Controlled Free-Radical Copolymerization of N-vinyl succinimide and n-Butyl acrylate via a Reversible Addition–Fragmentation Chain Transfer (RAFT) Technique

Summary : Copolymerization of N-vinyl succinimide and n-butyl acrylate in the presence of dibenzyl trithiocarbonate as a reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer agent was investigated. The linear dependence of molecular mass on conversion and low values of polydispersity index confirmed pseudo-living mechanism of the process. For the first time the soluble copolymers of N-vinyl succinimide and n-butyl acrylate with high composition homogeneity have been synthesized by copolymerization in bulk. The copolymerization kinetics was studied by NMR ¹H spectroscopy; the reactivity ratios were determined: r_VSI = 0.11, r_BA = 2.54. The copolymer microstructure was estimated; it was shown that in conditions of RAFT polymerization gradient copolymers enriched with BA on the tails of the macromolecule and with VSI in the middle can be obtained. The method of elimination of trithiocarbonate fragment by the reaction with an excess of AIBN was proposed leading to formation of the simplest gradient structure of N-vinyl succinimide – n-butyl acrylate copolymer.     

Donor–acceptor complexes in copolymerization. XLIII. Cyclization of alternating and random styrene–(meth)acrylic ester copolymers

Equimolar alternating copolymers of styrene and methyl methacrylate (prepared with Et_1.5AlCl_1.5, SnCl₄, and ZnCl₂) as well as equimolar random copolymer were treated with polyphosphoric acid at 135°C. The extent of cyclization of the alternating copolymers was about 40%, independent of the cotacticity of the copolymer, and there was little or no crosslinking. The random copolymer underwent only 10% cyclization and considerable crosslinking. The extent of cyclization of the alternating copolymer of styrene and methyl acrylate (prepared with Et_1.5AlCl_1.5) was the same as that of the random copolymer and was lower than that of the corresponding methyl methacrylate copolymer. Both alternating and random copolymers underwent extensive crosslinking.     

Donor-acceptor complexes in copolymerization. L. Preparation and microstructure of chlorine-containing alternating conjugated diene–acceptor monomer copolymers

Neighboring monomer units cause significant shifts in the infrared absorption peaks attributed to cis- and trans-1,4 units in conjugated diene-acceptor monomer copolymers. Conjugated diene-maleic anhydride alternating copolymers apparently have a predominantly cis-1,4-structure, while alternating diene-SO₂ copolymers have a predominantly trans-1,4 structure. Alternating copolymers of butadiene, isoprene, and pentadiene-1,3 with α-chloroacrylonitrile and methyl α-chloroacrylate, prepared in the presence of Et_1.5AlCl_1.5(EASC), have trans-1,4 unsaturation. Alternating copolymers of chloroprene with acrylonitrile, methyl acrylate, methyl methacrylate, α-chloroacrylonitrile, and methyl α-chloroacrylate prepared in the presence of EASC-VOCl₃ have trans-1,4 configuration. The reaction between chloroprene and acrylonitrile in the presence of AlCl₃ yields the cyclic Diel-Alder adduct in the dark and the alternating copolymer under ultraviolet irradiation. The equimolar, presumably alternating, copolymers of chloroprene with methyl acrylate and methyl methacrylate undergo cyclization at 205°C to a far lesser extent than theoretically calculated, to yield five and seven-membered lactones. The polymerization of chloroprene in the presence of EASC and acetonitrile yields a radical homopolymer with trans-1,4 unsaturation.     

Preparation of Quaternary Amphiphilic Block Copolymer PMA-b-P (NVP/MAH/St) and Its Application in Surface Modification of Aluminum Nitride Powders

Poly(methyl acrylate)-b-poly(N-vinyl pyrrolidone/maleic anhydride/styrene) (PMA-b-P (NVP/MAH/St)) quaternary amphiphilic block copolymer prepared by reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) was used to improve the anti-hydrolysis and dispersion properties of aluminum nitride (AIN) powders that were modified by copolymers. Its structure was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and Hydrogen nuclear magnetic spectroscopy (¹H-NMR). The results demonstrate that the molecular weight distribution of the quaternary amphiphilic block copolymers is 1.35–1.60, which is characteristic of controlled molecular weight and narrow molecular weight distribution. Through charge transfer complexes, NVP/MAH/St produces a regular alternating arrangement structure. After being treated with micro-crosslinking, AlN powder modified by copolymer PMA-b-P(NVP/MAH/St) exhibits outstanding resistance to hydrolysis and can be stabilized in hot water at 50 °C for more than 14 h, and the agglomeration of powder particles was improved remarkably.     

Reactivity of polymer substituents. Aminolysis of p-nitrophenyl ester residues attached to various polymer backbones

Styrene, methyl acrylate, and N,N-dimethylacrylamide were copolymerized with small proportions of p-nitrophenyl acrylate or p-nitrophenyl esters of CH₂?CHCONH(CH₂)_nCOOH (n = 1,3,5). The aminolysis of these copolymers in dioxane and chlorobenzene solution was compared with the corresponding reaction of low molecular weight analogs. The ratio of the reactivity of the polymer substituent and its analog was found to be insensitive to the nature of the amine but strongly dependent on the nature of the polymer backbone. Poly(dimethylacrylamide) chains carrying active ester substituents were in some cases much more reactive than their analogs due to the activating effect of the dimethylamide groups. In the case of the p-nitrophenyl acrylate–styrene copolymer, the aminolysis exhibited a dispersion of the rate constant due to its sensitivity to stereoisomerism in the vicinity of the active ester, but no similar effects were observed with the other copolymers.     

Reaction mechanism of the alternating copolymerization of aziridines with cyclic imides

The copolymerizations of N-substituted aziridines and cyclic imide were studied. N-Ethylsuccinimide copolymerized with ethylenimine, but N-ethylethylenimine did not copolymerize with succinimide and N-ethylsuccinimide without catalyst. The effect of additives on the copolymerization of ethylenimine with succinimide and that of N-ethylethylenimine with succinimide and N-ethylsuccinimide was also examined. The rate of copolymerization of ethylenimine with succinimide was accelerated by the addition of N-acetylethylenimine or water. The copolymerization of N-ethylethylenimine with succinimide was initiated only by water, but N-ethylethylenimine did not copolymerize with N-ethylsuccinimide in the presence of water. Gas evolved on heating the copolymer of ethylenimine and succinimide was analyzed and confirmed to be ammonia. On the basis of these results the reaction mechanisms of the copolymerization of ethylenimine with succinimide or N-ethylsuccinimide and of N-ethylethylenimine with succinimide initiated by water are discussed.     

Poly[2,2-dimethyl-4-(methoxylcarbonyl) butylene]: Synthesis with an ethylaluminum sesquichloride–peroxide initiator and NMR characterization

The alternating copolymer of isobutylene and methyl acrylate (the polymer of the title) has been obtained by using ethylaluminum sesquichloride (AlEt_1.5Cl_1.5) and 2-methylpentanoyl peroxide as the initiating system in benzene solution. The alternating copolymer is obtained at an acrylate/Al molar ratio of 17. Higher ratios increase the level of acrylate residues in the copolymer isolated; in the absence of AlEt_1.5Cl_1.5, an equal molar feed gives a copolymer with 75 mole % acrylate units. ¹H- and ¹³C-NMR spectra have been used to study the details of polymer structure and support the equal molar, alternating nature of the macromolecule. The details of the methoxy and gem-dimethyl peaks in the PMR spectra are consistent with a Bernoullian process determining the polymer configurational sequences, with P_m = 0.55–0.60.     

On the microstructure of methyl acrylate-4-vinyl pyridine copolymers

Using ¹H-NMR spectra of radical copolymers of methyl acrylate (M₁) and 4-vinyl pyridine (M₂), the terminal model of copolymerization has been tested. Reactivity ratios (r₁ = 0.18 r₂ = 1.77) were found. The probability of “coisotactic” alternating addition (σ = 0.98) has been obtained as the best fit of experimental methoxy signal fractions and the theoretical curves.     

Preparation of crystalline polyamides by the alternating copolymerization of aziridines and cyclic imides

The copolymerization of aziridines and cyclic imides was studied. Aziridines copolymerized alternately with cyclic imides to give crystalline polyamides. Ethylenimine and succinimide copolymerized to nylon 2,4, melting near 300°C., without any catalyst. Similarly, the corresponding crystalline polyamides were obtained from the systems of 1,2-propylenimine–succinimide, ethylenimine–glutarimide, and ethylenimine–phthalimide. The copolymerization of aziridines and cyclic imides in the presence of BF₃OEt₂ gave a copolymer which was rich in aziridine units, whereas, the addition of triethylamine had no influence on the copolymer composition. A mechanism of copolymerization was proposed based on the facts that N-tetramethylenesuccinamide was obtained by the reaction of pyrrolidine and succinimide, N-acetylethylenimine reacted with acetamide to yield N,N′-diacetylethylenediamine and that the rate of this copolymerization was dependent on the electrophilicity of imide.     

One‐ and two‐dimensional NMR characterization of N‐vinyl‐2‐pyrrolidone/methyl acrylate copolymers

N‐vinyl‐2‐pyrrolidone/methyl acrylate (V/M) copolymers were prepared by free‐radical bulk polymerization using benzoyl peroxide as an initiator. The copolymer composition of these copolymers was calculated from ¹H NMR spectra. The radical reactivity ratios for N‐vinyl‐2‐pyrrolidone (V) and methyl acrylate (M) were r_V = 0.09, r_M = 0.44. These reactivity ratios for the copolymerization of V and M were determined using the Kelen–Tudos and nonlinear least‐squares error‐in‐variable methods. The ¹³C{¹H} and ¹H NMR spectra of these copolymers overlapped and were complex. The complete spectral assignment of the ¹³C and ¹H NMR spectra were done with distortionless enhancement by polarization transfer and two dimensional ¹³C‐¹H heteronuclear single quantum correlation spectroscopic experiments. The two‐dimensional ¹H‐¹H homonuclear total correlation spectroscopic NMR spectrum showed the various bond interactions, thus inferring the possible structure of the copolymers. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 2225–2236, 2002     

One‐ and two‐dimensional NMR characterization of N‐vinyl‐2‐pyrrolidone/methyl acrylate copolymers

N‐vinyl‐2‐pyrrolidone/methyl acrylate (V/M) copolymers were prepared by free‐radical bulk polymerization using benzoyl peroxide as an initiator. The copolymer composition of these copolymers was calculated from ¹H NMR spectra. The radical reactivity ratios for N‐vinyl‐2‐pyrrolidone (V) and methyl acrylate (M) were r_V = 0.09, r_M = 0.44. These reactivity ratios for the copolymerization of V and M were determined using the Kelen–Tudos and nonlinear least‐squares error‐in‐variable methods. The ¹³C{¹H} and ¹H NMR spectra of these copolymers overlapped and were complex. The complete spectral assignment of the ¹³C and ¹H NMR spectra were done with distortionless enhancement by polarization transfer and two dimensional ¹³C‐¹H heteronuclear single quantum correlation spectroscopic experiments. The two‐dimensional ¹H‐¹H homonuclear total correlation spectroscopic NMR spectrum showed the various bond interactions, thus inferring the possible structure of the copolymers. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 2225–2236, 2002     

Using the reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer process to synthesize core‐crosslinked micelles

Poly(2‐hydroxyethyl acrylate)–poly(n‐butyl acrylate) block copolymers were synthesized with the reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) process. The block copolymers were synthesized successfully with either poly(2‐hydroxyethyl acrylate) or poly(n‐butyl acrylate) macro‐RAFT agents. The resulting block copolymers had narrow molecular weight distributions (polydispersity index = 1.3–1.4). Copolymer self‐aggregation in water yielded micelles, with the hydrodynamic diameter (D_h) values of the aggregates dependent on the length of both blocks according to D_h ～ N_BA^1.17N_HEA^0.57, where N_BA is the number of repeating units of n‐butyl acrylate and N_HEA is the number of repeating units of 2‐hydroxyethyl acrylate. The micelles were subsequently stabilized via chain extension of the block copolymer with a crosslinking agent. The successful chain extension in a micellar system was confirmed by an increase in the molecular weight, which was detected with membrane osmometry. The crosslinked particles showed noticeably different aggregation behavior in diverse solvent systems. The uncrosslinked micelles formed by the block copolymer (N_HEA = 260, N_BA = 75) displayed a definite critical micelle concentration at 5.4 × 10^?4 g L^?1 in aqueous solutions. However, upon crosslinking, the critical micelle concentration transition became obscure. © 2006Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 2177–2194, 2006     

Chain scission efficiency and reactive-ion etch resistance of alternating copolymers of styrene and olefins trisubstituted or tetrasubstituted with electron-withdrawing groups

Alternating copolymers of styrene (St) with electron-deficient olefins trisubstituted or tetrasubstituted with cyano and carboalkoxy groups have been subjected to ⁶⁰Co γ-radiolysis together with a series of copolymers of methyl methacrylate (MMA) and St. The chain scission susceptibility G_s—G_x determined by membrane osmometry drastically decreases as St is incorporated in poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA). Whereas the alternating St-MMA copolymer is slightly crosslinked upon irradiation, an alternating copolymer of St with diethyl 2-cyano-1,1-ethylenedicarboxylate maintains a fairly high degradation sensitivity (G_s—G_x = 1.2). The reactive-ion etch rates were determined for the series of polymers in CF₄/O₂ (92/8). The etch resistance is significantly increased by introduction of St units in PMMA, and the highly substituted alternating copolymer etches as slowly as the MMA(50)—St(50) copolymers. Thus the alternating copolymer of NCCH=C(CO₂Et)₂ with St behaves like PMMA when exposed to high-energy radiation but is comparable to PSt in plasma environments.     

Water-Soluble imide-amide copolymers. I. Preparation and characterization of poly [acrylamide-co-sodium N-(4-sulfophenyl) maleimide]

Sodium N-(4-sulfophenyl) maleimide (SPMI) and its saturated succinimide counterpart were first prepared according to established methods. Hydrolysis experiments on these monomers monitored by ¹H-NMR showed that although SPMI monomer was about 15% hydrolyzed in D₂O at 23°C in 24 h. Sodium N-(4-sulfophenyl) succinimide, which is similar in structure to the imide units in the copolymers, was only 1% hydrolyzed after 18 days at 23°C and 29% hydrolyzed after 18 days at 60°C. This indicated that the saturated imide rings in the copolymer might be sufficiently stable to hydrolysis for the copolymers to be useful. However, hydrolysis at high pH demonstrated that the imide rings would be rapidly saponified under alkaline conditions, destroying the structural rigidity that the intact rings might have provided in the copolymer chains. Sodium N-(4-sulfophenyl) maleimide (SPMI) was copolymerized with acrylamide in water at 30°C without cleavage of the imide ring. Water-soluble poly [acrylamide-co-sodium-N-(4-sulfophenyl) maleimide] (PAMSM) samples containing from 7.4 to 64 mol % imide were prepared. Photoacoustic FTIR and ¹³C-NMR spectra were used to confirm the structure of the copolymers obtained. Elemental analysis was used to determine the imide content of the copolymers, and from this composition data reactivity ratios were calculated for the two component monomers.     

Synthesis and polymerizability of 7,8-dicyano-7,8-diphenylquinodimethane

7,8-Dicyano-7,8-diphenylquinodimethane (DCDPQ) was prepared by oxidation of the dianion of α,α′-dicyano-α,α′-diphenylxylene. ¹H-NMR of a solution of the purified compound showed that the cis and trans isomers were present in a 1:1 ratio. Following further spectroscopic and electronic characterization the polymerizability of the title compound was investigated. DCDPQ did not homopolymerize at 65°C in the presence of AIBN. DCDPQ copolymerized with p-methoxystyrene and p-aminostyrene in the presence of AIBN at 65°C. Characterization of the latter two copolymers indicated that they were nearly alternating. The copolymerization between DCDPQ and p-aminostyrene proceeded in the absence of AIBN.     

Infrared spectroscopic analysis of poly(methyl acrylate-co-styrene)

Methyl acrylate–styrene copolymers of different copolymer compositions were free-radically prepared. The relative intensities of the carbonyl frequencies of the methyl acrylate units at v 1730 cm^?1 were correlated with the copolymer composition. The positions and shapes of the carbonyl bands in the infrared absorption spectra of the copolymers-dissolved in chloroform, were shown to depend on the composition of the copolymers and upon the presence of different proportions of methyl acrylate centered triads. The results obtained by infrared spectroscopy were compared with those obtained by ¹³C-NMR. Infrared spectra may be used to yield information about both the copolymer composition and the triad sequence distribution.     

Organometallic polymers. XXIV. Synthesis and copolymerization behavior of h6-(2-phenylethyl acrylate) tricarbonylchromium

The monomer h⁶-(2-phenylethyl Acrylate) tricarbonylchromium (PEAC) was synthesized and copolymerized in solution at 70°C with styrene, methyl acrylate, acrylonitrile, and 2-phenylethyl acrylate, azobisisobutyronitrile being used as the initiator. In ethyl acetate solvent the relative reactivity ratios were crudely approximated. The copolymers all exhibited binodal molecular weight distributions, the high molecular weight node probably resulting from branching. The h⁶-benzenetricarbonylchromium unit decomposed when exposed to sunlight or ultraviolet light both in air and under N₂. In air, Cr₂O₃ was initially formed within copolymer films. Several unsuccessful attempts were made to prepare h⁶-(2-phenylethyl acrylate)tricarbonylmolybdenum, (III), the molybdenum analog of PEAC, from arenes and both Mo(CO)₆ and (CH₃CN)₃Mo(CO)₃. These reactions are described.     

Syntheses and polymerizations of some vinyl monomers containing nitro- or fluorophthalimides

4-Nitro-N-vinylphthalimide ( 4 ) was synthesized by two different procedures. Compound 4 was not polymerizable or copolymerizable by AIBN. Poly(N-vinylphthalimide) ( 17 ) was prepared and partially nitrated at 10–25°C. N,N′-(1,2-Ethanediyl)bis(4-nitrophthalimide) ( 15 ) and N,N′-(1,3-propanediyl)bis(4-nitrophthalimide) ( 16 ) were prepared by the condensation of the corresponding diamine with phthalic anhydride followed by nitration of the condensation products. 4-Nitrophthalic anhydride was prepared by the hydrolysis of 15 . Four styrene-substituted phthalimide monomers were synthesized. These include N-(4-vinylphenyl)phthalimide ( 25a ), N-(4-vinylphenyl)-3-fluorophthalimide ( 25b ), N-(4-vinylphenyl)-3-nitrophthalimide ( 25c ), and N-(4-vinylphenyl)-4-nitrophthalimide ( 25d ). Monomers 25a and 25b were polymerized by freeradical initiator (AIBN), whereas monomers 25c and 25d were not polymerizable or copolymerizable by AIBN due to a strong inhibitive effect exerted by the nitrophthalimide group. Monomers 25c and 25d were cationically polymerized (BF₃·OEt₂). Monomer 25b and styrene were copolymerized and their reactivity ratios were r₁ = 1.7 and r₂ = 0.55, respectively. The prepared polymers are useful as backbone polymers for grafting living anionic polymers.     

Polymerization of coordinated monomers. XVI. Stereoregulation in the alternating copolymerization of methyl methacrylate with styrene in the presence of metal halides

Triad cotacticities of alternating copolymers of methyl methacrylate with styrene prepared in the presence of zinc chloride, ethylaluminium sesquichloride, and ethylboron dichloride are investigated from the mechanistic point of view by means of ¹H- and ¹³C-NMR. The cotacticities from ¹H-NMR spectra are obtained accurately by using α-d-styrene in the place of styrene and by measuring the spectra on the copolymer in o-dichlorobenzene at 170°C. The relative intensities of three peaks of the splitting signal for the methoxy protons in the nonalternating copolymers obtained by the use of benzoyl peroxide in the absence of metal halides agree well with the cotacticity distribution calculated theoretically by the Lewis-Mayo mechanism with the stereoregulation following Bernoullian statistics. The splitting signals in the ¹H- and ¹³C-NMR spectra of the alternating copolymers prepared in the presence of metal halides cannot be explained by the same mechanism. The relative intensities of three peaks of the splitting signals for the methoxy protons and for the carbonyl carbon in the methyl methacrylate unit (the contents of cotactic triads centered by the methyl methacrylate unit) are not equal to those for the aromatic C₁ carbon in the styrene unit (the contents of cotactic triads centered by styrene unit). The value of f²Y - 4fxfz is not equal to zero, where fx, fy, and fz are the cosyndiotactic, coheterotactic, and coisotactic triad contents, respectively, in the alternating copolymer. Copolymers obtained in the presence of zinc chloride are not exactly equimolar alternating but always contain a methyl methacrylate unit in excess, and the relative intensities of the three peaks for the aromatic C₁ carbon change with the copolymer composition. These results are explained by a proposed mechanism: the alternating copolymerization proceeds through the homopolymerization of a ternary molecular complex composed of a metal halide, methyl methacrylate, and styrene, accompanied with the stereoregulation following first-order Markovian statistics; the increase of methyl methacrylate content in the copolymer prepared in the presence of zinc chloride is caused by the participation of the binary molecular complex composed of a metal halide and methyl methacrylate in addition to the ternary molecular complex.