Macromolecular engineering of polylactones and polylactides. X. Selective end-functionalization of poly(D,L)-lactide

Functional aluminum alkoxides, such as Et_3–pAl(O? CH₂? X)_p, where p = 1,3 and X = a functional group, are very effective initiators for the (D, L)-lactide polymerization in toluene at 70°C. The coordination-insertion type of polymerization is living. Linear polyesters of a predictable molecular weight and a narrow molecular weight distribution are obtained within the period of time required for the total monomer conversion. The functional group (X) associated with the active alkoxy group of the initiator is selectively and quantitatively attached to one chain end, whereas the second end group is systematically a hydroxyl function resulting from the hydrolysis of the living growing site. Asymmetric telechelic polylactides are thus obtained in a perfectly controlled way. A kinetic study has shown that the polymerization is first order in both the monomer and initiator. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Macromlecular engineering of polylactones and polylactides. XVI. On the way to the synthesis of ω-aliphatic primary amine poly (ϵ-caprolactone) and polylactides

Since bromides are well-known precursors of primary amines, diethylaluminum 12 bromo-1-dodecyl oxide has been prepared and used as an initiator for the ring-opening polymerization of ?-caprolactone and L-lactide. Uner strictly controlled conditions, the end-functionalization of the polyesters in quantitative and the bromo end-group is easily converted into an azide group whatever the polymeric backbone. The subsequent reduction of the azide into the expected primary amine has been investigated by catalytic transfer hydrogenation (CTH) in DMF and by hydrolysis in the presence of triphenylphosphine in THF, respectively.The hydrolysis reaction (PΦ₃/H₂O) is perturbed by a coupling reaction, which involves a protonate secondary amine and leads to a twofold increase in the polyester molecular weight. The CTH method gives rise to the expected ω-NH₂ poly (?-caprolactone), in contrast to polylactide which seems to be unstable toward the nascent amine end group. Whatever the polarity of the medium (DMF or THF), aminolysis of polylactides is observed to occur and leads to the formation of an internal amide. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Macromolecular engineering of polylactones and polylactides. XXV. Synthesis and characterization of bioerodible amphiphilic networks and their use as controlled drug delivery systems

Well-defined α,ω-methacryloyl poly-ε-caprolactone (PCL) and poly(d,l )-lactide P(D,L)LA dimacromonomers have been synthesized by living ring-opening polymerization of the parent monomers initiated by diethylaluminum 2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate (Et₂Al O (CH₂)₂ O C(O) C(CH₃)CH₂) and terminated by reaction of the propagating Al alkoxide groups with methacryloyl chloride. These dimacromonomers have been copolymerized with a hydrophilic comonomer, i.e., 2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate, in bulk at 65°C by using benzoyl peroxide as a free-radical initiator. The swelling ability of the amphiphilic PHEMA/PCL or P(D,L)LA networks has been investigated in both aqueous and organic media. Effect of network composition and molecular weight of the dimacromonomer on the swelling kinetics and the equilibrium solvent uptake has been studied. Lipophilic dexamethasone acetate and the hydrophilic sodium phosphate counterpart have been incorporated into the amphiphilic gels and their release has been studied in relation to the gel characteristics. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 2401–2411, 1999     

Amphiphilic comb-shaped polymers from poly(ethylene glycol) macromonomers

Comb-shaped amphiphilic graft copolymers composed of hydrophobic backbones and hydrophilic side chains were prepared by radical copolymerization of poly(ethylene glycol) monomethacrylate macromonomers, and methacrylate and acrylate comonomers in toluene. The copolymerizations were very sensitive to the reaction conditions, and insoluble cross-linked gels were easily formed. The yields of soluble copolymers were affected by the initiator concentration, the macromonomer concentration, and the choice of chain transfer agents and comonomers. Solubilities of the copolymers in water or methanol were found to depend on the sizes and the numbers of the PEG side chains. The copolymers showed surface activity with CMC:s in the order of 0.1–1.5 g/L and surface tensions of 36–56 dyn/cm. When tested as emulsifiers most of the copolymers gave oil-in-water type emulsions at room temperature. Polymers carrying MPEG 2000 side chains were crystalline with melting points of 38–44°C, while those based on PEG 400 and 1000 were mostly amorphous with glass transition temperatures between -55 and -60°C. © 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Controlled synthesis of amphiphilic block copolymers based on poly(isobutylene) macromonomers

The synthesis of a monoacrylate functionalized poly(isobutylene) (PIB) macromonomer (PIBA) has been achieved by a two‐step reaction starting from a commercially available PIB. Firstly, terminal olefins (vinylidene and trisubstituted olefin) of PIB were transformed to a phenolic residue by Friedel‐Crafts alkylation followed by subsequent esterification of the phenol with acryloyl chloride, catalyzed by triethylamine. PIBA structure was confirmed by ¹H‐NMR, ¹³C‐NMR and GPC before utilizing in the RAFT copolymerization with N,N‐dimethylacrylamide (DMA) to obtain statistical copolymers (P[(DMA‐co‐(PIBA)]). Monomer conversions were consistently higher than 85% for both DMA and PIBA as monomer feed composition was varied. Chain extension of poly(N,N‐dimethylacrylamide) with PIBA to synthesize block copolymers (P[(DMA‐b‐(PIBA)]) was also achieved with near quantitative monomer conversions (>97%). Block formation efficiency was not quantitative but purification of block copolymers was possible by selective precipitation. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2016 , 54, 634–643     

Amphiphilic polymer gel electrolytes. I. preparation of gels based on poly(ethylene oxide) graft copolymers containing different ionophobic groups

Amphiphilic graft copolymers were prepared via the radical copolymerization of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) macromonomers with fluorocarbon or hydrocarbon acrylates in toluene with 2,2′‐azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) as an initiator. ¹H NMR spectroscopy confirmed that the composition of the graft copolymers corresponded well to the monomer feed. For gel electrolytes prepared from the amphiphilic copolymers, the nature of the ionophobic parts of the amphiphilic graft copolymers had a great influence on the ion conductivity. Gel electrolytes based on graft copolymers containing fluorocarbon side chains showed significantly higher ion conductivity than electrolytes based on graft copolymers containing hydrocarbon groups. The ambient‐temperature ion conductivity was about 2.6 mS/cm at 20 °C for a gel electrolyte based on an amphiphilic graft copolymer consisting of an acrylate backbone carrying PEO and fluorocarbon side chains. Corresponding gels based on graft copolymers with PEO side chains and hydrocarbon groups showed an ambient‐temperature ion conductivity of about 1.2 mS/cm. The gel electrolytes contained 30 wt % copolymer and 70 wt % 1 M LiPF₆ in an ethylene carbonate/γ‐butyrolactone (2/1 w/w) mixture. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 39: 2223–2232, 2001     

结构规整的高密度两亲性接枝聚合物刷的合成及其自组装研究

大分子单体通过两种可控聚合方法, 即开环易位聚合(ROMP)和原子转移自由基聚合(ATRP)的联用, 合成一种新型两亲性接枝聚合物刷. 具有高环张力的降冰片烯单侧链大分子单体norbornene-graft-poly(ε-caprolactone)/Br (PCL- NBE-Br)首先进行ROMP反应, 生成聚合物主链, 每个单体单元上含有一条PCL链和一个溴官能团; 然后用含溴的ROMP聚合物poly(norbornene)-graft-poly(ε-caprolactone)/Br (PCL-PNBE-Br)作为大分子引发剂引发单体2-(dimethyl- amino)ethyl methacrylate)的ATRP反应, 生成结构明确的高密度两亲性接枝聚合物刷poly(norbornene)-graft-poly(ε- caprolactone)/poly(2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate) (PCL-PNBE-PDMAEMA), 其主链每个单体单元上均含有一条疏水性PCL接枝链和一条亲水性PDMAEMA接枝链. 最后, 研究此类高密度两亲性接枝聚合物刷的自组装行为, 用动态激光光散射(DLS)研究其在混合溶剂(THF/H2O)中的胶束行为, 考察胶束溶液的浓度以及不同长度的亲水性接枝链对胶束尺寸的影响; 利用透射电镜(TEM)观察胶束为球形, 具有类似线团或草莓状的形态.     

Two‐sided comb poly(amic ester)–poly(propylene oxide) graft copolymers as porous polyimide precursors

New step‐growth graft block copolymers were synthesized. These two‐sided comb copolymers consisted of a poly(amic ester) (PAE) backbone and pendant poly(propylene oxide) (PPO) grafts. The copolymers were made via a macromonomer approach, in which the 4,6‐bischlorocarbonyl isophthalic acid bis[poly(propylene oxide)] ester macromonomer was synthesized through the reaction of hydroxyl‐terminated PPO oligomers with pyromellitic dianhydride and oxalyl chloride. This macromonomer was subsequently used in step‐growth polymerization with comonomers 4,6‐bischlorocarbonyl isophthalic acid diethyl ester, 2,5‐bischlorocarbonyl terephthalic acid diethyl ester, and 2,2‐bis[4‐ (4‐aminophenoxy)phenyl] hexafluoropropane, and this yielded PPO‐co‐PAE graft copolymers. Accordingly, we report the synthesis and characterization of the PPO oligomer, the PPO macromonomer, and their corresponding PPO‐co‐PAE graft copolymers. Graft copolymers with PPO concentrations of 3–26 wt % were synthesized. These polymers were thermally cured to produce polyimide/PPO composites. The thermolysis of these polyimide/PPO composites yielded porous polyimide films with porosities ranging of 4–22.5%. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 2266–2275, 2005     

Conducting graft copolymers of poly(3‐methylthienyl methacrylate) with pyrrole and thiophene

A thiophene‐functionalized methacrylate monomer (3‐methylthienyl methacrylate) was synthesized via the esterification of 3‐thiophene methanol with methacryloyl chloride. The methacrylate monomer was polymerized by free‐radical polymerization in the presence of azobisisobutyronitrile as the initiator. Graft copolymers of poly(3‐methylthienyl methacrylate) (PMTM2) and polypyrrole and of PMTM2 and polythiophene were synthesized by constant‐potential electrolyses. p‐Toluene sulfonic acid, sodium dodecyl sulfate, and tetrabutylammonium tetrafluoroborate were used as the supporting electrolytes. PMTM2‐coated platinum electrodes were used as anodes in the polymerization of pyrrole and thiophene. Moreover, the oxidative polymerization of poly(3‐methylthienyl methacrylate) (PMTM1) was studied with FeCl₃ as the oxidant. The self‐polymerization of PMTM1 was also investigated by galvanostatic electrolysis both in dichloromethane and in propylene carbonate. The structures of PMTM1 and PMTM2 were investigated by several spectroscopic and thermal methods. The grafting process was elucidated with conductivity measurements, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, and scanning electron microscopy studies. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 4131–4140, 2002     

Synthesis of functional graft copolymers by solution copolymerization and their evaluation as dispersants in nonaqueous phase dispersion polymerization

The poly(HEMA‐co‐MMA‐g‐PMMA) graft copolymer was prepared with a poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) macromonomer, 2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA), and methyl methacrylate (MMA), and its application as a dispersant for the nonaqueous phase dispersion polymerization of polystyrene (PST) was investigated. Monodisperse PST particles were obtained with two‐dimensionally tailored graft copolymers, with the number of grafted chains controlled and the polar component (HEMA) in the backbone chains balanced. As for the reactor, a stirred vessel with moderate agitation yielded uniform polymer particles, whereas sealed glass ampules with an overturning motion yielded broader size distributions. Increasing the polarity of the solvent in the continuous phase yielded smaller polymer particles with a gradual deterioration of monodispersity. Uniform polymer particles with a coefficient of variation of less than 6% were obtained up to 30 wt % solid contents. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 1788–1798, 2003     

Star-graft copolymers. Synthesis of amphiphilic graft copolymers with star-branched poly(oxyethylene) side chains

The synthesis of novel amphiphilic star-graft (SG) copolymers containing hydrophilic poly(oxyethylene) (PEO) side chains attached to a hydrophobic backbone by multifunctional entity is reported. In a first step poly(phthalimidoacrylate-co-styrene) was converted into polymers containing different number of multifunctional branching cites distributed along the main chain by partial aminolysis of the phthalimidoacrylate units with tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane. In the second step, these reactive copolymers yielded SG copolymers with different number of star-shaped PEO side groups by reaction with isocyanato terminated methoxy–PEO. The copolymers were characterized by size-exclusion chromatography, IR-, and NMR-spectroscopy. Their thermal properties were examined by thermal gravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry. The studies indicate that the grafting degree and hydrogen bonding determine to a great extent the behavior of the SG copolymers in solid state and in solution. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 35: 673–679, 1997     

Synthesis of graft copolymers with “V‐shaped” and “Y‐shaped” side chains via controlled radical and anionic polymerizations

A combination of nitroxide‐mediated radical polymerization and living anionic polymerization was used to synthesize a series of well‐defined graft (co)polymers with “V‐shaped” and “Y‐shaped” branches. The polymer main chain is a copolymer of styrene and p‐chloromethylstyrene (PS‐co‐PCMS) prepared via nitroxide‐mediated radical polymerization. The V‐shaped branches were prepared through coupling reaction of polystyrene macromonomer, carrying 1,1‐diphenylethylene terminus, with polystyryllithium or polyisoprenyllithium. The Y‐shaped branches were prepared throughfurther polymerization initiated by the V‐shaped anions. The obtained branches, carrying a living anion at the middle (V‐shaped) or at the end of the third segment (Y‐shaped), were coupled in situ with pendent benzyl chloride of PS‐co‐PCMS to form the target graft (co)polymers. The purified graft (co)polymers were analyzed by size exclusion chromatography equipped with a multiangle light scattering detector and a viscometer. The result shows that the viscosities and radii of gyration of the branched polymers are remarkably smaller than those of linear polystyrene. In addition, V‐shaped product adopts a more compact conformation in dilute solution than the Y‐shaped analogy. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 4013–4025, 2007     

Functionalization of polyethylene based on metallocene catalysis and its application to syntheses of new graft copolymers possessing polar polymer segments

The control of hydroxylated polyethylene (PE) structures was investigated in the copolymerization of ethylene with allyl alcohol or 10-undecen-1-ol with a specific metallocene, methylaluminoxane, and trialkyl aluminum catalyst system through changes in the copolymerization conditions. The incorporation of allyl alcohol into the PE backbones was controllable through changes in the trialkyl aluminum, leading to terminally hydroxylated PE or a copolymer possessing hydroxyalkyl side chains. The copolymerization of ethylene with 10-undecen-1-ol gave copolymers with hydroxyalkyl side chains of various contents with a variety of molecular weights through changes in the copolymerization conditions. The obtained copolymers were useful as macroinitiators that allowed polar polymer segments to grow on the PE backbones, leading to the creation of graft copolymers that possessed PE and polar polymer segments. In this way, polyethylene-g-poly(propylene glycol) (PE-g-PPG) and polyethylene-g-poly(ϵ-caprolactone) (PE-g-PCL) were synthesized. The ¹³C NMR analysis of PE-g-PPG suggested that all the hydroxyl groups were consumed for propylene oxide polymerization, and transmission electron microscopy demonstrated nanoorder phase separation and indistinct phase boundaries. ¹³C NMR and gel permeation chromatography analyses indicated the formation of PE-g-PCL, in which 36–80 mol % of the hydroxyl groups worked as initiators for ϵ-caprolactone polymerization. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 3657–3666, 2003     

聚乳酸-聚乙二醇-聚乳酸三嵌段共聚物的降解性能

以辛酸亚锡为引发剂,聚乙二醇大分子为共引发剂进行现交酯开环聚合,制备了系列聚乳酸（PLA）－聚乙二醇（PEG）－聚乳酸（PLA）三嵌段共聚物。从共聚物在生理盐水 中降解时特性粘度[η],质量和热行为的变化,考察了PEG分子量和丙交酯／PEG（摩尔比）对共聚物降解行为的影响,结果表明,PEG嵌段对共聚物的降解速率有重要影响,丙交酯／PEG一定时,PEG分子量越大,共聚物越容易降解,PEG嵌段长度一定时,丙交酯／PEG越大,共聚物降解速率越小。     

Synthesis and characterization of poly-α,β-[N-(2-hydroxyethyl)-L-aspartamide]-g-poly(glycolide) amphiphilic graft copolymers as potential drug carriers

A series of biodegradable amphiphilic graft polymers were successfully synthesized by grafting poly(glycolide) (PGA) sequences onto a water-soluble poly-α,β-[N-(2-hydroxyethyl)-_L-aspartamide] (PHEA) backbone. These novel graft polymers were synthesized by the ring-opening polymerization initiated by the macroinitiator PHEA bearing hydroxyl groups without adding any catalyst. The graft polymers were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (¹H NMR), combined size-exclusion chromatography (SEC) and multiangle laser light scattering (MALLS) analysis, and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). By controlling the feed ratio of the macroinitiator to the monomer, graft polymers with different branch lengths can be obtained. The degradation behaviors of the copolymers were studied. Based on the amphiphilicity of the graft copolymers, nanoparticle drug delivery systems were prepared by the direct dissolution method and the dialysis method, and the in vitro drug release behavior was investigated. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images demonstrated that these nanoparticles were regularly spherical in shape. The particle size and distribution of the nanoparticles were measured.     

Amphiphilic poly(N,N-dimethylamino-2-ethyl methacrylate)-g-poly(ε-caprolactone) graft copolymers: synthesis and characterisation

Amphiphilic poly(N,N-dimethylamino-2-ethyl methacrylate)-g-poly(ε-caprolactone) graft copolymers (PDMAEMA-g-PCL) with various compositions and molecular weights were synthesised via a fully controlled three-step strategy. First, poly(ε-caprolactone) macromonomers (PCLMA) were prepared by ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of ε-caprolactone (CL) initiated by aluminum triisopropoxide (Al(OⁱPr)₃), followed in a second step by quantitative esterification of PCL hydroxy end-groups with a methacrylic acid derivative. Finally, the controlled copolymerization of PCLMA and N,N-dimethylamino-2-ethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA) was carried out by atom transfer radical polymerisation (ATRP) in THF at 60 °C using CuBr ligated with 1,1,4,7,10,10, hexamethyl triethylenetetramine and ethyl 2-bromoisobutyrate as catalyst and initiator, respectively. Furthermore, PDMAEMA-g-PCL graft copolymers were reacted with methyl iodide to convert the pendant tertiary amines into quaternary ammonium iodides increasing accordingly their water solubility. Some preliminary experiments was further carried out by tensiometry and dynamic light scattering in order to shed so light on the tensioactive behaviour of these amphiphilic graft copolymers (with protonated amines or quaternary ammonium cations).     

Novel amphiphilic graft copolymers bearing hydrophilic poly(acrylic acid) backbones and hydrophobic poly(butyl methacrylate) side chains

A novel amphiphilic graft copolymer consisting of hydrophilic poly(acrylic acid) backbones and hydrophobic poly(butyl methacrylate) side chains was synthesized by successive atom transfer radical polymerization followed by hydrolysis of poly‐(methoxymethyl acrylate) backbone. A grafting‐from strategy was employed for the synthesis of graft copolymers with narrow molecular weight distributions (polydispersity index < 1.40). Hydrophobic side chains were connected to the backbone through stable C? C bonds instead of ester connections. Poly(methoxymethyl acrylate) backbone was easily hydrolyzed to poly(acrylic acid) backbone with HCl without affecting the hydrophobic side chains. The amphiphilic graft copolymer could form stable micelles in water. The critical micelle concentration in water was determined by a fluorescence probe technique. The morphology of the micelles was preliminarily explored with transmission electron microscopy and was found to be spheres. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 6857–6868, 2006     

Effect of the structure of amphiphilic poly(ethylene glycol)‐containing graft copolymers on styrene emulsion polymerization

Amphiphilic graft copolymers consisting of monomeric units of poly(ethylene glycol) monomethyl ether acrylate, lauryl or stearyl methacrylate, and 2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate were synthesized and characterized. The effectiveness of these poly(ethylene glycol)‐containing graft copolymers in stabilizing styrene emulsion polymerization was evaluated. The polymerization rate (R_p) increases with increasing graft copolymer concentration, initiator concentration, or temperature. At a constant graft copolymer concentration, R_p increases, and the amount of coagulum decreases with the increasing hydrophilicity of graft copolymers. The polymerization system does not follow Smith–Ewart case II kinetics. The desorption of free radicals out of latex particles plays an important role in the polymerization kinetics. The overall activation energy and the activation energy for the radical desorption process are 85.4 and 34.3 kJ/mol, respectively. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 1608–1624, 2002     

Synthesis of amphiphilic and thermosensitive graft copolymers with fluorescence P(St‐co‐(p‐CMS))‐g‐PNIPAAM by combination of NMP and RAFT methods

A three‐step process, combining nitroxide‐mediated polymerization (NMP) and reversible addition‐fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization techniques, for synthesizing well‐defined amphiphilic and thermosensitive graft copolymers with fluorescence poly(styrene‐co‐(p‐chloromethylstyrene))‐g‐poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) (P(St‐co‐(p‐CMS))‐g‐PNIPAAM), was conducted. Firstly, the NMP of styrene (St) and p‐chloromethylstyrene (p‐CMS) were carried out using benzoyl peroxide (BPO) as the initiator to obtain the random copolymers of P(St‐co‐(p‐CMS)). Secondly, the random copolymers were converted into macro‐RAFT agents with fluorescent carbazole as Z‐group through a simple method. Then the macro‐RAFT agents were used in the RAFT polymerization of N‐isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAM) to prepare fluorescent amphiphilic graft copolymers P(St‐co‐(p‐CMS))‐g‐PNIPAAM with controlled molecular weights and well‐defined structures. The copolymers obtained were characterized by gel permeation chromatography (GPC), ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, and FT‐IR spectroscopy. The size of self‐assembly micelles of the resulting graft copolymers in deionized water was studied by high performance particle sizer (HPPS), the results showed that the Z‐average size of the micelles increased with the increase of molecular weights of PNIPAAM in side chains. The aqueous solution of the micelles prepared from P(St‐co‐(p‐CMS))‐g‐PNIPAAM using a dialysis method showed a lower critical solution temperature (LCST) at ～ 27.5 °C, which was below the value of NIPAAM homopolymer (32 °C). © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 5318–5328, 2007