Synthesis of new amphiphilic diblock copolymers containing poly(ethylene oxide) and poly(α‐olefin)

This article discusses an effective route to prepare amphiphilic diblock copolymers containing a poly(ethylene oxide) block and a polyolefin block that includes semicrystalline thermoplastics, such as polyethylene and syndiotactic polystyrene (s‐PS), and elastomers, such as poly(ethylene‐co‐1‐octene) and poly(ethylene‐co‐styrene) random copolymers. The broad choice of polyolefin blocks provides the amphiphilic copolymers with a wide range of thermal properties from high melting temperature ～270 °C to low glass‐transition temperature ～?60 °C. The chemistry involves two reaction steps, including the preparation of a borane group‐terminated polyolefin by the combination of a metallocene catalyst and a borane chain‐transfer agent as well as the interconversion of a borane terminal group to an anionic (? O^?K⁺) terminal group for the subsequent ring‐opening polymerization of ethylene oxide. The overall reaction process resembles a transformation from the metallocene polymerization of α‐olefins to the ring‐opening polymerization of ethylene oxide. The well‐defined reaction mechanisms in both steps provide the diblock copolymer with controlled molecular structure in terms of composition, molecular weight, moderate molecular weight distribution (M_w/M_n < 2.5), and absence of homopolymer. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 3416–3425, 2002     

Copolymerization of styrene with (Z)-1,3-pentadiene in the presence of a syndiotactic-specific catalyst

Copolymerization of styrene with (Z)-1,3-pentadiene affords copolymers mostly containing 1,2 pentadiene units. Both the styrene and the pentadiene units are in syndiotactic arrangement but the comonomer sequence distribution is far from bernoullian. Interestingly, the behavior of (Z)-1,3-pentadiene does not change much when polymerization temperature raises from −20 to +20°C, notwithstanding that (Z)-1,3-pentadiene affords a 1,2-syndiotactic homopolymer at −20°C but a prevailingly 1,4 cis homopolymer at +20°C. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 35 : 2697–2702, 1997     

Synthesis and characterization of poly(vinylcyclohexane) derivatives

Six nearly monodisperse substituted poly(styrene) homopolymers, poly(styrene) (PS), poly(2-methylstyrene) (P2MS), poly(3-methylstyrene) (P3MS), poly(4-methylstyrene) (P4MS), poly(tertiary-butylstyrene) (PtBS), and poly(α-methylstyrene) (FαMS) were anionically polymerized and subsequently saturated using heterogeneous hydrogenation techniques to poly(vinylcyclohexane) (PVCH), poly(2-methylvinylcyclohexane) (P2MVCH), poly(3-methylvinylcyclohexane) (P3MVCH), poly(4-methylvinylcyclohexane) (P4MVCH), and poly(tertiary-butylvinylcyclohexane) (PtBVCH), respectively. In each case, except PαMS, the materials were saturated to > 99% conversion with no chain degradation. PS hydrogenations required the addition of small amounts of tetrahydrofuran to the reaction solvent cyclohexane to enhance miscibility and eliminate large-scale chain degradation. Density gradient and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) measurements were used to characterize the density and glass transition temperature, T_g, of the unsaturated and saturated polymers. Saturation reduces the density by 3% to 11% and changes T_g substantially. The greatest variation in T_g is obtained with the 3-methyl substituted species where a 63°C increase is observed, while the highest measured T_g is 186°C for P2MVCH. Small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) experiments on binary mixtures of hydrogenous and deuterium labeled PVCH derivatives provided a determination of bulk chain statistics. The statistical segment length is relatively insensitive to vinylcyclohexane ring substitution, except with P3MVCH where a 20% greater value is obtained. ©1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

A lutetium allyl complex that bears a pyridyl-functionalized cyclopentadienyl ligand: dual catalysis on highly syndiospecific and cis-1,4-selective (co)polymerizations of styrene and butadiene

A novel linked‐half‐sandwich lutetium–bis(allyl) complex [(C₅Me₄? C₅H₄N)Lu(η³‐C₃H₅)₂] ( 1 ) attached by a pyridyl‐functionalized cyclopentadienyl ligand was synthesized and fully characterized. Complex 1 in combination with [Ph₃C][B(C₆F₅)₄] exhibited unprecedented dual catalysis with outstanding activities in highly syndiotactic (rrrr>99 %) styrene polymerization and distinguished cis‐1,4‐selective (99 %) butadiene polymerization, respectively. Strikingly, this catalyst system exhibited remarkable activity (396 kg copolymer (mol_Lu h)^?1) for the copolymerization of butadiene and styrene. Irrespective of whether the monomers were fed in concurrent mode or sequential addition of butadiene followed by styrene, diblock copolymers were obtained exclusively, which was confirmed by a kinetics investigation of monomer conversion of copolymerization with time. In the copolymers, the styrene incorporation rate varied from 4.7 to 85.4 mol %, whereas the polybutadiene (PBD) block was highly cis‐1,4‐regulated (95 %) and the polystyrene segment remained purely syndiotactic (rrrr>99 %). Correspondingly, the copolymers exhibited glass transition temperatures (T_g) around ?107 °C and melting points (T_m) around 268 °C; typical values for diblock microstructures. Such copolymers cannot be accessed by any other methods known to date. X‐ray powder diffraction analysis of these diblock copolymers showed that the crystallizable syndiotactic polystyrene (syn‐PS) block was in the toluene δ clathrate form. The AFM micrographs of diblock copolymer showed a remarkable phase‐separation morphology of the cis‐1,4‐PBD block and syn‐PS block. This represents the first example of a lutetium‐based catalyst showing both high activity and selectivity for the (co)polymerization of styrene and butadiene.     

Design of photoresists with reduced environmental impact. II. Water‐soluble resists based on photocrosslinking of poly(2‐isopropenyl‐2‐oxazoline)

The performance of water‐ and solvent‐cast, two‐component photoresist films containing poly(2‐isopropenyl‐2‐oxazoline) or poly(2‐isopropenyl‐2‐oxazoline‐co‐styrene) with a photoacid generator has been investigated. These materials afford negative‐tone images after deep‐UV exposure and development in a suitable medium (water or toluene). Resist solutions prepared from polymers containing at least 80 mol % 2‐isopropenyl‐2‐oxazoline may be cast from and developed in pure water. Features of higher quality can be obtained when the resist is cast from 2‐methoxyethanol, probably because side reactions such as partial hydrolysis of the pendant oxazoline rings in aqueous environments are avoided. It was possible to resolve micrometer scale patterns using ca. 200 mJ/cm² of irradiation at 254 nm, followed by heating 2 min at 130°C and development in water alone. Image quality and etch resistance were improved using copolymers containing up to 20 mol % of styrene repeat units. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 1225–1236, 1999     

Clathrates with tetrahydrofuran of styrene‐p‐methyl styrene co‐syndiotactic copolymers

Clathrates with tetrahydrofuran of styrene‐p‐methyl styrene co‐syndiotactic copolymers have been characterized by wide‐angle X‐ray scattering and differential scanning calorimetry. Stable clathrate structures with THF molecules have been observed in whole range of composition. In particular, syndiotactic polystyrene like and syndiotactic poly‐p‐methylstyrene like clathrate phases are obtained for p‐methylstyrene contents lower and higher than 35% by mol, respectively.     

Synthesis and characterisation of poly(arylene sulphides)—Part III. Random copolymer systems

Random copolymers containing p-phenylene sulphide and 2-methyl phenylene sulphide units have been prepared by solution polymerisation of copper(I)-4-bromothiophenoxide/copper(I)-4-bromo-2-methyl thiophenoxide mixtures in a quinoline:pyridine solution. The resultant polymers have been characterised and the effect of copolymer composition on glass and melting temperatures evaluated. Comparative thermal stabilities have been evaluated in air and nitrogen relative to the parent homopolymers. Kinetic studies have been made as a function of degree of decomposition. Stability and kinetic parameters are discussed in relation to both the homopolymers and homopolymer blends of similar composition to the copolymers studied and interactive behaviour is described.     

A bicyclic conjugated diene monomer,tetrahydroindene, for cationic polymerization and a novel alicyclic hydrocarbon polymer with heat resistance

This study was directed toward the cationic polymerization of tetrahydroindene (i.e., bicyclo[4.3.0]‐2,9‐nonadiene), a bicyclic conjugated diene monomer, with a series of Lewis acids, especially focusing on the synthesis of high‐molecular‐weight polymers and subsequent hydrogenation for novel cycloolefin polymers with high service temperatures. EtAlCl₂ or SnCl₄ induced an efficient and quantitative cationic polymerization of tetrahydroindene to afford polymers with relatively high molecular weights (number‐average molecular weight > 20,000) and 1,4‐enchainment bicyclic main‐chain structures. The subsequent hydrogenation of the obtained poly(tetrahydroindene) with p‐toluenesulfonyl hydrazide resulted in a saturated alicyclic hydrocarbon polymer with a relatively high glass transition (glass‐transition temperature = 220 °C) and improved pyrolysis temperature (10% weight loss at 480 °C). The new diene monomer was randomly copolymerized with cyclopentadiene at various feed ratios in the presence of EtAlCl₂ to give novel cycloolefin copolymers, which were subsequently hydrogenated into alicyclic copolymers with variable glass‐transition temperatures (70–220 °C). © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 6214–6225, 2006     

Stereoregularity of radically polymerized poly(alkyl acrylates) and poly(trimethylsilyl acrylates) and the preparation of syndiotactic poly(methyl acrylate)

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy was used to determine the stereoregularity of radically polymerized poly(ethyl acrylates), poly(trimethylsilyl acrylates), and poly(isopropyl acrylate-α,β-d₂). The ethyl acrylate polymers consisted of a random configuration having about 50% of isotactic diads, and their stereoregularities were independent of the polymerization temperature (40 to ?78°C). Poly(trimethylsilyl acrylates) and poly(isopropyl acrylate-α,β-d₂) prepared at low temperatures had a syndiotactic configuration. Syndiotactic poly(methyl acrylate) was derived from syndiotactic poly(trimethylsilyl acrylate). For poly(methyl acrylate), an approximate estimation of the stereoregularity by infrared spectroscopy was proposed.     

Polymeric catechol derivatives. IV. Polymerization behavior of 4-vinylcatechols and some properties of their polymeric derivatives

The polymerization and copolymerization of 4-vinylcatechols, such as 2-(0-methyl)-4-vinylcatechol (I), 3,4-dimethoxystyrene (II), and 3,4-methylenedioxystyrene (III), were investigated in cyclohexanone at 30°C, using tri-n-butylborane as an initiator. The reactions yielded vinyl polymers and copolymers. The copolymerization parameters of I–III were determined; their Q and e values were found to be similar to those of styrene and vinylhydroquinone. The copolymerization of I–III gave copolymers of a highly alternating character. The thermal stability of the polymers and copolymers so obtained was also studied. The redox potentials of hydroloyzed poly(I) were examined; the reverse “polymer effect” was observed.     

Properties of well‐defined alternating and random copolymers of methacrylates and styrene prepared by controlled/living radical polymerization

The physical properties of well‐defined alternating copolymers poly(methyl methacrylate‐alt‐styrene) and poly(n‐butyl methacrylate‐alt‐styrene), prepared by reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer polymerization in the presence of Lewis acids, were investigated with differential scanning calorimetry, wide‐angle X‐ray scattering, and dynamic mechanical measurements. The properties were compared with those of random copolymers of the same overall composition and the corresponding homopolymers. Wide‐angle X‐ray scattering data showed that the alternating copolymers possessed a more regular comonomer sequence than the random copolymers. The thermomechanical properties of alternating copolymers and random copolymers were quite similar and typical for amorphous polymers, but in one of the cases studied the glass‐transition temperature for alternating copolymer was remarkably higher than for the random copolymer. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 3440–3446, 2005     

Selective hydrogenation of butadiene-styrene copolymers using a Ziegler-Natta type catalyst 2. Thermal properties

Three types of butadiene-styrene copolymers, diblock, triblock and random, were partially hydrogenated in their elastomeric units in order to determine the influence of hydrogenation extent on their thermal properties. The hydrogenation reactions were carried out using a Ziegler-Natta type catalyst and the extent of hydrogenation was evaluated by FTIR spectroscopic technique. The percentage of crystallinity was determined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), considering the low density polyethylene (LDPE) as reference since the saturation of elastomeric units with low content of 1,2-vinyl bonds gives a structure which resembles to LDPE, thus semi-crystalline polymers were obtained. On the other hand, the glass transition temperature (T_g) for the hydrogenated and non-hydrogenated copolymers as well as their heat of fusion, were also determined by DSC. An equation to evaluate the T_g of partially hydrogenated random copolymers is proposed considering both the saturated and unsaturated fractions. The thermo-oxidative behaviour of certain hydrogenated and non-hydrogenated copolymers was evaluated by thermogravimetric analyses (TGA). The results obtained by TGA suggest that a minimum saturation level is necessary in order to improve the thermo-oxidative resistance of the polymers.     

An improved method for the diimide hydrogenation of butadiene and isoprene containing polymers

The hydrogenation of unsaturated polymers with diimide generated in-situ by thermolysis of p-toluenesulfonyl hydrazide (TSH) is a commonly used method for preparing laboratory scale quantities of saturated diene based polymers. The by-products from TSH, particularly p-toluenesulfinic acid, can attack at olefinic sites, adding p-tolylsulfone functionality and degrading polymer molecular weight. The addition of tri-n-propyl amine has been found to eliminate these side reactions in butadiene containing polymers and copolymers, enabling the preparation of polymers devoid of backbone unsaturation. No detectable sulfur-containing impurities were indicated by IR, NMR, or elemental analysis, and no chain degradation was observed via GPC analysis of the hydrogenated polymers. cis-Polybutadiene and butadiene containing random and block copolymers with styrene were hydrogenated cleanly using this technique. A ratio of 2 mol TSH and 2 mol amine/mol of olefin was necessary to assure > 99% hydrogenation, and a w/v ratio of 2 parts butadiene/100 parts o-xylene gave the most efficient hydrogenation. Polymers prepared from isoprene were only partially hydrogenated when treated with TSH in the presence of tri-n-propyl amine, and gave evidence of slight degradation of the polymer structure.     

Benzo-12-crown-4 modified N-heterocyclic carbene for organocatalyst: Synthesis,characterization and degradation of block copolymers of ϵ-caprolactone with L-lactide

A set of poly(L-lactide)-poly(?-caprolactone) diblock copolymers (AB) and poly(L-lactide)-poly(?-caprolactone)-poly(L-lactide) triblock copolymers (ABA) with predictable molecular weights and relatively narrow distributions were synthesized by ring-opening polymerization of successively added ?-caprolactone (?-CL) and L-lactide (LLA) using 4-methyl benzo-12-crown-4 imidazol-2-ylidene as catalyst. The effects of polymerization conditions, such as reaction time, temperature, monomer/catalyst molar ratio and monomer concentration on the copolymerization have been discussed in detail. The resulting copolymers were characterized by ¹H-NMR, ¹³C-NMR, IR, GPC and DSC methods which confirmed the successful synthesis of block copolymers of LLA and ?-CL. Hydrolytic degradation of the polymers showed that the PLLA-PCL-PLLA copolymer exhibited faster degradation as compared with the PCL homopolymer in alkaline medium at 37°C.     

Grafting polymerization of styrene onto alternating terpolymers based on chlorotrifluoroethylene,hexafluoropropylene, and vinyl ethers,and their modification into ionomers bearing ammonium side‐groups

The grafting polymerization of styrene initiated by the alkyl chloride groups of poly(CTFE‐alt‐VE) and poly[(CTFE‐alt‐VE)‐co‐(HFP‐alt‐VE] copolymers (where CTFE, HFP, and VE stand for chlorotrifluoroethylene (CTFE), hexafluoropropylene (HFP), and vinyl ether (VE), respectively) followed by the chemical modification of the polystyrene grafts are presented. First, the fluorinated alternating copolymers were produced by radical copolymerization of CTFE (with HFP) and VE. Second, atom transfer radical polymerization enabled the grafting polymerization of styrene in the presence of the poly(CTFE‐alt‐VE)‐macroinitiator using the alkyl chloride group of CTFE as the initiation site. Kinetics of the styrene polymerization indicated that such a grafting had a certain controlled character. For the first time, grafting of polystyrene onto alternating fluorinated copolymers has been achieved. Differential scanning calorimetry thermograms of these graft copolymers exhibited two glass transition temperatures assigned to both amorphous domains of the polymeric fluorobackbone (ranging from ?20 to +56 °C) and the polystyrene grafts (ca. 95 °C). The thermostability of these copolymers increased on grafting. Thermal degradation temperatures at 5% weight loss were ranging from 193 to 305 °C when the polystyrene content varied from 81 to 27%. Third, chloromethylation of the polystyrene grafts followed by the cationization of the chloromethyl dangling groups led to original ammonium‐containing graft copolymers. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2010     

Synthesis and Characterization of Crystalline Styrene‐b‐(Ethylene‐co‐Butylene)‐b‐Styrene Triblock Copolymers

By merit of dual catalysis of the cationic rare‐earth complex [(η⁵‐Flu‐CH₂‐Py)Ho(CH₂SiMe₃)₂(THF) (Flu = fluorenyl, Py = pyridyl) for the living polymerizations of butadiene (BD) and styrene (St), the crystalline styrene‐butadiene‐styrene (SBS) triblock copolymers consisting of elastic polybutadiene (PBD) sequences with suitable 1,4 regularity (about 70%) and crystalline syndiotactic polystyrene (sPS, [rrrr] > 99%) sequences were successfully synthesized through sequential addition of St, BD, and St monomers. The catalytic system showed high polymerization activities for St and BD in a controlled manner. The crystalline styrene‐b‐(ethylene‐co‐butylene)‐b‐styrene (SEBS) triblock copolymers were obtained by hydrogenation of the above SBS copolymers. The observation of a strong endothermic peak at 266 °C in their differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) curves confirmed the existence of the sPS blocks in the crystalline SEBS different from the industrial product Kraton SEBS‐1652. Thermal degradation temperature of the crystalline SEBS (418 ± 2 °C) indicated the well thermostability and process window of this polymer. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2016 , 55, 1243–1249     

Simultaneous determination of the styrene unit content and assessment of molecular weight of triblock copolymers in adhesives by a size exclusion chromatography method

The content of styrene units in nonhydrogenated and hydrogenated styrene‐butadiene‐styrene and styrene‐isoprene‐styrene triblock copolymers significantly influences product performance. A size exclusion chromatography method was developed to determine the average styrene content of triblock copolymers blended with tackifier in adhesives. A complete separation of the triblock copolymer from the other additives was realized with size exclusion chromatography. The peak area ratio of the UV and refraction index signals of the copolymers at the same effective elution volume was correlated to the average styrene unit content using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy with commercial copolymers as standards. The obtained calibration curves showed good linearity for both the hydrogenated and nonhydrogenated styrene‐butadiene‐styrene and styrene‐isoprene‐styrene triblock copolymers (r  = 0.974 for styrene contents of 19.3–46.3% for nonhydrogenated ones and r  = 0.970 for the styrene contents of 23–58.2% for hydrogenated ones). For copolymer blends, the developed method provided more accurate average styrene unit contents than nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy provided. These results were validated using two known copolymer blends consisting of either styrene‐isoprene‐styrene or hydrogenated styrene‐butadiene‐styrene and a hydrocarbon tackifying resin as well as an unknown adhesive with styrene‐butadiene‐styrene and an aromatic tackifying resin. The methodology can be readily applied to styrene‐containing polymers in blends such as poly(acrylonitrile‐butadiene styrene).     

Cyclization reaction of polyacrylonitrile and poly(styrene-co-acrylonitrile) studied by PVT measurements

Pressure, volume, temperature (PVT) measurements reveal that during the intramolecular cyclization reaction of poly(acrylonitrile) (PAN) and poly(styrene-co-acrylonitrile) (SAN) the volume decreases. This volume contraction becomes smaller with increasing styrene content in the random copolymers and should be related to the simultaneous decrease of longer acrylonitrile homo-sequences. The onset temperature of the cyclization reaction is raised with higher styrene contents in the random copolymers. Thus, it can be excluded that the cyclization reaction has a major influence on the discoloration process of SAN samples having relatively small acrylonitrile contents (less than 50 mol-%) during thermal annealing below 300°C.     

Synthesis and characterization of ABA‐type amphiphilic tri‐block copolymers through anionic polymerization using end functionalized poly(ethylene oxide) oligomers

ABA‐type amphiphilic tri‐block copolymers were successfully synthesized from poly(ethylene oxide) derivatives through anionic polymerization. When poly(styrene) anions were reacted with telechelic bromine‐terminated poly(ethylene oxide) ( 1 ) in 2:1 mole ratio, poly(styrene)‐b‐poly(ethylene oxide)‐b‐poly(styrene) tri‐block copolymers were formed. Similarly, stable telechelic carbanion‐terminated poly(ethylene oxide), prepared from 1,1‐diphenylethylene‐terminated poly (ethylene oxide) ( 2 ) and sec‐BuLi, was also used to polymerize styrene and methyl methacrylate separately, as a result, poly (styrene)‐b‐poly(ethylene oxide)‐b‐poly(styrene) and poly (methyl methacrylate)‐b‐poly(ethylene oxide)‐b‐poly(methyl methacrylate) tri‐block copolymers were formed respectively. All these tri‐block copolymers and poly(ethylene oxide) derivatives, 1 and 2 , were characterized by spectroscopic, calorimetric, and chromatographic techniques. Theoretical molecular weights of the tri‐block copolymers were found to be similar to the experimental molecular weights, and narrow polydispersity index was observed for all the tri‐block copolymers. Differential scanning calorimetric studies confirmed the presence of glass transition temperatures of poly(ethylene oxide), poly(styrene), and poly(methyl methacrylate) blocks in the tri‐block copolymers. Poly(styrene)‐b‐poly(ethylene oxide)‐b‐poly(styrene) tri‐block copolymers, prepared from polystyryl anion and 1 , were successfully used to prepare micelles, and according to the transmission electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering results, the micelles were spherical in shape with mean average diameter of 106 ± 5 nm. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011     

Side-chain crystallinity. III. Influence of side-chain crystallinity on the glass transition temperatures of selected copolymers incorporating n-octadecyl acrylate or vinyl stearate

The influence of side-chain crystallinity on the glass transition temperatures of selected copolymers was investigated. The copolymers were selected, in part, from those whose crystallinity was treated in the preceding paper. These included the lower amorphous acrylate esters, such as methyl, ethyl, n-butyl, and 2-ethylhexyl acrylates, together with methyl methacrylate and acrylonitrile, each copolymerized with n-octadecyl acrylate over the range of composition. The decline in the glass transition temperature was linear with increasing weight fraction of n-octadecyl acrylate for all systems in the composition range where the copolymers were essentially amorphous. The extrapolated T_g for the amorphous state of poly(n-octadecyl acrylate), and for amorphous poly(oleyl acrylate), was close to ?111°C. This coincided with a value previously obtained by an extrapolation of data on homologs. Beyond a critical fraction of octadecyl acrylate (0.3 to 0.5), developing side-chain crystallinity in n-octadecyl acrylate raised the glass temperature steadily for all systems, up to a value of 17-C, obtained for the crystalline homopolymer. Crystallinity did not develop in stiff copolymers until T_g was about 30°C below the melting point of the most perfect crystals. In compositionally heterogeneous copolymers incorporating vinyl stearate, blocks of crystalline units appeared to be dispersed in a glassy matrix of amorphous co-units. An empirical equation was derived which fitted the experimental data for random copolymers, over all composition ranges, with fair accuracy.