GUANIDINIIUM-CONTAINING OLIGOMER CATIONIC PROTONIC IONIC LIQUIDS

By reacting a dian epoxy oligomer with guanidinium hydrochloride, a synthesis method of guanidinium-containing cationic proton oligomeric ionic liquids (OIL) capable of condensation reactions was developed. These compounds are characterized by an amphiphilic structure combining a flexible oligoether or hydroxyl-containing guanidinium oligoether block with terminal hydroxyl-containing guanidinium fragments. These compounds are capable of supramolecular organization due to the self-association of flexible oligoether blocks with terminal hydroxyl-containing guanidinium fragments from the outside of the formed cluster. They are characterized by two glass transition temperatures, which differ significantly in magnitude. The structure formed by the flexible oligoether component is determined by its segmental mobility with the glass transition temperature in the range (70–85 °C), and the terminal guanidinium fragments are responsible for the manifestation of the cohesive nature of the glass transition of the oligomer as a whole with the glass transition temperature in the range (-70)–(-60 °C), which characteristic of classical ionic liquids. The proton conductivity of the synthesized compounds in anhydrous conditions reaches a value of 1,94·10-3 S/cm at 120 °C and is determined not by the absolute value of the introduced protons, but by their specific number in relation to the MW oligomers. The synthesized OIL are of interest as electrolytes with an anhydrous conduction mechanism and starting reagents for the synthesis of ion-containing block copolymers of various functional purposes.

Architecture, Assembly, and Emerging Applications of Branched Functional Polyelectrolytes and Poly(ionic liquid)s

Branched polyelectrolytes with cylindrical brush, dendritic, hyperbranched, grafted, and star architectures bearing ionizable functional groups possess complex and unique assembly behavior in solution at surfaces and interfaces as compared to their linear counterparts. This review summarizes the recent developments in the introduction of various architectures and understanding of the assembly behavior of branched polyelectrolytes with a focus on functional polyelectrolytes and poly(ionic liquid)s with responsive properties. The branched polyelectrolytes and poly(ionic liquid)s interact electrostatically with small molecules, linear polyelectrolytes, or other branched polyelectrolytes to form assemblies of hybrid nanoparticles, multilayer thin films, responsive microcapsules, and ion-conductive membranes. The branched structures lead to unconventional assemblies and complex hierarchical structures with responsive properties as summarized in this review. Finally, we discuss prospectives for emerging applications of branched polyelectrolytes and poly(ionic liquid)s for energy harvesting and storage, controlled delivery, chemical microreactors, adaptive surfaces, and ion-exchange membranes.