和核-壳型三种类型的瓶刷共聚物的方法,并介绍了合成精确结构的瓶刷聚合物的新进展。     

Poly(phosphorodiamidate)s by Olefin Metathesis Polymerization with Precise Degradation

Degradable polymers are a currently growing field of research for biomedical and materials science applications. The majority of such compounds are based on polyesters and polyamides. In contrast, their phosphorus‐containing counterparts are much less studied, in spite of their potential precise degradation profile and biocompatibility. Herein, the first library of poly(phosphorodiamidate)s (PPDAs) with two P?N bonds forming the polymer backbone and a pendant P?OR group is prepared through acyclic diene metathesis polymerization. They are designed to vary in their hydrophilicity and are compared with the structural analogues poly(phosphoester)s (PPEs) with respect to their thermal properties and degradation profiles. The degradation of PPDAs can be controlled precisely by the pH: under acidic conditions the P?N linkages in the polymer backbone are cleaved, whereas under basic conditions the pendant ester is cleaved selectively and almost no backbone degradation occurs. The PPDAs exhibit distinctively higher thermal stability (from thermogravimetric analysis (TGA)) and higher glass transition and/or melting temperatures (from differential scanning calorimetry (DSC)) compared with analogous PPEs. This renders this exotic class of phosphorus‐containing polymers as highly promising for the development of future drug carriers or tissue engineering scaffolds.     

Applications of Hybrid Polymers Generated from Living Anionic Ring Opening Polymerization

Increasingly precise control of polymer architectures generated by “Living” Anionic Ring-Opening Polymerization (Living AROP) is leading to a broad range of commercial advanced material applications, particularly in the area of siloxane macromers. While academic reports on such materials remain sparse, a significant portion of the global population interacts with them on a daily basis—in applications including medical devices, microelectronics, food packaging, synthetic leather, release coatings, and pigment dispersions. The primary driver of this increased utilization of siloxane macromers is their ability to incorporate the properties of silicones into organic structures in a balanced manner. Compared to organic polymers, the differentiating properties of silicones—low T_g, hydrophobicity, low surface energy, and high free molal space—logically lend themselves to applications in which low modulus, release, permeability to oxygen and moisture, and tactile interaction are desired. However, their mechanical, structural and processing properties have until recently precluded practical applications. This review presents applications of “Living” AROP derived polymers from the perspective of historical technology development. Applications in which products are produced on a commercial scale—defined as not only offered for sale, but sold on a recurrent basis—are emphasized. Hybrid polymers with intriguing nanoscale morphology and potential applications in photoresist, microcontact printing, biomimetic soft materials, and liquid crystals are also discussed. Previously unreported work by the authors is provided in the context of this review.     

Synthesis of Seven-Arm Poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) Star Polymers with Lysozyme Core Prepared by MADIX/RAFT Polymerization

A poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP) seven-arms star polymer with lysozyme core was synthesized by conjugating linear N-succinimidyl ester terminated PVP polymer to lysozyme. Reactive PVP polymers were synthesized using a MADIX/RAFT agent functionalized with N-succinimidyl ester. The polymerization of N-vinyl pyrrolidone proceeded in a living fashion up to more than 90% conversion reaching molecular weight of up to 33 000 g · mol⁻¹ with narrow molecular weight distributions. The PVP polymer was conjugated to lysozyme resulting in the attachment of seven PVP polymers to one lysozyme core. While the reaction was found to be complete when using low-molecular weight PVP, some by-products with less than seven arms were observed when using PVP with a molecular weight of 33 000 g · mol⁻¹.

     

Ceiling Degree of Polymerization for Brush Polymers Prepared via ROMP of Poly(tert-Butyl Acrylate) Macromonomers

Controlled preparation of brush polymers is important in the design of functional materials. In this study, poly(tert-butyl acrylate) macromonomers functionalized with norbornenyl end group(NB-PtBA) were synthesized via atom transfer radical polymerization in three different molecular weights, 2000(NB-PtBA-2k), 3000(NB-PtBA-3k), and 8000(NB-PtBA-8k). Additionally, brush polymers with PtBA as side chains were synthesized via ring-opening metathesis polymerization(ROMP). Kinetic studies on ROMP of NB-PtBA showed that there was a ceiling degree of polymerization(CDP) for the brush polymers, beyond which the polymerization of NB-PtBA was out of control. For brush polymers of P[NB-PtBA-2k] and P[NB-PtBA-3k], CDPs were estimated to be ca. 400, but the value of P[NB-PtBA-8k] was ca. 100. Therefore, the controlled ROMP of brush polymers was critical at the CDP limit with increased macromonomer molecular weight.     

Poly(arylenevinylene)s through Ring‐Opening Metathesis Polymerization of an Unsymmetrical Donor‐Acceptor Cyclophane

Reported are well‐defined donor‐acceptor alternating copolymers prepared using ring‐opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP). Unsymmetrical cyclophanedienes comprising electron‐donating (4‐methoxy‐1‐(2‐ethylhexyl)oxy)benzene (MEH) and electron‐accepting benzothiadiazole (BT) rings were synthesized from the corresponding [3.3]dithiaparacyclophanes. ROMP of the strained unsymmetrical and “electronically‐ambiguous” cyclophanedienes proceeded in a controlled manner in the presence of either Hoveyda–Grubbs II or Grubbs II initiator in wake of both steric and electronic encumbrance. The resulting polymers, comprising alternating BT and MEH‐PPV units, are achieved in molecular weights exceeding 20k with ? values ranging from 1.1–1.4. The living nature of the polymerization is verified through the formation of rod‐coil and rod‐rod block copolymers. Our strategy to develop previously unrealized polymers from functional building blocks featuring a locked‐in D‐A unit is significant in a field striving to achieve well‐defined and sequence‐specific materials.     

Living Ring‐Opening Metathesis Polymerization of Norbornenes Containing Acetyl‐Protected Carbohydrates Using Well‐Defined Molybdenum and Ruthenium Initiators

Summary: Homopolymers and diblock copolymers that contain maltose or glucose residues have been prepared by ring‐opening metathesis polymerization of norbornene derivatives using a molybdenum–alkylidene initiator, Mo(CHCMe₂Ph)(N‐2,6‐iPr₂C₆H₃)(OtBu)₂ ( A ). These polymerizations took place not only in a living fashion ( = < 1.2) but also with almost quantitative initiation. Two types of ruthenium initiators, (Cy₃P)₂RuCl₂(CHPh) ( B ) and (IMesH₂)(Cy₃P)RuCl₂(CHPh) ( C ), have also been used to compare initiator performance under the same conditions.

Structures for the polymers studied here.     

Poly(norbornene)s as matrix materials for platinum tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)porphyrin based optical oxygen sensors

A set of poly(norbornenes) was prepared using ring opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) and used as matrix material for the preparation of optical oxygen sensor layers based on platinum tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)porphyrin (PtTFPP) as the sensitive dye. Different polymers were prepared and investigated in order to retrieve information on the influence of the anchor group and the side chain attached to the polymer backbone on their performance as matrix material for the dye. Bulky side groups increased the oxygen permeability through ROM polymer layers, especially when the bulky group was directly attached via an anchor group to the polymer backbone without any aliphatic spacer in between. Sensor layers made of poly(endo,exo[2.2.1]bicyclo-5-heptene-2,3-dicarboxyclic acid di-tert-butylester) and PtTFPP exhibited the highest τ₀/τ ratio and responded strongly to small amounts of oxygen.