Polymerization photoinitiated by carbonyl compounds. IV. α-diketones and α-substituted alkanones

The photoinitiation efficiency of the free-radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate and styrene by several carbonly compounds has been determined. The compounds considered were α-substituted ketones and α-dicarbonyl compounds. For the ketones, the initiation efficiency employing methyl methacrylate depends on the α substitution; the values obtained change from less than 10^?3 (acetone) to 0.65 (3-hydroxy-3-methyl-2-butanone). All ketones are more efficient towards methyl methacrylate than styrene. This result can be explained in terms of triplet quenching by the last monomer. The results obtained employing α-dicarbonyl compounds do not conform to a simple pattern. In particular, benzil shows a considerably larger efficiency towards styrene than for methyl methacrylate. Since benzil is efficiently quenched by styrene, the initiation must involve the interaction of an excited benzil molecule and the monomer.     

Polymerization photoinitiated by carbonyl compounds. VI. Mechanism of benzil photoinitiation

The mechanism of the photoinitiation of the vinyl polymerization sensitized by benzil and 4,4′-dimethoxybenzil was studied. The monomers considered were methacrylic acid esters and styrene derivatives. All these monomers are efficient quenchers of the excited triplet benzil. However, the initiation efficiency of the benzil is important only when styrene derivatives are employed as monomers. The main polymerization process follows a simple free radical mechanism. The initiation step is a consequence of the interaction (triplet benzil–monomer double bond) through a charge transfer complex.     

Activated Monomers and Nucleophilic Reagents in Addition and Polymerization Reactions

A number of examples of addition and polymerization reactions is presented with special emphasis on the chemical behaviors of activated monomers and/or activated nucleophilic reagents. Lithium alkoxyethanolate forms a complex with lithium alkyl. Spectroscopic studies showed this complex to possess agent-separated ion pairs. The nature of the complex is characterized by the enhanced reactivity of styrene in the copolymerization reaction with butadiene initiated by the complex. Magnesium alkyl can be sufficiently activated by magnesium alkoxyethanolate to polymerize styrene and diene. Aluminum alkyl and zinc alkyl are able to induce the anionic polymerization of vinyl ketones, but not of unsaturated esters or nitriles. Aluminum or zinc alkoxyethanolates fail to activate their corresponding metal alkyls. Bipyridyl, sparteine, triphenylphosphine, HMPT, and related Lewis bases, however, activate aluminum alkyl enough to react with carbon-carbon double bonds of the unsaturated esters and nitriles. Crotononitrile can be polymerized by the AIR₃-HMPT system to form a colorless polymer, where possible side reactions between CN and AIR₃ are prevented by HMPT. Mutual activation through complex formation is confirmed by a model system of a vinyl ketone with organozinc compounds. AIR₃-HMPT does not polymerize vinyl ketones because of a lack of complex formation. N-Carboxy-α-alanine anhydride (NCA) can be polymerized with zinc alkyl as initiator. The formation of activated NCA by proton abstraction from the NH group is shown to be the essential stage for polymerization. Zinc alkyl is also activated by conventional acid anhydrides. The propylene oxide ring can be cleaved with the ZnR₂-phthalic anhydride system, which is the initiation step in the alternate copolymerization between propylene oxide and the acid anhydride. The propagation mechanism of the CO₂-epoxide copolymerization is also discussed.     

2,4-Dimethyl-3-pentanone-sensitized photopolymerization of vinyl monomers

The initiation quantum yield in the bulk photopolymerization of vinyl monomers sensitized by 2,4-dimethyl-3-pentanone has been measured for several monomers. The results obtained were interpreted in terms of a mechanism that considers singlet and triplet photocleavage of the ketone, competing with the quenching by the monomer. The quenching process does not lead to free radicals that can initiate the polymerization.     

疏水作用对光化学和光物理过程的影响 Ⅶ.芘基烷基酮的荧光光谱及其在不良溶剂中的簇集

溶剂的极性对芘基烷基酮的单体荧光和激基缔合物荧光有很大影响,在非极性溶剂中单体荧光很弱,随着溶剂极性增大,单体荧光增强,单体荧光和激基缔合物荧光明显红移。利用芘基烷基酮荧光的这些性质研究了长链分子在二甲基亚砜-水(DMSO-H₂O)中的簇集现象。在浓度非常低的情况下,长链芘基烷基酮发射激基缔合物荧光,单体荧光也明显蓝移,表明芘基烷基酮形成了簇集体。长链饱和烷烃和芘基烷基酮发生共簇集,簇集体内的极性比环己烷的极性稍大。     

Fundamental studies on electroinitiated cationic polymerizations—II. Polymerization of isobutylvinylether in the presence of tetrabutylammonium tri-iodide

Studies were made of the kinetics and the initiation mechanism of the electrolytically initiated anodic polymerization of isobutylvinylether in the presence of tetrabutylammonium tri-iodide, carried out in divided cells in 1,2-dichloroethane.The dependence of the initial polymerization rate on the monomer and salt concentrations and on the current intensity for experiments carried out under continuous electrolysis as well as the internal order with respect to monomer were determined: a kinetic scheme based on a stationary state of the first type is proposed.The initiation mechanism was investigated by u.v.-visible spectrophotometric tests on polymerization solutions and by a kinetic study on polymerizations initiated by pulses of current.The results show that polymerization is initiated by anodically formed iodine.     

Computational evidence for self-initiation in spontaneous high-temperature polymerization of methyl methacrylate

This paper presents computational evidence for the occurrence of diradical mechanism of self-initiation in thermal polymerization of methyl methacrylate. Two self-initiation mechanisms of interest were explored with first-principles density functional theory calculations. Singlet and triplet potential energy surfaces were constructed. The formation of two Diels-Alder adducts, cis- and trans-dimethyl 1,2-dimethylcyclobutane-1,2-dicarboxylate and dimethyl 2-methyl-5-methylidene-hexanedioate, on the singlet surface was identified. Transition states were calculated using B3LYP/6-31G* and assessed using MP2/6-31G*. The calculated energy barriers and rate constants with different levels of theory were found to show good agreement to corresponding data obtained from laboratory experiments. The presence of a diradical intermediate on the triplet surface was identified. When MCSCF/6-31G* was used, the spin-orbit coupling constant for the singlet to triplet crossover was calculated to be 2.5 cm(-1). The mechanism of monoradical generation via a hydrogen abstraction by both triplet and singlet diradicals from a third monomer was identified to be the most likely mechanism of initiation in spontaneous polymerization of methyl methacrylate.     

Polymerization of vinyl compounds with heterocyclic groups. IV. Thermal polymerization of 2-vinylthiophene

2-Vinylthiophene was found to undergo thermal polymerization. With benzene as diluent, the overall rate of polymerization was proportional to the 2.5 power of monomer concentration, suggesting that the thermal initiation is a termolecular process. The following Arrhenius equation was obtained from the polymerization data for the range 55–100°C: The activation energy of the thermal initiation was estimated to be 28.2 kcal/mole, which was similar to those values obtained for styrene and 2-vinylfuran. When a dilute solution of the monomer in bromobenzene was heated in an ampoule at 151°C, a dimer, mp 82°C, was obtained in a good yield. The spectroscopic data indicated that the dimer was a Diels-Alder type adduct. The initiation of the thermal polymerization was considered to involve hydrogen abstraction by monomer from the Diels-Alder dimer, in common with the initiation of other vinylaromatic monomers.     

Photopolymerization mechanisms of vinyl compounds: role of the triplet state of the monomer in initiation

It is concluded that the triplet state of the monomer plays a part in the initiation of photopolymerization of methyl methacrylate; this has been deduced from the kinetics of the sensitized trans-cis isomerization of the stilbene in response to light absorbed by the ester and also from the polymerization kinetics of the ester in the presence of stilbene. Some notable kinetic features of this photopolymerization are reported.     

Influence of the amine structure on the polymerization of methyl methacrylate photoinitiated by aromatic ketone/amine

The polymerization of methyl methacrylate photoinitiated by 2‐chlorothioxanthone in the presence of amines of different structures has been investigated. The photoinitiation efficiency of these systems is highly dependent on the structure of the amine. The polymerization rate increases with the amine concentration, reaching a constant value in an amine concentration range of 10–30 mM. At these amine concentrations, aliphatic hydroxyalkyl amines are more efficient photoinitiators than the corresponding alkyl‐substituted compounds. Dimethylanilines with electron‐acceptor substituents in the 4‐position give higher polymerization rates than electron‐donor‐substituted anilines. The photophysics of these photoinitiation systems has been studied in the polymerization medium. These data show that the singlet and triplet excited states of thioxanthones are efficiently deactivated by the amine. Rate constants are well correlated to the oxidation potential of the amine. These studies have allowed us to simulate the dependence of the photoinitiation efficiency with the amine concentration and indicate that the active radicals are produced from the interaction of the ketone triplet with the amine. Also, photochemical studies have allowed us to establish that the dependence of the polymerization rate on structural features of amines is mainly due to differences in the fraction of produced active radicals that add to the monomer. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 2888–2893, 2002     

Quasi-isoenergetic triplet energy migration in homogeneous solution

Intermolecular triplet energy migration in alkyl aryl ketones is shown to be a very fast process. In quasi-isoenergetic examples the rate constants are in the neighborhood of 10¹⁰ M^? s^? in n-heptane at room temperature. The process is rather insensitive to alkyl α-substitution in the donor triplet state and is substantially faster than the analogous transfer in aliphatic ketones.     

Pulse radiolysis of vinyl monomers, in the pure state and with added pyrene

Pulse radiolysis studies have been used to investigate the early phenomena in the radiolysis of acrylic acid, methyl acrylate, butyl vinyl ether, propionic acid, methyl acetate and butyl ether; the latter three solvents were used as model compounds for these vinyl monomers. The triplet state, radical cation, radical anion, and free radical of pyrene (cyclohexadienyl type) were observed to various degrees in the radiolysis of pyrene in these monomers. In acrylic acid, where the free radical and the cation dominate, the monomer polymerizes efficiently, whereas in butyl vinyl ether, where the anion dominates, polymerization does not occur. The behavior of methyl acrylate lies between that of acrylic acid and butyl vinyl ether. However, the high intensity of the electron pulses creates a high concentration of radicals leading to a short lifetime of the radical which in turn leads to a much smaller yield of polymerization. The mechanism of polymerization under high energy radiation is found to be free radical in nature.     

Modeling of molecular weight development in atom transfer radical polymerization

A kinetic model has been developed for atom transfer radical polymerization processes using the method of moments. This model predicts monomer conversion, number‐average molecular weight and polydispersity of molecular weight distribution. It takes into account the effects of side reactions including bimolecular radical termination and chain transfers. The determining parameters include the ratios of the initiator, catalyst and monomer concentrations, as well as the ratios of the rate constants of propagation, termination, transfer and the equilibrium constant between radicals and their dormant species. The effects of these parameters on polymer chain properties are systematically simulated. The results show that an ideal living radical polymerization exhibiting a linear relationship between number‐average molecular weight versus conversion and polydispersity approaching unity is only achievable under the limiting condition of slow monomer propagation and free of radical termination and transfers. Improving polymerization rate usually accompanies a loss of this linearity and small polydispersity. For polymerization systems having a slow initiation, the dormant species exercise a retention effect on chain growing and tend to narrow the molecular weight distribution. Increasing catalyst concentration accelerates the initiation rate and thus decreases the polydispersities. It is also shown that for a slow initiation system, delaying monomer addition helps to reduce the polydispersities. Radical termination and transfers not only slow down the monomer conversion rates but also broaden polymer molecular weight distributions. Under the limiting conditions of fast propagation and termination and slow initiation, the model predicts the conventional free radical polymerization behaviors.     

Photo-initiated polymerization of N-vinylcarbazole in dichloromethane solution containing azobisisobutyronitrile

Azobisisobutyronitrile, as a photosensitizer of the polymerization of N-vinylcarbazole in dichloromethane solution at λ = 366 nm, has also been shown to quench the polymerization that normally occurs in its absence. As the initiator concentration is raised, the polymer yields at first decrease and pass through a minimum before increasing to about twice the initial value, at the solubility limit of the initiator. The product polymers are predominantly formed through a cationic mechanism though a free radical fraction is also evident, particularly at high initiator concentrations. Kinetic mechanisms compatible with the experimental evidence are considered and indicate that the higher molecular weight cationic fraction is formed through the intermediacy of the first excited triplet states of both the monomer, and a complex of the monomer and solvent. Quenching of the former species by azobisisobutyronitrile results in initiation of the polymerization, but quenching of the latter species quenches polymerization. The low molecular weight radical fraction, on the other hand, is considered to be formed through the quenching of the first excited singlet state of the monomer by azobisisobutyronitrile.     

The polymerization of acrylates using a combination of a carbonyl compound and an amine as a photo-initiator system

Photo-initiator systems for the polymerization of acrylates, based on a mixture of an aryl ketone and an α,ω-diaminoalkane, have been investigated. Rate constants for the photoreduction of fluorenone by α,ω-diaminoalkanes have been evaluated: it was found that CH₃N groups are more relative than CH₃CH₂N groups. The relative rates of photo-oxidation of α,ω-diaminalkanes sensitised by benzophenone have been determined. Surprisingly, little correlation exists between the susceptibility of an amine towards oxidation and its ability to reduce excited carbonyl groups. Several mixtures composed of an aryl ketone and an α,ω-diaminoalkane were found to initiate the polymerization of methyl methacrylate. The efficiency of initiation appears to be related to the efficiency of reaction of the triplet carbonyl compound with the amine. The efficiency of a particular combination of an aryl ketone and an amine to cure films of acrylate oligomers is also governed to some extent by the efficiency of reaction of the triplet carbonyl compound with the amine. However, the structure of the amino alkyl radical produced in the initiation reaction appears to be of greater importance in determining the efficiency of polymerization. Radicals of the type R₂N?HCH₂OR were found to be highly efficient.     

Ethylene polymerization with supported bis(triphenylsilyl) chromate catalysts

Bis(triphenylsilyl) chromate is an active catalyst for ethylene polymerization without further treatment or additives. Catalytic activity is markedly increased when the compound is deposited on silica–alumina and is further increased if it is deposited on silica and then treated with an aluminum alkyl. Polymer molecular weight can be controlled by reaction temperature, hydrogen addition, support type, and reducing agent structure to give polymers ranging in melt index from essentially zero to > 100. In the supported catalysts the bis(triphenylsilyl) chromate appears to be bound to the support and to undergo a reduction step either by reaction with ethylene or with aluminum alkyl prior to polymerization. The active site is envisioned as chromium alkyl, bound to the support, with propagation occurring by insertion of the monomer into a Cr? C bond. Chain termination is by chain transfer to monomer.     

η5-cyclopentadienyl-η2-styrenedicarbonylmanganese for initiation of free-radical polymerization of vinyl monomers

The polymerization of styrene, methyl methacrylate, and vinyl chloride catalyzed by η⁵-cyclopentadienyl-η²-styrenedicarbonylmanganese is studied. It is shown that the cyclopentadienyl complex of manganese containing the monomer ligand (styrene) in the coordination sphere can initiate the radical polymerization of vinyl monomers in a mild temperature range. On the basis of the experimental data and the quantum-chemical simulation of the initial stages of the process, schemes describing the initiation of polymerization under the action of the complex under study and the binary initiating system containing carbon tetrachloride are advanced. In the latter case, additional acceleration of the reaction is related to the interaction of carbon tetrachloride with the triplet form of the manganese complex that yields trichloromethyl radicals initiating polymerization.     

极性单体阴离子型聚合反应产物的分子量分布

关于任意官能度多官能团引发剂瞬时引发并有单体链终止的阴离子型聚合反应体系,本工作通过非稳态动力学分析,求得了分子量分布函数和平均聚合度的一般表示式,讨论了单体的最大消耗量和聚合物的官能度分布问题,建立了从反应的初始条件和单体转化率计算产物的各种分子参数的方法。上述理论结果适用于甲基丙烯酸甲酯等极性单体在极性溶剂中的阴离子型聚合反应。数值计算的结果表明:当引发剂的官能度为2时,除了少数例外,所得聚合物的分子量分布一般具有双峰。     

Mechanism of initiation of methyl methacrylate with lithium tert-alkoxides

An investigation of the solution polymerization of methyl, butyl, isobutyl, sec-butyl, and tert-butyl methacrylates and the polymerization of methyl and butyl methacrylates in the presence of methyl, butyl, and tert-butyl isobutyrate and methyl pivalate showed that the complex order of the initiation reaction with respect to the monomer (about 2) has its cause in the ability of the ester group in the monomer and of methyl or butyl isobutyrate to activate lithium tert-alkoxide. Owing to conjugation, the ester group in the monomer is less active than the ester group in isobutyrate. Steric hindrances of the formation of a complex between lithium tert-alkoxide and ester were also investigated, because this complex is intermediate product necessary for the formation of an activated lithium tert-alkoxide, capable of initiating the polymerization of alkyl methacrylates of the type CH₂?(CH₃)COOCH₂R.     

Polymerization of optically active β-substituted β-propiolactones. IV. β-1,1-dichloroalkyl β-propiolactones polymerized with aluminum triisopropoxide

The polymerization of three optically active β-1,1-dichloroalkyl β-propiolactones has been investigated in toluene, at 55°C, using aluminum triisopropoxide (Al(OiPr)₃) as initiator in a range of monomer/initiator molar ratios smaller than 150. β-1,1-dichloroethyl β-propiolactone polymerizes according to a living mechanism. However, the ability to polymerize decreases with an increase in the length of the alkyl substituent. For instance, β-1,1-dichloro-n-propyl β-propiolactone is obtained only in low yields, whereas β-1,1-dichloro-n-butyl β-propiolactone does not polymerize at all. Actually, each of the lactones investigated reacts with Al(OiPr)₃ in an initiation step that obeys a coordination-insertion mechanism. However, the size of the chloroalkyl substituent has a critical effect on the propagation: when the alkyl group contains more than two methylene units, the insertion of a second monomer becomes exceedingly slow.