Stereospecific polymerization of isobutyl vinyl ether by AlR3–VCln catalysts. I. Influence of preparative conditions of the catalysts

The polymerization of isobutyl vinyl ether by the VCl_n–AIR₃ system was carefully studied. The vanadium components were prepared by the reaction between VCl₄ and AlEt₃ or n-BuLi as a reducing agent. VCl₃·LiCl and VCl₂·2LiCl are the effective catalysts for the stereospecific polymerization of isobutyl vinyl ether. When VCl₃·LiCl is combined with AlR₃, a new catalytic system is formed. The effect of the preparative conditions of the various vanadium component in the AlR₃–VCl_n system shows that the effective vanadium component is trivalent. In the polymerization by VCl₃·LiCl–Al (i-Bu)₃ system, a change of the polymerization mechanism may occur at Al(i-Bu)₃/VCl₃·LiCl ratio at around 5. When the ratio is lower than 5, a cationic polymerization by VCl₃·LiCl takes place predominantly, while at ratios higher than 5, it is suggested that the polymerization proceeds by means of a VCl₃·LiClA–Al(i-Bu)₃ complex by a coordinated anionic mechanism. The polymers obtained by these catalysts are highly crystalline. Styrene was also polymerized by using the same catalysts. VCl₃·LiCl and VCl₃·LiCl–THF complex yielded amorphous polymer by cationic polymerization. When VCl₃·LiCl was combined with 6 mole-eq of Al(i-Bu)₃, the resulting polystyrene was highly crystalline and had an isotactic structure, while the VCl₂·2LiCl–Al(i-Bu)₃ (1:6) system yielded traces of polymer of extremely low stereoregularity. The results indicate that the effective vanadium component at Al/V ≧ 6 is trivalent and that the mechanism is a coordinated anionic one.     

Stereospecific polymerization of isobutyl vinyl ether by AIR3–VCl3·LiCl catalyst. II. Effects of polymerization conditions on polymerization

The effect of polymerization conditions such as aging time of the catalyst, polymerization temperature, polymerization time, monomer concentration, and catalyst concentration on the polymerization of isobutyl vinyl ether was intensively studied by using the VCI₃·LiCl–Al(i-Bu)₃ system at an Al(i-Bu)/VCl₃·LiCl ratio of 6 at which the cationic polymerization by VCl₃·LiCl is sufficiently depressed. About 10 min aging of the catalyst in the presence of monomer yields a fairly stable catalytie system. The optimum polymerization temperature is around 30°C. The conversion increased with increasing monomer concentration, whereas the stereospecificity of polymerization decreased. Unexpectedly, the conversion decreased as total catalyst concentration increased. This phenomenon is explained by considering the deactivation of catalytic sites by the excess of Al(i-Bu)₃. A reasonable mechanism from kinetic considerations is that two molecules of Al(i-Bu)₃ deactivate the catalytic site in an equilibrium reaction. This deactivation is understandable by considering that the coordination of two molecules of Al(i-Bu)₃ will occupy all the coordination positions of vanadium, so that there is no room for coordination of monomer coming to the catalytic site.     

Stereospecific polymerization of isobutyl vinyl ether catalyzed by calcined iron sulfate

The polymerization of isobutyl vinyl ether was studied in a heterogeneous system using iron (II) sulfate calcined in air at various temperatures as a catalyst. The maximum activity was shown by the catalyst calcined at 700°C, which effected the polymerization at room temperature in a few seconds, while the sulfate treated at 750°C was totally inactive. Poly(vinyl ethyl ether) was also obtained by the FeSO₄ (700°C) catalyst at room temperature. This catalyst formed the crystalline polymer (melting temperature 135–138°C) when the reaction was performed in toluene as solvent at room temperature. Poisoning experiments with Hammett indicators were carried out with the FeSO₄ (700°C) catalyst. The treatment with n-butylamine rendered it inactive in the reaction of isobutyl vinyl ether, while its catalytic activity was little affected by dicinnamalacetone. On the basis of the observed results, the nature of active sites of catalyst is discussed.     

NMR studies on the stereospecific polymerization of methyl vinyl ether. Part II. Polymerization by sulfuric acid–aluminum sulfate complex: Enantiomorphic catalyst sites model

Highly crystalline poly(methyl vinyl ether) (PMVE) was produced in toluene in a temperature range of 0 to ?20°C. with the use of sulfuric acid–aluminum sulfate complex (SA catalyst). It was found from the NMR spectra that these polymers contained more than 50% of the triad isotactic fraction and the melting point of the unfractionated polymer was about 130°C. However, PMVE containing a large amount of the isotactic fraction was insoluble in nitromethane, so the triad tacticity of highly crystalline PMVE could not be quantitatively determined. The molecular weight of PMVE increased with increasing conversion and increasing polymerization temperature. This behavior is different from that in metal halide catalysts. Also, the stereoregularity of PMVE decreased with increasing monomer concentration. However, addition of a polar solvent and increasing the polymerization temperature had little effect on the stereoregularity of the polymer. The increase in the isotactic fraction at high catalyst concentration and the difference in the monomer composition in the copolymerization of methyl vinyl ether with 2-chloroethyl vinyl ether by SA catalyst from that obtained by BF₃·O(C₂H₅)₂ suggest that the absorption of MVE on a catalyst surface is an important step in the propagation step by SA catalyst. The fraction of the triad tacticity calculated from the enantiomorphic catalyst sites model⁸ coincided with the experimental results. This fact shows that the steric structure of the adding monomer is determined only by the nature of the catalyst irrespective of the nature of a growing chain end. It is concluded, on considering also the results of the previous paper, that completely different factors can control the steric structure of a polymer even for the same monomer when different catalysts are used.     

Stereospecific polymerization of methacrylonitrile. III. Some new catalysts for isotactic polymethacrylonitrile

Some classes of organometallic catalysts what induce stereospecific polymerization of methacrylonitrile have been found. They include organolithium aluminum compounds of the type LiAlR₄, Li[R₃AlOAlR₂], and Li[R₃AlN(R)AlR₂], organosodium aluminum compounds of the type NaAlR₄, organolithium zinc compounds of the type LiZnR₃ and Li₂ZnR₄, organomagnesium aluminum compounds of the type RMg[AlR₄] and Mg[AlR₄]₂, and organomagnesium compounds containing an Mg? N bond, such as and their related compounds. One of the features of the polymerization with these catalysts was that the crystalline polymers were formed at moderately high temperatures. Total conversion, solubility index, and molecular weight of the polymer increased with increasing polymerization temperature, as observed in the case of polymerization with diethylmagnesium catalyst. Catalysts with an Mg? N bond were found to be highly effective for the stereospecific polymerization. The acetone-insoluble fractions of the polymers gave x-ray diagrams identical to the crystalline polymer produced with diethylmagnesium. This indicates that the acetone-insoluble crystalline polymers produced with these catalysts have an isotactic structure. The viscosity–molecular weight relationship for crystalline polymer was conveniently determined in Cl₂CHCOOH at 30°C.; [η] = 2.27 × 10^?4 M^0.754.     

Effect of temperature and solvents on stereospecific polymerization of vinyl alkyl ethers catalyzed by aluminum sulfate–sulfuric acid complex

The effect of polymerization temperature and solvents was determined on the crystallinity of polymers of vinyl isobutyl ether and of vinyl n-butyl ether prepared with aluminum sulfate–sulfuric acid complex catalyst. Principally, the methyl ethyl ketone (MEK)-insoluble fractions of these polymers were used for characterization. Density, per cent crystallinity by x-ray diffraction, infrared ratio, and dilatometric volume contraction of these polymer fractions were used as criteria of crystallinity. The MEK-insoluble fractions of poly(vinyl n-butyl ethers) prepared in carbon disulfide in the temperature range of ?30 to +25°C did not show any significant difference in the values of the above crystallinity parameters. The polymer obtained at 50°C. was less crystalline than the rest of the polymers. The MEK-insoluble fractions of poly(vinyl isobutyl ethers) prepared at 0–50°C. in carbon disulfide and n-heptane solvents also did not significantly differ in their degree of crystallinity. They were, however, decidedly less crystalline than the MEK-insoluble fractions of the corresponding polymers obtained at ?20°C. These data a indicate that on increasing the temperature of polymerization the crystallinity of the polymers was either unchanged or decreased slightly. The polymerizations of vinyl n-butyl ether and vinyl isobutyl ethers were also carried out in binary mixtures of carbon disulfide with n-heptane, chlorobenzene, and MEK. Generally, increasing the concentration of carbon disulfide increased the inherent viscosities of polymers as well as the weight percentage of their MEK-insoluble fractions. The MEK-insoluble fraction of poly(vinyl isobutyl ether) prepared in carbon disulfide-MEK mixture (volume ratio 2:1) was isotactic and highly crystalline. Likewise, the MEK-insoluble fractions of two polymers of vinyl n-butyl ether prepared in MEK itself were also isotactic and highly crystalline. Compared to poly(tetramethylene oxide), these latter fractions exhibited less dependence of rate of crystallization upon temperature. Consequently, at low degrees of supercooling they crystallize much more rapidly than does poly(tetramethylene oxide).     

Stereoregularity of poly(vinyl ether)

α-Methylvinyl isobutyl and methyl ethers were polymerized cationically and the structure of the polymers was studied by NMR. Poly(α-methylvinyl methyl ether) polymerized with iodine or ferric chloride as catalyst was found to be almost atactic, whereas poly(α-methylvinyl isobutyl ether) polymerized in toluene with BF₃OEt₂ or AlEt₂Cl as catalyst was found to be isotactic. In both cases, the addition of polar solvent resulted in the increase of syndiotactic structure as is the case with polymerization of alkyl vinyl ether. tert-Butyl vinyl ether was polymerized, and the polymer was converted into poly(vinyl acetate), the structure of which was studied by NMR. A nearly linear relationship between the optical density ratio D₇₂₂/D₇₃₆ in poly(tert-butyl vinyl ether) and the isotacticity of the converted poly(vinyl acetate) was observed.     

POLYMERIZATION OF ETHYLENE AND PROPYLENE WITH VCL4-BUTYLLITHIUM CATALYSTS

Polymerization of ethylene and propylene with VCl₄-BuLi (Bu = n-Bu, sec-Bu, tert-Bu) catalysts was investigated. The VCl₄-BuLi catalysts were found to initiate the polymerization of ethylene and propylene. The VCl₄-BuLi catalysts gave an ultra high molecular polyethylene. The effect of the Li /V mole ratio on the polymerization of ethylene with the VCl₄-BuLi catalysts was observed, an the catalyst gave an optimum rate at the Li/V ratio of about 3.0. The polyethylene obtained with the VCl₄-BuLi catalyst was found to be a linear structure. In the polymerization of propylene with the VCl₄-BuLi catalyst, the polymers contain mm contents of 56–66% were produced.     

Tetradentate schiff base ligand/MCln initiating systems for the controlled cationic polymerization of isobutyl vinyl ether: Effects of the ligand framework

We investigated the cationic polymerization of vinyl ethers using metal complex catalysts with salen and salphen ligands. Metal complexes were generated in situ from the reaction of a ligand and a metal chloride. The choice of a ligand and a central metal was crucial for tuning the catalyst function such as catalytic activity and controllability of the polymerization. Among metal chlorides employed, ZrCl₄ was the most efficient for controlled polymerization. Cationic polymerization of isobutyl vinyl ether (IBVE) proceeded using the salen and salphen‐type ligand/ZrCl₄ initiating systems, yielding polymers with predetermined molecular weights and narrow molecular weight distributions. Importantly, the structural effects of the complex catalysts were responsible for the polymerization behavior. For example, the polymerization using the salen‐type ligand/ZrCl₄ system was much slower than that using the salphen‐type ligand/ZrCl₄ system. In addition, the polymerization of IBVE using the salen‐type ligand/FeCl₃ system proceeded in a controlled manner, which was in contrast to uncontrolled polymerization using the salphen‐type ligand/FeCl₃ system. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2019 , 57, 989–996     

Stereospecific polymerization of α-methylstyrene by friedel-crafts catalysts

The relationship between stereoregularity and polymerization conditions of α-methylstyrene has been studied by means of NMR spectra. The effects of solvents and various Freidel-Crafts catalysts have been investigated. The stereoregularity of poly-α-methylstyrene increased with increased polymer solubility in the solvent used and with decreasing polymerization temperature. This behavior is completely different from the stereospecific polymerization of vinyl ethers and methyl methacrylate in homogeneous systems. This may be due to the strong steric repulsion exerted by the two substituents in the α-position of α-methylstyrene. For example, with BF₃ · O(C₂H₅)₂ as catalyst at ?78°C., atactic polymer is obtained in n-hexane, a nonsolvent for α-methylstyrene, whereas highly stereoregular polymer is produced in toluene or methylene chloride, good solvents for the polymer. However, the polarity of the solvent and the nature of the catalyst hardly affect the stereoregularity of the polymer.     

Structure and reactivity α,β-unsaturated ethers. II. Cationic copolymerizations of propenyl isobutyl ether

cis- and trans-Propenyl isobutyl ethers were copolymerized with each other and each with vinyl isobutyl ether separately under various conditions. In homogeneous polymerizations a cis-β-methyl substitution on vinyl isobutyl ether apparently enhanced the reactivity, whereas the trans substitution tended to reduce it slightly. In heterogeneous catalysis, on the other hand, a β-methyl group on the vinyl ether, whether cis or trans, greatly reduced the reactivity, probably because of the steric hindrance toward the adsorption of monomers on the catalyst surface. The relative reactivities of cis- and trans-propenyl isobutyl ethers ranged from 2 to 20, depending on the polymerization conditions. The polymer end formed from the cis monomer exhibited special steric effects. It was concluded that even in homogeneous media the rotation of the polymer end around the terminal carbon–carbon bond is restricted.     

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     

End-Functionalized polymers by living cationic polymerization. IV. Poly(vinyl ethers) with acidic or basic terminal groups by functional initiator method

Carboxylic acid or primary amine-terminated poly(isobutyl vinyl ethers) were synthesized by living cationic polymerizations with functionalized initiators (CH₃CHIO? CH₂CH₂ ? X; X: that are the adducts of the corresponding vinyl ethers (CH₂ ? CH ? OCH₂CH₂? X) with hydrogen iodide. In the presence of iodine, these initiators induced living cationic polymerization of isobutyl vinyl ether to give polymers with the α-end group of X originating from the initiators. The polymer molecular weights were regulated by the monomer to initiator feed ratio and the molecular weight distributions were very narrow (M _w/M _n ≤ 1.15). Subsequent deprotection of the terminal group X led to polymers with a terminal carboxylic acid or primary amine. ¹H- and ¹³C-NMR analyses showed that the end functionalities of these polymers were all close to unity.     

Monomer-Isomerization polymerization. XXVIII. Catalytic activity of transition metals and alkylaluminums in monomer-isomerization polymerization of 2-butene

Monomer-isomerization polymerization of cis-2-butene (c2B) with Ziegler–Natta catalysts was studied to find a highly active catalyst. Among the transition metals [TiCl₃, TiCl₄, VCl₃, VOCl₃, and V (acac)₃] and alkylauminums used, TiCl₃? R₃Al (R = C₂H₅ and i-C₄H₉) was found to show a high-activity for monomer-isomerization polymerization of c2B. The polymer yield was low with TiCl₄? (C₂H₅)₃Al catalyst. However, when NiCl₂ was added to this catalyst, the polymer yield increased. With TiCl₃? (C₂H₅)₃Al catalyst, the effect of the Al/Ti molar ratio was observed and a maximum for the polymer yields was obtained at molar ratios of 2.0–3.0, but the isomerization increased as a function of Al/Ti molar ratio. The valence state of titanium on active sites for isomerization and polymerization is discussed.     

Polymers derived from fluoroketones. III. Monomer synthesis,polymerization, and wetting properties of poly(allyl ether) and poly(vinyl ether)

The synthesis and polymerization of a series of perhaloalkyl allyl and vinyl ethers derived from perhaloketones is described. Data on the critical surface tension of wetting (γ_c) for high molecular weight polymers of heptafluoroisopropyl vinyl ether and low molecular weight poly(heptafluoroisopropyl allyl ether) is also presented. Preparation of the allyl ethers is a one-step, high-yield displacement reaction between the potassium fluoride–perhaloacetone adduct and an allyl halide, such as allyl bromide. The vinyl ethersare prepared by a two-step process which involves displacement of halide from a 1,2-dihaloethane with a KF–perhaloacetone adduct and dehydrohalogenation of the 1-halo-2-perhaloalkoxyethane to a vinyl ether. Low molecular weight polymers were obtained with heptafluoroisopropyl allyl ether by using a high concentration of a free-radical initiator. The low molecular weight poly(heptafluoroisopropyl allyl ether) had a γ_c of 21 dyne/cm. No polymer was obtained with tributylborane–oxygen or with VCl₃–AIR₃, with gamma radiation, or by exposure to ultraviolet light. High molecular weight polymers were obtained from heptafluoroisopropyl vinyl either by using either lauryl peroxide or ultraviolet light but not by exposure to BF₃–etherate. The γ_c for poly(heptafluoroisopropyl vinyl ether) ranged from 14.2 to 14.6 dyne/cm., and the significance of this value is discussed in relation to the γ_c for poly(heptafluoroisopropyl acrylate).     

Stereoelective cationic polymerization of propenyl ether by asymmetric catalysts

In order to elucidate the possibility of stereoelective cationic polymerization (asymmetric selective polymerization) of olefinic monomers, racemic cis- and trans-1-methylpropyl propenyl ether and racemic 1-methylpropyl vinyl ether were polymerized by asymmetric alkoxyaluminum dichlorides. In the polymerization of racemic cis-1-methylpropyl propenyl ether with (?)-menthoxyaluminum dichloride in toluene at ?78°C, the polymer obtained showed a positive optical activity, and the residual monomers were converted by BF₃OEt₂ into a polymer having a negative optical activity. Thus, the stereoelective polymerization of racemic cis-1-methylpropyl propenyl ether was beyond any doubt attained in homogeneous cationic polymerization. In the polymerization of the trans isomer by the same catalyst, an optically active polymer was hardly formed. In the polymerization of racemic 1-methylpropyl vinyl ether which has no β-methyl group, stereoelectivity was not observed at all. The cis-1-methylpropyl propenyl ether did not produce an optical active polymer in the polymerization catalyzed by (S)-1-methylpropoxyaluminum dichloride or (S)-2-methylbutoxyaluminum dichloride under the same polymerization conditions.     

Crystallization during polymerization of ethylene: Successive events

Crystallization processes occurring during polymer synthesis in a nonsolvent medium are discussed. It is concluded that in the case of heterogeneous polymerization of ethylene the polymer is produced as a supercooled liquid surrounding the catalyst particles. These particles then coalesce until a critical size is reached allowing a high nucleation probability. Thus coalescence coupled with polymerization, leads to crystallization at a relatively uniform particle size. Two less usual polymerization catalyst systems, VCl₃ produced by a high-frequency discharge in VCl₄ vapor, and the mixture of TiCl₄ and Al(CH₃)₃ vapors (an apparently homogeneous system) are used to illustrate these concepts for polyethylene.     

Cationic polymerization of α,β-disubstituted olefins. XV. Stereospecific polymerization of butenyl ethers by cationic catalysts

Methyl, ethyl, and isopropyl butenyl ethers, CH₃CH₂CH?CHOR, were polymerized with homogeneous catalysts at ?78°C. Toluene, methylene chloride, and nitroethane were used as solvents, and BF₃O(C₂H₅)₂ and SnCl₄·CCl₃CO₂H were used as catalysts. The stereoregularity of the polymers were compared by x-ray diagrams and infrared absorption ratios. The stereoregularity of polymers increased with increasing content of the trans isomer in the monomer and with increasing polarity of the solvent. In the polymerization of methyl and ethyl butenyl ethers, crystalline polymers were obtained from both the trans and cis isomers. The crystalline polymer prepared from the trans isomer and that from the cis isomer had the same steric structure. This behavior is quite different from that observed in the polymerization of propenyl ethers. It is concluded that the bulkiness of the group on the olefinic β-carbon plays an important role in the stereospecific polymerization of α,β-disubstituted olefins.     

Polymerization of Vinyl Ethers by Iron(II) and Cobalt(II) Pyridyl Bis(imine) Complexes in the Presence of Methylaluminoxane

Summary: The polymerizations of ethyl vinyl ether, n‐butyl vinyl ether and isobutyl vinyl ether were investigated with a series of pyridine bis(imine) complexes of iron(II ) and cobalt(II ) in the presence of methylaluminoxane. The cobalt catalysts showed much higher activity and produced higher molecular weight polymers than their iron analogues. Both catalyst systems produced predominantly atactic polymers. There were no specific trends in the activity and the polymer molecular weight, according to the steric bulk around the metal center.

The iron(II ) and cobalt(II ) catalysts used here.     

Recent developments in living cationic polymerization

Scope and limitation of the vinyl ether polymerization initiated by NR₄ClO₄(KClO₄;LiClO₄)/CH₃CHI-OR was discussed. Besides isobutyl vinyl ether (IBVE), N-vinylcarbazole (NVC) and 2-chloroethyl vinyl ether (CEVE) were initiated by NR₄ClO₄/CH₃CHI-OR. These polymerizations exhibited the characteristics of a living polymerization. However, in order to observe narrow molar mass distribution NVC was initiated with CH₃CHI-OR, without salts. Block copolymers were synthesized by the method of sequential monomer addition (NVC, IBVE, CEVE). The PCEVE segment was modified by nucleophilic substitution, which allowed the synthesis of amphiphilic block copolymers.