Abstract
Coupling reactions between polymers are an important class of chemical modifications for changing, enhancing, and tuning the properties of polymeric materials. In particular, transformation of polymer topologies based on efficient, facile and less wasted coupling reactions remains a significant challenge. Here, we report coupling reactions based on electrochemical oxidation of 2,4,5-triphenylimidazole into a 2,4,5-triphenylimidazolyl radical and its spontaneous dimerization into hexaarylbiimidazole. Based on this chemistry, electrochemical topological transformation (ETT) and electrochemical chain extension have been realized with siloxane-based oligomers and polymers. Moreover, this approach enables one step ETT of star-shaped poly(dimethyl siloxane)s (PDMSs) into network PDMSs, running in an ionic liquid solvent and requiring no purification steps.
Highlights
Coupling reactions between polymers are an important class of chemical modifications for changing, enhancing, and tuning the properties of polymeric materials
A cyclic voltammogram (CV) of 1 in DCM/MeOH (10/3, v/v) indicated that a potential below +1.3 V is better for the reaction, as an increase in potential resulted in decomposition in the experimental potential range (+0–2.0 V) similar to that reported in the literature (Fig. 2b)[15]
The electrochemical topological transformation (ETT) and electrochemical chain extension (ECE) enabled by the present methodology are important for controlling the properties of polymers
Summary
Coupling reactions between polymers are an important class of chemical modifications for changing, enhancing, and tuning the properties of polymeric materials. Dimerization of the produced TPIRs into HABIs, with the intent of realizing a polymer–polymer coupling and transformation of topologies of polymers (Fig. 1a).
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