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We demonstrate a new methodology of DNA and RNA functionalization with a base surrogate prepared from d-threoninol. With this surrogate, we can introduce functional molecules at any position in the sequence. Our methodology is conceptually similar to copolymerization; phosphoramidite monomers of base surrogates, and natural nucleotides are ‘copolymerized’ on solid supports to prepare functional oligonucleotides. The incorporation of intercalating moieties allows for the design of four stable functional motifs: wedges, interstrand-wedges, dimers and clusters. By selecting suitable functional molecules and motifs, we can design novel photofunctional oligonucleotides.
In this focus review, alternating copolymers of carbon dioxide with epoxides have been synthesized and studied as novel ion-conductive polymers. The Li salt electrolytes of poly(ethylene carbonate) (PEC) and of other polycarbonates having different side groups exhibited remarkable ion-conductive properties including the following: increased conductivity with increasingly higher salt concentrations, very high values for the Li+ transference number, and good electrochemical stability. The Li-ion conductivity of a highly concentrated PEC-LiFSI electrolyte was estimated to be greater than 10−4 S cm−1, and excellent battery performance was demonstrated at room temperature.
Angle-independent colored materials based on Christiansen effect was successfully prepared using phase-separated polymer membrane and thermotropic liquid crystal. Because this system displays angle-independent color and can act as a multi-color polymer-dispersed liquid crystal, I believe that this system may be applicable for energy-saving multi-color displays.
Both experimental measurements and molecular simulations were applied to probe the strain-induced crystallization (SIC) of natural rubber in real time, and some interesting results have been found. A very large fraction of unoriented amorphous phase remains, even at high strains. The onset strain of SIC in peroxide-cured NR decreases with increasing crosslinking density, while that in sulfur-cured NR is independent of crosslinking density. This difference may be caused by different network structures. Nanofillers, entanglements, non-rubber components and pseudoend-linked networks also result in abnormal SIC phenomena.
The crystalline phase of PVDF film prepared by spin-coating changes both of the polymer–solvent interaction and the evaporation rate. In the much solvent remained state, the crystalline phase changes in the order of α, γ and β phase with increasing the dipole moment of solvent. In the solvent-evaporated state, the crystalline phase of PVDF and solvent with higher dipole moment system changes in the order of β, γ and α phase with increasing the solvent evaporation rate, whereas the PVDF and solvent with lower dipole moment system forms into α phase regardless of the evaporation rate.
Stereocomplexes of polylactide with both terminals conjugated to bio-based aromatic compounds, with benzyl alcohol (b1) as an initiator and 3,4-diacetoxycinnamic acid (DACA) as a protection group, were easily formed via inkjet printing techniques based on even layer-by-layer assembly (DACA-SCb1-LbL) and solution mixing (DACA-SCb1-mix). The thermal properties of the stereocomplexes were superior to those of the original PLAs. Inkjet printing is a powerful method of forming functional, thermally stable PLA stereocomplexes with both terminals conjugated.
A green method for the synthesis of ‘artificial urushi’ has been developed using cardanol, a main ingredient of cashew nutshell liquid, as the monomer via a reaction mimicking that of natural urushi. A water-in-cardanol (w/o) emulsion was developed by identifying a novel emulsifier, and polymerization of the cardanol emulsion generated prepolymer films, leading to polycardanol (artificial urushi) after curing with mechanical properties that are approximate to those of natural urushi coatings.
