Redox-responsive polyvinylferrocene-grafted silica nanoparticles have been used for modulating the catalytic activity of surface-attached Grubbs second generation type catalysts for the ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) of norbornene monomer. A facile and very efficient protocol for the modification of living polyvinylferrocene chains was developed to introduce a suitable functional group for the intended “grafting onto” approach. Grafted particles were characterized by using TEM, SEM/energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), XPS, small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and cyclic voltammetry, revealing both the presence of redox-responsive polymers and the presence of Grubbs catalyst in the particle exterior. Chemical oxidation protocols for immobilized polymers were applied to deactivate surface-attached catalysts in ROMP protocols, while chemical in situ reduction immediately led to catalyst’s reactivation.

Electrochromic polymers called poly(3,4‐dihydro‐3,3‐bis ((naphthalen‐1‐yl)methyl)‐2H‐thieno[3,4‐b][1,4]dioxepine) (PProDOT‐Np2), poly(3,3‐dibenzyl‐3,4‐dihydro‐2H‐selenopheno[3,4‐b][1,4]dioxepine), and poly(3,3‐dibenzyl‐3,4‐dihydro‐2H‐thieno[3,4‐b][1,4]dioxepine) were synthesized electrochemically and the effect of substituents and heteroatoms on the electrochromic properties were investigated for the similar systems. All polymers show electrochromism from a colored state when neutralized to transmissive when oxidized. Although, increasing bulky size (PProDOT‐Np2) causes lower coloration efficiency (CE) as well as lower optical contrast, the replacement of S atom by Se atom resulted in a lower band gap polymer with a higher CE than its thiophene analog. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012

No abstract