Topological polymer chemistry by programmed self-assembly and effective linking chemistry

Ongoing challenges in topological polymer chemistry are reviewed. In particular, we focus on recent developments in an “electrostatic self-assembly and covalent fixation (ESA–CF)” process in conjunction with effective linking/cleaving chemistry including a metathesis process and an alkyne–azide click reaction. A variety of novel cyclic polymers having specific functional groups and unprecedented multicyclic macromolecular topologies have been realized by combining intriguing synthetic protocols.     

Preparation and Photophysical and Photoelectrochemical Properties of a Covalently Fixed Porphyrin–Chemically Converted Graphene Composite

Chemically converted graphene (CCG) covalently linked with porphyrins has been prepared by a Suzuki coupling reaction between iodophenyl‐functionalized CCG and porphyrin boronic ester. The covalently linked CCG–porphyrin composite was designed to possess a short, rigid phenylene spacer between the porphyrin and the CCG. The composite material formed stable dispersions in DMF and the structure was characterized by spectroscopic, thermal, and microscopic measurements. In steady‐state photoluminescence spectra, the emission from the porphyrin linked to the CCG was quenched strongly relative to that of the porphyrin reference. Fluorescence lifetime and femtosecond transient absorption measurements of the porphyrin‐linked CCG revealed a short‐lived porphyrin singlet excited state (38 ps) without yielding the porphyrin radical cation, thereby substantiating the occurrence of energy transfer from the porphyrin excited state to the CCG and subsequent rapid decay of the CCG excited state to the ground state. Consistently, the photocurrent action spectrum of a photoelectrochemical device with a SnO₂ electrode coated with the porphyrin‐linked CCG exhibited no photocurrent response from the porphyrin absorption. The results obtained here provide deep insight into the interaction between graphenes and π‐conjugated systems in the excited and ground states.     

Enhanced tunnel magnetoresistance due to spin dependent quantum well resonance in specific symmetry states of an ultrathin ferromagnetic electrode

Spin dependent quantum well resonance has been investigated in fully epitaxial magnetic tunnel junctions with Fe(001)/MgO(001)/ultrathin Fe(001)/Cr(001) structure. The dI/dV spectra clearly show the resonant peaks which shift systematically depending on the thickness of an ultrathin electrode as predicted in ab initio calculation [Zhong-Yi Lu et al, Phys. Rev. Lett. 94, 207210 (2005)]. The magnetotransport is strongly modulated at the same bias voltage as the resonant peaks. This control of the magnetotransport in magnetic tunnel junctions at a specific bias voltage will contribute to the development of active spintronic devices.     

Adsorption Characteristics in Reversed-Phase Liquid Chromatography Using Ethanol/Water Mixed Solvent

Adsorption characteristics were studied in a reversed-phase liquid chromatography consisting of an octadecylsilyl (ODS)-silica gel and ethanol/water mixture (70/30, v/v), and were compared with corresponding results obtained by using methanol/water and acetonitrile/water mixtures (70/30, v/v) as mobile phase. Similar tendencies were observed for some adsorption characteristics in the three chromatographic systems. However, the magnitude of the characteristics was not entirely identical in the three systems. Surface diffusion was dominant for intraparticle diffusion in the ODS-silica gel particles irrespective of the type of the organic modifiers in mobile phases. A few correlations were confirmed with regard to surface diffusion, i.e., an enthalpy-entropy compensation and a linear free-energy relation. The analogous correlations on surface diffusion phenomena suggest the similarity in the mechanism of surface diffusion in the three chromatographic systems.     

Synthesis,structure, and swelling behavior of two-component copolymer networks

A two-component copolymer network comprising polystyrene (PS) and poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) as copolymer components was prepared by cross-linking PS with telechelic PDMS with a new method. The microphase structure of the dry PS/PDMS network was found to be irregular from DSC and small angle X-ray scattering measurements. The swelling behavior was observed in three kinds of mixed solvents which were chosen so as to contrast with one another in respect of solubility of the component polymers. The observed swelling degree depended on the solvent composition in a manner peculiar to the respective mixed solvent systems. The Flory swelling equation extended to the two-component polymer network qualitatively reproduced the experimental swelling behavior.     

Self‐Assembly and Covalent Fixation for Topological Polymer Chemistry

A novel methodology (electrostatic self‐assembly and covalent fixation) has been proposed for designing various nonlinear polymer topologies, including monocyclic and polycyclic polymers, cyclic macromonomers and cyclic telechelics (kyklo‐telechelics), a‐ring‐with‐a‐branch topology polymers and polymeric topological isomers, as well as branched model polymers, such as star polymers and polymacromonomers. Thus, new telechelic polymer precursors having a moderately strained cyclic onium salt group as single or multiple end groups and carrying multifunctional carboxylates as the counterions were prepared through an ion‐exchange reaction. A variety of electrostatic self‐assemblies of these polymer precursors, formed particularly in dilute organic solution, was then subjected to heat in order to convert the ionic interactions into covalent linkages by ring‐opening reaction, and to produce topologically unique, nonlinear polymer architectures in high efficiency.     

Constituents of a fern, Davallia mariesii Moore. II. Identification and 1H- and 13C-nuclear magnetic resonance spectra of procyanidin B-5, epicatechin-(4 beta----8)-epicatechin-(4 beta----6)-epicatechin, and epicatechin-(4 beta----6)-epicatechin-(4 beta----8)-epicatechin-(4 beta----6)-epicatechin.

Procyanidin B-5 (1), epicatechin-(4 beta----8)-epicatechin-(4 beta----6)-epicatechin (2), and epicatechin-(4 beta----6)-epicatechin-(4 beta----8)-epicatechin-(4 beta----6)-epicatechin (3), which showed an inhibitory effect toward protein kinase C, were isolated from the rhizomes of Davallia mariesii Moore. Detailed analyses of their 1H- and 13C-nuclear magnetic resonance spectra were carried out by the use of two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance techniques.     

Enantioselective polymerization of γ-benzyl-DL-glutamate N-carboxy anhydride in the presence of poly(γ-benzyl-L-glutamate)

The polymerization of γ-benzyl-DL -glutamate NCA in the presence of poly(γ-benzyl-L -glutamate) was investigated. At the initial stage the D -enantiomer was preferentially polymerized (ca. 35% ee) by using triethylamine as an initiator. Enantioselectivity was independent of the molecular weight of preformed poly(γ-benzyl-DL -glutamate).