Living cationic polymerization of azobenzene‐containing vinyl ether and its photoresponsive behavior

2005; Wiley; Volume: 43; Issue: 21 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1002/pola.20981

ISSN

1099-0518

Autores

Tomohide Yoshida, Shokyoku Kanaoka, Sadahito Aoshima,

Tópico(s)

Advanced Polymer Synthesis and Characterization

Resumo

Abstract The living cationic polymerization of 4‐[2‐(vinyloxy)ethoxy]azobenzene (AzoVE) was achieved with various Lewis acids in the presence of an ester as an added base. When Et 1.5 AlCl 1.5 was used as a catalyst, the living polymerization system was controllable by UV irradiation as a result of cis and trans isomerization of the azobenzene side groups. Furthermore, an initiating system consisting of SnCl 4 and EtAlCl 2 realized fast living polymerization of AzoVE. The polymerization rate of this system was 3 orders of magnitude faster than that obtained with Et 1.5 AlCl 1.5 . Poly(4‐[2‐(vinyloxy)ethoxy]azobenzene) was soluble in a diethyl ether/hexane mixture at 25 °C but became insoluble upon irradiation with UV light. This phase‐transition behavior was sensitive and reversible upon irradiation with UV or visible light and reflected the change in polarity occurring with cis and trans isomerization of the azobenzene side groups in the polymers. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 5138–5146, 2005

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