Chemical modification of chloromethylated polysulfones via click reactions

A new approach to the modification of azidomethyl polyethersulfones using click reactions with acetylenic derivatives in the presence of CuBr as catalyst is presented. An azidomethyl polyethersulfone was prepared by the reaction of chloromethylated polysulfone with sodium azide in dimethylformamide. By the Cu(I)‐catalysed Huisgen 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition reaction of the azidomethyl polyethersulfone to acetylenic derivatives, new polyethersulfones containing 1,2,3‐triazole rings were obtained. The structures of the polymers were confirmed using attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared and NMR spectroscopy. The polymers were characterized using dynamic mechanical analysis, thermogravimetric analysis, stress‐strain and water contact angle measurements and solubility tests. The polymers bearing 1,2,3‐triazole rings having OH or COOH as substituents exhibited static contact angles smaller than that of the parent polyethersulfone. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry