Lynd Group Presents: “Development of Living/Controlled Cationic Polymerization and Precise Synthesis of Various Stimuli-Responsive Polymers” by Dr. Sadahito Aoshima (Osaka University)

Host: Dr. Nathaniel Lynd

ABSTRACT:

We have developed new methods to prepare various well-defined stimuli-responsive polymers via living/controlled cationic polymerization, because the stimuli-responsive polymers have attracted significant interest in various fields. This presentation focuses on the following topics: (i) development of living cationic polymerization, (ii) highly stereospecific living cationic polymerization of N-vinylcarbazole, (iii) alternating cationic copolymerization and sequence-controlled polymers with precisely placed breakable bonds, (iv) precise synthesis of various stimuli-responsive block or star-shaped copolymers: block copolymers with UCST-type segment and LCST-type segment exhibiting shape-switching self-assembly in water, quantitative and ultrafast synthesis of well-defined star-shaped polystyrenes, synthesis of block or graft copolymers containing polylactides.

BIOGRAPHY:

Sadahito Aoshima (青島貞人), is a Professor of Macromolecular Science at Osaka University in Japan. He was born in Mito, Japan, in 1959, and received his B.S. (1981), M.S. (1983), and Ph.D. (1987) degrees in polymer chemistry from Kyoto University under the supervision of Professor Toshinobu Higashimura. After a subsequent postdoctoral research with Professor Higashimura, he started his academic carrier at Tokyo University of Science in 1988. During 1993-1994, he spent a year at Cornell University as a visiting scientist, working with Professor Jean M. J. Fr�chet. In April 2000, he moved to Osaka University as an Associate Professor, and was promoted to a full professorship in October 2000. His recent research interests focus on the development of living cationic polymerization and the precise synthesis of various stimuli-responsive polymers.