Synthesis of organic‐inorganic hybrid gels by means of thiol‐ene and azide‐alkene reactions

Organic–inorganic hybrid gels have been synthesized from a multi‐vinyl functional cyclic siloxane, 1,3,5,7‐tetravinyltetramethylcyclotetrasiloxane (TVMCTS), or a cubic silsesquioxane, octavinyloctasilasesquioxane (PVOSS), and α,ω‐dithiol compounds, 1,6‐hexanedithiol (HDT), 1,10‐decanedithiol (DDT), using thiol‐ene reaction in toluene. The network structure of the resulting gels, mesh size and mesh size distribution, was quantitatively characterized by means of a scanning microscopic light scattering (SMILS). The gels obtained from TVMCTS‐HDT formed homogeneous network structure with 1.5–1.6 nm mesh. Relaxation peaks derived from large clusters and/or micro gels were detected in the SMILS analysis of the TVMCTS‐DDT, PVOSS‐HDT, and PVOSS‐DDT gels besides those from the small meshes. The organic–inorganic hybrid gels were also synthesized from TVMCTS, PVOSS with α,ω‐diazide compounds, 1,6‐hexanediazide (HDA), 1,10‐decanediazide (DDA), using azide‐alkene reaction in toluene. All the gels obtained with the azide‐alkene reaction formed the homogeneous network structure. Enthalpy relaxation at the glass transition of the dried samples was detected by differential scanning calorimetry to study the network uniformity of the original gels. The gels synthesized by the azide‐alkene reaction showed larger enthalpy than the gels synthesized by the thiol‐ene reaction, indicating homogeneous network structure in the former gels. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2016 , 54, 2229–2238     

Vinyl‐terminated liquid‐crystalline dendrimers based on dendritic polyols and their siloxane‐based elastomers

A new series of side‐chain liquid‐crystalline dendrimers (LCDs) by grafting vinyl‐terminated phenyl benzoate‐based promesogens to a novel polypropyleneimine‐derived dendritic polyols are reported. Polarized optical microscopy and X‐ray diffraction studies show that both the compounds display a smectic‐A (SmA) mesophase. The second‐generation dendrimer bearing eight‐branched promesogens exhibits a more stable SmA mesophase with a wide mesomorphic temperature range. It is demonstrated that “promoting groups” in the structure of LCD for the enhancement of mesomorphic stability are unnecessary in the case of strong anisotropic interactions. In contrast to conventional LCDs, these two compounds possess reactive vinyl terminals that endow them with the potential for the preparation of polymeric materials. For the first time, a type of thermoset elastomers is explored from LCDs via hydrosilylation crosslinking reaction of vinyl terminals and siloxane crosslinker. Two‐dimensional X‐ray diffraction study indicates that the lamellar structures of original dendrimers are reserved in the elastomer networks. Stress–strain curves reveal that these elastomers exhibit excellent elasticity under successive uniaxial compression. The combination of anisotropic structures of rigid units and elasticity of flexible networks in this novel series of elastomers makes them promising candidates for the application in artificial muscles or cartilages. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2013     

Mesomorphic Properties of Some Sitosteryl Esters

The mesomorphic properties of some esters formed by aromatic acids with β-sitosterol are reported. It is shown that para-substituted benzoates are compounds exhibiting enantiotropic cholesteric and some smectic mesophases. Connections between the clearing points of sitosteryl esters and their homologous cholesteryl derivatives are discussed.     

A greener organic chemistry experiment: reduction of citronellal to citronellol using poly(methylhydro)siloxane

Abstract

An undergraduate organic chemistry experiment based on literature reports in which the aldehyde functionality of citronellal is reduced to the primary alcohol is reported. The reducing agent, poly(methylhydro)siloxane (PMHS), is activated via a catalytic amount of fluoride. This polymeric reducing agent can be introduced as a safer, and thus, greener, alternative to sodium borohydride in the undergraduate laboratory setting, as PMHS is stable to air and water. The execution of this experiment requires standard organic chemistry techniques and the reduced substrate is analyzed via IR spectroscopy.     

Facile synthesis of phenyl-rich functional siloxanes from simple silanes

Phenyl-rich silicone polymers are used for their excellent thermal properties and high refractive indices. Traditional syntheses of these polymers utilize cationic or anionic equilibration, which limits the molecular weights that can be achieved due, in part, to the coproduction of cyclic monomers that must be removed. Kinetically controlled processes may reduce the impact of these limitations, but require high temperatures, alkyllithium initiators and an inert atmosphere; precise structures are difficult to access. The Piers-Rubinsztajn reaction, combined with hydrolysis, allows the synthesis of highly ordered, Si-H terminated, phenyl-rich silicone homo- and copolymers comprised of phenylmethyl, diphenyl and, dimethylsilicone monomers. The processes are mild and permit a high level of structural control, including alternating copolymers with different levels of phenyl content (Ph/Si = 0.3–1.5) with molecular weights up to ~100 kDa. Yet higher molecular weights could be achieved—M_n up to 300 kDa—when phenyl-rich siloxanes were incorporated into block copolymers with dimethylsilicones (Ph/Si = 0.4). Unlike kinetic processes in which cyclic byproducts are formed by redistribution or backbiting (particularly at high conversion), in this process cyclics form near the onset of the reaction and only with low molecular weight starting materials (< 4 siloxane units).     

Synthesis and Characterization of Novel Segmented Polyionenes Based on Polydimethylsiloxane Soft Segments

Novel polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) based polyionenes were synthesized by a modified Menschutkin reaction involving reaction between bromo-terminated PDMS oligomers and various ditertiary amino compounds. In this study, the nature of the hard segment was varied by using various ditertiary amino compounds and in some cases by incorporating chain extenders, while the soft segment content was varied by changing the molecular weight of the PDMS oligomers. The mechanical properties of these materials were found to be dependent on both the nature and amount of the hard segments. These materials also showed distinct evidence of a microphase-separated morphology where under normal conditions, the hard segments formed in what are believed to be cylindrical ion-rich microdomains dispersed randomly in the soft PDMS matrix. When subjected to uniaxial deformation, the ionic cylinders were found to orient along their long axes in the stretch direction.     

Formation of 4-N-Arylamino-1-butanol Derivatives from Aromatic Nitro Compounds via a Novel Palladium-Catalyzed Tetrahydrofuran Ring-Opening Reaction

Abstract

4-N-Arylamino-1-butanol derivatives are produced via a palladium-catalyzed tetrahydrofuran ring-opening reaction. This reaction occurs during the reduction of aromatic nitro groups with polymethylhydrosiloxane (PMHS) and potassium fluoride in the presence of hydrogen peroxide. This represents a novel route for the synthesis of 4-N-arylamino-1-butanols.     

Hydrogen bond of radicals: Interaction of HNO with HCO,HNO, and HOO

Ab initio quantum mechanics methods are employed to investigate hydrogen bonding interactions between HNO and HCO, HOO radicals, and closed‐shell HNO. The systems were calculated at MP2/6‐311++G (2d, 2p) level and G2MP2 level. The topological and NBO analysis were investigated the origin of hydrogen bonds red‐ or blue‐shifts. In addition, the comparisons were performed between HNO‐opened‐shell radical (HCO, HOO) complexes and HNO‐corresponding closed‐shell molecule (H₂CO, HOOH) complexes. It is found that the stabilities of complexes increase from HNO‐HCO to HNO‐HOO. There are blue‐shifts of N? H, C? H stretching vibrational frequencies and a red‐shift of O? H stretching vibrational frequency in the complexes. Rehybridization and electron density redistribution contribute to the blue‐shifts of C? H and N? H stretching vibrational frequencies. Compared with the closed‐shell H₂CO, HCO is weaker proton donor and weaker proton acceptor. For the HOO, it is stronger proton donor and weaker proton acceptor than the HOOH is. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2010     

Synthesis of Additives from Montmorillonite to Modify High Density Polyethylene Final Properties

Summary: This work brings about the modification of sodium montmorillonite clay (MNa) by the cationic exchange with hexadecyltrimethylammonium to turn it into organophilic clay (MC₁₆). Subsequently, MC₁₆ was treated with silanes. Three silanes with functional groups of different chemical nature were used. The objective was to determine if the clay could affect high density polyethylene (HDPE) final behavior after being modified with each silane. The following silanes were used: Cl₂Si(CH₃)₂, Cl₂Si(CH₃)(C₆H₅) and Cl₂Si(C₆H₅)₂. Finally, in situ hydrolysis was carried out to generate the respective siloxanes. These materials were characterized by XRD, FTIR and GPC analyses. Each one of these additives was mixed using melt compounding processing in a Haake torque rheometer Rheocord 9000 equipped with a mix chamber and roller rotors at 100 rpm and 190 °C. All hybrids were characterized by XRD, SEM and thermogravimetric analyses. Barrier properties to cyclohexane were also determined by pervaporation experiments. Results from all studies showed that the addition of approximately 3 wt% of clay has changed the macroscopic properties of the above-mentioned composites, as compared with pure HDPE. This can be explained considering the different polymer/filler interactions which take place in each system.     

Separation characteristics of phenyl-containing stationary phases for gas chromatography based on silarylene-siloxane copolymer chemistries

The solvation parameter model is used to characterize the retention properties of five open-tubular column stationary phases (ZB-5 ms, DB-5 ms, DB-XLB, DB-17 ms, and DB-35 ms) based on silarylene-siloxane copolymer chemistries at five equally spaced temperatures over the range 60-140 degrees C. System constant differences and regression models for varied compounds are used to establish the selectivity equivalence of the silarylene-siloxane copolymer stationary phases and to compare their separation characteristics with poly(dimethyldiphenylsiloxane) stationary phases containing a nominally similar concentration of phenyl groups. These studies demonstrate that ZB-5 ms and DB-5 ms are selectivity equivalent. DB-XLB is significantly more dipolar and polarizable than DB-5 ms. In general terms, the silarylenesiloxane copolymer stationary phases are slightly less cohesive and more dipolar and polarizable with similar hydrogen-bond basicity to the poly(dimethyldiphenylsiloxane) stationary phases they were designed to replace. None of the silarylenesiloxane copolymer or poly(dimethyldiphenylsiloxane) stationary phases are hydrogen-bond acidic. Selectivity differences between the two types of stationary phase are temperature dependent and tend to be smaller at higher temperatures within the temperature range studied. Consequently, selectivity differences cannot be globalized without reference to the temperature for the comparison.