Loose Semirigid Aromatic Polyester Bottle Brushes at Poly(2-isopropyl-2-oxazoline) Side Chains of Various Lengths: Behavior in Solutions and Thermoresponsiveness

A polycondensation aromatic polyester with an oxygen spacer was synthesized and used as a macroinitiator for the grafting of linear poly(2-isopropyl-2-oxazoline) (PiPrOx) by the cationic polymerization method. The length of the thermosensitive side chains was varied by the initiator:monomer ratio. Using methods of molecular hydrodynamics, light scattering and turbidimetry, the copolymers were studied in organic solvents and in water. The molecular characteristics of the main chain and graft copolymers, the polymerization degree of side chains and their grafting density have been determined. The equilibrium rigidity of the macroinitiator and the conformations of grafted macromolecules were evaluated. In selective solvents, they take on a star-like conformation or aggregate depending on the degree of shielding of the main chain by side chains. The thermoresponsiveness of graft copolymers in aqueous solutions was studied, and their LCST were estimated. The results are compared with data for graft copolymers composed of PiPrOx side chains and flexible or rigid chain backbones of aromatic polyester type.

Polynaphthylimide–Azomethines Containing Triphenylamine or Carbazole Moieties with Tuned Optoelectronic Properties through Molecular Design

Polyazomethines containing electron-donor triphenylamine (TPA) or carbazole (Cbz) and electron-acceptor naphthyl(di)imide were synthesized and investigated with regard to thermal, optical and electronic features, with a focus on their modulation by molecular design. The polycondesation of an imido-based diamine with a Cbz- or TPA-based dialdehyde led to donor-acceptor polymers with good thermostability, up to 318 °C. These displayed good solubility in organic solvents, which enabled easy polymer processability in thin films with different molecular assemblies. The molecular order improved the charge carrier’s mobility, with a direct impact on the bandgap energy. The optical properties studied by UV–Vis absorption and fluorescence experiments showed solvent-dependence, characteristic for donor-acceptor systems. The structural parameters exerted a strong influence on the light-emissive behavior, with the prevalence of intrinsic or intramolecular charge transfer fluorescence contingent on the donor-acceptor strength and polymer geometry. All polymers showed good electroactivity, supporting both electrons and holes transport. The exchange of Cbz with TPA proved to be an efficient tool with which to decrease the bandgap energy, while that of naphthyl(di)imide with bis(naphthylimide) was beneficial for fluorescence enhancement. This study may contribute to a deeper understanding of the physico-chemistry of electronic materials so as to make them more competitive in the newest energy-related or other optoelectronic devices.

Photoinduced Skeletal Rearrangement of Diarylethenes: Photorelease of Lewis Acid and Synthetic Applications

The skeletal photorearrangement including 6π-electrocyclization induced by UV light of ortho-halogen-substituted diarylethenes has been studied. It has been found that the reaction pathways leading to bi- or tricyclic frameworks depend on the kind of halogen substituent and solvent. Photocyclization with halogen abstraction leads to bicyclic fused aromatics, while the tricyclic frameworks are formed due to the tandem 6π-electrocyclization/sigmatropic shift reaction. THF is preferred as the solvent in the former process and chloroform in the latter reaction. It was found for the first time that, owing to the ability of this series of diarylethenes to undergo skeletal photorearrangement with the release of the bromide cation, they can be used both as brominating agents and as Lewis acids for catalyzing electrophilic reactions.

Organosoluble and optically active polyamides based on axially asymmetric 9,9′-spirobifluorene moieties

Optically active polyamides containing axially asymmetric 9,9′-spirobifluorene units in the main chain were synthesized for the first time by low-temperature solution polycondensation of ( R)-2,2′-bis(4-amino-2-trifluoromethylphenoxy)-9,9′-spirobifluorene with various diacyl chlorides. All these polymers were obtained in quantitative yields with inherent viscosities of 0.28–0.43 dL g−1. These polyamides were amorphous and readily soluble in many organic solvents such as N-methyl-2-pyrolidone, N, N-dimethylacetamide (DMAc), dimethyl sulfoxide, and tetrahydrofuran. The glass transition temperatures of these polyamides were recorded in the range of 199–261°C by differential scanning calorimetry, and the 10% weight loss temperatures were over 410°C both under nitrogen and in air atmospheres. The specific rotations of these chiral polyamides oscillated between 65.0° and 127.8° depending on the structures of the diacid chlorides. All the optically active polymers exhibited high chiral stability in solid state or in DMAc solvent at high temperature due to incorporation of chiral spirobifluorone unit in polymer backbones. The ultraviolet–visible and circular dichroism spectroscopic properties of these chiral polyamides in solutions were also studied.

Asymmetric 1,3,4-oxadiazole derivatives containing naphthalene and stilbene units: synthesis, optical and electrochemical properties

Six novel asymmetric 1,3,4-oxadiazole derivatives containing naphthalene and stilbene units have been efficiently synthesized and characterized by FT-IR, (1)H NMR, (13)C NMR, mass spectrometry and elemental analysis. The UV-vis absorption maximum wavelength, fluorescence excitation wavelength, fluorescence emission wavelength and fluorescence quantum yield were measured in dilute tetrahydrofuran solution. The solvent effect was also studied. The HOMO and LUMO levels of these compounds were calculated by density functional theory (DFT) (B3LYP, 6-31G(*)) method and cyclic voltammetry. They emit bright violet to blue emission with high fluorescence quantum yields (0.23-0.94) and large Stokes shifts (53-102 nm). These compounds possess high HOMO levels (-5.03 to -5.17 eV) and suitable band gaps, indicating that they could be benefit for hole injection. The results show that they have a potential for application in optoelectronic materials.

Copolyimides containing perylene and hexafluoroisopropylidene moieties

Three poly(ether-peryleneimide)s were prepared by one-step solution polycondensation reaction at high temperature of an aromatic diamine containing an oxadiazole ring and/or diphenylether units with a mixture of perylenetetracarboxylic dianhydride and hexafluoroisopropylidene-diphthalic dianhydride. The structure of the polymers was confirmed by Fourier transform-infrared analysis. These polymers possess good solubility in N-methylpyrrolidinone and can be processed into thin and tough flexible films. They are highly thermostable, up to 465°C, and display glass transition in the range of 227–266°C. The dielectric constant values of these polyimides at 25°C and in the frequency domain of 1 Hz to 100 kHz are in the range of 2.29–2.96. The photoluminescence spectra of those poly(ether-peryleneimide)s consist of the emission of perylenediimide chromophore and conjugated segments containing five-imide rings, without the emission from oxadiazole chromophore.

Copoly(1,3,4-oxadiazole-naphthylimide)s containing siloxane units in the main chain: synthesis and properties

This study was concerned with the synthesis and properties of new soluble copolyimides containing naphthalene, oxadiazole and tetramethyldisiloxane units. These copolyimides were prepared by two-step polycondensation reaction in solution of aromatic diamines containing preformed oxadiazole ring with a mixture 1 : 1 of naphthalene tetracarboxylic dianhydride and tetramethyldisiloxane- [1,3-bis(4′-phthalic anhydride)]. The structure of these polymers was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared and 1 H-NMR spectroscopy. The solubility, thermal stability and glass transition temperature of these copolyimides were measured and compared with those of related polyimides which do not contain siloxane groups. All these polymers emitted an intense blue color light upon irradiation with UV light. These copoly(oxadiazole-naphthylimide)s could be considered promising candidates for organo-soluble high-performance polymers for use in novel technological applications.