6533b7d1fe1ef96bd125d5b4

RESEARCH PRODUCT

Poly(THF-co-cyano ethylene oxide): Cyano Ethylene Oxide (CEO) Copolymerization with THF Leading to Multifunctional and Water-Soluble PolyTHF Polyelectrolytes

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description

Cyano-functional polyether copolymers based on THF were prepared via cationic ring-opening copolymerization of THF with cyano ethylene oxide (CEO). The CEO content of poly(tetrahydrofuran) (polyTHF) based copolymers varied from 3.3 to 29.3%, and molecular weights ranged from 5100 to 31900 g·mol–1 with Mw/Mn in the range of 1.31 to 1.74 (SEC in THF, PS standards). The polymerization was conducted with methyl trifluoromethanesulfonate (MeOTf) as an initiator. Kinetic studies concerning incorporation of both monomers were performed via NMR spectroscopy. The cyano groups at the poly(THF-co-CEO) copolymers enable direct access to amino (polyTHF–NH2) and carboxyl groups (polyTHF–COOH) in facile one-step procedures, respectively. The modified copolymers were characterized via NMR, MALDI–ToF mass, and FT-IR spectroscopy. Thermal properties of the materials were studied via differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), demonstrating a gradual decrease of the melting points with increasing amount of CEO in the copolymer...