Understanding Degradation Dynamics of Azomethine-Containing Conjugated Polymers
Abstract (300 words maximum)
Understanding the influence of environmental effects on the degradation properties of conjugated polymers is an important task for the continued development of sustainable materials for biomedical and optoelectronic applications. In this study, azomethine-containing polymers were synthesized via palladium-catalyzed direct arylation polymerization (DArP) and used to provide fundamental insight into degradation trends. First, the degradability and recyclability of these polymers were confirmed by the shifts in the UV-vis absorbance spectra and the appearance/disappearance of diagnostic peaks in the 1H-NMR spectra. In addition, the aldehyde starting material was recovered at a high yield after degradation and was shown to maintain structural integrity. Solution degradation studies found that varying the solvent and acid used for hydrolysis results in different rates of degradation that range from hours to seconds and correlate to polarity and pKa. Ultimately, this research provides strategies to control the degradation kinetics of azomethine-containing polymers through the manipulation of environmental factors to guide the continued development of azomethine-based materials.
Academic department under which the project should be listed
CSM - Chemistry and Biochemistry
Primary Investigator (PI) Name
Graham Collier
Understanding Degradation Dynamics of Azomethine-Containing Conjugated Polymers
Understanding the influence of environmental effects on the degradation properties of conjugated polymers is an important task for the continued development of sustainable materials for biomedical and optoelectronic applications. In this study, azomethine-containing polymers were synthesized via palladium-catalyzed direct arylation polymerization (DArP) and used to provide fundamental insight into degradation trends. First, the degradability and recyclability of these polymers were confirmed by the shifts in the UV-vis absorbance spectra and the appearance/disappearance of diagnostic peaks in the 1H-NMR spectra. In addition, the aldehyde starting material was recovered at a high yield after degradation and was shown to maintain structural integrity. Solution degradation studies found that varying the solvent and acid used for hydrolysis results in different rates of degradation that range from hours to seconds and correlate to polarity and pKa. Ultimately, this research provides strategies to control the degradation kinetics of azomethine-containing polymers through the manipulation of environmental factors to guide the continued development of azomethine-based materials.