Coupling chemistry, poly transformation

Y. Li, G. Vamvounis, J. Yu, and S. Holdcroft, A novel and versatile methodology for functionalization of conjugated polymers. Transformation of poly(3-bromo-4-hexylthiophene) via palladium-catalyzed coupling chemistry, Macromolecules, 34 3130-3132, 2001. 

Numerous examples exist of combining CRP methods with other polymerization techniques for preparation of block copolymers. Non-living polymerization methods like condensation, free-radical, and redox processes can easily be combined with CRP to produce novel materials. Transformation chemistry may be the only route to incorporate polymers like polysulfones (as described above), polyesters, or polyamides that are prepared solely through condensation processes into subsequent CRP to form block copolymers with vinyl monomers. The same can be said of polymers prepared through coupling techniques, like po-ly(phenylenevinylene) and poly(methylphenylsilylene), which can maintain their conductive or photoluminescence properties, but become easier to process... 

Bria et al. synthesized a tetracationic cyclophane-aromatic crown ether-type side-chain poly[2]catenane 59 by employing click chemistry, via route iii (Scheme 17.18) [111]. First, the template-directed coupling reaction between bis(bipyridinium) salt 28 and the alkyne-substituted p-xylylene dibromide 55, in the presence of dinaphtho crown ether 54, afforded an alkyne-functionalized [2]catenane 56 [112], Substitution of the chloro group on styrene-vinylbenzyl chloride copolymer 57 (M = 3.7 kDa, M , = 6.3 kDa) with sodium azide gave the azide-functionalized polymer 58 [83,113-115]. By employing CuS04/ascorbic acid as catalyst [116-120], click chemistry between azide-functionaUzed polymer 58 and alkyne-functionalized [2]catenane 56 afforded the side-chain poly[2]catenane 59, the successful formation of which was confirmed with Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and NMR analyses. Unfortunately, both of these techniques revealed that the reaction of the azide groups was incomplete, and the observation was ascribed to a Coulombic repulsion of the cyclophane units and steric hindrance caused by the bulky catenane units[121]. 

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