Polymer End Research Articles

Catalyst‐Transfer Suzuki–Miyaura Condensation Polymerization of Stilbene Monomer: Different Polymerization Behavior Depending on Halide and Aryl Group of ArPd(tBu3P)X Initiator

ABSTRACTWe report Suzuki–Miyaura coupling polymerization of tetraalkoxy‐substituted 4‐bromostilbene‐4′‐boronic acid 1 with several t‐Bu3P‐ligated Pd initiators; this is the first example of catalyst‐transfer condensation polymerization (CTCP) of a monomer containing a carbon–carbon double bond. When o‐tolylPd(tBu3P)Br was used as the initiator, the o‐tolyl group was not introduced at the polymer end, but polymer with boronic acid at one end and bromine at the other was obtained. However, when we employed stilbenePd(tBu3P)I generated in situ from iodostilbene and Pd(tBu3P)G2 precatalyst, or isolated ArPd(tBu3P)X (Ar, X = Ph, I; o‐tolyl, I; and Ph, Br), the aryl group was introduced at the polymer end, indicating that CTCP of 1 proceeded. Therefore, the iodide and aryl group of the Pd initiator complex is crucial for CTCP of 1. However, the molecular weight distribution of the obtained polymer was broad, possibly because coordination of the carbon–carbon double bond of 1 to ArPd(tBu3P)I resulted in slow initiation. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2019, 57, 297–304

Study of the Kinetic Hydrate Inhibitor Performance of Poly(N-vinylcaprolactam) and poly(N-isopropylmethacrylamide) with Varying End Caps

Poly(N-vinylcaprolactam) (PVCap) is an effective kinetic hydrate inhibitor (KHI) that has been widely used in both industry applications and laboratory studies. Industrially, organic peroxides are often used as the N-vinylcaprolactam (VCap) polymerization initiator. In our own past studies, we usually make PVCap by polymerizing VCap with azoisobutyronitrile (AIBN), giving a 2-cyanoprop-2-yl polymer end cap. In this study, VCap was polymerized with AIBN and a series of mercaptocarboxylic acid chain transfer agents (CTAs) to modify the end groups of PVCap. These end-group-modified PVCaps were investigated as KHIs in high-pressure rocking cells. Some of them showed better KHI performance than PVCap made with AIBN alone. The mercaptoacetic-acid-group-modified PVCap (PVCapSCH2COOH) had significantly better inhibition performance than normal PVCap on both structure I (sI) and structure II (sII) gas-hydrate-forming systems in aqueous solution as well as a sII hydrate-forming system containing added decane. Howev...

Entropy Driven Phase Transition in Polymer Gels: Mean Field Theory.

We present a mean field model of a gel consisting of P polymers, each of length L and Nz polyfunctional monomers. Each polyfunctional monomer forms z covalent bonds with the 2P bifunctional monomers at the ends of the linear polymers. We find that the entropy dependence on the number of polyfunctional monomers exhibits an abrupt change at Nz = 2P/z due to the saturation of possible crosslinks. This non-analytical dependence of entropy on the number of polyfunctionals generates a first-order phase transition between two gel phases: one poor and the other rich in poly-functional molecules.

Diffusion of Gold Nanorods Functionalized with Thermoresponsive Polymer Brushes

Understanding the diffusion of gold nanorods (AuNRs) and their composites in dispersion is important at fundamental level and in fields as diverse as material science, nanobiotechnology to drug delivery. The translational and rotational diffusion of AuNRs decorated with thermoresponsive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) brushes having hydrophilic and hydrophobic end groups was investigated in the dilute regime by dynamic light scattering. The same series of functionalized AuNRs were studied in the isotropic concentrated dispersions by high-resolution NMR diffusometry. The dependence of translational and rotational diffusivity upon molecular weight and polymer end group were measured as a function of temperature in the region of the brush phase transition. The effective hydrodynamic radius of AuNR composites proved to be the most sensitive quantity to the temperature-induced phase transition of brushes, allowing the evaluation of the brush thickness in the swollen and collapsed states.

Polyphenylsulfone (PPSU) for baby bottles: a comprehensive assessment on polymer-related non-intentionally added substances (NIAS)

ABSTRACTPolyphenylsulfone (PPSU) is a new material for the production of baby bottles. PPSU is a polyether plastic formally composed of bisphenol S (BPS) and 4,4ʹ-dihydroxybiphenyl (DHBP), which both have slight endocrine activities in in vitro tests. So far, little is known about the presence and the release of potentially hazardous substances from PPSU baby bottles. In this study, we present a three-step approach for the analysis of PPSU starting with polymer characterisation in terms of chemical structure, total oligomer content and hydrolytic stability. Second is the determination of extractables focussing on monomers, monomer derivatives, linear and cyclic oligomers below 1000 Da and residual solvent. Third is a risk assessment on migration-related substances in accordance to European Union plastics regulation no. 10/2011 based on triplicate consecutive migration experiments using official milk simulant 50% ethanol. We analysed five types of PPSU baby bottles from different brands as well as corresponding raw materials from different manufacturers by various analytical techniques (high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)-diode array detector /fluorescence detector/Corona/electrospray ionisation-MS, HPLC-size exclusion chromatography, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), 1H-NMR). We found significant variations of PPSU materials from different producers with regard to polymer and oligomer chain end groups (methoxylation, chlorination), while total oligomer content below 1000 Da was similar (mean about 0.48%). BPS was not detected above 0.3 mg/kg polymer in any PPSU sample. Residual DHBP content ranged between 1.7 and 15.5 mg/kg polymer. The most common oligomer in all PPSU samples was the cyclic tetramer (about 1200 mg/kg polymer), which is the only cyclic compound below 1000 Da. Residual solvent, sulfolane, was determined to a maximum of 1300 mg/kg polymer. In migration tests, we detected exceedances of neither specific migration limits for listed substances nor of thresholds of toxicological concern for non-listed substances (monomer derivatives, oligomers). Based on our analytical results, no concerns exist regarding migration of polymer-related substances from PPSU baby bottles.

MinC and FtsZ mutant analysis provides insight into MinC/MinD-mediated Z ring disassembly

The Min system negatively regulates the position of the Z ring, which serves as a scaffold for the divisome that mediates bacterial cytokinesis. In Escherichia coli, this system consists of MinC, which antagonizes assembly of the tubulin homologue FtsZ. MinC is recruited to the membrane by MinD and induced by MinE to oscillate between the cell poles. MinC is a dimer with each monomer consisting of functionally distinct MinCN and MinCC domains, both of which contact FtsZ. According to one model, MinCC/MinD binding to the FtsZ tail positions MinCN at the junction of two GDP-containing subunits in the filament, leading to filament breakage. Others posit that MinC sequesters FtsZ-GDP monomers or that MinCN caps the minus end of FtsZ polymers and that MinCC interferes with lateral interactions between FtsZ filaments. Here, we isolated minC mutations that impair MinCN function and analyzed FtsZ mutants resistant to MinC/MinD. Surprisingly, we found mutations in both minC and ftsZ that differentiate inhibition by MinC from inhibition by MinC/MinD. Analysis of these mutations suggests that inhibition of the Z ring by MinC alone is due to sequestration, whereas inhibition by MinC/MinD is not. In conclusion, our genetic and biochemical data support the model that MinC/MinD fragments FtsZ filaments.

Bridging Dynamics of Telechelic Polymers between Solid Surfaces

We employ Brownian dynamics simulations combined with forward flux sampling and theoretical first-passage time analyses to describe the rates of transitions between loops and bridges of telechelic polymers between solid surfaces representing e.g. latex colloids in the limit that the telechelic stickers bind strongly enough to the surfaces to make free chains very rare. It is shown that the bridge formation rate can be expressed by combining times for two processes, namely, the escape of one end sticker from the narrow-but-deep association well near the colloidal surface and the longer-range motion of the chain end to the other surface inhibited by stretching free energy. We find that when using multibead chains to represent the telechelic polymers, the longer-range motion requires use of a multidimensional first passage time analysis that we borrow from the work of Likhtman and co-workers, which was originally developed to describe polymer end fluctuations in a one-dimensional reptation tube. From these i...

On the “True” Structure of Push–Pull‐Type Low‐Bandgap Polymers for Organic Electronics

AbstractDonor–acceptor‐type conjugated polymers are a dominant class of active materials in the field of organic electronics. Their adjustable light‐harvesting, charge transfer, and charge transport characteristics are beneficially applied in organic photovoltaics, photodetectors, and thin‐film transistors. The conventional synthetic approach toward these push–pull polymers is based on Suzuki or Stille cross‐coupling of complementary functionalized (hetero)aromatic monomers. In an ideal world, this gives rise to a perfect alternation of the employed building blocks throughout the polymer backbone, and this alternation of electron‐rich (donor/push) and electron‐deficient (acceptor/pull) moieties leads to a substantial decrease of the bandgap. In recent years, however, it has become increasingly clear that the “real” structure of the resulting alternating copolymers is often quite different from the projected one. Structural imperfections can, for instance, result from homocoupling of two identical building blocks. Furthermore, the polymer end groups are also often not those as expected. In this progress report, an overview is provided for the recent literature observations of structural imperfections in push–pull conjugated polymers, the difficulties in observing them, and their impact on device performance. The strong effect of homocoupling on material and (organic solar cell) device quality and reproducibility is particularly emphasized.

SPR2 protects minus ends to promote severing and reorientation of plant cortical microtubule arrays.

The cortical microtubule arrays of higher plants are organized without centrosomes and feature treadmilling polymers that are dynamic at both ends. The control of polymer end stability is fundamental for the assembly and organization of cytoskeletal arrays, yet relatively little is understood about how microtubule minus ends are controlled in acentrosomal microtubule arrays, and no factors have been identified that act at the treadmilling minus ends in higher plants. Here, we identify Arabidopsis thaliana SPIRAL2 (SPR2) as a protein that tracks minus ends and protects them against subunit loss. SPR2 function is required to facilitate the rapid reorientation of plant cortical arrays as stimulated by light perception, a process that is driven by microtubule severing to create a new population of microtubules. Quantitative live-cell imaging and computer simulations reveal that minus protection by SPR2 acts by an unexpected mechanism to promote the lifetime of potential SPR2 severing sites, increasing the likelihood of severing and thus the rapid amplification of the new microtubule array.

AmPhos Pd-Catalyzed Suzuki–Miyaura Catalyst-Transfer Condensation Polymerization: Narrower Dispersity by Mixing the Catalyst and Base Prior to Polymerization

Several palladium catalysts with bulky phosphine ligands other than t-Bu3P were investigated for Suzuki–Miyaura catalyst-transfer condensation polymerization (CTCP). When the model reaction of 2,5-dibromothiophene with phenylboronic acid ester was carried out with a variety of Pd precatalysts in the presence of K3PO4 as a base, we found that the use of di-tert-butyl(4-dimethylaminophenyl)phosphine (AmPhos) Pd as a precatalyst resulted in exclusive formation of diphenyl-substituted thiophene. Polymerization of thiophene monomer and fluorene monomer with an initiator generated in situ from AmPhos Pd precatalyst and 4-iodobenzonitrile proceeded via the CTCP mechanism, affording polythiophene (P3HT) and polyfluorene with low dispersity and controlled polymer ends. Furthermore, (tolyl)PdAmPhos(Br) (7) was synthesized, and its polymerization properties were investigated. We found that polymerization of thiophene monomer with a mixture of 7 and CsF that had been stirred for 1 h prior to polymerization afforded P...

Experimental Study of Aged and Seriously Damaged RC Beams Strengthened Using CFRP Composites

This paper presents results from experiments on aged and seriously damaged reinforced concrete (RC) beams strengthened with different arrangements of external carbon fiber‐reinforced polymer (CFRP) laminates and end anchorages. Seven RC beams from an old bridge, measuring 250 × 200 × 2300 mm, were tested. All specimens were loaded to yield load to evaluate initial mechanical properties. Then, these seriously damaged specimens were repaired using different CFRP‐reinforcing schemes and reloaded to failure. The yield load growth due to CFRP reinforcement ranged from 5% to 36%. Different parameters including CFRP dimension and position, bonding length, and end anchorage were investigated and facilitated conclusions on beam ductility, load‐midspan deflection response, and failure mode. This research contributes to knowledge about the CFRP repair of aged and seriously damaged beams to ensure better performance in overloaded conditions.

Design and immunological evaluation of anti-CD205-tailored PLGA-based nanoparticulate cancer vaccine.

The aim of this research was to develop a targeted antigen–adjuvant assembled delivery system that will enable dendritic cells (DCs) to efficiently mature to recognize antigens released from tumor cells. It is important to target the DCs with greater efficiency to prime T cell immune responses. In brief, model antigen, ovalbumin (OV), and monophosphoryl lipid A adjuvant were encapsulated within the nanoparticle (NP) by double emulsification solvent evaporation method. Targeted NPs were obtained through ligand incorporation via physical adsorption or chemical conjugation process. Intracellular uptake of the NPs and the maturation of DCs were evaluated with flow cytometry. Remarkably, the developed delivery system had suitable physicochemical properties, such as particle size, surface charge, OV encapsulation efficiency, biphasic OV release pattern, and safety profile. The ligand modified formulations had higher targeting efficiency than the non-tailored NPs. This was also evident when the targeted formulations expressed comparatively higher fold increase in surface activation markers such as CD40, CD86, and major histocompatibility complex class II molecules. The maturation of DCs was further confirmed through secretion of extracellular cytokines compared to control cells in the DC microenvironment. Physicochemical characterization of NPs was performed based on the polymer end groups, their viscosities, and ligand-NP bonding type. In conclusion, the DC stimulatory response was integrated to develop a relationship between the NP structure and desired immune response. Therefore, the present study narrates a comparative evaluation of some selected parameters to choose a suitable formulation useful for in vivo cancer immunotherapy.

Analysis of Three-dimensional Hierarchical Structure of Silica in Formulation with Advanced Rubber Material Having Functionalized Polymer Ends by Small Angle X-ray Scattering (2)

Analysis of Three-dimensional Hierarchical Structure of Silica in Formulation with Advanced Rubber Material Having Functionalized Polymer Ends by Small Angle X-ray Scattering (2)

Secondary dialkylammonium salt/crown ether [2]pseudorotaxanes as nanostructured platforms for proton transport.

Multivalent secondary dialkylammonium salt/crown ether [2]pseudorotaxane, supramolecular polymer networks have been obtained by mixing surfactant-encapsulated clusters with dibenzo[24]crown-8 groups and star polymers end functionalized with dibenzylammonium ions. This induces remarkable enhancements and rational control of proton conductivity of the supramolecular networks.

Heterotelechelic Polymers by Ring-Opening Metathesis and Regioselective Chain Transfer.

Heterotelechelic polymers were synthesized by a kinetic telechelic ring-opening metathesis polymerization method relying on the regioselective cross-metathesis of the propagating Grubbs' first-generation catalyst with cinnamyl alcohol derivatives. This procedure allowed the synthesis of hetero-bis-end-functional polymers in a one-pot setup. The molecular weight of the polymers could be controlled by varying the ratio between cinnamyl alcohol derivatives and monomer. The end functional groups can be changed using different aromatically substituted cinnamyl alcohol derivatives. Different monomers were investigated and the presence of the functional groups was shown by NMR spectroscopy and MALDI-ToF mass spectrometry. Labeling experiments with dyes were conducted to demonstrate the orthogonal addressability of both chain ends of the heterotelechelic polymers obtained.

Heterotelechelic Polymers by Ring‐Opening Metathesis and Regioselective Chain Transfer

AbstractHeterotelechelic polymers were synthesized by a kinetic telechelic ring‐opening metathesis polymerization method relying on the regioselective cross‐metathesis of the propagating Grubbs’ first‐generation catalyst with cinnamyl alcohol derivatives. This procedure allowed the synthesis of hetero‐bis‐end‐functional polymers in a one‐pot setup. The molecular weight of the polymers could be controlled by varying the ratio between cinnamyl alcohol derivatives and monomer. The end functional groups can be changed using different aromatically substituted cinnamyl alcohol derivatives. Different monomers were investigated and the presence of the functional groups was shown by NMR spectroscopy and MALDI‐ToF mass spectrometry. Labeling experiments with dyes were conducted to demonstrate the orthogonal addressability of both chain ends of the heterotelechelic polymers obtained.

Control of Molecular Weight and End-Functional Groups of Polyester from A2 + B2 Polycondensation via Cross-Metathesis of Cyclic Unsaturated Polyester with Difunctional Olefin

As an approach to control the molecular weight and polymer end groups of polyester obtained by A2 + B2 polycondensation, we investigated cross-metathesis of cyclic polyesters containing carbon–carbon double bonds in the backbone with a symmetric olefin having two functional groups as an exchange reagent (ExR). Polycondensation of cis-2-butene-1,4-diol (1) and sebacoyl dichloride (4) did not selectively afford cyclic polyester, but when cis- or trans-4-octene-1,8-diol, instead of 1, was reacted with 4 or isophthaloyl dichloride, we found that cyclic unsaturated polyesters were formed selectively. The obtained cyclic polyesters successfully underwent cross-metathesis reaction with cis-1,4-diacetoxy-2-butene (6) in the presence of second-generation Grubbs catalyst to afford linear polyester bearing acetoxy groups at both ends. The molecular weight of the linear polyester decreased with increasing amount of 6 regardless of the molecular weight of the starting cyclic polyester; the molecular weight of the resu...

Mechanical response of transient telechelic networks with many-part stickers.

A central question in soft matter is understanding how several individual, weak bonds act together to produce collective interactions. Here, gel-forming telechelic polymers with multiple stickers at each chain end are studied through Brownian dynamics simulations to understand how collective interaction of the bonds affects mechanical response of the gels. These polymers are modeled as finitely extensible dumbbells using an explicit tau-leap algorithm and the binding energy of these associations was kept constant regardless of the number of stickers. The addition of multiple bonds to the associating ends of telechelic polymers increases or decreases the network relaxation time depending on the relative kinetics of association but increases both shear stress and extensional viscosity. The relationship between the rate of association and the Rouse time of dangling chains results in two different regimes for the equilibrium stress relaxation of associating physical networks. In case I, a dissociated dangling chain is able to fully relax before re-associating to the network, resulting in two characteristic relaxation times and a non-monotonic terminal relaxation time with increasing number of bonds per polymer endgroup. In case II, the dissociated dangling chain is only able to relax a fraction of the way before it re-attaches to the network, and increasing the number of bonds per endgroup monotonically increases the terminal relaxation time. In flow, increasing the number of stickers increases the steady-state shear and extensional viscosities even though the overall bond kinetics and equilibrium constant remain unchanged. Increased dissipation in the simulations is primarily due to higher average chain extension with increasing bond number. These results indicate that toughness and dissipation in physically associating networks can both be increased by breaking single, strong bonds into smaller components.

Comparison of chain-growth polymerization in solution versus on surface using reactive coarse-grained simulations

We developed a reactive coarse-grained model for chain-growth polymerization to study the chain length distribution of polymers grafted from a surface as compared to those grown in solution. The surface-initiated polymer chains exhibit a markedly broader distribution of chain lengths (larger dispersity) and slower chain growth kinetics as compared to the solution phase process. Two key factors that cause deviation from ideal grafting are identified: (1) the formation of chain “loops” with both termini attached to the substrate via recombination and (2) the “starvation” effect, in which the live chain ends of short polymers are sterically shielded from monomers by the presence of longer neighboring chains. Both effects are markedly amplified with increasing initiator surface density, thus limiting the density of high molecular weight chains grafted from the surface. Whereas the “loop” effect is absent in systems that are very strictly “living” (no termination), the starvation effect is likely operative in most real systems. Taken together, these results suggest a theoretical limit on the density of polymer brushes that can form on surfaces by a “grafting-from” technique, based on the kinetics of the chain-growth polymerization process.

Synergetic effects of interfacial and spatial confinement in polymer nanocomposites

Dispersing three-dimensional (3D) nanoparticles as the filler into a polymeric component is known to significantly improve the physicochemical properties of the materials and makes them attractive for industrial applications. There are two main contributions to the underlying enhancement mechanism of polymer nanocomposites (PNCs). The first contribution is linked to the interfacial effect, originating from the interaction between polymer and nanoparticles. The packing density, conformation and orientation of adsorbed chains are significantly altered, which results in an interfacial region with different properties from the bulk. The second contribution is attributed to the spatial effect, introduced by confining polymer chains in a restricted space between/among nanoparticles. These two effects are often correlated. The characteristic behavior of polymer chains confined by nanoparticles has already shown to be quite complicated and hence interesting as compared with that of pure polymers. The broad range of influencing factors including the size, content and surface chemistry of nanoparticles as well as the molecular weight and chain ends of polymers were discussed in this review. The controversial issues such as the segmental dynamics at interface, interfacial architecture and the extent of its impact on the bulk phase were summarized, wishing to produce further understanding of PNCs.