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Synthesis of polymer organogelators using hydrogen bonding as physical cross-links

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Abstract

The synthesis of a monomer containing fourfold hydrogen bonding groups 2-(((6-(6-methyl-4[1H]pyrimidionylureido)hexyl)carbamoyl)oxy)ethyl methacrylate (UPyEMA) and its copolymerization with either n-butyl acrylate, tert-butyl acrylate, or styrene using reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization is reported. The copolymers possessed high molecular weight and narrow molecular weight distributions and formed stable organogels in both chloroform and 1,2-dichlorobezene. Critical gelation concentrations were determined and the rheology of the organogels characterized. A novel monomer containing pyrene was prepared, and its polymerization under RAFT control was demonstrated. The pyrene-containing monomer was copolymerized with the polymer organogelators forming fluorescent organogels. It is proposed that these gels are suitable for two-photon upconversion applications.

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Acknowledgments

Acknowledgment is made to the donors of the American Chemical Society Petroleum Research Fund (51850-DN17) for support of this research.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, University of Cincinnati, P.O. Box 210172, Cincinnati, OH, 45221, USA

    Xinjun Yu, Xiaoping Chen, Qinyuan Chai & Neil Ayres

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  1. Xinjun Yu
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  2. Xiaoping Chen
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  4. Neil Ayres
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Correspondence to Neil Ayres.

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Yu, X., Chen, X., Chai, Q. et al. Synthesis of polymer organogelators using hydrogen bonding as physical cross-links. Colloid Polym Sci 294, 59–68 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00396-015-3797-z

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