T. D. Anan’eva

Grafting copolymerization of vinyl monomers on polyimide macroinitiators by the method of atom transfer radical polymerization

Graft copolymers with the main polyimide chain and side chains of poly(n-butyl acrylate), poly(tert-butyl acrylate), poly(methyl methacrylate), poly(tert-butyl methacrylate), polystyrene, and polystyrene-block-poly(methyl methacrylate) were synthesized by atom transfer radical polymerization on the multicenter polyimide macroinitiators in the presence of the halide complexes of univalent copper with nitrogen-containing ligands. Polymerization of metha-crylates is most efficiently developed on the polyimide macroinitiators. The obtained graft copolymers initiate the secondary polymerization (“post-polymerization”) of methyl methacrylate. The conditions of detachment of side chains of graft polymethacrylates that do not involve the ester groups of their monomeric units were found. The molecular mass characteristics of the graft copolymers and isolated polymers, being the detached side chains of the copolymers, were determined. The detached side chains of different chemical structures have low values of the polydispersity index. The procedure developed was used for the preparation of new graft polyimides with side chains of poly-4-nitro-4′-[N-methylacryloyloxyethyl-N′-ethyl]amino-azobenzene that cause the nonlinear optical properties and with the side chains of poly(N,N-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate) that cause the thermosensitive properties of the copolymers.

Specifics of structural organization and properties of lysine dendrimers of different generations and related supramolecular structures

Lysine dendrimers of different generations containing covalently attached anthracene-based luminescent labels (one label per six dendrimer molecules) and fifth-generation heterodendrimers containing various amino acid units located between lysine fragments were synthesized. Homodendrimers were studied by means of the polarized luminescence technique. It was found that the packing density of lysine fragments in macromolecules increases with an increase in the generation number. Their capability of forming supramolecular structures changes in this case; the number of polymacromolecular associates produced in the solution and on the polymer matrix in interpolymer complexes decreases and their complexing power in the reaction with low-molecular-mass compounds increases. It was found that dendrite molecules acquire a looser structure on passing to heterodendrimers and their complexing ability varies in the corresponding manner; the number of polymacromolecular associates in the solution and on the polymer matrix in the interpolymer complexes increases and binding of low-molecular-mass compounds is reduced.

Structural and dynamic characteristics of a star-shaped calixarene-containing polymer in aqueous solutions: the formation of mixed-shell micelles in the presence of poly(methacrylic acid)

Structural and dynamic characteristics of a star-shaped polymer with a central tert-butylcalix[8]arene core and poly(N-isobutyryl ethylenimine)-ω-piperazine arms in aqueous solutions were studied via the polarized-luminescence method. To conduct investigations, a luminescent label of the anthracene structure was attached to the polymer. It has been shown that polymer macromolecules are in an aggregate state in water. The aggregate comprises about 5 macromolecules. During mixing of the star-shaped polymer with macromolecules of un-ionized poly(methacrylic acid), a mixed-shell micelle in which poly(methacrylic acid) units interact with both poly(N-isobutyryl ethylenimine)-ω-piperazine moieties and isobutyl fragments incorporated into the core of the micelle is formed.

Water-soluble complexes of poly(N-vinylamides) of various structures with C60 and C70 fullerenes

By the example of the interaction of fullerene C60 and poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone), the effect of formation conditions of water-soluble fullerene-containing donor-acceptor polymer systems on their composition and structure has been studied. On the basis of these results, a new technique has been developed for preparing water-soluble polymer systems of this kind with the use of o-dichlorobenzene as a component of the reaction medium. This technique has been employed to prepare water-soluble fullerene-containing complexes of poly(N-vinylamides) of various structures (polymers and copolymers of N-vinylpyrrolidone and N-vinylcaprolactam) containing up to 3–5 wt % of C60 and C70 fullerenes. These values are 3–6 times higher than those described previously.

Interpolymer complexes of poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone) with copolyimide-grafted side chains of poly(methacrylic acid)

The process of formation and structural organization of interpolymer complexes formed by macromolecules of poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone) and poly(methacrylic acid) chains grafted onto polyimide in solution is investigated via the method of polarized luminescence. A luminescent label of anthracene structure is covalently bound to both polymers. Relaxation times characterizing intramolecular mobility of each of the components in their interpolymer complex are measured in relation to the composition of the system.

Luminescence of Ln3+ lanthanide complexes in polymer matrices

The photoluminescence properties of Tb3+ and Eu3+ complexes with polymer ligands containing various kinds of complexing groups—namely, carboxyl (5–20 mol %), pyridylquinoline (5 mol %), or pyridylnaphthyl (5 and 10 mol %) groups—in solution and block are considered. The chemical structure of a neutral comonomer (methyl methacrylate; styrene; isopropyl-, phenyl-, or benzylmethacrylamide; and N-vinylamides) in polymer ligands is varied. The intensity of photoluminescence is dependent not only on the chemical nature of a complexing group but also the chemical nature of a neutral comonomer and a spacer. Variation in the nature of a comonomer and a ligand makes it possible to prepare complexes in which a high luminescence of a low-molecular-mass complex is preserved and advantages inherent in a polymer complex are acquired. The effect of the nature of the polymer matrix (photoactive and photoinert) on the efficiency of electronic-excitation energy transfer is ascertained. The data on the photoluminescence of metal-polymer complexes that are based on polymer ligands containing vinylcarbozole units and that possess hole conductivity make it possible to regard them as materials for electroluminescence. The intensity of photoluminescence of these complexes is related to the competition of oppositely directed photophysical processes in a macromolecule: formation of excimers and migration of electronic excitation energy. An analysis of the published data and of the results of the authors shows that detailed studies of these polymer systems in solution and in matrices are needed to gain insight into the relationship between photo- and electroluminescence properties of metal-polymer complexes, because the matrix plays different roles in photoluminescence and electroluminescence (inner filter or conduction); as a consequence, the emission spectra may differ appreciably. It is shown that the efficiency of electroluminescence may be improved if the transfer of energy from the lanthanide ligand in a complex to the conducting matrix is decreased.

Water-soluble polymer derivatives of cholesterol

New cholesterol-containing water-soluble polymers based on N-methacryloyl aminoglucose and N-vinylpyrrolidone are synthesized by free-radical copolymerization and polymer-analogous transformations. Binary and ternary copolymers of various composition containing N-allylamine and N,N,N-trimethylaminoethyl methacrylate methyl sulfate units and cholesterol residues are prepared. Luminescently labeled copolymers of the same composition are obtained. Effects of the nature of polymers and the amount of cholesterol in them on the intramolecular mobility of macromolecules in solution are studied with polarized luminescence. When 2–4 mol % of cholesterol residues are incorporated into the copolymer, the intramolecular mobility of macromolecules decreases, thus indicating formation of intramolecular compact structures via interaction of nonpolar cholesterol groups. In copolymers containing charged groups, these structures are looser than those in neutral copolymers. It is shown that macromolecules of cholesterol-containing polymers of various types can interact with each other. 1 This work was supported by the Russian Foundation for Basic Research (project no. 08-03-00324) and the Council for Grants of the President of the Russian Federation for Support of Leading Institutes of Higher Education (NSh-4391.2008.3).

Relaxation properties and complex formation of copolymers of 2-deoxy-2-methacrylamido-D-glucose and unsaturated acids

With the use of polarized luminescence, relaxation times characterizing the intramolecular mobility of luminescent labeled copolymers of 2-deoxy-2-methacrylamido-D-glucose and unsaturated acids in solutions are determined in both nonionized and ionized states. Elements of the secondary structure typical for poly(methacrylic acid) are formed in copolymers with a high content of methacrylic acid (≥50 mol %) in their nonionized state. This structure is destroyed during ionization. Equilibrium stability constants for complexes of the copolymers with cationic surfactants are determined. Quantitative characteristics of the effects of the surfactant and copolymer structures and the ionic strength of solution on complex formation are estimated.

Intramolecular mobility of side chains of poly(methacrylic acid) in regularly grafted copolyimides in solution

A “dark” copolyimide with regularly grafted side chains of polymethacrylic acid and a luminescence-labeled copolyimide containing an anthracene label covalently attached to side chains with an average polycondensation degree of the polyimide backbone of ∼16 and an average polymerization degree of side poly(methacrylic acid) chains of ∼100 are synthesized. Relaxation times τIMM characterizing the mobility of parts of side chains in solvents of different thermodynamic qualities for the backbone and side chains are determined through the polarized luminescence method. It is shown that, in a “common” solvent for the backbone and side chains, the values of τIMM are close to those characterizing the mobility of linear polymethacrylate chains. In selective solvents, changes in τIMM are related to not only changes in intramolecular interactions but also changes in the heterogeneity of the dynamic characteristics of parts of grafted chains arranged at different distances from the grafting point.

Macromolecular metal complexes with transition-metal ions: Structure of a polymer and efficiency of complexation

A quantitative method of estimating the efficiency of formation of macromolecular metal complexes of carboxyl-containing (co)polymers with transition-metal ions in dilute solutions was developed. This method is based on the luminescence quenching of luminescently labeled macromolecules by transition-metal ions. With the use of this method, the effect of the chemical (including isomeric) structure of carboxyl-containing (co)polymers and external conditions on the stability of macromolecular metal complexes based on copper, nickel, and silver ions was assessed. With consideration for the data obtained, a targeted variation in the functional characteristics of macromolecular metal complexes may be accomplished.