FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a novel rotaxane, a crosslinked product of a rotaxane, and methods for producing the same.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

Various research and development have been made for a rotaxane and a crosslinked product of a rotaxane.

For example, JP H06-25307 A discloses an α-cyclodextrin clathrate compound having an end-capped guest polymer, wherein a polyethylene glycol molecule pierces through an α-cyclodextrin molecule constituting a clathrate lattice, in a skewering manner, and both terminals of the polyethylene glycol molecule are chemically modified with a sufficiently bulky blocking group such that the α-cyclodextrin molecule is unable to disassociate from the polyethylene glycol molecule.

JP 2005-154675 A discloses a polyrotaxane comprising a carboxylated polyethylene glycol included in the opening of cyclodextrin molecules in a skewered manner and having a blocking group blocking dissociation of the cyclodextrin molecules at both terminals of the carboxylated polyethylene glycol, wherein the both terminals have a structure obtained by a reaction between a carboxyl group and a blocking group having a group reactive with the carboxyl group.

For example, JP No. 3475252 B discloses a compound comprising a crosslinked polyrotaxane, wherein the crosslinked polyrotaxane has a first polyrotaxane and a second polyrotaxane, the first polyrotaxane comprises a first linear molecule included in an opening of a first cyclic molecule in a skewered manner and having a first blocking group disposed at both terminals of the first linear molecule such that the first cyclic molecule is unable to dissociate, the second polyrotaxane comprises a second linear molecule included in an opening of a second cyclic molecule in a skewered manner and having a second blocking group disposed at both terminals of the second linear molecule such that the second cyclic molecule is unable to dissociate, the cycle of the first and second cyclic molecules is a substantial cycle, at least one of the first cyclic molecules and at least one of the second cyclic molecules are linked via a chemical bond, the first linear molecule and the second linear molecule have a molecular weight of 10,000 or more, and the compound is a viscoelastic material.

JP 2011-241401 A discloses a material comprising a first polyrotaxane and a second polyrotaxane, wherein the first polyrotaxane has a first blocking group disposed at both terminals of a first pseudo-polyrotaxane comprising a first linear molecule included in an opening of a first cyclic molecule in a skewered manner such that the first cyclic molecule does not disassociate, the second polyrotaxane has a second blocking group disposed at both terminals of a second pseudo-polyrotaxane comprising a second linear molecule included in an opening of a second cyclic molecule in a skewered manner such that the second cyclic molecule does not disassociate, the first and second polyrotaxanes are crosslinked via the first and second cyclic molecules, and the material is free of solvent and has at least one property selected from the group consisting of: X) a compression permanent strain is 10% or less; Y) a tensile stress relaxation is 15% or less; and Z) a hysteresis loss is 25% or less.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The conventional polyrotaxane has polyethylene glycol (PEG) as the axle molecule. The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a novel rotaxane, a crosslinked product of a rotaxane, and methods for producing the same.

The rotaxane polyurea according to the present invention has at least one cyclic molecule and a polyurea chain piercing through the cyclic molecule. The present invention is characterized in that the axle molecule piercing through the cyclic molecule is the polyurea chain.

The crosslinked product of the rotaxane polyurea according to the present invention is a crosslinked product of a rotaxane polyurea having at least one cyclodextrin and a polyurea chain piercing through the cyclodextrin, wherein the cyclodextrins included in the rotaxane polyurea are crosslinked with a crosslinking agent. The present invention is characterized in that the axle molecule piercing through the cyclodextrin is the polyurea chain and the cyclodextrins are crosslinked.

In the method for producing the rotaxane polyurea according to the present invention, the polyurea chain piercing through the cyclic molecule is formed by carrying out a reaction of a rotaxane diamine that has the cyclic molecule and a diamine piercing through the cyclic molecule, a diisocyanate capable of piercing through the cyclic molecule, and a blocking compound that has two functional groups reactive with the rotaxane diamine or diisocyanate and blocks the cyclic molecule by steric hindrance.

The method for producing the crosslinked product of the rotaxane polyurea according to the present invention comprises a step of producing a rotaxane polyurea that has at least one cyclodextrin and a polyurea chain piercing through the cyclodextrin by a reaction between a rotaxane diamine that has the cyclodextrin and a diamine piercing through the cyclodextrin and a diisocyanate capable of piercing through the cyclodextrin; and a step of crosslinking the cyclodextrin included in the rotaxane polyurea with a crosslinking agent.

The present invention provides a novel rotaxane and a method for producing the same.

The present invention provides a novel crosslinked product of a rotaxane and a method for producing the same.

