Poly(glycidyl azide), A Highly Energetic Polymer Readily Accessible by Boron-Based Ate Complex

Published in Chemistry
Poly(glycidyl azide), A Highly Energetic Polymer Readily Accessible by Boron-Based Ate Complex
Like

Poly(glycidyl azide) (PGA) is considered excellent energetic binder or plasticizer in advanced solid propellants because of its high heat of combustion, thermal stability, and good compatibility with oxidizers. The pendent explosophore azido groups in poly(glycidyl azide) serve to improve the energetics of the binder and boost the overall performance of propellants. However for the applications mentioned above the reported synthetic methods of PGA all resort to an indirect strategy of synthesis involving the post-modification or azidation of poly(epichlorohydrin) to generate poly(glycidyl azide). As a matter of fact, no literature reference could be found indicating how to directly polymerize glycidyl azide and obtain the corresponding polymer, poly(glycidyl azide), without  interference by its pendent azido groups.

In our recent paper in Nature Communications (https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-018-08251-1.pdf), we reported that glycidyl azide can be directly homopolymerized under “living conditions” into well-defined poly(glycidyl azide) through anionic ring-opening polymerization using onium salts as initiator in the presence of triethyl borane. In an earlier work (J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2016, 138, 11117-11120), we showed that poly(cyclohexene carbonate) and poly(propylene carbonate) can be obtained through copolymerization of CO2 with the corresponding epoxide monomer -cyclohexene oxide or propylene oxide- with triethyl borane as activator: as the latter Lewis acid is much milder than other Lewis acids which would react and ring-open glycidyl azide, it could be successfully used to activate the latter monomer and bring about its ring opening polymerization. Upon carrying out the polymerization reactions at 0 oC, and using 5 eq. of triethyl borane with respect to the (Oct)4NBr initiator, transfer reactions to the monomer and to the polymer chains could be effectively suppressed; polymerization occurred under these metal-free conditions in a controlled manner, affording poly(glycidyl azide) within a range of molar masses between 1,000 and 11,000 g/mol. α,ω-dihydroxy poly(glycidyl azide) telechelics of very low polydispersity and carrying all of their azido functions, thus responding to the requirement of propellant binders, could be easily prepared in this way.

Glycidyl azide was then copolymerized with CO2 using the same initiator/activation system to synthesize carbonate-containing which results in the synthesis of poly(glycidyl azide) as a means to endow degradability to the latter polymer. Various azido-carrying polyethers were also prepared by random co- and terpolymerization of glycidyl azide with various epoxides. Upon derivatization of the dangling azido groups of these polymers through reduction into primary amines or “click” reactions various functional polyethers and polycarbonates could be derived: for instance poly(glycidyl amine)s carrying side primary amines can serve as attractive substitutes for poly(vinyl amine)s that are found in applications such as water purification by metal-binding, paper additives, polyelectrolyte complexation, etc…

Please sign in or register for FREE

If you are a registered user on Research Communities by Springer Nature, please sign in

Subscribe to the Topic

Chemistry
Physical Sciences > Chemistry

Related Collections

With collections, you can get published faster and increase your visibility.

Applied Sciences

This collection highlights research and commentary in applied science. The range of topics is large, spanning all scientific disciplines, with the unifying factor being the goal to turn scientific knowledge into positive benefits for society.

Publishing Model: Open Access

Deadline: Ongoing