Radical copolymerization of acrylonitrile with 2,2,2‐trifluoroethyl acrylate for dielectric materials: Structure and characterization

Radical copolymerization based on acrylonitrile (AN) and 2,2,2‐Trifluoroethyl acrylate (ATRIF) initited by AIBN was investigated in acetonitrile solution. The resulting poly(AN‐co‐ATRIF) copolymers were characterized by ¹H, ¹³C, and ¹⁹F NMR and IR spectroscopy, and size exclusion chromatography (SEC). Their compositions were assessed by ¹H NMR. The kinetics of radical copolymerization of AN with ATRIF was investigated from sereval experiments achieved at 70 °C from initial [AN]₀/[ATRIF]₀ molar ratios ranging between 20/80 and 80/20 and was enabled to determine the reactivity ratios of both comonomers. From the monomer—polymer copolymerization curve, the Fineman–Ross and Kelen–Tüdos laws enabled to assess the reactivity ratios (r_AN= r₁ = 1.25 ± 0.04 and r_ATRIF = r₂ = 0.93 ± 0.05 at 70 °C) while the revised patterns scheme led to r₁₂ = r_AN = 1.03, and r₂₁ = r_ATRIF = 0.78 at 70 °C. In all cases, r_AN x r_ATRIF product was close to unity, which indicates that poly(AN‐co‐ATRIF) copolymers exhibit a random structure. This was also confirmed by the Igarashi's and Pyun's laws which revealed the presence of AN‐ATRIF, AN‐AN, and ATRIF‐ATRIF dyads. The Q and e values for ATRIF were also assessed (Q₂ = 0.62 and e₂ = 0.93). The glass transition temperature values, T_g, of these copolymers increased from 17 to 61 °C as the molar percentage of ATRIF decreased from 77 to 16% in the copolymer. Thermogravimetry analysis of poly(AN‐co‐ATRIF) copolymers showed a good thermal stability compared to that of poly(ATRIF) homopolymer due to incorporation of AN comonomer. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2013 , 51, 3856–3866     

Viologen‐Templated Arrays of Cucurbit[7]uril‐Modified Iron‐Oxide Nanoparticles

Magnetic and fluorescent assemblies of iron‐oxide nanoparticles (NPs) were constructed by threading a viologen‐based ditopic ligand, DPV²⁺, into the cavity of cucurbituril (CB[7]) macrocycles adsorbed on the surface of the NPs. Evidence for the formation of 1:2 inclusion complexes that involve DPV²⁺ and two CB[7] macrocycles was first obtained in solution by ¹H NMR and emission spectroscopy. DPV²⁺ was found to induce self‐assembly of nanoparticle arrays (DPV²⁺?CB[7]NPs) by bridging CB[7] molecules on different NPs. The resulting viologen‐crosslinked iron‐oxide nanoparticles exhibited increased saturation magnetization and emission properties. This facile supramolecular approach to NP self‐assembly provides a platform for the synthesis of smart and innovative materials that can achieve a high degree of functionality and complexity and that are needed for a wide range of applications.     

Facile and efficient generation of quinolone amides from esters using aluminum chloride

Quinolone esters are readily converted into the corresponding amides using aluminum chloride at room temperature in excellent yields and purities. The method is both general and scalable to multi-kilogram quantities.     

Investigation of the electrical properties of a new PPV derivative-based on a sandwich structure for opto-electronic applications

The opto-electronic properties of native poly(p-phenylene vinylene) (PPV) were tuned by the confinement of the π-conjugation and the incorporation of a sulphur group as a spacer in order to obtain a blue-green emitting polymer (PPVS). The energy band gap of the PPVS thin film has been measured by UV-vis absorption spectroscopy and evaluated to 2.87 eV. Current-voltage characteristics and impedance spectroscopy measurements performed on sandwich structures [ITO/PPVS/Al] are used to elucidate the conduction mechanisms. The static electrical characterisations showed a space charge limited conduction (SCLC) and a conductivity with low power frequency behaviour characteristic of a hopping transport in disordered materials. The impedance spectra can be discussed in terms of an equivalent circuit model designed as a parallel resistor R_P and capacitor C_P network in series with a resistor R_S. We extract numerical values of these parameters by fitting experimental data. Their evolution with bias voltages has shown that the SCLC mechanism is characterised by an exponential trap distribution.     

Synthesis of rhenium chelated MAG3 functionalized rosette nanotubes

Rosette nanotubes (RNTs) are discrete nanostructures self-assembled from a guanine–cytosine hybrid motif (G∧C) under aqueous conditions. These materials have substantial design flexibility and a range of applications, which are partly attributed to their diverse surface functionalization. Given the potential for interesting properties resulting from a metal-RNT construct, here we describe an oxorhenium-functionalized RNT. More specifically, we present the synthesis of a twin G∧C motif expressing the mercaptoacetyl triglycine (MAG₃) ligand. We then examine the chelation reaction of the MAG₃ with ReOCl₃(PPh₃)₂ and self-assemble the resulting ReO-MAG₃-G∧C conjugate into RNTs under DMSO and aqueous conditions.     

Calorimetric studies of poly (2-phenoxyethylacrylate)/5CB mixtures

The thermophysical properties of mixtures of poly (2-phenoxyethylacrylate) and 4-cyano-4′-pentyl-biphenyl, 5CB, are investigated using polarizing optical microscopy (POM) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The polymer has a molar mass M _w = 181 000 g mol ^-1 the low molecular mass liquid crystal exhibits a nematic to isotropic transition at 35.3°C and crystallizes below 23°C. The phase diagram exhibits miscibility gaps in certain regions of temperature and composition where coexisting nematic and isotropic phases are found. From a practical point of view when considering the electro-optical applications of these systems, it proves to be useful to know precisely the amount of small liquid crystal molecules dissolved in the polymer matrix and the concentration of polymer in the nematic phase. The former quantity has a mechanical impact due to a plasticizing effect, an optical impact since it changes the polymer refractive index, while the polymer in the nematic phase shifts the transition temperatures influencing the electro-optical response of the liquid crystal. The present work addresses these important aspects using POM and DSC.     

Novel Copolymers of Difluoro Ring-substituted 2-Phenyl-1,1-dicyanoethylenes with 4-Fluorostyrene: Synthesis,Structure and Dielectric Study

Copolymerization of fluorine ring-substituted 2-phenyl-1,1-dicyanoethenes, RC₆H₃CH?C(CN)₂ (R is 2,3-F,F, 2,4-F,F, 2,5-F,F, 2,6-F,F, and 4-CF₃) with 4-fluorostyrene were prepared in the presence of a radical initiator (ABCN) at 70°C. The composition of the copolymers was calculated from nitrogen analysis, and the copolymers were characterized by IR, ¹H and ¹³C-NMR, GPC, DSC, and TGA. The monomer reactivity ratios for 4-fluorostyrene (M₁), r₁ = 0.6 and 2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-1,1-dicyanoethene (M₂), r₂ = 0 were determined from Fineman-Ross plot. The order of relative reactivity (1/r₁) for difluoro-substituted monomers is 2,4-F,F (0.31) > 2,3-F,F (0.25) > 2,5-F,F (0.22) > 2,6-F,F (0.10). DSC curves showed that the copolymers were amorphous with high T _g in comparison with that poly(4-fluorostyrene) indicating a substantial decrease in chain mobility of the copolymer due to the high dipolar character of the trisubstituted ethylene monomer units. From the thermogravimetric analysis, the copolymers began to degrade in the range 214–260°C. The copolymer of 4-fluorostyrene and 2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-1,1-dicyanoethene and poly(4-fluorostyrene) were dielectrically characterized in the range 25–200°C. The dominating relaxation process detected in both materials was the α-relaxation, associated with the dynamic glass transition. The relationship polarity-permittivity was discussed.