Olefin copolymerization with metallocene catalysts. II. Kinetics,cocatalyst, and additives

The kinetics of ethylene/propylene copolymerization catalyzed by (ethylene bis (indeyl)-ZrCI₂/methylaluminoxane) has been investigated. Radiolabeling found about 80% of the Zr to be catalytically active. The estimates for rate constants at 50°C are k₁₁ = 1104 (M_s)^?1, k₁₂ = 430 (M_s)^?1, k₂₂ = 396 (M_s)^?1,k₂₁ = 1020 (M_s)^?1, and k^A_tr,1 + k^A_tr.2 = 1.9 × 10^?3 s^?1. Substitution of trimethylaluminum for methylaluminoxane resulted in proportionate decrease in polymerization rate. The molecular weight of the copolymer is slightly increased by loweing the [Al]/[Zr] ratio, or addition of Lewis base modifier but at the expense of lowered catalytic activity and increase in ethylene content in the copolymer. Lowering of the polymerization temperature to 0°C resulted in a doubling of molecular weight but suffered 10-fold reduction in polymerization activity and increase of ethylene in copolymer.     

Polymerization kinetics of octene-1 catalyzed by metallocene methylaluminoxane investigated with attenuated total reflectance fourier transform infrared (ATR-FT-IR) spectroscopy

The kinetic parameters have been measured for octene-1 solution polymerization at 120°C catalyzed by zirconocene with the cocatalyst methylaluminoxane. The polymerizations were performed in an attenuated total reflectance (ATR) reaction cell. The progress of the reactions were followed by observing the disappearance of octene-1 using the 910 cm^?1 band measured by FT-IR spectroscopy. The dependence of the reaction rate, R_p, on catalyst concentration and cocatalyst/catalyst ratio was examined. The catalyst deactivation mechanism was studied by fitting the experimental data to mathematical models involving second-order propagation and either first or second order catalyst deactivation. Second-order catalyst deactivation provided a much better fit. The calculated deactivation rate constant, k_d, is 21 (Ms)^?1. This model is used to determine the propagation rate constant for Al/Zr = 4 × 10³ as k_p = 19.9 (M s)^?1. A decrease in Al/Zr = 3 × 10² lowered the propagation rate constant, k_p, to 9.6 (M s)^?1 indicating that less than 50% of the initial Zr is active at this Al/Zr ratio.     

Radical polymerization behavior of trimethoxyvinylsilane

Trimethoxyvinylsilane (TMVS) was quantitatively polymerized at 130 °C in bulk, using dicumyl peroxide (DCPO) as initiator. The polymerization of TMVS with DCPO was kinetically studied in dioxane by Fourier transform near‐infrared spectroscopy. The overall activation energy of the bulk polymerization was estimated to be 112 kJ/mol. The initial polymerization rate (R_p) was expressed by R_p = k[DCPO]^0.6[TMVS]^1.0 at 120 °C, being closely similar to that of the conventional radical polymerization involving bimolecular termination. The polymerization system involved electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopically observable polymer radicals under the actual polymerization conditions. ESR‐determined apparent rate constants of propagation and termination were 13 L/mol s and 3.1 × 10⁴ L/mol s at 120 °C, respectively. The molecular weight of the resulting poly(TMVS)s was low (M_n = 2.0–4.4 × 10³), because of the high chain transfer constant (C_mtr = 4.2 × 10^?2 at 120 °C) to the monomer. The bulk copolymerization of TMVS (M₁) and vinyl acetate (M₂) at 120 °C gave the following copolymerization parameters: r_l = 1.4, r₂ = 0.24, Q₁ = 0.084, and e₁ = +0.80. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 5864–5871, 2005     

A kinetic study of the copolymerization of maleic anhydride with ethyl vinyl ether using the rotating-sector technique

The results of polymerization and initiation experiments at 25°C show that the alternating copolymerization of maleic anhydride (monomer 1) and ethyl vinyl ether (monomer 2) is consistent with a theoretical mechanism defined by the usual rate constants (in L/mol s): Propagation: (k_p)₁₁ = 0.00; (k_p)₁₂ = 1.66 × 10⁵, (k_p)₂₂ = 2.0 × 10³; and (k_p)₂₁ = 2.04 × 10⁵. Termination (k_t)₁₁ = 7.40 × 10¹⁰; (k_t)₁₂ = 52.8 × 10¹⁰; (k_t)₂₂ = 1.33 × 10¹⁰. The relative magnitudes of the two cross-propagation constants and the three termination constants are consistent with accepted theory with regard to polarity, resonance, and steric factors. The steady-state and rotating-sector experiments were carried out in a dilatometer using azobisdiisobutyronitrile as the initiator, acetone as the solvent, and UV light of 365 nm wave length.     

Kinetic study on the radical polymerization of 2‐methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine

Polymerization of 2‐methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine (MPC) was kinetically investigated in ethanol using dimethyl 2,2′‐azobisisobutyrate (MAIB) as initiator. The overall activation energy of the homogeneous polymerization was calculated to be 71 kJ/mol. The polymerization rate (R_p) was expressed by R_p = k[MAIB]^0.54±0.05 [MPC]^1.8±0.1. The higher dependence of R_p on the monomer concentration comes from acceleration of propagation due to monomer aggregation and also from retardation of termination due to viscosity effect of the MPC monomer. Rate constants of propagation (k_p) and termination (k_t) of MPC were estimated by means of ESR to be k_p = 180 L/mol · s and k_t = 2.8 × 10⁴ L/mol · s at 60 °C, respectively. Because of much slower termination, R_p of MPC in ethanol was found at 60 °C to be 8 times that of methyl methacrylate (MMA) in benzene, though the different solvents were used for MPC and MMA. Polymerization of MPC with MAIB in ethanol was accelerated by the presence of water and retarded by the presence of benzene or acetonitrile. Poly(MPC) showed a peculiar solubility behavior; although poly(MPC) was highly soluble in ethanol and in water, it was insoluble in aqueous ethanol of water content of 7.4–39.8 vol %. The radical copolymerization of MPC (M₁) and styrene (St) (M₂) in ethanol at 50 °C gave the following copolymerization parameters similar to those of the copolymerization of MMA and St; r₁ = 0.39, r₂ = 0.46, Q₁ = 0.76, and e₁ = +0.51. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 509–515, 2000     

Radical and cationic polymerizations of 3‐ethyl‐3‐methacryloyloxymethyloxetane

3‐Ethyl‐3‐methacryloyloxymethyloxetane (EMO) was easily polymerized by dimethyl 2,2′‐azobisisobutyrate (MAIB) as the radical initiator through the opening of the vinyl group. The initial polymerization rate (R_p) at 50 °C in benzene was given by R_p = k[MAIB]^0.55 [EMO]^1.2. The overall activation energy of the polymerization was estimated to be 87 kJ/mol. The number‐average molecular weight (M?_n) of the resulting poly(EMO)s was in the range of 1–3.3 × 10⁵. The polymerization system was found to involve electron spin resonance (ESR) observable propagating poly(EMO) radicals under practical polymerization conditions. ESR‐determined rate constants of propagation (k_p) and termination (k_t) at 60 °C are 120 and 2.41 × 10⁵ L/mol s, respectively—much lower than those of the usual methacrylate esters such as methyl methacrylate and glycidyl methacrylate. The radical copolymerization of EMO (M₁) with styrene (M₂) at 60 °C gave the following copolymerization parameters: r₁ = 0.53, r₂ = 0.43, Q₁ = 0.87, and e₁ = +0.42. EMO was also observed to be polymerized by BF₃OEt₂ as the cationic initiator through the opening of the oxetane ring. The M?_n of the resulting polymer was in the range of 650–3100. The cationic polymerization of radically formed poly(EMO) provided a crosslinked polymer showing distinguishably different thermal behaviors from those of the radical and cationic poly(EMO)s. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 39: 1269–1279, 2001     

Determination of propagation and termination rate constants by using an extension to the rotating-sector method: Application to PLPC and DLPC bilayers

An extension to the rotating-sector method, which is usually applied to determine propagation and termination rate constants, is presented. The analytical treatment developed accounts for the simultaneous presence of a thermal initiation and of a first-order termination process. The applicability of the rotating-sector method is thus extended to situations where the rate in dark is higher than 5% of the rate in the presence of light, and more accurate estimates of the rate constants are obtained than before for any values of the “dark” rate. A previously published experiment on the application of the rotating-sector method to the autoxidation of styrene was reanalyzed. The estimates obtained for the propagation and the termination rate constants were 11% and 19% higher than the previous estimates, respectively. Finally, the improved rotating-sector method was also applied to the experimental determination of propagation (k_p) and termination rate constants (2×k_t) for both 1-palmitoyl-2-linoleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (PLPC) and 1,2-dilinoleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DLPC) liposomes. The following results were obtained at 37°C: for PLPC k_p =16.6 M⁻¹s⁻¹, and 2×k_t=1.27×10⁵ M⁻¹s⁻¹; for DLPC k_p(intermolecular)=(13.3–13.9) M⁻¹s⁻¹, k_p(intramolecular)=(4.7–5.4) s⁻¹, and 2×k_t=(0.99–1.05)×10⁵ M⁻¹s⁻¹. The separation of the intermolecular and intramolecular propagation rate constants for DLPC was made possible both by a special adaptation of the rotating-sector equations to substrates with two oxidizable moieties, and by the experimental determination of the ratio between partially oxidized DLPC molecules (only one acyl is oxidized) and fully oxidized DLPC molecules (both acyls are oxidized). © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 30: 753–767, 1998     

Synthetic thermally reversible gel systems. IV

The polymerization kinetics in water of acrylylglycinamide (AG) initiated by K₂S₂O₈ was studied over the temperature range 40.0 to 60.0°C. Monomer concentration was varied from 7.8 × 10^?3 to 31.2 × 10^?3M and catalyst from 1.85 × to 11.10 × 10^?5M. The rate expression is ?d[M]/dt = R_p, = k_1.22[K₂S₂O₈]^0.5[M]^1.22, and the overall empirical rate constant, k_1.22 = 1.14 × 10¹¹e^?15,800/RT 1.^0.72 mole^?0.72 min^?1. To explain the dependence on monomer, a kinetic scheme which includes a bimolecular reaction (k₂) between monomer and initiator is suggested. The simplified expression which describes the initial rate of polymerization is: ?d[M]/dt = R_p, = k₄(2[I]/k₅)^1/2[M](k₁ + k₂[M])^1/2, where k₁, k₂, k₄ and k₅ are rate constants for S₂O₈ = decomposition, a bimolecular reaction between monomer and initiator, propagation, and termination, respectively. Individual bimolecular rate constants are expressed in liter/mole-min. The equation predicts a dependence on monomer concentration between 1.0 and 1.5 with 1.5 being approached a t high monomer concentrations. Plots of R_P²/[M]² versus [M] are linear, as predicted by the postulated reaction route and values for k₂ and k₄/k₅^1/2 were obtained from the slopes and intercepts of these plots. The temperature dependence of the bimolecular monomer-initiator reaction is k₂ = 5.19 × 10²¹e^?36,000/RT. Instead of the usual behavior, the k₄/k₅^1/2 ratio was found to decrease with temperature and the difference of activation energies, (E₄ ? E₅/2), is ?1.50 kcal. The temperature dependence of the propagation to square root of the termination rate constant ratio is k₄/k₅^1/2 = 6.16e^1500/RT. These rather unusual results may be related to the ability of AG polymers in water to form thermally reversible gels; even above the gel melting points, the polymers are considerably aggregated in solution. This would tend to make the bimolecular termination reaction more temperature dependent and also account for the high values (59–69) for the k₄/k₅^1/2 ratios. For similar temperatures, the overall rate constants for AG are approximately four times those for acrylamide.     

A novel palladium catalyst for the polymerization of propargyl alcohol

Homogeneous polymerization of propargyl alcohol (OHP) with Pd (C?CCH₂OH)₂(PPh₃)₂ [Pd?C] catalyst in CHCl₃-CH₃OH mixed solvent system has been investigated. [Pd?C] was found to be a novel effective catalyst for the OHP polymerization. Some features, kinetic behavior, and effect of solvent for the OHP polymerization are described and discussed. The overall polymerization activation energy was found to be 75.6kJ/mol and the rate equation can be expressed as R_p = k_p[OHP] [Pd?C]^0.7, where k_p = 3.14 × 10^-4 L^0.7/ mol^0.7 S (60°C). Polypropargyl alcohol (POHP) obtained is a brown powder with a number-average molecular weight (M?_n) of 10³-2 × 10³, and soluble in MeOH, DMF, and DMSO. Conducting properties of the resulting POHP were investigated. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Zirconocenium cation catalysis of propene polymerization

rac-Ethylenebis(1-η⁵-indenyl)dimethylzirconium (1) was reacted with triphenylcarbenium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate (2) to produce in situ the rac-ethylenebis(indenyl)methylzirconium cation (3). This aluminium-free catalyst showed propene polymerization activity (A) and stereoselectivity which both increase with the decrease of polymerization temperature (T_p). At very low T_p, 3 behaved as a “single-site” catalyst. An efficient way to produce such cation is to react ansa-zirconocene dichloride with 2 in the presence of TEA (=triethylaluminium). A superior cationic catalyst was obtained from rac-dimethylsilylenebis(1-η⁵-indenyl)dichlorozirconium, 2, and TEA, which polymerizes propene at −20°C(−55°C) with activity of 2×10⁹ (3×10⁸) g polypropene per (mol Zr η mol C₃H₆ η h) to polypropenes which are 93.8% (99.4%) isotactic with melting temperature T_m = 152.6°C (159.9°C) and viscosity-average molecular weight M_v = 1.4×10⁵ (2.2×10⁵). The addition of methylaluminoxane lowers the A of the cationic catalyst especially at low T_p. Rigorously speaking, the cation derived from 1 or 3 behaves as a “single site” catalyst only at very low T_p. The use of TEA significantly and unexpectedly enhances the efficiency of the zirconocenium catalyst system.     

Synthesis of sugar‐based macromolecules via sono‐ATRP in miniemulsion

Ultrasound‐mediated atom transfer radical polymerization (sono‐ATRP) in miniemulsion media is used for the first time for the preparation of complex macromolecular architectures by a facile two‐step synthetic route. Initially, esterification reaction of sucrose or lactulose with α‐bromoisobutyryl bromide (BriBBr) is conducted to receive multifunctional ATRP macroinitiators with 8 initiation sites, followed by polymerization of n‐butyl acrylate (BA) forming arms of the star‐like polymers. The brominated lactulose‐based molecule was examined as an ATRP initiator by determining the activation rate constant (k_a) of the catalytic process in the presence of a copper(II) bromide/tris(2‐pyridylmethyl)amine (Cu^IIBr₂/TPMA) catalyst in both organic solvent and for the first time in miniemulsion media, resulting in k_a = (1.03 ± 0.01) × 10⁴ M^?1 s^?1 and k_a = (1.16 ± 0.56) × 10³ M^?1 s^?1, respectively. Star‐like macromolecules with a sucrose or lactulose core and poly(n‐butyl acrylate) (PBA) arms were successfully received using different catalyst concentration. Linear kinetics and a well‐defined structure of synthesized polymers reflected by narrow molecular weight distribution (M_w/M_n = 1.46) indicated 105 ppm wt of catalyst loading as concentration to maintain controlled manner of polymerization process. ¹H NMR analysis confirms the formation of new sugar‐inspired star‐shaped polymers.     

Poly(styrene‐b‐isobutylene) multiarm star‐block copolymers

Multiarm star‐branched polymers based on poly(styrene‐b‐isobutylene) (PS‐PIB) block copolymer arms were synthesized under controlled/living cationic polymerization conditions using the 2‐chloro‐2‐propylbenzene (CCl)/TiCl₄/pyridine (Py) initiating system and divinylbenzene (DVB) as gel‐core‐forming comonomer. To optimize the timing of isobutylene (IB) addition to living PS⊕, the kinetics of styrene (St) polymerization at −80°C were measured in both 60 : 40 (v : v) methyl cyclohexane (MCHx) : MeCl and 60 : 40 hexane : MeCl cosolvents. For either cosolvent system, it was found that the polymerizations followed first‐order kinetics with respect to the monomer and the number of actively growing chains remained invariant. The rate of polymerization was slower in MCHx : MeCl (k_app = 2.5 × 10⁻³ s⁻¹) compared with hexane : MeCl (k_app = 5.6 × 10⁻³ s⁻¹) ([CCl]_o = [TiCl₄]/15 = 3.64 × 10⁻³M; [Py] = 4 × 10⁻³M; [St]_o = 0.35M). Intermolecular alkylation reactions were observed at [St]_o = 0.93M but could be suppressed by avoiding very high St conversion and by setting [St]_o ≤ 0.35M. For St polymerization, k_app = 1.1 × 10⁻³ s⁻¹ ([CCl]_o = [TiCl₄]/15 = 1.82 × 10⁻³M; [Py] = 4 × 10⁻³M; [St]_o = 0.35M); this was significantly higher than that observed for IB polymerization (k_app = 3.0 × 10⁻⁴ s⁻¹; [CCl]_o = [Py] = [TiCl₄]/15 = 1.86 × 10⁻³M; [IB]_o = 1.0M). Blocking efficiencies were higher in hexane : MeCl compared with MCHx : MeCl cosolvent system. Star formation was faster with PS‐PIB arms compared with PIB homopolymer arms under similar conditions. Using [DVB] = 5.6 × 10⁻²M = 10 times chain end concentration, 92% of PS‐PIB arms (M_n,PS = 2600 and M_n,PIB = 13,400 g/mol) were linked within 1 h at −80°C with negligible star–star coupling. It was difficult to achieve complete linking of all the arms prior to the onset of star–star coupling. Apparently, the presence of the St block allows the PS‐PIB block copolymer arms to be incorporated into growing star polymers by an additional mechanism, namely, electrophilic aromatic substitution (EAS), which leads to increased rates of star formation and greater tendency toward star–star coupling. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 1629–1641, 1999     

Supported catalysts for stereospecific polymerization of propylene

Tetrabenzyltitanium (B₄Ti), tribenzyltitanium chloride (B₃TiCl), tetra(p-methylbenzyl)titanium (R₄Ti) and tri(p-methylbenzyl)titanium chloride (R₃TiCl) have been used as catalysts for ethylene and propylene polymerization activated by AlEt₂Cl. B₄Ti-AIEt₂Cl in solution polymerizes ethylene readily but its activity decays rapidly. B₄Ti was also supported on Cab-O-Sil, Alon C, and Mg(OH)Cl. The last support was found to give catalyst with longest lifetime with a rate of polymerization, R_p = 7.0 g/hr-mmole Ti-atm ethylene. ¹⁴CO counting techniques gave 1.13 × 10^?3 mole of propagating center per mole of B₄Ti; the rate constant of propagation, k_p = 540 l./mole-sec. None of the tetravalent titanium compounds polymerize propylene in solution. However, when supported on Mg(OH)Cl, Cab-O-Sil, Alon C, Cab-O-Ti, and charcoal, they all polymerize propylene. In this work the supports were characterized by various techniques, including the paramagnetic probe method, to determine the concentration and nature of surface hydroxyls. Those factors controlling the rate and stereospecificity of propylene polymerization were investigated. The system B₃TiCl–Mg(OH)Cl–AlEt₂Cl is the most active with R_p = 2.89 g/hr-mmole Ti-atm propylene. The concentration of propagation center is 0.9 × 10^?3 mole per mole of B₃TiCl; k_p = 32 l./mole-sec. This catalyst gave only about 70% stereoregular polymer. Diethyl ether is found to raise stereospecificity to 100%, but there is a concommittent tenfold decrease of activity. Other interesting catalyst systems are: (π-C₅H₅)TiMe₃–Mg(OH)Cl–AlEt₂Cl (1.56, 89.5); (π-C₅H₅)TiMe₂–Mg(OH)Cl–AlEt₂Cl (0.075, 94.5); and (π-C₅H₅)TiMe₃–Alon C–Al-Et₂Cl (0.08,97.2), where the first number in the parenthesis is R_p in g/mmole Ti-hr-atm and the second entry corresponds to percentage yield of stereoregular polypropylene. Hafnocene and titanocene supported on Mg(OH)Cl produce only oligomers of propylene.     

Radical-initiated homo- and copolymerization of methoxymethyl methacrylate

The kinetics of methoxymethyl methacrylate (MOMA) homopolymerization has been investigated in benzene, using azobis(isobutyronitrile) as an initiator. The rate of polymerization (R_p) could be expressed by R_p = k[AIBN]^0.5 [MOMA]^1.19. The overall activation energy was calculated to be 73.2 kJ/mol. Kinetic constants for MOMA polymerization were obtained as follows: k_p/k_t^1/2 = 0.091 L^1/2 · mol^?1/2 · s^?1/2; 2fk_d = 1.37 × 10^?5 s^?1. The values of K and a in the Mark–Houwink equation, [η] = KM^a, where K = 5.89 × 10^?5 and a = 0.82 when M = M _n and the solvent was benzene. The relative reactivity ratios of MOMA (M₂) copolymerizations with styrene (r₁ = 0.40, r₂ = 0.58) were obtained. Applying the Q-e scheme led to Q = 0.78 and e = 0.67. The glass transition temperature (T_g) of poly(MOMA) was observed to be 64°C by DSC. Thermogravimetry of poly(MOMA) showed a 10% weight loss at 230°C in air.     

Factors affecting product distributions in ethylene/styrene copolymerization by (aryloxo)(cyclopentadienyl)titanium complexes‐MAO catalyst systems

Ethylene/styrene copolymerizations using Cp′TiCl₂(O‐2,6‐ⁱPr₂C₆H₃) [Cp′ = Cp* (C₅Me₅, 1 ), 1,2,4‐Me₃C₅H₂ ( 2 ), tert‐BuC₅H₄ ( 3 )]‐MAO catalyst systems were explored under various conditions. Complexes 2 and 3 exhibited both high catalytic activities (activity: 504–6810 kg‐polymer/mol‐Ti h) and efficient styrene incorporations at 25, 40°C (ethylene 6 atm), affording relatively high molecular weight poly (ethylene‐co‐styrene)s with unimodal molecular weight distributions as well as with uniform styrene distributions (M_w = 6.12–13.6 × 10⁴, M_w/M_n = 1.50–1.71, styrene 31.7–51.9 mol %). By‐productions of syndiotactic polystyrene (SPS) were observed, when the copolymerizations by 1 – 3 ‐MAO catalyst systems were performed at 55, 70 °C (ethylene 6 atm, SPS 9.0–68.9 wt %); the ratios of the copolymer/SPS were affected by the polymerization temperature, the [styrene]/[ethylene] feed molar ratios in the reaction mixture, and by both the cyclopentadienyl fragment (Cp′) and anionic ancillary donor ligand (L) in Cp′TiCl₂(L) (L = Cl, O‐2,6‐ⁱPr₂C₆H₃ or N=C^tBu₂) employed. Co‐presence of the catalytically‐active species for both the copolymerization and the homopolymerization was thus suggested even in the presence of ethylene; the ratios were influenced by various factors (catalyst precursors, temperature, styrene/ethylene feed molar ratio, etc.). © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 4162–4174, 2008     

The reaction of OH with NO2 and the deactivation of O(1D) by CO

NO₂ was photolyzed with 2288 Å radiation at 300° and 423°K in the presence of H₂O, CO, and in some cases excess He. The photolysis produces O(¹D) atoms which react with H₂O to give HO radicals or are deactivated by CO to O(³P) atoms The ratio k₅/k₃ is temperature dependent, being 0.33 at 300°K and 0.60 at 423°K. From these two points, the Arrhenius expression is estimated to be k₅/k₃ = 2.6 exp(?1200/RT) where R is in cal/mole – °K. The OH radical is either removed by NO₂ or reacts with CO The ratio k₂/k^α is 0.019 at 300°K and 0.027 at 423°K, and the ratio k₂/k⁰ is 1.65 × 10^?5M at 300°K and 2.84 × 10^?5M at 423°K, with H₂O as the chaperone gas, where k^α = k₁ in the high-pressure limit and k⁰[M] = k₁ in the low-pressure limit. When combined with the value of k₂ = 4.2 × 10⁸ exp(?1100/RT) M^?1sec^?1, k^α = 6.3 × 10⁹ exp (?340/RT)M^?1sec^?1 and k⁰ = 4.0 × 10¹²M^?2sec^?1, independent of temperature for H₂O as the chaperone gas. He is about 1/8 as efficient as H₂O.     

Kinetic and ESR studies on radical polymerization behavior of N‐(2‐phenylethoxycarbonyl)methacrylamide

Polymerization of N‐(2‐phenylethoxycarbonyl)methacrylamide (PECMA) with dimethyl 2,2′‐azobisisobutyrate (MAIB) was investigated in tetrahydrofuran (THF) kinetically and by means of electron spin resonance (ESR). The overall activation energy of the polymerization was calculated to be 58 kJ/mol. The initial polymerization rate (R_p) is expressed by R_p = k[MAIB]^0.3[PECMA]^2.3 at 60 °C. Such unusual kinetics may be ascribable to primary radical termination and to acceleration of propagation due to monomer association. Propagating poly(PECMA) radical was observed as a 13‐line spectrum by ESR under practical polymerization conditions. ESR‐determined rate constants of propagation (k_p, 4.7–10.5 L/mol s) and termination (k_t, 4.6 × 10⁴ L/ml s) at 60 °C are much lower than those of methacrylamide and methacrylate esters. The Arrhenius plots of k_p and k_t gave activation energies of propagation (24 kJ/mol) and termination (25 kJ/mol). The copolymerizations of PECMA with styrene (St) and acrylonitrile were examined at 60 °C in THF. Copolymerization parameters obtained for the PECMA (M₁) − St(M₂) system are as follows: r₁ = 0.58, r₂ = 0.60, Q₁ = 0.73, and e₁ = +0.22. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 4264–4271, 2000     

STUDIES ON THE KINETICS OF PROPYLENE POLYMERIZATION WITH THE COMPLEXTYPE TiCl_3 CATALYST

The active center concentration C_p, the rate constant k_p, and the activation energy of chain propagation E_p in the polymerization of propylene with complex-type TiCl_3-(C_2H_5)_2AlCl catalyst system were studied. The Mn was corrected by (?) value determined by GPC. The values thus obtained for C_p, k_p, and E_p at 50℃were 3.01 mol/mol Ti, 6.27 1/mol·sec, and 5.10 Kcal/mol respectively.The kinetic parameters were compared with those obtained from conventional TiCl_3·AlCl_2 catalyst, showing that the higher activity of the complex-type catalyst over the conventional catalyst is not only due to the higher C_p of the former, but to a greater extent due to the increase of the k_p value.     

Polymerization and copolymerization of trioxane: Factors influencing molecular weight and end groups

In bulk polymerization and copolymerization of trioxane with ethylene oxide, it has been shown that p-chlorophenyldiazonium hexafluorophosphate is a superior catalyst as compared to boron trifluoride dibutyl etherate (BF₃ · Bu₂O). Polymers and copolymers of significantly higher molecular weight have been obtained. The higher molecular weight has been attributed primarily to less inherent chain transfer during propagation, which in turn can be attributed to the superior gegenion PF₆^?. The polymerization proceeds via a clear period followed by sudden solidification. Faster polymerization and higher molecular weight polymers have been observed for homopolymerization than for copolymerization. The polymer yield obtained after solidification is determined by both rate of polymerization and rate of crystallization of polymers. These rates, in turn, are dependent on the catalyst concentration. The molecular weight is determined both by polymer yield and extent of inherent chain transfer. In the range of monomer to catalyst mole ration [M]/[C] = (0.5–20) × 10⁴ investigated, it has been found that in the higher range, the polymer yield is independent of the catalyst concentration and the extent of inherent chain transfer is inversely proportional to the half power of catalyst concentration: [M]/[C] = (0.5–8) × 10⁴ for homopolymerization and (0.5–3) × 10⁴ for copolymerization with 4.2 mole % ethylene oxide. In the lower range, the yield decreases with catalyst concentration and the extent of inherent chain transfer is inversely proportional to higher power of catalyst concentration. The dependence of molecular weight of polymers on catalyst concentration has been shown to be a complex one. The molecular weight goes through a maximum as the catalyst concentration is decreased. The maximum molecular weights have been obtained at [M]/[C] ≈ 8 × 10⁴ for homopolymerization and ～3 × 10⁴ for copolymerization with 4.2 mole % ethylene oxide. Prior to reaching maximum the molecular weight is inversely proportional to the half power of catalyst concentration indicating it is primarily controlled by inherent chain transfer. Upon further decrease of catalyst, molecular weight decreases as a result of both a decrease in polymer yield and an increase in inherent chain transfer. In copolymerization of trioxane and ethylene oxide, it has been ascertained that methylene chloride exhibits a favorable solvating effect. Although higher inherent chain transfer takes place in copolymerization than in homopolymerization, the extent of chain transfer is independent of ethylene oxide concentration. The difference in polymer yield and molecular weight a t different ethylene oxide concentrations is attributed primarily to the difference in k_p/k_t ratio. It also has been demonstrated that end capping of polymer chains can be accomplished by the use of a chain transfer agent—methylal.     

Hydroxyl radical reactions with halogenated ethanols in aqueous solution: Kinetics and thermochemistry

Laser flash photolysis combined with competition kinetics with SCN^? as the reference substance has been used to determine the rate constants of OH radicals with three fluorinated and three chlorinated ethanols in water as a function of temperature. The following Arrhenius expressions have been obtained for the reactions of OH radicals with (1) 2‐fluoroethanol, k₁(T) = (5.7 ± 0.8) × 10¹¹ exp((?2047 ± 1202)/T) M^?1 s^?1, (2) 2,2‐difluoroethanol, k₂(T) = (4.5 ± 0.5) × 10⁹ exp((?855 ± 796)/T) M^?1 s^?1, (3) 2,2,2‐trifluoroethanol, k₃(T) = (2.0 ± 0.1) × 10¹¹ exp((?2400 ± 790)/T) M^?1 s^?1, (4) 2‐chloroethanol, k₄(T) = (3.0 ± 0.2) × 10¹⁰ exp((?1067 ± 440)/T) M^?1 s^?1, (5) 2, 2‐dichloroethanol, k₅(T) = (2.1 ± 0.2) × 10¹⁰ exp((?1179 ± 517)/T) M^?1 s^?1, and (6) 2,2,2‐trichloroethanol, k₆(T) = (1.6 ± 0.1) × 10¹⁰ exp((?1237 ± 550)/T) M^?1 s^?1. All experiments were carried out at temperatures between 288 and 328 K and at pH = 5.5–6.5. This set of compounds has been chosen for a detailed study because of their possible environmental impact as alternatives to chlorofluorocarbon and hydrogen‐containing chlorofluorocarbon compounds in the case of the fluorinated alcohols and due to the demonstrated toxicity when chlorinated alcohols are considered. The observed rate constants and derived activation energies of the reactions are correlated with the corresponding bond dissociation energy (BDE) and ionization potential (IP), where the BDEs and IPs of the chlorinated ethanols have been calculated using quantum mechanical calculations. The errors stated in this study are statistical errors for a confidence interval of 95%. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 40: 174–188, 2008