Novel Azobenzene-Functionalized Polyelectrolytes of Different Substituted Head Groups 3: Control of Properties of Self-Assembled Multilayer Thin Films

Novel azobenzene polyelectrolytes have been used to fabricate biocompatible self-assembled multilayer (SAMU) thin films of variable absorbance, thickness, organization, and morphology. The prepared SAMU films are useful for directed cell growth, and this application relies directly on control of contact and surface energy, and requires the ability to tune the surface characteristics which are critical to their development. The azo polyelectrolytes employed here were similar in their degree of polymerization and repeat unit composition of acrylic acid monomer and azo monomers, and only differ from each other due to the presence of different substituted head R-groups present on the p-position of the aromatic ring of the azo chromophores. Possession of characteristics of both the self-assembly due to acrylic acid groups, and photoswitchability of the azo monomer enable the azobenzene functionalized polyelectrolytes to exhibit novel photo-reversible applications. The azo polyelectrolytes with the substituted R-group pairs of shorter-ionized hydrophilic COOH and SO₃H, shorter-non-ionized hydrophobic H and OC₂H₅, and larger-nonionized hydrophobic octyl C₈H₁₇ and C₈F₁₇ were used as polyanions and counter charge PDAC used as polycation to fabricate the layer-by-layer SAMU films onto glass and silicon substrates. The fabricated SAMU films were also characterized by various techniques. The UV absorption maxima, λ_max p of the SAMU films move to lower wavelength relative to solution to exhibit a blue shift for the hydrophobic R-groups, while this behaviour was not observed for the hydrophilic R-groups. Similarly, the thickness, organization, morphology and other properties of the thin films were found to be dependent on the type of substituted R-groups of the azo polyelectrolytes due to the inter-related factors of ionization, hydrophobicity/hydrophilicity, solubility, and aggregation of azo PEL in the dipping solutions used for fabrication of the SAMU films. Understanding and controlling the adsorption characteristics of azo multilayer thin–film of switchable functionalities are vital to explore their potential for the development and application of new devices in diverse areas of biosensor, drug delivery systems, on-chip microscale chemical process and microfluidics systems.     

Novel Azobenzene-Functionalized Polyelectrolytes of Different Substituted Head Groups 2: Control of Surface Wetting in Self-Assembled Multilayer Films

A novel set of light-responsive polyelectrolytes has been developed and studied, to control and tune surface wettability by introducing various types of substituted R head-groups of azo polyelectrolytes in self-assembled multilayer (SAMU) films. As part of a larger project to develop polymer surfaces where one can exert precise control over properties important to proteins and cells in contact, photo-reversibly, we describe here how one can tune quite reliably the contact angle of a biocompatible SAMU, containing a photo-reversible azo chromophore for eventual directed cell growth. The azo polyelectrolytes described here have different substituted R head-group pairs of shorter-ionized hydrophilic COOH and SO₃H, shorter non-ionized hydrophobic H and OC₂H₅, and larger non-ionized hydrophobic octyl C₈H₁₇ and C₈F₁₇, and were employed as polyanions to fabricate the SAMU onto silicon substrates by using the counter-charge polycation PDAC. The prepared SAMU films were primarily characterized by measurement of their contact angles with water. The surface wetting properties of the thin films were found to be dependent on the type of substituted R-groups of the azo polyelectrolytes through their degree of ionization, size, hydrophobicity/hydrophilicity, solubility, conformation, and inter-polymeric association and intra-polymeric aggregation. All these factors appeared to be inter-related, and influenced variations in hydrophobic/hydrophilic character to different extents of aggregates/non-aggregates in solution because of solvation effects of the azo polyanions, and were thus manifested when adsorbed as thin films via the SAMU deposition process. For example, one interesting observation is significantly higher contact angles of 79° for SAMU films of larger octyl R groups of PAPEA-C₈F₁₇ and PAPEA-C₈H₁₇ than for others with contact angles of 64° observed for non-polar R-groups of OC₂H₅ and H. Furthermore, lower contact angle values of 59° for SAMU films with polar R-groups of COOH and SO₃H relative to that of non-polar R-groups are in accordance with their expected order of the hydrophilicity or hydrophobicity. It is possible that the large octyl groups are more effective in shielding the ionic functional groups on the substrate surface, and contributed less to the water drop-molecule interactions with ionic groups of the PDAC and/or AA groups. In addition, higher hydrophobicity of the SAMU films may be due to the incorporation of bulky and hydrophobic groups in these polyelectrolytes, which can produce aggregates on the surfaces of the SAMU films. Through understanding and controlling the complex aggregation behavior of the different substituted R-groups of these azo polyelectrolytes, and hence their adsorption on substrates, it appears possible to finely tune the surface energy of these biocompatible films over a wide range, enhance the photo-switching capabilities of the SAMU films, and tailor other surface properties for the development and application of new devices in diverse areas of microfluidics, specialty coatings, sensors, and biomedical sciences.     

Synthesis of iron-containing polymers with azo dyes in the backbones or side chains

The synthesis of cationic cyclopentadienyliron-containing polymers with pendent azobenzene chromophores was accomplished via metal-mediated nucleophilic aromatic substitution reactions. All of the desired polymers were isolated as vibrantly coloured materials and displayed excellent solubility in polar aprotic solvents. Cationic and neutral cyclopentadienyliron polymers incorporating azo dyes in the backbone were also prepared. Reactions of azo dyes with dichlorobenzene complexes allowed for the isolation of cationic cyclopentdienyliron (CpFe₊) complexes with azo dye chromophores. These complexes were then reacted with 1,1′-ferrocenedicarbonyl chloride to produce the trimetallic monomers with terminal chloro groups. These monomers contained two pendent CpFe₊ cations and a neutral iron moiety in the backbone. Nucleophilic substitution reactions of these monomers with oxygen and sulfur containing dinucleophiles gave rise to a new class of polymeric materials. The pendent CpFe₊ moieties could also be cleaved from the polymer backbones using photolysis to afford novel ferrocene based polymers. The UV-vis spectra of the organoiron monomers and polymers display similar wavelength maxima however incorporating azobenzene chromophores with electron-withdrawing substituent into the polymer chains resulted in bathochromic shifts of the λ_max values.     

端基对侧链型偶氮聚电解质自组装膜内生色团取向的影响

用偏振紫外光谱研究了 4种带有不同端基的侧链型偶氮聚电解质静电逐层自组装膜中偶氮生色团的初始取向 .讨论了不同的端基对偶氮生色团在自组装膜中初始取向的影响 .进一步探讨了偶氮聚电解质自组装膜的结构特点 .研究表明 ,侧链型偶氮聚电解质自组装膜中偶氮生色团普遍存在一定程度的沿面取向 .偶氮生色团所带端基的类型对其在自组装膜中的取向程度有较大的影响 ,这主要取决于偶氮生色团与聚阳离子基底的电荷相互作用和极性相互作用等 .对偶氮生色团在水溶液中能形成H 聚集体的自组装膜来说 ,H 聚集体对生色团取向也有一定的影响 .结果表明 ,在制备需控制生色团取向性的自组装膜时 ,要考虑生色团上的不同端基对取向的影响     

两种侧链偶氮聚电解质自组装膜中生色团取向研究

用偏振紫外光谱研究了两种侧链偶氮聚电解质静电逐层自组装膜中偶氮生色团的初始取向 .讨论了不同的组装条件对自组装膜中偶氮生色团取向的影响 .进一步探讨了偶氮聚电解质自组装膜的结构特点 .研究表明 ,侧链偶氮聚电解质自组装膜中的偶氮生色团存在一定程度的面内取向 ,自组装的各种影响条件和聚合物结构等 (pH值、侧链柔性间隔基团长度、以及偶氮生色团官能度等 )与自组装膜中偶氮生色团的面内取向程度存在一定的相关性 .通过研究偶氮生色团的取向和影响因素 ,可以深入认识侧链偶氮聚电解质的自组装行为     

Homolytic Versus Heterolytic Bond Breaking in Functionalized [R-C20H10]+ Systems

The comprehensive theoretical investigation of stability of functionalized corannulene cations [R-C₂₀H₁₀]⁺ with respect to two alternative bond-breaking mechanisms, namely, homolytic or radical ([R-C₂₀H₁₀]⁺ → R^• + C₂₀H₁₀^+•) and heterolytic or cationic ([R-C₂₀H₁₀]⁺ → R⁺ + C₂₀H₁₀), was accomplished. The special focus was on the influence of the nature of R-group on the energetics of the bond cleavage. Detailed study of energetics of both mechanisms has revealed that the systems with small alkyl groups such as methyl tend to undergo bond breaking in accordance with homolytic mechanism. Subsequent elongation of the chain of the R-group resulted in shifting the paradigm, making heterolytic path more energetically favorable. Subsequent analysis of different components of the bonding between R-group and corannulene polyaromatic core helped to shed light on trends observed. In both mechanisms, the covalent contribution was found to be dominating, whereas ionic part contributes ~25–27%. Two leading components of ΔE_orb, C₂₀H₁₀ → R and R → C₂₀H₁₀, were identified with NOCV-EDA approach. While the homolytic pathway is best described as R → C₂₀H₁₀ process, the heterolytic mechanism shows domination of the C₂₀H₁₀ → R term. Surprisingly, the preparation energy (ΔE_prep) was identified as a key player in stability tendencies found. In other words, the relative stability of corresponding molecular fragments (here R-groups as the corannulene fragment remains the same for all systems) in their cationic or radical forms determine the preference given to a specific bond breaking path and, as consequence, the total stability of target functionalized cations. These conclusions were further confirmed by extending a set of R-groups to conjugated (allyl, phenyl), bulky (iPr, tBu), β-silyl (CH₂SiH₃, CH₂SiMe₃), and benzyl (CH₂Ph) groups. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Role of donor-acceptor functional groups in N3P3 cyclic-triphosphazene backbone. Unraveling bonding characteristics from natural orbitals within an extended transition state-natural orbital for the chemical valence scheme

The formation of cyclophosphazenes containing several ligands or substituent groups gives rise to an attractive derivative set, for development of novel applications, with variable properties. Here, it is possible to unravel the role of different functional groups attached to the N₃P₃ backbone, to reach a better understanding of the bonding character in the cyclic [─P─N─] skeleton. We employed the extended transition state-natural orbital for the chemical valence scheme to unravel the σ and π orbital kernels that are involved in the assembling of such structures, by varying the acceptor-donor characteristics of the ─CF₃, ─NO₂, ─COOH, ─CN, ─NH₂, ─OH, and ─OCH₃ groups, where ─NO₂ behaves as a stronger electron-withdrawing substituent rather than ─CF₃, ─COOH, and ─CN, denoting that the nature of the ligand-phosphazene interaction contributes to some degree to the bond strength of the cyclic [─P─N─] backbone. Our results reveal that the electron-withdrawing ─NO₂ group leads to higher σ and π [─P─N─] orbital-energy contributions, which is reflected in a shortening of the [─P─N─] distance, contrasting with the case of electron-donating groups such as ─NH₂, ─OH, and ─OCH₃ within the phosphazene set. These insights allow further variation and modulation of the bonding in the [─P─N─] ring.     

Incorporation of Titanium(IV) into Sterically Hindered Schiff Bases of Heterocyclic β -Diketones Involving Ketooximes and Glycol as Coligands: Preparation and Structural Considerations

Titanium(IV) complexes of the general formula TiL(OPr ⁱ )₂ [where LH₂ = R CH₃ where R = ─C₆H₅, ─C₆H₄Cl(p)] were prepared by the interaction of titanium isopropoxide with sterically hindered Schiff bases derived from heterocyclic β -diketones in 1:1 molar ratio in dry benzene. The complexes TiL(OPr ⁱ )₂ were used as versatile precursors for the synthesis of other titanium(IV) complexes. Titanium(IV) complexes of the type TiLL'(OPr ⁱ ) (where L'H═R¹R²C═NOH, R¹ = R² = ─CH₃; R¹ = ─CH₃,R² = ─C₆H₅; R¹ = ─COC₆H₅, R² = ─C₆H₅) were synthesized by the reaction of TiL(OPr ⁱ )₂ with ketooximes (L'H) in equimolar ratio in dry benzene. Another type of titanium(IV) complexes having the general formula TiLGH(OPr ⁱ ) (where GH₂═HO─G─OH, G = ─CH₂─CH₂─) have been prepared by the reaction of TiL(OPr ⁱ )₂ with glycol in 1:1 molar ratio in dry benzene. Plausible structures of these new titanium(IV) complexes have been proposed on the basis of analytical data, molecular weight measurements, and spectral studies.     

Preparation of azo polyelectrolyte self-assembled multilayers by using N,N-dimethylformamide/H2O mixtures as solvents

N,N-Dimethylformamide (DMF)/H₂O mixtures were used as solvents to fabricate azo polyelectrolyte (PEAPH)/poly(diallyldimethyl ammonium chloride)(PDAC) self-assembled multilayers with the layer-by-layer electrostatic adsorption technique. PEAPH is a copolymer of acrylic acid and azobenzene-containing acrylate. The effect of the ratio of DMF to water on the multilayer growth, structure and surface morphology was studied in some details. Results show that DMF/H₂O mixtures are proper media for PEAPH/PDAC multilayer fabrication. The ratio of DMF to water in the mixture has significant influence on the multilayer structure and surface morphology. With the increase of DMF content, the multilayer thickness has a better linear growth relationship with the bilayer number, and the multilayer surface becomes smoother. Moreover, azo chromophores show less H-aggregation when the multilayers are fabricated from DMF/H₂O mixtures with higher DMF contents. These studies demonstrate that using organic solvent and water mixtures is an effective way to control the multilayer construction by adjusting the media properties. This method can be applied to multilayer fabrication of other water-insoluble polyelectrolytes. __________ Translated from Acta Polymerica Sinica, 2005, (4) (in Chinese)     

Thermal properties of N-substituted 4-vinylpyridinium ions and their polymers

4-Vinylpyridinium trifluoromethanesulfonate monomers substituted at nitrogen with H, O, CH₃, C₂H₅, C₆H₁₃, and C₁₂H₂₅ were synthesized and characterized spectroscopically. Thermal analyses (DSC and TGA) were carried out on all the compounds. The solid monomers (N? H, N? CH₃, N? C₆H₁₃, and N? C₁₂H₂₅) exhibited endothermic melting followed by exothermic polymerization and exothermic decomposition (>400°C). Liquid N? C₂H₅ monomer revealed only exothermic polymerization and decomposition. The N? O polymer underwent thermal decomposition below 300°C. The N–C₁₂H₂₅ homopolymer, prepared from monomer in the DSC or in bulk, displayed an unusual thermal transition at 250°C, which has been attributed to a polymer backbone reorientation leading to side-chain ordering of the dodecyl groups.     

Mechanistic study of trans⇆cis isomerization of the substituted azobenzene moiety bound on a liquid‐crystalline polymer

A mechanistic study of the trans?cis isomerization of the azobenzene moiety in a side‐chain liquid‐crystal polymer system was carried out with six liquid‐crystalline polymethacrylates in which different electron‐withdrawing substituents were attached to the para‐positions of the azobenzene chromophores. Compared to the non‐nitro‐substituted azo polymers, the nitro‐substituted azo polymers exhibited two quite different behaviors: an extraordinarily high reaction rate of the thermal cis–trans isomerization and an unexpected composition of cis–trans isomers obtained from the photochemical trans–cis isomerization process. A potential energy profile for the isomerization process was established on basis of the structures of the proposed transition states and was employed to elucidate the reaction mechanism. The results confirmed that the nitro‐substituted azo polymer system proceeded via a rotation mechanism in either direction of the trans?cis isomerization reaction, whereas the non‐nitro‐substituted species were more likely to follow an inversion mechanism. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 39: 2296–2307, 2001     

A new polymorph of 2,6‐diaminopyridine

2,6‐Diaminopyridine (26‐DAP, C₅H₇N₃) is a common intermediate in the synthesis of aromatic azo chromophores, which are widespread in the dyes and pigments industry. Sublimation of commercial 26‐DAP powder yielded a new polymorph, denoted Form II, which grew as colorless orthorhombic needles. Recrystallization from acetone or toluene also yielded Form II as the major phase. Thermal analysis shows that Form II is a less stable polymorph and it converts upon heating at 335 K to the previously reported Form I.     

Hydrogen‐bonded supra­molecular arrays of aqua­[20‐(4‐carboxy­phen­yl)‐5,10,15‐triphenyl­porphyrinato]zinc(II) in crystals of its nitro­benzene disolvate

Crystals of the title compound, [Zn(C₄₅H₂₈N₄O₂)(H₂O)]·2C₆H₅NO₂, consist of multiporphyrin supra­molecular assemblies sustained by inter­molecular COOH⋯COOH and Zn(H₂O)⋯COOH hydrogen bonds. One of the two nitro­benzene solvent mol­ecules hydrogen bonds peripherally to these arrays.     

STUDY ON PHOTODYNAMIC AND PHOTORESPONSIVE AZO POLYELECTROLYTES*

Several kinds of novel azobenzene-containing polyelectrolytes with special molecular design have been developedfrom acryloyl chloride or epoxy based precursor polymers. The acryloyl chloride based precursor polymer, poly(acryloylchloride), was prepared by free radical polymerization of acryloyl chloride. The azo polyelectrolytes were prepared by anesterification reaction between the precursor polymer and corresponding azo chromophores containing a reactive hydroxylgroup, followed by hydrolysis of the unreacted acyl chloride groups. The epoxy based precursor polymer was prepared by thereaction between 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol diglycidyl ether and aniline, and postfunctionalized by azo coupling reaction toform azo polymers containing chromophores with ionizable groups. The polyelectrolytes were characterized by elementalanalysis, ~1H-NMR, IR and UV-Vis spectroscopy. The photodynamic and photoresponsive properties, as well as self-assemblyof these azo polyelectrolytes are reported in this paperp.     

BIOLOGICALLY DERIVED PHOTOACTIVE MACROMOLECULAR AZODYES

Azophenols with various substituents at the para position of the phenyl ring were enzymatically polymerized in the presence of H₂O₂. Structural characterization of the synthesized polymers by FTIR, FT-Raman, and NMR (¹H and ¹³C) spectroscopy confirms our previous observation that this enzymatically catalyzed coupling reaction occurs primarily at the ortho positions, with some substitution at the meta position of the phenol ring. The strong constraint and poor packing of the azobenzene chromophores in the polymer leads to a significant blue shift of the π-π^* transition absorption and slow photoisomerization and thermal relaxation in comparison to the monomers. Surface relief gratings (SRG) with large surface modulation have been fabricated on these enzymatically synthesized polymer films.

     

Surface-relief-grating formation behavior of two hyperbranched azo polymers

In this work,surface-relief-grating formation behavior was studied by using two hyperbranched azo polymers.The hyperbranched polymers containing pseudo-stilbene type azo chromophores throughout the hyperbranched structure were synthesized by step-growth polycondensation of AB₂ type monomers.The AB₂ monomer,4-（4’-（bis（2-chloroethyl）amino）-phenylazo） benzoic acid（BAA）,was prepared through azo-coupling reaction between N,N’-bis（2-chloroethyl）aniline and 4- aminobenzenic acid.The another AB₂ monomer,4-（4’-（bis（2-chloroethyl）amino）phenylazo）-3-nitro-benzoic acid（BANA）, was prepared through azo-coupling reaction between N,N-bis（2-chloroethyl）aniline and 3-nitro-4-aminobenzcnic acid.The hyperbranched polymers（PBAA and PBANA） were prepared through nucleophilic substitution reaction of BAA and BANA, respectively.The polymers synthesized were characterized by using spectroscopic methods and thermal analysis.The photoinduced dichroism and photo-induced surface-relief-grating（SRG） formation of the hyperbranched polymers were investigated upon irradiation with Ar⁺ laser at 488 nm.PBAA shows typical photoinduced dichroism SRG formation behavior.On the contrary,PBANA does not show the photoresponsive properties.The results indicate that the nitro at the ortho position of azo group of PBANA shows the effect of inhibiting the photoinduced variations.The effect can be attributed to the blockage of the trans-cis isomerization of the azobenzene moieties by the steric hindrance.     

Neutral and Cationic Cyclopentadienyliron Macromolecules Containing Arylazo Chromophores

Summary: A new class of macromolecules containing neutral and cationic organoiron moieties with arylazo chromophores in their backbones has been prepared. Photolysis of these polymers resulted in the removal of the cationic iron moieties leading to new polyferrocenes with azo dyes in their backbones. UV-vis studies showed λ_max around 419 nm in DMF with a bathochromic shift to around 530 nm upon the addition of HCl.

Organoiron macromolecules containing azo dye moieties prepared in this study.     

Photomechanical effects in liquid crystal polymer networks prepared with m‐fluoroazobenzene

The photomechanical response and photochemistry of a conventional, unsubstituted azobenzene‐functionalized liquid crystalline polymer network (azo‐LCN) is contrasted to that of an analogous material prepared with meta‐fluorinated azobenzene chromophores. The polydomain azo‐LCN materials exhibit nearly identical thermomechanical and optical properties. Photomechanical characterization indicates that the fluorination of the azobenzene chromophore reduces the deflection of cantilevers composed of the materials by 50%, which spectroscopic analysis reveals is due to a reduction in the ability of this material to isomerize and potentially reorient. This work is further confirmation that the underlying photochemistry of azobenzene is a primary contributor to the generation of photomechanical work in these materials. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2014 , 52, 876–882     

The polymerizations of N-methyl-N-phenyl-2-aminoethyl methacrylate and 4-dimethylaminostyrene initiated with carboxylic acids

By using the copolymerizations of N-methyl-N-phenyl-2-aminoethyl methacrylate (I) and 4-dimethylaminostyrene (II) with styrene initiated with 2,2′-azoisobutyronitrile (AIBN) and with CCl₃COOH, the copolymerization parameters and Alfrey-Price copolymerization constants e and Q were determined for I and II. The only product of polymerizations initiated with CCl₃COOH and CH₃COOH in mixtures of II with vinyl monomers was a homopolymer of II. The order of homopolymerization of II in benzene initiated with CCl₃COOH at 50° was 0.99 with respect to [II] and 1.10 with respect to [CCl₃COOH]; the temperature dependence of homopolymerization in the range 25–40° was 63 ± 5 kJ mol^?1. The rate of homopolymerization of II in solution in C₆H₆ at 50° was virtually unaffected by inhibitors. In the polymerization initiated with carboxylic acids, the radical character of propagation centres was proved for I, but not for II.