Hydrogenated Poly(Dewar benzene): A Compact Cyclic Olefin Polymer with Enhanced Thermomechanical Properties

Preparation of β-1,3-glucan mimics via modification of polymer backbone, and evaluation of cytokine production using the polymer library in immune activation

β-1,3-Glucans possess therapeutic potential owing to their ability to exhibit immunostimulating activity. β-1,3-Glucans, isolated from various organisms, differ in their chemical structures, molecular weight, and branching degree, potentially forming particulate, helix, or random coil conformations in water. Therefore, this study used synthesized β-1,3-glucan mimic polymers to investigate the difference in binding affinity for dectin-1 and induced cytokine productions based on polymer structures. The β-1,3-glucan mimic polymers were synthesized using β-1,3-glucan tetrasaccharyl monomer, with subsequent modifications to the polymer backbones through the introduction of hydrogen or a hydroxy group. Polymers with different structures in both ligands and polymer backbones were utilized to comprehensively investigate their binding affinity to dectin-1 and cytokine-inducing in macrophages. Hydroxylated polymers exhibited a high binding affinity for dectin-1, similar to that of schizophyllan, whereas the polymer composed of only saccharyl monomers did not bind to dectin-1. Further, when administered to macrophage RAW264 cells, polymers with branched and hydrophobic polymer backbones exhibited strong cytokine-inducing activities. Moreover, the results revealed that the essential factors for cytokine induction include the branches of β-1,3-glucans, high (tens of thousands) molecular weights, and hydrophobicity. The results suggests that artificial polymers comprising these factors exhibit immunostimulating activity and could be developed as therapeutic agents.

Ring-opening metathesis polymerization of ester-functionalized endo-tricyclo[4.2.2.02,5]deca-3,9-dienes and thermal properties of the resulting polymers

We investigated the ROMP of 1 and 2, and revealed the glass transition temperature and pyrolysis mechanisms of the resulting (co)polymers (with norbornene).

Epoxy functionalized cycloolefin polymers by ring-opening metathesis polymerization

Functional COPs by ROMP and post-polymerization modification.

A Crystalline B4N2 Dewar Benzene as a Building Block for Conjugated B,N-Chains

Dewar benzene, one of the isolable valence isomers of C₆H₆, has been extensively studied since its first synthesis in 1962. By contrast, the chemistry of inorganic congeners of Dewar benzene, which can be formally gained by replacing the skeletal carbon atoms with heteroatoms, has been less developed despite their peculiar structural and electronic features. Among them, the extant B,N-Dewar benzenes are limited to the B₃N₃ system. Herein, we report the development of the first example of an isolable B₄N₂ Dewar benzene, 3. As predicted by DFT calculations, a judicious selection of the substituents allows synthesizing 3. Single-crystal X-ray analysis, NMR, and computational studies confirmed that 3 possesses a high-lying B(sp³)-B(sp³) σ-bond at the bridgehead position. Reactions with ethylene and phenylacetylene proceeded smoothly under mild conditions, affording the fused B₄C₄N₂ ring systems (4 and 5). Structural characterization as well as DFT calculations revealed that compounds 4 and 5 involve a rigid and conjugated (BN)₄ tetraene scaffold. Formation of 4 and 5 demonstrates that 3 may serve as a building block for the construction of conjugated B,N-chains.

Mechanochemical generation of acid-degradable poly(enol ether)s

In an effort to develop polymers that can undergo extensive backbone degradation in response to mechanical stress, we report a polymer system that is hydrolytically stable but unmasks easily hydrolysable enol ether backbone linkages when force is applied. These polymers were synthesized by ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) of a novel mechanophore monomer consisting of cyclic ether fused bicyclohexene. Hydrogenation of the resulting polymers led to significantly enhanced thermal stability (T_d > 400 °C) and excellent resistance toward acidic or basic conditions. Solution ultrasonication of the polymers resulted in up to 65% activation of the mechanophore units and conversion to backbone enol ether linkages, which then allowed facile degradation of the polymers to generate small molecule or oligomeric species under mildly acidic conditions. We also achieved solid-state mechano-activation and polymer degradation via grinding the solid polymer. Force-induced hydrolytic polymer degradability can enable materials that are stable under force-free conditions but readily degrade under stress. Facile degradation of mechanically activated polymechanophores also facilitates the analysis of mechanochemical products.

A mechanically responsive polymer system that is hydrolytically stable without stress, but unmasks enol ether backbone linkages under force to allow facile hydrolytic degradation.

Controlled Cyclopolymerization of 1,5-Hexadiynes to Give Narrow Band Gap Conjugated Polyacetylenes Containing Highly Strained Cyclobutenes

For decades, cyclopolymerization of α,ω-diyne derivatives has been an effective method to synthesize various soluble polyacetylenes containing five- to seven-membered rings in the backbone. However, cyclopolymerization to form four-membered carbocycles was considered impossible due to their exceptionally high ring strain (∼30 kcal/mol). Herein, we demonstrate the successful cyclopolymerization of rationally designed 1,5-hexadiyne derivatives to afford various polyacetylenes containing highly strained cyclobutenes in each repeat unit. After screening, Ru catalysts containing bulky diisopropylphenyl groups promoted challenging four-membered ring cyclization efficiently from various monomers, enabling the synthesis of high molecular weight (up to 40 kDa) polyacetylenes in a controlled manner. Furthermore, living polymerization allowed for block copolymer synthesis by combining with ring-opening metathesis polymerization as well as block copolymerization of two different 1,5-hexadiyne monomers to give a fully conjugated polyacetylene. These new polymers unexpectedly showed much narrower band gaps than conventional substituted polyacetylenes by >0.2 eV. Interestingly, computational studies showed much smaller bond length alternation in the conjugated backbone containing cyclobutenes, resulting in highly delocalized π electrons along the polymer chain and lower band gaps.