Provided here are ion conducting materials including one or more macrocycles, and either one or more pendant groups or one or more backbone repeat units. The ion conducting materials exhibit distinctly high ion conductivity in thin film and bulk membrane applications, and further exhibit one or more of ion permselectivity, mechanical strength, self-assembly, stacking, and gating behavior. Further provided are methods for preparation and methods for use of the ion conducting materials.

A hydrophilic polymer derivative having a cyclic benzylidene acetal linker represented by the following formula (1): ##STR00001##
wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.6 are each independently a hydrogen atom or a hydrocarbon group; R.sup.2, R.sup.3, R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 are each independently an electron-withdrawing or electron-donating substituent or a hydrogen atom; X.sup.1 is a chemically reactive functional group; P is a hydrophilic polymer; s is 1 or 2, t is 0 or 1, and s+t is 1 or 2; w is an integer of 1 to 8; and Z.sup.1 and Z.sup.2 are each independently a selected divalent spacer.

The present invention relates to a compound comprising a hydrophobically modified poly(oxyalkylene-urethane) having a hydrophobic fragment represented by Structure I: ##STR00001## where Ar.sup.1, Ar.sup.2; R.sup.1, m, and n are defined herein. The compound of the present invention provides viscosity stability upon tinting for paints containing a hydrophobically modified poly(oxyalkylene-urethane) rheology modifier, more particularly a HEUR rheology modifier.

A method for purifying a specific trityl group-containing monodispersed polyethylene glycol from a mixture containing the trityl group-containing monodispersed polyethylene glycol and a specific ditritylated impurity. The method includes performing steps (A), (B) and (C). Step (A): a step of esterifying the hydroxyl group of the trityl group-containing monodispersed polyethylene glycol by a specific method; Step (B): a step of extracting the esterified compound by a specific method; and Step (C): a step of hydrolyzing the esterified compound to obtain the trityl group-containing monodispersed polyethylene glycol.

Disclosed are mixtures containing: mono- and bi-functional polymers [polymers (P-A) and (P-B)] comprising a plurality of (per)fluoropolyether segments [segments (S.sup.RF)] joined together by hydrogenated (poly)ether segments [segments (S.sup.H)], said polymers having two ends, wherein one or both ends comprises a hydroxy or a leaving group; a non-functional polymer comprising a plurality of (per)fluoropolyether segments (S) joined together by hydrogenated (poly)ether segments (S.sup.B), with the proviso that the hydrogenated (poly)ether segments (S.sup.RF) are not segments of formula —CH.sub.2OCH.sub.2OCH.sub.2—. Disclosed are also monofunctional polymers (P-A) that can be isolated from such mixtures. Methods for the obtainment of the mixtures and for separating the polymers therein contained are also provided, as well as methods of using the mixtures or each polymer therein contained as intermediates or building blocks for the synthesis of other polymers or as ingredients of compositions.

Provided is a self-restoring macromolecular material that not only has excellent stress relaxation but that can also be easily restored to its original state, even when damaged or severed. Also provided is a method for producing the self-restoring macromolecular material. The self-restoring macromolecular material contains a crosslinked structure that is formed by crosslinking a polymer containing at least a polyrotaxane molecule. The polyrotaxane molecule is formed so as to include a cyclic molecule 21 and a linear molecule that passes through an opening 21a of the cyclic molecule. The crosslinked structure 1 is crosslinked via a reversible bond between the cyclic molecule of the polyrotaxane molecule and a polymer molecule other than the polyrotaxane molecule.

The invention relates to glycerol acetal polyethers of general formula (I) or (II), wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, and n have the meaning specified in the description. Said glycerol acetal polyethers are suitable as electrolyte solvents in a lithium cell, in particular a lithium-sulfur cell. The hydroxyl content of said glycerol acetal polyethers is preferably less than 0.2 wt %. In a method for producing said glycerol acetal polyethers, glycerol acetal polyether alcohols are reacted with a C1-C18 mono- or dialkyl sulfate or C1-C18 mono- or dialkyl sulfonate in the presence of an alkaline earth.

The invention relates to a method for preparing polyarylethersulfone-polyalkylene oxide block copolymers (PPC) comprising the polycondensation of a reaction mixture (R.sub.G) comprising the components: (A1) at least one aromatic dihalogen compound, (B1) at least one aromatic dihydroxyl compound, (B2) at least one polyalkylene oxide having at least two hydroxyl groups, (C) at least one aprotic polar solvent and (D) at least one metal carbonate, where the reaction mixture (R.sub.G) does not comprise any substance which forms an azeotrope with water.

A lignin-based block copolymer molecular-level combined polyether is based on lignosulfonate, a molecular chain of lignosulfonate is cut and embedded by using solvation effect of polyether polyol to form a molecular-level combined polyether that is polymerized and formed by aromatic polymer fragments of lignosulfonate and aliphatic polymer fragments of polyether polyol. The present invention uses a type of molecular mixing technology with a special structure to re-edit and splice the lignin molecular fragments of the hard segment on the microscopic level with the polymer polyols of the soft segment on the macroscopic level, to obtain a molecular-level combined polyether by a method of block copolymerization. Such a molecular-level combined polyether has dual characteristics of strong support and softness, which perfectly solves the problem how to balance strong support and softness of flexible polyurethane foam materials.

The present invention is directed to a method for producing nanoparticles and microparticles composed of peptide- or peptoid-containing amphiphilic polymers. The method is simple, capable of achieving high yields, and can be tailored to produce a range of industrially and therapeutically useful structures including vesicles, micelles and hydrogels. The present invention also provides related hydrogels and vesicles having beneficial properties such an ability to degrade and release a payload in response to external stimuli.