Thesis (PhD)--University of Stellenbosch, 2011. / In this thesis we describe the application of novel salicylaldimine and iminopyridyl nickel metallodendrimer complexes as catalysts in the transformation of á-olefins as well as in the polymerization of norbornene. New cyclic dendrimers based on cyclam as a core (L1-L8) were synthesized and characterized via FTIR and NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry and microanalysis. Subsequently the generation 1 cyclam-based dendrimers as well as the commercial generation 1 to generation 3 DAB-PPI dendrimers were functionalized with salicylaldimine and iminopyridyl moieties on the periphery to produce new ligands, DL1-DL10. These modified dendritic ligands were subsequently complexed to Ni salts to obtain the metallodendrimer complexes, C1-C8. The metallodendrimers were characterized by FTIR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, microanalysis, magnetic susceptibility measurements, UV-Vis spectroscopy and thermal gravimetrical analysis (TGA). The DAB G1-G3 salicylaldimine ligands (DL1-DL3) were subjected to computational studies and the optimized structures were obtained by density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The effect of the increase in dendrimer generation on the structural arrangement of the dendrimer was also investigated. The following aspects were probed using molecular modeling: a) the possible coordination site for the Ni to the first generation dendrimer ligand, DL1, and b) the optimized structure of the first generation salicylaldimine nickel complex, C1. We subsequently evaluated catalysts, C1-C7, in the vinyl polymerization of norbornene, using methylaluminoxane (MAO) as a co-catalyst. All the catalysts were found to be active for norbornene polymerization with the weight of the polymers obtained ranging from 5.12 x 105 - 11.17 x 106 g/mol. The DAB-based iminopyridyl catalysts (C4-C6) exhibited higher activities than its analogous salicylaldimine catalysts (C1-C3) under the same reaction conditions. Also, the cyclam-based salicylaldimine nickel catalyst (C7) exhibited higher activities than the DAB-based salicylaldimine nickel catalyst, C1. A negative dendritic effect was observed for the G1-G3 DAB salicylaldimine catalysts since the optimum activity for the G3 catalyst, C3, was lower than that for the G2 catalyst, C2. These nickel complexes were also evaluated as ethylene oligomerization catalysts and were found to produce a range of ethylene oligomers (C4-C18) as well as some longer chained oligomers, when employing EtAlCl2 as a co-catalyst. We observed however that the free EtAlCl2 mediates the Friedel-Crafts alkylation of the solvent, toluene, in the presence of the obtained ethylene oligomers to give uneven carbon number products, which are mixtures of alkylated benzenes. Our metallodendrimer catalysts also isomerized and in some cases dimerized 1-pentene. In both ethylene oligomerization and 1-pentene isomerization processes, the salicylaldimine catalysts exhibited higher activity towards olefin transformation than the iminopyridyl catalysts. The cyclam-cored dendrimer catalyst again showed the highest activity. From the results obtained thus far it can be concluded that these nickel metallodendrimers exhibit great potential as catalysts in the transformation of unsaturated hydrocarbons.

The extracellular matrix (ECM) governs many cellular processes through biochemical and mechanical cues. Particularly, the effect ECM mechanical properties on cells fate has been well established over the years. Many hydrogel systems have been used to mimic the dynamic stiffening processes occurring in ECM. However, changes in ECM stiffness does not fully recapitulate the mechanics of native ECM, as viscoelasticity is also a major factor contributing to ECM dynamic property. This thesis describes the design and characterization of an enzyme-crosslinked hydrogel system that is not only capable of being stiffened on demand, but also can be tuned to obtain viscoelasticity. The first objective of this thesis was to utilize horseradish peroxidase (HRP) to crosslink thiol-norbornene hydrogel and use mushroom tyrosinase (MT) to create secondary DOPA-dimer crosslinks that stiffened the hydrogel. The cytocompatibility of HRP-mediated thiol-norbornene gelation and the effect of stiffening on cell fate was evaluated. The second objective of this thesis represented the first step towards developing a hydrogel system whose viscoelasticity could be dynamically tuned. Thiol-norbornene hydrogel was designed to yield dynamically adaptable boronic ester bonds via partial enzymatic reaction. Thiol-norborne hydrogel was made to contain hydroxyl phenol as well as boronic acid residues within its network. MT, in this case was used to oxidize the hydroxy phenol moieties into DOPA, which then complexed with boronic acid, created dynamic bonds, introducing viscoelasticity to an initial elastic hydrogel.

This thesis describes research based on synthetic protocols, methodologies, and applications of polymers containing side-chain molecular recognition elements. The use of molecular recognition, in lieu of covalent chemistry, potentially presents a path through the current limits of polymer science. The work described in this thesis is, at least in part, a testament to this proposal. The first two chapters presen a basic introduction of noncovalent interactions that are ubiquitous in the research of supramolecular polymers. Chapter 2 lays the foundation for the remaining chapters of this thesis by presenting several examples of prior work related specifically to the use of molecular recognition on the side-chains of polymers. The next two chapters present research focused on advancing the functionalization of polymers through molecular recognition. These chapters demonstrate that both architecturally controlled block copolymers and random terpolymers can accept a full load of different substrates without interference among distinct molecular recognition elements along the polymer backbone. Chapters 5 and 6 present a unique application of polymers containing molecular recognition elements, templated synthesis. Chapter 5 first discusses lessons learned from small molecule based templated synthesis in which a template and a substrate are held together by metal coordination and a subsequent bond forming reaction occurs. Chapter 6 discusses template polymerizations, in which a polymeric template was used, and a daughter monomer was polymerized while attached to the template. Another application of polymers containing molecular recognition elements is presented in Chapters 7 and 8. In these chapters, metal coordination is used to assemble polymer multilayer thin films that are both responsive to external stimuli, stable, and erasable. Finally, Chapter 9 summarizes the main conclusions of each chapter and presents a potential view of new projects that might result from the research presented in this thesis.

High molecular weight star-shaped polystyrenes were prepared via the coupling of 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-1-piperidinyloxy (TEMPO) terminated polystyrene oligomers with divinylbenzene (DVB) in m-xylene at 138 °C. Linear polystyrene oligomers (Mn = 19,300 g/mol, Mw/Mn = 1.10) were synthesized in bulk styrene using benzoyl peroxide in the presence of TEMPO at approximately 130 °C. In situ mid-infrared spectroscopy was successfully utilized to follow initiation, monomer conversion, and polymer formation. Real-time data allowed for the determination of apparent rate constants of 2.1E-5 s⁻¹ at 132 °C and 1.2E-5 s⁻¹ at 126 °C from the profile of the decaying styrene vinyl carbon-hydrogen (=CH₂) absorbance at 907 cm⁻¹. Coupling of the TEMPO terminated oligomers under optimum conditions resulted in a compact and dense product with a number average molecular weight exceeding 300,000 g/mol (Mw/Mn = 3.03) after 24 h, suggesting the formation of relatively well-defined star-shaped polymers. Synthetic factors that affected the molecular weight, yield, and composition of maleic anhydride (MAH), norbornene (Nb), and tert-butyl 5-norbornene-2-carboxylate (NbTBE) terpolymers were investigated. Pseudo first order kinetic analysis using in situ FTIR indicated that the observed rate of reaction was a strong function of the Nb/NbTBE ratio with a maximum of 6.7E-5 s⁻¹ for a 50/0/50 Nb/NbTBE/MAH monomer ratio and a minimum of 1.1E-5 s⁻¹ for a 0/50/50 Nb/NbTBE/MAH ratio. Polymer yields were also observed to be a function of the Nb/NbTBE ratio and also decreased with increasing NbTBE. Calculated work of adhesion values (Wadh) values were observed to increase as the content of NbTBE was increased. 193 nm photoresist formulations incorporating polymers with high NbTBE content showed increased imaging performance using 193 nm light and successfully produced sharp and defined features as small as 110 nm, which was demonstrated via scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Additional functionality was introduced via the copolymerization of MAH with several norbornene (Nb) derivatives that were synthesized from facile Diels-Alder cycloaddition reactions of cyclopentadiene with a-olefins containing electron withdrawing groups. Subsequent hydrolysis of the anhydride offered further versatility and provided an avenue to introduce aqueous base solubility into Nb/MAH copolymers. / Ph. D.

The utilization of renewable sources as alternatives for petroleum and natural gas products has immense commercial, health and global warming significance. D-Isosorbide (2) is a bifunctional, polar, chiral and rigid molecule, which is produced from renewable sources. Synthesis of new polymers containing 2 is of interest for polymers and in drug delivery. The aim of the present work is to synthesize various polymers (homo- and copolymers) containing 2 via the olefin metathesis routes, ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) and acyclic-diene metathesis polymerization (ADMET). N-Phenyl-7-oxanorbornene-dicarboximide, and norbornene functionalized onto 2 were used as the monomers for ROMP. These monomers were polymerized using Grubbs’ catalysts to generate a series of homo-, co-, block and cross-linked-polymers. These polymers were characterized using GPC, NMR, and IR. In addition, ADMET polymerization of a terminal diolefinunctionalized D-isosorbide (2) was also conducted to produce ADMET polymers.

As reações de metatese assim como o desenvolvimento de complexos metal-carbeno (W, Mo, Ru) se tornaram amplamente conhecidos na química graças aos avanços que trouxeram. Na química orgânica, possibilitou a síntese de macrocíclos por meio da RCM e na química de polímeros a ROMP permitiu um alto grau de controle da polimerização além da alta reatividade dos catalisadores. Isso fez desta reação uma poderosa ferramenta no desenvolvimento de novos materias. A tentativa de combinar a processabilidade dos polímeros com as propriedades luminescentes de determinandos compostos tem sido tema de muitas pesquisas.O objetivo deste trabalho é derivatizar compostos luminescentes , como o complexo metálico [Ru(bpy)3] (PF6)2e a porfirina tetrakis-(pentafluorfenil)porfirina (TPPF20), com o monômero norborneno (NBE) para obtenção de monômeros lumiscentes passíveis de serem polimerizados via ROMP. Aqui será apresentado e discutido a síntese e a caracterização desses compostos partindo-se dos reagentes: ácido-5-norborneno-2carboxílico; etilenodiamina e o ácido-2,2\'-bipiridina-4,4\'-dicarboxílico, cis-[RuCl2(bpy)2] e a porfirina TPPF20. Os compostos foram sintetizados com rendimentos superiores a 60%, com exceção da obtenção da porfirina, e caracterizados por RMN - 1H e 13C; FTIR; UV-vis. Os estudos de copolimerização entre NEN (norborneno-etilenodiamina-norborneno), NBE-TPPF e [Ru(bpy)2(NBbpy)](PF6)2 foram feitos usando o catalisador de Grubbs segunda gereação. Os polímeros gerados foram caracterizados usando TG-FTIR e RMN-1H, as massas moleculares não puderam ser calculadas por GPC porém os estudos indicam obtenção de baixo peso molelcular. O material obtido foi testado como sensibilizador em vidro condutor ITO, porém não houve adsorção do composto necessitam algumas modificações no metalomonômero. / The metathesis reactions as well as the development of metal-carbene complexes (W, Mo, Ru) became widely known in chemistry thanks to advancements brought. In organic chemistry, it enabled the synthesis of macrocycle by RCM. Useful for the synthesis of natural products. In polymer chemistry, ROMP, allow a high degree of polymerization control. This made the ROMP reaction a powerful tool in the development of new materials. In attempt to combine the processability of polymers with luminescent properties of such compounds has been the subject of several researchs. The aim of this work is to synthesize luminescent compounds based on [Ru(bpy)3] (PF6)2 metal complex and on the porphyrin tetrakis-(pentafluorphenyl)porphyrin (TPPF20), funcionalized with pendant norbornene monomer (NBE) to obtain lumiscentes monomers which can undergo ROMP polymerization. Here will be discussed the synthesis and characterization of these compounds using as starting materials: 5-norbornene-2-carboxylic acid; ethylenediamine; 2,2\'-bipyridine-4,4\'dicarboxylic acid, cis-[RuCl2(bpy)2] and the porphyrin TPPF20. The compounds were synthesized with yields higher than 60%, with the exception of the porphyrin, and characterized by 1H and 13C-NMR; FTIR; UV-vis. Copolymerization reaction between NEN (Norbornene-Ethylenediamine-Norbornene), NBE-TPPFe [Ru(bpy)2(NBbpy)] (PF6)2 were performed using Grubbs second generation catalyst. Resultinf polymers were characterized by TG-FTIR and 1H-NMR, molecular weight could not be measured by GPC, since polymers were insoluble, but studies indicate low molelcular weight. The material obtained was tested as sensitizer in conductive glass ITO. The polymer didn\'t adsorb in to the ITO surface. Some changes in the compound molecular structure are required to improve adsorption.

As reações de metatese assim como o desenvolvimento de complexos metal-carbeno (W, Mo, Ru) se tornaram amplamente conhecidos na química graças aos avanços que trouxeram. Na química orgânica, possibilitou a síntese de macrocíclos por meio da RCM e na química de polímeros a ROMP permitiu um alto grau de controle da polimerização além da alta reatividade dos catalisadores. Isso fez desta reação uma poderosa ferramenta no desenvolvimento de novos materias. A tentativa de combinar a processabilidade dos polímeros com as propriedades luminescentes de determinandos compostos tem sido tema de muitas pesquisas.O objetivo deste trabalho é derivatizar compostos luminescentes , como o complexo metálico [Ru(bpy)3] (PF6)2e a porfirina tetrakis-(pentafluorfenil)porfirina (TPPF20), com o monômero norborneno (NBE) para obtenção de monômeros lumiscentes passíveis de serem polimerizados via ROMP. Aqui será apresentado e discutido a síntese e a caracterização desses compostos partindo-se dos reagentes: ácido-5-norborneno-2carboxílico; etilenodiamina e o ácido-2,2\'-bipiridina-4,4\'-dicarboxílico, cis-[RuCl2(bpy)2] e a porfirina TPPF20. Os compostos foram sintetizados com rendimentos superiores a 60%, com exceção da obtenção da porfirina, e caracterizados por RMN - 1H e 13C; FTIR; UV-vis. Os estudos de copolimerização entre NEN (norborneno-etilenodiamina-norborneno), NBE-TPPF e [Ru(bpy)2(NBbpy)](PF6)2 foram feitos usando o catalisador de Grubbs segunda gereação. Os polímeros gerados foram caracterizados usando TG-FTIR e RMN-1H, as massas moleculares não puderam ser calculadas por GPC porém os estudos indicam obtenção de baixo peso molelcular. O material obtido foi testado como sensibilizador em vidro condutor ITO, porém não houve adsorção do composto necessitam algumas modificações no metalomonômero. / The metathesis reactions as well as the development of metal-carbene complexes (W, Mo, Ru) became widely known in chemistry thanks to advancements brought. In organic chemistry, it enabled the synthesis of macrocycle by RCM. Useful for the synthesis of natural products. In polymer chemistry, ROMP, allow a high degree of polymerization control. This made the ROMP reaction a powerful tool in the development of new materials. In attempt to combine the processability of polymers with luminescent properties of such compounds has been the subject of several researchs. The aim of this work is to synthesize luminescent compounds based on [Ru(bpy)3] (PF6)2 metal complex and on the porphyrin tetrakis-(pentafluorphenyl)porphyrin (TPPF20), funcionalized with pendant norbornene monomer (NBE) to obtain lumiscentes monomers which can undergo ROMP polymerization. Here will be discussed the synthesis and characterization of these compounds using as starting materials: 5-norbornene-2-carboxylic acid; ethylenediamine; 2,2\'-bipyridine-4,4\'dicarboxylic acid, cis-[RuCl2(bpy)2] and the porphyrin TPPF20. The compounds were synthesized with yields higher than 60%, with the exception of the porphyrin, and characterized by 1H and 13C-NMR; FTIR; UV-vis. Copolymerization reaction between NEN (Norbornene-Ethylenediamine-Norbornene), NBE-TPPFe [Ru(bpy)2(NBbpy)] (PF6)2 were performed using Grubbs second generation catalyst. Resultinf polymers were characterized by TG-FTIR and 1H-NMR, molecular weight could not be measured by GPC, since polymers were insoluble, but studies indicate low molelcular weight. The material obtained was tested as sensitizer in conductive glass ITO. The polymer didn\'t adsorb in to the ITO surface. Some changes in the compound molecular structure are required to improve adsorption.

La délivrance contrôlée de médicaments constitue un enjeu thérapeutique de première importance pour le milieu médical. Elle doit, en effet, permettre de diminuer la toxicité du médicament en limitant sa concentration dans l'organisme et en ciblant son lieu de délivrance. Ce projet de recherche a conduit à la réalisation de nouveaux nano-vecteurs particulaires utilisables pour la délivrance de médicaments par hyperthermie locale. Ces objets sont constitués d'un cœur de polynorbornène et d’une écorce de poly (oxyde d’éthylène) et sont synthétisés par polymérisation par ouverture de cycle de type métathèse (ROMP) en dispersion. L’acide salicylique est encapsulé dans ces particules en tant que molécule modèle. L'originalité de ce sujet pluridisciplinaire réside : dans la nature de la particule, qui permet une libération du principe actif à partir de 35-45°C et dans la technique d'imprégnation des particules par la voie fluide supercritique. / Controlled release systems are attracting increasing interest because of their potential application in biomedical field. Indeed, such systems should enable to lower toxicity of medicines by targeting the therapeutic action and by limiting the concentration of drugs in the organism. In this research project, new nanoparticles have been developed for a thermosensitive control of drugs’ delivery. These particles consist of a polynorbornene core and a polyethylene oxide shell and are developed by dispersion ring opening metathesis polymerization. As a model drug, salicylic acid has been encapsulated in those core-shell materials. This multidisciplinary project is original for two reasons. On the one hand, the nature of the particle which enables to release the drug from 35-45°C. On the other hand, the encapsulation technique that has been chosen is the impregnation under supercritical carbon dioxide.

Le sujet de cette thèse concerne l'élaboration de macromonomères, de copolymères greffés et de polymères étoiles de type 'mikto-arm'. De telles architectures macromoléculaires ont été synthétisées par la combinaison de techniques de polymérisation contrôlées/vivantes telles que la polymérisation par ouverture de cycle (par métathèse) (RO(M)P) etde chimie 'click' orthogonales : cycloaddition 1,3-dipolaireazoturealcyne catalysée au cuivre (CuAAC) et thiol-ène.Dans un premier temps, des macromonomères originaux à fonctionnalité polymérisable (oxa)norbornène portant deux chaînes macromoléculaires poly(e-caprolactone) (PCL) et/ou poly(oxyde d'éthylène) (POE) ont été synthétisés par combinaison ROP/CuAAC. Les macromonomères à fonctionnalité (oxa)norbornène avec deux chaînes PCL de masse molaire moyenne en nombre (Mn) compris entre 1400 et 5000 g/mol ont été obtenus par ROP organocatalysée. La synthèse des macromonomères POE44-b-PCLn à fonctionnalité norbornène avec un bloc PCL de longueur variable (1100 g/mol <Mn< 4100 g/mol) a été réalisée par combinaison CuAAC/ROP à partir d'un POE 2000 g/mol commercial. Ces macromonomères présentent des propriétés d'auto-assemblage dans l'eau avec une concentration micellaire critique et un rayon hydrodynamique dont les valeurs augmentent avec la longueur du bloc hydrophobe PCL. Dans un second temps, la réactivité de la fonctionnalité (oxa)norbornène des macromonomères a été étudiée par spectroscopie RMN 1H, chromatographie SEC et spectrométrie MALDI-ToF. Des copolymères greffés à squelettepoly(oxa)norbornène à haute densité de greffons PCL et POE ont été obtenus par ROMP en présence d'amorceurs de Grubbs selon la stratégie "grafting through". La thiol-ène a également été utilisée avec succès pour accéder à des copolymères étoiles de type 'mikto-arm' à base de PCL, POE poly(N-isopropylacrylamide). / The objective of the present thesis was the preparation of complex macromolecules by the combination of controlled/livingpolymerization methods such as ring-opening (metathesis) polymerization (RO(M)P) and highly efficient orthogonal chemistries: copper-catalyzed azide-alkyne coupling (CuAAC) and thiol-ene reactions.In the first part of this work, a series of well-defined structural (co)polymers containing a cycloolefin (norbornene (NB) oroxanorbornene (ONB)) functionality bearing two polymer chains including poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) and/or poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) have been successfully prepared using the combination of ring-opening polymerization (ROP) and CuAAC ‘click’ chemistry. Well-defined (oxa)norbornenyl-functionalized bis-PCL polymers with PCL chain ranging from 1400 to 5000 g/mol were obtained by organocatalyst-mediated ROP. Norbornenyl-functionalized PEO-b-PCL block copolymers with PCL block in the range 1100 to 4100 g/mol were synthesized from commercially available PEO 2000 g/mol by CuAAC followed by ROP of CL. The presence of a hydrophilic PEO chain and a hydrophobic PCL chain in norbornenylfunctionalizedPEO-b-PCL copolymers gives rise to self-assembling properties in water solution. Critical micellar concentrations (CMC)are in the range of 0.08 – 0.006 g/L for copolymers with PCL chain length ranging from 10 to 36 CL units, respectively. Thecorresponding micelles show hydrodynamic diameters in range of 10 – 23 nm with low polydispersities.In the second part of this work, well-defined copolymers were used to prepare bottle-brush and (mikto-arm) star copolymersthrough reactions involving the cycloolefin functionality. On the one hand, high density grafting bottle-brush copolymerspoly(oxa)norbornene-g-bisPCL, polynorbornene-g-PEO/PCL (PNB-g-(PEO/PCL)) and PNB-b-(PNB-g-(PEO/PCL)) were achieved by ROMP according to the ‘grafting through’ strategy using Grubbs’ catalysts. On the other hand, PCL, PEO, PNIPAM-based 3-arms star, 4-arms star copolymers were obtained via radical thiol-ene reactions as demonstrated by 1H NMR, SEC and MALDI-ToF MS analysis.The high reactivity of these copolymers toward ROMP and thiol-ene reactions makes them interesting candidates in order toprepare new well-defined copolymers with controlled structures and properties through highly efficient synthetic strategies.

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