Luminescent supramolecular polymers: Cd2+-directed polymerization and properties

A family of supramolecular polymers was prepared via Cd2+-directed self-assembly polymerization of his (2,2':6',2 ''-terpyridine)-based ligand monomers, using oligofluorenes and triphenylamine as bridges under mild conditions. The polymers were fully characterized using thermogravimetric analysis, inherent viscosity, electrochemical measurements, UV-visible spectroscopy, photoluminescence (PL) and electroluminescence (EL). Polymers with oligofluorenes as spacers exhibited blue emission (434-442 nm) in dimethyl acetamide (DMAc) solution, while polymers with triphenylamine as spacer presented an emission peak at 494 nn in DMAc solution. Complexation polymerization of bis(2,2':6',2 ''-terpyridine)-based ligand monomers with cadmium(II) improved fluorescence quantum yields dramatically, and the film PL quantum yields of these polymers were about 0.38-0.54. Single-layer light-emitting diodes were fabricated with the configuration indium tin oxide (ITO)/polymer/Ca/Al; the EL showed green emission and the onset voltages of the devices were 8-11 V.

Ordering-induced micro-bands in thin films of a main-chain liquid crystalline chloro-poly(aryl ether ketone)

Micro-banded textures developed from thin films of a main-chain thermotropic liquid crystalline chloro-poly(aryl ether ketone) in the melt were investigated using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). selective area electron diffraction, and atomic force microscopy techniques. The micro-banded textures were formed in the copolymer thin films after annealing at temperatures between 320 and 330degreesC, where a highly ordered smectic crystalline phase is formed without mechanical shearing. The micro-banded textures displayed a sinusoidal-like periodicity with a spacing of 150 nm and an amplitude of 2 rim. The long axis of the banded texture was parallel to the b-axis of an orthorhombic unit cell. In the convex regions, the molecular chains exhibited a homeotropic alignment, i.e. the chain direction was parallel to the film normal. In the concave re-ions, the molecular chains possessed a tilted alignment. In addition to the effects of annealing temperatures and times, the thickness of the film played a vital role in the formation of the banded texture. A possible formation mechanism of this banded texture vas also suggested and discussed. It was suggested that the micro-bands were formed during cooling.

Electrochemical and bioelectrochemistry properties of room-temperature ionic liquids and carbon composite materials

Room-temperature ionic liquids (RTILs) are liquids at room temperature and represent a new class of nonaqueous but polar solvents with high ionic conductivity. The conductivity property of carbon nanotubes/RTILs and carbon microbeads/RTILs composite materials has been studied using ac impedance technology. Enzyme coated by RTILs-modified gold and glassy carbon electrodes allow efficient electron transfer between the electrode and the protein and also catalyze the reduction Of O-2 and H2O2,

Synthesis and chirooptical properties of optically active poly(ester imide)s based on axially asymmetric 1,1 '-binaphthyls

A series of optically active poly(ester imide)s (PEsI's) has been synthesized by the polycondensation reactions of new axially asymmetric dianhydrides, that is, (R)-2,2'-bis(3,4-dicarboxybenzoyloxy)-1,1'-binaphthyl dianhydride and (S)-2,2'-bis(3,4-dicarboxybenzoyloxy)-1,1'-binaphthyl dianhydride, and various diamines with aromatic, semiaromatic, and aliphatic structures. The polymers have inherent viscosities of 0.45-0.70 dL/g, very good solubility in common organic solvents, glass-transition temperatures of 124-290 degreesC, and good thermal stability. Wide-angle X-ray crystallography of these polymers shows no crystal diffraction. In comparison with model compounds, an enhanced optical rotatory power has been observed for the repeat unit of optically active PEsI's based on aromatic diamines, and it has been attributed to a collaborative asymmetric perturbation of chiral 1,1'-binaphthyls along the rigid backbones.

A facile synthetic method for biphenyltetracarhoxylic dianhydrides

We report a facile and high-yielding procedure for preparing biphenyltetracarboxylic dianhydrides (BPDAs). This method relies on a nickel-catalyzed electroreductive coupling reaction of dimethyl 3-chorophthalate (3-DMCP) and/or dimethyl 4-chorophthalate (4-DMCP) with subsequent hydrolysis of tetra-ester and dehydration of tetra-acid.

Enantioselective iodolactonization catalyzed by chiral quaternary ammonium salts derived from cinchonidine

Chiral quaternary ammonium salts derived from cinchonidine have been applied to catalyze the stereoselective iodolactonizations of trans-5-aryl-4-pentenoic acids leading to a mixture of two regioselectively iodolactonized products with fair to excellent yield (37-98%) and moderate enantioselectivity (exo = 42.0% ee, endo = 31.0% ee) under mild conditions. This work is the first example of asymmetric iodolactonization reaction in the presence of less than a stoichiometric amount of chiral reagent.

Copolymers derived from bismaleimide oligomer with active solvent

An oligomer from 4, 4'-bis(maleimido)diphenyl methane and methylenedianiline were dissolved in active solvent N,N-dimethyl acrylamide in a solid content up to 50-70%; the solution was poured in a sheet-shaped module and irradiated b y Co-60 with the dose from 20 to 350 kGy at room temperature. The polymerized sheet was postcured at 180degreesC to obtain a transparent red-orange sheet with tensile strength above 100 MPa. The glass transition temperature before and after postcuring was around 100degreesC and 150-180degreesC, respectively. Styrene was used along with DMAA to decrease the water absorption for the copolymers.

Morphology of polyimide fibers derived from 3,3 ',4,4 '-biphenyltetracarboxylic dianhydride and 4,4 '-oxydianiline

As one member of high performance fibers, aromatic polyimide fibers possess many advantages, such as high strength, high modulus, high and low temperature resistance, and radiation resistance. However, the preparation of the high performance fibers is so difficult that the commercial fibers have not been produced except P84 with good flame retardancy. In this report, a polyimide was synthesized from 3,3',4,4'-biphenyltetracarboxylic dianhydride (BPDA) and 4,4'-oxydianiline (ODA) and the fibers were prepared from its solution by a dry-jet wet-spinning process. The formation of the as-spun fibers in different coagulation bath composition was discussed. Scanning electron microscope (SEMI) was employed to study the morphology of the as-spun fibers. As a result, the remnant solvent existed in the as-spun fibers generated from coagulation bath of alcohol and water. There were many fibrils and microvoids with the dimension of tens of nanometers in the fibers. One could observe the obvious fibrillation and the drawn fibers.

Syntheses and properties of soluble biphenyl-based polyimides from asymmetric bis(chlorophthalimide)s

A novel synthesis of asymmetric bis(chlorophthalimide)s (3,4-BCPIs) has been established. The polymerizations of them produced higher molecular weight (0.38-0.51 dL/g) polyimides containing biphenyl units than those of isomeric polymers derived from symmetric bis(chlorophthalimide)s (4,4'-BCPIs) and 3,3'-BCPIs. The distribution of the formed biphenyl units of head to tail, head to head, and tail to tail in the chain of the polymers was about 58.0:21.0:21.0, determined by C-13 NMR spectra of the polymers. The composition of model compounds, determined by HPLC, was well consistent with the 13C NMR spectrum result. Comparing with polymers derived from 4,4'-BCPIs and 3,3'-BCPIs, the polymers derived from 3,4-BCPIs showed better solubilities in N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMAc), N,N-dimethyl-formamide (DMF), and N-methylpyrrolinone (NMP). Flexible films could be cast from the polymer solution with the inherent viscosities of above 0.35 dL/g. The polymer derived from asymmetric bis(chlorophthimide)s gave the highest T-g among the isomeric polymers.

Reagent-controlled asymmetric iodolactonization using cinchona alkaloids as chiral sources

A novel method for reagent-controlled asymmetric iodolactonization of 5-aryl-4-pentenoic acids is reported. This work uses carboxylate ion pairs combined with cinchona alkaloids as chiral sources of carboxylate anion for the first time leading to a mixture of two regio-isomeric iodolactones with moderate enantioselectivity (exo- 18.5% ee, endo-35.0% ee) under mild reaction conditions.

Synthesis and properties of novel polyimides derived from 2,2 ',3,3 '-benzophenonetetracarboxylic dianhydride

A new synthetic route to 2,2',3,3'-BTDA (where BTDA is benzophenonetetracarboxylic dianhydride), an isomer of 2,3',3',4'-BTDA and 3,3',4,4'-BTDA, is described. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis of 2,2',3,3'-BTDA has shown that this dianhydride has a bent and noncoplanar structure. The polymerizations of 2,2',3,3'-BTDA with 4,4'-oxydianiline (ODA) and 4,4'-bis(4-aminophenoxy)benzene (TPEQ) have been investigated with a conventional two-step process. A trend of cyclic oligomers forming in the reaction of 2,2',3,3'-BTDA and ODA has been found and characterized with IR, NMR, matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry, and elemental analyses. Films based on 2,2',3,3'-BTDA/TPEQ can only be obtained from corresponding polyimide (PI) solutions prepared by chemical imidization because those from their polyamic acids by thermal imidization are brittle. PIS from 2,2',3,3'-BTDA have lower inherent viscosities and worse thermal and mechanical properties than the corresponding 2,3',3',4'-BTDA- and 3,3',4,4'-BTDA-based PIs. PIs from 2,2',3,3'-BTDA and 2,3',3',4'-BTDA are amorphous, whereas those from 3,3',4,4'-BTDA have some crystallinity, according to wide-angle X-ray diffraction.

Synthesis and properties of polyimides derived from cis- and trans-1,2,3,4-cyclohexanetetracarboxylic dianhydrides

Cis-1,2,3,4-cyclohexanetetracarboxylic dianhydride (cis-1,2,3,4-CHDA) was synthesized. It was found that under such conditions as heating or boiling in acetic anhydride, cis-1,2,3,4-CHDA could be converted to its trans-isomer. The process of thermal isomerization was monitored by H-1 NMR spectra and the mechanism of conversion was proposed. Their absolute structures of cis- and trans-1,2,3,4-CHDAs were elucidated by single crystal X-ray diffraction. The polycondensations of cis- and trans-1,2,3,4-CHDAs with aromatic diamines such as 4,4'-oxydianiline (ODA), 4,4'-methylenedianiline (MDA), 4,4'-diamino-3,3'-dimethyldiphenylmethane (DMMDA), 4,4'-bis(4-aminophenoxy)benzene (TPEQ), 2,2-bis[4-(4-aminophenoxy)phenyl] propane (BAPP) were studied. It is easy to obtain higher molecular weight polyimides from trans-1,2,3,4-CHDA using conventional one-step or two-step methods. However, higher molecular weight polyimides derived from cis-1,2,3,4-CHDA could not be prepared by the usual methods (solid content ca. 10%) owing to the trend of forming cyclic oligomers.

Thermal mechanical and dynamic mechanical property of biphenyl polyimide fibers

High-performance polyimide fibers possess man), excellent properties, e.g., outstanding thermal stability and mechanical properties and excellent radiation resistant and electrical properties. However, the preparation of fibers with good mechanical properties is very difficult. In this report, a biphenvl polyimide from 3,3',4,4'-biphenyltetracarboxylic dianhydride and 4,4'-oxydianiline is synthesized in p-chlorophenol by one-step polymerization. The solution is spun into a coagulation bath of water and alcohol via dry-jet wet-spinning technology. Then, the fibers are drawn in two heating tubes. Thermal gravimetric analysis, thermal mechanical analysis, and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) are performed to study the properties of the fibers. The results show that the fibers have a good thermal stability at a temperature of more than 400degreesC. The linear coefficient of thermal expansion is negative in the solid state and the glass transition temperature is about 265degreesC. DMA spectra indicate that the tandelta of the fibers has three transition peaks, namely, alpha, beta, and gamma transition. The alpha and gamma transition temperature, corresponding to the end-group motion and glass transition, respectively, extensively depends on the applied frequency, while the beta transition does not.

Synthesis and catalytic application of chiral 1, 1 '-binaphthyl polymers

The synthesis of a new type of polymers with main chain chirality based on BINOL skeleton is described. Titanium-BINOLate catalysts are easily generated from these polymers and applied to the asymmetric reaction of Et2Zn with benzaldehyde. The products are obtained in good yields with moderate enantioselectivities.

Synthesis of PAMAM dendrimers bearing BINOL derivative

New functional dendrimers bearing 4, 8 and 16 axial chiral units on their surface were synthesized from achiral PAMAM dendrimers and axial chiral (R)-BINOL derivative.