Bone and Joint Institute
Multiresponsive azobenzene end-cap for self-immolative polymers
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
11-18-2014
Journal
ACS Macro Letters
Volume
3
Issue
11
First Page
1191
Last Page
1195
URL with Digital Object Identifier
10.1021/mz500613d
Abstract
© 2014 American Chemical Society. Azobenzene was introduced as a new multiresponsive end-cap for self-immolative polymers. Using small-molecule model compounds, it was demonstrated that reducing agents including hydrazine and dithiothreitol could reduce the azobenzene to the corresponding hydrazobenzene, resulting in a 1,6-elimination reaction with the potential to initiate the depolymerization of self-immolative polycarbamates. An activated azobenzene derivative was then prepared, allowing for its incorporation as an end-cap for polycarbamates based on alternating N,N'-dimethylethylene diamine and 4-hydroxybenzyl alcohol. Upon treatment with hydrazine, depolymerization proceeded. To demonstrate the versatility of this end-cap, the chemistry was also applied to polycarbamates based on 4-aminobenzyl alcohol. In addition to allowing triggered depolymerization, the azobenzene end-cap also provides a visual signal upon triggering owing to the strong visible absorption of the azobenzene, which shifts to the UV range upon reduction. Furthermore, azobenzene is capable of undergoing trans-cis isomerization in response to UV light, providing multiple functions in a single end-cap.
Notes
Article is openly available from the journal