Kinetics of anionic polymerization of methylmetacrylate with caesium and sodium as counterions in tetrahydrofuran

The kinetics of the anionic polymerization of methylmethacrylate in tetrahydrofuran at ?75 are investigated. Cumylcaecium, α-methylstryrylcaesium and α-methylstyrylsodium were used as initiators. The results show that the polymerization proceeds practically without side reactions under these conditions; as for the anionic polymerization of styrene in polar solvents, ion pairs and anions contribute to the propagation. The rate constant of monomer addition to the ion pair has at ?75 values of 60 and 80 for polymethylmethacrylsodium and polymethylmethacrylcaesium, respectively, and for the anion about 5 × 10⁴ l mole^?1 sec^?1. The dissociation constant was measured as 3·5 × 10^?9 for polymethylmethacrylsodium and 2 × 10^?9 mole/l for the caesium compound at this temperature: the corresponding dissociation enthalpies are ?0·3 and ?1·3 kcal mole^?1. The relatively low activation energy for monomer addition to the ion pair of polymethylmethacrylsodium of 2·3 kcal mole^?1 suggests the existence of two types of ion pairs whereas the corresponding value for polymethylmethacrylcaesium of 4·5 kcal mole^?1 does not allow such an interpretation. The kinetic results are compared with those of the corresponding polystyrylcompounds: the differences are explained by the fact that, in the case of the polymethylmethacryl compound, the estergroup competes with the solvent for solvation of the cation.     

The kinetics of the polymerization of methyl methacrylate initiated by t-butylmagnesium bromide in THF,toluene or mixed solvent

The kinetics of the solution polymerization of methyl methacrylate in THF, toluene and their mixtures were studied between 200 and 300 K using dilatometry (in the systems where it was valid), gravimetric determination and monitoring monomer and polymer concentrations by NMR spectrometry. The reaction followed zero order kinetics at 200 K, first order kinetics at 275 K and mixed order in between. At both the limits and intermediate range, the reaction followed an integrated rate equation consistent with terminationless propagation proceeding through a complex between monomer and the propagating species. Above 275 K, termination and side reactions were evident and the yields of high mol. wt polymer were small. Density-temperature calibrations for monomer in THF, toluene and mixtures were constructed for the range 190–283 K. However for polymerizations in toluene-rich mixtures, where very high mol. wt polymer forms, the contraction did not correlate linearly with conversion.     

Synthesis of novel tetrahydrofuran‐epichlorohydrin [poly(THF‐b‐ECH)] macromonomeric peroxy initiators by cationic copolymerization and the quantum chemically investigation of initiation system effects

Cationic polymerization of tetrahydrofuran (THF) and epichlorohydrin (ECH) was performed with peroxy initiators synthesized from bis (4,4′‐bromomethyl benzoyl peroxide (BBP) or bromomethyl benzoyl t‐butyl peroxy ester (t‐BuBP) and AgSbF₆ or ZnCl₂ system at 0 °C to obtain the poly(THF‐b‐ECH) macromonomeric peroxy initiators. Kinetic studies were accomplished for poly(THF‐b‐ECH) initiators. Poly(THF‐b‐ECH‐b‐MMA) and poly(THF‐b‐ECH‐b‐S) block copolymers were synthesized by bulk polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) and styrene (S) with poly(THF‐b‐ECH) initiators. The quantum chemical calculations for the block copolymers, the initiating systems of the cationic polymerization of THF and ECH were achieved using HYPERCHEM 7.5 program. The optimized geometries of the polymers were investigated with the quantum chemical calculations. Poly(THF‐b‐ECH) initiators having peroxygen groups were used for graft copolymerization of polybutadien (PBd) to obtain poly(THF‐b‐ECH‐g‐PBd) crosslinked graft copolymers. The graft copolymers were investigated by sol‐gel analysis. Swelling ratio values of the graft copolymers in CHCl₃ were calculated. The characterizations of the polymers were achieved by FTIR, ¹H NMR, GPC, SEM, TEM, and DSC techniques. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 2896–2909, 2010     

Termination Mechanism in the Anionic Polymerization of Methyl Methacrylate

Recent studies have revealed that at temperatures around 200°K in tetrahydrofuran solvent, poly(methy1 methacrylate) ion pairs are long-lived and very reactive. At higher temperatures however termination of the ion pairs occurs, as evidenced by the broadening of the molecular weight distribution of the resultant polymer and by the incomplete polymerization of the monomer. Three mechanisms have been proposed to describe these termination reactions; an inter molecular reaction with the monomer ester function, an intramolecular cyclization of the anion, or reaction with the polymer ester function. In the absence of monomer only the last two mechanisms can be operative. A series of experiments was undertaken in which the molecular weight distribution broadening with temperature increase was measured under typical polymerization conditions or in the absence of monomer. The effect of each of the three counterions Li, Na, and K was also monitored. The results obtained are discussed in terms of these three possible termination mechanisms. Termination rate constants calculated from the molecular weight distribution are also presented.     

Bicyclo[6.3.0]undecapentaenyl Anion: The Next Higher Homolog of the Indenyl Anion with Exceptionally Large Ion‐Pairing Effects on its Tropicity

The title anion 1 was generated as a fairly thermally stable species in tetrahydrofuran (THF) and dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) by the action of several bases (sodium hydride, potassium hydride, lithium diisopropylamide, and lithium hexamethyldisilazide) with appropriate bicyclo[6.3.0]undecapentaenes. Variable‐temperature ¹H NMR spectra of 1? Li⁺ in [D₈]THF reveal that the anion exhibits exceptionally large ion‐pairing effects; proton chemical shifts vary by more than 1 ppm as a function of ion‐pairing conditions. Thus, anion 1 , in a contact ion pair (Li⁺ at ambient temperature in THF), behaves as an aromatic cyclopentadienyl anion that is perturbed only slightly by the electronic effects of a paramagnetic cyclooctatetraene (COT), whereas 1 in a separated ion pair (Li⁺ at low temperatures in THF or at ambient temperature in DMSO) behaves as an overall paratropic species with a 12 π‐electron periphery. ¹³C NMR spectroscopy indicates no major skeletal rearrangement and only small variations of the electron density. The variable tropicity of 1 can be ascribed to small conformational changes of the molecule. In addition to its unusual, tunable tropicity, anion 1 can also serve as a versatile building block for the synthesis of cyclopentanoid conjugated systems fused to a fully unsaturated eight‐membered ring. A theoretical calculation predicts that the 10‐position of 1 should have the highest electron density. In agreement with this prediction, the reactions of 1 with electrophiles occur predominantly at the 10‐position. The corresponding ferrocene, two fulvenes, two diazo derivatives, and a COT‐fused azulene were obtained by the reactions of 1 with appropriate electrophiles.     

Synthesis and characterization of block copolymers from 2‐vinylnaphthalene by anionic polymerization

The anionic polymerization of 2‐vinylnaphthalene (2VN) has been studied in tetrahydrofuran (THF) at ?78 °C and in toluene at 40 °C. 2VN polymerization in THF, toluene, or toluene/THF (99:1 v/v) initiated by sec‐butyllithium (sBuLi) indicates living characteristics, affording polymers with predefined molecular weights and narrow molecular weight distributions. Block copolymers of 2VN with methyl methacrylate (MMA) and tert‐butyl acrylate (tBA) have been synthesized successfully by sequential monomer addition in THF at ?78 °C initiated by an adduct of sBuLi–LiCl. The crossover propagation from poly(2‐vinylnaphthyllithium) (P2VN) macroanions to MMA and tBA appears to be living, the molecular weight and composition can be predicted, and the molecular weight distribution of the resulting block copolymer is narrow (weight‐average molecular/number‐average molecular weight < 1.3). Block copolymers with different chain lengths for the P2VN segment can easily be prepared by variations in the monomer ratios. The block copolymerization of 2VN with hexamethylcyclotrisiloxane also results in a block copolymer of P2VN and poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) contaminated with a significant amount of homo‐PDMS. Poly(2VN‐b‐nBA) (where nBA is n‐butyl acrylate) has also been prepared by the transesterification reaction of the poly(2VN‐b‐tBA) block copolymer. Size exclusion chromatography, Fourier transform infrared, and ¹H NMR measurements indicate that the resulting polymers have the required architecture. The corresponding amphiphilic block copolymer of poly(2VN‐b‐AA) (where AA is acrylic acid) has been synthesized by acidic hydrolysis of the ester group of tert‐butyl from the poly(2VN‐b‐tBA) copolymer. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 4387–4397, 2002     

Synthetic and mechanistic aspects of anionic polymerization of methyl methacrylate using tetrabutyl ammonium thioimidate

The tetrabutylammonium salts of ionic organo-initiator containing N,N'-diisopropylthiourea (TUA-1) or N,N'-diethylthiourea (TUA-2) serve as inexpensive initiators for the anionic polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) at room temperature. The molecular weights of obtained polymers are in the range of 1500–22,700 g mol⁻¹ and the molecular weight distributions are fairly broad (Đ = 1.9–2.5) in optimized cases. The molar ratio of monomer to initiator can be achieved up to 800. Side-reactions, for example, backbiting, transfer reactions result in the polymerization being a non-living manner, thus leading to broad molecular weight distributions of the resulting polymers. The effects of counterion nature were also studied from the polymerization of MMA using TUA-1 anion with sodium or potassium salts as counterions under identical conditions. Detailed investigation indicates that the polymerization proceeds via a sulfur anion initiated repeated 1,4-Machael addition. In general, thioimidate initiators induced MMA polymerization feature certain induction periods, which is ascribed to slow addition thioimidate to CC double bond of MMA as a result of low initiator efficiency.     

Isolation and Ambident Reactivity of a Chlorogermylenoid

Treatment of 2,5‐di(3,5‐tert‐butylphenyl)‐1‐lithioferrocene with GeCl₂?dioxane afforded the corresponding chlorogermylenoid that exhibited an ambident reactivity in different solvents; it displayed a behavior characteristic for a dichlorogermylene anion in THF, while it exhibited the typical reactivity of a chlorogermylene in toluene. X‐Ray diffraction analysis of a single crystal of this chlorogermylenoid, obtained from recrystallization in THF, revealed a separated‐ion‐pair structure in the solid state.     

Effect of initiators on grafting in the initial stage of the emulsion polymerization of methyl methacrylate using poly(vinyl alcohol) as a protective colloid

 To make clear the reason of unsuitability of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) protective colloid for the emulsion polymerization of conjugated monomers, a model experiment of emulsion polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) was carried out with ammonium persulfate (APS) or azobis(isobutyronitrile) (AIBN) initiators, where a small amount of MMA (1/100th of the concentration compared with ordinary emulsion polymerization) was employed. This corresponds to the initial stage of the emulsion polymerization. Grafting of MMA onto PVA took place remarkably irrespective of the kind of the initiators. Formation of homo-poly(MMA) was observed to a small extent. The formation of new emulsion particles smaller than 100 nm continued to increase to almost the end of the polymerization. PVA molecules in the grafted polymer are supposed to act as stabilizers of newly formed particles. From kinetic treatment using the experimental data, the important issues were derived as follows. Firstly, the sulfate anion radical from APS is much more reactive than the isobutyronitrile radical from AIBN in terms of hydrogen abstraction from PVA. Secondly, high grafting ability of the latter initiator system, notwithstanding the much lower reactivity in the hydrogen abstraction compared with the APS system, is attributed to the relative reactivity of the primary radicals, i.e., hydrogen abstraction reaction from PVA to initiation reaction with MMA. The much slower rate of addition of the isobutyronitrile radical to the monomer compared with that of hydrogen abstraction from PVA facilitates the grafting, although the rate constant of hydrogen abstraction is far smaller than that with the sulfate anion radical by 10⁻⁴ times. Received: 26 April 2001 Accepted: 6 September 2001     

Synthesis and Characterization of the Dilithium Salt of the Octasilyl[4]radialene Dianion: Evidence for a Lithium Walk on the Eight-Center,Ten-Electron π-Electron System

A highly symmetric structure is displayed in toluene by 1 , which was obtained by reduction of octasilyl[4]radialene with lithium in THF. The two Li⁺ ions of 1 are not fixed to the π-electron system in toluene, but are fluxional, giving rise to a bis-contact ion pair. In a solvating medium such as THF, one of the Li⁺ ions dissociates in such a way that 1 exists as a contact ion pair and a solvent-separated ion pair.     

Synthesis of PMMA and PMMA block copolymers at elevated temperatures by phosphor ylide‐mediated polymerizations

The MMA polymerization initiated by (1‐naphthyl) triphenylphosphonium triphenylmethyl anion(TPM,NTPP) or the NTPP salt of the methylisobutyrate anion (MIB,NTPP) in THF at temperatures varying from 25 to 70°C appears to be a living polymerization as indicatred by a linear M_n vs. MMA conversion plot and by the narrow MW distributions. As indicated by the proton spectrum of MIB, NTPP in THF d₈ the predominant polymerization intermediate appears to be the ylide formed exclusively by addition of the MIB anion to the 4‐carbon of the 1‐naphthyl group. This ylide shows upfield shifts for the 3‐proton of the cyclohexadienyl ring and of the 6‐ and 8‐protons of the remaining aromatic ring. The rates of the NTPP mediated polymerizations are reduced by factors of around 10⁴‐10⁵ compared to that mediated by the corresponding ylides formed by addition of MIB to the phenyl ring of tetraphenylphosphonium ion. The reductions in rate in the presence of NTPP make it possible to carry out MMA polymerizations under conditions not normally accessible.     

Polymerization of Methyl Methacrylate with Bis(Cyclopentadienyl)Titanium Dichloride in a Water-Methanol Mixture: Formation of Tetrahydrofuran-Insoluble Polymer

Abstract

Methyl methacrylate (MMA) was found to be effectively polymerized with bis(cyclopentadienyl)titanium dichloride (CP₂TiCl₂) in a water-methanol mixture (1:1, v/v). The polymerization proceeded heterogeneously because the resulting poly(MMA) was insoluble in the system. The rate (R _p) of the heterogenous polymerization was apparently expressed by R _p = k[Cp₂TiCl₂]²[MMA]^2˙5 (at 40°C). The resulting poly(MMA) was observed to consist of tetrahydrofuran (THF)-soluble and insoluble parts. In contrast with the usual radical poly(MMA), the THF-insoluble part was soluble in benzene, toluene, and chloroform but insoluble in polar solvents such as ethyl acetate, acetone, acetonitrile, dimethylformamide, and dimethylsulfoxide. The polymerization was found to be profoundly accelerated by irradiation with a fluorescent room lamp (15 W). The results of copolymerization of MMA and acrylonitrile indicated that the present polymerization proceeds through a radical mechanism.     

Anionic polymerization of N-substituted maleimide. II. Polymerization of N-ethylmaleimide

Anionic polymerization of N-ethylmaleimide (N-EMI) was carried out with potassium t-butoxide, lithium t-butoxide, n-butyllithium, and ethylmagnesium bromide as initiators in THF and in toluene. An almost quantitative yield of poly(N-EMI) was obtained with potassium t-butoxide as initiator in THF in a wide range of polymerization temperatures. Initiators possessing lithium as counter cation produced poly(N-EMI) in slightly lower yields and ethylmagnesium bromide gave the polymer only in less than 35% yield in THF. As a polymerization reaction solvent, THF was preferable for the polymerization of N-EMI compared with toluene with respect to polymer yields. Poly(N-EMI) obtained with anionic initiators exerted unimodal molecular weight distribution. From ¹H- and ¹³C-NMR spectra of poly(N-EMI) anionic polymerization of N-EMI with potassium t-butoxide was revealed to proceed at carbon–carbon double bond. t-Butoxide system was found to have a “living” polymerization character, i.e., the observed average degree of polymerization was in good agreement with the one calculated from the initial molar ratio of N-EMI/initiator and the yield of polymer.     

Synthesis of poly(methyl methacrylate) macromonomer

Anionic polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) was carried out in tetrahydrofuran (THF) or THF/toluene mixture at ?78°C initiated by triphenylmethyl sodium or lithium as initiators. Highly syndiotactic PMMA of low polydispersity (M _w/m _n = 1.11–1.17) could be prepared with triphenylmethyl lithium in THF or THF/toluene mixture at ? 78°C. Moreover, PMMA macromonomer having one vinylbenzyl group per polymer chain was prepared by the couplings of living PMMA initiated by triphenylmethyl lithium with p-chloromethyl styrene (CMS) at ?78°C. The coupling reaction of living PMMA initiated by triphenylmethyl sodium with CMS was scarcely occurred.     

Novel conjugated polymer containing anthracene backbone: Addition polymer of 9, 10-diethynylanthracene with 9, 10-anthracenedithiol and its properties

9,10-Diethynylanthracene was prepared by the alkaline hydrolysis of 9,10-bis (trimethylsilylethynyl) anthracene. Another new monomer of 9, 10-anthracenedithiol was prepared by the reduction of anthracene polydisulfide. A crystalline conjugated polymer of 9,10-diethynylanthracene with 9,10-anthracenedithiol was synthesized in a THF solution at 50°C by UV irradiation or by using radical initiators. The molecular weight (M?_n) of the insoluble polymer in THF is about 20000–30000 and the soluble is about 4000. From the sulfur content and IR spectrum of the insoluble polymer, it is realized that the obtained polymer has the alternating structure consisting of 9,10-diethynylanthracene and 9,10-anthracenedithiol units. X-ray pattern indicated that the polymer has a layer structure. The conductivity of the undoped polymer was about 10^?11S/cm, but enhanced up to 10^?6 S/cm by doping with iodine. The enhancement of the conductivity seems to be the existence of the CT complex among the polymer backbone and iodine or iodine anion.     

Vinyl Polymerization Initiated by Ceric Ion–Ethyl Cellosolve Redox System in Aqueous Nitric Acid

Abstract

Polymerizations of methyl methacrylate (MMA) and acrylonitrile (AN) were carried out in aqueous nitric acid at 30°C with the redox initiator system ammonium ceric nitrate-ethyl cellosolve (EC). A short induction period was observed as well as the attainment of a limiting conversion for polymerization reactions. The consumption of ceric ion was first order with respect to Ce(IV) concentration in the concentration range (0.2–0.4) × 10^?2 M, and the points at higher and lower concentrations show deviations from a linear fit. The plots of the inverse of pseudo-first-order rate constant for ceric ion consumption, (k ¹)^?1 vs [EC]^?1, gave straight lines for both the monomer systems with nonzero intercepts supporting complex formation between Ce(IV) and EC. The rate of polymerization increases regularly with [Ce(IV)] up to 0.003 M, yielding an order of 0.41, then falls to 0.0055 M and again shows a rise at 0.00645 M for MMA polymerization. For AN polymerization, R _p shows a steep rise with [Ce(IV)] up to 0.001 M, and beyond this concentration R _p shows a regular increase with [Ce(IV)], yielding an order of 0.48. In the presence of constant [NO^? ₃], MMA and AN polymerizations yield orders of 0.36 and 0.58 for [Ce(IV)] variation, respectively. The rates of polymerization increased with an increase in EC and monomer concentrations: only at a higher concentration of EC (0.5 M) was a steep fall in R _p observed for both monomer systems. The orders with respect to EC and monomer for MMA polymerization were 0.19 and 1.6, respectively. The orders with respect to EC and monomer for AN polymerization were 0.2 and 1.5, respectively. A kinetic scheme involving oxidation of EC by Ce(IV) via complex formation, whose decomposition gives rise to a primary radical, initiation, propagation, and termination of the polymeric radicals by biomolecular interaction is proposed. An oxidative termination of primary radicals by Ce(IV) is also included.     

Chain center‐functionalized amphiphilic block polymers: Complementary hydrogen bond self‐assembly in aqueous solution

Hydrogen bonding self‐assemblies were formed in an aqueous medium from a pair of an amphiphilic ABA triblock copolymer and a hydrophobic homopolymer, both with a triple hydrogen bonding site that was complementary to each other and precisely placed at the main‐chain center: (PEGMA)_m–(MMA)_n– ADA –(MMA)_n–(PEGMA)_m and (MMA)_p– DAD –(MMA)_p ( A = hydrogen acceptor; D = hydrogen donor; PEGMA: PEG methacrylate; MMA: methyl methacrylate). The polymers were synthesized by the ruthenium‐catalyzed living radial polymerization with bifunctional initiators (Br– ADA –Br and Cl– DAD –Cl) aiming at pinpoint chain center functionalization to give a symmetric segmental sequence; ADA and DAD initiators were derived from 2,6‐diaminopyridine and thymine, respectively. On mixed equimolar in tetrahydrofuran (THF), both polymers spontaneously associated, and the apparently 1:1 assembly further grew into higher aggregate particles on subsequent addition of water. The aggregates in water/THF were relatively stable and uniform in size, which most likely stems from the intermolecular complementary hydrogen bond interaction at polymer chain centers. In sharp contrast, an equimolar mixture of ADA ‐block polymer and DAD ‐free poly(MMA) in water/THF resulted in larger and irregular particles, and thus short‐lived to eventually collapse. These results indicate that, however structurally marginal, precise pinpoint functionalization of macromolecular chains allows stable self‐assemblies via complementary hydrogen bond interaction even in aqueous media. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2013 , 51, 4498–4504     

Chain transfer and living functionalization of polymethacrylates by group transfer polymerization using ethyl 2-Phenyl-2-butenoate

A living functionalization method has been investigated for group transfer polymerization (GTP) of poly(alkyl methacrylates) using ethyl 2-phenyl-2-butenoate (EPB). The end-capping reactions of EPB to living trimethylsilyl ketene acetal-ended poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) chain ends have been systematically studied and characterized by SEC, VPO, UV-visible spectrosocopy, ¹H and ¹³c NMR spectroscopy. The results of sequential monomer addition, varying stoichiometry and copolymerization indicate that EPB effects efficient chain end functionalization only at stoichiometric concentrations; chain transfer reactions (chain transfer constant = 0.4) occur with excess EPB and during copolymerization with MMA. Chain transfer reactions (chain transfer constant = 0.1) also occur when copolymerizing ethyl 2-methyl-2-butenoate with MMA.     

Polymerization of butadiene by polybutadienyllithium in the presence of tetrahydrofuran

Polymerization of butadiene by polybutadienyllithium (PBLi) has been studied in THF for concentrations of PBLi between 10^?4 and 10^?2 mol/I in the range 20–70°, and also in a non-polar medium using THF as an added electron donor at various THF/PBLi ratios. The kinetic order with respect to PBLi in THF was 0.5 and the activation energies of the overall process and the propagation on free carbanions were 7.5 and 6.7 kcal/mol respectively. Rate constants for propagation on the free carbanions were calculated at three temperatures and rate constants for propagation on contact ion pairs were determined at two THF/PBLi ratios. Data on the kinetics of polymerization and the microstructure of the polymers suggest that contact ion pairs and free carbanions participate in propagation reactions.     

2‐[(Diphenylphosphino)methyl]pyridine as ligand for iron‐based atom transfer radical polymerization

2‐[(Diphenylphosphino)methyl]pyridine (DPPMP) was successfully used as a bidentate ligand in the iron‐mediated atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of methyl methacrylate (MMA) with various initiators and solvents. The effect of the catalytic system on ATRP was studied systematically. Most of the polymerizations with DPPMP ligand were well controlled with a linear increase in the number‐average molecular weights (M_n) versus conversion and relatively low molecular weight distributions (M_w/M_n = 1.10–1.3) being observed throughout the reactions, and the measured molecular weights matched the predicted values. Initially added iron(III) bromide improved the controllability of the polymerization reactions in terms of molecular weight control. The ratio of ligand to metal influenced the controllability of ATRP system, and the optimum ratio was found to be 2:1. It was shown that ATRP of MMA with FeX₂/DPPMP catalytic system (X = Cl, Br) initiated by 2‐bromopropionitrile (BPN) was controlled more effectively in toluene than in polar solvents. The rate of polymerization increased with increasing the polymerization temperature and the apparent activation energy was calculated to be 56.7 KJ mol^?1. In addition, reverse ATRP of MMA was able to be successfully carried out using AIBN in toluene at 80 °C. Polymerization of styrene (St) was found to be controlled well by using the PEBr/FeBr₂/DPPMP system in DMF at 110 °C. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 2922–2935, 2008