Functional Polymer Materials: From Iptycenes to Ring-Opening Polymerizations

Abstract

In Chapter 1, we incorporate functional groups in triptycene-containing poly aryl ethers to serve a variety of applications. Amine-functionalized polymers are used in graphene oxide composite membranes towards aqueous filtration. Guanidinium-functionalized polymers are explored for impedance-based gas sensing. Pyrazolium-functionalized polymers are fabricated into anion-exchange membranes.

In Chapter 2, we design a set of two- and three-component polyurethanes to elucidate the influence of molecular composition on thermal transition characteristics, crystallinity, segmental dynamics of PTMO, as well as high-strain-rate impact response.

In Chapter 3, we describe the living cationic ring-opening polymerization of a 2-alkylthio-2-oxazoline as a general platform for postpolymerization modification. Mild substitution conditions provide broad functional group tolerance, constituting a versatile postpolymerization modification platform with access to a diversity of polyureas and polythiocarbamates.

In Chapter 4, we seek to synthesize a dibenzobarrelene-elaborated polyacetylene, whereby the dibenzobarrelene groups can provide stability by steric shielding, as well as a site for attaching solubilizing and functional groups. Routes based on dehydrogenation, bromination–elimination, sulfoxide elimination, and reductive defluorination are discussed.

In Chapter 5, we study a family of bottlebrush polymers that consist of a flexible backbone with rigid, porogenic side chains. Tuning of side-chain length and dispersity, as well as incorporation of new functional groups, are performed to elucidate structure–property relationships and to enable improvements in selectivity.