Formation of the porous structure during the polymerization of meta-divinylbenzene and para-divinylbenzene with toluene and 2-ethylhexanoic acid (2-EHA) as porogens

Macroporous polymers of pure meta-divinylbenzene (meta-DVB) and pure para-divinylbenzene (para-DVB) have been prepared in the presence of toluene and 2-EHA as pore forming agents. The formation of the pore structure has been studied during the polymerization by pore-size distribution measurements, together with determination of the specific surface area from nitrogen sorption isotherms using the BET treatment. In addition, the morphology and texture have been characterized by SEM during the polymerization process. Large differences in the pore-size distribution among all the polymer samples are found. The polymers prepared in toluene as porogen have a pore-size distribution, which mainly consists of small pores, while large pores appear with 2-EHA as porogen. In the presence of 2-EHA, a major change in the pore-size distribution is also observed when the monomer is shifted from para-DVB to meta-DVB, leading to a bimodal distribution. The texture characterization by SEM shows details and discriminates the samples in consistency with what may be expected from pore-size distribution measurements. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 3973–3990, 1999     

Anionic copolymerization of 2,3,4,5,6-pentafluorostyrene and divinylbenzene

Anionic copolymerizations of 2,3,4,5,6-pentafluorostyrene (PFS) with 1,3-divinylbenzene (m-DVB) and 1,4-divinylbenzene (p-DVB) were performed by using lithium diisopropylamide as an initiator in order to synthesize the fluorine-containing linear polymer with pendant vinyl groups. The products were soluble copolymers possessing both PFS and DVB monomeric units, and the DVB monomeric unit in copolymer had pendant vinyl group. This copolymerization reaction took a much longer time than that of styrene with DVB. The copolymerization parameter of this system was examined from copolymer composition curves. In this system, m-DVB was found to be more reactive than p-DVB. The reactivity of copolymerization was largely influenced by the reactivity of active species. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Preparation of soluble microgel by the copolymerization of methylmethacrylate with p-divinylbenzene in the presence of tetrabromomethane

Various types of soluble crosslinked polymers obtained from the copolymerization of methylmethacrylate (MMA) and p-divinylbenzene (p-DVB) in the presence of a transfer agent (CBr₄) have been discussed in relation to the variation of the structure during the reaction time. When [p-DVB]/[MMA] = 1.49 × 10^?3 and [CBr₄]/[MMA] = 1.28 × 10^?4, only linear polymers (primary polymer; M _n = 1.0 × 10⁵) with pendant vinyl groups are formed intially. Considerable branched structure is attained in rather large polymers (M _n = 2.5 × 10⁵), but the number of pendant double bonds is not enough to reach the gelation. As the concentration of the transfer agent becomes high, the intermolecular crosslinking is depressed, and the formed polymers contain loops and short chains. At [p – DVB]/[MMA] = 7.43 × 10^?3 and [CBr₄]/[MMA] = 1.28 × 10^?3, the shape of polymer with the same M _n became compact gradually with increasing reaction time. These results are considered to be useful for the preparation of soluble crosslinked polymer with controlled structure.     

Kinetics of crosslinking reactions. 1. Reaction rate of intramolecular crosslinkings by using a soluble microgel

Soluble microgels with several pendant vinyl groups were synthesized by radical copolymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) with p-divinyl benzene (p-DVB). The polymerization conditions used for intramolecular crosslinking of microgels were chosen from gel permeation chromatograph (GPC) measurements of the reaction products. The rate constant of intramolecular crosslinking (k_pⁱ) was estimated from the changes in the concentration of pendant vinyl groups of microgel by using photometrical measurements at 30°C assuming a unimolecular termination mechanism of polymer radicals. As a result, k_pⁱ showed larger values than k_p of styrene and depended strongly on the internal structure of the microgels.     

Chemical shifts for tritons in the ortho,meta and para positions of toluene as determined by tritium NMR spectroscopy

Chemical shifts for tritons in ortho, meta and para positions in toluene have been determined using a 64 MHz tritium NMR spectrometer. The order of shift is meta>para>ortho, whereas the calculated shift order for protons is meta>ortho>para.     

Effect of tetraalkylammonium salts on the tacticity of poly(methyl methacrylate), 2.. Initiation by potassium tert-butoxide

The anionic polymerization of methyl methacrylate was carried out in the presence of potassium tert-butoxide (t-BuOK)/quaternary ammonium salts (QAS) in toluene and tetrahydrofuran at −60°C. It was found that in toluene some QAS additives substantially increase the syndiotacticity of poly(methyl methacrylate). Two types of QAS were distinguished, quite different in their action. The addition of QAS with one or two longchain alkyl groups (>C₁₂), does not change significantly the mode of the monomer addition, whereas the polymerization in the presence of tetraalkylammonium salts with four equal substituents and dimethyldidodecylammonium bromide yields predominantly a syndiotactic polymer with high conversion and comparatively low polydispersity (M̄_w/M̄_w = 1.3−1.5). In some cases QAS additives are more effective modifiers than cryptand [2.2.2].     

Preparation and thermal properties of polyquinazolones containing m-substituted phenyl groups on the quinazolone ring

Polyquinazolones containing m-substituted phenyl groups (Br, Cl, F, CH₃O, NO₂, and CH₃) on the quinazolone ring were synthesized in m-cresol, and their thermal properties were studied by using dynamic thermogravimetry and isothermal weight loss. Polyquinazolones with intrinsic viscosities in the range 0.2–1.6 dL/g were synthesized. The introduction of substituted groups into the pendant phenyl group resulted in a decrease in the glass transition temperature and the thermal stability. Oxidative thermal stability of the polyquinazolones was dependent on the position of substituted groups on the pendant phenyl group. The introduction of substituted groups into the meta position reduced thermal stability more than did the introduction into the para position.     

Direct Clay-Catalyzed Friedel-Crafts Arylation and Chlorination of the Hydrocarbon Adamantane

Multiple chlorinations and arylations at the tertiary positions of adamantane are promoted by FeCl₃-doped K10 montmorillonite in CCl₄ or in aromatic solvents. The process, remarkably easy to implement, can be tailored to selective formation of monosubstituted 1-adamantyl derivatives or 1,3-disubstituted adamantanes. The process achieves alkylation at the meta- and para-positions of toluene leading to a purely statistical distribution and displays no substrate specificity in competition experiments between toluene and benzene.     

Highly heterotactic polymerization of methacrylates — Higher order stereoregulation and stereochemical significance

A combination of tert-butyllithium (t-BuLi) and bis(2,6-di-t-butylphenoxy)methylaluminium (MeAI(ODBP)₂) was found to be an efficient initiator for heterotactic living polymerization of certain alkyl methacrylates in toluene at low temperatures. The polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) with t-BuLi/MeAI(ODBP)₂ (AI/Li=5 mol/mol) in toluene at −78°C gave heterotactic-rich poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) with narrow molecular weight distributions (MWDs) (heterotactic triad fraction mr = 68%, ratio of weight- to number-average molecular weights M̄w/M̄n = 1.06-1.17). Other alkyl methacrylates also gave heterotactic polymers under the same conditions; in particular, ethyl and butyl methacrylates gave polymers with heterotactic triad fractions of 87%. The highest triad heterotacticity of 91.6% was obtained for the polymerization of ethyl methacrylate at −95°C. Some characteristic features of this stereospecific polymerization were discussed based on the polymerization results combined with other structural information of the polymer such as chain-end stereostructure and stereosequence distribution in the main chain.     

The kinetics of radical polymerization—XXV: Study of the radical reactivity of substituted nitrobenzenes—I

A study was made on the effect of some para- and meta-substituted nitrobenzenes on the radical polymerization of vinyl acetate. It has been shown that −CH₂X and −SO₂X type substituents have merely an inductive effect on the reactivity of nitro groups. It has also been established that the inductive effect of substituents is more intensive when they are in the para position than when in the meta position, i.e.: λ = 1·15.     

Discussion of substantially identical gel points among multiallyl monomers based on characterization of resultant network polymer precursors consisting of oligomeric primary polymer chains

No difference in the actual gel points was substantially observed among three isomeric diallyl phthalates such as diallyl phthalate (DAP), diallyl isophthalate, and diallyl terephthalate (DAT); this interesting gelation behavior was discussed further in terms of the correlation between gelation and the difference in cyclization modes, and also, the difference in reactivity between the uncyclized and cyclized radicals for cross‐linking. In the present work, we tried to extend the preceding discussion to the polymerization of triallyl trimellitate (TAT) because the molecular structure of TAT is presumed to essentially involve the characteristics of three isomeric diallyl phthalates and, therefore, the enhanced gelation was expected in TAT polymerization. However, no enhancement of gelation was observed. For a full understanding of the gelation in multiallyl cross‐linking polymerization, we explored further the polymerizations of DAP, DAT, and TAT, especially focusing on the characterization of resultant network polymer precursors (NPPs) using SEC‐MALLS‐viscometry providing the correlation of [η] versus M_w of fractionated samples. Notably, the structure of NPP consisting of oligomeric primary polymer chains generated from specific allyl polymerization would become core‐shell type dendritic with the progress of polymerization. The correlation between delayed gelation and decreased reactivity of dendritic NPP for intermolecular cross‐linking is discussed. Conclusively, the reactivity for intermolecular cross‐linking between NPPs decreased with the progress of polymerization leading to a delayed gelation. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 2871–2881, 2009     

Reversal of order of chemical shifts. Differential solvent effects in the hydrogen shifts of toluene,m-xylene and o-xylene as determined by 320 MHz tritium NMR spectroscopy

Chemical shifts for the aromatic tritons of toluene decrease in the order meta>para>ortho for pure toluene, but in the order meta>ortho>para for dilute solutions of toluene in carbon tetrachloride, chloroform, cyclohexane and dimethyl sulphoxide; m-xylene shifts are 5>4,6>2 in the pure state and 5>2>4,6 in carbon tetrachloride and dimethyl sulphoxide; o-xylene shifts are 4,5>3,6 in the pure state and reversed in carbon tetrachloride.     

A ‘meta effect’ in the fragmentation reactions of ionised alkyl phenols and alkyl anisoles

The competition between benzylic cleavage (simple bond fission [SBF]) and retro‐ene rearrangement (RER) from ionised ortho, meta and para RC₆H₄OH and RC₆H₄OCH₃ (R = n‐C₃H₇, n‐C₄H₉, n‐C₅H₁₁, n‐C₇H₁₅, n‐C₉H₁₉, n‐C₁₅H₃₁) is examined. It is observed that the SBF/RER ratio is significantly influenced by the position of the substituent on the aromatic ring. As a rule, phenols and anisoles substituted by an alkyl group in meta position lead to more abundant methylene‐2,4‐cyclohexadiene cations (RER fragmentation) than their ortho and para homologues. This ‘meta effect’ is explained on the basis of energetic and kinetic of the two reaction channels. Quantum chemistry computations have been used to provide estimate of the thermochemistry associated with these two fragmentation routes. G3B3 calculation shows that a hydroxy or a methoxy group in the meta position destabilises the SBF and stabilises the RER product ions. Modelling of the SBF/RER intensities ratio has been performed assuming two single reaction rates for both fragmentation processes and computing them within the statistical RRKM formalism in the case of ortho, meta and para butyl phenols. It is clearly demonstrated that, combining thermochemistry and kinetics, the inequality (SBF/RER)_meta < (SBF/RER)_ortho < (SBF/RER)_para holds for the butyl phenols series. It is expected that the ‘meta effect’ described in this study enables unequivocal identification of meta isomers from ortho and para isomers not only of alkyl phenols and alkyl anisoles but also in other alkyl benzene series. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Fluorescence spectra and structure of the difluoro(dibenzoylmethanato)boron monomers and dimers absorbed on silica gel

It has been shown that difluoro(dibenzoylmethanato)boron ((dbm)BF₂) can be absorbed on silica gel in the form of fluorescent monomers and dimers with the emission properties that change in the presence of vapors of volatile organic compounds, such as ethanol, acetone, toluene, and meta-xylene. Fluorescence quenching was observed for the (dbm)BF₂ monomers and dimers in the case of ethanol and acetone, whereas the formation of fluorescent exciplexes with monomers and enhancement of the dimer fluorescence were observed in the case of toluene and meta-xylene. Results of the quantum-chemical calculations of the structure of the (dbm)BF₂ monomer complex with the matrix and toluene and (dbm)BF₂ dimers with matrix are presented.     

Intramolecular cyclization of styrene–p-divinylbenzene copolymers

Styrene has been copolymerized at low conversion with minor quantities of p-divinyl-benzene (p-DVB) in (10–15%) solution in toluene and cyclohexane. Under these conditions the molecular weight of the polystyrene formed in the absence of p-DVB was controlled by chain transfer, and the copolymerization coefficients of the styrene and the p-DVB agreed with previous work. Polymer molecular weights were studied as a function of conversion. At very low conversions the number-average (2.2 × 10⁵) and the weight-average (4.4 × 10⁵) molecular weights were unaffected by substituting some of the styrene by p-DVB, but as the reaction continued M?_n increased slowly and M?_w much faster. On the other hand, even at the lowest conversions the intrinsic viscosity was drastically reduced by the introduction of p-DVB, and the radius of gyration, as measured by light scattering, fell. Infrared studies on the polymer show that the concentration of pendent double bonds in low-conversion copolymers is about half of the doubly substituted phenyl groups. It is concluded that the first polymer chains formed are extensively cyclized with the formation of a relatively large number of small rings.     

Mass spectra of some isopropyl benzene derivatives. A study of the ortho effect

The mass spectra of a series of ortho, meta and para substituted isopropyl benzene derivatives have been determined where the second substituent is ? COOH, ? C(O)NH₂, ? C(O)C₆H₅, ? C(Ph)(=NPh) or ? CH(Ph)(NHPh). Two bis-isopropylbenzophenones have also been studied. The spectra are characterized by prominent ortho effects which distinguish the ortho derivatives from the meta and para.     

Synthesis and characterisation of polymethacrylates containing para-, meta- and ortho-monosubstituted azobenzene moieties in the side chain

Three sets of novel side-chain liquid crystalline polymers with monosubstituted azobenzene moieties in the side-chain have been studied. These are poly(p-(4′-methoxy-4-oxyhexyloxy azobenzene) benzyl methacrylate) (PPHABM), poly(m-(4′-methoxy-4-oxyhexyloxy azobenzene) benzyl methacrylate) (PMHABM) and poly(o-(4′-methoxy-4-oxyhexyloxy azobenzene) benzyl methacrylate) (POHABM). The chemical structure of the monomers was confirmed by ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR spectroscopy and elemental analysis. The structural characterisation of the polymers was performed by ¹H NMR spectroscopy and gel permeation chromatography, and their phase behaviour and liquid crystalline properties were studied using differential scanning calorimetry, polarised optical microscopy and wide-angle X-ray diffraction. The results show that the transitional behaviour of side-chain liquid crystalline polymers containing monosubstituted azobenzene moieties depends strongly on the position of the substituent on the azobenzene moiety; for example, the ortho-monosubstituted polymers do not form liquid crystalline phases, but all the para- and meta-monosubstituted polymers exhibit a smectic A phase. Furthermore, the glass transition temperature (T_g ) of the polymers decreases in the order, para > meta > ortho. For the PPHABM and PMHABM polymers the isotropic temperature (T_i ) and liquid crystalline range (ΔT, from T_g to T_i ) are found to be in the order, para > meta, although it is surprising that the associated enthalpy changes in these polymers is the opposite order, meta > para.     

Gel formation in cationic polymerization of divinyl ethers. II. 2,2-Bis{4-[(2-vinyloxy)ethoxy]phenyl}propane

Cationic polymerization of 2,2-bis{4-[(2-vinyloxy)ethoxy]phenyl}propane [CH₂CH O CH₂CH₂O C₆H₄ C(CH₃)₂ C₆H₄ OCH₂CH₂ O CHCH₂; 2], a divinyl ether with oxyethylene units adjacent to the polymerizable vinyl ether groups and a bulky central spacer, was investigated in CH₂Cl₂ at 0°C with the diphenyl phosphate [(C₆H₅O)₂P(O)OH]/zinc chloride (ZnCl₂) initiating system. The polymerization proceeded quantitatively and gave soluble polymers up to 85% monomer conversion. In the same fashion as the polymerization of 1,4-bis[2-vinyloxy(ethoxy)]benzene (CH₂CH O CH₂CH₂O C₆H₄ OCH₂CH₂ O CHCH₂; 1) that we already studied, the content of the unreacted pendant vinyl ether groups of the produced soluble polymers decreased with monomer conversion, and almost all the pendant vinyl ether groups were consumed in the soluble products prior to gelation. Alternatively, endo-type double bonds were gradually formed in the polymer main chains by chain transfer reactions and other side reactions as the polymerization proceeded. The polymerization behavior of isobutyl vinyl ether (3), a monofunctional vinyl ether, under the same conditions, showed that the endo-type olefins in the polymer backbones are of no polymerization ability with the growing active species involved in the present polymerization systems. These results indicate that the intermolecular crosslinking reactions occurred primarily by the pendant vinyl ether groups, and the final stage of crosslinking process leading to gelation also may occur by the small amount of the residual pendant vinyl ether groups (supposedly less than 2%). The formation of the soluble polymers that almost lack the unreacted pendant vinyl ether groups is most likely due to the frequent occurrence of intramolecular crosslinking reactions. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 1931–1941, 1999     

Effect of Substituent Orientation on Selectivity between Polymerization and Cyclization: Polycondensation of (Alkylamino)benzoic Acid Dimer Phenyl Esters

Summary: The polymerization characteristics of (octylamino)benzoic acid dimer phenyl esters with para‐meta ( 2 ), meta‐para ( 3 ), and meta‐meta ( 4 ) orientation of the amino and carbonyl groups were investigated. While treatment of 2 or 3 with a base gave the cyclic dimer 6 as the main product, condensation of 4 with an initiator in the presence of a base afforded polymers with narrow molecular weight distributions.

The condensation of 4 with an initiator in the presence of a base afforded polymers with narrow molecular weight distribution.     

Synthesis of polybenzyls by Suzuki Pd-catalyzed crosscoupling of boronic acids and benzyl bromides: Model reactions and polyreactions

The palladium-catalyzed crosscoupling reaction of boronic acids and benzyl bromides can be used successfully for the preparation of benzyls in high yield. This C-C coupling reaction was optimized for the synthesis of polybenzyls by model reactions. Different reaction channels were observed here with meta- and para-bis(bromomethyl)benzenes. The main product with 1,3-bis(chloromethyl)benzene was the corresponding 1,3-dibenzylbenzene, but the main product with 1,4-bis(chloromethyl)benzene was the corresponding biaryl resulting from homocoupling of aromatic boronic acid. 1.3-Linked polybenzyls were synthesized based on the results of the model reactions. M̄_n's of 2 380 corresponding to a DP of 26 were found based on GPC. No structural defects were detected within the limits of detection.