The effects of overall composition and monomer sequence distribution on the infrared carbonyl stretching frequencies of ethylene–vinylacetate and styrene–vinylacetate copolymers

The vinyl acetate centered triad fractions of some free radically prepared ethylene–vinyl acetate and styrene–vinyl acetate copolymers have been determined from the patterns of vinyl acetate methine carbon peaks in their ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra. The positions and shapes of the carbonyl bands in the infrared (IR) absorption spectra of the copolymers recorded in chloroform are shown to depend on the compositions of the copolymers and on the proportions of the various vinyl acetate centered triads. Infrared absorption measurements may thus be used in part to characterize the monomer sequence distributions of these copolymers.     

Poly(vinyl alcohol) obtained through polymerization of some vinyl esters

Bulk and/or solution polymerizations of a series of vinyl esters, e.g., vinyl acetate, vinyl propionate, vinyl butyrate, vinyl pivalate, and vinyl benzoate were conducted. Iodine-coloration, 1,2-glycol structure, molecular weight, and tacticity (triad and pentad) were measured for the resulting poly(vinyl alcohol)s (PVAs). The iodine-coloration abilities of PVAs, derived from poly(vinyl ester)s that were obtained through bulk polymerization at 60°C, depended on the starting monomer, increasing in the following order: vinyl benzoate < vinyl acetate < vinyl propionate < vinyl butyrate < vinyl pivalate. In solution polymerizations of vinyl propionate and vinyl butyrate, it was revealed that the tacticity of the derived PVAs apparently depended on the type and amount of polymerization solvent employed, as found previously in the case for vinyl acetate. The iodine-coloration of these PVA samples varied in the same order as their syndiotactic content, while no relationship was observed toward their 1,2-glycol content. The probabilities of the syndiotactic propagation at 60°C were estimated as 0.49 (benzoate), 0.54 (acetate), 0.55 (propionate), 0.56 (butyrate), and 0.60 (pivalate), respectively.     

Molecular architecture and physicochemical properties of some vinyl alcohol-vinyl acetate copolymers

Two series of vinyl alcohol-vinyl acetate copolymers were prepared by homogeneous and heterogeneous acetylation of the same precursor poly(vinyl alcohol). Their intramolecular monomer distributions were analyzed by IR spectrometry, calorimetry, and differential thermal analysis. The results show a more blocky distribution for the heterogeneously prepared copolymers. The properties of these (co)polymers in dilute aqueous solution were determined by means of viscometry. Whereas the copolymer-solvent interaction parameter of the homogeneously acetylated, random copolymers hardly varied with acetate content, a definite minimum was found for the blocky copolymers at about 7 mole% vinyl acetate. These findings were attributed to the incompatibility of dissimilar sequences, which sharply decreases with decreasing vinyl acetate sequence length. Up to about 17 mole% vinyl acetate content, the solvent quality for the copolymers is at least as good as for poly(vinyl alcohol). In addition, the dilute solution properties of the samples were established in water saturated with 1-butanol. For copolymers with up to about 17 mole% vinyl acetate, at 25°C this mixture is a better solvent than water. The highest increase in solvent quality was found for the homopolymer, whereas the increase diminished with acetate content, irrespective of the intramolecular vinyl acetate distribution. These findings are explained in terms of preferential adsorption of 1-butanol onto the (co)polymer backbone due to hydrophobic interactions and prevention of this process by the bulky acetate groups.     

Synthesis of poly(vinyl acetate) block copolymers by successive RAFT and ATRP with a bromoxanthate iniferter

Poly(vinyl acetate)-b-polystyrene, poly(vinyl acetate)-b-poly(methyl acrylate) and poly(vinyl acetate)-b-poly(methyl methacrylate) block copolymers with low polydispersity (M(w)/M(n) < 1.25) were prepared by successive reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization and atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) employing a bromoxanthate iniferter (initiator-transfer agent-terminator).     

Acyl Iodides in Organic Synthesis: VI. Reactions with Vinyl Ethers

Reactions of acetyl iodide with butyl vinyl ether, 1,2-divinyloxyethane, phenyl vinyl ether, 1,4-di-vinyloxybenzene, and divinyl ether were studied. Vinyl ethers derived from aliphatic alcohols (butyl vinyl ether and 1,2-divinyloxyethane) react with acetyl iodide in a way similar to ethyl vinyl ether, i.e., with cleavage of both O–Csp2 and Alk–O ether bonds. From butyl vinyl ether, a mixture of vinyl iodide, butyl acetate, vinyl acetate, and butyl iodide is formed, while 1,2-divinyloxyethane gives rise to vinyl iodide, vinyl acetate, and 2-iodoethyl acetate. The reaction of acetyl iodide with divinyl ether involves cleavage of only one O–Csp2 bond, yielding vinyl acetate and vinyl iodide. In the reactions of acetyl iodide with phenyl vinyl ether and 1,4-divinyloxybenzene, only the O–CVin bond is cleaved, whereas the O–CAr bond remains intact.     

Polymer particle formation in suspension polymerization of vinyl chloride and vinyl acetate

Equipment has been designed and assembled in such a way that direct microscopic observation of polymer particle formation in suspension polymerization of vinyl chloride and vinyl acetate is possible. The apparent mode of transformation from monomer droplets into polymer particles has thus been studied under two sets of conditions: (1) with agitation and (2) without agitation. In both cases, as the initial vinyl acetate/vinyl chloride ratio was raised, the apparent change in the shape and transparency of particles occurring during the course of polymerization became less evident. In vinyl chloride homopolymerization and vinyl acetate–vinyl chloride copolymerization with relatively high vinyl chloride concentrations, the polymer particles burst during the course of polymerization. Some factors which affect the change in the size of particles are also discussed.     

Long branching in poly(vinyl acetate) and poly(vinyl alcohol). II. Polymerization of vinyl acetate in the presence of crosslinked poly(vinyl alcohol)

It is a common view that poly(vinyl acetate) has many branches at the acetyl side group, but that the corresponding poly(vinyl alcohol) has little branching. In order to study the branching in poly(vinyl acetate) and poly(vinyl alcohol) which is formed by chain transfer to polymer, the polymerization of ¹⁴C-labeled vinyl acetate in the presence of crosslinked poly(vinyl acetate), which was able to be decrosslinked to give soluble polymers, was investigated at 60°C and 0°C. This system made it possible to separate as well as to distinguish the graft polymer from the newly polymerized homopolymer. Furthermore, the degree of grafting onto the acetoxymethyl group and onto the main chain were estimated. It became clear that, in the polymerization of vinyl acetate, chain transfer to the polymer main chain takes place about 2.4 times as frequently at 60°C as that to the acetoxy group and about 4.8 times as frequently at 0°C.     

Properties of Crystalline Polyvinylenes Prepared by Phase-Transfer Dehydrochlorination of Vinyl Chloride Copolymers

Crystalline polyvinylenes were prepared by phase-transfer dehydrochlorination of binary copolymer of vinyl chloride with vinyl acetate (9 : 1 molar ratio) and ternary copolymer with vinyl acetate and vinyl alcohol (27 : 1 : 2 molar ratio), and the chemical and electrical properties of these substances and of products of their thermolysis were studied.     

SYNTHESIS OF POLY(VINYL ACETATE)-INTERCALATED GRAPHITE OXIDE BY AN IN SITU INTERCALATIVE POLYMERIZATION*

Graphite oxide, a pseudo-two-dimensional solid in bulk form, was synthesized from natural graphite powder byoxidization with KMnO_4 in concentrated H_2SO_4. The poly(vinyl acetate)-intercalated graphite oxide nano-composite wasprepared by an in situ intercalative polymerization reaction, in which n-octanol-graphite oxide intercalation compounds werefirst obtained, vinyl acetate monomer was then dispersed into the interlayer of modified graphite oxide, followed by thermalpolymerization of the monomer. It was experimentally shown that the c-axis space of poly(vinyl acetate)-intercalated graphiteoxide was increased to 0.115 nm, which suggested there existed a monolayer of poly(vinyl acetate) chain between the layersof graphite oxide. The nanocomposite was also characterized with thermal analysis and FT-IR spectrometry.     

Multidimensional chromatographic techniques for hydrophilic copolymers II. Analysis of poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(vinyl acetate) graft copolymers

A large variety of hydrophilic copolymers is applied in different fields of chemical industry including bio, pharma and pharmaceutical applications. For example, poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(vinyl alcohol) graft copolymers that are used as tablet coatings are responsible for the controlled release of the active compounds. These copolymers are produced by grafting of vinyl acetate onto polyethylene glycol (PEG) and subsequent hydrolysis of the poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(vinyl acetate) graft copolymers. The poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(vinyl acetate) copolymers are distributed with regard to molar mass and chemical composition. In addition, they frequently contain the homopolymers polyethylene glycol and polyvinyl acetate. The comprehensive analysis of such complex systems requires hyphenated analytical techniques, including two-dimensional liquid chromatography and combined LC and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The development and application of these techniques are discussed in the present paper.     

Interaction of water in polymers: Poly(ethylene‐co‐vinyl acetate) and poly(vinyl acetate)

We studied the interaction of water in poly(ethylene‐co‐vinyl acetate) of various vinyl acetate compositions and poly(vinyl acetate), on the basis of the infrared spectrum of the water dissolved therein. The spectrum shows a very sharp and distinct band at about 3690 cm^?1 (named as A), and less‐sharp two bands around 3640 (B) and 3550 cm^?1 (C), the A band being outstanding especially at a low vinyl acetate composition. As the vinyl acetate composition increases, the A band decreases in intensity relative to the C band, whereas the B band increases contrarily. Analysis of the spectral change has elucidated that one‐bonded water (of which one OH is hydrogen‐bonded to the C?O of an ester group and the other OH is free) and two‐bonded water (each OH of which is hydrogen‐bonded to one C?O) coexist in the copolymer and that two‐bonded water increases in relative population with increasing vinyl acetate composition. Dissolved water is entirely two‐bonded in poly(vinyl acetate), in which C?O groups are densely distributed in the matrix. We proved that dissolved water in polymers is hydrogen‐bonded through one or two OH groups to the possessed functional groups but does not cluster. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 43: 777–785, 2005     

Analysis of copolymer surfaces by surface reactions and XPS

Summary The adsorption of polar groups at the polymer melt/mould interface is detected by chemical analysis. Vinyl alcohol groups and vinyl acetate groups (after hydrolysis) react with heptafluoro-butanoic acid chloride to attach a fluorine-containing molecular group to the surface. By measuring fluorine and other elements with XPS the surface composition is determined. On a gold substrate vinyl alcohol groups are adsorbed in a copolymer of vinyl chloride, vinyl acetate and vinyl alcohol. If a vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer is compression moulded against gold, the polymer surface energy is increased by adsorption of vinyl acetate groups. Subsequent relaxation, after removal of the substrate, leads to slow desorption of vinyl acetate groups. At the interface of the vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer with nickel or aluminium the polymer is oxidized.

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Zusammenfassung Die Adsorption von polaren Gruppen an der Polymerschmelze/Substrat — Grenzfläche wird chemisch analysiert. Vinylalkohol- und Vinylazetatgruppen in Oberflächen von Copolymeren reagieren (nach Hydrolyse) mit Heptafluorbuttersäurechlorid. Mit XPS (X-ray-Photoelectron-Spectroscopy) messen wir die Fluormenge, um die Oberflächenzusammensetzung zu bestimmen. In PVC/Ac/Alc Copolymerem adsorbieren Vinylalkoholgruppen an ein Goldsubstrat. Die Zunahme der Oberflächenenergie von PVC/Ac durch Schmelzen auf einer Goldoberfläche und die spätere Relaxation, werden verursacht durch Adsorption und Desorption von Vinylazetateinheiten. Bei Gebrauch von Nickel oder Aluminium wird die Polymeroberfläche oxydiert.

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With 3 tables     

Thermal stability of copolymers of vinyl acetate and methyl acrylate

The thermal degradation of a series of copolymers of vinyl acetate and methyl acrylate and the two homopolymers poly(vinyl acetate) and poly(methyl acrylate) obtained using Ce(IV) as initiator has been investigated using differential thermal analysis (DTA) and thermogravimetry (TGA) in dynamic nitrogen. The kinetic parameters E, n, and A have been obtained following several methods of thermogravimetric analyses. The stability increases as the methyl acrylate content in the copolymer composition increases. The incorporation of 5 mol % of vinyl acetate in the copolymer produces a marked decrease in stability compared to the homopolymer poly(methyl acrylate). There is evidence for an intramolecular lactonization process in vinyl acetate—methyl acrylate copolymers.     

P-chiral phosphine-sulfonate/palladium-catalyzed asymmetric copolymerization of vinyl acetate with carbon monoxide

Utilization of palladium catalysts bearing a P-chiral phosphine-sulfonate ligand enabled asymmetric copolymerization of vinyl acetate with carbon monoxide. The obtained γ-polyketones have head-to-tail and isotactic polymer structures. The origin of the regio- and stereoregularities was elucidated by stoichiometric reactions of acylpalladium complexes with vinyl acetate. The present report for the first time demonstrates successful asymmetric coordination-insertion (co)polymerization of vinyl acetate.     

Copolymerization of vinyl acetate with 1-octene and ethylene by cobalt-mediated radical polymerization

The cobalt-mediated radical polymerization of vinyl acetate was extended to copolymerization with 1-alkenes (ethylene or 1-octene). In agreement with the low amount of 1-alkene that could be incorporated into the copolymer, a gradient structure was predictable, but a rather low polydispersity was observed. A poly(vinyl acetate)-b-poly(octene) copolymer was also successfully synthesized, leading to a poly (vinyl alcohol)-b-poly(octene) amphiphilic copolymer upon the methanolysis of the poly (vinyl acetate) block. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 2532–2542, 2007     

Synthesis of poly(vinyl acetate)‐b‐polystyrene and poly(vinyl alcohol)‐b‐polystyrene copolymers by cobalt‐mediated radical polymerization

Well‐defined poly(vinyl acetate) macroinitiators, with the chains thus end‐capped by a cobalt complex, were synthesized by cobalt‐mediated radical polymerization and used to initiate styrene polymerization at 30 °C. Although the polymerization of the second block was not controlled, poly(vinyl acetate)‐b‐polystyrene copolymers were successfully prepared and converted into amphiphilic poly(vinyl alcohol)‐b‐polystyrene copolymers by the methanolysis of the ester functions of the poly(vinyl acetate) block. These poly(vinyl alcohol)‐b‐polystyrene copolymers self‐associated in water with the formation of nanocups, at least when the poly(vinyl alcohol) content was low enough. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 81–89, 2007     

Radical polymerization of vinyl acetate in individual and mixed solvents

The kinetics of polymerization of vinyl acetate in individual and mixed solvents was studied. The reaction rate constant and the rate of chain transfer in the mixed solvent were calculated, molecular weights and some adhesive characteristics of poly(vinyl acetate) obtained by the radical polymerization in solution were determined. A comparative analysis of the polymers obtained in the individual and mixed solvents was performed. It is shown that the change in the solvent composition can affect the rate of reaction and the poly-(vinyl acetate) adhesive properties.     

Phase Equilibria in the Systems Oxolane + Vinyl Acetate,Oxolane + Ethyl 1,1-Dimethylethyl Ether and Vinyl Acetate + Ethyl 1,1-Dimethylethyl Ether

Abstract

Vapor-liquid equilibrium at 94kPa has been determined for the binary systems oxolane (THF) + vinyl acetate, oxolane + ethyl 1,1-dimethylethyl ether (ETBE) and vinyl acetate + ethyl 1,1-dimethylethyl ether. The three systems present slight to moderate positive deviations from ideal behavior and, to a first approximation, can be considered to behave like regular solutions. An azeotrope is present in the system vinyl acetate + ETBE that boils at 340.40 K and contains 49.8% mol vinyl acetate. The activity coefficients of the systems were correlated reasonable well with its composition by the Wohl, Wilson, UNIQUAC and NRTL models. The boiling points of the binary systems were correlated with the Wisniak-Tamir equation.     

衰减链转移(DT)聚合醋酸乙烯酯的动力学

在醋酸乙烯酯的普通自由基聚合体系中加入少量碘（质量分数为0.57%～0.86%）,用偶氮二异丁腈作引发剂合成聚醋酸乙烯酯,对其聚合反应的动力学及反应机理进行了研究。 考察了碘质量分数对聚合反应速率、聚合物分子量及分子量分布的影响,发现随着碘浓度的增加,聚合物分子量及分子量分布得到更好的控制;对聚合过程进行了核磁跟踪,考察了聚合过程中几种化合物的变化情况,特别是初级自由基与碘生成的加合物A-I（A来自引发剂分裂后产生的自由基）及单体加合物A-Mn-I（M代表单体单元）的变化情况;对聚合物结构作了详细的1H NMR分析,结果表明,聚合过程中分子量随时间延长而逐渐增大,分子量分布随单体转化率增加而变窄,聚合终期,单体转化率达到80%左右时,所得聚合物分子量分布窄（Mw/Mn≤1.41）,且含有碘端基。该方法的自由基聚合具有活性/可控的性质。     

Vinyl acetate formation by the reaction of ethylene with acetate species on oxygen-covered Pd(111)

The reaction pathway of vinyl acetate synthesis is scrutinized by reacting gas-phase ethylene (at an effective pressure of 1 x 10-4 Torr) with eta2-acetate species (with a coverage of 0.31 +/- 0.02 monolayer) on a Pd(111)-O(2x2) model catalyst surface in ultrahigh vacuum. It is found that the 1414 cm-1 infrared feature due to the symmetric OCO stretching mode of the acetate species decreases in intensity due to reaction with gas-phase ethylene, while temperature-programmed desorption experiments demonstrate that vinyl acetate is formed. The formation of ethylidyne species is detected when almost all of the acetate species have been removed. The experimental removal kinetics are reproduced by a model in which adsorbed acetates react with an ethylene-derived (possibly ethylene or vinyl) species, where ethylene adsorption is blocked by the acetate present on the surface.