Polymers synthesis, polyphenylenes

Special emphasis is paid to a modular approach in which functionalized benzene moieties serve as building blocks for chain-type (ID), disc-type (2D), and dendrimer-type (3D) graphene derivatives (Fig. 1) [104,105]. The critical question, when taking on graphene as a challenge for polymer synthesis, is whether any of these polyphenylenes can serve as precursors for graphenes and how the necessary chemical transformation to flat graphene sheets can be accomplished. 

Typical polyphenylenes can be obtained by means of the polymerization types. Early research on sulfonated afkoxyl PPs utilized dibromo- and diboronic acid-substituted precursors via Suzuki coupling reaction for the polymer synthesis, as shown in Figure 6.1 [4]. 

Another approach to CPL is the synthesis of conjugated polymers with intrinsic chiro-optical properties. A variety of polymers with CPPL have been synthesized so far. Most of them are based upon well-known conjugated polymers such as poly(thiophene)s [4,111], polyphenylene vinylene)s [123], poly(thienylene vinylene)s [124], ladder polymers [125], PPPs [126], polyphenylene ethynylene)s, [127] and poly(fluorenes) [128]. All of them have been modified with chiral side-chains, which induce the chiro-optical properties. 

Polyphosphazenes and cyclophosphazenes are almost unique as carrier molecules for transition metals because of the wide range of binding sites that can be incorporated into the phosphazene structure. The substitutive mode of synthesis described earlier allows a structural diversity that is not found, for example, in polystyrene, polyphenylene oxide, or other organic carrier polymers. 

Finally, just a few words dedicated to the synthesis of polyphenylenes, extremely important polymers, and in particular substituted polyphenylenes such as PPV, which exhibit superb thermal and chemical resihence, semiconduchng properties upon doping and applicahons such as OLEDs. Contrary to their linear acenes counterparts, long polyphenylenes can be obtained e.g., by Bergman s method consisting in the thermal cycloaromatization of enediynes (Lockhart et al, 1981). 

Hyperbranched polymers are formed by polymerization of AB,-monomers as first theoretically discussed by Flory. A wide variety of hyperbranched polymer structures such as aromatic polyethers and polyesters, aliphatic polyesters. polyphenylenes, and aromatic polyamides have been described in the literature. The structure of hyperbranched polymers allows some defects, i.e. the degree of branching (DB) is less than one. The synthesis of hyperbranched polymers can often be simplified compared to the one of dendrimers since it is not necessary to use protection/deprotection steps. The most common synthetic route follows a one-pot procedure " where AB,-monomers are condensated in the presence of a catalyst. Another method using a core molecule and an AB,-monomer has been described. ... 

An extensive review of the synthesis of rc-conjugated polymers is presented using a tutorial approach to provide an introduction to the field intended for the undergraduate student and the experienced chemist alike. The many synthetic methodologies that have been used for the synthesis of conjugated polymers are outlined for each class of polymers with a focus on research from the 1990s. The effect of structure on electrical properties is detailed. Specific systems reviewed include the polyacetylenes, polyanilines, polypyrroles, polythiophenes, poly(arylene vinylenes), and polyphenylenes. 

The successful synthesis of a high molecular weight precursor to polyphenylene that could be more readily converted to its corresponding conjugated polymer was reported where the prepolymer utilized ester substituents [95,96]. In a novel bacterial oxidation of benzene, a ds-cyclohexadiene diol 21 was initially prepared that was later acetylated and polymerized as shown in Scheme 26. This polymer was determined to contain approximately 90% 1,4-linkages and 10% 1,2-linkages. 

Webster et al. l4a expanded on the preparation of the polyphenylenes to develop the one-pot synthesis of hyper-crosslinked poly(triphenylcarbinol). Thus, reaction of 4,4 -dilithiobiphenyl with (CH3)2C03 (— 80 °C — 25 °C, THF) afforded trityl alcohol-based polymer. The absence of carbonyl or methoxycarbonyl NMR resonances led to the speculation that the polymer grows via a branched convergent process. 

The use of Suzuki couphng for the synthesis of polyphenylene polymers was introduced by Rehahn, Schlueter and Wegner [Eq. (9)] [230]. Poly(p-2,5-di-n-hexylphe-nylene) was prepared in a biphasic mixture of benzene and water as a reaction medium, using sodium carbonate as a water-soluble base. This AB-type polymerizahon afforded polymers containing, e.g., an average of about 28 phenylene units. 

Hereby, poly(p-phenylene) polymers containing ether and carbonyl linkages in the polymer backbone are accessible. By polymerization of the AB2 monomer 3,5-dibromobenzene boronic acid in a biphasic aqueous/organic medium, Kim and Webster obtained hyperbranched polyphenylenes [233]. Suzuki polycondensation in aqueous systems has proven to be a versatile method, which has been applied to the synthesis of various polymer types ]234]. 

Molybdophosphoric acid was also used to prepare HPA-polymer composite film catalysts, using polyphenylene oxide, polyethersulfone and polysulfone as polymers [4], The membrane-like materials were tested as catalysts in the liquid-phase synthesis of tert-butanol from isobutene and water, showing higher catalytic activity than the bulk acid. 

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