Syntheses and reactions of ferrocene-containing polymers. III. Cyclopolymerization of 1,1′-divinylferrocene

1,1′-Divinylferrocene was polymerized with BF₃OEt₂ and AIBN initiators. Polymers were separated into benzene-soluble and benzene-insoluble fractions, the latter probably being crosslinked. The polymers obtained with BF₃OEt₂ were shown by infrared and NMR spectroscopy to contain both cyclized (70–80%) and uncyclized units, whereas the radical polymer consisted of more than 96% cyclized units. The benzene-soluble fraction of the cationically obtained polymer softened at temperatures below 150°C, but the insoluble fraction decomposed at 240°C. The radical polymers were stable up to 250–280°C (dec).     

Quasiliving Carbocationic Polymerization. V. Quasiliving Polymerization of lndene

Quasiliving polymerization of indene, i.e., an increase of the molecular weight of polyindenes with the cumulative amount of consumed monomer, has been demonstrated using the “H₂O”/ BCl₃, 2-chloroindene/BCl, “H₂O”/TiCl₄, 2-chloroindene/TiCl₄, and cumyl chloride/TiCl₄ initiating systems in CH₂Cl₂ solvent at -50°C. However, chain transfer operates in every system investigated, and sets a limit to DP _n,max. The efficiency of the 2-chloroindene and cumyl chloride initiators is very low. The behavior of BCl₃ and TiCl₄ coinitiators on the polymerization has also been investigated.     

Polymerization of β-cyanopropionaldehyde. III. Polymerization by organoaluminum and by organoaluminum–titanium chloride complexes

The mechanism of formation and stereoregularity of poly(cyanoethyl)oxymethylene have been studied. The polymerization was carried out at ?78°C with use of aluminum compounds [Al(C₂H₅)₃, Al(C₂H₅)₂Cl, Al(C₂H₅)Cl₂, and AlCl₃] and complex catalysts [Al(C₂H₅)₃–TiCl₄, Al(C₂H₅)₃–TiCl₃, and Al(C₂H₅)₂Cl–TiCl₃] as initiators. The stereoregularity of poly(cyanoethyl)oxymethylene was estimated from the optical density ratio, D₁₂₅₈/D₁₂₇₀, in the infrared absorption spectrum. Polymer yields were observed to depend upon the aluminum compound used as initiators, while the stereoregularity of the polymer was nearly independent of the particular aluminum compound used. As the catalyst ratio of titanium chloride to aluminum compound increased, the polymer yield was found to increase to a maximum and then to decrease with further increase of the ratio. It is supposed that titanium chlorides themselves increase the acid strength of aluminum compounds through chlorination, resulting in the change of the polymer yield. The highest stereoregularity of poly(cyanoethyl)oxymethylene was attained by increasing the molar ratio of titanium trichloride to aluminum and by treating β-cyanopropionaldehyde (CPA) with titanium trichloride prior to the polymerization. Complex formation of the nitrile group of CPA with titanium is considered responsible for the increase in stereoregularity. A propagation mechanism is also proposed.     

Living Carbocationic Polymerization. V. Linear Telechelic Polyisobutylenes by Bifunctional Initiators

The synthesis of α,ω-di-t-chloropolyisobutylene has been accomplished by living polymerization using aliphatic and aromatic tert-diacetate initiators in conjunction with BCl₃ coinitiator in various solvents in the ?20 to ?70°C range. The living nature of the polymerizations was demonstrated with the instantaneous initiators 2,4,4,6-tetramethyl-heptane-2,6-diacetate and 1,4-di(2-propyl-2-acetate)benzene by linear [Mbar]_n versus amount of PIB formed (W _PIB) plots starting at the origin. The formation of undesirable indanyl structures that arise with the aromatic initiator can be suppressed by decreasing the temperature and the polarity of the polymerization medium (i.e., by using CH₃Cl/n-C₆H₁₄ mixtures). Living polymerization of isobutylene can also be obtained with noninstantaneous initiators, e.g., 2,5-dimethylhexane-2,5-diacetate, 2,5-dimethylhexyne-2,5-diacetate. However, with these systems the initiator efficiency is less than 100%.     

Polymerization of Fluorothiocarbonyl Compounds

Recently it was shown that the C[dbnd]S group in fluorothiocarbonyl compounds readily undergoes addition polymerization. This review describes polymers obtainable from such compounds as CF₂[dbnd]S, CF₃CF[dbnd]S, ClCF₂CF[dbnd]S, HCFClCF[dbnd]S, and hexafluorothioacetone. The polymerization of CF₂[dbnd]S is readily brought about in anionic systems at low temperatures, giving a high-molecular-weight poly(thiocarbonyl fluoride) with a number-average molecular weight in the range of 300,000 to 400,000. It is believed that the major portion of this polymer is composed of chains of CF₃–-S—(—CF₂S—)_n–CF[dbnd]S. Poly(thiocarbonyl fluoride) is a highly resilient elastomer in the amorphous form but suffers the disadvantage of slow crystallization at temperatures below 35°C and concomitant loss of rubbery properties. Above 175°C it depolymerizes. Fluorothioacyl fluorides also undergo anionic polymerization, but the products are logy elastomers. Copolymers of fluorothioacyl fluorides with CF₂[dbnd]S have better thermal stability but poorer resilience than poly(thiocarbonyl fluoride). Hexafluorothioacetone has been polymerized at—110°C to give a white elastomer that slowly depolymerizes at room temperature to regenerate monomer. Thiocarbonyl fluoride is also susceptible to free-radical polymerization, and in free-radical systems it copolymerizes with conventional vinyl monomers, giving a wide variety of new elastomeric products.     

Polymerization of acetylenic derivatives. XXX. Isomers of polyphenylacetylene

Cis-transoidal (orange, soluble, and of low crystallinity) and cis-cisoidal (red, insoluble, and highly crystalline) polyphenylacetylenes (PPA) were prepared by Ziegler-Natta catalysts and trans-cisoidal (yellow, soluble, and amorphous) polyphenylacetylenes were prepared by using phosphine complexes, TiCl₄ and by thermal initiation. The cis-transoidal and cis-cisoidal structures isomerize thermally in the solid state above 100°C. In solution the cis-transoidal structure isomerizes above 80°C. The polymers obtained by thermal isomerization are soluble, amorphous, and have a trans-cisoidal structure. At temperatures higher than 120°C the cis–trans isomerization is accompanied by cyclization and by scission of the polymer chain. A method was developed for determination of cis content of cis-transoidal and cis-cisoidal polyphenylacetylenes.     

Polymerization of 1,2-epoxy-4-epoxyethylcyclohexane

Radiation-induced polymerization of 1,2-epoxy-4-epoxyethylcyclohexane (EECH) has been carried out at different temperatures in solid and liquid states. Activation energy was calculated from Arrhenius plot and ionic mechanism was proposed. Molecular weights for some polymer samples were determined by cryscopic method and compared with their intrinsic viscosities. Cationic polymerization of EECH initiated by BF₃ · O(C₂H₅)₂ and anionic polymerization initiated by NaOH are also studied. Two epoxy rings can be opened for polymerization selectively by radiation, but not by chemical initiators. The expected polyether structure was observed from the IR spectrum. Polymers obtained were shown to be amorphous from X-ray photographs.     

Polymerization of N-Vinylcaprolactam and Characterization of Poly(N-Vinylcaprolactam)

Poly(N-vinylcaprolactam), PNVCL, is a nonionic, nontoxic, water soluble, thermally sensitive and biocompatible polymer. It contains hydrophilic carboxylic and amide groups with hydrophobic carbon-carbon backbone suitable for biomedical applications. In this study, N-vinylcaprolactam was polymerized by free radical polymerization at 50, 60 and 70°C. The synthesized polymers were white powder, soluble in water and common organic solvents. The percent conversion vs. time plot is almost linear up to about 60% conversion without induction period. The activation energy of polymerization was calculated as 108.4 kJ/mol from the Arrhenius plot. FTIR and NMR results showed that polymerization takes place by opening of carbon-carbon double bond without any change in the caprolactam ring. Polymer was characterized by FTIR, ¹H-NMR and ¹³C -NMR, DSC, TGA and XRD techniques. The DSC thermogram of monomer has shown a melting point at 37.3°C. The polymer has T_g value at 1.8°C and softening temperature at 68.8°C. It was determined from the X-Ray powder pattern that the polymerization proceed in the b-crystallographic axis direction.     

Polymerization of diethylene glycol bis(allyl carbonate) by means of di-sec-butyl peroxydicarbonate

The initial stages of the free radical polymerization of diethylene glycol bis(allyl carbonate) at temperatures of 35–65°C have been studied. The polymer is unsaturated and cyclization to give a 16-membered ring occurs only to a small extent. The kinetic order with respect to the initiator, di-sec-butyl peroxydicarbonate, has an average value of 0.79; the order increases slightly with peroxydicarbonate concentration over the range 0.018–0.22M. The molecular weight of the polymer isolated after 3% polymerization is close to 19,000. It shows no significant dependence on initiator concentration or on temperature. The dominant feature of the bulk polymerization, as in free radical polymerization of the other allyl and diallyl monomers, is degradative chain transfer in which the growing polymer radical abstracts a hydrogen atom from a monomer unit to give a relatively unreactive allylic radical. The dependence of rate on initiator concentration is rationalized if some of these allylic radicals are able to reinitiate polymerization. The transfer constant to monomer is 0.014 at 50°C, assuming that the main termination step involves mutual termination of allylic radicals. Carbon tetrachloride is an active transfer agent with a transfer constant of 0.20 ± 0.04 at 50°C. Toluene, which is less active, has a transfer constant of 0.0064 at 50°C and also retards the polymerization. Some kinetic studies have been made with other initiators, including di-2-methyl-pentanoyl peroxide which initiates polymerization at temperatures as low as 13°C.     

Molecular structure of vinylphosphine derivatives. Electron diffraction study of Cl2P−CH=CR2 (R=H,Me)

Internal rotation about the P?C bonds in the Cl₂PCH=CH₂ and Cl₂PCH=CMe₂ molecules is diseussed. It is shown that the cis (with eclipsed C=C bonds and lone electron pair of the phosphorus atom) and eclipsed conformers of the Cl₂PCH=CH₂ molecule are in equilibrium. The geometrical parameters and conformation compositions are refined. The content of the cis conformer is 40%. The Cl?P?C=C torsion angles are ±128.5° for the cis conformer and ?29.6 and ?132.6° for the eclipsed conformer. The Cl₂PCH=CMe₂ molecule occurs only in the cis form. For Cl₂PCH=CMe₂, the geometrical parameters are as follows: bond lengths C?H=1.124(11), C=C=1.322(8), P?C=1.789(3), and P?Cl=2.042(2) Å; bong angles (deg) C?P?Cl=99.1(4), Cl?P?Cl=99.6(6), C=C?CH₃=120.1 and 125.7, and P?C=C=122.3(9); torsion angles Cl?P?C=C=±129.3(3).     

Polymerization of 1-methoxy-1-ethynylcyclohexane by transition metal catalysts

The polymerization of 1-methoxy-1-ethynylcyclohexane (MEC) was carried out by various transition metal catalysts. The catalysts MoCl₅, MoCl₄, and WCl₆ gave a relatively low yield of polymer (≤ 16%). The catalytic activity of Mo-based chloride catalyst was greater than that of W-based chloride catalyst. However, catalyst tungsten carbene complex (I) gave a larger molar mass and higher yield in the presence of a Lewis acid such as AlCl₃ than in the absence of a Lewis acid. The activity of the tungsten carbene complex was obviously affected by Lewis acidity. The catalyst PdCl₂ was a very effective catalyst for the present polymerization and gave polymers in a high yield. The structure of the resulting poly(MEC) was identified by various instrumental methods as a conjugated polyene structure having an α-methoxycyclohexyl substituent. The poly(MEC)s were mostly light-brown powders and completely soluble in various organic solvents such as tetrahydrofuran (THF), chloroform (CHCl₃), ethylacetate, n-butylacetate, dimethylformamide, benzene, xylene, dimethylacetamide, 1,4-dioxane, pyridine, and 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone. Thermogravimetric analysis showed that the polymer started to lose mass at 125°C and that maximum decomposition occurred at 418°C. The x-ray diffraction diagram shows that poly(MEC) has an amorphous structure. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Polymerization of β-cyanopropionaldehyde. II. Crystalline poly(cyanoethyl)oxymethylene

Additional investigation was made on the polymerization of β-cyanopropionaldehyde at ?78°C. with triethylaluminum and triethylaluminum—titanium tetrachloride complexes as initiators. The complexes give a higher polymer yield than triethylaluminum alone. The yield—Ti/Al plot also has a maximum at a Ti/Al mole ratio of about 0.2 at constant Al(C₂H₅)₃ concentration. The rate of polymerization seems to be increased in the following order: toluene < methylene chloride < tetrahydrofuran. This order is reversed with regard to the content of DMF-insoluble fraction mentioned below. The polymer obtained consists of two fractions: one is soluble in dimethylformamide (DMF) and the other is not. The former consists of an amorphous polymer and the latter of crystalline polymer. It was found that the infrared absorption bands at 790, 1258, and 1375 cm.^-1 were characteristic of crystalline polymer and were assigned to crystalline bands. Those at 1270 and 1345 cm.^-1 are characteristic of amorphous bands. The crystalline bands and C? O? C bands show very intense infrared dichroism, whereas the nitrile band does not. The crystal data obtained from the analysis of the x-ray diffraction pattern, including the fiber repeat distance of 4.95 A. and other unit cell dimensions in a triclinic system, were compared with those reported for various aldehyde polymers. The unit cell dimension a′ or the maximum interplanar distance is somewhat smaller, suggesting that the molecules are more tightly packed than poly(n-butyraldehyde), in which the side chain has the same carbon number as that of poly-(cyanoethyl)oxymethylene. Internal rotation angles and a radius of helix were calculated for an isotactic fourfold helical model of the polymer. Some other characterizations of the polymer were also made.     

Polymerization and copolymerization studies on vinyl fluoride

The polymerization of vinyl fluoride has been studied in the temperature range of 0–50°C. with the aid of different types of initiators. Ziegler-Natta systems based on vanadyl acetylacetonate and AIR(OR)Cl compounds showed good activity. Enhanced reaction rates and higher polymerization degrees were achieved with boron alkyls (and, to a lesser degree, Cd, Zn, and Be alkyls) activated by oxygen. With either types of initiator, the main features and the kinetic parameters of the polymerization were determined. In all cases, the polymerization is considered to be of the free-radical type, though some properties (crystallinity, melting temperature) of the polymer are shown to be markedly improved over the previously described high-pressure polymer. This is chiefly ascribed to an improved degree of chemical regularity of the chains. The copolymerization of vinyl fluoride in the presence of the cited initiators was studied with a number of monomers. The values of the copolymerization parameters allow us to obtain Q (0.010 ± 0.005) and e (?0.8±0.2) values and to discuss the reactivity of vinyl fluoride in radical chain propagation.     

Polymerization and polymer properties of (p-tert-butyl-o,o-dimethylphenyl)acetylene

(p-tert-Butyl-o,o-dimethylphenyl)acetylene (BDMPA) polymerized in high yields in the presence of W and Mo catalysts. Especially the W(CO)₆–CCl₄–hv catalyst quantitatively produced a polymer totally soluble in toluene and chloroform. The weight-average molecular weight of this polymer exceeded 2 × 10⁶. Poly(BDMPA) was a dark brown solid, and had alternating double bonds along the main chain. The weight loss of the polymer in air occurred only above 300°C, indicating a fairly high thermal stability. A free-standing film could be fabricated by solution casting. The electrical conductivity of the polymer at 25°C was 1 × 10⁻¹³ S cm⁻¹. The oxygen permeability coefficient and the separation factor of O₂ vs. N₂ of the polymer at 25°C were 67 barrers and 3.2, respectively. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

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.     

Anionic Polymerization of Chiral Isocyanate and Influence of the Initiator on Changes in the Optical Activity

A chiral polyisocyanate, poly[6‐{1‐[(S)‐(–)‐2‐methylbutyl]oxycarbonylamino}hexyl isocyanate], was synthesized using sodium diphenylmethanide and sodium naphthalenide as unidirectional and bidirectional initiators, respectively, via anionic polymerization in THF at –98°C. NaBPh₄ as a common ion salt was used to produce the polymer in quantitative yield and with narrow molecular‐weight distribution. The polymer showed different optical activity depending on the nature of the initiator.     

Ring‐Opening Polymerization of Lactide with Group 3 Metal Complexes Supported by Dianionic Alkoxy‐Amino‐Bisphenolate Ligands: Combining High Activity,Productivity, and Selectivity

A series of new alkoxy‐amino‐bis(phenols) (H₂L 1 – 6 ) has been synthesized by Mannich condensations of substituted phenols, formaldehyde, and amino ethers or diamines. The coordination properties of these dianionic ligands towards yttrium, lanthanum, and neodymium have been studied. The resulting Group 3 metal complexes have been used as initiators for the ring‐opening polymerization of rac‐lactide to provide poly(lactic acid)s (PLAs). The polymerizations are living, as evidenced by the narrow polydispersities of the isolated polymers, together with the linear natures of number average molecular weight versus conversion plots and monomer‐to‐catalyst ratios. Complex [Y(L 6 ){N(SiHMe₂)₂}(THF)] ( 17 ) polymerized rac‐lactide to heterotactic PLA (P_r = 0.90 at 20 °C) and meso‐lactide to syndiotactic PLA (P_r = 0.75 at 20 °C). The in situ formation of [Y(L 6 )(OiPr)(THF)] ( 18 ) from 17 and 2‐propanol resulted in narrower molecular weight distributions (PDI = 1.06). With complex 18 , highly heterotactic PLAs with narrow molecular weight distributions were obtained with high activities and productivities at room temperature. The natures of the ligand substituents were shown to have a significant influence on the degree of control of the polymerizations, and in particular on the tacticity of the polymer.     

Polymerization of coordinated monomers. V. Polymerization of methyl methacrylate–Lewis acid complexes

The polymerization of the complex of methyl methacrylate with stannic chloride, aluminum trichloride, or boron trifluoride was carried out in toluene solution at several temperatures in the range of 60° to ?78°C by initiation of α,α′-azobisisobutyronicrile or by irradiation with ultraviolet rays. The tacticities of the resulting polymers were determined by NMR spectroscopy. Both the 1:1 and the 2:1 methyl methacrylate–SnCl₄ complexes gave polymers with similar tacticities at the polymerization temperatures above ?60°C. With decreasing temperature below ?60°C, the isotacticity was more favored for the 2:1 complex, whereas the tacticities did not change for the 1:1 complex. On the ESR spectroscopy of the polymerization solution under the irradiation of ultraviolet rays at ?120°C, the 1:1 SnCl₄ complex gave a quintet, while the 2:1 SnCl₄ complex gave both a quintet and a sextet. The sextet became weaker with increasing temperature and disappeared at ?60°C. This behavior of the sextet corresponds to the change of the tacticities of polymer for the 2:1 SnCl₄ complex. An intra–intercomplex addition was suggested for the polymerization of the 2:1 complex, which took a cis-configuration on the basis of its infrared spectra. The sextet can be ascribed to the radical formed by the intracomplex addition reaction, while the quintet can correspond to that formed by the intercomplex addition reaction. The proportion of the intracomplex reaction was estimated to be about 0.25 at ?75°C, and the calculated value of the probability of isotactic diad addition of the intracomplex reaction was found to be almost unity.     

Preparation of functional polymers by living anionic polymerization: Polymerization of allyl methacrylate

The anionic polymerization of allyl methacrylate was carried out in tetrahydrofuran, both in the presence and in the absence of LiCl, with a variety of initiators, at various temperatures. It was found that (1,1-diphenylhexyl)lithium and the living oligomers of methyl methacrylate and tert-butyl methacrylate are suitable initiators for the anionic polymerization of this monomer. The temperature should be below −30°C, even in the presence of LiCl, for the living polymerization to occur. When the polymerization proceeded at −60°C, in the presence of LiCl, with (1,1-diphenylhexyl)-lithium as initiator, the number-average molecular weight of the polymer was directly proportional to the monomer conversion and monodisperse poly(allyl methacrylate)s with high molecular weights were obtained. ¹H-NMR and FT-IR indicated that the α CC double bond of the monomer was selectively polymerized and that the allyl group remained unreacted. The prepared poly(allyl methacrylate) is a functional polymer since it contains a reactive CC double bond on each repeating unit. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 35 : 2901–2906, 1997     

Polyethers. I. Polymerization of 2-methyl-2-butene oxide

2-Methyl-2-butene oxide (2,3-epoxy-2-methylbutane) was polymerized with modified alkylaluminum initiators a t low temperatures to a high-melting, crystalline, film-forming polymer. High yields and comparatively high molecular weights were obtained with Al(i-Bu)₃?xH₂O initiators in inert diluents. When such initiators were modified with acetylacetone they became ineffective. Ammonia could be substituted for water in formulating an active initiator. Attempts to prepare an active initiator in the presence of the monomer were unsuccessful indicsting competition with the water for Al(i-Bu)₃. Thermal decomposition of the polymer produced methyl isopropyl ketone with some pivaldehyde.