An official website of the United States government
Abstract We report the facile synthesis and 3D printing of a series of triblock copolymers consisting of soft and hard blocks and demonstrate that alkene pendant groups of the hard block can be covalently modified. The polymers are prepared using a salenCo(III)TFA/PPNTFA binary catalyst system and 1,2‐propanediol as a chain transfer agent, providing an efficient one‐pot, two‐step strategy to tailor polymer thermal and mechanical properties. Thixotropic inks suitable for direct ink write printing were formulated by dissolving the block copolymers in organic solvent and dispersing NaCl particles. After printing, porous structures were produced by removing solvent and NaCl with water to give printed structures with surfaces that could be modified via UV‐initiated thiol‐ene click reactions. Alternatively, a tetra‐thiol could be incorporated into the ink and used for cross‐linking to give objects with high solvent resistance and selective degradability.
more »
« less
Cell Engineering with Functional Poly(oxanorbornene) Block Copolymers
Abstract Cell‐based therapies are gaining prominence in treating a wide variety of diseases and using synthetic polymers to manipulate these cells provides an opportunity to impart function that could not be achieved using solely genetic means. Herein, we describe the utility of functional block copolymers synthesized by ring‐opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) that can insert directly into the cell membrane via the incorporation of long alkyl chains into a short polymer block leading to non‐covalent, hydrophobic interactions with the lipid bilayer. Furthermore, we demonstrate that these polymers can be imbued with advanced functionalities. A photosensitizer was incorporated into these polymers to enable spatially controlled cell death by the localized generation of1O2at the cell surface in response to red‐light irradiation. In a broader context, we believe our polymer insertion strategy could be used as a general methodology to impart functionality onto cell‐surfaces.
more »
« less
- Award ID(s):
- 1808031
- PAR ID:
- 10148869
- Publisher / Repository:
- Wiley Blackwell (John Wiley & Sons)
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Angewandte Chemie International Edition
- Volume:
- 59
- Issue:
- 28
- ISSN:
- 1433-7851
- Page Range / eLocation ID:
- p. 11379-11383
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
More Like this
-
-
Abstract Polyphosphonates, a class of polymers with the generic formula –[P(R)(X)–OR'O]n–, exhibit a high degree of modularity due to the range of R, R', and X groups that can be incorporated. As such, these polymers may be designed with a polyethylene oxide (PEO) backbone (R' group) and employed as solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs). Two PEO‐containing polyphosphonate analogs (R = Ph; X = S or Se) were doped with LiPF6and their conductivities were measured. Conductivities were similar (X = S) to or exceeding (X = Se) those of standard PEO systems (just below 10−4S/cm at 100°C). Binding models for Li+were generated using31P{1H}NMR titration experiments. Binding of Li+by these polyphosphonates followed a positive cooperativity model, and varying the X group (S or Se) affected the observed cooperativity (Hill coefficient = 1.73 and 4.16, respectively). The presence of Se also leads to an increase in conductivity as temperature is raised above the Tg, which is likely an effect of reduced Columbic interactions. Because of their modularity and ease with which cation binding can be evaluated using31P{1H} NMR titration experiments, polyphosphonates offer a unique approach for the modification of Li+ion battery technology.more » « less
-
Abstract Linear polyphosphonates with the generic formula –[P(Ph)(X)OR′O]n– (X = S or Se) have been synthesized by polycondensations of P(Ph)(NEt2)2and a diol (HOR′OH = 1,4‐cyclohexanedimethanol, 1,4‐benzenedimethanol, tetraethylene glycol, or 1,12‐dodecanediol) followed by reaction with a chalcogen. Random copolymers have been synthesized by polycondensations of P(Ph)(NEt2)2and mixture of two of the diols in a 2:1:1 mol ratio followed by reaction with a chalcogen. Block copolymers with the generic formula –[P(Ph)(X)OR′O](x + 2)–[P(Ph)(X)OR′O](x + 3)– (X = S or Se) have been synthesized by the polycondensations of Et2N[P(Ph)(X)OR′O](x + 2)P(Ph)NEt2oligomers with HOR′O[P(Ph)(X)OR′O](x + 3)H oligomers followed by reaction with a chalcogen. The Et2N[P(Ph)(X)OR′O](x + 2)P(Ph)NEt2oligomers are prepared by the reaction of an excess of P(Ph)(NEt2)2with a diol while the HOR′O[P(Ph)(X)OR′O](x + 3)H oligomers are prepared by the reaction of P(Ph)(NEt2)2with an excess of the diol. In each case the excess, x is the same and determines the average block sizes. All of the polymers were characterized using1H,13C{1H}, and31P{1H} NMR spectroscopy, TGA, DSC, and SEC.31P{1H} NMR spectroscopy demonstrates that the random and block copolymers have the expected arrangements of monomers and, in the case of block copolymers, verifies the block sizes. All polymers are thermally stable up to ~300°C, and the arrangements of monomers in the copolymers (block vs. random) affect their degradation temperatures andTgprofiles. The polymers have weight average MWs of up to 3.8 × 104 Da.more » « less
-
Katz, Howard (Ed.)Abstract The design of polymeric semiconductors exhibiting high electrical conductivity (σ) and thermoelectric power factor (PF) will be vital for flexible large‐area electronics. In this work, four polymers based on diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP), 2,3‐dihydrothieno[3,4‐b][1,4]dioxine (EDOT), thieno[3,2‐b]thiophene (TT), and 3, 3′‐bis (2‐(2‐(2‐methoxyethoxy) ethoxy) ethoxy)‐2, 2′‐bithiophene (MEET) are investigated as side‐chains, with the MEET polymers newly synthesized for this study. These polymers are systematically doped with tetrafluorotetracyanoquinodimethane ( F4TCNQ), CF3SO3H, and the synthesized dopant Cp(CN)3‐(COOMe)3, differing in geometry and electron affinity. The DPP‐EDOT‐based polymer containing MEET as side‐chains exhibits the highest conductivity (σ) ≈700 S cm−1 in this series with the acidic dopant (CF3SO3H). This polymer also shows the lowest oxidation potential by cyclic voltammetry (CV), the strongest intermolecular interactions evidenced by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and has the most oxygen‐based functionality for possible hydrogen bonding and ionic screening. Other polymers exhibit high σ ≈300–500 S cm−1 and power factor up to 300 µW m−1K−2. The mechanism of conductivity is predominantly electronic, as validated by time‐dependent conductance studies and transient thermo voltage monitoring over time, including for those doped with the acid. These materials maintain significant thermal stability and air stability over ≈6 weeks. Density functional theory calculations reveal molecular geometries and inform about frontier energy levels. Raman spectroscopy, in conjunction with scanning electron microscopy (SEM‐EDS) and x‐ray diffraction, provides insight into the solid‐state microstructure and degree of phase separation of the doped polymer films. Infrared spectroscopy enables this study to further quantify the degree of charge transfer from polymer to dopant.more » « less
-
Abstract Polymers with low ceiling temperatures (Tc) are highly desirable as they can depolymerize under mild conditions, but they typically suffer from demanding synthetic conditions and poor stability. We envision that this challenge can be addressed by developing high-Tcpolymers that can be converted into low-Tcpolymers on demand. Here, we demonstrate the mechanochemical generation of a low-Tcpolymer, poly(2,5-dihydrofuran) (PDHF), from an unsaturated polyether that contains cyclobutane-fused THF in each repeat unit. Upon mechanically induced cycloreversion of cyclobutane, each repeat unit generates three repeat units of PDHF. The resulting PDHF completely depolymerizes into 2,5-dihydrofuran in the presence of a ruthenium catalyst. The mechanochemical generation of the otherwise difficult-to-synthesize PDHF highlights the power of polymer mechanochemistry in accessing elusive structures. The concept of mechanochemically regulating theTcof polymers can be applied to develop next-generation sustainable plastics.more » « less
