Recent advances in the preparation of functionalized polysulfones

Single-Molecule Mixture: A Concept in Polymer Science

In theory, two extreme forms of substances exist: the pure form and the single-molecule mixture form. The latter contains a mixture of molecules with molecularly different structures. Inspired by the "chemical space" concept, in this paper, I report a study of the single-molecule mixture state that combines model construction and mathematical analysis, obtaining some interesting results. These results provide theoretical evidence that the single-molecule mixture state may indeed exist in realistic synthetic or natural polymer systems.

Structure-Bioactivity Relationship of the Functionalized Polysulfone with Triethylphosphonium Pendant Groups: Perspective for Biomedical Applications

Development of new biomaterials based on polysulfones tailored to act in various biomedical fields represents a promising strategy which provides an opportunity for enhancing the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of specific illnesses. To meet these requirements, structural modification of the polysulfones is essential. In this context, for design of new materials with long-term stability, enhanced workability, compatibility with biological materials and good antimicrobial activity, the functionalization of chloromethylated polysulfones with triethylphosphonium pendant groups (PSFEtP+) was adopted. The surface chemistry analysis (Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX)), rheological properties, morphological aspects (Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), polarized light microscopy (POM)), and antimicrobial activity of the synthetized polysulfone were investigated to establish the relationship between its structure and properties, as an important indicator for targeted applications. Based on the obtained features, evaluated by the relationship between the rheological properties and microstructural aspects, and also the response at the biomaterial-bacteria interface, these qualities have been confirmed in their performance, in terms of thermal stability, antimicrobial activity, and also an increase in lifetime. Consequently, derived results constitute the preliminary basis for future tests concerning their functionality as gel matrices in biomedical devices.

Synthesis and Characterization of Polymeric Blends Containing Polysulfone Based on Cyclic Bisphenol

The elaboration of the composition and methods of preparation of new types of materials is an important issue from the plastics industry’s point of view. The paper presents the polysulfone synthesis based on 4,4′-cyclohexylidenebisphenol (bisphenol Z). This compound was used (in an amount of 5 or 10 wt.% sample) for the synthesis and characterization of new polymeric blends based on the two different acrylic resins (EB-150 and EB-600) and the active solvent N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone (NVP). The weight ratio of the used resin to solvent was 1:2; 1:1 or 2:1. These new materials were obtained applying the photoinitiated free radical polymerization with 2,2-dimethoxy-2-phenyloacetophenone as a photoinitiator used in an amount of 1 wt.%. Six polymeric blends and six copolymers without polysulfone were cured by this method. By means of ATR/FT-IR (Attenuated Total Reflection–Fourier Transform Infrared) spectroscopy the chemical structure of the synthesized polysulfone was proved. The effect of the presence of the polysulfone presence on the thermal properties of the obtained blends was analyzed by means of thermogravimetry and differential thermogravimetry (TG/DTG), as well as differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Moreover, the dynamic mechanical studies (DMA) of these materials were also carried out, demonstrating which of the materials showed the influence of the percentage of polysulfone on the selected properties in the blended- and parent-copolymers samples.

Synthesis and characterization of novel poly(sulfone siloxane)s with good solubility and recyclability based on siloxane units

A controllable circulation between poly(sulfone siloxane)s (PSS) and sulfone-containing cyclosiloxane monomers (SCS) was acheived in the presence of KHSO4.

Enhanced hydrophilicity and anticoagulation of polysulfone materials modified via dihydroxypropyl, sulfonic groups and chitosan

A novel modified polysulfone (PSF) is successfully prepared for hemodialysis by grafting with a well-defined heparin-like polymer, sulfonated dihydroxypropyl chitosan (SDHPCS), which is obtained in proper sequence via alkalization of chitosan, etherification and sulfonation. PSF is modified via chloroacetyl chloride, and then, the chloroacylated polysulfone (CAPSF) with pristine PSF is transformed into CAPSF/PSF blend membrane via the phase inversion, followed introducing amino group into CAPSF on the surface and taking glutaraldehyde as bridge between modified PSF membrane and SDHPCS. The result of ¹H NMR spectrum of prepared CAPSF indicates that the degree of the substitution of chloroacetyl group. The SEM, EDS mapping, FTIR and XPS show that SDHPCS-g-PSF membranes are successfully prepared. The hydrophilicity of the membrane modified by SDHPCS is improved obviously, and the contact angle remarkably reduced from 87 ° to below 45°, exhibiting much better hydrophilicity. The hemocompatibility characterizations including BSA adsorption, Plasma recalcification time (PRT), hemolysis ratio (HR), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), prothrombin time (PT), thrombin time (TT) also certificates that SDHPCS-g-PSF possesses lower BSA adsorption and enhanced blood compatibility.

Effect of Polyphenylsulfone and Polysulfone Incompatibility on the Structure and Performance of Blend Membranes for Ultrafiltration

This study deals with the modification of polyphenylsulfone ultrafiltration membranes by introduction of an incompatible polymer polysulfone to the polyphenylsulfone casting solution to improve the permeability. The correlation between properties of the blend polyphenylsulfone/polysulfone solutions and porous anisotropic membranes for ultrafiltration prepared from these solutions was revealed. The blend polyphenylsulfone/polysulfone solutions were investigated using a turbidity spectrum method, optical microscopy and measurements of dynamic viscosity and turbidity. The structure of the prepared blend flat sheet membranes was studied using scanning electron microscopy. Membrane separation performance was investigated in the process of ultrafiltration of human serum albumin buffered solutions. It was found that with the introduction of polysulfone to the polyphenylsulfone casting solution in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone the size of supramolecular particles significantly increases with the maximum at (40–60):(60:40) polyphenylsulfone:polysulfone blend ratio from 76 nm to 196–354 nm. It was shown that polyphenylsulfone/polysulfone blend solutions, unlike the solutions of pristine polymers, are two-phase systems (emulsions) with the maximum droplet size and highest degree of polydispersity at polyphenylsulfone/polysulfone blend ratios (30–60):(70–40). Pure water flux of the blend membranes passes through a maximum in the region of the most heterogeneous structure of the casting solution, which is associated with the imposition of a polymer-polymer phase separation on the non-solvent induced phase separation upon membrane preparation. The application of polyphenylsulfone/polysulfone blends as membrane-forming polymers and polyethylene glycol (M_n = 400 g·mol⁻¹) as a pore-forming agent to the casting solutions yields the formation of ultrafiltration membranes with high membrane pure water flux (270 L·m⁻²·h⁻¹ at 0.1MPa) and human serum albumin rejection of 85%.

Gold-Catalyzed Post-Polymerization Modification of Commodity Aromatic Polymers

Synthetic aromatic polymers are ubiquitous and indispensable to modern life, industry, and the global economy. The direct functionalization of these materials remains a considerable challenge on account of their unreactive aromatic C-H bonds and robust physical properties. Here, we demonstrate that homogeneous gold catalysis offers a mild, chemoselective, and practical approach to functionalize high-volume commodity aromatic polymers. Utilizing a gold-catalyzed intermolecular hydroarylation between a methyl ester functionalized alkyne, methyl propiolate, and nucleophilic arenes within polystyrene (PS) results in direct functionalization of phenyl rings with 1,2-substituted methyl acrylate functional groups. The reactivity and functionalization depend on the steric and electronic environment of the catalyst, counterion pairing, and method of activation. The reactivity is broad in scope, enabling the functionalization of arenes within commercial polysulfone (PSU) and waste polyethylene terephthalate (PET). These reactions open new opportunities to chemically transform aromatic polymers and modify their physical properties.

Silyloxymethanesulfinate as a sulfoxylate equivalent for the modular synthesis of sulfones and sulfonyl derivatives

An efficient protocol for the modular synthesis of sulfones and sulfonyl derivatives has been developed utilizing sodium tert-butyldimethylsilyloxymethanesulfinate (TBSOMS-Na) as a sulfoxylate (SO2 2-) equivalent. TBSOMS-Na, easily prepared from the commercial reagents Rongalite™ and TBSCl, serves as a potent nucleophile in S-alkylation and Cu-catalyzed S-arylation reactions with alkyl and aryl electrophiles. The sulfone products thus obtained can undergo the second bond formation at the sulfur center with various electrophiles without a separate unmasking step to afford sulfones and sulfonyl derivatives such as sulfonamides and sulfonyl fluorides.

Synthesis and Characterization of Copoly(Ether Sulfone)s with Different Percentages of Diphenolic Acid Units

New functionalized Poly(ether sulfone)s having different molar ratio (10, 20, 30, 50, 70, 100 mol%) of 4,4-bis phenoxy pentanoic acid unit (diphenolic acid; DPA) units were synthesized and characterized by (1H and 13C)-NMR, MALDI-TOF MS, FT-IR, DSC and DMA analyses. The microstructural analysis of the copolymers, obtained by 13C-NMR using an appropriate statistical model, shows a random distribution of copolymer sequences, as expected. The presence of different amount of DPA units along the polymer chains affects the chemical and physical properties of the copolymers. The Tg and the contact angle values decrease as the molar fraction of DPA units increases, whereas the hydrophilicity increases. NMR and MALDI-TOF MS analyses show that all polymer chains are almost terminated with hydroxyl and chlorine as end groups. The presence of cyclic oligomers was also observed by MALDI-TOF MS analysis.

Thermal Degradation Processes of Aromatic Poly(Ether Sulfone) Random Copolymers Bearing Pendant Carboxyl Groups

Thermal degradation processes of poly(ether sulfone) random copolymers having different molar amount of diphenolic acid (DPA) units were studied by direct-pyrolysis/mass spectrometry, stepwise pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry and thermogravimetric techniques. Results highlighted that thermal degradation processes occur in the temperature range from 370 to 650 °C, yielding a char residue of 32–35 wt%, which decreases as the mol% of DPA units rises. The pyrolysis/mass spectra data allowed us to identify the thermal decomposition products and to deduce the possible thermal degradation mechanisms. Thermal degradation data suggest that the decarboxylation process of the pendant acid moiety mainly occurs in the initial step of the pyrolysis of the copolymers studied. Successively, the scission of the generated isobutyl groups occurs in the temperature range between 420 and 480 °C. Known processes involving the main chain random scission of the diphenyl sulfone and diphenyl ether groups were also observed.

Epoxy-Anhydride Vitrimers from Aminoglycidyl Resins with High Glass Transition Temperature and Efficient Stress Relaxation

Epoxy-anhydride vitrimers are covalent adaptable networks, which undergo associative bond exchange reactions at elevated temperature. Their service temperature is influenced by the glass transition temperature (Tg) as well as the topology freezing transition temperature (Tv), at which the covalent bond exchange reactions become significantly fast. The present work highlights the design of high-Tg epoxy-anhydride vitrimers that comprise an efficient stress relaxation at elevated temperature. Networks are prepared by thermally curing aminoglycidyl monomers with glutaric anhydride in different stoichiometric ratios. The tertiary amine groups present in the structure of the aminoglycidyl derivatives not only accelerate the curing reaction but also catalyse the transesterification reaction above Tv, as shown in stress relaxation measurements. The topology rearrangements render the networks recyclable, which is demonstrated by reprocessing a grinded powder of the cured materials in a hot press. The epoxy-anhydride vitrimers are characterised by a high Tg (up to 140 °C) and an adequate storage modulus at 25 °C (~2.5 GPa), which makes them interesting candidates for structural applications operating at high service temperature.

Synthesis of Sulfones via Ru(II)-Catalyzed Sulfination of Boronic Acids

Ruthenium(II) complexes catalyze the insertion of sulfur dioxide into (het)aryl and alkenyl boronic acids. The transmetalation-sulfination process proceeds with DABSO in the presence of 5 mol % RuCl₂(PPh₃)₃ in methanol at 100 °C. The intermediate sulfinate salt can be quenched with various electrophiles such as alkyl halides, epoxides, Michael acceptors, and λ³-iodanes in moderate to good yields. The reported sulfone synthesis can be performed either as a direct one-pot or one-pot two-step procedure depending on the reactivity of the electrophile.

Recyclable sulfone-containing polymersviaring-opening polymerization of macroheterocyclic siloxane monomers: synthesis, properties and recyclability

The first recyclable sulfone-containing polysiloxanes were synthesizedviaan anionic ring-opening polymerization of macroheterocyclic siloxane monomers.

Partially bio-based aromatic poly(ether sulfone)s bearing pendant furyl groups: synthesis, characterization and thermo-reversible cross-linking with a bismaleimide

A fully bio-based bisphenol, namely, 4,4′-(furan-2-ylmethylene)bis(2-methoxyphenol) was synthesized and its utility for synthesis of aromatic poly(ether sulfone)s bearing clickable pendant furyl groups was demonstrated.

Preparation and physical properties of polyarylene ether nitrile and polyarylene ether sulfone random copolymers

Polyarylene ether nitrile sulfone (PENS) random copolymers consisting of polyarylene ether nitrile (PEN) and polyarylene ether sulfone (PES) were prepared from bisphenol A, bis(4-chlorophenyl)sulfone, and 2,6-dichlorobenzonitrile by the nucleophilic aromatic substitution polymerization. The structure of the PENS random copolymers was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectrometer and1H nuclear magnetic resonance, and the properties of the PENS copolymers were investigated by thermal analysis (differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis), inherent viscosity measurements, mechanical tests, and dielectric tests. The samples showed excellent thermal stability, with the 5% weight loss temperature ( T5%) greater than 480°C under nitrogen and glass transition temperature ( Tg) greater than 180°C. The tensile strength, tensile modulus, and elongation at break of the PENS copolymers were improved with the increase of the PEN content, indicating the better mechanical property of PEN than that of PES. The dielectric constant and dielectric strength of the PENS random copolymers were also enhanced with the increase of the PEN content. As a result, PENS100 showed the highest energy storage density, which is 0.68 J/cm3. PES showed better thermal properties while worse mechanical and dielectric properties compared with PEN. PENS copolymers combined the excellent properties of PEN and PES due to the compatibility between them.

Sulfur-Doped Laser-Induced Porous Graphene Derived from Polysulfone-Class Polymers and Membranes

Graphene based materials have profoundly impacted research in nanotechnology, and this has significantly advanced biomedical, electronics, energy, and environmental applications. Laser-induced graphene (LIG) is made photothermally and has enabled a rapid route for graphene layers on polyimide surfaces. However, polysulfone (PSU), poly(ether sulfone) (PES), and polyphenylsulfone (PPSU) are highly used in numerous applications including medical, energy, and water treatment and they are critical components of polymer membranes. Here we show LIG fabrication on PSU, PES, and PPSU resulting in conformal sulfur-doped porous graphene embedded in polymer dense films or porous substrates using reagent- and solvent-free methods in a single step. We demonstrate the applicability as flexible electrodes with enhanced electrocatalytic hydrogen peroxide generation, as antifouling surfaces and as antimicrobial hybrid membrane-LIG porous filters. The properties and surface morphology of the conductive PSU-, PES-, and PPSU-LIG could be modulated using variable laser duty cycles. The LIG electrodes showed enhanced hydrogen peroxide generation compared to LIG made on polyimide, and showed exceptional biofilm resistance and potent antimicrobial killing effects when treated with Pseudomonas aeruginosa and mixed bacterial culture. The hybrid PES-LIG membrane-electrode ensured complete elimination of bacterial viability in the permeate (6 log reduction), in a flow-through filtration mode at a water flux of ∼500 L m^-2 h^-1 (2.5 V) and at ∼22 000 L m^-2 h^-1 (20 V). Due to the widespread use of PSU, PES, and PPSU in modern society, these functional PSU-, PES-, and PPSU-LIG surfaces have great potential to be incorporated into biomedical, electronic, energy and environmental devices and technologies.

PES-Kaolin Mixed Matrix Membranes for Arsenic Removal from Water

The aim of this work was the fabrication and the characterization of mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) for arsenic (As) removal from water. Membrane separation was combined with an adsorption process by incorporating the kaolin (KT2) Algerian natural clay in polymeric membranes. The effects of casting solution composition was explored using different amounts of polyethersufone (PES) as a polymer, polyvinyl-pyrrolidone (PVP K17) and polyethylene glycol (PEG 200) as pore former agents, N-methyl pyrrolidone (NMP) as a solvent, and kaolin. Membranes were prepared by coupling Non-solvent Induced Phase Separation and Vapour Induced Phase Separation (NIPS and VIPS, respectively). The influence of the exposure time to controlled humid air and temperature was also investigated. The MMMs obtained were characterized in terms of morphology, pore size, porosity, thickness, contact angle and pure water permeability. Adsorption membrane-based tests were carried out in order to assess the applicability of the membranes produced for As removal from contaminated water. Among the investigated kaolin concentrations (ranging from 0 wt % to 5 wt %), a content of 1.25 wt % led to the MMM with the most promising performance.

Nanoporous polysulfones with in situ PEGylated surfaces by a simple swelling strategy using paired solvents

Strong and ductile nanoporous polymers are obtained from inexpensive PSF-b-PEG block copolymers using a facile and nondestructive swelling method.

Synthesis of self-curable polysulfone containing pendant benzoxazine units via CuAAC click chemistry

Synthesis, characterization, and properties of new thermally curable polysulfone containing benzoxazine moieties in the side chain were investigated. First, chloromethylation and subsequent azidation processes were performed to form polysulfone containing pendant clickable azide groups. Independently, antagonist 3,4-dihydro-3-(prop-2-ynyl)-2H-benzoxazine was prepared by using paraformaldehyde, phenol and propargylamine. The following copper(I) catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition click reaction was applied to obtain self-curable polysulfone with pendant benzoxazine units. The polymer and intermediates at various stages were characterized by ¹H-NMR, ¹³C-NMR and FT-IR spectroscopies. The thermal properties and curing behavior of final polymer were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry and thermal gravimetric analysis. Compared to the neat polysulfone, the obtained polymers exhibited thermally more stable polymers.

A Flexible Optical pH Sensor Based on Polysulfone Membranes Coated with pH-Responsive Polyaniline Nanofibers

A new optical pH sensor based on polysulfone (PSU) and polyaniline (PANI) was developed. A transparent and flexible PSU membrane was employed as a support. The electrically conductive and pH-responsive PANI was deposited onto the membrane surface by in situ chemical oxidative polymerization (COP). The absorption spectra of the PANI-coated PSU membranes exhibited sensitivity to pH changes in the range of 4–12, which allowed for designing a dual wavelength pH optical sensor. The performance of the membranes was assessed by measuring their response starting from high pH and going down to low pH, and vice versa. It was found that it is necessary to precondition the sensor layers before each measurement due to the slight hysteresis observed during forward and backward pH titrations. PSU membranes with polyaniline coating thicknesses in the range of ≈100–200 nm exhibited fast response times of <4 s, which are attributed to the porous, rough and nanofibrillar morphology of the polyaniline coating. The fabricated pH sensor was characterized by a sigmoidal response (R² = 0.997) which allows for pH determination over a wide dynamic range. All membranes were stable for a period of more than six months when stored in 1 M HCl solution. The reproducibility of the fabricated optical pH sensors was found to be <0.02 absorption units after one month storage in 1 M HCl solution. The performance of the optical pH sensor was tested and the obtained pH values were compared with the results obtained using a pH meter device.