Bisbenzylidene cycloalkanone: a versatile molecule as a polymer building block

Abstract

Bisbenzylidene cycloalkanone [BBCA], a versatile photo-active molecule, has already shown its potential for applications in biology, chemistry, materials science and technology. The molecule possesses the dual nature of a photo-active molecule and a mesogenic unit. It was studied as such for medical applications and by incorporating it into polymer architectures for harnessing its properties as a photo-active as well as a mesogenic unit. It was incorporated into almost all kinds of polymer architectures from polyester to polyimide. The special features of the polymer bearing this unit are high thermal stability, photo-curing ability (for adhesives, photo-resists, holography), electronic conductivity, fluorescence, etc. Even during the past decades progress was made mostly in the methods of synthesis and structural understanding of these polymers, the functional understanding and application of these polymers are still in their infancy. Quite recently, bisbenzylidene cycloalkanone polymers (linear and hyperbranched) have been reported by our group. The hyperbranched polymers address some problems regarding the solubility and quick photo-response of bisbenzylidene polymers. We discuss the state-of-the-art of this multi-disciplinary BBCA molecule and BBCA containing polymers reported to date. We believe this article will be very useful as the progress in science and technology concerning this molecule is rather slow. Our aim is to bring together details of the work reported so-far and its significance that will be useful to the scientific community.

Green, rapid, and highly efficient syntheses of α,α′‐bis[(aryl or allyl)idene]cycloalkanones and 2‐[(aryl or allyl)idene]‐1‐indanones as potentially biologic compounds via solvent‐free microwave‐assisted Claisen–Schmidt condensation catalyzed by MoCl5

“…It is important to note that some of the bis(arylidene)cycloalkanones were used as very influential precursors or intermediates for the preparation of various potentially bioactive heterocyclic frameworks . On the other hand, the benzylidenecycloalkanone molecule was incorporated into approximately all types of applicable polymer scaffolds from the polyester to polyimide . The salient features of the intended polymers are high thermal stability, photo‐curing ability, electronic conductivity as well as fluorescence, etc.…”

Intensity enhancement of photoluminescent polyesters by photocrosslinking

“…The arylidene keto moiety is introduced in polymers because of its versatile photo‐active property and special features like high thermal stability, photo‐curing ability, electronic conductivity, fluorescence and having the ability to undergo thermal crosslinking. Furthermore, polymers bearing arylidene keto moieties merit attention for use in non‐linear optics due to their large electro‐optic coefficients and for other useful applications in fluorescent sensors, photoresist technology as well as medicinal prospects …”

“…Most of the main chain polymers exhibit a solubility defect due to their rigid‐rod nature . However, in this work, soluble polyesters were designed and successfully synthesized by incorporating alkylated triazole pendants at the branches of the polyesters.…”

“…Furthermore, polymers bearing arylidene keto moieties merit attention for use in non-linear optics due to their large electro-optic coefficients and for other useful applications in fluorescent sensors, photoresist technology as well as medicinal prospects. 10 Most of the main chain polymers exhibit a solubility defect due to their rigid-rod nature. 10 -12 However, in this work, soluble polyesters were designed and successfully synthesized by incorporating alkylated triazole pendants at the branches of the polyesters.…”

Synthesis, Characterization and Photocrosslinkable Studies of Certain Thermotropic Liquid Crystalline Poly(ester-amides)

“…Synthesis of bisbenzylidene cycloalkanone molecule was first reported by Samdahl [1,2]. This photo-active molecule has attracted the attention of macromolecular chemists [3][4][5][6][7]. They were found to be a potential mesogen [8][9][10] and their incorporation in the polymeric backbone has imparted thermotrophic liquid crystalline property to the polymeric materials.…”