Polyphosphazenes reactions

A random copolymer can be formed by postpolymetization reaction with a mixture of reagents, eg, in the case of polyphosphazenes (eq. 37) (45,46). 

The same fluoroalkoxy substituents, however, are able to enhance substitutional reactivity of fluorinated polyphosphazenes by originating methatetical exchange reactions on polymers in the presence of new nucleophiles and under appropriate experimental conditions. Thus, a series of exchange reactions at phosphorus atoms bearing the trifluoroethoxy substituents in PTFEP have been describedbyH.R. Allcock [508] (Fig. 13),Cowie [482,483] (Fig. 14), and Ferrar [509] (Fig. 15), while surface modification of PTFEP films were reported by Allcock [514,515] (Fig. 16 or 17) and by Lora [516] (Fig. 18). 

Polyphosphazenes sulfonates XIX with the anion covalently attached to the polymer are a new class of cation conductors that have been synthesized by Shriver [625]. They were obtained by reaction of Na0C2H4S03Na with an excess of polydichlorophosphazene in the presence of 15-crown-5, followed by the reaction of the partially substituted product with the sodium salt of poly(ethylene glycol methyl ether). The conductivity at 80 °C of the polymer with x=1.8, m=7.22 is 1.7x10 S cm This low conductivity can be attributed to an extensive ion pair formation between the sodium and sulfonate ions. 

The surface of aryloxy-substituted polyphosphazenes can be modified by a variety of chemical reactions, such as ... 

Table 23 Surface implications in polyphosphazenes surface modification by chemical reactions...

Substituent groups on a polyphosphazene chain containing mobile hydrogen atoms (4-isopropylphenol [715,716], 4-benzylphenol [293,718], etc.) showed a completely different photochemical reactivity both in solution and in sohd state under accelerated conditions, based mostly on the fight-induced oxidation of these groups and radical formation reactions. 

When the substituent groups in the polyphosphazenes were azobenzene [719] or spiropyran [720] derivatives, photochromic polymers were obtained, showing reversible light-induced trans-cis isomerization or merocyanine formation, respectively. Only photocrosslinking processes by [2+2] photo-addition reactions to cyclobutane rings could be observed when the substituent groups on the phosphazene backbone were 4-hydroxycinnamates [721-723] or 4-hydroxychalcones [722-724]. 

It can also be mentioned that polyphosphazenes substituted with aromatic groups, such as phenols or naphthols, can form inter- and intra- molecular excimers by coupling reaction of the planar aromatic rings of the substituents under illumination [467-471,473,725]. These species disappear as soon as the light is switched off. 

Another class of photochemically relevant polyphosphazenes is formed by macromolecules having chromophores able to absorb light in a selective way and to transfer it to external species, thus inducing different reactions by energy transfer processes. In some cases electron transfer processes are also involved. These situations are described by Formula below and the corresponding polymers and external reagents are reported in Table 26. 

In conclusion, all these types of light-induced reactions involving polyphosphazenes readily account for the great importance assumed by this topic in the phosphazene domain and for the remarkable application potentials of especially designed phosphazene materials. 

Molecular structural changes in polyphosphazenes are achieved mainly by macromolecular substitution reactions rather than by variations in monomer types or monomer ratios (1-4). The method makes use of a reactive macromolecular intermediate, poly(dichlorophosphazene) structure (3), that allows the facile replacement of chloro side groups by reactions of this macromolecule with a wide range of chemical reagents. The overall pathway is summarized in Scheme I. 

The connection between hydrophobicity and tissue compatibility has been noted for classical organic polymers (19). A key feature of the polyphosphazene substitutive synthesis method is the ease with which the surface hydrophobicity or hydrophilicity can be fine-tuned by variations in the ratios of two or more different side groups. It can also be varied by chemical reactions carried out on the organo-phosphazene polymer molecules themselves or on the surfaces of the solid materials. 

The biomedical uses of polyphosphazenes mentioned earlier involve chemistry that could in principle be carried out on a classical petrochemical-based polymer. However, in their bioerosion reactions, polyphosphazenes display a uniqueness that sets them apart. This uniqueness stems from the presence of the inorganic backbone, which in the presence of appropriate side groups is capable of undergoing facile hydrolysis to phosphate and ammonia. Phosphate can be metabolized, and ammonia is excreted. If the side groups released in this process are also metabolizable or excretable, the polymer can be eroded under hydrolytic conditions without the danger of a toxic response. Thus, poljnners of this tjT are candidates for use as erodible biostructural materials or sutures, or as matrices for the controlled delivery of drugs. Four examples will be given to illustrate the opportunities that exist. 

Finally, a new water-soluble polyphosphazene was recently synthesized that has the structure shown in 36 (46). This polymer has two attributes as a biomedical macromolecule. First, the pendent carboxylic acid groups are potential sites for condensation reactions with amines, alcohols, phenols, or other carboxylic acid units to generate amide, ester, or anhydride links to polypeptides or bioactive small molecules. Second, polymer forms ionic crosslinks when brought into contact with di- or trivalent cations such as Ca or Ai3+. The crosslinking process converts the water-soluble polymer to a hydrogel, a process that can be reversed when the system... 

Deprotection of X, and subsequent oxidation, reduction, and acetylation reactions can, with care, be carried out without decomposition of the inorganic backbone. Reactions of this type are of particular interest for the synthesis of bioactive or biocompatible polyphosphazenes. 

Although the picture is far from complete, the available evidence suggests that PBPP is rather different from most polyphosphazenes. The polymer may be induced to be an electronic conductor, but perhaps as a result of this tendency to cross-link, the material is more sensitive and difficult to handle than most polyphosphazenes and the thermal depolymerization reaction is inhibited. 

However, separation of the carborane cage from The phos-phazene ring or chain by a methylene spacer group allows metals to be Inserted into the open face of the carborane. These syntheses were accomplished by the reaction routes shown in Schemes 3 and A. High polymeric analogues of these transformations have also been accomplished following polymerization of XXX. The rhodium-bound cyclophosphazenes and polyphosphazenes are catalysts for the hydrogenation of 1-hexene. In this, they show a similar behavior to metallocarboranes linked to polystyrene... 

Condensation reactions to polyphosphazenes have been developed that provide an alternative, direct route to ffuoroalkoxyphosphazene polymers and aryl derivatives [eqns (11.31) and (11.32)]. " The development of condensation routes to poly(dichlorophosphazene) has also been reported for example, a promising route that operates at 200 °C has been described [eqn (11.33)]. ... 

In addition to providing fully alkyl/aryl-substituted polyphosphazenes, the versatility of the process in Figure 2 has allowed the preparation of various functionalized polymers and copolymers. Thus the monomer (10) can be derivatized via deprotonation—substitution, when aP-methyl (or P—CH2—) group is present, to provide new phosphoranimines some of which, in turn, serve as precursors to new polymers (64). In the same vein, polymers containing a P—CH3 group, for example, poly(methylphenylphosphazene), can also be derivatized by deprotonation—substitution reactions without chain scission. This has produced a number of functionalized polymers (64,71—73), including water-soluble carboxylate salts (11), as well as graft copolymers with styrene (74) and with dimethyl siloxane (12) (75). 

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