Bio-based aliphatic polyurethanes through ADMET polymerization in bulk and green solvent.

A new route to α,ω-diene urethane monomer is proposed by converting 10-undecenoic acid into the corresponding acyl azide, followed by urethanization with 10-undecenol. ADMET polymerizations of this α,ω-diene urethane monomer as well as other bio-based α,ω-dienes bearing various organic functions (ester, carbonate, ether, amide) were carried out in bulk and solution conditions. A screening of the most commonly used metathesis catalysts allows to evaluate their tolerance toward the urethane function as well as toward Polarclean, a "green" and nontoxic high boiling point solvent.

Electrochemical fluorescence switching from a patternable poly(1,3,4-oxadiazole) thin film.

A highly soluble poly(1,3,4-oxadiazole) (POD) substituted with long alkyl chains was examined for electrochemical fluorescence switching. The high solubility of the polymers enabled a simple fabrication of an electrochemical cell, which showed reversible fluorescence switching between dark (n-doping) and bright (neutral) states with a maximum on/off ratio of 2.5 and a cyclability longer than 1000 cycles.

High performance poly(styrene-b-diene-b-styrene) triblock copolymers from a hydrocarbon-soluble and additive-free dicarbanionic initiator.

A new hydrocarbon-soluble (additive-free) dicarbanionic organolithium initiator, obtained by a simple halogen-lithium exchange reaction (Gilman's reaction) from a diarylhalide containing a side C15 alkyl chain, has been designed and used to initiate the anionic polymerization of butadiene and styrene. The dilithiated species formed afford well-defined poly(styrene-b-butadiene-b-styrene) (SBS) triblock copolymers with a high percentage of 1,4-microstructure polybutadiene (91%) and excellent mechanical properties, such as ultimate tensile strength higher than 30 MPa and elongation at a break of 1000%. This represents a breakthrough in the synthesis of SBS polymers, one of the most used thermoplastic elastomers.