Preparation and Characterization of Conjugated Polymers Made by Postpolymerization Reactions of Alternating Polyketones

Bathochromic-Shifted Emissions by Postfunctionalization of Nonconjugated Polyketones

Most nontraditional intrinsic luminescent (NTIL) polymers currently show blue fluorescence. Tuning the emission color of NTIL polymers is of fundamental importance for their applications, but it still remains a scientific challenge. Herein, we initially develop an efficient strategy for bathochromic shifting of NTIL polymers by through-space acceptor-donor charge transfer between the in chain and the side chain. A variety of functionalized polyketones (FPK-R; where R = H, Ph, Me, tBu, F, and Cl) with furan rings built into the polymer chain were prepared by the Paal-Knorr reaction. FPK-R polymers showed bright and bathochromic-shifted fluorescence compared with their counterparts. The emission color could be tuned by changing the postfunctionalization conversion and varying the styrenic monomer substituent. Experimental and theoretical investigations revealed that the color tunability originated from enhanced through-space charge transfer between the side chain phenyl and the in chain furan rings.

High Density Polyethylenes Bearing Isolated In-Chain Carbonyls*

Polyethylene materials are highly important polymers which are produced in the largest volume among all plastics. Due to the chemical inert property of saturated carbon-carbon bonds, the degradation of polyethylene is extremely challenging, which prevents them from efficient chemical recycling. Installing functional groups in the main chain of polyethylenes may facilitate the degradation and following chemical recycling of polyethylene materials. Here we report a highly selective approach for the synthesis of high density polyethylenes bearing low content isolated in-chain carbonyls. Linear high-molecular weight polyethylene chains are synthesized via the palladium catalyzed copolymerization of ethylene with metal carbonyls. Different from traditional ethylene/CO copolymerization reactions, excellent non-alternating selectivity has been achieved. While the properties of polyethylene have been retained in the copolymer, faster degradation compared with that of polyethylene was observed upon UV light irradiation. The synthesized materials may therefore serve as more environmentally friendly alternative plastics than traditional polyethylene materials.

New type of liquid rubber and compositions based on it

The new method for producing the functionalized polymers and oligomers containing carbonyl C=O groups is developed. The method is based on the noncatalytic oxidation of unsaturated rubbers by nitrous oxide (N2O) at 180-230 °С. The proposed method allows obtaining the new type of functionalized rubbers-liquid unsaturated polyketones with regulated molecular weight and concentration of C=O groups. The influence of the liquid polyketone addition on properties of rubber-based composites is investigated. The study indicates good prospects of using the liquid polyketones for the improvement of properties and operating characteristics of the various types of rubbers and the rubber-cord systems.

Bandgap engineering through controlled oxidation of polythiophenes

The use of Rozen's reagent (HOF⋅CH3 CN) to convert polythiophenes to polymers containing thiophene-1,1-dioxide (TDO) is described. The oxidation of polythiophenes can be controlled with this potent, yet orthogonal reagent under mild conditions. The oxidation of poly(3-alkylthiophenes) proceeds at room temperature in a matter of minutes, introducing up to 60 % TDO moieties in the polymer backbone. The resulting polymers have a markedly low-lying lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO), consequently exhibiting a small bandgap. This approach demonstrates that modulating the backbone electronic structure of well-defined polymers, rather than varying the monomers, is an efficient means of tuning the electronic properties of conjugated polymers.

The microstructure and melt properties of CO–ethylene copolymers with remarkably low CO content

Unique structure–property relationships were revealed for non-alternating polyketones obtained with unprecedented efficiency by a new protocol for the palladium-catalysed copolymerisation of CO and ethylene.