Ionization equilibrium in salt‐containing aqueous solutions of synthetic polyampholytes

The peculiarities of ionic equilibrium in salt‐containing aqueous solutions of polyampholytes (acrylic acid–2‐methyl‐5‐vinylpyridine copolymers) of various compositions and molecular weights were studied. The protonation degree of base groups (β_iep), the dissociation degree of acid groups (α_iep), and the ionization constant of methylvinylpyridine groups (pK_b) for the isoelectric points of the studied polyampholytes under various ionic strength values (I) were assessed spectrophotometrically. The dependencies of α_iep and pK_b versus the copolymer composition in the absence of low molecular weight electrolyte are described by the following equations: pK_b = 6.2–0.037z and lg α_iep = 0.27–0.0215z, where z is the molar content of the acrylic acid units. The basicity of methylvinylpyridine groups increases in proportion to the content of acid groups at a constant ionic strength and is independent of the molecular weight and molecular weight distribution of the copolymer. The relationship between pK_b and the ionic strength of the solution for acrylic acid–methylvinylpyridine copolymers was established: pK_b(I) = pK + B · I^1/2, where pK is the thermodynamic ionization constant of base groups and B is 0.21 + 0.0065z. A good agreement between the experimental and theoretical (calculated from the given equation) values of the ionization constant, pK_b, of methylvinylpyridine groups for other polyampholytes (copolymers of methacrylic acid with 2‐methyl‐5‐vinylpyridine) demonstrated that the ionic state of polyampholytes is determined by the basicity of methylvinylpyridine groups, which depends on the copolymer composition and solution ionic strength. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 38: 1824–1831, 2000     

Production of specific copolymers of polyhydroxyalkanoates from industrial waste

Polyhydroxyalkanoates, biodegradable plastics with the desired physical and chemical properties of conventional synthetic plastics, are extensively investigated. In this study, specific bacterial strains produced specific copolymers from food waste. Copolymers of HB and HV (poly[3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate]) were obtained using various ratios of butyric acid (C₄) and valeric acid (C₅) as carbon sources. The C₄ to C₅ ratio affected the melting points of the copolymers. Melting and glass transition temperatures and many other thermal properties are important parameters relative to in-service polymer applications. Higher ratios of butyrate to valerate gave higher melting points. When a mixed culture of activated sludge was employed to produce copolymers using food wastes as nutrients, the obtained copolymers showed various monomer compositions. Copolymers with a higher portion of HV were obtained using soy waste; copolymers with less HV were obtained using malt wastes. Pure strains, (i.e., Alcaligenes latus DSM 1122, and DSM 1124, Staphylococcus spp., Klebsiella spp.) produced specific copolymers from food waste. Only Klebsiella spp. produced different copolymers; the ratios of HB:HV were 93:7 and 79:21 from malt waste and soy waste, respectively. The other strains produced polymers of 100% HB. Selecting industrial food wastes as carbon sources can further reduce the cost of producing copolymers. Open Laboratory of Chirotechnology of the Institute of Molecular Technology for Drug Discovery and Synthesis The University Grants Committee Area of Excellence Scheme, Hong Kong     

Line-intersection method for determining the configurational parameters of cross propagation in copolymerization

For the evaluation of the configurational parameters in cross propagation, Σ_s and Σ_p for binary vinyl type copolymers whose monomer units both contain an asymmetric carbon atom in the chain, a method is proposed which relies on intersecting straight lines in a Σ_s versus Σ_p diagram. We define Σ_s = σ_AB + σ_AB and Σ_p = σ_AB·σ_BA, σ being the probability of forming an isotactic enchainment between the monomer units when B adds to a chain ending in A, or A adds to a chain ending in B, respectively. For these definitions it is assumed that σ_AB and σ_BA are not necessarily equal in their numerical values. The method described is applicable to triad probabilities obtained both from copolymers and such homopolymers which have been prepared from copolymers under retention of configuration by a polymer analogous reaction. In this work, triad data have been evaluated which were obtained by NMR from methyl methacrylate-methacrylic acid copolymers, wherein the methyl methacrylate units were pentadeuterated on the α? CH₃ and β? CH₂ groups, as well as from methyl methacrylate homopolymers, the latter being prepared from undeuterated methyl methacrylate-methacrylic acid copolymers by esterification. The approximate values Σ_s = 0.38, Σ_p = 0.02 were obtained for the deuterated copolymers, while Σ_s = 0.392 ± 0.003 and Σ_p = 0.037 ± 0.003 were found for the undeuterated homopolymers.     

Preparation of Ethene/Carbon Monoxide Copolymers Using Copper‐Based Catalysts and Their Characterization by Pyrolysis‐Gas Chromatography

Ethene/carbon monoxide copolymers were prepared using the catalyst system Cu(OAc)₂/dppp (1,3‐bis(diphenylphosphino)propane)/p‐toluenesulfonic acid (p‐TsOH) or BF₃·OEt₂/p‐benzoquinone. Pyrolysis‐gas chromatography proves the alternating structure of the copolymers.     

Investigations on the dissociation behavior of hydrolyzed alternating copolymers of maleic anhydride and alkenes: 13C-NMR spectra and potentiometric titrations

The pK_a values of the succinic acid moieties of hydrolyzed alternating ethene- and isobutene-maleic anhydride copolymers were determined in D₂O. The pD-dependence on the ¹³C chemical shift of selected signals was analyzed for these copolymers. Four different pK_as were determined for the copolymer with ethene due to the existence of both the erythro- and threo-configuration of the succinic acid moiety: pK_01,erythro = 4.2, pK_0.1,threo = 4.1, pK_02,erythro = 6.1, pK_02,threo = 6.8. The isobutene-maleic anhydride copolymer contains only threo-units. Therefore, only two dissociation steps with pK₀₁ = 3.0 and pK₀₂ = 8.7 were observed for the hydrolyzed form. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Synthesis and characterization of copolymers from 4-halo(chloro, bromo) salicylic acid

Copolymers have been prepared by condensing a mixture of either 4-chloro or 4-bromosalicylic acid and any one of the comonomer like salicylic acid,p-hydroxybenzoic acid,p-aminosalicylic acid,p-aminobenzoic acid,p-cresol andp-halo(chloro, bromo)phenol with formaldehyde in the presence of 5M H₂SO₄. Copolymer composition of each of the copolymer has been estimated on the basis of halogen content and/or on the basis of results of non-aqueous titrations of the copolymer against standard sodium methoxide and/or tetra-n-butylammonium hydroxide. The IR spectral characteristics of copolymers have been noted. The viscometric and thermal studies of copolymers have also been carried out.     

Syntheses and polymerization of (meth)acrylates containing spiro ortho ester moieties

Acrylates and methacrylates bearing pendant spiro ortho ester groups ( 3 ) were prepared by the reaction of (meth)acrylic acid with bromomethyl spiro ortho esters ( 2 ) in the presence of 1,8-diazabicyclo [5.4.0] undec-7-ene (DBU). These monomers were copolymerized with styrene (St) at 60°C in the presence of α,α'-azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) to give the corresponding copolymers with M?_n 6000-17000 and their compositions were in proportion to the feed ratios. Similarly, the copolymerization of 3 with acrylonitrile (AN) was carried out at 60°C to obtain the corresponding copolymers with the similar compositions to the feed ratios. Two kinds of 3 -St copolymers with different compositions were treated with BF₃OEt₂ in refluxing methylene dichloride affording the crosslinked polymers quantitatively. Slight expansion in volume was observed during the crosslinking.     

Tuning the sugar‐response of boronic acid block copolymers

A detailed study of the pH‐ and sugar‐responsive behavior of poly(3‐acrylamidophenylboronic acid pinacol ester)‐b‐poly(N,N‐dimethylacrylamide) (PAPBAE‐b‐PDMA) block copolymers is presented. Reversible addition‐fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization of the pinacol ester of 3‐acrylamidophenylboronic acid resulted in homopolymers with molecular weights between 12,000 and 37,000 g/mol. The resulting homopolymers were employed as macro‐chain transfer agents during the polymerization of N,N‐dimethylacrylamide (DMA). Successful chain extension and removal of the pinacol protecting groups to yield poly(3‐acrylamidophenylboronic acid)‐b‐PDMA (PAPBA‐b‐PDMA) with free boronic acid moieties resulted in pH‐ and sugar‐responsive block copolymers that were subsequently investigated for their behavior in aqueous solution. The PAPBA‐b‐PDMA block copolymers were capable of solution self‐assembly due to the PAPBA block being water‐insoluble below its pK_a. The resulting aggregates were demonstrated to solubilize and release model hydrophobic compounds, as demonstrated by fluorescence studies. Dissociation of the aggregates was induced by raising the pH above the pK_a of the boronic acid residues or by adding sugars capable of forming boronate esters. Aggregate size, dissociation kinetics, and the effect of various sugars were considered. The critical sugar concentration needed to induce aggregate dissociation was tuned by incorporation of hydrophilic DMA units within the PAPBA responsive segment to yield PDMA‐b‐poly(3‐acrylamidophenylboronic acid‐co‐DMA) block copolymers. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012     

Synthesis and Properties of Degradable Copolymers Composed of Poly(ε‐caprolactone) and 3,4‐Dihydroxycinnamic Acid

Photoreactive and degradable hyperbranched (HB) copolymers with various 3,4‐dihydroxycinnamic acid (DHCA) compositions, poly(ε‐caprolactone)‐co‐poly(3,4‐dihydroxycinnamic acid) (PCL‐co‐PDHCA), were obtained by thermal melt‐polycondensation of PCL and DHCA. The HB structures and the branching degree (BD) of the PCL‐co‐PDHCA copolymers were confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H NMR). The melting points (T_m) of the PCL‐co‐PDHCA copolymers changed depending on the PCL and DHCA composition by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) measurements. Wide angle X‐ray diffraction (WXRD) analysis showed semi‐crystalline of the PCL and PCL‐co‐PDHCA polymers. The PCL‐co‐PDHCA copolymers showed good photoreactivities and fluorescent properties. Crosslinking of the cinnamoyl groups in the copolymers caused by UV irradiation affected the thermal stability and wettability slightly. Moreover, the hydrolysis experiments revealed that copolymers are facile degradable.     

Conformational behavior of styrene–p-chlorostyrene triblock copolymers in dilute solutions. I. Composition dependence of conformational behavior

Dilute solution properties of (styrene-p-chlorostyrene) triblock copolymers in various solvents were studied over a wide range of molecular weight and composition. Viscosity and osmotic pressure results indicate that the conformational behavior of the B_mA_nB_m and A_mB_nA_m copolymers (A = styrene; B = p-chlorostyrene; m and n denote the number of units) are similar in nonselective solvents such as toluene and 2-butanone, but different in selective solvents such as carbon tetrachloride and cumene. Short-range and long-range interaction parameters of the block copolymers were determined by applying the Stockmayer–Fixman method to viscosity data and also by application of the equation relating the osmotic virial coefficient and the excluded volume. The results show that the unperturbed dimensions of the block copolymers vary linearly with composition, and long-range interaction parameters in nonselective solvents can be expressed by those of the parent homopolymers, the chemical composition, and values of the interaction parameter β_AB between styrene and p-chlorostyrene monomeric units.     

NOVEL COPOLYMERS OF TRISUBSTITUTED ETHYLENES WITH STYRENE. I. 2-HALOPHENYL-1,1-DICYANOETHYLENES

Electrophilic trisubstituted ethylene monomers, 2-halophenyl-1,1-dicyanoethylenes, RC₆H₄CH=C(CN)₂ (where R is o-Cl, m-Cl, p-Cl, p-Br, and p-F) were prepared and copolymerized with styrene. The monomers were synthesized by the piperidine catalyzed Knoevenagel condensation of ring-substituted benzaldehydes and malononitrile, and characterized by CHN elemental analysis, IR, ¹H and ¹³C-NMR. All the ethylenes were copolymerized with styrene (M₁) in solution with radical initiation (AIBN) at 70°C. The compositions of the copolymers were calculated from nitrogen analysis and the structures were analyzed by IR, ¹H and ¹³C-NMR. The order of relative reactivity (1/r ₁) for the monomers is p-Cl (14.8) >m-Cl (2.67)> o-Cl (1.82) > p-Br (1.52) > p-F (1.36). High T _g's of the copolymers (> 150°C) in comparison with that of polystyrene indicate a substantial decrease in the chain mobility of the copolymers due to the high dipolar character of the trisubstituted monomer unit. Gravimetric analysis indicated that the copolymers decompose in the range 300–400°C.     

Effect of comonomer on thermal/mechanical and shape memory property of L‐lactide‐based shape‐memory copolymers

In this study, three kinds of L ‐lactide‐based copolymers, poly(lactide‐co‐glycolide) (PLGA), poly(lactide‐co‐p‐dioxanone) (PLDON) and poly(lactide‐co‐caprolactone) (PLC), were synthesized by the copolymerization of L ‐lactide (L) with glycolide (G), or p‐dioxanone (DON) or ε‐caprolactone (CL), respectively. The copolymers were easily soluble in common organic solvents. The compositions of the copolymers were determined by ¹H‐NMR. Thermal/mechanical and shape‐memory properties of the copolymers with different comonomers were compared. Moreover, the effect of the chain flexibility of the comonomers on thermal/mechanical and shape‐memory properties of the copolymers were investigated. The copolymers with appropriate lactyl content showed good shape‐memory properties where both the shape fixity rate (R_f)and the shape recovery rate (R_r) could exceed 95%. It was found that the comonomers with different flexible molecular chain have different effects on their thermal/mechanical and shape‐memory properties. Among them, PLGA has the highest mechanical strength and recovery rate while PLC copolymer has high recovery rate when the lactyl content exceeded 85% and the lowest transition temperature (T_trans). Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis and characterization of maleimide polymers with pendant pyrazole groups. IV. Copolymerization of pyrazole-modified maleimides with vinyl ethers

The synthesis of maleimides that have pyrazolic or bipyrazolic pendant groups is described. Their homopolymerization and their copolymerization with 2-chloroethyl vinyl ether (CEVE) is reported. The homopolymerizations of such maleimides were performed under various conditions and led to low molecular-weight polymers. However, alternating copolymers were obtained from CEVE as comonomers whatever the monomers feed compositions. A similar behavior was also observed for maleimides that do not exhibit any spacer, whereas for bulky vinyl ethers, random copolymers were produced. A comparison of the thermal behavior between these copolymers (glass transition temperatures, T_g, and decomposition temperatures) and other copolymers having different spacers between the nitrogenated cycles and the chain are related. Thus, an important decrease of T_g, was observed when C₃H₆CO₂CH₂ groups were used as the spacer instead of methylene groups. Moreover, the thermal weakness of these copolymers may come from the substituents of the vinyl ether and is discussed. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Mechanical properties of block copolymer vesicle and micelle modified epoxies

Block copolymers with and without reactive functionalities can improve fracture resistance in brittle epoxies even when added in relatively small amounts (<5 wt %). At certain compositions, amphiphilic block copolymers spontaneously self‐assemble into vesicles, spherical micelles, or wormlike micelles in thermoset resins, and these morphologies are retained with the full curing of the resins. The addition of such block copolymers leaves the glass‐transition temperature of these blends relatively unchanged, whereas the fracture resistance increases up to a factor of 3.5 for the vesicle‐modified blends. For epoxies modified with block copolymers self‐assembled into a spherical geometry (vesicles or spherical micelles), the fracture resistance scales with the ratio of the interparticle distance to the average vesicle (or spherical micelle) diameter (D_i/D_p) and increases as this quantity is reduced. Greater adhesion between the vesicle and epoxy resin improves the fracture resistance only at higher values of D_i/D_p, at which the materials are more brittle. Debonding and subsequent matrix plastic deformation are identified as the toughening mechanisms in these blends. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 41: 2444–2456, 2003     

Novel cyano-containing copolymers of vinyl esters for piezoelectric materials

The synthesis of a series of novel cyano-containing copolymers is described. Alternating copolymers of acrylonitrile with vinyl esters are obtained by increasing the electrophilic character of the nitrile monomers by complexation with zinc chloride. Copolymers of methyl and ethyl α-cyanoacrylates with vinyl esters are prepared using radical initiators in the presence of 7% acetic acid as inhibitor for anionic polymerization. The copolymers of methyl α-cyanoacrylate with the vinyl esters have T_g's above 140°C. Methyl vinylidene cyanide (MVCN) copolymerizes spontaneously with para-substituted styrenes to yield copolymers with high inherent viscosities and high T_g (160°C) and the copolymer of MVCN with vinyl acetate is also synthesized. The pyroelectric constants p for these polymers were measured and the values of p for the copolymers of vinyl acetate with methyl β,β-dicyanoacrylate, methyl α-cyanoacrylate, or MVCN were in the same range as the well-studied vinylidene cyanide/vinyl acetate copolymer. A higher concentration of dipoles generally results in higher T_g's and higher pyroelectric coefficients. © 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Silylation of water glass. II. Synthesis and copolymerization of carbon-functional silylated silicic acid

Carbon-functional silylates were prepared by reacting trialkoxysilanes and trimethylchlorosilane with silicic acid which had been derived from aqueous sodium silicate solution. The trialkoxysilanes used here were polymerizable silanes, i.e., vinyltriethoxysilane, (γ-methacryloyloxypropyl)trimethoxysilane, and (p-vinylphenyl)triethoxysilane. Molecular weights of these silylates containing more than one mole of the functional group ranged from 4000 to 9000. These silylates were found to serve as effective crosslinking agents for vinyl polymerization. However, soluble copolymers could be obtained under appropriate conditions, such as high dilution and low conversion in copolymerization. Glass transition temperatures (T_g) of the soluble copolymers were measured by differential scanning calorimetry to determine the effect of the silylates on the thermal properties of the copolymers. A slight variation of the T_g of these copolymers was observed when small amounts of the silylates were incorporated. It was also noticed that the water repellency of these copolymers was influenced by their composition.     

Synthesis and characterization of ABA-type block copolymer of poly(trimethylene carbonate) with poly(ethylene glycol): Bioerodible copolymer

ABA-type block copolymers of poly(trimethylene carbonate) with poly(ethylene glycol) (M_n 6820), PTMC-b-PEG-b-PTMC, were synthesized by the ring-opening polymerization of 1,3-dioxan-2-one (trimethylene carbonate) in the presence of poly-(ethylene glycol) with stannous octoate catalyst, and the copolymers with various compositions were obtained. The PTMC-b-PEG-b-PTMC copolymers were characterized with Fourier transform infrared and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopies. The intrinsic viscosities of resulting copolymers increased with the increase of 1,3-dioxan-2-one content in feed while the molar ratio of monomer over catalyst kept constant. It has been observed that the glass transition temperature (T_g) of the PTMC segments in copolymers, recorded from differential scanning calorimetry, was dependent on the composition of copolymers. The melting temperature (T_m) of PEG blocks in copolymer was lower than that of PEG polymer, and then disappeared as the length of PTMC blocks increased. The results of dynamic contact angle measurement clearly revealed that the hydrophilicity of resulting copolymers increased greatly with the increase of PEG content in copolymers. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 36: 695–702, 1998     

Synthesis and characterization of poly(succinimide-co-6-aminocaproic acid) by acid-catalyzed polycondensation of L-aspartic acid and 6-aminocaproic acid

The polycondensation of L -aspartic acid ( ASP ) with 6-aminocaproic acid ( ACA ) using o-phosphoric acid produced poly(succinimide-co-6-aminocaproic acid). The yield of the MeOH-insoluble copolymer decreased from 99 to 52% and that of the MeOH-soluble one increased from 9 to 47%, with increasing molar ratio of ACA in the monomer feed. The compositions of the succinimide ( SCI ) unit in the MeOH -insoluble and -soluble copolymers tended to be higher than those of ASP in the monomer feed. The copolymers with the 35 mol % SCI units or above were soluble in DMSO , DMF , and conc- H₂SO₄ , but those with the 20 and 21 mol % SCI units were soluble only in conc-H₂SO₄. The melting temperature appeared for the copolymers with less than 76 mol % SCI units. Poly(succinimide-co-6-aminocaproic acid) was easily hydrolyzed to yield poly(aspartic acid-co-6-aminocaproic acid), and it exhibited biodegradability toward activated sludge. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Thermal stability of poly(vinyl bromide) and vinyl bromide-methyl acrylate copolymers. I

The thermal stability of PVB and five VB-MA copolymers with different compositions was studied by thermogravimetric analysis in dynamic nitrogen. The reactivity ratios of the copolymers were determined by using NMR techniques. It was found that r₁(VB) = 0.5 ± 0.1 and r₂(MA) = 7.3 ± 0.3. The stability of VB increases as the MA concentration in the copolymer compositions increases. Apparently, the formation of lactone and anhydride structures has a stabilizing effect. The stability imparted to the degrading copolymers by lactone and anhydride structures is insufficient to produce stability comparable to that of PMA itself.     

Radical copolymerization of 3-tri-n-butylstannylstyrene with several vinyl monomers

The free radical homopolymerization and copolymerization of 3-tri-n-butylstannylstyrene (3-BTS) with styrene (ST), ethyl acrylate (EA), methyl methacrylate (MMA), vinyl acetate (VA), and acrylonitrile (AN) were carried out using 2,2′-azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) at 60°C. It was found that the yield of conversion to poly(3-BTS) increased with the molar ratio of initiator to monomer as well as with polymerization time. The conversion at equilibrium after 50 h was about 40%. The compositions of copolymer samples were determined from elemental analyses. Monomer reactivity ratio and Q-e values were calculated. The copolymers of 3-BTS-MMA and 3-BTS-AN were found to be alternating. The copolymers of 3-BTS with MMA, EA and AN were not soluble in any of a large number of organic solvents tested. The insolubility is believed to be due to formation of intermolecular coordination among the tributylstannyl moiety and the carbonyl or cyano groups of the polymer. These copolymers, however, were “soluble” in trihaloacetic acid, but this solubility was due to a cleavage of the trialkyltin moiety from the phenyl groups. The glass temperatures, T_g, and melting temperatures T_m, of the various polymers were also studied.