Photochemical [2 + 2] Cycloaddition Enables the Synthesis of Highly Thermally Stable and Acid/Base-Resistant Polyesters from a Nonpolymerizable α,β-Conjugated Valerolactone

We report a simple strategy to transform a nonpolymerizable six-membered α,β-conjugated lactone, 5,6-dihydro-2H-pyran-2-one (DPO), into polymerizable bicyclic lactones via photochemical [2 + 2] cycloaddition. Two bicyclic lactones, M1 and M2, were obtained by the photochemical [2 + 2] cycloaddition of tetramethylethylene and DPO. Ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of M1 and M2 catalyzed by diphenyl phosphate (DPP), La[N(SiMe3)2]3, and 1-tert-butyl-4,4,4-tris(dimethylamino)-2,2-bis[tris (dimethylamino) phosphoranylide-namino]-2λ5, 4λ5-catenadi(phosphazene) (tBu-P4) were conducted. M1 is highly polymerizable, either DPP or La[N(SiMe3)2]3 could catalyze its living ROP under mild conditions, affording the well-defined PM1 with a predictable molar mass and low dispersity. M2 could only be polymerized with tBu-P4 as the catalyst, also generating the same polymer PM1. PM1 has high thermal stability, with a Td,5% being up to 376 °C. Ring-opening copolymerization (ROcP) of M1 and δ-valerolactone (δ-VL) catalyzed by La[N(SiMe3)2]3 afforded a series of random copolymers with enhanced thermal stabilities. Both PM1 and the copolymer containing 10 mol % M1 exhibited excellent resistance to acidic and basic hydrolysis. Our results demonstrate that direct photochemical [2 + 2] cycloaddition of α,β-conjugated valerolactone is not only a strategy to tune its polymerizability, but also allows for the synthesis of highly thermally stable aliphatic polyesters, inaccessible by other methods.

Advances in continuous polymer analysis in flow with application towards biopolymers

Biopolymers, polymers derived from renewable biomass sources, have gained increasing attention in recent years due to their potential to replace traditional petroleum-based polymers in a range of applications. Among the many advantages of biopolymers can be included their biocompatibility, excellent mechanical properties, and availability from renewable feedstock. However, the development of biopolymers has been limited by a lack of understanding of their properties and processing behaviours. Continuous analysis techniques have the potential to hasten progress in this area by providing real-time insights into the properties and processing of biopolymers. Significant research in polymer chemistry has focused on petroleum-derived polymers and has thus provided a wealth of synthetic and analytical methodologies which may be applied to the biopolymer field. Of particular note is the application of flow technology in polymer science and its implications for accelerating progress towards more sustainable and environmentally friendly alternatives to traditional petroleum-based polymers. In this mini review we have outlined several of the most prominent use cases for biopolymers along with the current state-of-the art in continuous analysis of polymers in flow, including defining and differentiating atline, inline, online and offline analysis. We have found several examples for continuous flow analysis which have direct application to the biopolymer field, and we demonstrate an atline continuous polymer analysis method using size exclusion chromatography.

Graphical abstract

Near Infrared Light Induced Radical Polymerization in Water

We introduce a gold nanorod (AuNR) driven methodology to induce free radical polymerization in water with near infrared light (800 nm). The process exploits photothermal conversion in AuNR and subsequent heat transfer to a radical initiator (here azobisisobutyronitrile) for primary radical generation. A broad range of reaction conditions were investigated, demonstrating control over molecular weight and reaction conversion of dimethylacrylamide polymers, using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. We underpin our experimental data with finite element simulation of the spatio-temporal temperature profile surrounding the AuNR directly after femtosecond laser pulse excitation. Critically, we evidence that polymerization can be induced through biological tissues given the enhanced penetration depth of the near infrared light. We submit that the presented initiation mechanism in aqueous systems holds promise for radical polymerization in biological environments, including cells.

Green light LED activated ligation of a scalable, versatile chalcone chromophore

Herein we present a photoreactive chalcone moiety that can be synthesized at a scale of several grams with ease, and can efficiently undergo a [2 + 2] photocycloaddition with light close to 500 nm as determined by an action plot.