Vol 472, No 1 (2017)

Polymerization of glycidyl alcohol induced by boron trifluoride tetrahydrofuran complex (BF₃ ∙ THF) in ethylene glycol dimethyl ether (DME) and in the presence of BF₃–water or BF₃–glycerol catalyst system was studied. Under any of the conditions employed, the reaction gave water-soluble oligoether with polydispersity of ~1.1. It was shown by mass spectrometry that during polymerization in DME, DME is incorporated into the polymer and glycidol polymerization gives the alkyl-ether. According to calculations for glycidol polymerization in the presence of hydroxy compounds, the calculated number-average degrees of polymerization were higher than the experimental values both in the presence of water and with glycerol; this may be attributable to initiation of new molecules on the hydroxy group of the unreacted monomer.

A new strategy for the synthesis of fluorene-containing porphyrins by Suzuki–Miyaura reaction using a tetraboryl porphyrin derivative and a fluorene derivative of 4-bromoaniline has been proposed. A number of consecutive chemical transformations of the prepared porphyrin have led to formation of a polyphenol derivative of the above compound. Positive photoresists for lithography with exposing radiation wavelength of 13.5 nm have been developed on the basis of a similar polyphenol, which provided preparation of topological structures with a resolution of 22–16 nm.

The effect of water on the mechanochemical synthesis in the glycine–malonic acid system has been studied in different types of devices. Comparative studies of the hygroscopicity of the reagents and products made it possible to rationalize the inhibiting effect of water vapor and the difference in the reaction course in impact and shear devices and in devices providing both action modes. The importance of control of ambient humidity for mechanochemical reactions on the laboratory and industrial scales has been illustrated.