Photo-triggered solvent-free metamorphosis of polymeric materials

• DOI: 10.1038/s41467-017-00679-1
• Publication Date: 2017-09-05T08:53:22Z
• Authors: Satoshi Honda; Taro Toyota
• Keywords: Acrylates; Polymers; Ultraviolet Rays; Science; Q; Imidazoles; Dimethylpolysiloxanes; Oxidation-Reduction; 01 natural sciences; Article; 0104 chemical sciences

Liquefaction and solidification of materials are the most fundamental changes observed during thermal phase transitions, yet design organic polymeric soft showing isothermal reversible liquid-nonliquid conversion remains challenging. Here, we demonstrate that solvent-free repeatable molecular architectural transformation between liquid-star nonliquid-network polymers relies on cleavage reformation a covalent bond in hexaarylbiimidazole. Liquid four-armed star-shaped poly(n-butyl acrylate) poly(dimethyl siloxane) with 2,4,5-triphenylimidazole end groups were first synthesized. Subsequent oxidation 2,4,5-triphenylimidazoles into 2,4,5-triphenylimidazoryl radicals their coupling these liquid star to form hexaarylbiimidazoles afforded corresponding nonliquid network polymers. The resulting liquefied upon UV irradiation produced radical reverted again by recoupling generated immediately after terminating irradiation.The is authors show non-liquid-network bonds polymer chain.