1
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Wang S, Tian ZY, Lu H. Recyclable Polythioesters and Poly(thioester-co-peptoid)s via Ring-Opening Cascade Polymerization of Amino Acid N-Carboxyanhydrides. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2024; 63:e202411630. [PMID: 39073287 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202411630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2024] [Revised: 07/27/2024] [Accepted: 07/29/2024] [Indexed: 07/30/2024]
Abstract
Polythioesters (PTEs) are emerging sustainable polymers for their degradability and recyclability. However, low polymerizability of monomers and extensive side reactions often hampered the polymerization process. Moreover, copolymers containing both thioester and other types of functional groups in the backbone are highly desirable but rarely accomplished owing to several synthetic challenges. Here, we report the ring-opening cascade polymerization (ROCAP) of N-(2-(acetylthio)ethyl)-glycine N-carboxyanhydrides (TE-NCA) to afford recyclable PTEs and unprecedented poly(thioester-co-peptoid)s (P(TE-co-PP)s) in a controlled manner. By developing appropriated carboxylic acid-tertiary amine dual catalysts, intramolecular S-to-N acyl shift is coupled into the ROCAP process of TE-NCA to yield products with dispersity below 1.10, molecular weight (Mn) up to 84.5 kDa, and precisely controlled ratio of thioester to peptoids. Random copolymerization of sarcosine NCA (Sar-NCA) and TE-NCA gives thioester-embedded polysarcosine with facile backbone degradation while maintaining the water solubility. This work represents a paradigm shift for the ROP of NCAs, enriches the realm of cascade polymerizations, and provides a powerful synthetic approach to functional PTEs and P(TE-co-PP)s that are otherwise difficult or impossible to make.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuo Wang
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, Key Laboratory of Polymer Chemistry and Physics of Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Zi-You Tian
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, Key Laboratory of Polymer Chemistry and Physics of Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Hua Lu
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, Key Laboratory of Polymer Chemistry and Physics of Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
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2
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Paul MK, Raeside MC, Gutekunst WR. General and Mild Method for the Synthesis of Polythioesters from Lactone Feedstocks. ACS Macro Lett 2024:1411-1417. [PMID: 39378148 DOI: 10.1021/acsmacrolett.4c00556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/10/2024]
Abstract
Polythioesters are attracting increasing interest in applications requiring degradability or recyclability. However, few general methods exist for the synthesis of these polymers. This report presents a fast and versatile method for synthesizing polythioesters from readily available lactone feedstocks. The two-step process begins with the thionation of lactones to thionolactones, followed by the ring-opening polymerization of the thionolactones to polythioesters. Unlike previous methods that rely on harsh reagents to accomplish this transformation, we demonstrate that the mild tetrabutylammonium thioacetate is a competent initiator for polymerization. This method exhibits broad applicability, as demonstrated by the successful polymerizations of an unstrained 17-membered macrocycle and an N-substituted cyclic thionocarbamate. Furthermore, the generality of this scheme enables the synthesis of polythioesters with highly tunable properties, as demonstrated here by the synthesis of a set of polymers with glass transition temperatures spanning 180 °C. Finally, the polythioesters are efficiently depolymerized into the corresponding thiolactones.
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Affiliation(s)
- McKinley K Paul
- School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Georgia Institute of Technology, 901 Atlantic Drive NW, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
| | - Matthew C Raeside
- School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Georgia Institute of Technology, 901 Atlantic Drive NW, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
| | - Will R Gutekunst
- School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Georgia Institute of Technology, 901 Atlantic Drive NW, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
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3
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Woodhouse AW, Kocaarslan A, Garden JA, Mutlu H. Unlocking the Potential of Polythioesters. Macromol Rapid Commun 2024; 45:e2400260. [PMID: 38824417 DOI: 10.1002/marc.202400260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2024] [Revised: 05/20/2024] [Indexed: 06/03/2024]
Abstract
As the demand for sustainable polymers increases, most research efforts have focused on polyesters, which can be bioderived and biodegradable. Yet analogous polythioesters, where one of the oxygen atoms has been replaced by a sulfur atom, remain a relatively untapped source of potential. The incorporation of sulfur allows the polymer to exhibit a wide range of favorable properties, such as thermal resistance, degradability, and high refractive index. Polythioester synthesis represents a frontier in research, holding the promise of paving the way for eco-friendly alternatives to conventional polyesters. Moreover, polythioester research can also open avenues to the development of sustainable and recyclable materials. In the last 25 years, many methods to synthesize polythioesters have been developed. However, to date no industrial synthesis of polythioesters has been developed due to challenges of costs, yields, and the toxicity of the by-products. This review will summarize the recent advances in polythioester synthesis, covering step-growth polymerization, ring-opening polymerization (ROP), and biosynthesis. Crucially, the benefits and challenges of the processes will be highlighted, paying particular attention to their sustainability, with the aim of encouraging further exploration and research into the fast-growing field of polythioesters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam W Woodhouse
- Institut de Science des Matériaux de Mulhouse, UMR 7361 CNRS/Université de Haute Alsace, 15 Rue Jean Starcky, Mulhouse, Cedex, 68057, France
- School of Chemistry, Joseph Black Building, David Brewster Road, Edinburgh, EH9 3FJ, UK
| | - Azra Kocaarslan
- Institute of Chemical Technology and Polymer Chemistry, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Engesserstrasee 15, 76131, Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Jennifer A Garden
- School of Chemistry, Joseph Black Building, David Brewster Road, Edinburgh, EH9 3FJ, UK
| | - Hatice Mutlu
- Institut de Science des Matériaux de Mulhouse, UMR 7361 CNRS/Université de Haute Alsace, 15 Rue Jean Starcky, Mulhouse, Cedex, 68057, France
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4
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Li K, Cheng JL, Wang MY, Xiong W, Huang HY, Feng LW, Cai Z, Zhu JB. Kinetic Resolution Polymerization Enabled Chemical Synthesis of Perfectly Isotactic Polythioesters. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2024; 63:e202405382. [PMID: 38682252 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202405382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2024] [Revised: 04/28/2024] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024]
Abstract
Isotactic polythioesters (PTEs) that are thioester analogs to natural polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) have attracted growing attention due to their distinct properties. However, the development of chemically synthetic methods for preparing isotactic PTEs has long been an intricate endeavour. Herein, we report the successful synthesis of perfectly isotactic PTEs via stereocontrolled ring-opening polymerization. This binaphthalene-salen aluminium (SalBinam-Al) catalyst promoted a robust polymerization of rac-α-substituted-β-propiothiolactones (rac-BTL and rac-PTL) with highly kinetic resolution, affording perfectly isotactic P(BTL) and P(PTL) with Mn up to 276 kDa. Impressively, the isotactic P(BTL) formed a supramolecular stereocomplex with improved thermal property (Tm=204 °C). Ultimately, this kinetic resolution polymerization enabled the facile isolation of enantiopure (S)-BTL, which could efficiently convert to an important pharmaceutical building block (S)-2-benzyl-3-mercapto-propanoic acid. Isotactic P(PTL) served as a tough and ductile material comparable to the commercialized polyolefins. This synthetic system allowed to access of isotactic PTEs, establishing a powerful platform for the discovery of sustainable plastics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kun Li
- National Engineering Laboratory of Eco-Friendly Polymeric Materials (Sichuan) College of Chemistry, Sichuan University, 29 Wangjiang Rd, Chengdu, 610064, P. R. China
| | - Jing-Liang Cheng
- Key Laboratory of Green Chemistry and Technology of Ministry of Education College of Chemistry, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610064, P. R. China
| | - Meng-Yuan Wang
- National Engineering Laboratory of Eco-Friendly Polymeric Materials (Sichuan) College of Chemistry, Sichuan University, 29 Wangjiang Rd, Chengdu, 610064, P. R. China
| | - Wei Xiong
- National Engineering Laboratory of Eco-Friendly Polymeric Materials (Sichuan) College of Chemistry, Sichuan University, 29 Wangjiang Rd, Chengdu, 610064, P. R. China
| | - Hao-Yi Huang
- National Engineering Laboratory of Eco-Friendly Polymeric Materials (Sichuan) College of Chemistry, Sichuan University, 29 Wangjiang Rd, Chengdu, 610064, P. R. China
| | - Liang-Wen Feng
- Key Laboratory of Green Chemistry and Technology of Ministry of Education College of Chemistry, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610064, P. R. China
| | - Zhongzheng Cai
- National Engineering Laboratory of Eco-Friendly Polymeric Materials (Sichuan) College of Chemistry, Sichuan University, 29 Wangjiang Rd, Chengdu, 610064, P. R. China
| | - Jian-Bo Zhu
- National Engineering Laboratory of Eco-Friendly Polymeric Materials (Sichuan) College of Chemistry, Sichuan University, 29 Wangjiang Rd, Chengdu, 610064, P. R. China
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Zhu Y, Tao Y. Stereoselective Ring-opening Polymerization of S-Carboxyanhydrides Using Salen Aluminum Catalysts: A Route to High-Isotactic Functionalized Polythioesters. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2024; 63:e202317305. [PMID: 38179725 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202317305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2023] [Revised: 12/28/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 01/06/2024]
Abstract
Polythioesters are important sustainable polymers with broad applications. The ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of S-Carboxyanhydrides (SCAs) can afford polythioesters with functional groups that are typically difficult to prepare by ROP of thiolactones. Typical methods involving organocatalysts, like dimethylaminopyridine (DMAP) and triethylamine (Et3 N), have been plagued by uncontrolled polymerization, including epimerization for most SCAs resulting in the loss of isotacticity. Here, we report the use of salen aluminum catalysts for the selective ROP of various SCAs without epimerization, affording functionalized polythioester with high molecular weight up to 37.6 kDa and the highest Pm value up to 0.99. Notably, the ROP of TlaSCA (SCA prepared from thiolactic acid) generates the first example of a isotactic crystalline poly(thiolactic acid), which exhibited a distinct Tm value of 152.6 °C. Effective ligand tailoring governs the binding affinity between the sulfide chain-end and the metal center, thereby maintaining the activity of organometallic catalysts and reducing the occurrence of epimerization reactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yinuo Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Polymer Ecomaterials, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Renmin Street 5625, Changchun, 130022, P. R. China
- University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, P. R. China
| | - Youhua Tao
- Key Laboratory of Polymer Ecomaterials, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Renmin Street 5625, Changchun, 130022, P. R. China
- University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, P. R. China
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6
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Yue TJ, Ren WM, Lu XB. Copolymerization Involving Sulfur-Containing Monomers. Chem Rev 2023; 123:14038-14083. [PMID: 37917384 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.3c00437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2023]
Abstract
Incorporating sulfur (S) atoms into polymer main chains endows these materials with many attractive features, including a high refractive index, mechanical properties, electrochemical properties, and adhesive ability to heavy metal ions. The copolymerization involving S-containing monomers constitutes a facile method for effectively constructing S-containing polymers with diverse structures, readily tunable sequences, and topological structures. In this review, we describe the recent advances in the synthesis of S-containing polymers via copolymerization or multicomponent polymerization techniques concerning a variety of S-containing monomers, such as dithiols, carbon disulfide, carbonyl sulfide, cyclic thioanhydrides, episulfides and elemental sulfur (S8). Particularly, significant focus is paid to precise control of the main-chain sequence, stereochemistry, and topological structure for achieving high-value applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tian-Jun Yue
- State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, Frontiers Science Center for Smart Materials Oriented Chemical Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, 2 Linggong Road, Dalian, 116024, China
| | - Wei-Min Ren
- State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, Frontiers Science Center for Smart Materials Oriented Chemical Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, 2 Linggong Road, Dalian, 116024, China
| | - Xiao-Bing Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, Frontiers Science Center for Smart Materials Oriented Chemical Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, 2 Linggong Road, Dalian, 116024, China
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7
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Albanese K, Morris PT, Read de Alaniz J, Bates CM, Hawker CJ. Controlled-Radical Polymerization of α-Lipoic Acid: A General Route to Degradable Vinyl Copolymers. J Am Chem Soc 2023; 145:22728-22734. [PMID: 37813389 PMCID: PMC10591472 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c08248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 10/11/2023]
Abstract
Here, we present the synthesis and characterization of statistical and block copolymers containing α-lipoic acid (LA) using reversible addition-fragmentation chain-transfer (RAFT) polymerization. LA, a readily available nutritional supplement, undergoes efficient radical ring-opening copolymerization with vinyl monomers in a controlled manner with predictable molecular weights and low molar-mass dispersities. Because lipoic acid diads present in the resulting copolymers include disulfide bonds, these materials efficiently and rapidly degrade when exposed to mild reducing agents such as tris(2-carboxyethyl)phosphine (Mn = 56 → 3.6 kg mol-1). This scalable and versatile polymerization method affords a facile way to synthesize degradable polymers with controlled architectures, molecular weights, and molar-mass dispersities from α-lipoic acid, a commercially available and renewable monomer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaitlin
R. Albanese
- Department
of Chemistry & Biochemistry, Materials Research Laboratory, Materials Department, and Department of
Chemical Engineering, University of California,
Santa Barbara, Santa
Barbara, California 93106, United States
| | - Parker T. Morris
- Department
of Chemistry & Biochemistry, Materials Research Laboratory, Materials Department, and Department of
Chemical Engineering, University of California,
Santa Barbara, Santa
Barbara, California 93106, United States
| | - Javier Read de Alaniz
- Department
of Chemistry & Biochemistry, Materials Research Laboratory, Materials Department, and Department of
Chemical Engineering, University of California,
Santa Barbara, Santa
Barbara, California 93106, United States
| | - Christopher M. Bates
- Department
of Chemistry & Biochemistry, Materials Research Laboratory, Materials Department, and Department of
Chemical Engineering, University of California,
Santa Barbara, Santa
Barbara, California 93106, United States
| | - Craig J. Hawker
- Department
of Chemistry & Biochemistry, Materials Research Laboratory, Materials Department, and Department of
Chemical Engineering, University of California,
Santa Barbara, Santa
Barbara, California 93106, United States
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8
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Porwal MK, Ellison CJ, Reineke TM. Biobased Copolymers via Cationic Ring-Opening Copolymerization of Levoglucosan Derivatives and ε-Caprolactone. ACS Macro Lett 2023:935-942. [PMID: 37379686 DOI: 10.1021/acsmacrolett.3c00251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/30/2023]
Abstract
Simultaneous ring-opening copolymerization is a powerful strategy for the synthesis of highly functional copolymers from different types of cyclic monomers. Although copolymers are essential to the plastics industry, environmental concerns associated with current fossil-fuel-based synthetic polymers have led to an increasing interest in the use of renewable feedstock for polymer synthesis. Herein, we report a scalable synthetic platform to afford unique polysaccharides with different pendant functional groups from biomass-derived levoglucosan and ε-caprolactone via cationic ring-opening copolymerization (cROCOP). Biocompatible and recyclable bismuth triflate was identified as the optimal catalyst for cROCOP of levoglucosan. Copolymers from tribenzyl levoglucosan and ε-caprolactone, as well as from tribenzyl and triallyl levoglucosan, were successfully synthesized. The tribenzyl levoglucosan monomer composition ranged from 16% to 64% in the copolymers with ε-caprolactone and 22% to 79% in the copolymers with triallyl levoglucosan. The allylic levoglucosan copolymer can be utilized as a renewably derived scaffold to modify copolymer properties and create other polymer architectures via postpolymerization modification. Monomer reactivity ratios were determined to investigate the copolymer microstructure, indicating that levoglucosan-based copolymers have a gradient architecture. Additionally, we demonstrated that the copolymer glass transition temperature (Tg, ranging from -44.3 to 33.8 °C), thermal stability, and crystallization behavior could be tuned based on the copolymer composition. Overall, this work underscores the utility of levoglucosan as a bioderived feedstock for the development of functional sugar-based copolymers with applications ranging from sustainable materials to biomaterials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mayuri K Porwal
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Christopher J Ellison
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Theresa M Reineke
- Department of Chemistry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
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Yue TJ, Wang LY, Ren WM, Lu XB. Regioselective Copolymerization of Epoxides and Phthalic Thioanhydride to Produce Isotacticity-Rich Semiaromatic Polythioesters. Eur Polym J 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2023.111985] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/13/2023]
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10
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Wang Y, Zhu Y, Lv W, Wang X, Tao Y. Tough while Recyclable Plastics Enabled by Monothiodilactone Monomers. J Am Chem Soc 2023; 145:1877-1885. [PMID: 36594572 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.2c11502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
The current scale of plastics production and the attendant waste disposal issues represent an underexplored opportunity for chemically recyclable polymers. Typical recyclable polymers are subject to the trade-off between the monomer's polymerizability and the polymer's depolymerizability as well as insufficient performance for practical applications. Herein, we demonstrate that a single atom oxygen-by-sulfur substitution of relatively highly strained dilactone is an effective and robust strategy for converting the "non-recyclable" polyester into a chemically recyclable polymer by lowering the ring strain energy in the monomer (from 16.0 kcal mol-1 in dilactone to 9.1 kcal mol-1 in monothiodilactone). These monothio-modification monomers enable both high/selective polymerizability and recyclability, otherwise conflicting features in a typical monomer, as evidenced by regioselective ring-opening, minimal transthioesterifications, and quantitative recovery of the pristine monomer. Computational and experimental studies demonstrate that an n→π* interaction between the adjacent ester and thioester in the polymer backbone has been implicated in the high selectivity for propagation over transthioesterification. The resulting polymer demonstrates high performance with its mechanical properties being comparable to some commodity polyolefins. Thio-modification is a powerful strategy for enabling conversion of six-membered dilactones into chemically recyclable and tough thermoplastics that exhibit promise as next-generation sustainable polymers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanchao Wang
- Key Laboratory of Polymer Ecomaterials, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Renmin Street 5625, Changchun 130022, People's Republic of China
| | - Yinuo Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Polymer Ecomaterials, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Renmin Street 5625, Changchun 130022, People's Republic of China
| | - Wenxiu Lv
- Key Laboratory of Polymer Ecomaterials, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Renmin Street 5625, Changchun 130022, People's Republic of China
| | - Xianhong Wang
- Key Laboratory of Polymer Ecomaterials, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Renmin Street 5625, Changchun 130022, People's Republic of China
| | - Youhua Tao
- Key Laboratory of Polymer Ecomaterials, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Renmin Street 5625, Changchun 130022, People's Republic of China
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