Reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer radical copolymerization of β-pinene and methyl acrylate

The feasibility of radical copolymerization of β-pinene and methyl acrylate (MA) was clarified for the first time. The monomer reactivity ratios were evaluated by Fineman-Ross, Kelen-Tudos and non-linear methods, respectively. The obtained values were r_β-pinene ∼ 0 and r_MA ∼ 1.3, indicating that the copolymerization led to polymers rich in methyl acrylate units and randomly alternated by single β-pinene unit. The addition of Lewis acid Et₂AlCl to the AIBN-initiated copolymerization enhanced the incorporation of β-pinene. Furthermore, the possible controlled copolymerization of β-pinene and MA was then attempted via the reversible addition-fragmentation transfer (RAFT) technique. The copolymerization (f_β-pinene = 0.1) using 1-methoxycarbonyl ethyl dithiobenzoate (MEDB) as a RAFT agent gave copolymers with lower molecular weight and narrower molecular weight distribution. However, the presence of MEDB strongly retarded the copolymerization. Thus a new RAFT agent 1-methoxycarbonyl ethyl phenyldithioacetate (MEPD), which gives a less stable macroradical intermediate than MEDB, was synthesized and introduced to the copolymerization. As anticipated, a much smaller retardation was observed. Moreover, the copolymerization displayed a somewhat controlled features within a certain overall conversion (<∼40%).     

Studies on the Cationic Copolymerization of α-Pinene and Styrene with Complex SbCl3/AlCl3 Catalyst Systems. I. Effects of the Polymerization Conditions on the Copolymerization Products

Abstract

The copolymerization products of α-pinene and styrene were prepared with the compound catalyst system SbCl₃/AlCl₃ by changing the Sb/Al ratio, feeding monomer ratio, solvent, and polymerization temperature. The compositions of the copolymerization products were quantitatively characterized by the method of the combination of micro-ozonization and thin-layer chromatography in terms of the contents of the homopolymers and the copolymers containing high or low mole fractions of α-pinene, the yields of pure copolymer, and the monomer unit ratios (F ₁) of copolymers. The results show that it was easier to obtain the higher yield (up to 80%) of the pure copolymer with the complex catalyst system than with AlCl₃ alone. The F ₁ values could be controlled between 30 and 56% under the following polymerization conditions: Sb/Al  1/2, α-pinene/styrene  70%, and the conversion of styrene  90%.     

Polymerization of α-methyleneindane: A cyclic analog of α-methylstyrene

α-Methyleniedane (MI), a cyclic analog of α-methylstyrene which does not undergo radical homopolymerization under standard conditions, was synthesized and subjected to radical, cationic, and anionic polymerizations. MI undergoes radical polymerization with α,α′-azobis(isobutyronitrile) in contrast to α-methylstyrene, owing to its reduced steric hindrance, though the polymerization is slow even in bulk. Cationic and anionic polymerization of MI with BF₃OEt₂ and n-butyllithium, respectively, proceed rapidly. The thermal degradation behavior of the polymer depends on the polymerization conditions. The anionic and radical polymers are heteortactic-rich. Reactivity ratios in bulk radical copolymerization on MI (M₂) with methacrylate (MMA, M₁) were determined at 60°C (r₁ = 0.129 and r₂ = 1.07). In order to clarify the copolymerization mechanism, radical copolymerization of MI with MMA was investigated in bulk at temperatures ranging from 50 to 80°C. The Mayo–Lewis equation has been found to be inadequate to describe the result due to depolymerization of MI sequences above 70°C.     

Application of Et3NHCl-AlCl3 ionic liquid as an initiator in cationic copolymerization of 1,3-pentadiene with styrene

Cationic copolymerization of 1,3-pentadiene (PD) with styrene (St) using the triethylamine hydrochloride-aluminium chloride (Et₃NHCl-AlCl₃) room temperature ionic liquid as an initiator in toluene has been investigated. The polymerization proceeds to high conversions, indicating high initiating reactivity of Et₃NHCl-AlCl₃ in these copolymerization systems, although molecular weights of the polymers are limited which are similar to polymerization initiated by Lewis acids such as TiCl₄, BF₃, BF₃·OEt₂. The polymers were analyzed using IR spectra in conjunction with gel permeation chromatography (GPC).     

Monomer-isomerization polymerization. V. Effects of transition metal compounds on monomer-isomerization polymerizations of butene-2 and pentene-2

In order to clarify the correlation between polymerization and monomer isomerization in the monomer-isomerization polymerization of β-olefins, the effects of some transition metal compounds which have been known to catalyze olefin isomerizations on the polymerizations of butene-2 and pentene-2 with Al(C₂H₅)₃–TiCl₃ or Al(C₂H₅)₃–VCl₃ catalyst have been investigated. It was found that some transition metal compounds such as acetylacetonates of Fe(III), Co(II), and Cr(III) or nickel dimethylglyoxime remarkably accelerate these polymerizations with Al(C₂H₅)₃–TiCl₃ catalyst at 80°C. All the polymers from butene-2 were high molecular weight polybutene-1. With Al(C₂H₅)₃–VCl₃ catalyst, which polymerizes α-olefins but does not catalyze polymerization of β-olefins, no monomer-isomerization polymerizations of butene-2 and pentene-2 were observed. When Fe(III) acetylacetonate was added to this catalyst system, however, polymerization occurred. These results strongly indicate that two independent active centers for the olefin isomerization and the polymerizations of α-olefins were necessary for the monomer-isomerization polymerizations of β-olefins.     

Synthesis and Polymerization of (S)-4-Methyl-2-N,N-dimethylaminopentyl Methacrylate

(S)-4-Methyl-2-N,N-dimethylaminopentyl methacrylate (DMAPM) was synthesized from the reaction of N,N-dimethyl-L-leucinol with methacryl chloride, and its radical polymerization was investigated. It was found that DMAPM readily polymerized by α,α¹-azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) as an initiator to give poly-DMAPM. The copolymerization of DMAPM(M₁) with styrene(Mz) was also studied in various solvents with AIBN as an initiator at 60°C. From the result obtained in benzene, Q and e values of DMAPM were determined to be 0.64 and -0.04, respectively. Specific rotations of the copolymers of DMAPM with styrene were not proportional to the weight percent of the DMAPM unit incorporated, but the observed relation gave a downward curve. The copolymerizations DMAPM with α, β-disubstituted monomers such as maleic acid, maleimide, and N-phenylmaleimide were carried out in order to induce asymmetric center in the polymer chain. After hydrolysis of the copolymers obtained, the hydrolyzed polymers were found to be optically active, suggesting an induction of asymmetric center into the polymer chain.     

Cationic polymerization of α,β-disubstituted olefins. VI. Steric structure of poly(methyl propenyl ether) obtained by cationic catalysts

The steric structure of poly(methyl propenyl ether) obtained by cationic polymerization was studied by NMR spectra. From the analysis of β-methyl and α-methoxyal spectra, it was found that the tacticities of the α-carbon were different from those of the β-carbon in all polymers obtained. In the crystalline polymers obtained from the trans isomer by homogeneous catalysts, BF₃·O(C₂H₅)₂ or Al(C₂H₅)Cl₂, and from the cis isomer by a heterogeneous catalyst, Al₂(SO₄)₃–H₂SO₄ complex, the structure of polymers was threo-di-isotactic. Though the configurations of all α-carbons were isotactic, a small amount of syndiotactic structure was observed in the β-carbon. On the other hand, in the amorphous polymer obtained from cis isomer by the homogeneous catalyst, the configuration of the α-carbon was isotactic, but that of the β-carbon was atactic. These facts suggest that the type of opening of a monomeric double bond is complicated, or that carbon–carbon double bond in an incoming monomer rotates in the transition state. From these experimental results, a probability treatment was proposed from the diad tacticity of α,β-disubstituted polymers. It shows that the tacticity is decided by a polymerization mechanism different from that proposed by Bovey.     

Synthesis and characterization of polymers of 1,4-hexadienes

The homopolymerization of trans-1,4-hexadiene, cis-1,4-hexadiene, and 5-methyl-1,4-hexadiene was investigated with a variety of catalysts. During polymerization, 1,4-hexadienes undergo concurrent isomerization reactions. The nature and extent of isomerization products are influenced by the monomer structure and polymerization conditions. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and infrared (IR) data show that poly(trans-1,4-hexadiene) and poly(cis-1,4-hexadiene) prepared with a Et₃Al/α-TiCl₃/hexamethylphosphoric triamide catalyst system consist mainly of 1,2-polymerization units arranged in a regular head-to-tail sequence. A 300-MHz proton NMR spectrum shows that the trans-hexadiene polymer is isotactic; it also may be the case for the cis-hexadiene polymer. These polymers are the first examples of uncrosslinked ozone-resistant rubbers containing pendant unsaturation on alternating carbon atoms of the saturated carbon-carbon backbone. Polymerization of the 1,4-hexadienes was also studied with VOCl₃- and β-TiCl₃-based catalysts. Microstructures of the resulting polymers are quite complicated due to significant loss of unsaturation, in contrast to those obtained with the α-TiCl₃-based catalyst. In agreement with the literature, there was no discernible monomer isomerization with the VOCl₃ catalyst system.     

Coordination copolymerization of tetrahydrofuran and oxepane with oxetanes and epoxides

The chelate catalyst, as typified by the Et₃Al-0.5 H₂O-0.5 acetylacetone product, usually prepared with Et₂O or tetrahydrofuran (THF) present, has all the known characteristics of a coordination catalyst for polymerizing epoxides and uniquely for oxetanes. We have found that the chelate catalyst gives fairly good copolymerization of THF (54% in monomer charge) with 3-(trimethylsilyloxy) oxetane which, after hydrolysis, is a water-soluble, moderate molecular weight copolymer of THF (36%) with 3-hydroxyoxetane (HO). This apparent coordination copolymerization of THF has been extended to trimethylene oxide (TMO), 3,3-bis(trimethylsilyoxymethyl) oxetane, 3,3-bis(chloromethyl)oxetane (BCMO), trans-2,3-epoxybutane (TBO), and propylene oxide, listed in order of decreasing copolymerizability with THF. Presumably, this is the first known coordination copolymerization of THF which hitherto has only been polymerized with cationic catalysts. Oxepane also copolymerizes coordinately with TMO and BCMO, but less readily than THF, with the chelate catalyst. TBO polymerizes slowly with the chelate catalyst to form stereoregular polymer which can be separated into an acetone-insoluble, highly stereoregular fraction and an acetone-soluble, somewhat less stereoregular fraction. The soluble fraction can be eliminated by using 1.0 acetyl acetone per Al in the catalyst or by adding a small amount of a very strong base (0.09 quinuclidine per Al). The copolymerization of TBO with THF (39%) gives insoluble stereoregular homopolymer and soluble copolymer containing about 23% THF, reflecting the varied steric hindrance of the sites. Some anomalous results appear to be related to the mechanism: (1) steric and electronic factors of the monomers and of the polymerization site. For example, the fourth coordination position of Al is needed to achieve homopolymerization of BCMO and TMO-THF copolymerization. (2) The aggregation state of the catalyst, since a nonpolar diluent as toluene is unfavorable for coordination copolymerization of THF. (3) The greater ring strain of epoxides causes a greater ease of polymerization, compared to oxetanes. Thus, Et₂O often present in the chelate catalyst lowers the molecular weight of the polymer considerably with oxetanes compared to epoxides where Et₂O has little or no effect.     

Synthesis of block and graft copolymers of β-pinene and styrene by transformation of living cationic polymerization to atom transfer radical polymerization

The transformations of living cationic polymerization to ATRP to form the block and graft copolymers of β-pinene with styrene were performed. Poly(β-pinene) carrying benzyl chloride terminal [poly(β-p)StCl] was prepared by capping the living poly(β-pinene), which was obtained with 1-phenylethyl chloride/TiCl₄/Ti(OiPr)₄/nBu₄NCl initiating system, with a few units of styrene. Poly(β-p)StCl, in conjunction with CuCl and bpy, could initiate the ATRP of styrene and gave well-defined block copolymer of β-pinene and styrene. In contrast, tert-alkyl-chlorine-capped poly(β-pinene) [poly(β-p)Cl] obtained by living cationic polymerization of β-pinene per se without capping of styrene gave a mixture of desired block copolymers and unreacted poly(β-p)Cl due to the low initiating reactivity of poly(β-p)Cl. Brominated poly(β-pinene) synthesized by the quantitative bromination of poly(β-pinene) using NBS was also used to initiate the ATRP of styrene in the presence of CuBr and bpy to prepare the graft copolymer of β-pinene and styrene. The first-order kinetic characteristic and linear increment of molecule weight with the increasing of monomer conversion indicated the living nature of this ATRP grafting.     

Direct through anionic,cationic, and radical active species: Terminal carbon–halogen bond for “controlled”/living polymerizations of styrene

In this work, we examined the synthesis of novel block (co)polymers by mechanistic transformation through anionic, cationic, and radical living polymerizations using terminal carbon–halogen bond as the dormant species. First, the direct halogenation of growing species in the living anionic polymerization of styrene was examined with CCl₄ to form a carbon–halogen terminal, which can be employed as the dormant species for either living cationic or radical polymerization. The mechanistic transformation was then performed from living anionic polymerization into living cationic or radical polymerization using the obtained polymers as the macroinitiator with the SnCl₄/n‐Bu₄NCl or RuCp^*Cl(PPh₃)/Et₃N initiating system, respectively. Finally, the combination of all the polymerizations allowed the synthesis block copolymers including unprecedented gradient block copolymers composed of styrene and p‐methylstyrene. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2019 , 57, 465–473     

Living cationic isomerization polymerization of β-pinene. III. Synthesis of end-functionalized polymers and graft copolymers

α-End-functionalized polymers and macromonomers of β-pinene were synthesized by living cationic isomerization polymerization in CH₂Cl₂ at −40°C initiated with the HCl adducts [ 1; CH₃CH(OCH₂CH₂X)Cl; X = chloride ( 1a ), acetate ( 1b ), and methacrylate ( 1c )] of vinyl ethers carrying pendant substituents X that serve as terminal functionalities. In conjunction with TiCl₃(OiPr) and nBu₄NCl, these functionalized initiators led to living β-pinene polymerization where the carbon–chlorine bond of 1 was activated by TiCl₃(OiPr). Similarly, end-functionalized poly(p-methylstyrene)-block-poly(β-pinene) were also obtained. ¹H-NMR analysis showed that the polymers possess controlled molecular weights (DP _n = [M]₀/[ 1 ]₀) and number-average end functionalities close to unity. The end-functionalized methacrylate-capped macromonomers form 1c were radically copolymerized with methyl methacrylate (MMA) to give graft copolymers carrying poly(β-pinene) or poly(p-methylstyrene)-block-poly(β-pinene) as graft chains attached to a PMMA backbone. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 35: 1423–1430, 1997     

Cationic Polymerization of α-Pinene Oxide and β-Pinene Oxide by a Unique Oxonium lon-Carbenium Ion Sequence

The cationic polymerization of α- and β-pinene oxide has been studied. By use of boron trifluoride or phosphorus penta-fluoride these monomers may be oligomerized (DP_n ? 6–7). According to ¹³C-NMR spectroscopy and other evidence, the four-membered ring present in these monomers opens or expands during reaction. The repeat structures of these polymers suggest a unique oxonium ion-carbenium ion propagation mechanism. Simultaneously with the oligomerization, these epoxides also yield large amounts of aldehydes by a related isomerization.     

Controlled radical copolymerization of β‐pinene and acrylonitrile

The feasibility of the radical copolymerization of β‐pinene and acrylonitrile was clarified for the first time. The monomer reactivity ratios evaluated by the Fineman–Ross method were r_β‐pinene = 0 and r_{acrylonitrile} = 0.66 in dichloroethane at 60 °C with AIBN, which indicated that the copolymerization was a simple alternating copolymerization. The addition of the Lewis acid Et₂AlCl increased the copolymerization rate and enhanced the incorporation of β‐pinene. The first example for the synthesis of an almost perfectly alternating copolymer of β‐pinene and acrylonitrile was achieved in the presence of Et₂AlCl. Furthermore, the possible controlled copolymerization of β‐pinene and acrylonitrile was then attempted via the reversible addition–fragmentation transfer (RAFT) technique. At a low β‐pinene/acrylonitrile feed ratio of 10/90 or 25/75, the copolymerization with 2‐cyanopropyl‐2‐yl dithiobenzoate as the transfer agent displayed the typical features of living polymerization. However, the living character could be observed only within certain monomer conversions. At higher monomer conversions, the copolymerizations deviated from the living behavior, probably because of the competitive degradative chain transfer of β‐pinene. The β‐pinene/acrylonitrile copolymers with a high alternation degree and controlled molecular weight were also obtained by the combination of the RAFT agent cumyl dithiobenzoate and Lewis acid Et₂AlCl. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 2376–2387, 2006     

Copolymers from α-Pinene. 2. Cationic Copolymerization of Styrene and α-Pinene

A study of the copolymerization of α-pinene and styrene has been carried out at 10°C using anhydrous AlCl₃ as the initiator. It is found that styrene forms copolymer with α-pinene at all mono-meric ratios. A copolymer of 2320–3080 molecular weight is obtained. The softening range of the copolymer is 82 to 85°C. The copolymers are of commercial value.     

Cationic polymerization of β-pinene,styrene and α-methylstyrene

Molecular weight distributions determined by gel permeation chromatography demonstrate that α-methylstyrene copolymerizes with both β-pinene and styrene, forming both bi- and terpolymers. The composition of precipitated polymer versus crude polymer, as determined by nuclear magnetic resonance, suggests that β-pinene and styrene also copolymerize. Extraction of the latter bipolymer of β-pinene and styrene with acetone gives only a small amount of insoluble β-pinene homopolymer, confirming that β-pinene and styrene copolymerize in m-xylene. GPC analysis shows that each copolymer contains some homopolymer. A comparison of M _n with molecular weight calculated from NMR analysis, assuming chain transfer to solvent, indicates that chain transfer is the predominant method of forming dead polymer. The carbonium ions of the growing chain tend to transfer to solvent with increasing ease in the order β-pinene, styrene, and α-methylstyrene.     

Ethylene polymerization initiated by metallocene catalysts (C5H5)4Mt-MAO (Mt = Ti, Zr) in the presence of organometallic modifiers

The effect of various organometallic compounds (Me₃Al, Et₃Al, i-Bu ₃Al, Et₂Zn, Me₄Sn, Et₄Pb) on the activity and productivity of catalytic systems based on (C₅H₅)₄Zr and (C₅H₅)₄Ti and the molecular- mass characteristics of polymers is investigated. The effect of additives on the activity of catalysts; on the shape of kinetic curves of polymerization; and on the molec ular mass, molecular-mass distribution, and poly- dispersity of the resulting polymers is associated with reversible chain transfer to the organometallic compounds.     

Synthesis and Characterization of New Polymer Systems Containing 4‐Silylmethylstyrene Units

A series of terpolymers containing silyl pendant groups were prepared by free radical cross‐linking copolymerization. Et₃Si and HMe₂Si were covalently linked with 4‐vinylbenzyl and abbreviated as TESiMSt and DMSiMSt, respectively. Et₃Si was covalently linked with 2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA). The silyl‐linked HEMA are abbreviated as TESiEMA. Free radical terpolymerization of the methacrylic acid (MAA) with different molar ratios of organosilyl monomers was carried out at 60–70 °C. The compositions of the polymers were determined by FT‐IR spectroscopy and ¹H‐NMR. The glass transition temperature (Tg) of the polymers was determined calorimetrically. The study of DSC curves showed that incorporation of monomers with cyclic units in polymer chains increases the rigidity of terpolymers and the Tg value is subsequently increased.     

Reactivity of 4-vinylpyridine in the presence of Ziegler–Natta catalysts

The homopolymerization of both free and aluminum alkyls complexed 4-vinylpyridine (4VP) in the presence of Ziegler-Natta catalysts, based on TiCl₃“ARA” and aluminum or zinc alkyls, has been performed. The copolymerization of free or complexed 4VP with chiral α-olefins or styrene (St), using the same catalysts, has also been investigated. Spectroscopic and solubility data of the polymers obtained are consistent with the presence in the above-mentioned catalysts of several species having different reactivity and stereochemistry. Data, based on fractionation and composition of the resulting polymeric products, are reported supporting a polymerization mechanism different from that connected with a free radical initiation.     

Sulfur-Containing Vinyl Monomers. XV. Kinetic Study of Radical Polymerization of Vinyl Mercaptobenzothiazole and Its Copolymerization

A kinetic study of radical polymerization of vinyl mercaptobenzothiazole (VMBT) with α,α′-azobisisobutyonitrile (AIBN) at 60°C was carried out. The rate of polymerization (R_p) was found to be expressed by the rate equation: R_p = k[AIBN]^0.5 [VMBT]^1.0, indicating that the polymerization of this monomer proceeds via an ordinary radical mechanism. The apparent activation energy for overall polymerization was calculated to be 20.9 kcal/mole. Moreover, this monomer was copolymerized with methyl methacrylate, acrylonitrile, vinyl acetate, phenyl vinyl sulfide, maleic anhydride, and fumaronitrile at 60°C. From the results obtained, the copolymerization parameters were determined and discussed.