Synthesis of soluble conjugated polymeric nanoparticles through heterogeneous Suzuki coupling reaction

Complementary Study Based on DFT of Optical and Electronic Properties of New Copolymer PVK-F8T2

This article is mainly a complementary study of a novel part of π-conjugated copolymers based on the poly (N-vinylcarbazole) (PVK) and poly (9,9-dioctylfluorene-co-bithiophene) (F8T2) unit based on the Density Functional Theory (DFT) and Time-Dependent Density Functional Theory (TD-DFT). This study is carried out to explore the structural and optoelectronic characteristics of a new organic material named PVK-F8T2. First, the structural, optical (absorption, photoluminescence, optical transition), electronic (molecular orbital (MO), energy-level diagram) and vibratory parameters of infrared (IR) were computed and compared with experimental studies. In addition, we calculated the level energy of the excited states and their corresponding transitions. Obviously, electronic parameters such as highest occupied and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (HOMO and LUMO), ionization potential (IP), electronic affinity (EA) and the energy band gap (Eg) were computed in order to elucidate the intramolecular charge transport and to establish the energetic diagrams of the PVK-F8T2 copolymer for different states. The results obtained looked with precision at future optoelectronic applications. From these results, we have shown that the PVK-F8T2 has significant optoelectronic properties and seems usable as an active layer in organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs).

Soluble Hyperbranched Porous Organic Polymers

Soluble porous organic polymers (SPOPs) are currently the subject of extensive investigation due to the enhanced processability compared to insoluble counterparts. Here, a new concept for the construction of SPOPs is presented, which combines the unique topological structure of hyperbranched polymers with rigid building blocks. By using this facile, one-step strategy, a class of novel SPOPs which possess surface areas up to 646 m² g^-1 have been synthesized. The extended π-conjugated backbone affords the polymers bright fluorescence under UV irradiation. Interestingly, after dissolution in a suitable solvent that was slowly evaporated, the polymers retain a large extent of porosity. The SPOPs are potential candidates for gas storage and separation, photovoltaic, and biological applications. In particular, due to the presence of an internal porous structure and open conformations, they show high drug loading efficiency (1.91 g of ibuprofen per gram), which is considerably higher than conventional porous organic polymers.

Broad‐spectrum inhibitory effect of green synthesised silver nanoparticles from Withania somnifera (L.) on microbial growth, biofilm and respiration: a putative mechanistic approach

Multi‐drug resistance in pathogenic bacteria has created immense clinical problem globally. To address these, there is need to develop new therapeutic strategies to combat bacterial infections. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) might prove to be next generation nano‐antibiotics. However, improved efficacy and broad‐spectrum activity is still needed to be evaluated and understood. The authors have synthesised AgNPs from Withania somnifera (WS) by green process and characterised. The effect of WS‐AgNPs on growth kinetics, biofilm inhibition as well as eradication of preformed biofilms on both gram‐positive and gram‐negative pathogenic bacteria was evaluated. The authors have demonstrated the inhibitory effect on bacterial respiration and disruption of membrane permeability and integrity. It was found that WS‐AgNPs inhibited growth of pathogenic bacteria even at 16 µg/ml. At sub‐minimum inhibitory concentration concentration, there was approximately 50% inhibition in biofilm formation which was further validated by light and electron microscopy. WS‐AgNPs also eradicated the performed biofilms by varying levels at elevated concentration. The bacterial respiration was also significantly inhibited. Interaction of WS‐AgNPs with test pathogen caused the disruption of cell membrane leading to leakage of cellular content. The production of intracellular reactive oxygen species reveals that WS‐AgNPs exerted oxidative stress inside bacterial cell causing microbial growth inhibition and disrupting cellular functions.

Construction of Polyarylenes with Various Structural Features via Bergman Cyclization Polymerization

Synthetic polymer chemistry is a fundamental part of polymer science, and highly efficient polymerization reactions are essential for the synthesis of high-performance polymers. Development of new synthetic methods for emerging polymer science is of great importance in this regard. Bergman cyclization is a chemical process in which highly reactive aryl diradicals form from enediyne precursors, having a strong impact in a number of fields including pharmaceutics, synthetic chemistry, and materials science. Diradical intermediates stemming from enediynes can cause DNA cleavage under physiological conditions, leading to the strong cytotoxicity of many naturally occurring enediyne antibiotics. Meanwhile, diradical intermediates can quickly couple with each other to construct polyarylenes, providing a novel method to synthesize these conjugated polymers with the advantages of facile and catalyst-free operation, high efficiency, and tailored structure. Moreover, conjugated polymers generated by Bergman cyclization exhibit many remarkable properties, such as excellent thermal stability and good solubility and processability, enabling their further processing into carbon-rich materials. This review presents a brief overview of the trajectory of Bergman cyclization in polymer science, followed by an introduction to research advances, mainly from our group, in developing polymerization methods based on Bergman cyclization, taking advantages of its catalyst-free, byproduct-free, in situ polymerization mechanism to synthesize new polymeric materials with various structures and morphologies. These synthetic strategies include fabrication of rod-like polymers with polyester, dendrimer, and chiral imide side chains, functionalization of carbon nanomaterials by surface-grafting conjugated polymers, formation of nanoparticles by intramolecular collapse of single polymer chains, and construction of carbon nanomembranes on the external and internal surface of inorganic nanomaterials. These polymers with novel structural features have been used in a variety of fields, such as energy transformation, energy storage, catalyst support, and fluorescent detection. Finally, the outlook for future developments of Bergman cyclization in polymer science is presented.

Conversion of post consumer waste polystyrene into a high value adsorbent and its sorptive properties for Congo Red removal from aqueous solution

Using post-consumer waste polystyrene (WPS), a conjugated microporous polymer (CMP) was synthesised and activated into a sulphonic-group carrying resin (SCMP). The surface chemistry of the materials showed a decline in both the aromatic CH and aliphatic CH₂ stretching vibrations confirming successful crosslinking. The synthesised polymers were thermally stable with decomposition temperatures above 300 °C, had surface heterogeneity, and BET surface areas of 752 and 510 m²/g, respectively. A distribution of pores ranging from meso- to micro-pores was comparable to other CMPs. The materials had maximum adsorption capacities of 500 and 357 mg/g for Congo Red (CR) on CMP and SCMP, respectively. Converting waste polystyrene to an adsorbent is a cost effective way of handling waste and simultaneously providing material for wastewater remediation.