Study on cationic polymerization of isobutylene using electrochemical method

The cationic polymerization of isobutylene (IB) initiated by H₂O/TiCl₄ was carried out in a mixture of methylene dichloride and n-hexane at −60 °C in the presence of a variety of external electron pair donors (EDs), such as triethylamine (TEA), N,N-dimethyl acetamide (DMA) and pyridine (Py). The effects of ED concentration ([ED]), H₂O concentration ([H₂O]) on conductance and capacitance in H₂O/TiCl₄/ED/CH₂Cl₂ reaction system were investigated. The effects of [ED], [H₂O], solven polarity and polymerization time on monomer conversion, molecular weight (MW), molecular weight distribution (MWD, M_w/M_n) of polyisobutylene (PIB) were also investigated. Conductance decreased while capacitance increased with increases in both [ED] and electron donicity of ED. Conductance and capacitance increased with [H₂O] when [H₂O] was more than [Py]. Both unpaired and paired ions existed as propagating species or chain carriers in the presence of relatively low [ED] and polymers with bimodal molecular weight distribution (peak a and b) were obtained. The peak a with high molecular weight was induced by propagation via unpaired ions while peak b with low molecular weight was induced by propagation via paired ions. The propagation via paired ions could be achieved and polymers with unimodal molecular weight distribution could be produced when sufficient amounts of external ED was introduced to polymerization system.     

Alternating copolymerization of carbonyl sulfide with aziridines

The copolymerization of carbonyl sulfide with aziridines such as ethylenimine, propylenimine, and N-ethylethylenimine was studied in various organic solvents. The copolymerizations occurred easily without the addition of any catalyst and gave white powdery crystalline copolymers. The copolymers produced were insoluble in many organic solvents, but soluble in p-chlorophenol and dimethyl sulfoxide. The elementary analyses and the infrared spectra showed that alternating copolymers which have a thiourethane structure were produced. In the copolymerization of carbonyl sulfide with ethylenimine, both the polymer yield and the molecular weight of the resulting polymer increased with the use of a solvent having a higher dielectric constant, and also with an increase in the ratio of carbonyl sulfide to imine in the feed. The rate of copolymerization of carbonyl sulfide with aziridines was in the order of ethylenimine > propylenimine > and N-ethylethylenimine. Irradiation of the copolymers improved their thermal properties and increased their melting point.     

Cationic polymerization of dienes VII. New electron donors in the polymerization of 1,3-pentadiene initiated by aluminum trichloride in non-polar solvent

The aim of this research was to investigate new bulky electron donors (EDs) generating hindered active species in the cationic polymerization of 1,3-pentadiene initiated by AlCl₃ in pentane, in order to avoid or strongly reduce the reaction between the active species and the double bonds of the polymer which are responsible for side reactions. At room temperature, the polymerization in the presence of new ED, such as OPh₂, N(PhBr)₃, NPh₃ and SPh₂, allowed to obtain higher conversions and lower insoluble fractions than without electron donor. The formation of a complex ED/AlCl₃ was shown for each electron donor. However, in the case of NPh₃ and SPh₂, variations of the polymer microstructure demonstrated an interaction between active species and these EDs. Similar results were obtained at lower temperature (−10 °C). The beneficial effect of the presence of electron donors such as NPh₃ and SPh₂ demonstrated the validity of the concept of sterically hindered active species, but the polymerization was still uncontrolled.     

Atom transfer radical emulsion polymerization (emulsion ATRP) of styrene with water-soluble initiator

This study presents styrene emulsion polymerization initiated in aqueous media through an atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) mechanism. The water-soluble initiator employed in this process has been synthesized by our team by reacting diethanolamine with α-bromoisobutyryl bromide. The complexation of CuBr was realized by using a bicomponent complexation system comprised of 2,2′-bipyridine and N,N,N′,N′,N″-pentamethyldiethylenetriamine. The initiator ratio influence on the obtained emulsion was studied. The obtained latexes and polymer particles have been characterized by dynamic light scattering, scanning electron microscopy, and gel permeation chromatography.     

Controlled Cationic Polymerization of 1‐Methoxy‐1,3‐Butadiene: Long‐Lived Species‐Mediated Reaction and Control over Microstructure with Weak Lewis Bases

Controlled cationic polymerization of trans‐1‐methoxy‐1,3‐butadiene was achieved through the design of appropriate initiating systems, yielding soluble polymers with controllable molecular weights. The combined use of SnCl₄ or GaCl₃ as a Lewis acid catalyst and a weak Lewis base in conjunction with HCl as a protonogen resulted in efficient and controlled polymerization. The M_n values of the product polymers increased linearly along the theoretical line, which indicates that intermolecular crosslinking reactions negligibly occurred. In addition, the polymer microstructure was critically dependent on the weak Lewis base employed. In particular, the use of tetrahydrofuran as an additive resulted in the highest 4,1/4,3‐structure ratio (96/4). Weak Lewis bases also affected the polymerization rates but exhibited unique trends that differed from their effects on the cationic polymerization of alkyl vinyl ethers. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2019 , 57, 288–296     

Synthesis and properties of poly‐(2‐ethynylpyridinium bromide) having propargyl side chains

Poly‐(2‐ethynylpyridinum bromide) (PEPBP) having propargyl side chains was prepared by the direct polymerization of 2‐ethynylpyridine and propargyl bromide under mild reaction conditions without any initiator and catalysts. The polymerization proceeded well to give PEPBP with propargyl side chains in relatively high yields. Various spectral data for the polymer structure indicated that the conjugated polymer system having N‐propargylpyridinum substituent was formed. This ionic polymer was completely soluble in water, methanol, dimethylformamide, dimethyl sulfoxide, and N,N‐dimethylacetamide and well processable into thin homogeneous film. The photoluminescence intensity (λ_max = 760 nm) of this polymer increased as the temperature was increased. At 1 KHz and room temperature, this polymer has k′ = 2.9 and σ = 7.3 × 10^?10 (S/cm). © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 39: 3151–3158, 2001     

Initiator‐fragment incorporation radical polymerization of divinylbenzene in the presence of glyoxylic oxime ether: Formation of soluble hyperbranched polymer

The copolymerization of divinylbenzene (DVB) and ethylstyrene (EtSt) was carried out at 70 and 80 °C in benzene with dimethyl 2,2‐azobisisobutyrate (MAIB) at high concentrations as initiator in the presence of methyl benzyloxyiminoacetate (MBOIA), a glyoxylic oxime ether, as a retarder. The copolymerization system of DVB (0.25 mol/L), EtSt (0.25 mol/L), MBOIA (0.5 mol/L), and MAIB (0.5 mol/L) gave benzene‐soluble copolymers despite a considerably high concentration of DVB as an excellent crosslinker. The yield and molecular weight of the resulting copolymers increased with time both at 70 and 80 °C and then leveled off because of initiator consumption. The homogeneous polymerization system involved electron spin resonance (ESR), observable nitrogen‐centered polymer radicals (MBOIA·) under the actual polymerization conditions. The MBOIA· concentration increased with time despite a homogeneous polymerization system, suggesting the formation of rigid hyperbranched polymers. A benzene solution of isolated copolymer also showed an ESR signal. The copolymer was soluble in acetone, toluene, chloroform, ethyl acetate, tetrahydrofuran, and N,N‐dimethylformamide but insoluble in n‐hexane, methanol, and dimethyl sulfoxide. MAIB fragments as high as 30–40 mol % were incorporated into the copolymers through initiation and primary radical termination, on the basis of which this polymerization was named the initiator‐fragment incorporation radical polymerization. MBOIA (13–16 mol%) was also incorporated into the copolymers through an opening of the C?N bond. The intrinsic viscosity of the copolymers was very low (0.08 dL/g), and the reduced viscosity was almost independent of the polymer concentration, supporting a hyperbranched structure of them. Gel permeation chromatography and multi‐angle laser light scattering and transmission electron microscopy revealed that the copolymer was formed as a hyperbranched nanoparticle. The thermal behavior of the copolymer was examined by dynamic thermogravimetry and differential scanning calorimetry. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 3038–3047, 2003     

Enzymatic synthesis of a soluble polyphenol derivative from 4,4′-biphenyldiol

Enzymatic oxidative polymerization of 4,4′-biphenyldiol was performed in an aqueous organic solvent using horseradish peroxidase as catalyst. In the polymerization using a mixture of 1,4-dioxane and phosphate buffer (pH 7.0) (80:20 vol-%) as solvent, the monomer was quantitatively consumed to give powdery polymeric materials in a high yield. The resulting polymer is soluble in polar solvents such as N,N-dimethylformamide, dimethyl sulfoxide, and acetone. The molecular weight of the methylated product is 7.3 × 10³. The polymer exhibits high thermal stability under nitrogen.     

Poly(vinyl acetate) as a template for the radical polymerization of acrylonitrile

The template polymerization of acrylonitrile (AN) along with atactic-poly(vinyl acetate) of M _v (47,090), at 60°C for 120 min in dimethyl formamide (DMF) has been studied dilatometrically to study the effects of template, monomer, and initiator (benzoyl peroxide) concentration upon kinetics. Viscometric measurements showed that complexation between at-PVAc and PAN was maximum when template/polymer ratio was 1:1 and time required for complete complexation was 15 min. The overall energy of activation was 57.76 and 77.01 kJ/mol in the presence and absence of, PVAc, respectively. The overall system follows mechanism I, i.e., the monomer molecules get adsorbed on the surface of the template macromolecules and then propagation proceeds.     

Water soluble,conjugated main chain azo polymer: Synthesis and characterization

The monomer 2,5-diaminobenzenesulfonic acid has been polymerized to a high molecular weight, conjugated main chain azo polymer. The presence of the azo group in the polymer was confirmed using Raman spectroscopy. The polymer is highly soluble in water over a wide pH range. It is also soluble in common polar organic solvents such as N,N-dimethylformamide, dimethyl sulfoxide and N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone.     

Electrochemical polymerization of thianaphthene

Thianaphthene has been electrochemically polymerized in pure boron trifluoride diethyl etherate (BFEE) solution or in a mixed electrolyte of BFEE and concentrated sulfuric acid (SA). The addition of a certain amount of sulfuric acid into BFEE accelerated the polymerization and also increased the current efficiency of the electrosynthesis. Poly(thianaphthene) (PTN) in the dedoped state is soluble in usual strong polar organic solvents such as dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) and N-methyl pyrrolidinone (NMP). Its structure has been examined by infrared, H¹-NMR and UV spectra. Fluorescent spectral studies indicate that the polymer is a strong blue light emitter.     

Controlled synthesis of poly(acetone oxime acrylate) as a new reactive polymer: Stimuli-responsive reactive copolymers

Acetone oxime acrylate has been synthesized as a new active ester monomer. Free radical polymerization yielded a reactive polymer soluble in various organic solvents, such as chloroform, dioxane, DMSO, acetone, methanol, dichloromethane, DMF, and ethanol. Controlled radical polymerization of acetone oxime acrylate was successfully conducted using the RAFT, NMP and Iniferter method. Partly polymer analogous reaction with N-isopropylamine resulted in the reactive copolymer poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-acetone oxime acrylate), which featured a lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of 61 °C in water. Further, the reactivity of the copolymer was exemplary proven by complete reaction with ammonia yielding poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-acrylamide), which does not possess a LCST.     

Cationic polymerization of dienes VIII: Is the elimination of cross-linking by a bulky electron donor a general behavior in the presence of aluminium trichloride?

Previous works on the polymerization of 1,3-pentadiene initiated by aluminium trichloride in non polar solvent at room temperature in the presence of bulky electron donor (ED) as tri-p-tolylamine have highlighted a stabilization of the polymerizing actives centres by ED, which allowed a reduction of some side reactions and the formation of more precisely defined polypentadienes than ever by cationic polymerization in non polar medium. The aim of this research was to investigate the role of bulky EDs such as tri-p-tolylamine and similar compounds in polar medium in order to obtain if possible a complete control of the polymerization of isoprene and 1,3-pentadiene. The beneficial effect of tri-p-tolylamine was shown in the case of isoprene polymerization at room temperature, with an important reduction of the cross-linked fraction for long reaction times and strong reduction of termination reactions. At −30 °C in the presence of tri-p-tolylamine, polypentadienes more controlled than in non polar solvent could be obtained, with a nearly complete elimination of the cross-linked fraction, while keeping the microstructure approximately constant.     

The roles of electron donors in the cationic polymerization

Electron donors (EDs) according to their different functions in cationic polymerization systems can be divided and summarized as follows: Initiators, adventitious impurities, aromatic solvents or polar diluents, monomers electron donor (ED) modifiers. Their behaviors and roles in the course of polymerization can be well explained in terms of complexation competition and equilibrium. In the present paper only initiators and ED modifiers are primarily investigated and discussed.     

Stereocontrol in radical polymerization of acrylic monomers

A clear effect of Lewis acids, such. as scandium trifluoromethanesulfonate [Sc(OTf)₃], on stereocontrol during the radical polymerization of a designed monomer, benzyl α-(methoxymethyl)acrylate was found. This Lewis acid also influenced the stereochemistry in the radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate giving a less syndiotactic and more isotactic polymer, although many Lewis acids were not effective. A catalytic amount of Lewis acids, such as Y(OTf)₃ and Yb(OTf)₃, also significantly enhanced isotactic-specificity during the radical polymerization of acrylamide and its derivatives, N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM) and N,N-dimethylacrylamide. Obvious solvent and temperature effects on tacticity were observed in these polymerizations, and poly(NIPAM) with >80% triad isotactic content has been obtained in the presence of Lewis acids.     

Electron‐pair‐donor reaction order in the cationic polymerization of isobutylene coinitiated by AlCl3

The cationic polymerizations of isobutylene (IB) initiated by an H₂O/AlCl₃ system were carried out in a mixture of n‐hexane/methylene dichloride of 60/40 v/v at ?50 °C in the presence of various external electron pair donors (EDs), including methyl benzoate (MB), ethyl benzoate (EB), and methyl acrylate (MA). The effects of the concentrations of EDs ([ED]) and polymerization time on monomer conversion and kinetics of IB polymerization were also investigated. The complexes between AlCl₃ and the esters were soluble in the polymerization system at ?50 °C. The polymers with high molecular weights and relatively narrow molecular weight distributions were obtained in the presence of the EDs. The rate of polymerization decreased with increasing [ED]. The kinetic orders of the EDs were remarkably dependent on their chemical structure, steric hindrance from moieties, and concentration in the polymerization system. The reaction order of MB was determined to be around ?1.3 when [MB] ≤ 0.40 mmol/L, whereas it was ?12.9 when [MB] ≥ 0.40 mmol/L. The reaction order of EB was determined to be ?1.36 when [EB] ≤ 0.41 mmol/L, whereas it was ?3.36 when [EB] ≥ 0.41 mmol/L. The reaction order of MA was determined to be ?1.85 when [MA] ≤ 0.48 mmol/L, whereas it was ?16.7 when [MA] ≥ 0.48 mmol/L. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 3053–3061, 2007     

Solubility of <Emphasis Type="Italic">d</Emphasis>-elements salts in organic and aqueous-organic solvents: III. Influence of intermolecular association on solubility of cadmium bromide and iodide

Solubility in the systems CdX₂–H₂O–Solv (X = Br, I; Solv = dimethyl sulfoxide, N,N-dimethyl acetamide, N,N-dimethyl formamide, and 1,4-dioxane) at 25°C was measured by the isothermal saturation method. A relation between the shape of the solubility isotherm and the structure of the binary solvent depending on its composition was found. Positions of solubility maxima and isotherms inflection points in the most cases correlate with destruction of intermolecular associates formed by solvent components.     

Initiator‐fragment incorporation radical copolymerization of divinylbenzene and N‐isopropylacrylamide with dimethyl 2,2′‐azobisisobutyrate: Formation of soluble hyperbranched polymer nanoparticle

The copolymerization of divinylbenzene (DVB) and N‐isopropylacrylamide (NIPAm) with dimethyl 2,2′‐azobisisobutyrate of a concentration as high as 0.50 mol/L proceeded homogeneously without any gelation at 80 °C in N,N‐dimethylformamide, where the concentrations of DVB and NIPAm were 0.15 and 0.50 mol/L. The copolymer yield increased with time and leveled off over 50 min. Although DVB was consumed more rapidly than NIPAm, both comonomers were completely consumed in 50 min. The homogeneous polymerization system at 80 °C involved electron spin resonance‐observable propagating polymer radicals, the total concentration of which increased with time. The resulting copolymer was soluble in tetrahydrofuran, chloroform, acetone, ethyl acetate, acetonitrile, N,N‐dimethylformamide, dimethyl sulfoxide, and methanol, but insoluble in benzene, n‐hexane, and water. The copolymer showed an upper critical solution temperature (50 °C on cooling) in a methanol–water [11:3 (v/v)] mixture. Dimethyl 2,2′‐azobisisobutyrate fragments as high as 37–45 mol % were incorporated as terminal groups in the copolymers through initiation and primary radical termination. The contents of DVB and NIPAm were 10–30 mol % and 30–50 mol %, respectively. The intrinsic viscosity of the copolymer was very low (0.09 dL/g) at 30 °C in tetrahydrofuran despite high weight‐average molecular weight (1.2 × l0⁶ by multi‐angle laser light scattering). These results indicate that the copolymer was of hyperbranched structure. By transmission electron microscopy observation, the individual copolymer molecules were visualized as nanoparticle of 6–20 nm. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 1609–1617, 2004     

Anionic ring‐opening polymerization of a five‐membered cyclic carbonate having a glucopyranoside structure

Anionic ring‐opening polymerizations of methyl 4,6‐O‐benzylidene‐2,3‐O‐carbonyl‐α‐D ‐glucopyranoside (MBCG) were investigated using various anionic polymerization initiators. Polymerizations of the cyclic carbonate readily proceeded by using highly active initiators such as n‐butyllithium, lithium tert‐butoxide, sodium tert‐butoxide, potassium tert‐butoxide, and 1,8‐diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec‐7‐ene, whereas it did not proceed by using N,N‐dimethyl‐4‐aminopyridine and pyridine as initiators. In a polymerization of MBCG (1.0 M), 99% of MBCG was converted within 30 s to give the corresponding polymer with number‐averaged molecular weight (M_n) of 16,000. However, the M_n of the polymer decreased to 7500 when the polymerization time was prolonged to 24 h. It is because a backbiting reaction might occur under the polymerization conditions. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2013     

Recyclable 2nd generation ionic liquids as green solvents for the oxidation of alcohols with hypervalent iodine reagents

Alcohols undergo smooth oxidation with iodoxybenzoic acid (IBX) or with Dess-Martin-Periodinane (DMP) in hydrophilic [bmim]BF₄ and hydrophobic [bmim]PF₆ ionic liquids at room temperature under mild conditions to afford the corresponding carbonyl compounds in excellent yields with high selectivity. IBX and DMP promoted oxidations are faster in ionic liquids when compared to conventional solvents such as DMSO, DMF, EtOAc and H₂O. The recovery of the byproduct iodosobenzoic acid (IBA) is especially simple in ionic liquids. The recovered ionic liquids can be recycled in subsequent reactions with consistent activity.