Facile synthesis and characterization of hyperbranched poly(ether amide)s generated from Michael addition polymerization of in situ created AB(2) monomers

A new straightforward strategy for synthesis of novel hyperbranched poly (ether amide)s from readily available monomers has been developed. By optimizing the reaction conditions, the AB(2)-type monomers were formed dominantly during the initial reaction stage. Without any purification, the AB(2) intermediate was subjected to further polymerization in the presence (or absence) of an initiator, to prepare the hyperbranched polymer-bearing multihydroxyl end-groups. The influence of monomer, initiator, and solvent on polymerization and the molecular weight (MW) of the resultant polymers was studied thoroughly. The MALDI-TOF MS of the polymers indicated that the polymerization proceeded in the proposed way. Analyses of H-1 NMR and C-13 NMR spectra revealed the branched structures of the polymers obtained. These polymers exhibit high-moderate MWs and broad MW distributions determined by gel permeation chromatography (GPC) in combination with triple detectors, including refractive index, light scattering, and viscosity detectors. In addition, the examination of the solution behavior of these polymers showed that the values of intrinsic viscosity [eta] and the Mark-Houwink exponent a were remarkably lower compared with their linear analogs, because of their branched nature.

Chemical effects of cationic surfactant and anionic surfactant used in organically modified montmorillonites on degradation and fire retardancy of polyamide 12 nanocomposites

Three kinds of organically modified Na+-montmorillonites (OMMTs), including two kinds of octadecylammonium modified montmorillonite with different contents of octadecylammonium and a kind of sodium dodecylsulfonate (SDSo) modified montmorillonite, were used to prepare polyamide 12 (PA12)/OMMT nanocomposites. Effects of the modifiers on degradation and fire retardancy of PA12/OMMT nanocomposites were investigated. Acid sites formed in cationic surfactant modified MMT via Hoffman decomposition could accelerate degradation of PA12 at high temperature. However, catalytic effect of the acid sites on carbonization of the degradation products promoted char barrier formation, which reduced heat release rate (HRR). Higher content of cationic surfactant in OMMT is beneficial to fire retardancy of PA12 nanocomposites and the dispersion states of OMMT have assistant effects. In contrast, Na+-montmorillonite (Na-MMT) and anionic surfactant modified MMT (a-MMT) could not form acid sites on the MMT layers; in this case, fire retardancy of PA12/Na-MMT appears to have no improvement and PA12/a-MMT appears to have limited improvement.

Modified poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) using hydrogen bonding monomers

Properties of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) were significantly modified by a hydrogen bonding (H-bond) monomer-bisphenol A (BPA). BPA lowered the T-m of PHBV and widened the heat-processing window of PHBV. At the same time, a dynamic H-bond network in the blends was observed indicating that BPA acted as a physical cross-link agent. BPA enhanced the T, of PHBV and reduced the crystallization rate of PHBV. It resulted in larger crystallites in PHBV/BPA blends showed by WAXD. However, the crystallinity of PHBV was hardly reduced. SAXS results suggested that BPA molecules distributed in the inter-lamellar region of PHBV. Finally, a desired tension property was obtained, which had an elongation at break of 370% and a yield stress of 16 MPa. By comparing the tension properties of PHBV/BPA and PHBV/tert-butyl phenol blends, it was concluded that the H-bond network is essential to the improvement of ductility.

Synthesis of asymmetric H-shaped block copolymer by the combination of atom transfer radical polymerization and living anionic polymerization

A new asymmetric H-shaped block copolymer (PS)(2)-PEO-(PMMA)(2) has been designed and successfully synthesized by the combination of atom transfer radical polymerization and living anionic polymerization. The synthesized 2,2-dichloro acetate-ethylene glycol (DCAG) was used to initiate the polymerization of styrene by ATRP to yield a symmetric homopolymer (Cl-PS)(2)-CHCCCCH2CH2OH with an active hydroxyl group. The chlorine was removed to yield the (PS)(2)-CHCOOCH2CH2OH ((PS)(2)-OH). The hydroxyl group of the (PS)(2)-OH, which is an active species of the living anionic polymerization, was used to initiate ethylene oxide by living anionic polymerization via DPMK to yield (PS)(2)-PEO-OH. The (PS)(2)-PEO-OH was reacted with the 2,2-dichloro acetyl chloride to yield (PS)(2)-PEO-OCCHCl2 ((PS)(2)-PEO-DCA). The asymmetric H-shaped block polymer (PS)(2)-PEO-(PMMA)(2) was prepared via ATRP of MMA at 130 degrees C using (PS)(2)-PEO-DCA as initiator and CuCl/bPy as the catalyst system. The architectures of the asymmetric H-shaped block copolymers, (PS)(2)-PEO-(PMMA)(2), were confirmed by H-1 NMR, GPC and Fr-IR.

The first synthesis of a water-soluble alpha-cyclodextrin/C-60 supramolecular complex using anionic C-60 as a building block

A novel supramolecular inclusion complex of alpha-CD/C-60 was synthesized using anionic C-60. The reaction progress was monitored in situ by visible and near-IR spectroscopy. The obtained complex was characterized by UV-vis, C-13 NMR, MALDI-TOF, and cyclic voltammetry. The induction and dispersion forces are considered to be the major driving forces for the formation of a resulting alpha-CD/C-60(.-) inclusion complex.

Conformational changes of beta-lactoglobulin induced by anionic phospholipid

Conformational changes of beta-lactoglobulin (beta-LG) induced by anionic phospholipid (dimyristoylphosphatidylglycerol, DMPG) at physiological conditions (pH 7.0) have been investigated by UV-VIS, circular dichroism (CD) and fluorescence spectra. The experimental results suggest that beta-LG-DMPG interactions cause beta-LG a structural reorganization of the secondary structure elements accompanied by an increase in alpha-helical content, and a loosening of the protein tertiary structure. The interaction forces between beta-LG and DMPG are further evaluated by fluorescence spectra. The fluorescence spectral data show that conformational changes in the protein are driven by electrostatic interaction at first, then by hydrophobic interaction between a protein with a negative net charge and a negatively charged phospholipid.

Kinetics study on melt grafting copolymerization of LLDPE with acid monomers using reactive extrusion method

Graft copolymerization in the molten state is of fundamental importance as a probe of chemical modification and reactive compatibilization. However, few grafting kinetics studies on reactive extrusion were carried out for the difficulties as expected. In this work, the macromolecular peroxide-induced grafting of acrylic acid and methyl methacrylate onto linear low density polyethylene by reactive extrusion was chosen as the model system for the kinetics study; the samples were taken out from the barrel at five ports along screw axis and analyzed by FTIR, H-1 NMR, and ESR. For the first time, the time-evolution of reaction rate, the reaction order, and the activation energy of graft copolymerization and homopolymerization in the twin screw extruder were directly obtained. On the basis of these results, the general reaction mechanism was tentatively proposed. It was demonstrated that an amount of chain propagation free radicals could keep alive for several minutes even the peroxides completely decomposed and the addition of monomer to polymeric radicals was the rate-controlled step for the graft copolymerization.

Electrochemical and spectroscopic study on the interaction of cytochrome c with anionic lipid vesicles

The structure and the electron-transfer of cytochrome c binding on the anionic lipid vesicles were analyzed by electrochemical and various spectroscopic methods. It was found that upon binding to anionic lipid membrane, the formal potential of. cytochrome c shifted 30 mV negatively indicating an eager redox interaction than that in its native state. This is due to the local alteration of the coordination and the heme crevice. The structural Perturbation in which a molten globule-like state is formed during binding to anionic lipid vesicles is more important. This study may help to understand the mechanism of the electron-transfer reactions of cytochrome c at the mitochondrial membrane.

Helix-sense-selective polymerization of N,N-diphenyl (meth)acrylamide by anionic catalysts

In this paper, the helix-sense-selective polymerization of N,N-diphenyl acrylamide (DPAA) and N,N-diplienyl methacrylamide(DPMAA) were studied with living helix prepolymer as anionic initiator, and the chiral optical properties of the obtained polymers were investigated too. It was shown that optically active polymers of DPAA and DPMAA could be obtained under the experimental condition, and exhibited the same screw sense as that of the prepolymer.

Asymmetric polymerization of menthyl methacrylate by anionic catalysts

In this paper, (-)menthyl methacrylate((-)MnMA) was polymerized at -78degreesC in toluene with three types of anionic catalysts, which were complexes of fluorenyllithium with (-)sparteine -((-)-Sp), (S, S)-(+)-2, 3-dimethoxy-1, 4-bis(dimethylamino)butane((+)DDB) and N,N,N,N'-tetramethylethylenediamine(TMEDA), and the chiral optical property of the obtained polymer was studied. The circular dichroism (CD) spectrum of the polymer showed negative Cotton effect.

Synthesis and properties of three novel series of monomers containing para-methoxyazobenzene as the mesogenic group

Three novel series of monomers, namely n-1-bromo-[4-(4-methoxyphenylazo)phenyloxy]-alkanes (Bn, n = 3, 6, 10), n-[4-(4-methoxyphenylazo) phenyloxy]alkyloxy-4-methoxybenzene (Cn, n = 3, 6, 10) and n-[4-(4-methoxyphenylazo)phenyloxyl]alkyloxy-[4-methoxy-2,5-bis-(chloromethyl)] benzene (Dn, n = 3, 6, 10) were synthesized and characterized with FTIR, H-1 NMR, UV-visible and fluorescence spectroscopy. Their thermal behaviour was studied by different scanning calorimetry and polarizing optical microscopy. The results show that B3, B6 and C6 exhibit monotropic nematic liquid crystalline behaviour.

Synthesis and properties of two series of H-bonded and non-H-bonded thermotropic liquid crystal monomers

Two series of monomers, namely n-1-bromo-(4-(4-nitrophenylazo)phenyloxy]alkanes (Bn, n = 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10) and N-n-[4-(4-nitrophenylazo)phenyloxy]alkyl diethanolamines (Cn, n = 3, 5, 6, 10), were synthesized and characterized. Their thermal behaviour was studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), wide angle X-ray diffractometry (WAXD) and polarizing optical microscopy (POM) equipped with a hot stage. The results showed that the Bns (n greater than or equal to 6) exhibit monotropic nematic liquid crystalline behaviour; no liquid crystalline phase was found for the Bns (n < 6), while for the Cns, enantiotropic smectic liquid crystallinity for n = 5, 6, 10 was seen, and for n = 3 monotropic smectic phases were found. This different phase behaviour between Bn and Cn compounds is attributed to their different end groups. The FTIR analysis of Cn indicated that there exists an intermolecular hydrogen bond between hydroxy groups, so that more stable liquid crystalline phase are formed. The effect of the length of the flexible chain on the thermal behaviour is also discussed.

Asymmetric polymerization of the mixture of TrMA and MMA initiated by chiral complexes

A mixture of triphenylmethyl methacrylate (TrMA) and methyl methacrylate (MMA) was polymerized with chiral anionic initiator, such as fluorenyl lithium-(-)-sparteine [FlLi-(-)-Sp] and fluorenyl lithium-(+)-2S,3S-dimethoxy-1,4-bis(dimethylamino) butane [FlLi-(+)-DDB] in toluene at -78 degrees C. The results show that after the stable helix formed, when FlLi-(+)-DDB was used as the initiator, TrMA and MMA could be copolymerized, whereas when FlLi-(-)-Sp was used, the two monomers tended to be selectively polymerized into two polymers. This phenomenon has been explained by the existence of helix-selective polymerization. (C) 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Synthesis of lanthanide-alkylaluminium bimetallic complexes and studies on their catalytic activities for polymerization of some polar monomers

Three new lanthanide (Ln)-alkylaluminium (Al) bimetallic complexes with the formula [(mu-CF3CO2)(2)Ln(mu-CF3CHO2)AIR(2) . 2THF](2) (Ln = Nd, Y, R=i-C4H9 (i-Bu); Ln=Eu, R=C2H5(Et); THF=tetrahydrofuran) were synthesized by the reaction of Ln(CF,CO,), (Ln=Nd, Y) with HAI (i-Bu)(2) and of Eu(CF3CO2)(3) with AlEt(3), respectively. Their crystal structures were determined by X-ray diffraction at 233 K. [(mu-CF3CO2)(2)Nd (mu-CF3CHO2)Al(i-Bu)(2) . 2THF](2) (Nd-Al) and [(mu-CF3CO2)(2)Y(mu-CF3CHO2)Al(i-Bu)(2) . 2THF](2) (Y-Al) are isomorphous and crystallize in space group with a=12.441(3) Angstrom [12.347(5) Angstrom for Y-Al], b=12.832(3) Angstrom [12.832(4) Angstrom], c=11.334(3) Angstrom [11.292(8) Angstrom], alpha=104.93 (2)degrees [104.45(4)degrees], beta=98.47(2)degrees [98.81(4)degrees], gamma=64.60(2)degrees [64.30(3)degrees], R=0.519 [0.113], R(w)=0.0532 [0.110], Z=1 and [(mu-CF3CO2)(2)Eu(CF3CHO2)AlEt(2) . 2THF](2)(Eu-Al) in space group P2(1)/n with a=11.913(6) Angstrom, b=14.051(9) Angstrom, c=17.920(9) Angstrom, alpha=101.88(11)degrees, beta=gamma=90 degrees, R=0.0509, R(w)=0.0471 and Z=2. The six CF3CO2- (including CF3CHO2-) of each complex, among which pairs are equivalent, coordinated to Ln and Al in three patterns: (A) the two oxygen atoms in one of the three CF3CO2- type coordinated to two different Ln; (B) the two oxygen atoms in the second of CF3CO2- type coordinated to Ln and Al, respectively; (C) one of the two oxygen atoms in the third CF3CO2- type bidentately coordinated to two Ln and another oxygen coordinated to Al and one of the two Ln, respectively. Unlike types A and B, in type C the carboxyl carbon with a hydrogen atom bonded to it was found to appear as an sp(3)-hybridized configuration rather than an sp(2)-one. 1D and 2D NMR results further confirmed the existence of such a disproportionated CF3CHO2- ligand. Methyl methacrylate (MMA) and epichlorohydrin (ECH) could be polymerized by Y-Al or Eu-Al as a single-component catalyst and highly syndiotactic poly(MMA) was obtained. THF could also be polymerized by Y-Al in the presence of a small amount of ECH.

SYNTHESES AND CHARACTERIZATION OF [(MU-CF3CO2)(2)LN(MU-CF3CHO2)ALR(2)CENTER-DOT-2THF](2) AND THEIR CATALYTIC ACTIVITIES FOR POLYMERIZATION OF SOME POLAR MONOMERS

Three new bimetallic complexes were synthesized and crystalized by reactions of (CF3CO2)(3)Ln With R(1) AlR(2)(Ln=Nd and Y, R(1)=H, R=i-C4H9; Ln=Eu, R=R(1)=C2H5) in tetrahydrofuran solution, and their crystal structures were determined using a X-ray diffraction method. The structures and the questions on valence state and noncoplanarity in the structures were confirmed and cracked by means of H-1 NMR and C-13 NMR spectra, especially by C-13-H-1 COSY 2D NMR technique. A general formula of molecules of the three rare earth complexes was defined as follows: [(mu-CF3CO2)(2)Ln(mu-CF3CHO2)AlR(2) . 2THF](2) A mechanism on the formation of the new complexes was also proposed through the following five steps: alkylating, beta-elimination (or hydrogenation), hydrogen transfer, linkage and association. Both Y-Al and Eu-Al complexes function as a catalyst in polymerization of MMA and ECH. The polymer obtained from the first monomer is mainly syndiotactic chain structure and the polymerization of the last monomer shows higher catalytic activity. The Y-Al complex also capable of ring-opening polymerization of THF in case of adding-vary small amount of ECH and a oxonium ion mechanism of THF polymerization was suggested from the analysis of THF polymer terminal.