Polymerization of methyl methacrylate by iron(II) pyridinebisimine complexes

Fe(II) pyridinebisimine complexes activated with trialkylaluminium or modified methylaluminoxane (MMAO) as catalysts were employed for the polymerization of methyl methacrylate. Polymer yields, activities and polymer molecular weights as well as molecular weight distributions can be controlled over a wide range by the variation of the structures of the Fe(II) pyridinebisimine complexes and the reaction parameters such as Al/Fe molar ratio, monomer/catalyst molar ratio, monomer concentration, reaction temperature and time applied to the polymerization of methyl methacrylate. Under optimum condition, the catalytic activity of Fe(II) complex is of up to 74.5 kg(polym)/mol(Fe)h.

Stereoselective polymerization of rac-lactide using a monoethylaluminum Schiff base complex

A monoethylaluminum Schiff base complex (2) with formula LA1Et (L = N,N'-(2,2-dimethylpropylene)bis(3,5-di-tei-t-butylsalicylideneimine) was synthesized and employed for the stercoselective ring-opening polymerization of rac-lactide (rac-LA). The complex 2 was characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance, crystal structure, and elemental analysis. It contains a five-coordinate aluminum atom with distorted trigonal bipyramidal geornetry in the solid state. In the presence of 2-propanol, 2 showed high stereoselectivity for the polymerization of rac-LA. The polymerization yielded crystalline poly(rac-LA) with a high melting temperature (193-201 degreesC). NMR, differential scanning calorimetry, and wide-angle X-ray diffraction indicated that the poly(rac-LA) was highly isotactic, and a stereocomplex was formed between poly-L- and poly-D-lactide block sequences. By the analysis of electrospray-ionization mass spectrometry and H-1 NMR, the polymer was demonstrated to be endcapped in both terminals with an isopropyl ester and a hydroxy group, respectively. The polymerization was of first order in rac-LA concentration. The relationship between the rac-LA conversion and molecular weights of the polymer was linear so that the polymerization could be well controlled.

Synthesis of a novel structural triblock copolymer of poly(gamma-benzyl-L-glutamic acid)-b-poly(ethylene oxide)-b-poly(epsilon-caprolactone)

A novel structural triblock copolymer of poly(gamma-benzyl-L-glutamic acid)-b-poly(ethylene oxide)-b-poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PBLG-PEO-PCL) was synthesized by a new approach in the following three steps: (1) sequential anionic ring opening polymerization (ROP) of ethylene oxide and epsilon-caprolactone with an acetonitrile/potassium naphthalene initiator system to obtain a diblock copolymer CN-PEO-PCL with a cyano end-group; (2) conversion of the CN end-group into NH2 end-group by hydrogenation to obtain NH2-PEO-PCL; (3) ROP of gamma-benzyl-L-glutamate-N-carboxyanhydrides (Bz-L-GluNCA) with NH2-PEO-PCL as macroinitiator to obtain the target triblock copolymer. The structures from CN-PEO precursor to the triblock copolymers were confirmed by FT-IR and H-1 NMR spectroscopy, and their molecular weights were measured by gel permeation chromatography. The monomer of Bz-L-GluNCA can react almost quantitatively with the amino end-groups of NH2-PEO-PCL macroinitiator by ROP.

Partitioning behavior of amino acids in aqueous two-phase systems containing polyethylene glycol and phosphate buffer

The partitioning behavior of four amino acids, cysteine, phenylalanine, methionine, and lysine in 15 aqueous two-phase systems (ATPSs) with different polyethylene glycol (PEG) molecular weights and phosphate buffers has been studied in the present paper. The phase diagrams of the systems are investigated together with the effect of the PEG molecular weight and pH of the phosphate solutions. The composition of these systems and some parameters such as density and refractive index are determined. The influences of salts in ATPSs, side chain structure of the amino acids, pH of ATPSs, and the PEG molecular weight on the distribution ratios of the amino acids have been studied. This work is useful for the purification of amino acids and the separation of some proteins whose main surface exposed amino acid residues are these four amino acids, respectively.

Synthesis and characterization of the paclitaxel/MPEG-PLA block copolymer conjugate

A paclitaxel/MPEG-PLA block copolymer conjugate was prepared in three steps: (1) hydroxyl-terminated diblock copolymer of monomethoxy-poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(lactide) (MPEG-PLA) was synthesized by ring-opening polymerization of L-lactide using MPEG as a maroinitiator, (2) it was converted to carboxyl-terminated MPEG-PLA by reacting with mono-i-butyl ester of diglycolic acid and subsequent deprotecting the t-butyl group with TFA; (3) the latter was reacted with paclitaxel in the presence of dicyclohexylcarbodiimide and dimethylaminopyridine. Structures of the polymers synthesized were confirmed by H-1 NMR, and their molecular weights were determined by gel permeation chromatography. The antitumor activity of the conjugate against human liver cancer H7402 cells was evaluated by MTT method. The results showed that paclitaxel can be released from the conjugate without losing cytotoxicity.

Radical co-polymerization of diiminedibromidenickel(II)-functionalized olefin with styrene: synthesis of polymer-incorporated nickel(II) alpha-diimine catalysts for ethylene polymerization

alpha-Diimine nickel catalyst hearing two allyl groups [ArN=C](2)C10H6NiBr2 (Ar = 4-allyl-2,6-(i-Pr)(2)C6H2)] (Cat-I) has been synthesized and characterized. The corresponding polymer-incorporated nickel catalysts PC and the SiO2-supported shell-core structure catalyst SC-1 were obtained by the co-polymerization of the olefin groups of Cat-1 with styrene in the presence of a radical initiator. Radical co-polymerizations with styrene in Solution were investigated in detail, and the compositions and molecular weight of the copolymers were determined. All three types of catalysts (Cat-1, PC and SC-1) have been investigated for ethylene polymerization. These catalysts were found to exhibit high activity in the presence of modified methylaluminoxane (MMAO) as a co-catalyst. Among them, the polymer-incorporated PC and SiO2 shell-core catalyst SC-1 displayed very high activity (similar to2.62 and similar to1.11 kg (mmol Ni)(-1) h(-1), respectively) with product molecular weights (M,) in the range 26 x 10(4) to 47 x 10(4) under 0.1 MPa ethylene pressure. The particle morphology of polyethylene produced by the shell-core structure catalyst SC-1 was improved.

Solvent-induced novel morphologies in diblock copolymer blend thin films

We report the morphology and phase behaviors of blend thin films containing two poly styrene-b-poly (methyl methacrylate) (PS-b-PMMA) diblock copolymers with different blending compositions induced by a selective solvent for the PMMA block, which were studied by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The neat asymmetric PS-b-PMMA diblock copolymers employed in this study, respectively coded as a(1) and a(2), have similar molecular weights but different volume fractions of PS block (f(PS) = 0.273 and 0.722). Another symmetric PS-b-PMMA diblock copolymer, coded as s, which has a PS block length similar to that of a(1), was also used. For the asymmetric a(1)/a(2) blend thin films, circular multilayered structures were formed. For the asymmetric a(1)/symmetric s blend thin films, inverted phases with PMMA as the dispersed domains were observed, when the weight fraction of s was less than 50%. The origins of the morphology formation in the blend thin films via solvent treatment are discussed. Combined with the theoretical prediction by Birshtein et al. (Polymer 1992, 33, 2750), we interpret the formation of these special microstructures as due to the packing frustration induced by the difference in block lengths and the preferential interactions between the solvent and PMMA block.

Synthesis and characterization of hyperbranched poly(ester-amide)s from commercially available dicarboxylic acids and multihydroxyl primary amines

A new method for syntheses of hyperbranched poly(ester-amide)s from commercially available A(2) and CBx type monomers has been developed on the basis of a series of model reactions. The aliphatic and semiaromatic hyperbranched poly(ester-amide)s with multihydroxyl end groups are prepared by in situ thermal polycondensation of intermediates obtained from dicarboxylic acids (A(2)) and multihydroxyl primary amines (CBx) in N,N-dimethylformamide. Analyses of FTIR, H-1 NMR, and C-13 NMR spectra revealed the structures of the polymers obtained. The MALDI-TOF MS of the polymers indicated that cyclization side reactions occurred during polymerization. The hyperbranched poly(ester-amide) s contain configurational isomers observed by C-13 and DEPT C-13 NMR spectroscopy. The DBs of the polymers were determined to be 0.38-0.62 by H-1 NMR or quantitive C-13 NMR and DEPT 135 spectra. These polymers exhibit moderate molecular weights, with broad distributions determined by size exclusion chromatography ( SEC), and possess excellent solubility in a variety of solvents such as N, N- dimethylacetamide, dimethyl sulfoxide, tetrahydrofuran, and ethanol, and display glass-transition temperatures (T(g)s) between -2.3 and 53.2 degrees C, determined by DSC measurements.

Sulfonated poly(arylene-co-naphthalimide)s synthesized by copolymerization of primarily sulfonated monomer and fluorinated naphthalimide dichlorides as novel polymers for proton exchange membranes

A novel sulfonated aromatic dichloride monomer was successfully prepared by the reaction of 2, 5-dichlorobenzophenone with fuming sulfuric acid. Copolymerization of this monomer in the form of sodium salt (1) with N-(4-chloro-2-trifluoromethylphenyl)-5-chloro-1,8-naphthalimide (2) or bis(N-(4-chloro-2-trifluoromethylphenyl)1,4,5,8-naphthalimide (3) generated two series of novel poly(arylene-co-naphthalimide) s I-x and II-x where x represents the content of the sulfonated monomer. The synthesized copolymers with the -SO3H group in the side chains possessed high molecular weights revealed by their high viscosity and the formation of tough and flexible membranes. The copolymers exhibited excellent stability toward water and oxidation due to the introduction of the hydrophobic CF3 groups. The sulfonated copolyimides that incorporated with 1,8-naphthalimide (I-x) exhibited better hydrolytic and oxidative stabilities than those with 1,4,5,8-naphthalimide. Copolymer I-50 membrane endured for more than 83 h in Fenton's reagent at room temperature. The mechanical properties of I-50 membrane kept almost unchanged after immersing membrane in boiling water for 196 h. The proton conductivities of copolymer films increased with increasing IEC and temperature, reaching values above 6.8 x 10(-1) S/cm at 80 degrees C.

The direct synthesis of wholly aromatic poly(p-phenylene)s bearing sulfobenzoyl side groups as proton exchange membranes

Sulfonated poly(p-phenylene)s (SPPs) containing sulfonic acid groups in their side chains had been directly synthesized by Ni(0) catalytic coupling of sodium 3-(2,5-dichlorobenzoyl)benzenesulfonate and 2,5-dichlorobenzophenone. The synthesized copolymers possessed high molecular weights revealed by their high viscosity, and the formation of tough and flexible membranes by casting from DMAc solution. The copolymers exhibited excellent oxidative stability and mechanical properties due to their fully aromatic structure extending through the backbone and pendent groups. Transmission electron microscopic (TEM) analysis revealed that these side-chain type SPP membranes have a microphase-separated structure composed of hydrophilic side-chain domains and hydrophobic polyphenylene main chain domains. The proton conductivities of copolymer membranes increased with the increase of IEC and temperature, reaching values above 3.4 x 10(-1) S/cm at 120 degrees C, which are almost 2-3 times higher than that of Nafion 117 at the same measurement conditions. Consequently, these materials proved to be promising as proton exchange membranes.

Syntheses of chromium(III) complexes with Schiff-base ligands and their catalytic behaviors for ethylene polymerization

A series of chromium(III) complexes LCrCl3 (4a-c) bearing chelating 2,2'-iminodiphenyisulfide ligands [L = (2-ArMeC=NAr)(2)S] was synthesized in good yields from the corresponding ligands and CrCl3.(THF). Using modified methylaluminoxane (MMAO) as a cocatalyst, these complexes display moderate activities towards ethylene polymerization, and produce highly linear polyethylenes with broad molecular weight distribution. Polymer yields, catalyst activities and the molecular weights, as well as the molecular weight distributions of the polymers can be controlled over a wide range by the variation of the structures of the chromium(III) complexes and the polymerization parameters, such as Al/Cr molar ratio, reaction temperature and ethylene pressure.

Physical and electrochemical characterizations of PtRu/C catalysts by spray pyrolysis for electrocatalytic oxidation of methanol

In this paper, it was reported that the carbon-supported Pt-Ru(Pt-Ru/C) catalyst used as the anodic catalyst in the direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) was synthesized with a two-step spray pyrolysis (SP) method using the Pt and Ru metal salt as the precursors and polyethylene glycol (PEG) with the different molecular weights (Mw= 200,600,and 1000 analytical reagent) as cosolvent. PEG as a cosolvent plays a crucial role in producing PtRu/C catalysts. It was found that the Mw of PEG could affect the electrocatalytic activity of Pt-Ru and the morphology of the Pt-Ru particles in the Pt-Ru/C catalysts prepared with this method. When the Mw of PEG is 600, the Pt-Ru particles in the Pt-Ru/C catalyst prepared with this method possess the small average size, narrow size distribution, uniform dispersion, and high electrochemically active specific surface area. The electrocatalytic activity of the Pt-Ru/C catalyst prepared with this method using the cosolvent PEG with Mw = 600 for the methanol oxidation is much higher than that of the commercial E-TEK Pt-Ru/C catalyst. Therefore, the two-step SP method is an excellent method for the preparation of the Pt-Ru/C catalyst used in DMFCs.

Syntheses, structure and ethylene polymerization behavior of beta-diiminato titanium complexes

A series of new titanium complexes bearing beta-diiminato ligands [(Ph)NC(R-1)CHC(R-2)N(Ph)](2)TiCl2 (4a: R-1 = R-2 = CH3; 4b: R-1 = R-2 = CF3; 4c: R-1 = Ph, R-2 = CH3; 4d: R-1 = Ph, R-2 = CF3) has been synthesized and characterized. X-ray crystal structures reveal that complexes 4a and 4c adopt distorted octahedral geometry around the titanium center. With modified methylaluminoxane (MMAO) as a cocatalyst, complexes 4a-d are active catalysts for ethylene polymerization, and produce high molecular weight polyethylenes. Catalyst activities and the molecular weights of polymers are considerably influenced by the steric and electronic effects of substituents on the catalyst backbone under the same polymerization condition. With the strong electron-withdrawing groups (CF3) at R-1 or/and R-2 position, complexes 4b and 4d show higher activities than complexes 4a and 4c, respectively.

Nonisothermal crystallization behavior of the poly(ethylene glycol) block in poly(L-lactide)-poly(ethylene glycol) diblock copolymers: Effect of the poly(L-lactide) block length

The confined crystallization behavior, melting behavior, and nonisothermal crystallization kinetics of the poly(ethylene glycol) block (PEG) in poly(L-lactide)poly(ethylene glycol) (PLLA-PEG) diblock copolymers were investigated with wideangle X-ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry. The analysis showed that the nonisothermal crystallization behavior changed from fitting the Ozawa equation and the Avrami equation modified by Jeziorny to deviating from them with the molecular weight of the poly(L-lactide) (PLLA) block increasing. This resulted from the gradual strengthening of the confined effect, which was imposed by the crystallization of the PLLA block. The nucleation mechanism of the PEG block of PLLA15000-PEG5000 at a larger degree of supercooling was different from that of PLLA2500-PEG5000, PLLA5000-PEG5000, and PEG5000 (the numbers after PEG and PLLA denote the molecular weights of the PEG and PLLA blocks, respectively). They were homogeneous nucleation and heterogeneous nucleation, respectively.

Isothermal crystallization behavior of the poly(L-lactide) block in poly(L-lactide)-poly(ethylene glycol) diblock copolymers: Influence of the PEG block as a diluted solvent

Isothermal crystallization kinetics and morphology of the poly(L-lactide) block in poly(L-lactide)poly(ethylene glycol) diblock copolymers were studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and polarized optical microscopy (POM), respectively. The results were compared with that of the PLLA homopolymer. The introduction of the PEG block accelerated the crystallization rate of the PLLA block and promoted to form ring-banded spherulites. The analysis of isothermal crystallization kinetics has shown that the PLLA homopolymer accorded with the Avrami equation. But the PLLA block of the diblock copolymers deviated from the Avrami equation, which resulted from increasing of the crystallization rate and occurring of the second crystallization process. The equilibrium melting temperature (T,,) of the PLLA block fell with its molecular weight decreasing. The conditions to obtain more regular ring-banded spherulites were below: the sample was the PLLA block of LA(5) EG(5); the crystallization temperature was about from 95 degrees C to 100 degrees C, which almost corresponded to regime II.