Structure and reactivity in cationic polymerization of butadiene derivatives. II. 1-phenylbutadiene

The reactivity of 1-phenylbutadiene (1-PBD) in cationic polymerization and the monomer structure were investigated. 1-PBD polymerized at ?78°C in several solvents initiated by cationic catalysts such as stannic chloride and tungsten hexachloride. The polymerizations proceeded predominantly via 3,4-type propagation mode, and gave low molecular weight polymers. More than one double bond of 1-PBD was consumed during the polymerizations, probably due to transfer and cyclization reactions. 1-PBD was several times as reactive as styrene and trans-1,3-pentadiene in copolymerizations. The Hammett plots of reactivities of ring-substituted 1-PBD in cationic polymerization gave the p-value of -1.20, which is 0.6 times that of styrene. The ¹H and ¹³C NMR chemical shifts of ring-substituted 1-PBD were measured and discussed in relation to the reaction mechanism.     

Polymerization of vinylcyclopropanes. II

1,5-Type polymerization of vinylcyclopropane proceeding by the opening of both the double bond and the cyclopropane ring was found. Some other vinylcyclopropane derivatives, 1,1-dichloro-2-vinylcyclopropane, 1,1-dibromo-2-vinylcyclopropane, isopropenylcyclopropane, 1-methyl-1-vinylcyclopropane, 1,1-dichloro-2-methyl-2-vinylcyclopropane, and cis- and trans-1-chloro-2-vinylcyclopropane, were investigated. The observation of infrared spectra, NMR spectra, and other data indicated that the radical polymerization of these compounds gave principally 1,5-type polymer, while in cationic polymerization 1,2-type was predominant. The behavior of the polymerization was discussed in terms of the stability of a cyclopropylcarbinyl ion or radical which is formed in the initiation and propagation steps.     

Polymerization of o‐quinodimethanes. V. Ionic polymerization of o‐quinodimethanes generated by thermal isomerization of corresponding benzocyclobutenes

The ionic polymerization of substituted o‐quinodimethanes via thermal isomerization of benzocyclobutenes is described. In the cationic polymerizations of 1‐methoxy‐o‐quinodimethane in the presence of various cationic initiators at 110 °C for 12 h, chain transfer reactions also considerably underwent besides the polymerization. Meanwhile, cationic polymerizations of 1‐trimethylsilyloxy‐o‐quinodimethane under the same conditions gave good yields of the corresponding polymer. Anionic polymerizations of 1‐cyano‐o‐quinodimethane in the presence of anionic initiators such as n‐BuLi or t‐BuOK were performed at various temperatures for 12 h. Good yields of hexane‐insoluble polymer, which was produced by anionic polymerization of corresponding o‐quinodimethane as an intermediate, were obtained above 120 °C. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 844–850, 2008     

Mechanism aspects of th e ring-opening polymerization of the episulfides compared to epoxides

The cis- and trans-2-butene episulfides polymerize with cationic catalyts differently than reported for the corresponding oxides. Where the cis-oxide gave amorphous disyndiotactic polymer, the cis-sulfide gives crystalline racemic diisotactic polymer since this polymer could be asymmetrically synthesized in optically active form. Also the same crystalline polymer was obtained with coordination catalysts. Where the trans-oxide gave only crystalline, meso-diisotactic polymer, the trans-sulfide gives mainly amorphous polymer which, in one case, did slowly crystallize. The difference between the trans forms appears due to the longer C? S bond which lowers steric hindrance and thus isomer selection in the attack of episulfide on the growing sulfonium ion to give less steroregular polymer. The difference in the cis forms may result from the sulfur atom in the last chain unit coordinating with the counterion. The greater hindrance around oxygen in the comparable oxide polymers may prevent the same mechanism from being utilized. The cationic polymerization of isobutylene sulfide gives both crystalline and amorphous polymer. NMR evidence indicates that the amorphous polymer results from substantial head-to-head, tail-to-tail polymerization, along with the expected head-to-tail polymerization. The same phenomenon occurs, but to a lesser extent, in cationic isobutylene oxide polymerizations. The preparation and properties of high molecular weight, head-to-tail isobutylene oxide and sulfide polymers from R₂Mg-NH₃ coordination catalysis are described.     

Stereochemistry in cationic polymerization of alkenyl ethers. V. Stereochemistry of acetal additions as model reactions for the polymerization of alkenyl ethers

Acetal additions to β-substituted vinyl ethers having a variety of substituents (alkenyl ethers) were stereochemically investigated as model reactions for their cationic polymerization. The reactions catalyzed by BF₃O(C₂H₅)₂ in CH₂Cl₂ at O°C gave 1:1 adducts, the steric structure of which was determined by means of ¹³C-NMR spectroscopy. trans-Alkenyl ethers always gave adducts with a single structure stereospecifically, indicating that the intermediate carbocation attacks a trans-alkenyl ether from a definite direction independent of the bulkiness of substituents. On the other hand, cis-alkenyl ethers formed adducts with two steric structures, and the direction of cation addition was found to depend on the bulkiness of the alkoxy group involved. The above trends were in agreement with the results for poly(alkenyl ether)s and allowed detailed discussion of the stereochemistry of the propagation processes in alkenyl ether polymerizations.     

Structure and reactivity of α,β-unsaturated ethers. III. Cationic copolymerizations of alkenyl alkyl ethers

The relative cationic polymerizabilities of the geometrical isomers of various alkenyl alkyl ethers were studied both in copolymerizations with each other and in their respective copolymerizations with vinyl isobutyl ether as standard. Copolymerizations were carried out in methylene dichloride at ?78°C. with boron trifluoride etherate as catalyst. The cis isomers have been found to be more reactive than the corresponding trans isomers. A primary alkyl substituent on the β-cis position of vinyl ethyl ether enhances the reactivity. Yet the steric effect is noticeable when the substituents are bulky. Compounds substituted with cis-β-isobutyl and with β-dimethyl showed little tendency to homopolymerization. It was proved that the polymer ends derived from cis and from trans monomers are respectively different in character because of the restricted rotation of the end unit around the terminal carbon–carbon bond. The alternation tendency, remarkable in the copolymerization of cis monomers with vinyl ether, was explained in terms of the cis-opening mechanism.     

Synthesis,separation, and resolution of cis- and trans-3-ethylproline

The synthesis, separation, and optical resolution of cis- and trans-3-ethylproline are described. Two different approaches were employed: (1) The Michael addition reaction of 2-pentenal with diethyl-N-carbobenzyloxyaminomalonate gave the intermediate 3-ethyl-5-hydroxy-N-benzyloxypyrrolidine. Hydrogenolysis of this intermediate followed by acid hydrolysis gave a mixture of cis- and trans-3-ethylproline. Separation of the isomers was accomplished by selective saponification of N-(p-toluenesulfonyl)-cis- and trans-3-ethylproline methyl esters using 0.25N methanolic sodium hydroxide. (2) The Michael condensation of diethyl acetamidomalonate with 2-pentenoic acid ethyl ether produced the intermediate 5,5-bis(ethoxycarbonyl)-4-ethylpyrrolidine. Partial saponification followed by decarboxylation afforded a mixture of cis- and trans-isomers of ethyl-3-ethylpyroglutamate. The diastereoisomers were separated using low temperature fractional crystallization. Reduction of these isomers and tosylation in situ afforded the corresponding N-(p-toluenesulfonyl)-cis- and trans-3-ethylprolinols. Chromic acid oxidation gave N-(p-toluenesulfonyl)-cis- and trans-3-ethylproline. Reaction of these tosylates with 30% hydrogen bromide in acetic acid gave cis- and trans-3-ethylproline. Both optically active isomers of D(+)-and L(-)-trans-3-ethylproline were successfully resolved using (+)-dibenzoyl-D -tartaric acid and (-)-dibenzoyl-L -tartaric acid as resolving agents. The absolute configurations of the optically active isomers were determined by circular dichroism spectroscopy.     

Polyimidines: A new class of polymers. III. A comparison of isomers of polypyromellitimidines

The cis (3,3,5,5-), trans (3,3,7,7-), oxo, and thio analogs of tetraphenylpyromellitide were polymerized with 1, 6-hexane diamine, p-phenylene diamine, and p,p'-diaminodiphenyl ether under various conditions. A comparison was then made of reactivity of the isomers and of the properties of the polymers. In general the thio monomers were more soluble and reactive than the oxo. They also gave more thermally stable polymers. The cis isomers of the monomers were more soluble than the trans, but the trans were more reactive. The least stable of the 12 polymers prepared was that from the cis–oxo monomer and 1,6-hexane diamine. It gave a 10% weight loss at 300°C in air and 340°C in nitrogen by TGA. The most stable polymer was from the reaction of the cis–thio pyromellitide with p,p'-diaminodiphenyl ether, which showed 10% weight losses by TGA at 560 and 650°C in air and nitrogen, respectively. The polymers were stable in hot dilute hydrochloric acid and sodium hydroxide. They were all soluble in chloroform, dimethylformamide, and sulfuric acid. Polymers that contained sulfur were also soluble in carbon tetrachloride, benzene, xylene, and toluene. Brittle films could be cast from solution or melt-pressed.     

Radiation-induced polymerization at high dose rate. III. Isoprene in bulk

Radiation-induced polymerization of isoprene in bulk state was studied at 25°C in a wide dose rate range. Variations of the rate of polymerization and molecular weight of the products were essentially the same as those observed in the monomers which were capable of both radical and cationic polymerizations. At low dose rate, 7.0-230 rad/sec, radical polymerization took place. At high dose rate, 8.8 × 10³-2.2 × 10⁵ rad/sec, radical and cationic polymerizations took place concurrently. The average molecular weight of the high-dose-rate product was about 850, independent of dose rate. The microstructure of the products at high dose rate consisted mainly of trans- 1,4 units with only about 7% of cis- 1,4 and 10% of 3,4-vinyl units. The residual unsaturation in the high-dose-rate products was 90%. Decreases in cis units and residual unsaturation at high dose rate were accounted for by the change in predominant mechanism of polymerization with dose rate.     

Cationic polymerization of α,β-disubstituted olefins. IV. Stereospecific polymerization of propenyl alkyl ethers catalyzed by BF3·O(C2H5)2 and Al2(SO4)3–H2SO4 complex

The cis- and trans-propenyl alkyl ethers were polymerized by a homogeneous catalyst [BF₃·O(C₂H₅)₂] and a heterogeneous catalyst [Al₂(SO₄)₃–H₂SO₄ complex]. Methyl, ethyl, isopropyl, n-butyl and tert-butyl propenyl ethers were used as monomers. The steric structure of the polymers formed depended on the geometric structures of monomer and the polymerization conditions. In polymerizations with BF₃·O(C₂H₅)₂ at ?78°C., trans isomers produced crystalline polymers, but cis isomers formed amorphous ones except for tert-butyl propenyl ether. On the other hand, highly crystalline polymers were formed from cis isomers, but not from the trans isomers in the polymerization by Al₂(SO₄)₃–H₂SO₄ complex at 0°C. The x-ray diffraction patterns of the crystalline polymers obtained from the trans isomers were different from those produced from the cis isomers, except for poly(methyl propenyl ether). The reaction mechanism was discussed briefly on these basis of these results.     

Saturated heterocycles, 248. Synthesis of 2,4-dioxo and 4-oxo-2-thioxo derivatives of octahydrocyclopenta[d]pyrimidines

Unsubstituted and 1-benzyl-substituted cis-cyclopenta[d]pyrirnidine-2,4-diones and cis-2-thioxo-cyclopenta[d]pyrimidin-4-ones 9a,b and 10a,b were prepared from the corresponding cis-2-amino-1-cyclopentanecarboxylates 3 and 5 with potassium cyanate and thiocyanate. It was found that the cis derivatives 7a-h readily underwent ring closure, resulting in 3-substituted cis-2,4-cyclopenta[d]pyrimidinediones and cis-2-thioxocyclopenta[d]pyrimidin-4-ones 11a-d and 12a-d , whereas the trans counterparts 8a-d failed to cyclize, but gave hydrolysed amino acid derivatives 13a,b and 14 . This difference in the reactivities of the cis and trans isomers is a further example of the difficulty of preparing cyclopentane trans-fused six-membered 1,3-heterocycles by ring closure.     

The cis-trans Isomerisation of Homologous 2-Hydroxycycloalkanecarboxylic Acids under Basic Conditions

The cis→trans isomerisation of homologous 2-hydroxycycloalkanecarboxylic acids in strongly basic aqueous solution was studied starting from the cis isomers. It was found that the cyclopentane, cyclohexane and cycloheptane homologues afforded synthetically useful amounts of the trans acids and the procedure resulted in relatively small quantities of the corresponding olefinic acids. In contrast, the isomerisation of the cis-2-hydroxycyclooctanecarboxylic acid produced roughly equal amounts of the cis and trans isomers and the 1-cyclooctenecarboxylic acid at equilibrium. Molecular modelling with the PM3 semiempirical method of the reactants, products and the intermediates applying explicit water molecules as reaction medium gave a fair estimate for the rate sequence of the idealised （dehydration-free） isomerisation reactions in aqueous base solution.     

Radiation-induced polymerization at high dose rate. IV. Chloroprene in bulk

Bulk polymerization of chloroprene was studied at 25°C in a wide does rate range. Variations of the rate of polymerization (R_p) and molecular weight as a function of does rate were essentially the same as those in several monomers that are capab;e of radical and cationic polymerizations. The polymerization proceeds with radical mechanism at low dose rate ans with radical and cationic mechanism concurrently at high dose rate. The number-average molecular weight of the high-dose-rate was ca. 2400. Microstructure of the polymers was mainly of trans-1,4 unit with small fraction of cis-1,4 and 3,4-vinyl unit. Fractions of the vinyl unit and the inverted unit in trans-1,4 sequence which increased at high does rate inflected the change of dominant mechanism of polymerization.     

Structure and reactivity of α,β-unsaturated ethers. XIII. Cationic copolymerization and acid-catalyzed hydrolysis of 1,2-dialkoxyethylenes

The cationic copolymerizations of geometrical isomers of 1,2-dimethoxy- and 1,2-diethoxyethylenes with vinyl isobutyl ether as a reference monomer have been carried out in methylene chloride at ?70° using boron trifluoride etherate as catalyst. The kinetics of the acid-catalyzed hydrolysis of these ethers has also been investigated in 80% aqueous dioxane, in order to compare the results with the polymerizabilities. It has been found that the cis ethers are ca. four times as reactive as their trans isomers in both reactions. On the other hand, it has been proved that a β-alkoxyl substitution reduces the hydrolysis reactivity of vinyl alkyl ethers by a factor of ca. 10^?3 while it even enchances the cationic polymerizability. These contrasting results are interpretable from the nature of the transition states which are different for the two reactions.     

Cationic polymerization of cyclic dienes. X. Cationic polymerization of 1-vinylcyclohexene and 3-methyl-1,3-pentadiene

1-Vinylcyclohexene (VCH), which has one of the double bonds in the ring and the other outside the ring, was synthesized and polymerized by cationic catalysts. The reactivity of VCH was very large in the polymerizations catalyzed by boron trifluoride etherate (BF₃OEt₂) and stannic chloride–trichloroacetic acid complex. Similar to other cyclic dienes, the polymerization of VCH was a nonstationary reaction having a very fast initiation step. The polymerization proceeded by either a 1,2- or a 1,4-propagation mode in which vinyl group was always involved. Particularly when BF₃OEt₂ was used as a catalyst, an intramolecular proton or an intramolecular hydride ion transfer reaction took place, resulting in the formation of methyl groups in the polymer. The degree of polymerization of polymer formed was about 10. This indicates the preponderance of monomer transfer reaction. To investigate the reason for the high reactivity of cyclic dienes, cationic copolymerizations of VCH and 3-methyl-cis/trans-1,3-pentadiene (cis/trans-MPD) was carried out. The relative reactivity of monomers decreased in the order VCH > trans-MPD > cis-MPD. On the other hand, the resonance stabilization of monomers decreased in the order VCH > trans-MPD > cis-MPD. Therefore, it could be considered that the monomer reactivity is mainly determined by the stability of carbonium ion intermediate. The relative stability of carbonium ion must be VCH > trans-MPD > cis-MPD. Thus the influence of the conformation of ion on its stability was clearly demonstrated.     

7-Cis isomers of retinal via 7-cis- and 7,9-dicis-β-C18-tetraene ketones : New geometric isomers of vitamin A and carotenoids—I

Based catalyzed condensation of 7-cis- or 7,9-dicis-β-ionylideneacetaldehyde with acetone gave either 7-cis or 7,9-dicis-β-C₁₈-tetraene ketone. Reaction of the tetraene ketone mixture with diethyl cyanomethylphosphonate gave a mixture of 4 isomers of retinonitrile, all believed to have the 7-cis geometry. Partial redution of the retinonitrile mixture with di-isobutylaluminum hydride gave a mixture of retinal isomers. Repeated column chromatography resulted in partial separation of the retinal isomers. Based on NMR data the geometry of the isomers prepared are believed to be 7-cis, 7,13-dicis, and 7,9,13-tricis.     

Modulating Polymer Dispersity with Light: Cationic Polymerization of Vinyl Ethers Using Photochromic Initiators

Deterministic methods for tuning polymer dispersity are rare, especially for nonradical polymerizations. Reported here is the first example of photomodulating dispersity in controlled cationic polymerizations of vinyl ethers using carboxy‐functionalized dithienylethene initiators. Reversible photoisomerization of these initiators induces changes in their acidities by up to an order of magnitude. Using the more acidic, ring‐closed isomers as initiators results in polymers with lower dispersities. The degree of light‐induced pK_a change in the initiators correlates with the degree of dispersity change in polymers derived from the isomeric initiators. The polymerizations are controlled, and dynamic photoswitching of dispersity during the polymerization reaction was demonstrated. This work provides a framework for photomodulating dispersity in other controlled polymerizations and developing one‐pot block copolymerization reactions in which the dispersities of component blocks can be controlled using light.     

Synthesis of Hyperbranched Polysaccharide by Thermally Induced Cationic Polymerization of 1,6-Anhydrohexopyranose

The thermally induced cationic polymerizations of 1,6-anhydro-β-D -glucopyranose ( 1a ), 1,6-anhydro-β-D -mannopyranose ( 1b ) and 1,6-anhydro-β-D -galactopyranose ( 1c ) as a latent cyclic AB₄-type monomer were carried out using (S-2-butenyl)tetramethylenesulfonium hexafluoroantimonate ( 2 ) as an initiator. The solution polymerization in propylene carbonate proceeded without gelation to produce the water-soluble hyperbranched polysaccharides ( 3a-c ) with controlled molecular weights and narrow polydispersities. The degree of branching (DB), estimated by the methylation analysis of 3a-c , was in the range of 0.38 – 0.49. The thermally induced cationic polymerization of 1a-c using 2 is a facile method leading to a hyperbranched polysaccharide with a high DB value.     

Temperature and Concentration Dependent Circular Dichroism of Mono- and Di-cis Isomers of (3S,3′S)-Astaxanthin Diacetate

The circular dichroism (CD.) spectra of all-trans-(3S, 3′S) astaxanthin diacetate and its 9-cis, 13-cis, 9,9′-di-cis, 9,13′-di-cis, and 9,13-di-cis isomers conform to the rules previously formulated for optically active carotenoids with a 4-oxo-β-end ring containing an asymmetric C-atom [1]. Thus the CD. bands of the all-trans and the di-cis isomers show the same signs whereas those of the mono-cis isomers have opposite signs. The CD. spectra of all the astaxanthin diacetate isomers invert sign upon cooling to ?180°. The CD. spectra of the 9-mono-cis and 9,9′-di-cis isomers and to a lesser extent also those of the 9, 13′-di-cis and 9, 13-di-cis isomers are concentration dependent at ?180°, with the longest wavelength band giving at the higher concentration a bisignate CD. curve under the main absorption characteristic of aggregation. This phenomenon has been observed only in isomers with a 9-cis linkage. It is suggested that steric hindrance prevents such aggregation taking place in the other isomers.     

Identification of cis/trans isomers of methyl ester and oxazoline derivatives of unsaturated fatty acids using GC–FTIR–MS

Identification of cis/trans isomers of unsaturated fatty acids cannot usually be achieved by GC-MS (gas chromatography-mass spectrometry) without reference substances. In this study a GC-FTIR-MS system (gas chromatography-Fourier transform-mass spectrometry) was used to identify fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) and differentiate between the cis/trans isomers. Besides methyl esters, 2-alkenyl-4,4-dimethyloxazoline derivatives (DMOX), which have been used to locate double bond positions of unsaturated fatty acids, were examined with respect to their suitability for cis/trans differentiation. A combined GC-FTIR-MS system with a wide band (4000–550 cm^?1) mercury cadmium telluride (MCT) detector was used in series and parallel to identify 31 reference unsaturated fatty acids, including 7 pairs of cis/trans isomers. Serum samples of healthy persons and commercially available fish oil were analyzed as examples of complex mixtures. Using splitless injection the detection limit for the less sensitive IR detector was 25 ng/μl in case of the weak cis and trans bands. In the FTIR spectra cis/trans isomers were identified by analysis of bands arising from C? H out-of-plane (oop) bending: for both the FAME and DMOX derivatives cis-1,2-disubstituted double bonds give a strong band near 720 cm^?1 and the corresponding trans isomers near 967 cm^?1. cis Isomers could be identified further by a band at 3012 cm^?1. With the combined data of the GC-FTIR-MS system it is now possible to identify polyunsaturated fatty acids with regard to the discrimination of cis/trans isomers.