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August 4, 2020

Developing new smart soft materials: Synthesis of a pH-responsive dendronized poly(substituted methylene)s

Vinyl polymerization and C1 polymerization. Credit: Ehime Uniersity
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Vinyl polymerization and C1 polymerization. Credit: Ehime Uniersity

C1 polymerization is a useful technique for preparing polymers with a carbon-carbon main chain. This technique constructs a polymer backbone from 'one carbon unit,' in contrast to conventional vinyl polymerization, which produces polymers from a 'two carbon unit' derived from vinyl groups. The representative characteristic of C1 polymerization is that it can yield carbon-carbon main polymers having a substituent on each main chain carbon atom [poly(substituted methylene)s]. For the C1 polymerization system, diazoacetates are suitable monomers, yielding polymers with an alkoxycarbonyl group (ester) on each main chain carbon atom.

Stimuli-responsive polymers or smart polymers are macromolecules that undergo a change in properties in response to , such as temperature, pH, light, and additives. Their stimuli-responsive behavior strongly depends on the primary structure of the , and thus precise synthesis is necessary to develop smart materials with superior properties. Precise C1 polymerization for diazoacetates is still a challenge, whereas various controlled/living techniques of vinyl monomers have been achieved to give well-defined stimuli-responsive vinyl polymers.

In this context, with the results reported in this report, we have demonstrated that diazoacetates with a sterically bulky substituent can be polymerized in a controlled manner with the π-allylPdCl/borate systems to yield polymers with narrow molecular weight distribution. In addition, we have successfully synthesized carboxy-functionalized dendronized polymers and demonstrated the characteristic pH-responsive behavior derived from the dense accumulation of the side chains in comparison to the corresponding polymers bearing the same side chains. The introduction of functional groups, other than a carboxy group, in the peripheral phenyl groups should result in a high density of the functional groups around the rigid main chain. These structural characteristics will lead to development of a variety of new functional poly(substituted methylene)s in the near future.

pH-responsive dendronized poly(substituted methylene)s prepared by C1 polymerization of dendron-containing diazoacetates. Credit: Ehime University
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pH-responsive dendronized poly(substituted methylene)s prepared by C1 polymerization of dendron-containing diazoacetates. Credit: Ehime University

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