Synthesis of Monomers for the Development of Novel Polymers

Abstract

This research had the specific goal of synthesizing a monomer for the development of polymers with unique physical properties. The expected physical property to be pursued is that of an innate elasticity within the monomer itself. As such, bis-1,10-((6-azidohexyl)oxy)bicyclo[8.8.8]hexacosane (target 1) was synthesized with the expectation that the bicyclic core would have the freedom of movement necessary to provide such elasticity. The addition of the azide functional groups to the target molecule may be used in the well known Huisgen 1,3-cycloaddition reaction to form a polytriazole polymer when matched with another monomer containing the requisite terminal alkyne. For this purpose, and further study of the elasticity of the bicyclo[8.8.8]hexacosane core, bis-1,4-((5-hexynyl)oxy)benzene (target 4) was synthesized for the formation of the polytriazole, and bis-1,4-((6-azidohexyl)oxy)benzene (target 5) was synthesized to form a polytriazole analog without the elastic bicycle in the polymeric repeating units.