Aliphatic-aromatic copolyesters containing phosphorous cyclic bulky groups

A series of phosphorus-containing copolyesters was prepared by polycondensation of 2-(6-oxido-6H-dibenz<c,e><1,2>oxaphosphorin-6-yl)-1,4-naphthalene diol, 1, or of an equimolecular amount of 1 and different aliphatic diols 2, such as ethylene glycol, 1,3-propanediol, 1,4-butanediol, 1,6-hexanediol and 1,12-dodecanediol, with an aromatic diacid chloride containing two preformed ester groups 3, namely terephthaloyl-bis-(4-oxybenzoyl-chloride). The copolyesters exhibited good thermal stability having the decomposition temperature above 375 °C. The glass transition temperature was in the range of 96-146 °C. The polymers exhibited thermotropic liquid crystalline behavior, as was observed with polarized optical microscopy. DSC and X-ray experiments were also found in concordance with mesophase formation.     

Synthesis of laterally attached side-chain liquid crystalline poly(p-phenylene vinylene) and polyfluorene derivatives for the application of polarized electroluminescence

Two series of poly(p-phenylene vinylene) and polyfluorene derivatives (PPV1-PPV4 and PF1-PF5) containing laterally attached penta(p-phenylene) mesogenes were synthesized and characterized. These polymers show nematic liquid crystalline behavior. The optical properties of the polymers were investigated by UV-vis absorption and photoluminescence spectrometers and these polymers were fabricated to form the polarized electroluminescent devices using poly(ethylenedioxythiophene)-poly(styrene sulfonic acid) (PEDOT-PSS) as an alignment layer. In the series of poly(p-phenylene vinylene) derivatives, polymer PPV4 offered the best EL device performance. It emitted yellow light at 588 nm at 4 V. The maximum brightness was about 1337 cd/m² at 9 V with a polarized ratio of 2.6. In another series of polyfluorene derivatives, PF4 offered the best EL device performance with the polarized ratio of 12.4 and a maximum luminescence of 1855 cd/m². In the case of polarized white light, as a consequence of blending small amount of PF4 and PF5 with a host polymer PF2, polarized ratio of up to 10.2 and a maximum brightness of 2454 cd/m² have been attained. The aligned films exhibited pronounced polarized ratio, implying that the polymers exhibit potential for linearly polarized LED application.     

Theoretical analysis on the geometries and electronic structures of coplanar conjugated poly(azomethine)s

In this study, theoretical analysis on the geometries and electronic properties of various conjugated poly(azomethine)s is reported. The theoretical ground-state geometry and electronic structure of the studied poly(azomethine)s are optimized by the hybrid density functional theory (DFT) method treated in periodic boundary conditions at the B3LYP level of theory with 6-31G basis set. The geometry and electronic structure of poly(1,4-phenylenemethylidyneitrilo-1,4-phenylene-nitrilomethylidyne) (PPI) are compared with those of poly(p-phenylene vinylene) (PPV) or polyazine (PAZ). The theoretical results suggest the non-coplanar conformation of PPI but PPV and PAZ with a coplanar conformation. The electronic properties of PPI are in the intermediate between PPV and PAZ. The non-coplanar conformation of PPI could be released if the phenylene ring is replaced by the five-member ring of 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (PEEI), pyrrole (PYYI), thiophene (PTTI), furan (PFFI), or thiadiazole (PThThI). The theoretical E_g of PEEI, PYYI, PFFI, and PTTI are in the range of 1.11-1.67 eV, which is due to the coplanar configuration or donor-acceptor intrachain charge transfer. However, the large bond length alternation or lack of charge transfer characteristic makes the PThThI with a larger E_g of 2.47 eV than others. The trend on the IP or EA of the studied conjugated poly(azomethine)s are consistent with the electronic characteristic of the aromatic ring. The upper valence bandwidth of the studied five-member ring based poly(azomethine)s except PThThI is in the range of 562-613 meV, which is larger than that of PPI (247 meV) or PPV (373 meV). The results suggest that the electronic properties of conjugated poly(azomethine)s could be varied through various ring structure. The proposed new coplanar conjugated poly(zomethine)s can be potentially used as transparent conductors or thin film transistors.     

Side-chain phenol-functionalized poly(ether sulfone) and its contribution to high-performance and flexible epoxy thermosets

We prepared a side-chain phenol-functionalized poly(ether sulfone) (P1) from a one-pot reaction of a 4,4′-dihydroxybenzophenone (DHBP)-based poly(ether sulfone), poly(oxy-1,4-phenylenecarbonyl-1,4-phenyleneoxy-1,4-phenylene-sulfonyl-1,4-phenylene (DHBP-PES)), with 9,10-dihydro-oxa-10-phosphaphenanthrene-10-oxide (DOPO) and phenol in the presence of sulphuric acid. The phenol linkages of P1 act as reacting sites for epoxy resins. Subsequently, flexible and light-yellow transparent films of epoxy thermosets can be achieved from the curing of P1 with cresol novolac epoxy (CNE) and diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA). The thermoset based on P1 and CNE (P1/CNE) shows a high T_g value (241 °C), a low coefficient of thermal expansion (44 ppm/°C), and flame retardancy (VTM-0). The moderate-to-high molecular weight of P1 is responsible for the characteristics high T_g and flexibility, which are rarely seen in epoxy thermosets based on a low-molecular weight curing agent.     

Synthesis, characterization and properties of tetramethyl stilbene-based epoxy resins for electronic encapsulation

Two novel tetramethyl stilbene-based novolac (II and IV) were synthesized from 2,6-dimethyl phenol and chloroacetaldehyde dimethylacetal or chloroacetone, and then the resulted novolacs were epoxidized to tetramethyl stilbene-based epoxy resins (III and V). The proposed structures were confirmed by FTIR, elemental analysis, mass spectra, NMR spectra and epoxy equivalent weight titration. The synthesized tetramethyl stilbene-based epoxy resins were cured with 4,4-diaminodiphenyl methane (DDM) and 4,4-diaminodiphenyl sulfone (DDS). Thermal properties of cured epoxy resins were studied using dynamic mechanical analyzer, differential scanning calorimeter, thermal expansion analyzer and thermal gravimetric analyzer (TGA). These data were compared with that of the commercial tetramethyl biphenol (TMBP) epoxy system. According to the experimental data, the order of T_g for cured epoxy system is III>TMBP>V. The order of moisture absorption for cured epoxy system is V<III<TMBP. According to TGA, the 5% degradation temperatures in nitrogen atmosphere were in the range 370-377 and 397-412 °C for DDM and DDS curing systems, respectively. In air atmosphere, the 5% degradation temperatures were in the range 372-385 and 410-411 °C for DDM and DDS curing systems, respectively. The CTE is in inverse order with T_g, therefore, III/DDS<TMBP/DDS<V/DDS.     

Polarity reversal induced by electrochemically generated thiazol-2-ylidenes: The Stetter reaction

The inversion of the normal reactivity (umpolung) of aldehydes has been induced via N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) thiazol-2-ylidenes 2a or 3a, generated by simple electrolyses of solutions containing thiazolium salt 2 or 3. Accordingly, 1,4-dicarbonyl compounds have been obtained, in mild conditions and in moderate to very high yields, via 1,4-addition of the Breslow intermediates to the suitable Michael acceptor. The procedure has been performed in classical organic solvents (VOCs) as well as in room temperature ionic liquids (RTILs). The different reactivity of aliphatic aldehydes vs the one of aromatic and heteroaromatic aldehydes has been emphasized.     

Polymeric molecular shuttles: Polypseudorotaxanes & polyrotaxanes based on viologen (paraquat) urethane backbones & bis(p-phenylene)-34-crown-10

Reaction of di(p-isocyanatophenyl)methane (MDI, 4) with N,N′-di(2-hydroxyethyl)- (1b) or N,N′-di[2-(2′-hydroxyethoxy)ethyl]-4,4′-bipyridinium di(hexafluorophosphate) (1e) and other diols [oligo(ethylene glycol)s and poly(tetramethylene oxide)s] in the presence of bis(p-phenylene)-34-crown-10 (2) afforded polyurethane (pseudo)rotaxanes as statistical (7P or 7R) and segmented analogs 10P (P = pseudorotaxane, R = rotaxane). In 7R a bulky alcohol was incorporated at the chain ends and in 13R a bulky diol as in-chain units to form polyrotaxanes and preclude the possibility of dethreading. The crown ether 2 in 10P and 13R was shown by ¹H NMR spectroscopy to be shuttling between the viologen (paraquat) and urethane sites; in DMSO the crown ether prefers the urethane site, probably because of H-bonding with the N–H moieties and complexation of the pyridinium site by the dipolar solvent, while in acetone at low temperatures the viologen site is preferred by the crown ether, with ΔH = −6.91 kcal/mol and ΔS = −22.9 eu for 13R.     

Aromatic diamine-based benzoxazines and their high performance thermosets

Four high-purity aromatic diamine-based benzoxazines (13-16), which could not easily be synthesized by traditional approaches, were successfully synthesized by a facile, widely useful three-step synthetic method using four typical aromatic diamines - 4,4′-diamino diphenyl methane (1), 4,4′-diamino diphenyl sulfone (2), 2,2-bis(4-(4-aminophenoxy)phenyl)propane (3), and bis(4-(4-aminophenoxy)phenyl)ether (4), respectively, as starting materials. The structures of the monomers (5-16) were confirmed by ¹H, ¹³C, ¹H-¹H and ¹H-¹³C NMR spectra. Their high performance thermosets, P(13-16), were obtained by thermal curing of benzoxazines (13-16), and their properties were studied and compared with polymer derived from bis(3,4-dihydro-2H-3-phenyl-1,3-benzoxazinyl)methane (F-a), a typical aromatic biphenol-based benzoxazine. Among the benzoxazines, 13 and F-a are constitutional isomers, but the T_g value and 5% decomposition temperature of P(13) are 53 and 111 °C, respectively, higher than those of P(F-a), demonstrating the power of the molecule-approach to enhance the thermal properties. Because of the large varieties of aromatic diamines, this approach can increase the molecule-design flexibility of benzoxazines.     

Near-infrared emissive BODIPY polymeric and copolymeric dyes

Novel near-Infrared emissive BODIPY polymeric dyes (polymers A and B) were prepared by Sonogashira cross-coupling reaction of 2,6-diiodo BODIPY dyes bearing one and two styryl groups at 3,5 positions (5, 6) with 2,6-diethynyl BODIPY dye, respectively. These polymeric dyes (A and B) display absorption maxima at 697 and 738 nm, and emission maxima at 715 and 760 nm, respectively. These polymeric dyes exhibit significant red shifts in absorption and emission maxima due to their extended π-conjugation systems compared with their BODIPY monomeric dyes. The thin films of polymers A and B display further red shift with emission maxima 764 and 810 nm, respectively. Near-infrared BODIPY copolymeric dye (C) was prepared by Sonogashira polymerization of 2,6-diiodo BODIPY dye bearing two styryl groups with 2,5-diethynyl-3-decylthiophene. For comparison in optical properties, deep-red and red emissive BODIPY copolymeric dyes (D and E) were prepared by Sonogashira polymerization of 2,6-diiodo BODIPY dye bearing monostyryl group and 2,6-diiodo BODIPY dye with 2,5-diethynyl-3-decylthiothene, respectively. These polymers display their absorption maxima at 649 nm and 634 nm, and emission maxima at 694 nm and 669 nm, respectively. All the polymers displayed good thermal stability and solubility in dichloromethane, and their lifetimes ranged from 0.7 to 3.4 ns.     

Mechanistic study of electrochemical oxidation of o-dihydroxybenzenes in the presence of 4-hydroxy-1-methyl-2(1H)-quinolone: Application to the electrochemical synthesis

Electrochemical oxidation of o-dihydroxybenzenes (1a and 1b) has been studied in the presence of 4-hydroxy-1-methyl-2(1H)-quinolone (3) as a nucleophile in aqueous solution using cyclic voltammetry and controlled-potential coulometry. The results indicate that the o-quinones derived from o-dihydroxybenzenes (1a and 1b) participate in 1,4-(michael) addition reactions with 3 to form the corresponding new o-dihydroxybenzene derivatives (6a and 6b). We propose a mechanism for the electrode process. The efficient electrochemical synthesis of 6a and 6b has been successfully performed at carbon rod electrodes in an undivided cell in good yield and purity. The products have been characterized after purification by IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR and MS.     

Synthesis and gas permeability of ester substituted poly(p-phenylene)s

Polymerizations of various ester substituted 2,5-dichlorobenzoates [substituent: linear alkyl groups (1a-f), branched alkyl groups (1g-l), cyclohexyl groups (1m-o), phenyl groups (1p-r), and oxyethylene units (1s-v)] were investigated with Ni-catalyzed/Zn-mediated system in 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) at 80 °C. Most of monomers bearing linear and branched alkyl groups successfully polymerized to give relatively high-molecular-weight polymers (M_n = 10,000-20,800). However, the molecular weight of the polymer having eicocyl groups was low because of steric hindrance of long alkyl chain. The polymerizations of cyclohexyl 2,5-dichlorobenzoate and phenyl 2,5-dichlorobenzoate produced low-molecular-weight polymers, while the polymerizations of monomers with alkyl cyclohexyl and alkyl phenyl groups proceeded to afford polymers with relatively high-molecular-weights. The polymers possessing oxyethylene units were obtained, but the molecular weights were low when the oxyethylene chains were long. The gas permeability of membranes of poly(p-phenylene)s with alkyl chains increased as increasing the length of alkyl chain. The membranes of poly(p-phenylene)s with phenyl groups and oxyethylene units exhibited high densities and relatively low gas permeability. However, the CO₂/N₂ separation factor of membrane of poly(p-phenylene) having oxyethylene units was as large as 73.6.     

Synthesis and properties of fluorinated poly(ether ketone imide)s based on a new unsymmetrical and concoplanar diamine: 3,5-Dimethyl-4-(4-amino-2-trifluoromethylphenoxy)-4′-aminobenzophenone

A new unsymmetrical and concoplanar aromatic diamine monomer containing trifluoromethyl and dimethyl groups, 3,5-dimethyl-4-(4-amino-2-trifluoromethylphenoxy)-4′-aminobenzophenone (3), was synthesized in a three-step reaction using 2,6-dimethylphenol and 4-nitrobenzoyl chloride as starting materials. A series of fluorinated poly(ether ketone imide)s (PEKIs) (5a-d) were prepared from diamine 3 with four aromatic dianhydrides via a one-step high-temperature polycondensation procedure. The obtained PEKIs were readily soluble in some organic solvents and could be solution cast into flexible and tough films. These PEKI films exhibited high optical transparency with a cutoff wavelength of 354-375 nm and low dielectric constants (2.26-2.45 at 1 MHz). They also showed good thermal stability with glass-transition temperatures (T_gs) above 289 °C, 10% weight loss temperatures in the range of 518-531 °C, and the weight residue more than 52% at 800 °C in nitrogen. Moreover, the PEKI films possessed tensile strengths and initial modulus ranged from 91 to −128 MPa and 1.7 to 2.4 GPa, respectively. Due to their properties, these fluorinated PEKIs could be considered as photoelectric and microelectronic materials.     

Synthesis, electroluminescence, and photovoltaic properties of dendronized poly(p-phenylene vinylene) derivatives

Two dendronized poly(p-phenylene vinylene) (PPV) derivatives, ED-PPV and BB-PPV, have been successfully synthesized according to the Gilch route. The obtained polymers possess excellent solubility in common solvents, good thermal stability with 5% weight loss temperature of more than 340 °C. The weight-average molecular weight (M_w) and polydispersity index (PDI) of ED-PPV and BB-PPV are in the range of (1.26-2.34)×10⁵ and 1.37-1.45, respectively. Polymer light-emitting diodes (PLEDs) with the configuration of ITO/PEDOT:PSS/polymer/Ca/Al devices were fabricated, and the PLEDs emitted green-yellow light. The turn-on voltages of the PLEDs based on ED-PPV and BB-PPV were approximately 4.3, and 4.5 V, respectively. The PLED devices of ED-PPV exhibited the maximum luminance of about 157 cd/m² at 10.5 V. Photovoltaic cells with the configuration of ITO/PEDOT:PSS/polymer:C₆₀ (1:1)/Al were also fabricated, and the energy conversion efficiency of the devices based on ED-PPV and BB-PPV was measured to be 0.58, and 0.014%, respectively, under the white light at 75 mW/cm².     

Thermal behavior of 1,4-bis(4-trimellitimido-2-trifluoromethyl phenoxy)benzene (DIDA) solvated with polar organic solvents and properties of DIDA-based poly(amide-imide)s

Fluorinated diimide-dicarboxylic acid (DIDA, Code: IV), 1,4-bis(4-trimellitimido-2-trifluoromethylphenoxy) benzene, synthesized by reacting 1,4-bis(4-amino-2-trifluoromethyl phenoxy)benzene (I) with trimellitic anhydride in polar solvents (PSv), was found to crystallize easily in amide-type solvents, such as N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone (NMP), N, N-dimethylformamide (DMF), N, N-dimethylacetamide (DMAc), or 1,3-dimethyl-2-imidazolidinone (DMI) media, to form a series of stable crystalline solvates (III_(NMP), III_(DMAc), III_DMF), III_(DMI)) containing a certain quantity of crystalline solvent. The solvates III_(PSv) were characterized and proven by DSC, TGA, and X-ray analysis. The decomposition point temperature (T_d) was different with the type of polar solvents in III_(PSv). Elemental analysis and NMR showed that most of the III_(PSv) were formed from IV and polar solvents in the ratio of 1:2, and the solvation processes were found to be reversible. Furthermore, a series of soluble fluorinated poly(amide-imide)s (VI_a-h) were synthesized from reacting either the NMP-solvates III_(NMP) or dry/non-solvates IV with an equivalent amount of diamines by direct polycondensation using triphenyl phosphate and pyridine as condensing agents. Thermal and mechanical properties of the fluorinated VI_a-h were measured, and compared with counterparts of non-fluorinated PAI's (Code: VI′s). In comparison, the fluorinated VI_a-h poly(amide-imide)s exhibited better solubility, tensile, and thermal properties than the non-fluorinated VI′s.     

Fluorescence sensors based on chiral polymer for highly enantioselective recognition of phenylglycinol

Chiral polymer P-1 incorporating (R,R)-salen-type unit was synthesized by the polymerization of (R,R)-1,2-diaminocyclohexane with 2,5-dibutoxy-1,4-di(5-tert-butylsalicyclaldehyde)-phenylene (M-1) via nucleophilic addition-elimination reaction, and chiral polymer P-2 incorporating (R,R)-salan-type unit could be obtained by the reduction reaction of P-1 with NaBH₄. The fluorescence response of two chiral polymers P-1 and P-2 on (R)- or (S)-phenylglycinol were investigated by fluorescence spectra. The fluorescence intensities of two chiral polymers P-1 and P-2 show gradual enhancement upon addition of (R)- or (S)-phenylglycinol and keeps nearly linear correlation with the concentration molar ratios of (R)- or (S)-phenylglycinol. But both P-1 and P-2 exhibited more sensitive response signals for (S)-phenylglycinol. The values of enantiomeric fluorescence difference ratio (ef) are 1.84 and 2.05 for P-1 and P-2, respectively. The results also showed that two chiral polymers P-1 and P-2 can also be used as fluorescence sensors for enantiomer composition determination of phenylglycinol.     

Synthesis and properties of polynorbornenes bearing oligomeric siloxane pendant groups

The ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) of norbornene derivatives 1-5 bearing oligomeric siloxane pendant groups was carried out with Grubbs 1st and 2nd generation, and Grubbs-Hoveyda ruthenium (Ru) catalysts. Monomer 1 gave high-molecular-weight polymers (M_n ca. 27?000-180?000) in high yields (80-100%). Monomers 2-5 also polymerized with Ru carbene catalysts to give high-molecular-weight polymers (M_n ca. 34?000-240?000) in high yields (66-100%). The onset temperatures of weight loss (T₀) of the polymers were 180-250 °C. The glass transition temperatures (T_gs) of poly(1) and poly(2) bearing branched siloxane linkages were near or higher than room temperature (27 and 101 °C). Meanwhile, the T_gs of poly(3)-poly(5) bearing linear siloxane linkages were much lower (−115 to −23 °C), and decreased with increasing length of the siloxane linkages. Poly(1) and poly(2) were hydrogenated completely, which was confirmed by ¹H NMR spectroscopy. The free-standing membranes of poly(1) and poly(2) showed high gas permeability; especially poly(2) is the most permeable to various gases among ROMP-polynorbornene derivatives reported so far.     

Initiator efficiency in ATRP: the tosyl chloride/CuBr/PMDETA system

The low efficiency of p-toluenesulfonyl chloride (TsCl) initiator for the polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA), when used in conjunction with N,N,N′,N″,N″-pentamethyldiethylenetriamine (PMDETA) and CuBr under atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) conditions was investigated. A major by-product in the formation of poly(methyl methacrylate) was identified as N,N-dimethyl-p-toluenesulfonamide (5) and accounted for approximately half of the initiator. Compound 5 was shown to form by the direct reaction of PMDETA and TsCl. In a model experiment equimolar amounts of TsCl, PMDETA and CuBr reacted at 80°C in p-xylene resulted in the formation of 5 and two other unsaturated sulfones 2-methyl-3-[(4-methylphenyl)sulfonyl]-2-propenoic acid methyl ester (6) and 2-[[4-methylphenyl)sulfonyl]methyl]-2-propenoic acid methyl ester (7), formed by the dehydrohalogenation and subsequent isomerization of an intermediate chloro-adduct, 1-(4-methylbenzenesulfonyl)-2-chloro-2-(methyl)methyl propionate (2). Molecular modeling predicted the unsaturated sulfone 7 was thermodynamically more stable than the higher conjugated sulfone 6 and this was confirmed by the isomerization of 6 to 7 at room temperature under mild basic conditions. The absence of 6 and 7 in the polymerization of MMA under ATRP conditions showed that in the early stages of polymerization in the presence of excess MMA, the intermediate chloro-adduct 2 is not formed.     

Synthesis and properties of cyclopentadithiophene-based poly(silarylenesiloxane) derivatives

Poly(silarylenesiloxane) derivatives with 4,4-dimethylcyclopenta[2,1-b:3,4-b′]dithiophene moiety, bearing dimethyl- (P1), methylphenyl- (P2) and diphenyl- (P3) substituents on silyl moieties, were prepared via polycondensation of the corresponding disilanol monomers, that is, 2,6-bis(dimethylhydroxysilyl)-4,4-dimethylcyclopenta[2,1-b:3,4-b′]dithiophene (M1), 2,6-bis(methylphenylhydroxysilyl)-4,4-dimethylcyclopenta[2,1-b:3,4-b′]dithiophene (M2), and 2,6-bis(diphenylhydroxysilyl)-4,4-dimethylcyclopenta[2,1-b:3,4-b′]dithiophene (M3), respectively. P1-P3 exhibited the good solubility in common organic solvents, such as benzene, toluene, chloroform, dichloromethane, THF, and so on. The glass transition temperatures (T_gs) of P1, P2 and P3 were determined by differential scanning calorimetry to be 56, 97 and 137 °C, respectively, depending on the substituent on the silyl moieties. No melting temperatures (T_ms) of P1, P2 and P3 were observed, suggesting the obtained P1-P3 are amorphous polymers. The temperatures at 5% weight loss (T_d5s) of P1, P2 and P3 were 460, 459 and 479 °C, respectively, indicating that the larger number of phenyl group on the silyl moieties resulted in the better thermostability. Bathochromic and hyperchromic effects were observed in the absorption and fluorescence spectra by introducing silyl substituents onto 4,4-dimethylcyclopenta[2,1-b:3,4-b′]dithiophene moiety. In addition, the bathochromic shift of the maximum absorption (λ_abs) and the increase in the fluorescence quantum yield (Φ_F) were observed by the introduction of phenyl group onto the silyl moieties.     

Direct synthesis of soluble and thermally stable poly(urethane-imide)s from a new triimide-dicarbonylazide

A new aromatic dicarbonylazide (3) bearing three preformed imide rings was synthesized by treating N-[3,5-bis(trimellitimido)phenyl]phthalimide (1) with thionyl chloride followed by a nucleophilic reaction with sodium azide. A novel family of fully aromatic poly(urethane-imide)s with inherent viscosities of 0.19-0.24 dl g⁻¹ were prepared from triimide-dicarbonylazide 3 and various aromatic diols. The polyaddition reactions readily proceeded in desirable yields as one-pot reactions starting from 3 without separately synthesis of the corresponding diisocyanate. All of the resulted polymers were thoroughly characterized by spectroscopic methods and elemental analyses. The poly(urethane-imide)s exhibited an excellent solubility in a variety of polar solvents. Crystallinity nature of the polymers was estimated by means of WXRD. The glass transition temperatures of the polymers determined by DSC method were in the range of 197-219 °C. The 10% weight loss temperatures of the poly(urethane-imide)s from their TGA/DTG curves were found to be in the range of 391-412 °C in nitrogen. The films of the polymers were also prepared by casting the solution.     

Synthesis, X-ray crystal structure and optical properties of novel 2,5-diaryl-1,3,4-oxadiazole derivatives containing substituted pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyridine units

A series of pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyridine-containing 2,5-diaryl-1,3,4-oxadiazole derivatives were synthesized and their structures were characterized by IR, ¹H NMR and HRMS spectra. The crystal structure of 3a was determined using single crystal X-ray crystallography. Its spatial structure was found to be monoclinic, and all aromatic rings were approximately coplanar, which allowed conjugation. The absorption results showed that compounds 1a-f presented their absorption peaks ranging from 264 nm to 290 nm, while compounds 3a-f with a larger conjugation system exhibited red-shifted absorption character (absorption maxima between 283 nm and 303 nm) compared to the corresponding absorption of 1a-f. Fluorescence spectra revealed that these compounds exhibited blue fluorescence (421-444 nm) in dilute solutions and showed quantum yields of fluorescence between 0.32 and 0.83 in dichloromethane.