Thermal, optical, electrochemical properties and conductivity of trans- and cis-poly(1-ethynylpyrene): a comparative investigation

The thermal, optical and electrochemical properties of trans-poly(1-ethynylpyrene) (trans-PEP) and cis-poly(1-ethynylpyrene) (cis-PEP) have been studied as a function of polymer backbone configuration and internal stacking. Absorption spectra of the polymers showed that trans-PEP possesses a higher degree of conjugation than its homologue, cis-PEP. Intramolecular interactions occur between adjacent pendant pyrene units (associated pyrenes) present in each polymer, giving rise to static excimer emissions, strongest in cis-PEP because of the shorter distances between aromatic rings. Data resulting from excitation spectra and fluorescence decay profiles proved that such interactions take place in the ground state. Cyclic voltammetry of trans- and cis-PEP exhibited irreversible behaviors with different oxidation potentials as a result of their dissimilar geometry.     

Transparent and organosoluble cardo polyimides with different trans/cis ratios of 1,4‐diaminocyclohexane via aromatic nucleophilic substitution polymerization

Two series of cardo polyimides were prepared from 1,4‐bis(4‐fluorophthalimide)cyclohexane with different trans/cis ratios and phenolphthalein/o‐cresolphthalein via aromatic nucleophilic substitution reaction. The inherent viscosities of the synthesized polymers were found to be 0.55–0.66 dL g^?1 in N,N′‐dimethylacetamide. The cardo polyimides showed excellent solubility in organic solvents, high glass transition temperatures (T_g) of 275–312 °C and moderate thermal stability with 5% weight loss temperatures (T_d5%) of 415–441 °C in nitrogen and 370–436 °C in air. The polyimide films exhibited high optical transparency with cut‐off wavelengths of 350–355 nm and moderate mechanical properties. The different properties of the polymers caused by trans and cis configurations of 1,4‐diaminocyclohexane were also investigated. It was found that with an increasing content of trans configuration of 1,4‐diaminocyclohexane in the polyimide backbone, T_g of the polyimides increased as well as T_d5%, while the solubility gradually decreased. The polyimide films had good optical transparency regardless of trans/cis configuration. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry     

Asymmetric addition of thiol to diene polymer in the presence of optically active amines as catalyst

The asymmetric addition reaction of thiolacetic acid or benzylmercaptan to diene polymer (natural rubber, cis- and trans-1,4-polyisoprene, _cis-1,4-polybutadiene, various styrenebutadiene copolymers and alternating acrylonitrile-butadiene copolymer) by optically active catalysts such as d-bornylamine ([α]d?45.2°), l-aspartic diethyl ester (?11.2°), l-aspartic dibutyl ester (?5.3°) were carried out in benzene at room temperature to 90°C. The optically active polymers were obtained from natural rubber and cis-1,4- and trans-1,4-polyisoprene, but were not obtained from cis-1,4-polybutadiene, styrene-butadiene copolymers, and butadiene-acrylonitrile copolymer. The [α]²⁵_D value of optically active derivatives was ?0.1° ～ ?1.0° (in benzene), and the optical rotatory dispersion curves were found to fit the simple Drude equation.     

Synthesis and characterization of α‐methylstilbene‐ and azobenzene‐based thermotropic liquid crystalline polymers

A series of combined liquid crystalline poly(bis‐4,4′‐oxy‐α‐methylstilbene‐4‐substituted (X) phenylazo‐4′‐phenyloxydecylphosphate ester)s bearing photoreactive mesogenic units were synthesized. FTIR and ¹H NMR spectroscopy confirmed the structures of these polymers. The inherent viscosities of the polymers were found to be in the range 0.45–0.65 dL g^?1. Polarizing optical microscopy (POM) exhibited birefringent liquid crystalline melt properties. The thermal properties of all of the polymers were studied by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The photochemical properties of these polymers were studied by UV‐visible and fluorescence spectroscopy. The influence of the photoinduced E–Z (trans–cis) isomerization of the various terminal substituents of the side‐chain azobenzenes was investigated. The kinetics of the photoisomerization process reveal the switching times for the conversion between the trans‐ and cis‐ forms of the azobenzene units. The photo‐optical properties of these polymers exhibited layered smectic phases and showed good photoinduced properties in their mesomorphic states. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry     

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 ¹H 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. Increasing the concentration of monomers could give higher molecular weight cis-polymers. All of the cis-polyimides were soluble at room temperature in aprotic polar solvents and phenolic solvents and some of them even soluble in chloroform and tetrahydrofuran, while the corresponding trans-polymers showed poor solubility as compared to cis-polymers. All of the polyimides showed good thermal stability with the 5% weight loss temperatures in air over 415 °C. Furthermore, polyimides derived from cis-1,2,3,4-CHDA have higher glass transition temperatures (T_gs) than corresponding trans-polyimides. The flexible polyimide films possessed a tensile modulus range of 2.1-3.6 GPa, a tensile strength range of 42-116 MPa, an elongation at break of 4-18%. These polyimides exhibited cutoffs at wavelengths around 270 nm and were entirely colorless. All the polyimides showed amorphous pattern according to Wide angle X-ray diffraction measurements. The differences of polymerization and properties were explained by the structural changes resulted from isomerism.     

Synthesis and characterization of hyperbranched azobenzene-containing polymers via self-condensing atom transfer radical polymerization and copolymerization

We report on the synthesis of an azobenzene-containing inimer 6-{4-[4-(2-(2-bromoisobutyryloxy)hexyloxy)phenylazo]phenoxy}hexyl methacrylate (I) and used it to prepare hyperbranched homopolymer and copolymers by self-condensing vinyl polymerization (SCVP) and copolymerization (SCVCP) with its precursor 6-{4-[4-(6-hydroxyhexyloxy)phenylazo]phenoxy}hexyl methacrylate (M) using atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). Depending on the comonomer ratio, γ=[M]₀/[I]₀, branched polymethacrylates with number-average weights between 8000 and 20,000 and degree of branching (DB) between 0.08 and 0.49 were obtained by SCVCP, as evidenced by GPC and ¹H NMR analysis. In addition, the photochemical properties of the polymers were also studied by UV-vis spectra and found the structure of polymers affect obviously the trans-cis isomerization properties of the branched polymers.     

13C N.m.r. Spectra of ring-opened polymers of 1-methylbicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-ene and their hydrogenated products

The ¹³C n.m.r. spectra of the title polymers have been completely assigned for a comprehensive range of cis contents (σ_c = 0–1) and head-tail bias (HT/(HH + TT) = 1 −∞). In the unsaturated polymers (II), cis HH dyads are never found, so that all-cis polymers are also all-Ht, but cis TT dyads are formed in cis-trans polymers, equal to the difference between trans HH and trans TT. The olefinic region consists of seven triplets; two each from cis HT and trans HT, and one each from cis TT, trans TT and trans HH. In the case of trans each triplet consists of a main centre peak due to ttt and ctc sequences and two wing peaks due to ttc and ctt sequences, as defined in the text. The upfield peaks also show cc/ct or tt/tc splittings as well as HH/HT or TT/TH splittings in most cases. In the saturated polymers C⁶ is sensitive to m/r ring dyad sequences. A corrected assignment is given for the hydrogenated polymer of norbornene.     

Soluble polyimides containing trans-diaminotetraphenylporphyrin: Synthesis and photoinduced electron transfer

5,15-Bis(4-aminophenyl)-10,20-diphenylporphyrin (trans-DATPP) was synthesized via the condensation of meso-(4-nitrophenyl)dipyrromethane and benzaldehyde. The further reaction with zinc acetylacetonate hydrate afforded zinc 5,15-bis(4-aminophenyl)-10,20-diphenylporphyrin (trans-ZnDATPP). A series of soluble polyimides based on trans-DATPP or trans-ZnDATPP, 2,2′-bis(trifluoromethyl)-4,4′-diaminobiphenyl (PFMB) and 4,4′-hexafluoroisopropylidenediphthalic anhydride (6FDA) at various ratios was then prepared. Some physical properties of these polyimides were measured. It was found that every polyimide containing either trans-DATPP or trans-ZnDATPP had higher viscosity than the polyimide without porphyrin unit. Furthermore, the polyimides with trans-ZnDATPP showed lower viscosity than the ones without trans-ZnDATPP at approximately the same porphyrin content. Glass transition temperatures (T_gs) of polyimides containing trans-ZnDATPP were higher than polyimides containing trans-DATPP, and both were higher than polyimide without porphyrin. Steady state fluorescence spectroscopy of these polymers revealed that the quantum yield of polymers increased with higher content of free base porphyrin in the polymer chain. Time-correlated single photon counting experiments indicated these polyimides could be used in photonic applications.     

Light-sensitive elastomers modified by 4-(N-dimethylmaleimido)-benzenesulphenyl chloride

New light-sensitive polymers were prepared by modification of four different elastomers with 4-(N-dimethylmaleimido)-benzenesulphenyl chloride (DMI-BSCI). Polydienes modified by DMI-BSCI form block copolymers. These polymers show a strong increase of the glass transition temperature T_g whereby the T_g increase of modified poly(octenamer) is much smaller. Higher modified polydienes have two T_g. Modified poly(octenamers) show a melting temperature dependence T_m on the content of trans double bonds which is characteristic of statistical copolymers. The ratio of rate constants with which trans- and cis-structures in poly(octenamer) are occupied by DMI-BSCI, is

$\text{k}{}_{\mathrm{trans}}\text{k}{}_{\mathrm{cis}}\text{= 0.34}$

     

Novel polyacetylenes containing pendant 1-pyrenyl groups: synthesis, characterization, and thermal and optical properties

We report the synthesis as well as the thermal, optical and photophysical properties of four different polyacetylenes with pendant 1-pyrenyl groups: poly(1-ethynylpyrene) (PEP), poly(1-(trimethylsilanylethynyl)pyrene) (PTMSEP), poly(1-(4-(trimethylsilanyl-buta-1,3-diynyl)pyrene) (PTMSBDP) and poly(1-buta-1,3-diynylpyrene) (PBDP). Polymerizations were carried out with W and Ta catalysts, respectively, for mono- and disubstituted monomers. Soluble poly(1-ethynylpyrene) with high molecular weights (up to 4×10⁵) and extended conjugation of the main chain was obtained with good yields. Lower molecular weights (up to 6×10³) were obtained with the other polymers. Oligomers and polymers displayed high thermal stability. From the absorption spectra of the various polymers, it is found that PEP possesses a higher degree of conjugation than the other polyacetylenes. Molecular interactions occur between pyrene units present in each polymer giving rise to an emission due to associated pyrenes. These interactions are affected by the steric hindrance present in the polymer backbone. Excitation spectra combined with fluorescence decay profiles show that these interactions occur in the ground state (excited complex).     

On the packing properties of poly(acetylene) chains

Packing calculations relevant to the crystal structure of trans-poly(acetylene) are described. Three classes of chain arrangements have been studied: pseudomonoclinic structures with one chain per unit cell and orthorhombic and monoclinic structures containing two symmetry related chains. The results are compared with experimental data on trans-poly(acetylene) reported in the literature and structure analyses of octatriene(2,4,6)-acid and 1,10-dicyanooctatetraene(1,3,5,7) which are reported as well. The same packing program has been used to recalculate the structure of cis-poly(acetylene). The results indicate the possibility for polymorphism in poly(acetylene) because several packing modes can be derived which differ very little with regard to their packing energy. However, literature data on the assignment of lattice parameters from poorly resolved X-ray, electron and neutron diffraction data can now be critically discussed.     

Cis and trans radicals generated in helical poly(propargyl acetate)s prepared using a [Rh(norbornadiene)Cl]2 catalyst

The poly(propargyl acetate) (A) having a helical cis-transoid structure was stereospecifically prepared using the Rh complex catalyst, [Rh(norbornadiene)Cl]₂, in MeOH or NEt₃ solvent at 0 and 40 °C in moderate yield. Electron spin resonance (ESR) analysis of the polymer revealed the formation of the cis (B) and trans (C) radicals which were produced through the thermal rotational scission of the helical cis CC bonds in the main-chain during the polymerization. The spatial and geometrical structure was successfully deduced using the two analogues’ polymers in which either methyl or methylene group is deuterated, by the aide of computer simulation of the observed ESR spectra together with the calculation of spin density of the two radicals.     

Synchrotron radiation ablation of polymers having double bonds in their main chains

Polyacetylene (PA), poly(cis- and trans-1,4-butadiene)s (cis- and trans-PBs), and poly(p-phenylene vinylene) (PPV) were ablated by synchrotron radiation (SR), aiming to deposit thin, uniform films of each on a substrate. When PA was irradiated by SR, gaseous phenyl compounds were produced, and a thin amorphous film was deposited on the substrate, exhibiting no characteristics of PA. In the cases of PPV and trans-PB, the source materials were reproduced in the form of thin film on the substrate by SR ablation. When alkali halides, e.g. NaCl and KBr, were used as deposition substrates, PPV was deposited, in an ordered way, on their cleavage surfaces. However, the deposited film of trans-PB by SR ablation was non-crystalline, because it was produced as a copolymer by 1,4- and 1,2-addition polymerizations of ablated butadiene-based fragments. In comparison, thin films of these polymers were also prepared by thermally evaporating them in a vacuum. When trans-PB and PPV were thermally evaporated, thin films with chemically and structurally identical features to the source polymers were produced, respectively. In contrast, a deposited film from cis-PB by SR ablation consisted of carbon compounds, showing no sign of hydrocarbon compounds in it, while trans-PB was produced from cis-PB by thermal vapor deposition.     

Geometrical structures of poly(haloalkyl propiolate)s prepared with a [Rh(norbornadiene)Cl]2 catalyst

The polymerization of ω-haloalkyl propiolates initiated by [Rh(norbornadiene)Cl]₂ in methanol has been investigated in detail together with the geometrical forms of the resulting polymers. The polymer yield and molecular weight of poly(2-haloethyl propiolate)s (P(2XEPA)s) were markedly reduced in the order of X = Cl, Br, and I. ¹H NMR, electron spin resonance, and diffuse reflective UV-vis spectroscopic studies of P(2XEPA)s revealed that the content of cis form regarding the CC was markedly decreased from 60% for P(2ClEPA) to 15% for P(2IEPA). The decrease in the cis content also resulted in notable reduction of the crystallinity of the polymer from 30% for P(2ClEPA) to less than 10% for P(2IEPA). Compression of P(2XEPA)s at room temperature induced the so-called cis-to-trans isomerization accompanied with decomposition of the polymers.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Cis- and Trans-Trimethyltriphenylcyclotrisiloxane

2,4,6-Trimethyl-2,4,6-triphenylcyclotrisiloxane (P₃) exists as cis and trans-stereoisomers. Herein, we present the detailed synthesis and characterization of the cis- and trans-P₃ isomers. After preparation of the mixed cyclic methylphenylsiloxanes, it was found that vacuum distillation was the best method for separating P₃ from the mixture of P₃ and 2,4,6,8-tetramethyl-2,4,6,8-tetraphenylcyclotetrasiloxane (P₄) on a large scale and that pure cis-P₃ can be isolated by washing the mixed P₃ isomers with methanol. It is also shown that a selective crystallization method was successful for isolating cis-P₃ from the mixture of P₃ and P₄ directly and that large crystals may be obtained. Using gas chromatography and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, the two different isomers and four different isomers in P₃ and P₄, respectively, are easily identified. The nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra, differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) thermograms, and infrared (IR) spectra with various ratios of cis-P₃ and trans-P₃ were also analyzed. A melting point depression of the cis-P₃ was observed with an increased amount of trans-P₃ for the mixed isomers, as expected. These P₃ stereochemical isomers provide valuable starting materials for the preparation of stereoregular siloxanes using ring-opening polymerization.     

Synthesis and characterization of poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly (l-lactide)-b-poly(l-glutamic acid) triblock copolymer

A biodegradable amphiphilic triblock copolymer of poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(l-lactide)-b-poly(l-glutamic acid) (PEG-b-PLLA-b-PLGA) was obtained by catalytic hydrogenation of poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(l-lactide)-b-poly(γ-benzyl-l-glutamic acid) (PEG-b-PLLA-b-PBLGA) synthesized by the ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of N-carboxyanhydride of γ-benzyl-l-glutamate (BLG-NCA) with amino-terminated MPEG-b-PLLA-NH₂ as a macroinitiator. MPEG-b-PLLA-NH₂ converted from MPEG-b-PLLA-OH first reacted with tert-Butoxycarbonyl-l-phenylalanine (Phe-^NBOC) and dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCC) and then deprotected the tert-butoxycarbonyl group. MPEG-b-PLLA-OH was prepared by ROP of l-lactide with monomethoxy poly(ethylene glycol) in the presence of stannous octoate. The triblock copolymer and its diblock precursors were characterized by ¹H NMR, FTIR, GPC and DSA (drop shape analysis) measurements. The lengths of each block polymers could be tailored by molecular design and the ratios of feeding monomers. The triblock polymer PEG-b-PLLA-b-PLGA containing carboxyl groups showed obviously improved hydrophilic properties and could be a good potential candidate as a drug delivery carrier.     

Degradation and geometric isomerization of poly(N-propargylamides)

The stability of several poly(N-propargylamides) was investigated in solution and in solid state on the basis of molecular weight change with time, and further their thermal stability was investigated by TGA. When the stability of poly(N-propargylamides) with varying pendent groups was compared, polymers with pendent groups of moderate size showed the highest stability in solution. Too short and too bulky pendent groups were not favorable for the stability of polymers. When poly(N-propargylheptanamide) (poly(6)) was stored in THF as solution at −20 °C in the absence of oxygen in dark, its degradation rate was the lowest. The degradation rate of poly(6) depended on the solvents used, which may be related to different solubility of oxygen in these solvents. Polymers with high cis contents degraded faster than polymers with low cis contents did. Addition of TEMPO and DPPH into the poly(6)/THF solution more or less depressed the degradation of poly(6). The degradation of polymer main chain in solution was always accompanied by the decrease of cis content, i.e. geometric isomerization from cis- to trans-structure. When the polymers were stored in the solid state at −20 °C, the polymers having alkyl pendent groups with moderate length were more stable than those with bulky pendent groups. Geometric isomerization occurred along with degradation in the solid state as well.     

Synthesis of spherical trans-1,4-polyisoprene/trans-1,4-poly(butadiene-co-isoprene) rubber alloys within reactor

Trans-polydiene rubber family as high-performance tire stock possessed excellent dynamic properties, including excellent anti fatigue, low rolling resistance, low heat buildup, good green strength, and low abrasion loss. Here, Reactor Granule Technology (RGT) was introduced into the field of synthetic rubber for the first time to produce trans-1.4-polyisoprene/trans-1,4-poly(butadiene-co-isoprene) rubber alloy, which showed significant improvement in rubber synthetic technologies and great development in abundance of trans-rubber family. A series of trans-polyisoprene alloys with excellent spherical morphology were successfully synthesized by using sequential multistage polymerization. The alloy was fractionated into four fractions by temperature-gradient fractionation, and the fractionation was analyzed by ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, DSC and WAXD.     

Sequence distribution of cis-1,4- and trans-1,4-units in polyisoprenes

The ¹³C n.m.r. spectra of chicle polyisoprene and cis-trans isomerized 1, 4-polyisoprenes were studied. The splittings of signals were observed in the C₁, C₂, and C₄ carbon signals of the isomerized polyisoprenes. The newly appearing signals were assigned to the carbon atoms in cis-trans linkages. The fractions of the diad sequences (trans-trans, trans-cis, cis-trans, and cis-cis) were determined by using the four signals of C₁ carbon. It was found that the cis-1, 4- and trans-1, 4-units were randomly distributed in the isomerized polyisoprenes and it was confirmed that the chicle polyisoprene was a mixture of cis-1, 4- and trans-1, 4-polyisoprenes.