The study of synthesis of poly(ethylene oxide)-b-poly(N,N-dimethylacrylamide) by atom transfer radical polymerization and self-assembly in selective solvents

Poly( ethylene oxide)-b-poly(N, N-dimethylacrylamide) (PEO-b-PDMA) was synthesized by successive atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of N, N-dimethylacrylamide (DMA) monomer using PEO-Br macro initiators as initiator, CuBr and 5,5,7,12,12,14-hexamethyl-1,4,8,11-tetraazamacrocyclotetra decane (Me-6[14] aneN(4)) as catalyst and ligand. PEO-Br macroinitiator was synthesized by esterification of PEO with 2-bromoisobutyryl bromide. GPC and H-1 NMR studies show that the plot of ln([DMA](0)/[ DMA]) against the reaction time is linear, and the molecular weight of the resulting PDMA increased linearly with the conversion. Within 3 h, the polymerization can reach almost 60% of conversion. PEO-b-PDMA copolymer with low polydispersity index (M-w/M-n approximate to 1.1) is obtained. Self-assembly of PEO-b-PDMA in selective solvents is also studied. It could self-assemble into micelles in methanol/acetone (1/10, v/v) solution. TEM analyses of the PEO-b-PDMA micelles with narrow size distribution revealed that their size and shape depend much on the copolymer composition.

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.

Effect of crystallization on the lamellar orientation in thin films of symmetric poly(styrene)-b-poly(L-lactide) diblock copolymer

The effect of crystallization on the lamellar orientation of poly( styrene)-b-poly(L-lactide) (PS-PLLA) semicrystalline diblock copolymer in thin films has been investigated by atomic force microscopy (AFM), transmission electronic microscopy (TEM), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). In the melt state, microphase separation leads to a symmetric wetting structure with PLLA blocks located at both polymer/substrate and polymer/air interfaces. The lamellar period is equal to the long period L in bulk determined by small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). Symmetric wetting structure formed in the melt state provides a model structure to study the crystallization of PLLA monolayer tethered on glassy (T-c < T-g,T-PS) or rubber (T-c > T-g,T-PS) PS substrate. In both cases, it is found that the crystallization of PLLA results in a "sandwich" structure with amorphous PS layer located at both folding surfaces. For T-c <= T-g,T- PS, the crystallization induces a transition of the lamellar orientation from parallel to perpendicular to substrate in between and front of the crystals. In addition, the depletion of materials around the crystals leads to the formation of holes of 1/2 L, leaving the adsorbed monolayer exposure at the bottom of the holes.

Synthesis of poly(epsilon-caprolactone)-b-poly(gamma-benzyl-L-glutamic acid) block copolymer using amino organic calcium catalyst

A biodegradable two block copolymer, poly(epsilon-caprolactone)-b- poly(gamma-benzyl-L-glutamic acid) (PCL-PBLG) was synthesized successfully by ring-opening polymerization of N-carboxyanhydride of gamma-benzyl-L-glutamate (BLG-NCA) with aminophenyl-terminated PCL as a macroinitiator. The aminophenethoxyl-terminated PCL was prepared via hydrogenation of a 4-nitrophenethoxyl-teminated PCL, which was novelly obtained from the polymerization of c-caprolactone (CL) initiated by amino calcium 4-nitrobenzoxide. The structures of the block copolymer and its precursors from the initial step of PCL were confirmed and investigated by H-1 NMR, FT-IR, GPC, and FT-ICRMS analyses and DSC measurements.

Synthesis and properties of optically active polyquinolines containing 1, 1 '-binaphthyl unit

Optically active 2,2'-dimethoxy-6,6'-diacetyl-1,1'-binaphthyl (DMDABN) was prepared from 2,2'-dimethoxy-1,1'-binaphthyl, and its structure was comfirmed by elemental analysis, NRM, IR and MS. Optically active polyquinolines were synthesized with DMDABN and 4,4'-diamino-3,3'-dibenzoyldiphenyl ether by Friedlander reaction. These polyquinolines showed high glass transition temperatures (474-578 K), high decomposition temperatures (703-770 K), insolubility in many common organic solvents and strong chiral activity.

Synthesis and characterization of optically active aromatic polyimides derived from 2,2 '-bis(2-trifluoro-4-aminophenoxy)-1,1 '-binaphthyl and aromatic tetracarboxylic dianhydrides

Optically active 2,2'-bis(2-trifluoro-4-aminophenoxy)-1,1'-binaphthyl and its corresponding racemate were prepared by a nucleophilic substitution reaction of 1,1'-bi-2-naphthol with 2-chloro-5-nitrotrifluorotoluene and subsequently by the reduction of the resulting dinitro compounds. a series of optically active and optically inactive aromatic polyimides also were prepared therefrom, These polymers readily were soluble in common organic solvents such as pyridine, N,N'-dimethylacetamide, and m-cresol and had glass-transition temperatures of 256 similar to 278 degrees C. The specific rotations of the chiral polymers ranged from 167 similar to 258 degrees, and their chiroptical properties also were studied. (C) 1999 John Wiley & Sons Inc.

New optically active aromatic polyimides II: Synthesis and properties of optically active aromatic polyimide based on (R)-(+)-2,2 '-bis(2-trifluoro-4-aminophenoxy)-1,1 '-binaphthyl

Optically active (R)-(+)-2, 2'-bis(2-trifluoro-4-aminophenoxy)-1, 1'-binaphthyl was prepared from 1, 1'-bi-2-naphthol. The optically active aromatic polyimide was also successfully synthesized. This new polymer has good solubility, thermal stability etc. Its specific rotation was found to be +174 degrees, and its chiroptical property was also studied.

Synthesis and properties of optically active poly(amide-imide)s containing axially dissymmetric 1,1 '-binaphthyl moieties

Novel optically active aromatic poly(amide-imide)s (PAIs) containing 1,1'-binaphthyl-2,2'-diyl units in the main chain were prepared by polycondensation reactions of newly synthesized dianhydride, 2,2'-bis(3,4-dicarboxylzenzamido)-1,1'-binaphthyl dianhydride[(S)-BN-DADA and (+/-)-BNDADA], with diamines, The properties of the resulted PAIs were fully characterized by a combination of investigations on inherent viscosity, thermal properties(DSC and TGA), specific rotation, CD and UV-Vis absorbance. These PAIs showed good solubilities, thermal properties and optical stabilities. Interesting UV-Vis absorption behavior of films casted from these PAIs was observed and analyzed.

Synthesis and properties of optically active aromatic polyimides derived from optically pure 1,1'-bi-2-naphthol

A series of new optically active aromatic polyimides containing axially dissymmetric 1,1'-binaphthalene-2,2-diyl units were prepared from optically pure (R)-(+)-or (S)-(-)-2,2'-bis(3,4-dicarboxyphenoxy)-1,1'-binaphthalene dianhydrides and various aromatic diamines via a conventional two-step procedure that included ring-opening polycondensation and chemical cyclodehydration. The optically pure isomer of dianhydride was prepared by a nucleophilic substitution of optically pure (R)-(+)or (S)-(-)1,1'-bi-2-naphthol with 4-nitrophthalonitrile in aprotic polar solvent and subsequent hydrolysis of the resultant tetranitrile derivatives, followed by the dehydration of the corresponding tetracarboxylic acids to obtain the dianhydrides. These polymers were readily soluble in common organic solvents such as N,N-dimethylacetamide, N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, and m-cresol, etc., and have glass transition temperatures of 251-296 degrees C, and 5% weight loss occurs not lower than 480 degrees C. The specific rotations of the optically active polyimides ranged from +196 degrees to +263 degrees, and the optical stability and chiroptical properties of them were also studied. (C) 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Electrochemical study of the interfacial characteristics of redox-active viologen thiol self-assembled monolayers

The electrochemical behavior of the electroactive self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of thiol-functionalized viologen, CH3(CH2)(9)V2+(CH2)(8)SH, where V2+ is a viologen group, on the gold electrodes is examined by cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical a.c. impedance. A monolayer of viologen is immobilized on the gold electrode surface via the Au-S bond and the normal potentials corresponding to the two successive one-electron transfer processes of the viologen active centers are -310 mV and -652 mV (vs. Ag/AgCl) in 0.1 mol l(-1) phosphate buffer solution (pH 6.96) respectively. These results suggest that the viologen SAMs are stable and well-behaved monolayers. The experimental impedance data corresponding to different forms of viologen group have been fitted to equivalent electrical circuits, and the surface capacitances and resistances have been given. The heterogenous electron transfer rates of the first and the second redox processes are 7.57 s(-1) and 1.49 s(-1) respectively through a.c. impedance.

STRUCTURE AND PROPERTIES OF SEQUENTIALLY POLYMERIZED PROPYLENE-B-[ETHYLENE-CO-PROPYLENE]-B-PROPYLENE COPOLYMERS

The structure and properties of presumed block copolymers of polypropylene (PP) with ethylene-propylene random copolymers (EPR), i.e., PP-EPR and PP-EPR-PP, have been investigated by viscometry, transmission electron microscopy, dynamic mechanical analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, gel permeation chromatography, wide-angle x-ray diffraction, and other techniques testing various mechanical properties. PP-EPR and PP-EPR-PP were synthesized using delta-TiCl3-Et2AlCl as a catalyst system. The results indicate that the intrinsic viscosity of these polymers increases with each block-building step, whereas the intrinsic viscosity of those prepared by chain transfer reaction (strong chain-transfer reagent hydrogen was introduced between block-building steps during polymerization) hardly changes with the reaction time. Compared with PP / EPR blends, PP-EPR-PP block copolymers have lower PP and polyethylene crystallinity, and lower melting and crystallization temperatures of crystalline EPR. Two relaxation peaks of PP and EPR appear in the dynamic spectra of blends. They merge into a very broad relaxation peak with block sequence products of the same composition, indicating good compatibility between PP and EPR in the presence of block copolymers. Varying the PP and EPR content affects the crystallinity, density, and morphological structure of the products, which in turn affects the tensile strength and elongation at break. Because of their superior mechanical properties, sequential polymerization products containing PP-EPR and PP-EPR-PP block copolymers may have potential as compatibilizing agents for isotactic polypropylene and polyethylene blends or as potential heat-resistant thermoplastic elastomers.

COMPATIBILIZING EFFECT OF POLY(ETHYLENE OXIDE)-B-POLYSTYRENE-B-POLY(ETHYLENE OXIDE) IN PHENOLPHTHALEIN POLY(ETHER ETHER KETONE) POLY(2,6-DIMETHYL-1,4-PHENYLENE OXIDE) BLENDS

The morphology and mechanical behaviour of phenolphthalein poly(ether ether ketone) (PEK-C)/poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene oxide) (PPO) blends has been investigated. A poly(ethylene oxide)-b-polystyrene-b-poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO-PS-PEO) triblock copolymer was used as compatibilizer. It was found that PEO-PS-PEO has a compatibilizing effect on the PEK-C/PPO blends. The addition of PEO-PS-PEO to the blends greatly improves phase dispersion and interfacial interfacial adhesion and also enhances the ultimate tensile strength and Young's modulus at compositions ranging from 30 to 70% PEK-C. However, all the values of the ultimate tensile strength within the whole composition range are lower than those expected by simple additivity, probably owing to the poor mechanical properties of PEO-PS-PEO copolymer.

Addition reactions of nitrones on the reconstructed C(100)-2 x 1 surfaces

In this paper, the reactions of nitrone, N-methyl nitrone, N-phenyl nitrone and their hydroxylamine tautomers (vinyl-hydroxylamine, N-methyl-vinyl-hydroxylamine and N-phenyl-vinyl-hydroxylamine) on the reconstructed C(100)-2 x 1 surface have been investigated using hybrid density functional theory (B3LYP), Moller-Plesset second-order perturbation (MP2) and multi-configuration complete-active-space self-consistent-field (CASSCF) methods. The calculations showed that all the nitrones can react with the surface "dimer" via facile 1.3-dipolar cycloaddition with small activation barriers (less than 12.0 kJ/mol at B3LYP/6-31g(d) level). The [2+2] cycloaddition of hydroxylamine tautomers on the C(100) surface follows a diradical mechanism. Hydroxylamine tautomers first form diradical intermediates with the reconstructed C(I 00)-2 x I surface by overcoming a large activation barrier of 50-60 kJ/mol (B3LYP), then generate [2+2] cycloaddition products via diradical transition states with negligible activation barriers. The surface reactions result in hydroxyl or amino-terminated diamond surfaces, which offers new opportunity for further modifications. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.