Mesophase Tractable Metallopolymers Based on a Metal Carboxylate Backbone Prepared by Drastic Solid-to-Solid Transformation within Solvothermal Synthesis

• Published in: Macromolecular chemistry and physics 2010-09, Vol.211 (18), p.1955-1959
• Main Authors: Choi, Eun-Young, Lee, Hong-Jun, Gao, Chunji, Kwon, O-Pil, Lee, Suck-Hyun
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Backbone; Bearing; Derivatives; Dicarboxylic acids; Exact sciences and technology; Inorganic and organomineral polymers; Melts; Mesophase; mesophases; metallopolymers; Physicochemistry of polymers; Preparation; solid-to-solid transformations; solvothermal synthesis; Synthesis; Transformations
• ISSN: 1022-1352; 1521-3935; 1521-3935
• DOI: 10.1002/macp.201000316

A series of layer‐structured zinc‐containing metallopolymers were prepared through a solvothermal reaction of zinc acetate with 1,4‐benzene dicarboxylic acid derivatives bearing various nonpolar n‐alkyl groups as side chains. The resulting metallopolymers were investigated. The reaction time and the length of the alkyl substituents on the backbone have a marked effect on the mesophase structure and thermal behaviors of the metallopolymers. The metallopolymer with tetradecyloxy side chains prepared by solid‐to‐solid transformations within solvothermal synthesis exhibits a unique mesophasic behavior with melt tractability. Novel melt‐processable layer‐structured metallopolymers (ZnCn‐L2) are prepared by an interesting solid‐to‐solid transformation within the solvothermal method as presented. They were composed of a zinc carboxylate backbone bearing n‐alkyl groups as side chains. The reaction time and the alkyl substituents on the backbone had a marked effect on the structure and thermal behavior.