Bio-Based Thiol-ene Network Thermosets from Isosorbide and Terpenes

Thermoset networks are chemically cross-linked materials that exhibit high heat resistance and mechanical strength; however, the permanently cross-linked system makes end-of-life degradation difficult. Thermosets that are inherently degradable and made from renewably derived starting materials are an underexplored area in sustainable polymer chemistry. Here, we report the synthesis of novel sugar- and terpene-based monomers as the enes in thiol-ene network formation. The resulting networks showed varied mechanical properties depending on the thiol used during cross-linking, ranging from strain-at-breaks of 12 to 200%. Networks with carveol or an isosorbide-based thiol incorporated showed plastic deformation under tensile stress testing, while geraniol-containing networks demonstrated linear stress-strain behavior. The storage modulus at the rubbery plateau was highly dependent on the thiol cross-linker, showing an order of magnitude difference between commercial PETMP, DTT, and synthesized Iso2MC. Thermal degradation temperatures were low for the networks, primarily below 200 °C, and the Tg values ranged from -17 to 31 °C. Networks were rapidly degraded under basic conditions, showing complete degradation after 2 days for nearly all synthesized thermosets. This library demonstrates the range of thermal and mechanical properties that can be targeted using monomers from sugars and terpenes and expands the field of renewably derived and degradable thermoset network materials.

UV-curable thiol-ene system for broadband infrared transparent objects

Conventional infrared transparent materials, including inorganic ceramic, glass, and sulfur-rich organic materials, are usually processed through thermal or mechanical progress. Here, we report a photo-curable liquid material based on a specially designed thiol-ene strategy, where the multithiols and divinyl oligomers were designed to contain only C, H, and S atoms. This approach ensures transparency in a wide range spectrum from visible light to mid-wave infrared (MWIR), and to long-wave infrared (LWIR). The refractive index, thermal properties, and mechanical properties of samples prepared by this thiol-ene resin were characterized. Objects transparent to LWIR and MWIR were fabricated by molding and two-photon 3D printing techniques. We demonstrated the potential of our material in a range of applications, including the fabrication of IR optics with high imaging resolution and the construction of micro-reactors for temperature monitoring. This UV-curable thiol-ene system provides a fast and convenient alternative for the fabrication of thin IR transparent objects.

The Use of the Thiol-Ene Addition Click Reaction in the Chemistry of Organosilicon Compounds: An Alternative or a Supplement to the Classical Hydrosilylation?

This review presents the main achievements in the use of the thiol-ene reaction in the chemistry of silicones. Works are considered, starting from monomers and ending with materials.The main advantages and disadvantages of this reaction are demonstrated using various examples. A critical analysis of the use of this reaction is made in comparison with the hydrosilylation reaction.

Thiourea modified low molecular polyamide as a novel room temperature curing agent for epoxy resin

A thiourea modified low molecular weight polyamide (TLMPA) as a room temperature curing agent was synthesized by a two-step method. Firstly, a low molecular weight polyamide curing agent (LMPA) with low viscosity and high amine value was synthesized by amidation of sebacic acid with tetraethylenepentamine, then the synthesized curing agent was modified with thiourea to increase its reactivity at room temperature. The optimal reaction conditions were studied by L9(33) orthogonal experiments. The structure of the prepared curing agent was analyzed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The kinetics of TLMPA curing of E-51 epoxy resin was analyzed using the Kissinger method with non-isothermal differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The activation energy of TLMPA/E-51 calculated by the Kissinger method and FWO method was 38.79 kJ mol-1 and 42.73 kJ mol-1. The nano-SiO2 filler was compounded with E-51 epoxy resin, TLMPA, allyl glycidyl ether diluent, and KH-560 coupling agent to prepare the room temperature curing epoxy resin (EP) system. L9(34) orthogonal experiments were carried out to study the effect of various factors on the mechanical properties of the cured resin systems. The best formulation of the system is that the content of nano-SiO2, curing agent, diluent, and coupling agent is 3, 35, 15, 1 wt%, respectively. With the optimal formulation, the tensile and shear strength, tensile strength, impact strength, and bending strength of the cured EP system was 13.19 MPa, 53.8 MPa, 52.16 kJ m-2, and 94.95 MPa, respectively.

Gel Polymer Electrolytes with Mixture of Triazolium Ionic Liquids and Propylene Carbonate

This study is focused on the structural influence of 1,2,4-triazolium ionic liquid (IL), that is, the effect of the length of the substituent and the type of substitution (1-methyl-4-alkyl or 1-alkyl-4-methyl) used in the mixture with propylene carbonate (PC) on the properties of thiol–ene polymer ionogels and on the preparation of an ionogel with satisfactory mechanical and conductive properties. PC allows for higher conductivity but also causes electrolyte leakage from the gel. When using triazolium IL (instead of the imidazolium one), because of the stronger interactions between components of the system, the ionogels do not leak. In this study, 1,4-dialkyl-1,2,4-triazolium ILs were successfully synthesized by the alkylation of 1,2,4-triazole. Subsequently, gel polymer electrolytes were obtained by one-pot thiol–ene photopolymerization reactions of tetrafunctional thiols with different chemical structures: pentaerythritol tetra(3-mercaptopropionate) (PETMP) or pentaerythritol tetra(3-mercaptobutyrate) (PETMB) and trifunctional ene (TATT) in the presence of a mixture of 1,4-dialkyl-1,2,4-triazolium IL with PC. Measurements made by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy showed that all ionogels with TATT+PETMB as a polymer matrix presented smaller relative ionic conductivity compared to ionogels containing TATT+PETMP. The puncture resistance and elongation at puncture, measured by the puncture resistance method, were higher for ionogels with poly(TATT+PETMB) than for those with poly(TATT+PETMP). Moreover, ILs containing a methyl group in position N1 of the 1,2,4-triazole ring presented lower puncture resistance than ionogels with ILs containing a methyl group in position N4, especially for shorter alkyl chains. Additionally, the photo-differential scanning calorimetry method was employed to characterize the course of photopolymerization. The compositions and their constituents were characterized by UV and IR spectroscopy.

A Solvent-Free Approach to Crosslinked Hydrophobic Polymeric Coatings on Paper Using Vegetable Oil

Hydrophobic coatings are of utmost importance for many applications of paper-based materials. However, to date, most coating methods demand vast amounts of chemicals and solvents. Frequently, fossil-based coating materials are being used and multiple derivatization reactions are often required to obtain desired performances. In this work, we present a solvent-free paper-coating process, where olive oil as the main biogenic component is being used to obtain a hydrophobic barrier on paper. UV-induced thiol-ene photocrosslinking of olive oil was pursued in a solvent-free state at a wavelength of 254 nm without addition of photoinitiator. Optimum reaction conditions were determined in advance using oleic acid as a model compound. Paper coatings based on olive oil crosslinked by thiol-ene reaction reach water contact angles of up to 120°. By means of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry, a successful reaction and the formation of a polymer network within the coating can be proven. These results show that click-chemistry strategies can be used to achieve hydrophobic polymeric paper coatings while keeping the amount of non-biobased chemicals and reaction steps at a minimum.

Thiol-Ene Coupling of High Oleic Sunflower Oil towards Application in the Modification of Flexible Polyurethane Foams

High oleic sunflower oil-based polyol was obtained by thiol-ene coupling and applied in the preparation of flexible polyurethane foams. The photochemically initiated thiol-ene click reaction was carried out under UV irradiation using 2-mercaptoethanol. Bio-based polyol with hydroxyl value of 201.4 mg KOH/g was used as 30 wt% substituent of petrochemical polyether polyol in the formulations of flexible foams. Both reference foams, as well as foams modified with bio-based polyol, were formulated to have various isocyanate indices (0.85, 0.95, 1.05). Flexible foams were compared in terms of their thermomechanical properties and analyzed using FT-IR and SEM microscopy. Modification with bio-based polyol resulted in foams with superior compression properties, higher support factor, and lower resilience than reference foams. TGA and FT-IR curves confirmed the presence of urethane/urea and ether linkages in the polyurethane matrix. Moreover, double glass transition temperature corresponding to soft and hard segments of polyurethane was observed by DSC proving the phase-separated morphology.

The Influence of Monomer Structure on the Properties of Ionogels Obtained by Thiol-Ene Photopolymerization

The influence of ene and thiol monomer structure on the mechanical and electrochemical properties of thiol-ene polymeric ionogels were investigated. Ionogels were obtained in situ by thiol-ene photopolymerization of 1,3,5-triallyl-1,3,5-triazine-2,4,6(1H,3H,5H)-trione (TATT), 2,4,6-triallyloxy-1,3,5-triazine (TAT), diallyl phthalate (DAP), and glyoxal bis(diallyl acetal) (GBDA) used as enes and trimethylolpropane tris(3-mercaptopropionate) (TMPTP), pentaerythritol tetrakis(3-mercaptopropionate) (PETMP), and pentaerythritol tetrakis(3-mercaptobutyrate) (PETMB) used as thiols in 70 wt.% of ionic liquid 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide (EMImNTf₂). The mechanical strength of ionogels was studied by puncture resistance and ionic conductivity by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The course of photopolymerization by photo-DSC method (differential scanning calorimetry) as well as characterization of compositions and its components (by IR and UV spectroscopy-Kamlet-Taft parameters) were also studied. The resulting ionogels were opaque, with phase separation, which resulted from the dispersion mechanism of polymerization. The mechanical and conductive properties of the obtained materials were found to be largely dependent on the monomer structure. Ionogels based on triazine monomers TAT and TATT were characterized by higher mechanical strength, while those based on aliphatic GBDA had the highest conductivity. These parameters are strongly related to the structure of the polymer matrix, which is in the form of connected spheres. The conductivity of ionogels was high, in the range of 3.5-5.1 mS∙cm^-1.

Enzymatic and Chemical Approaches for Post-Polymerization Modifications of Diene Rubbers: Current state and Perspectives

Diene rubbers are polymeric materials which present elastic properties and have double bonds in the macromolecular backbone after the polymerization process. Post-polymerization modifications of rubbers can be conducted by enzymatic or chemical methods. Enzymes are environmentally friendly catalysts and with the increasing demand for rubber waste management, biodegradation and biomodifications have become hot topics of research. Some rubbers are renewable materials and are a source of organic molecules, and biodegradation can be conducted to obtain either oligomers or monomers. On the other hand, chemical modifications of rubbers by click-chemistry are important strategies for the creation and combination of new materials. In a way to expand the scope of uses to other non-traditional applications, several and effective modifications can be conducted with diene rubbers. Two groups of efficient tools, enzymatic, and chemical modifications in diene rubbers, are summarized in this review. By analyzing stereochemical and reactivity aspects, the authors also point to some applications perspectives for biodegradation products and to rational modifications of diene rubbers by combining both methodologies.

Bio-Based Thermo-Reversible Aliphatic Polycarbonate Network

Aliphatic polycarbonates represent an important class of materials with notable applications in the biomedical field. In this work, low Tg furan-functionalized bio-based aliphatic polycarbonates were cross-linked thanks to the Diels-Alder (DA) reaction with a bis-maleimide as the cross-linking agent. The thermo-reversible DA reaction allowed for the preparation of reversible cross-linked polycarbonate materials with tuneable properties as a function of the pendent furan content that was grafted on the polycarbonate backbone. The possibility to decrosslink the network around 70 °C could be an advantage for biomedical applications, despite the rather poor thermal stability of the furan-functionalized cross-linked polycarbonates.

Why Not Trans? Inhibited Radical Isomerization Cycles and Coupling Chains of Lipids and Alkenes with Alkane -thiols

Reversible addition of thiyl radicals to cis fatty acids converts them into trans fatty acids, L _Z + S^• ⇄ SL^• ⇄ L _E + S^•, in a cycle that, uninterrupted, would rapidly isomerize lipids exposed to radicals and thiols. One reason this does not happen in foods and organisms is because the cycle is interrupted, by exothermic allylic abstraction, L + S^• → L^• + SH. Autoinhibition limits the cis-trans cycle length to around 400-500 (L _E per S^•) in a MUFA model (methyl oleate) and just ∼13-15 in a PUFA lipid model (methyl linoleate). The weak C-H bonds in bisallylic groups in PUFAs thereby act as the first line of defense against thiyl cis-trans cycles in biolipid solutions (±O₂). With the intriguing exception of vitamin E in MUFA, thiyl-active antioxidants inhibit isomerization in much the same way as they protect against peroxidation. Applied to thiol-ene coupling (TEC), the allylic abstraction, degraded-chain paradigm resolved a raft of hitherto contradictory trends and findings in "click" TEC polymerization and organic synthesis methods.

Cell-instructive pectin hydrogels crosslinked via thiol-norbornene photo-click chemistry for skin tissue engineering

Cell-instructive hydrogels are attractive for skin repair and regeneration, serving as interactive matrices to promote cell adhesion, cell-driven remodeling and de novo deposition of extracellular matrix components. This paper describes the synthesis and photocrosslinking of cell-instructive pectin hydrogels using cell-degradable peptide crosslinkers and integrin-specific adhesive ligands. Protease-degradable hydrogels obtained by photoinitiated thiol-norbornene click chemistry are rapidly formed in the presence of dermal fibroblasts, exhibit tunable properties and are capable of modulating the behavior of embedded cells, including the cell spreading, hydrogel contraction and secretion of matrix metalloproteases. Keratinocytes seeded on top of fibroblast-loaded hydrogels are able to adhere and form a compact and dense layer of epidermis, mimicking the architecture of the native skin. Thiol-ene photocrosslinkable pectin hydrogels support the in vitro formation of full-thickness skin and are thus a highly promising platform for skin tissue engineering applications, including wound healing and in vitro testing models.

STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE

Photopolymerizable hydrogels are attractive for skin applications due to their unique spatiotemporal control over the hydrogel formation. This study reports the design of a promising photo-clickable pectin hydrogel which biophysical and biochemical properties can be independently tailored to control cell behavior. A fast method for the norbornene-functionalization of pectin was developed and hydrogels fabricated through UV photoinitiated thiol-norbornene chemistry. This one-pot click reaction was performed in the presence of cells using cell-adhesive and matrix metalloproteinase-sensitive peptides, yielding hydrogels that support extensive cell spreading. Keratinocytes seeded on top of the fibroblast-loaded hydrogel formed a compact epidermis with morphological resemblance to human skin. This work presents a new protease-degradable hydrogel that supports in vitro skin formation with potential for skin tissue engineering.

Ionic liquid – containing ionogels by thiol–ene photopolymerization. Kinetics and solvent effect

Vinyl ether/thiol photopolymerization is accelerated by solvents; it occurs faster in non-ionic solvents than in ionic liquids.

Multiblock Copolymers by Thiol Addition Across Norbornene

Multiblock copolymers, composed of different combinations and number of blocks, offer appreciable opportunities for new advanced materials. However, exploring this parameter space using traditional block copolymer synthetic techniques, such as living polymerization of sequential blocks, is time-consuming and requires stringent conditions. Using thiol addition across norbornene chemistry, we demonstrate a simple synthetic approach to multiblock copolymers that produces either random or alternating architectures, depending on the choice of reactants. Past reports have highlighted the challenges associated with using thiol-ene chemistry for polymer-polymer conjugation; however, using norbornene as the "ene" yielded multiblock copolymers at least four or five blocks. Preparation of new multiblock copolymers containing two or three block chemistries highlights the versatility of this new approach. These materials were thermally stable and showed microphase separation according to characterization by DSC, SAXS, and AFM. This chemical platform offers a facile and efficient route to exploring the many possibilities of multiblock copolymers.

Orthogonal Modification of Norbornene-Functional Degradable Polymers

Well-defined norbornene-functional poly(carbonate)s were prepared by ring-opening polymerization and utilized as multireactive polymeric scaffolds in a range of postpolymerization modifications. The norbornene-functional handles were shown to undergo facile reaction with azides via a 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition, tetrazines in the inverse electron demand Diels-Alder reaction and thiols via radical thiol-ene coupling. Furthermore, the above-mentioned chemistries were demonstrated in a sequential one-pot, three-step modification reaction illustrating the potential of these polymers as scaffolds to access multifunctionalized materials in an undemanding manner.