Polymerization of acrylamide with persulfate–thiomalic acid initiator

The redox system of potassium persulfate–thiomalic acid (I₁–I₂) was used to initiate the polymerization of acrylamide (M) in aqueous medium. For 20–30% conversion the rate equation is where R_p is the rate of polymerization. Activation energy is 8.34 kcal deg^?1 mole^?1 in the investigated range of temperature 25–45°C. M_n is directly proportional to [M] and inversely to [I₁]. The range of concentrations for which these observations hold at 35°C and pH 4.2 are [I₁] = (1.0–3.0) × 10^?3, [I₂] = (3.0–7.5) × 10^?3, and [M] = 5.0 × 10^?2–3.0 × 10^?1 mole/liter.     

Polymerization of Acrylamide with Permanganate/Mercaptosuccinic Acid Initiator System

The aqueous polymerization of acrylamide initiated by the acidified potassium permanganate/mercaptosuccinic acid redox system was studied at 35 ± 0.2°C in nitrogen. In the studied range of activator concentration (2.0 × 10^?3 to 6.25 ± 10^?3 mole/liter) the polymerization rate remains unaffected. The initial rate of polymerization varies linearly with KMnO₄ and acrylamide concentrations in the studied range. The activation energy was found to be 6.61 kcal/mole (27.63 kJ/mole) in the temperature range of 30–50°C. The molecular weight of polyacrylamide was found to be independent of [KMnO₄] but increased with increasing monomer concentration. The effect of DMF on polymerization rate and molecular weight was also investigated.     

pH‐Responsive ampholytic terpolymers of acrylamide,sodium 3‐acrylamido‐3‐methylbutanoate,and (3‐acrylamidopropyl)trimethylammonium chloride. I. Synthesis and characterization

Low-charge-density ampholytic terpolymers composed of acrylamide, sodium 3-acrylamido-3-methylbutanoate (NaAMB), and (3-acrylamidopropyl)trimethylammonium chloride were prepared via free-radical polymerization in 0.5 M NaCl to yield terpolymers with random charge distributions. NaOOCH was used as a chain-transfer agent during the polymerization to eliminate the effects of the monomer feed composition on the degree of polymerization (DP) and to suppress gel effects and broadening of the molecular weight distribution. The terpolymer compositions were obtained via ¹³C NMR spectroscopy, and the residual counterion content was determined via elemental analysis for Na⁺ and Cl⁻. The molecular weights (MWs) and polydispersity indices (PDIs) were determined via size exclusion chromatography/multi-angle laser light scattering (SEC–MALLS); the terpolymer MWs ranged from 1.3–1.6 × 10⁶ g/mol, corresponding to DPs of 1.6–1.9 × 10⁴ repeat units, with all terpolymers exhibiting PDIs of less than 2.0. Intrinsic viscosities determined from SEC–MALLS data and the Flory–Fox relationship were compared to intrinsic viscosities determined via low-shear dilute-solution viscometry and were found to agree rather well. Data from the SEC–MALLS analysis were used to analyze the radius of gyration/molecular weight (R_g–M) relationships and the Mark–Houwink–Sakurada intrinsic viscosity/molecular weight ([η]–M) relationships for the terpolymers. The R_g–M and [η]–M relationships revealed that most of the terpolymers exhibited little or no excluded volume effects under size exclusion chromatography conditions. Potentiometric titration of terpolymer solutions in deionized water showed that the apparent pK_a value of the poly[acrylamide-co-sodium 3-acrylamido-3-methylbutanoate-co-(3-acrylamidopropyl)trimethylammonium chloride] terpolymers increased with increasing NaAMB content in the terpolymers and increasing ratios of anionic monomer to cationic monomer at a constant terpolymer charge density. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 3236–3251, 2004     

Novel thermoresponsive fluorinated double‐hydrophilic poly{[N‐(2,2‐difluoroethyl)acrylamide]‐b‐[N‐(2‐fluoroethyl)acrylamide]} block copolymers

Novel thermoresponsive double‐hydrophilic fluorinated block copolymers were successfully synthesized by reversible addition‐fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. Poly[N‐(2,2‐difluoroethyl)acrylamide] (P2F) was synthesized via RAFT polymerization of N‐(2,2‐difluoroethyl)acrylamide (M2F) using 2‐dodecylsulfanylthiocarbonylsulfanyl‐2‐methylpropionic acid (DMP) as the chain transfer agent (CTA) and 2,2′‐azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) as the initiator. The resulting P2F macroCTA was further chain extended with N‐(2‐fluoroethyl)acrylamide (M1F) to yield poly{[N‐(2,2‐difluoroethyl)acrylamide]‐b‐[N‐(2‐fluoroethyl)acrylamide]} (P2F‐b‐P1F) block copolymers with different lengths of the P1F block. Molecular weight and molecular weight distribution were determined by gel permeation chromatography. The average molecular weight (M_n) of the resulting polymers ranged from 2.9 × 10⁴ to 5.8 × 10⁴ depending on the length of the P1F block. The molecular weight distribution was low (M_w/M_n = 1.11–1.19). Turbidimetry by UV‐Visble (UV‐Vis) spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering, and in situ temperature‐dependent ¹H NMR measurements demonstrated that the P2F block underwent a thermal transition from hydrophilic to hydrophobic, which in turn induced self‐assembly from unimers to aggregates. Transmission electron microscopy studies demonstrated that polymeric aggregates formed from an aqueous solution of P2F‐b‐P1F at 60 °C were disrupted by cooling down to 20 °C and regenerated by heating to 60 °C. Temperature‐triggered release of a model hydrophobic drug, coumarin 102, was also demonstrated. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2013     

Novel organosoluble polynorbornene bearing a polar,pendant, ester‐bridged epoxy group via living ring‐opening metathesis polymerization

A novel organosoluble polynorbornene bearing a polar, pendant, ester‐bridged epoxy group [poly(oxiran‐2‐ylmethyl 2‐methylbicyclo[2.2.1]hept‐5‐ene‐2‐carboxylate) (polyOMMC)] was prepared via the living ring‐opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) of active norbornenes with a Ru catalyst. PolyOMMC exhibited excellent solubility in a variety of solvents. The number‐average molecular weight of polyOMMC linearly increased with the [M]/[I] ratio (where [M] is the monomer concentration and [I] is the initiator concentration), and a narrow polydispersity of 1.09–1.19 was observed; this was considered a living polymerization. When ROMP of oxiran‐2‐ylmethyl 2‐methylbicyclo[2.2.1]hept‐5‐ene‐2‐carboxylate with [M]/[I] = 350 was carried out at 30 °C in CH₂Cl₂, the number‐average molecular weight (7.01 × 10⁴; polydispersity index = 1.07) was close to the calculated molecular weight (7.28 × 10⁴), and a diblock copolymer was observed after the addition of another monomer ([M]/[I] = 350) with an increase in the number‐average molecular weight (1.60 × 10⁵; polydispersity index = 1.11), which was close to the calculated molecular weight (1.61 × 10⁵). The modified polynorbornenes retained good solubility in methylene chloride, tetrahydrofuran, dimethyl sulfoxide, dimethylformamide, N,N‐dimethylacetamide, and N‐methyl‐2‐pyrrdione. High‐performance polynorbornenes with active epoxy groups could be designed with great potential for applications in photoresists, UV curing, and elastomers. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 4428–4434, 2006     

Aromatic poly(amic acids): Fundamental structural studies

Aromatic poly(amic acids) derived from pyromellitic dianhydride and 4,4′,-diaminodiphenyl ether were characterized by dilute solution techniques. Number-average molecular weights M?_n of 13 samples ranged from 13,000 to 55,000 (DP 31–131). Weight-average molecular weights M?_w of 21 samples ranged from 9,900 to 266,000. The ratio M?_w/M?_n was between 2.2 and 4.8. Heterogeneous polymerization yielded higher molecular weight polymer than homogeneous polymerization. The molecular weight could be varied systematically by control of stoichiometric imbalance. Use of very pure monomers and solvent gave polymers of relatively high number-average molecular weight (～50, 000) and the most probable molecular weight distribution M?_w/M?_n = 2. Impure monomers and/or solvent resulted in lower number-average molecular weight (M?_n ? 20,000–30,000) and wider distributions (M?_w/M?_n = 3–5). The Mark-Houwink relation obtained was [η] = 1.85 × 10^?4M?_w^0.80 The exponent is characteristic of moderately extended solvated coils. The unperturbed chain dimensions (r₀² /M)^1/2 were 0.848 A., and the steric factor σ was 1.24 which is close to the limiting value of unity for an equivalent chain with free internal rotations. The sedimentation constant–molecular weight relation was S₀ = 2.70 × 10^?2M?_w^0.39. This exponent is consistent with the Mark-Houwink exponent.     

Novel titanium complexes bearing two chelating phenoxy‐imine ligands and their catalytic performance for ethylene polymerization

Three substituted salicylaldimine ligands ( 1a, 2a, 3a ) and their titanium complexes bis[N‐(5‐nitrosalicylidene)‐2,6‐diisopropylanilinato]titanium(IV)dichloride ( 1 ), bis[N‐(5‐chlorosalicylidene)‐2,6‐diisopropylanilinato]titanium(IV)dichloride ( 2 ) and bis[N‐(5‐bromosalicylidene)‐2,6‐diisopropylanilinato]titanium(IV)dichloride ( 3 ) were synthesized and characterized by mass spectra, ¹H NMR and elemental analyses, as well as complex 1 by X‐ray structure analysis. In the presence of methylaluminoxane (MAO), 1, 2 and 3 are efficient catalysts for ethylene polymerization in toluene. Under the conditions of T = 60 °C, p = 0.2 MPa, and n(MAO)/n(cat) = 1500, the activities of 1–3 reached 4.55–8.80 × 10⁶ g of PE (mol of Ti h bar)^?1, which is much higher than that of the unsubstituted complex bis[N‐(salicylidene)‐2,6‐diisopropylanilinato]titanium(IV)dichloride ( 4 ). The viscosity‐average molecular weight of polyethylene ranged from 24.8 × 10⁴ to 44.9 × 10⁴ g/mol for 1–3 and the molecular weight distribution M_w/M_n from 1.85 to 2.34. The effects of reaction conditions on the polymerization were examined in detail. The increase in ethylene pressure and rise in polymerization temperature are favorable for 1–3 /MAO to rise the catalytic activity and the molecular weight of polyethylene. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis of poly(4‐vinylpyridine) by reverse atom transfer radical polymerization

Controlled radical polymerization of 4‐vinylpyridine (4VP) was achieved in a 50 vol % 1‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidone/water solvent mixture using a 2,2′‐azobis(2,4‐dimethylpentanitrile) initiator and a CuCl₂/2,2′‐bipyridine catalyst–ligand complex, for an initial monomer concentration of [M]₀ = 2.32–3.24 M and a temperature range of 70–80 °C. Radical polymerization control was achieved at catalyst to initiator molar ratios in the range of 1.3:1 to 1.6:1. First‐order kinetics of the rate of polymerization (with respect to the monomer), linear increase of the number–average degree of polymerization with monomer conversion, and a polydispersity index in the range of 1.29–1.35 were indicative of controlled radical polymerization. The highest number–average degree of polymerization of 247 (number–average molecular weight = 26,000 g/mol) was achieved at a temperature of 70 °C, [M]₀ = 3.24 M and a catalyst to initiator molar ratio of 1.6:1. Over the temperature range studied (70–80 °C), the initiator efficiency increased from 50 to 64% whereas the apparent polymerization rate constant increased by about 60%. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 5748–5758, 2007     

Aqueous polymerization of acrylamide initiated by cerium (IV)–ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid redox system

Ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) terminated polyacrylamide was obtained by using the EDTA–cerium(IV) ammonium nitrate [Ce(IV)] redox initiator in the aqueous polymerization of acrylamide. The polymerization behaviors as a function of the concentration of Ce(IV), EDTA, and acrylamide as well as temperature were studied. The consumption rate of cerium(IV) depends a first-order reaction on the ceric ion concentration ([Ce(IV)]). The complex formation constant (K) and disproportionation constant (k_d) of Ce(IV)–EDTA chelated complex are 1.67 × 10⁴ and 3.77 × 10^?3, respectively. The rate dependences of polymerization on monomer concentration and EDTA concentration both follow a second-order reaction in the run of initial monomer concentration ([M]_i) equal to 0.2 mol dm^?3. The number average molecular weight increases linearly with the ratio of [M]_i/[Ce(IV)]_i. The mechanism and kinetics for the polymerization was proposed. The kinetic parameters involved were determined. © 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Polymerization of acrylamide initiated by the Ce4+/thiourea redox system

The polymerization of acrylamide (M) initiated by the Ce⁴⁺/thiourea (TU) redox system has been studied in an aqueous sulfuric acid medium at 35 ± 0.2°C under nitrogen atmosphere. The rate of polymerization is governed by the expression The activation energy is 5.9 kcal deg^?1 mol^?1 in the investigated temperature range 30–50°C. The molecular weight is directly proportional to the concentration of monomer and inversely proportional to the catalyst concentration. With increasing concentration of DMF molecular weight decreases. The range of concentrations for which these observations hold at sulfuric acid concentration of 2.5 × 10^?2 mol/L are [monomer] = 5.0 × 10^?2–3.0 × 10^?1, [catalyst] = (5.0–15.0) × 10^?4, and [activator] = (1.0–6.0) × 10^?3 mol/L.     

Effect of prepolymer molecular weight on solid state polymerization of poly(bisphenol a carbonate) with nitrogen as a sweep fluid

The effect of prepolymer molecular weight on the solid‐state polymerization (SSP) of poly(bisphenol A carbonate) was investigated using nitrogen (N₂) as a sweep fluid. Prepolymers with different number–average molecular weights, 3800 and 2400 g/mol, were synthesized using melt transesterification. SSP of the two prepolymers then was carried out at reaction temperatures in the range 120–190 °C, with a prepolymer particle size in the range 20–45 μm and a N₂ flow rate of 1600 mL/min. The glass transition temperature (T_g), number–average molecular weight (M_n), and percent crystallinity were measured at various times during each SSP. The phenyl‐to‐phenolic end‐group ratio of the prepolymers and the solid‐state synthesized polymers was determined using 125.76 MHz ¹³C and 500.13 MHz ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. At each reaction temperature, SSP of the higher‐molecular‐weight prepolymer (M_n = 3800 g/mol) always resulted in higher‐molecular‐weight polymers, compared with the polymers synthesized using the lower molecular weight prepolymer (M_n = 2400 g/mol). Both the crystallinity and the lamellar thickness of the polymers synthesized from the lower‐molecular‐weight prepolymer were significantly higher than for those synthesized from the higher‐molecular‐weight prepolymer. Higher crystallinity and lamellar thickness may lower the reaction rate by reducing chain‐end mobility, effectively reducing the rate constant for the reaction of end groups. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 4959–4969, 2008     

Synthesis of poly(p‐phenylene) macromonomers and multiblock copolymers

Rigid‐rod poly(4′‐methyl‐2,5‐benzophenone) macromonomers were synthesized by Ni(0) catalytic coupling of 2,5‐dichloro‐4′‐methylbenzophenone and end‐capping agent 4‐chloro‐4′‐fluorobenzophenone. The macromonomers produced were labile to nucleophilic aromatic substitution. The molecular weight of poly(4′‐methyl‐2,5‐benzophenone) was controlled by varying the amount of the end‐capping agent in the reaction mixture. Glass‐transition temperatures of the macromonomers increased with increasing molecular weight and ranged from 117 to 213 °C. Substitution of the macromonomer end groups was determined to be nearly quantitative by ¹H NMR and gel permeation chromatography. The polymerization of a poly(4′‐methyl‐2,5‐benzophenone) macromonomer [number‐average molecular weight (M_n) = 1.90 × 10³ g/mol; polydispersity (M_w)/M_n = 2.04] with hydroxy end‐capped bisphenol A polyaryletherketone (M_n = 4.50 × 10³ g/mol; M_w/M_n = 1.92) afforded an alternating multiblock copolymer (M_n = 1.95 × 10⁴ g/mol; M_w/M_n = 6.02) that formed flexible, transparent films that could be creased without cracking. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 39: 3505–3512, 2001     

Copper(I)-mediated radical polymerization of methacrylates in aqueous solution

α-Methoxypolyethylene oxide methacrylate was polymerized by copper(I)-mediated living radical polymerization in aqueous solution to give polymers with controlled number-average molecular masses and narrow polydispersities. When equimolar quantities of initiator with respect to copper(I) bromide were used, the reaction was extremely fast with quantitative conversion achieved in less than 5 min at ambient temperature. However, the molecular weight distribution was broad, and control over the number-average molecular weight (M_n) growth was extremely poor; this is ascribed to an increase in termination because of the increased rate as a result of the coordination of water at the copper center. The complex formed between copper(I) bromide and N-(n-propyl)-2-pyridylmethanimine, bis[N-(n-propyl)-2-pyridylmethanimine]copper(I), was demonstrated to be stable in aqueous solution by ¹H NMR over 10 h at 25 °C. However, on increasing the temperature to 50 °C, decomposition occurred rapidly. Thus, polymerization temperatures were maintained at ambient temperature. When longer alkyl chains were utilized in the ligand, that is, pentyl and octyl, the complex acted as a surfactant leading to heterogeneous solutions. When the catalyst concentration was reduced by two orders of magnitude, the rate of polymerization was reduced with 100% conversion achieved after 60 min with the M_n of the final product being higher than that predicted and the polydispersity equal to 1.43. Copper(II) was added as an inhibitor to circumvent these problems. When 10% of Cu(I) was replaced by Cu(II) {[Cu(I)] + [Cu(II)]/[I] = 1/100}, the mass distribution showed a bimodal distribution, and the rate of polymerization decreased significantly. With a catalyst composition [Cu(I)]/[Cu(II)] = 0.5/0.5 {[Cu(I)] + [Cu(II)]}/[I] = 1/100, polymerization proceeded slowly with 80% conversion reached after 22 h. Thus, the concentration of Cu(I) was further reduced with [Cu(I)]/[Cu(II)] = 10/90, {[Cu(I)] + [Cu(II)]}/[I] = 1/100. The system then contained [Initiator]/[Cu(I)] = 1000/1 and [I]/[Cu(II)] = 1000/9. Under these conditions, the reaction reached 50% after 5 h with the polymer having both an M_n close to the theoretical value and a narrow polydispersity of PDi = 1.15. Optimum results were obtained by increasing the amount of catalyst. When a ratio of [Cu(I)]/[Cu(II)] = 10/90 with a ratio of [Cu]/[I] = 1/1, a conversion of 100% was achieved after less than 20 h, leading to a product having M_n = 8500 and PDi = 1.15. Decreasing the amount of Cu(II) relative to Cu(I) to [Cu(I)]/[Cu(II)] = 0.5/0.5 (maintaining the overall amount of copper) led to 100% conversion after 75 min: M_n = 9500, PDi = 1.10. Block copolymers have been demonstrated by sequential monomer addition with excellent control over M_n and PDi. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 39: 1696–1707, 2001     

Effect of alkyl substituents on initiator activity in cationic polymerization of styrene with p-methoxybenzyldialkylsulfonium salts as initiators

The effect of alkyl substituents on cationic polymerization of styrene with p-methoxybenzyldialkysulfonium salts was studied. p-Methoxybenzyl tetramethylene ( 1 ), dimethyl ( 2 ), diethyl ( 3 ), dibuty ( 4 ), and diisopropylsulfonium salts ( 5 ) were synthesized by the reaction of p-methoxybenzyl bromide with the corresponding sulfides, followed by exchange of the counter anion Br^? with SbF^?₆. These sulfonium salts served as potent cationic thermal initiators of which activity was estimated by the bulk and solution polymerizations of styrene. The bulk polymerizations with 1–4 (0.1 mol %) for 30 min gradually proceeded at 30–50°C, but the exothermic polymerization occurred vigorously at 40–60°C. The Polymerization with 5 took place exothermically even at room temperature. Temperature-conversion curves of the polymerizations for 30 and 5 min revealed that the activity of the sulfonium salts was in the following order: 5 > 4 > 3 > 2 ≈ 1 . This order was explained by the order of the bulkiness of the alkyl substituents on the sulfur atom. Number-average molecular weight (M?_n) of polystyrene obtained by the polymerization undergoing no exothermic process was in a range of 6600–16000, which depended on the structure of the alkyl substituents: the more bulky the substituent was, the higher M?_n was.     

Aqueous Polymerization of Acrylamide Initiated by Glycolic Acid/Ce4+ Redox System

The aqueous polymerization of acrylamide initiated by the glycolic acid/Ce⁴⁺ redox system was studied in sulfuric acid medium at 35 ± 0.2°C under a nitrogen atmosphere. The initiation was carried out by the free radical generated in the decomposition of the complex formed between the oxidant and the reductant. The monomer disappearance was found to be proportional to [GA]^0,89[Ce⁴⁺]^0.57[M]^1.0, and the rate of ceric ion disappearance was found to be directly proportional to [Ce⁴⁺] and [GA] but independent of [M]. The activation energy of the system was found to be 7.21 kcal/deg/mol. The molecular weight of polyacrylamide increased with increasing [monomer] and decreased with increasing [catalyst]. The effect of pH was also studied in the pH range 2.22 to 1.44.     

γ-Radiation-Initiated Polymerization of Acrylonitrile in Aqueous Solution and in Emulsion

The γ-radiation-initiated polymerization of acrylonitrile (AN) at 25[ddot] C has been studied, both in aqueous solution and in emulsion, at dose rates between 70 and 175 krad/hr. The effect of added emulsifier, sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), on reaction rates, R_p, and on polymer molecular weight, M_n, has been investigated. G (monomer polymerized) values ranged from 7,500 in aqueous solution to 20,000 in bulk to 45,000 in emulsion, all based on the total energy absorbed. In the aqueous solution polymerization, where R_p is approximately first order in initial monomer concentration over the range 0.15 ± [AN]_o ± 1.06 moles/liter, addition of SLS increases R_p but does not influence the order of the reaction with respect to [AN]_o. In the emulsion system at 70 krad/hr and at a phase volume ratio AN/H₂O of 1/2, (PR = 1/2), R_p varies as [SLS]^0.1 over the concentration range 0.01 ± [SLS] ± 2.5± wt/vol of aqueous phase. At the same PR value, and at 80 krad/hr, M_n of the polymer (measured by viscometry in dimethylformamide solution) is effectively independent of [SLS] in the range of 0.01 ± [SLS] ± 10± wt/vol of aqueous phase. Initial R_p values are either independent of PR in the range 1/3 ± PR ± 1/1 or exhibit an insensitive and unsystematic dependence thereon. Based on measurements at 70 and at 175 krad/hr, the intensity exponent of R_p at PR = 1/2 is approximately 0.4.     

Catalytic polymerization of phenylacetylene by cationic rhodium and iridium complexes of ferrocene-based ligands

Some new Rh(I) and Ir(I) complexes of the types [(COD)M(LL)]ClO₄ and [(COD)MCl]₂ [COD = cyclooctadiene; M = Rh, Ir; LL = 1,1′-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene (DPPF), 1-diphenylphosphino-2-(N,N-dimethylamino)methylferrocene (FcNP), 1,6-diferrocenyl-2,5-diazahexane (FcNN)] were prepared, and their catalytic activities toward polymerization of phenyl acetylene were examined. The rhodium complexes proved to be very effective catalysts to yield highly stereoregular polyphenylacetylene (cis-transoidal-PPA) in high yields under mild conditions. The number-average molecular weight (M _n) of the PPA obtained is in the range of 19,000–33,000 and the weight-average molecular weight (M _ω) is in the range of 47,000–95,000. Comparative studies revealed that of various catalysts employed, the cationic mononuclear [Rh(FcNN)(COD)]ClO₄ complex exhibited the best results to give exclusively the cis-transoidal-PPA (cis content ∼100%) with the highest molecular weight (M _n = 33,340) in the highest chemical yield (94%). Other reaction parameters such as the softness of the ligand, the solvent, the relative amount of catalyst, and the reaction temperature were also investigated to find that all these factors played crucial roles. The iridium systems worked better for the trimerization rather than polymerization to yield 1,3,5-triphenybenzene as major product. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Poly(styrene‐b‐isobutylene) multiarm star‐block copolymers

Multiarm star‐branched polymers based on poly(styrene‐b‐isobutylene) (PS‐PIB) block copolymer arms were synthesized under controlled/living cationic polymerization conditions using the 2‐chloro‐2‐propylbenzene (CCl)/TiCl₄/pyridine (Py) initiating system and divinylbenzene (DVB) as gel‐core‐forming comonomer. To optimize the timing of isobutylene (IB) addition to living PS⊕, the kinetics of styrene (St) polymerization at −80°C were measured in both 60 : 40 (v : v) methyl cyclohexane (MCHx) : MeCl and 60 : 40 hexane : MeCl cosolvents. For either cosolvent system, it was found that the polymerizations followed first‐order kinetics with respect to the monomer and the number of actively growing chains remained invariant. The rate of polymerization was slower in MCHx : MeCl (k_app = 2.5 × 10⁻³ s⁻¹) compared with hexane : MeCl (k_app = 5.6 × 10⁻³ s⁻¹) ([CCl]_o = [TiCl₄]/15 = 3.64 × 10⁻³M; [Py] = 4 × 10⁻³M; [St]_o = 0.35M). Intermolecular alkylation reactions were observed at [St]_o = 0.93M but could be suppressed by avoiding very high St conversion and by setting [St]_o ≤ 0.35M. For St polymerization, k_app = 1.1 × 10⁻³ s⁻¹ ([CCl]_o = [TiCl₄]/15 = 1.82 × 10⁻³M; [Py] = 4 × 10⁻³M; [St]_o = 0.35M); this was significantly higher than that observed for IB polymerization (k_app = 3.0 × 10⁻⁴ s⁻¹; [CCl]_o = [Py] = [TiCl₄]/15 = 1.86 × 10⁻³M; [IB]_o = 1.0M). Blocking efficiencies were higher in hexane : MeCl compared with MCHx : MeCl cosolvent system. Star formation was faster with PS‐PIB arms compared with PIB homopolymer arms under similar conditions. Using [DVB] = 5.6 × 10⁻²M = 10 times chain end concentration, 92% of PS‐PIB arms (M_n,PS = 2600 and M_n,PIB = 13,400 g/mol) were linked within 1 h at −80°C with negligible star–star coupling. It was difficult to achieve complete linking of all the arms prior to the onset of star–star coupling. Apparently, the presence of the St block allows the PS‐PIB block copolymer arms to be incorporated into growing star polymers by an additional mechanism, namely, electrophilic aromatic substitution (EAS), which leads to increased rates of star formation and greater tendency toward star–star coupling. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 1629–1641, 1999     

Synthesis of linear and starlike polymers from poly(propylene glycol) methacrylate using controlled radical polymerization

The copper‐catalyzed atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of poly(propylene glycol) methacrylate (PPGM) in solution to produce linear and starlike polymers is reported, using methylethyl ketone as the solvent and a temperature of 80 °C. The ATRP system used was efficient for polymerization of the functionalized monomer without protecting hydroxyl end groups of monomer. The polymerizations were consistent with “living” or controlled processes, as revealed by the linear evolution of molecular weight with conversion. Increasing the [M]₀:[I]₀ ratio resulted in increasing molecular weights, whereas the polydispersity indices remained low (M_w/M_n < 1.4) even at high conversion. Decreasing the [CuBr]₀:[I]₀ ratio resulted in lower conversions, slightly larger polydispersities, and decreased molecular weights, likely resulting from a lower initiation efficiency. Polymers were characterized by ¹H and ¹³C NMR; molecular weights of polymers with low degrees of polymerization were estimated by end‐group analysis from ¹³C NMR spectra obtained using distortionless enhancement by polarization transfer and the gated decoupling techniques. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 334–343, 2002     

Novel neodymium (III) isopropoxide‐methylaluminoxane catalyst for isoprene polymerization

A novel catalyst composed of neodymium (III) isopropoxide [Nd(OiPr)₃] and methylaluminoxane (MAO) was examined in isoprene polymerization. The Nd(OiPr)₃‐MAO catalyst proved to be highly effective in heptane even at low [Al]/[Nd] ratios (ca. 30) to give polyisoprene that possessed high cis‐1,4 stereoregularity (> ca. 90%), a high number‐average molecular weight (M_n ～10⁵), and relatively narrow molecular weight distributions (M_w/M_n = 1.9–2.8). The catalyst activity increased with an increasing [Al]/[Nd] ratio from 10 to 80 as well as temperature of aging and polymerization from 0 to 60 °C. The polymerization proceeded in the first order with respect to the monomer concentration. Aliphatic solvents (heptane and cyclohexane) achieved a higher yield and M_n of polymer than toluene as a solvent. The M_w/M_n ratio remained around 2.0, and the gel permeation chromatographic curve was always unimodal, indicating that this system is homogeneous and involves a single active site. The microstructure of polyisoprene was determined by IR, ¹H NMR, and ¹³C NMR. The cis‐1,4 contents of the final polymers stayed in the range of 90–92%, regardless of reaction conditions, indicating the high stability of stereospecificity of the catalyst. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 1838–1844, 2002