Minimizing Constant Mean Curvature Hypersurfaces in Hyperbolic Space

We study the constant mean curvature (CMC) hypersurfaces in whose asymptotic boundaries are closed codimension-1 submanifolds in . We consider CMC hypersurfaces as generalizations of minimal hypersurfaces. We naturally generalize some notions of minimal hypersurfaces like being area-minimizing, convex hull property, exchange roundoff trick to CMC hypersurface context. We also give a generic uniqueness result for CMC hypersurfaces in hyperbolic space.     

[1,2,5]thiadiazolo[3,4‐g]quinoxaline acceptor‐based donor–acceptor–donor‐type polymers: Effect of strength and size of donors on the band gap

Electrochromic polymers based on [1,2,5]thiadiazolo[3,4‐g]quinoxaline acceptor and thiophene, 3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene and 3,3‐didecyl‐3,4‐proylenedioxythiophene donors, namely poly(6,7‐diphenyl‐4,9‐di(thiophen‐2‐yl)‐[1,2,5]thiadiazolo[3,4‐g]quinoxaline) ( P1 ), poly(4‐(2,3‐dihydrothieno[3,4‐b][1,4]dioxin‐5‐yl)‐9‐(2,3‐dihydrothieno[3,4‐b][1,4]dioxin‐7‐yl)‐6,7‐diphenyl‐[1,2,5]thiadiazolo[3,4‐g]quinoxaline) ( P2 ), and poly(4‐(3,3‐didecyl‐3,4‐dihydro‐2H‐thieno[3,4‐b][1,4]dioxepin‐6‐yl)‐9‐(3,3‐didecyl‐3,4‐dihydro‐2H‐thieno[3,4‐b][1,4]dioxepin‐8‐yl)‐6,7‐diphenyl‐[1,2,5]thiadiazolo[3,4‐g]quinoxaline) ( P3 ), respectively, were electrochemically and/or chemically synthesized and characterized. Electrochemical and optical properties of the polymers were then investigated. The results, which were obtained electrochemically and optically, indicate that the polymers bearing the same acceptor and different donor units have a band gap range of 0.59–1.24 eV depending on the strength and size of the donor units and band gap determination method. A significant finding in this study was the phenomenon that when the acceptor is physically huge, the general rule that a weak donor would have a high band gap whereas a strong donor would have low band gap can be broken due to the torsional angles/steric hindrances involved with physically large donor molecules. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2017 , 55, 3483–3493     

Low‐Fouling Fluoropolymers for Bioconjugation and In Vivo Tracking

The conjugation of hydrophilic low‐fouling polymers to therapeutic molecules and particles is an effective approach to improving their aqueous stability, solubility, and pharmacokinetics. Recent concerns over the immunogenicity of poly(ethylene glycol) has highlighted the importance of identifying alternative low fouling polymers. Now, a new class of synthetic water‐soluble homo‐fluoropolymers are reported with a sulfoxide side‐chain structure. The incorporation of fluorine enables direct imaging of the homopolymer by ¹⁹F MRI, negating the need for additional synthetic steps to attach an imaging moiety. These self‐reporting fluoropolymers show outstanding imaging sensitivity and remarkable hydrophilicity, and as such are a new class of low‐fouling polymer for bioconjugation and in vivo tracking.     

Study of Solution Polymerization of Styrene in the Presence of Poly(ethylene glycol)-RAFT Agents Possessing Benzoyl Xanthate Derivatives

In this work, Macro-Reversible addition fragmentation termination (RAFT) agents based on poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) possessing different molecular weights and bearing benzoyl xanthate moieties were synthesized by the reaction of PEG potassium xanthate salts with benzoyl chloride, 4-methyl benzoyl chloride and 4-chloro benzoyl chloride. Controlled free radical polymerization of the styrene were carried out in the presence of these macro-RAFT agents using 2,2′-azobisizsobutyronitrile (AIBN) as an initiator to yield PS-b-PEG-b-PS block copolymers. The linear kinetic plot ln [M]_o/[M] vs. polymerization time indicated that was first order with reference to monomer concentration. The block copolymerization possessed controlled/living character. The controlled character of the RAFT polymerization of the styrene was confirmed by the formation of narrow polydispersity of the polymers, linear increases in the molecular weight with polymerization time and molecular weight of the products that agreed well with theoretical values. Polymers having relatively narrow molecular weight distributions and predetermined number average molecular weights were obtained by the RAFT polymerization of the styrene. However, molecular weights of the polymers deviated from the theoretical values when low molecular weight RAFT agents are used. The results indicate that PEG benzoyl xanthate RAFT agents can more efficiently control the polymerization comparing methyl or chlorobenzoyl derivatives. The block copolymers were characterized by spectroscopic and GPC methods.     

Polysiloxane‐containing benzoxazine moieties in the main chain

Polysiloxanes containing thermally curable benzoxazine units in the main chain have been synthesized. For this purpose, first the diallyl functional benzoxazine monomer is synthesized through the Mannich and respective ring closing reactions of 4,4′‐isopropylidenediphenol (bisphenol A), formaldehyde, and allyamine. Subsequent hydrosilylation reaction of the resulting allylic monomer (B‐ala) with 1,1,3,3‐tetramethyldisiloxane (TMDS) in the presence of Pt catalyst yields the corresponding oligo(B‐ala‐tetramethyldisiloxane)s (OBTMDS). Using the anionic polymerization route, OBTMDS was then converted to poly(bisbenzoxazinedimethylsiloxane)s (PBDMSs) by reacting with readily available cyclic oligomer octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane (D4) or decamethylcyclopentasiloxane (D5) in the presence of tetrabutylammonium hydroxide as catalyst. The structures of the precursor diallyl monomer, the intermediate oligomer, and the resulting polymers are confirmed by Fourier transform infrared and ¹H NMR analysis. Curing behavior of the products at various stages has also been studied by differential scanning calorimetry. Flexible transparent films of the PBDMSs are obtained by solvent casting. Thermal properties of the cured polymers are also investigated by thermogravimetric analysis. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2010     

Synthesis,characterization, and properties of new thermally curable polyetheresters containing benzoxazine moieties in the main chain

High molecular weight polyetheresters (PEE) containing thermally curable benzoxazine units in the main chain have been synthesized. For this purpose, first the diol functional monomer is synthesized through the Mannich reaction of 4,4′‐isopropylidenediphenol (bisphenol A), formaldehyde, and 2‐(2‐aminoethoxy)ethanol. Polycondensation of the resulting benzoxazine dietherdiol with adipoyl chloride and terephthaloyl dichloride in the presence of triethyl amine yields the corresponding PEE with the molecular weights of 34.000 Da. The structures of the precursor diol monomer and the resulting PEEs are confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (¹H‐NMR) analysis. Curing behavior of both the monomer and polymers has also been studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Flexible free standing transparent films of the PEEs are obtained by solvent casting from dichloromethane solution on Teflon plates. The films preserve shape and, to some extent, toughness after thermal curing between 140 and 220 °C. Thermal properties of the cured polymers are also investigated by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 414–420, 2008