Polycarbodiimides are a class of synthetic helical polymers which have been previously studied because of their large range of chiral optical properties. Carbodiimides can be polymerized using chiral catalysts to form samples that are either right or left-handed. It is from these single-screw sense samples that many of the optical properties are observed. In this study, we are polymerizing dicarbodiimide monomers that undergo cyclopolymerization. Cyclopolymerization occurs when there are no more than two carbon spacers between the two carbodiimide groups. Longer spacers lead to crosslinked materials.<br/>Here, we are extending the living polymerization approach used for monocarbodimide polymerization into dicarbodiimide polymerizations using Ti(IV) and Ni(II) based initiators. The properties of the cyclic poly(dicarbodiimide) will be compared to their linear cousins. Properties that are studied will include their backbone structure, optical switching and thin film behavior.

Cyclopolymerization of 1,2-dicarbodiimides

255th National Meeting (2018)

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