Invited Article in 2010

Polyelectrolyte multilayers-modified membrane filter, leading to achieve rapid immunoassay as compared with the conventional enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) system. The antigen–antibody reaction was carried out by the centrifugal permeation of antigen solution allowing the local condensation of the antigen molecules in the proximity of the primary antibody. Hence, the incubation time for the antigen–antibody reaction was just permeation time, 3 min, which overcomes the molecular diffusion as rate-limiting factor compared with conventional ELISA method.

1-Adamantyl methacrylate (AdMA) was polymerized using atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP), producing the well-defined poly(1-adamantyl methacrylate) (PAdMA). Simultaneous control of the molecular weight and tacticity of PAdMA was achieved by ATRP in 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-propanol (HFIP). Block copolymerization of AdMA and methyl methacrylate (MMA) was achieved by activators generated by electron transfer (AGET) ATRP method. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) measurement revealed the relationship among the glass transition temperature, molecular weight and tacticity of PAdMA.

The molecular dynamics and orientation of vulcanized natural rubber stretched at low extension ratio were studied by solid-state ¹³C NMR and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Isoprene units of the oriented rubber chains in stretched NR rotate rapidly around an axis that almost aligned with C=C bond direction of polyisoprene.

Two neutral ligands, carbonyl and phosphine, were cooperatively incorporated into half-metallocene iron(II) complexes [CpFeBr(CO)(PR₃)] for more active and versatile systems in transition metal-catalyzed living radical polymerization. Among the CpFeBr(CO)(PR₃) complexes examined, CpFeBr(CO)(PMePh₂) showed the highest activity and the best controllability, and the ‘living’ character of the polymerizations therewith was proved by sequential monomer-addition experiments. In spite of the high activity, the Fe(II) complex is stable and robust enough to be handled under air, rendering it suitable for practical use.

Novel amylose ester derivatives were synthesized and their chiral recognition abilities as chiral stationary phases for high-performance liquid chromatography were evaluated. Among the prepared derivatives, the nonsubstituted cinnamate derivative showed a relatively high chiral recognition, and interestingly, its ability was influenced by the preparation conditions of packing materials using silica gel as a support.

Chiral rod-coil type-organoboron polymers, S-poly and R-poly, have been prepared from Sonogashira coupling reaction of BODIPY-based monomer bearing bis-iodophenyl and decyl groups with S- or R-binaphthyl derivatives. The SEM analysis of each chiral polymer revealed μm-sized fiber-like structures formed by aggregation of each particle, however, the mixed polymer (S-poly/R-poly = 30/70) showed complete particle structures from nm to μm sizes, and the Φ_F of the mixed polymer was significantly high (0.98).

Well-defined aniline-chain-end-functionalized regioregular poly(3–hexylthiophene)s (P3HT-NH₂) have been synthesized on the basis of Grignard metathesis polymerization. The selectivity of monofunctionalization and the high degree of amine functionality (85–92%) were confirmed by MALDI-TOF mass spectroscopy. A block copolymer through ionic interaction was successfully synthesized simply by blending P3HT-NH₂ with carboxy chain-end-functionalized polystyrene. Thermal and optical properties of the block copolymer are investigated by DSC, TGA and UV-vis spectroscopy. The self-assembly behavior of the polymer was observed by AFM showing nanofibril structures with 12–15 nm width.