RAFT/MADIX copolymerization of vinyl acetate and 5,6‐benzo‐2‐methylene‐1,3‐dioxepane

The synthesis of well‐defined degradable poly(vinyl acetate) analogues is achieved by RAFT copolymerization of 5,6‐benzo‐2‐methylene‐1,3‐dioxepane (BMDO) and vinyl acetate (VAc) using methyl (ethoxycarbonothioyl)sulfanyl acetate (MEA) as controlling agent. Several monomer mixtures with low BMDO contents (<30 mol %) are employed to prepare different copolymers. In all the cases, the evolution of molar masses and the dispersity values (<1.26) confirm the controlled feature of the polymerization. The livingness of the obtained chains is demonstrated by successful chain extension experiments with VAc, although the presence of dead chains is also shown. The introduction of ester groups into the main chain of these P(VAc‐co‐BMDO) copolymers allows their degradation when treated with a mixture of KOH/MeOH in reflux during 2.5 h. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2014 , 52, 104–111     

Synthesis,photopolymerization and adhesive properties of new hydrolytically stable phosphonic acids for dental applications

Novel monomers 2‐(N‐methylacrylamido)ethylphosphonic acid, 6‐(N‐methylacrylamido)hexylphosphonic acid, 10‐(N‐methylacrylamido)decylphosphonic acid, and 4‐(N‐methylacrylamidomethyl)benzylphosphonic acid have been prepared in good yields for use in dental adhesives. They have been fully characterized by ¹H‐NMR, ¹³C‐NMR, ³¹P ‐ NMR, and by HRMS. All monomers are hydrolytically stable in aqueous solution. Free radical homopolymerizations of these monomers have been carried out in solution of ethanol/water (2.5/1:v/v), using 2,2′‐azo(2‐methylpropionamidine) dihydrochloride (AMPAHC) as initiator. They lead to homopolymers in moderate to excellent yields. Structure of the polymers has been confirmed by SEC/MALLS and ¹H‐NMR spectra. The photopolymerization behavior of the synthesized monomers with N,N′‐diethyl‐1,3‐bis(acrylamido)propane has been investigated by DSC. New self‐etch primers, based on these acrylamide monomers, have been formulated. Dentin shear bond strength measurements have shown that primers based on (N‐methylacrylamido)alkylphosphonic acids assure a strong bond between the tooth substance and a dental composite. Moreover, the monomer with the longest spacer group provides the highest shear bond strength. © Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 7074–7090, 2008     

Dynamics of the barium-molecule system within large argon clusters

The effects of adding molecules on the LIF at 540 nm of a barium atom at the surface of an argon cluster (average size 420) has been investigated. We showed that molecules like ethanol,n-hexane and O₂ from stable complexes with ground state barium. In the case of molecules like N₂, CH₄ and SF₆, the collisional quenching of solvated Ba(¹ P) is observed. The large quenching rates obtained are interpreted by a surface mobility of the collisional partners. Moreover, we showed that this collisional quenching leads to the ejection of free Ba(³ P ₁).     

Synthesis of a thermally stable hybrid acene-thiophene organic semiconductor via a soluble precursor

An acene fused-thiophene hybrid p-semiconductor exhibiting high thermal stability has been synthesized via a soluble precursor bearing sterically interacting trimethylsilyl groups. [structure: see text]     

Synthesis of polymerizable poly(alkenoic acid)s via reversible addition fragmentation transfer polymerization for dental applications

The novel polymerizable poly(alkenoic acid)s 1a–1c (expected = 2500, 5000, and 10,000 g/mol) were synthesized in three steps starting from tert‐butyl acrylate. A RAFT polymerization using 2,2‐(thiocarbonylbis(sulfanediyl))bis(2‐methylpropanoic acid) 4 as a chain transfer agent, followed by a Mitsunobu esterification and a deprotection of the tert‐butyl ester groups with trifluoroacetic acid, provided the desired acidic polymers in moderate to good yields. The synthesized polymers were characterized by ¹H NMR spectroscopy and by gel permeation chromatography. The number‐average molecular weights measured for 1a–1c were in good agreement with the expected values. Self‐etch adhesives (SEAs) based on poly(alkenoic acid)s 1a–1c were formulated in order to investigate their adhesive properties. The addition of 1a–1c to a SEA formulation containing 10‐methacryloyloxydecyl dihydrogen phosphate resulted in a strong increase of the shear bond strength (SBS) of a dimethacrylate‐based composite to dentin. No significant influence of the polymer molecular weight on the dentin and enamel SBS was observed. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2016 , 54, 1814–1821     

Observation of ions with energies above 100 keV produced by the interaction of a 60-fs laser pulse with clusters

The x-ray spectra of a plasma generated by heating CO₂ and Ar clusters with high-intensity femtosecond laser pulses with q _las≃10¹⁸ W/cm² are investigated. Spatially resolved x-ray spectra of a cluster plasma are obtained for the first time. Photoionization absorption is observed to influence the spectral line profiles. The recorded features of the x-ray emission spectra definitely indicate the existence of a large relative number of excited ions (≃10⁻²–10⁻³) with energies of 0.1–1 MeV in such a plasma. Possible mechanisms underlying the acceleration of ions to high energies are discussed. It is shown that the experimental results can be attributed to the influence of ponderomotive forces in standing waves generated by the reflection of laser radiation from the clusters. Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 115, 2051–2066 (June 1999)     

Monomers for adhesive polymers. XV. Synthesis,photopolymerization, and adhesive properties of polymerizable β‐ketophosphonic acids

The novel polymerizable β‐ketophosphonic acids 4 , 8 , 10 , and 16 as well as the 9‐(methacryloyloxy)‐nonylphosphonic acid 20 were synthesized in four to eight steps. They were characterized by ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, and ³¹P NMR spectroscopy and by high‐resolution mass spectra. The free‐radical polymerization of 4 , 8 , 10 , and 16 was carried out in a water/ethanol solution, using 2,2′‐azo(2‐methylpropionamidine)dihydrochloride as initiator. To evaluate the reactivity of the acidic monomers 4 , 8 , 10 , 16 , and 20 , their photopolymerization behavior was investigated by photodifferential scanning calorimeter. Copolymerizations with 2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate, glycol dimethacrylate, and N,N′‐diethyl‐1,3‐bis‐(acrylamido)propane were studied. The homopolymerization of the corresponding β‐ketophosphonates and their copolymerization with hydroxyethyl methacrylate were also carried out. Self‐etch adhesives based on the β‐ketophosphonic acids 4 , 8 , 10 , and 16 were able to provide high shear bond strengths (SBSs) of dimethacrylate‐based composite to dentin and enamel. The β‐ketophosphonic acid 8 was also shown to exhibit significantly better adhesive properties than the corresponding phosphonic acid 20 . Indeed, the presence of the carbonyl moiety in the β‐position of the phosphonic acid group led to a strong improvement of the composite SBS to dentin and enamel. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2014 , 52, 3550–3563     

Synthesis and evaluation of new phosphonic,bisphosphonic and difluoromethylphosphonic acid monomers for dental application

Syntheses of novel 5-(methacryloyloxy)pentylphosphonic acid 1, 5-(methacryloyloxy)pentylidenebisphosphonic acid 2 and 1,1-difluoro-5-(methacryloyloxy)pentylphosphonic acid 3 are described. The ability of these monomers to adhere to hydroxyapatite was demonstrated using ³¹P CP-MAS NMR spectroscopy. Their copolymerization with N,N′-diethyl-1,3-bis(acrylamido)propane (DEBAAP) was investigated with photo differential scanning calorimetry. These mixtures exhibit a significantly higher reactivity than DEBAAP alone. Bisphosphonic acid 2 was shown to be significantly more reactive than monomers 1 and 3. Adhesive properties of these monomers were also studied. Adhesives based on bisphosphonic acid 2 and difluoromethylphosphonic acid 3 provide significantly higher dentin shear bond strength than the one based on phosphonic acid 1.