1H-NMR of the esterification of syndiotactic poly(methacrylic acid) with carbodiimides—II. Esterification with benzylalcohol and trifluoroethanol

The partial esterification of syndiotactic poly(methacrylic acid) with benzyl alcohol or trifluoroethanol and dicyclohexylcarbodiimide as a condensing agent has been studied, evaluating triad and pentad probabilities by ¹H-NMR. The mechanism of this esterification leads to a tendency toward alternation for esterified and unesterified monomer units along the chain and to a limiting conversion. Only a moderate approximation of triad and pentad probabilities by conditional probabilities of first and second order was possible. The esterification of poly(methacrylic acid) with trifluoroethanol has been carried out also in conc H₂SO₄ and leads to a random distribution of monomer units.     

Effects of gamma and electron beam irradiation on polymer electrolytes

Polymer electrolytes based on poly(ethylene oxide) and lithium salts have been widely studied in recent years. In order to enhance the room temperature ionic conductivity of PEO-LiX complexes, various techniques, such as addition of plasticizers and crown ether, and also irradiation by γ and electron beams have been investigated. The enhancement of the conductivity by irradiation has been accounted for the decreasing of the crystallinity of PEO-LiX. We reviewed these results and have investigated the degradation processes of PEO using Tb³⁺ fluorescence probes. We have also studied on the effects of irradiation of polymers such as poly(acrylic acid) (PAA), poly(methacrylic acid) (PMA) and PEO using Tb⁺³ fluorescence probe. Various monomers containing SO₃H and COOH have been grafted on poly(ethylene oxide) using irradiation technique. The structures and ionic conductivities of Li and Na salts of irradiated products were investigated in detail.     

Interaction of polyanions with electroneutral liposomes in a slightly acidic medium

In this study, the interaction between poly(styrene sulfonic acid), polyacrylic acid, poly(meth-acrylic acid), poly(L-glutamic acid), poly(vinyl sulfate), and ternary copolymer of styrene with maleic anhydride and methacrylic acid (3: 2: 1), as well as DNA with lipid vesicles composed of zwitterion (electroneutral) lipid phosphatidylcholine, has been investigated. The methods of centrifuge ultrafiltration and dynamic light scattering reveal that, at pH 4.2, all polyacids under study are effectively adsorbed on the phospholipid membrane. The polymer-membrane complex is stabilized by hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic interactions in addition to electrostatic bonds. Even though, to a greater or lesser extent, all polyacids are capable of undergoing adsorption on the membrane in a slightly acidic medium, their effect on the membrane permeability is substantially different and is correlated with the ability of a polymer to form multiple interactions with phospholipid molecules. Poly(acrylic acid), poly(methacrylic acid), poly(styrene sulfonic acid), and the ternary copolymer of styrene with maleic anhydride and methacrylic acid can produce the membrane pores that are permeable to low-molecular-mass compounds. At the same time, poly(L-glutamic acid), poly(vinyl sulfate), and DNA exert no effect on the membrane permeability, although they are sorbed on the membrane surface.     

Fe3O4@SiO2‐imid‐PMAn Magnetic Porous Nanosphere as Reusable Catalyst for Synthesis of Polysubstituted Quinolines under Solvent‐free Conditions

In this research, a facile one‐pot synthesis of poly‐substituted quinoline derivatives has been demonstrated by using 2‐aminobenzophenones and ethylacetoacetate or ketones in the presence of Fe₃O₄@SiO₂‐imid‐PMAⁿ and Fe₃O₄@SiO₂‐imid‐PMA^b nanoparticles as green and reusable catalysts under solvent‐free conditions. The reaction proceeds efficiently in excellent yields and in a state of excellent purity. The nanocatalysts can be recycled and reused for at least four times without noticeably decreasing in catalytic activity.     

Preparation and characterization of a novel star ABC triblock copolymer of styrene,ethylene oxide,and methacrylic acid

The preparation of a star triblock copolymer based on polystyrene, poly(ethylene oxide), and poly(methacrylic acid) blocks (S-St-EO-MAA) is described. The polymer structure was achieved by the following route: the polystyrene macroanion (PS_m) was formed first by a butyllithium-initiated polymerization of styrene and capping with Michler's ketone; the resulting N,N,N′,N′-tetramethyl-4,4′-diaminodiphenylmethanol (TDDM)-terminated polystyrene was further reacted with metal potassium. The oxo-anion initiated the ring-opening polymerization of ethylene oxide, and the desired ABC triblock copolymer was obtained by precipitation polymerization of methacrylic acid (MAA) initiated with a charge transfer complex (CTC) under UV irradiation using benzene as a solvent. The complex is composed of PS-b-PEO with a TDDM end group (PS-b-PEO_tm) and benzophenone (BP).     

Synthesis and characteristics of poly(methacrylic acid‐co‐N‐isopropylacrylamide) thermosensitive composite hollow latex particles and their application as drug carriers

In this work, the poly(methacrylic acid‐co‐N‐isopropylacrylamide) thermosensitive composite hollow latex particles was synthesized by a three‐step reaction. The first step was to synthesize the poly(methyl methacrylate‐co‐methacrylic acid) (poly(MMA‐MAA)) copolymer latex particles by the method of soapless emulsion polymerization. The second step was to polymerize methacrylic acid (MAA), N‐isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAm), and N,N′‐methylenebisacrylamide in the presence of poly(MMA‐MAA) latex particles to form the linear poly(methyl methacrylate‐co‐methacrylic acid)/crosslinking poly(methacrylic acid‐co‐N‐isopropylacrylamide) (poly(MMA‐MAA)/poly(MAA‐NIPAAm)) core–shell latex particles. In the third step, the core–shell latex particles were heated in the presence of ammonia solution to form the crosslinking poly(MAA‐NIPAAm) thermosensitive hollow latex particles. The morphologies of poly(MMA‐MAA)/poly(MAA‐NIPAAm) core–shell latex particles and poly(MAA‐NIPAAm) hollow latex particles were observed. The influences of crosslinking agent and shell composition on the lower critical solution temperature of poly(MMA‐MAA)/poly(MAA‐NIPAAm) core–shell latex particles and poly(MAA‐NIPAAm) hollow latex particles were, respectively, studied. Besides, the poly(MAA‐NIPAAm) thermosensitive hollow latex particles were used as carriers to load with the model drug, caffeine. The effect of various variables on the amount of caffeine loading and the efficiency of caffeine release was investigated. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2013 , 51, 5203–5214     

Preparation of P(MBA‐co‐MAA)/Zr(OH)4/P(EGDMA‐co‐MAA)/TiO2 Tetra‐layer Hybrid Microspheres and the Corresponding ZrO2/TiO2 Double‐shelled Hollow Microspheres

Double‐shelled zirconia/titania (ZrO₂/TiO₂) hollow microspheres were prepared by the selective removal of the polymer components via the calcination of the corresponding tetra‐layer poly(N,N′‐methylenebisacryl amide‐co‐methacrylic acid) (P(MBA‐co‐MAA))/Zr(OH)₄/poly(ethyleneglycol dimethacrylate‐co‐methacrylic acid) (P(EGDMA‐co‐MAA))/TiO₂ hybrid microspheres. These tetra‐layer microspheres were synthesized by the combination of the distillation copolymerization of N,N(‐methylenebisacryl amide‐co‐methacrylic acid (MBA) or ethyleneglycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) crosslinker and methacrylic acid (MAA) for the preparation of polymer core and third‐layer as well as the controlled sol‐gel hydrolysis of inorganic precursors for the construction of zirconium hydroxide (Zr(OH)₄) and titania (TiO₂) layers. The thicknesses of zirconia and titania shell‐layers were conveniently controlled via varying the feed of zirconium n‐butoxide (Zr(OBu)₄) and titanium tetrabutoxide (TBOT) during the sol‐gel hydrolysis, while the sizes of polymer layers were tuned through a multi‐stage distillation precipitation copolymerization. The structure and morphology of the resultant microspheres were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X‐ray diffractometer (XRD), X‐ray photoelectronic spectroscopy (XPS), and thermogrametric analysis (TGA).     

Formation of Fe2+-phenanthroline complexes in the volume of hydrogel

The interaction of weakly crosslinked gels of poly(methacrylic acid) and a nonionic gel based on N-vinylcaprolactam and N-vinylimidazole with Fe²⁺ ions in aqueous solutions has been studied. A comparative study of the conformational state and of the absorption ability of the gels for their interaction with iron and ferroin ions has been performed. It has been shown that Fe²⁺ ions are efficiently absorbed by both poly(methacrylic acid) gels and the gels based on N-vinylcaprolactam and N-vinylimidazole. In this case, the poly(methacrylic acid) gels undergo contraction, while nonionic gels derived from N-vinylcaprolactam and N-vinylimidazole experience swelling. During the interaction of gels containing immobilized Fe²⁺ ions with phenanthroline, the efficient absorption of the complexon and the formation of Fe²⁺-phenanthroline complexes in the gel volume take place, thus inducing the contraction of gels. The interaction of poly(methacrylic acid) gels with ferroin is accompanied by the absorption of the complex, the formation of the tertiary complexes, and the collapse of the gel. The efficiency of formation of tertiary complexes in the gel volume is independent of their preparation procedure.     

Complexation of poly(acrylic acid)s with uranyl ion

The complexation of uranyl ion (UO₂²⁺) in aqueous solution with polymers containing carboxylic acid groups was studied potentiometrically. Overall formation constants of the uranyl complexes with poly(methacrylic acid) and crosslinked poly(acrylic acid) were much larger than those with the corresponding low molecular carboxylic acids. Decrease in the viscosity of the polymer solution on adding uranyl ion indicated that poly(acrylic acid) forms intra-polymer chelates with uranyl ion. The crosslinked poly(acrylic acid) adsorbed uranyl ions at higher efficiency than transition metal ions.     

Equilibrium study of polymer–polymer complexation of poly(methacrylic acid) and poly(acrylic acid) with complementary polymers through cooperative hydrogen bonding

The degree of linkage, θ, defined as the ratio of the binding groups to the total of potentially interacting groups and the stability constant K of the polymer–polymer complexes in the systems poly(methacrylic acid)–poly(ethylene glycol), poly(acrylic acid)–poly(ethylene glycol), and poly-(methacrylic acid)–poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) in aqueous and aqueous alcohol media were determined as a function of temperature by potentiometric titration. It was found that θ and K are strongly dependent on chain length, temperature, and medium and that hydrophobic interaction is a significant factor in the stabilization of the complexes. The enthalpy and entropy changes and the cooperativeness parameter of the systems were calculated. A mechanism for the complexation in terms of cooperative interaction was proposed.     

Amphiphilic conetworks. IV. Poly(methacrylic acid)‐l‐polyisobutylene and poly(acrylic acid)‐l‐polyisobutylene based hydrogels prepared by two‐step polymer procedure. New pH responsive conetworks

This article describes the synthesis and characterization of new amphiphilic polymer conetworks containing hydrophilic poly(methacrylic acid) (PMAA) or poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) and hydrophobic polyisobutylene (PIB) chains. These conetworks were prepared by a two‐step polymer synthesis. In the first step, a cationic copolymer of isobutylene (IB) and 3‐isopropenyl‐α,α‐dimethylbenzyl isocyanate (IDI) was prepared. The isocyanate groups of the IB–IDI random copolymer were subsequently transformed in situ to methacrylate (MA) groups in reaction with 2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA). In the second step, the resulting MA‐multifunctional PIB‐based crosslinker, PIB(MA)_n, with an average functionality of approximately four methacrylic groups per chain, was copolymerized with methacrylic acid (MAA) or acrylic acid (AA) by radical mechanism in tetrahydrofuran giving rise to amphiphilic conetworks containing 31–79 mol % of MAA or 26–36 mol % of AA. The synthesized conetworks were characterized with solid‐state ¹³C‐NMR spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry. The amphiphilic nature of the conetworks was proven by swelling in both aqueous media with low and high pH and n‐heptane. The effect of varying pH on the swelling behavior of the synthesized conetworks is presented. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 1284–1291, 2009     

Interpolymer complex between poly(ethylene oxide) and poly(carboxylic acid)

An interpolymer complex was prepared by mixing aqueous solutions of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) and of a poly(carboxylic acid), i.e., poly(acrylic acid)(PAA), poly(methacrylic acid)(PMAA), or styrene-maleic acid copolymer(PSMA). The complexation mechanism was discussed on the basis of results of such experimental methods as viscosity, potentiometric titration, and turbidimetry. The hydrogen bond is primarily involved in these complexations, but the influence of hydrophobic interaction on complexation can not be ignored. If the degree of dissociation α of carboxylic acid or the degree of polymerization P_n of PEO was perceptibly changed, a stable complex was obtained at about α 0.1 or P_n (PEO) = 40 for PMAA, 200 for PAA. This fact indicates that more than a definite number of binding sites are necessary for a stable interpolymer complex to be formed and that cooperative interaction among active sites plays an important role in complex formation.     

Competitive reactions in solutions of DNA-containing polyelecrtolyte complexes

The reaction of competitive binding of two polyanions - DNA and synthetic fluorescence-tagged poly(methacrylate) (PMA^*) - with the quencher polycation poly(N-ethyl-4-vinylpyridinium) (PEVP) was studied by fluorescence quenching technique. It is found that ability of DNA to displace PMA^* from water-soluble nonstoichiometric interpolyelectrolyte complex (NPEC) formed by PMA^* and PEVP - NPEC(PMA^*-PEVP) - and to form water-soluble NPEC(DNA-PEVP) can be determined by both a parameter Ψ = P_PMA+/P_pevp, where P_pma+ and P_pevp are the degrees of polymerization of PMA^* and PEVP, respectively, and by the nature and concentration of alkali and alkali earth metal cations. According to their ability to shift the equilibrium to the right the cations can be arranged in the series Ca²⁺ > Mg²⁺ >> Na⁺ > K⁺ > Li⁺. The data obtained are in accordance with the differences in the selectivity of alkali and alkali earth cations binding with competitive polyanions.     

Change with temperature of the ESR spectra of methacrylic acid radicals

In order to elucidate the structure of methacrylic acid radicals, the change with observation temperature of the ESR spectrum of free radicals trapped in solid methacrylic acid γ-irradiated at ?196°C was studied. Below ?80°C, we found a 9-line spectrum, which is similar to the ordinary 9-line spectrum observed in irradiated poly(methacrylic acid) or poly(methyl methacrylate), but which differs in the stronger intensity of the so-called 4-line component. Our 9-line spectrum changes reversibly into a 13-line spectrum above ?80°C. With broad-line NMR measurements of methacrylic acid, it was found that there is such an unusual crystalline transition around ?30°C that the line width is narrower in the lower-temperature region (phase II) than that in the higher-temperature region (phase I). The change of the ESR spectrum can be interpreted in terms of the exchange of the two β-protons due to the hindered oscillation around the C_α? C_β bond of the single radical ···C_βH₂C_α(CH₃)COOH if one assumes the gradual change of the hindering potential barrier caused by the crystalline transition and the lower barrier in phase II. The modified Bloch treatment gave the hindering potential barrier to be 7.2 kcal/mole in phase I and 1.5 kcal/mole in phase II. The difference between our 9-line spectrum and the ordinary one with the very weak 4-line component comes from the difference of the surrounding matrix.     

Synthesis and characteristics of poly(methyl methacrylate‐co‐methacrylic acid)/poly(methacrylic acid‐co‐N‐isopropylacrylamide) thermosensitive semi‐hollow latex particles and their application to drug carriers

In this work, the poly(methyl methacrylate‐co‐methacrylic acid)/poly(methacrylic acid‐co‐N‐isopropylacrylamide) thermosensitive composite semi‐hollow latex particles was synthesized by three processes. The first process was to synthesize the poly(methyl methacrylate‐co‐methacrylic acid) (poly (MMA‐MAA)) copolymer latex particles by the method of soapless emulsion polymerization. The second process was to polymerize methacrylic acid (MAA), N‐isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAm), and crosslinking agent, N,N′‐methylenebisacrylamide, in the presence of poly(MMA‐MAA) latex particles to form the linear poly(methyl methacrylate‐co‐methacrylic acid)/crosslinking poly(methacrylic acid‐co‐N‐isopropylacrylamide) (poly(MMA‐MAA)/poly(MAA‐NIPAAm)) core–shell latex particles with solid structure. In the third process, part of the linear poly(MMA‐MAA) core of core–shell latex particles was dissolved by ammonia to form the poly(MMA‐MAA)/poly(MAA‐NIPAAm) thermosensitive semi‐hollow latex particles. The morphologies of the semi‐hollow latex particles show that there is a hollow zone between the linear poly(MMA‐MAA) core and the crosslinked poly(MAA‐NIPAAm) shell. The crosslinking agent and shell composition significantly influenced the lower critical solution temperature of poly(MMA‐MAA)/poly(MAA‐NIPAAm) semi‐hollow latex particles. Besides, the poly(MMA‐MAA)/poly(MAA‐NIPAAm) thermosensitive semi‐hollow latex particles were used as carriers to load with the model drug, caffeine. The processes of caffeine loaded into the semi‐hollow latex particles appeared four situations, which was different from that of solid latex particles. In addition, the phenomenon of caffeine released from the semi‐hollow latex particles was obviously different from that of solid latex particles. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2014 , 52, 3441–3451     

Slow ester side‐group flips in glassy poly(alkyl methacrylate)s characterized by centerband‐only detection of exchange nuclear magnetic resonance

Slow side‐group dynamics in a series of five poly(alkyl methacrylate)s with various side‐group sizes [poly(methacrylic acid) (PMAA), poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), poly(ethyl methacrylate) (PEMA), poly(isobutyl methacrylate) (PiBMA), and poly(cyclohexyl methacrylate), with ? H, ? CH₃, ? CH₂CH₃, ? CH₂CH(CH₃)₂, and ? cyclohexyl alkyl substituents (CODEX), respectively] were studied quantitatively by centerband‐only detection of exchange nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). Flips and small‐angle motions of the ester groups associated with the β relaxation were observed distinctly in the CODEX NMR data, and the fraction of slowly flipping groups was measured with a precision of 3%. In PMMA, 34% of the side groups flipped on a 1‐s timescale, whereas the fraction was 31% in PEMA at 25 °C. Even the large isobutylether and cyclohexylester side groups flipped in the glassy state, although the flipping fraction was reduced to 22 and about 10%, respectively. In PMAA, no slow side‐group flips were detected on the 1‐s timescale. A striking difference in the temperature dependence of the flipping fraction in PMMA versus PEMA and PiBMA was observed. In PMMA, the flipping fraction was temperature‐independent between 25 and 80 °C, whereas in PEMA, it increased continuously from 31 to 60% between 25 and 60 °C. A similar doubling was also observed in PiBMA. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 39: 2444–2453, 2001     

Physicochemical and catalytic investigations of grafted poly(tetrafluoroethylene) complexed with some transition metal nitrates

Radiation-induced graft polymerization of methacrylic acid into poly(tetrafluoroethylene) by the mutual irradiation technique has been studied. The obtained hydrophilic solids were treated with solutions containing calculated amounts of iron, cobalt, nickel, or copper nitrates. The amounts of these transition metal nitrates were fixed at 16 wt%, expressed as metal oxide. IR, XRD, TG, and catalysis of CO oxidation reaction by O₂ have been carried out on the various prepared solids. The results obtained revealed that most of iron and copper species were contributed in complex formation of the polymeric material via carboxylic groups while some of the cobalt and nickel were involved in the complex formation and the rest remained as separate phases. The thermal treatment either in air at 400°C or in vacuo at 240°C led to degradation of the treated grafted polymeric material with subsequent formation of poly(methacrylic acid) together with Co₃O₄ (poorly crystalline phase) and NiO (having moderate crystallinity) and minute amounts of Fe₂O₃ and CuO (undetected by XRD). The PTFE-g-PMAAc treated with the different transition metal nitrates and subjected to heating under vacuum at 240°C exhibited different catalytic activities that vary in the order: Co > Ni > Cu ? Fe. The catalytic activity was mainly dependent on the produced amount of free oxide and their degree of division. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Rate constants for the reactions of methylvinyl ketone,methacrolein, methacrylic acid,and acrylic acid with ozone

Rate constants for the reaction of ozone with methylvinyl ketone (H₂C(DOUBLEBOND)CHC(O)CH₃), methacrolein (H₂C(DOUBLEBOND)C(CH₃)CHO), methacrylic acid (H₂C(DOUBLEBOND)C(CH₃)C(O)OH), and acrylic acid (H₂C(DOUBLEBOND)CHC(O)OH) were measured at room temperature (296±2 K) in the presence of a sufficient amount of cyclohexane to scavenge OH-radicals. Results from pseudo-first-order experiments in the presence of excess ozone were found not to be consistent with relative rate measurements. It appeared that the formation of the so-called Criegee-intermediates leads to an enhanced decrease in the concentration of the two organic acids investigated. It is shown that the presence of formic acid, which is known to react efficiently with Criegee-intermediates, diminishes the observed removal rate of the organic acids. The rate constant for the reaction of ozone with the unsaturated carbonyl compounds methylvinyl ketone and methacrolein was found not to be influenced by the addition of formic acid. Rate constants for the reaction of ozone determined in the presence of excess formic acid are (in cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹): methylvinyl ketone (5.4±0.6)×10⁻¹⁸; methacrolein (1.3±0.14)×10⁻¹⁸; methacrylic acid (4.1±0.4)×10⁻¹⁸; and acrylic acid (0.65±0.13)×10⁻¹⁸. Results are found to be consistent with the Criegee mechanism of the gas-phase ozonolysis. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 30: 769–776, 1998     

Synthesis of an alkali‐swellable emulsion and its effect on the rate of polymer diffusion in poly(vinyl acetate‐butyl acrylate) latex films

We describe the synthesis and characterization of a weakly cross‐linked poly(methacrylic acid‐co‐ethyl acrylate) alkali‐swellable emulsion (ASE), as well as an investigation of its influence on the rate of polymer diffusion in latex films. The films examined were formed from poly(vinyl acetate‐co‐butyl acrylate) latex particles containing a small amount of acrylic acid as a comonomer. Polymer diffusion rates were monitored by the energy transfer technique. We found that the presence of the ASE component, either in the acid form or fully neutralized by ammonia or sodium hydroxide, had very little effect on the polymer diffusion rate. However, in the presence of 2 wt % NH₄‐ASE, there was a small but significant increase in the polymer diffusion rate. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 5632–5642, 2005