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Reversible Transformation between Amorphous and Crystalline States of Unsaturated Polyesters by Cis-Trans
Zhao-Qian Wan1, Wei-Min Ren1, Shuai Yang1
1State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, 116024, P. R. China.
Abstract:
An aliphatic polyester has been prepared from ethylene oxide and maleic anhydride that undergoes reversible transformation between amorphous (Tg =18 °C) and crystalline (Tm =124 °C) states through cis-trans isomerization of the C=C bonds in the polymer backbone without any change in either the molecular weight or dispersity of the polymer. A similar transformation was also observed in chiral unsaturated polyesters formed from enantiopure terminal epoxides, such as epichlorohydrin, phenyl glycidyl ether, and (2,3-epoxypropyl)benzene. These unsaturated polyesters with 100 % E-configuration in the crystalline state were prepared by quantitative isomerization of their Z-configuration analogues in the presence of a catalytic amount of diethylamine, while in the presence of benzophenone, irradiation with 365 nm UV light resulted in the transformation of about 30 % trans-alkene to cis-maleate form, thereby affording amorphous polyesters.
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