Anionic polymerization of methyl methacrylate with Cr(C5H7O2)3–Al(C2H5)3 catalyst system

A homogeneous catalyst system, Cr(C₅H₇O₂)₃–Al(C₂H₅)₃, was used for the polymerization of methyl methacrylate. The yield of polymer increased up to an Al/Cr ratio of 12 and thereafter remained almost constant with increasing Al/Cr. The rate of polymerization increased linearly with increasing catalyst and monomer concentrations at Al/Cr = 12. The molecular weight, however, decreased with increasing catalyst concentration and increased with increasing monomer concentration, indicating anionic polymerization reaction. NMR studies of the polymers indicated the presence of a stereoblock structure, which changed to heteroblock structure in presence of triethylamine and hydroquinone as additives in the catalyst. In the light of these observations, the mechanism of the polymerization is discussed.     

Free-radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate and p-fluorostyrene in the presence of the Mn(acac)3–AlEt3 catalyst system

Methyl methacrylate and p-fluorostyrene were polymerized with manganese (III) acetylacetonate–aluminum triethyl catalyst at 60°C in a benzene medium. Maximum activity was found at Al/Mn ratio of 4. Maximum percent conversion of polymer was obtained when the aging time of the catalyst was 10 min. The rate of polymerization was first order with respect to monomer. The rate of polymerization with respect to catalyst and cocatalyst were found to be 0.5 and 1.5, respectively. The overall energy of activation for the polymerization of methyl methacrylate and p-fluorostyrene were found to be 52.6 and 57.0 kJ/mole, respectively. A free-radical mechanism is postulated.     

Polymerization of acrylonitrile with VCl4–Al(C2H5)3 catalyst system in presence of acetonitrile

The polymerization of acrylonitrile with the homogeneous catalyst system of VCl₄–AlEt₃ in acetonitrile at 40°C has been investigated. The rate of polymerization is found to be first-order with respect to monomer and inversely proportional to the catalyst concentration. The overall activation energy for this catalyst system is 10.97 kcal/mole. The inverse proportionality of rate of polymerization with the catalyst concentration is attributed to the permanent complex formation between the catalyst complex and acrylonitrile, and a reaction scheme is proposed.     

Stereoblock polymerization of methyl methacrylate with VOCl3?Al(C2H5)3 catalyst system

Kinetics of the polymerization of methyl methacrylate with the VOCl₃? AlEt₃ catalyst system at 40°C in n-hexane have been studied. A linear dependence of rate of polymerization on the monomer and catalyst concentrations as well as an overall activation energy of 5.87 kcal/mole were found. Characterization of the structure of the polymer by NMR spectra revealed the presence of stereoblock units. The mechanism of polymerization is discussed in relation to the kinetic data obtained.     

Kinetics and mechanism of polymerization yielding stereoblock poly(methyl methacrylate) with VCl4-Al(C2H5)3 catalyst system

Methyl methacrylate was polymerized at 40°C with the VCl₄–AlEt₃ catalyst system in n-hexane. The rate of polymerization was proportional to the catalyst and monomer concentration at Al/V ratio of 2, indicating a coordinate anionic mechanism of polymerization. NMR spectra were further used to confirm the mechanism of polymerization and stability of active sites responsible for isotacticity.     

Monomer-isomerization polymerization. VI. Isomerizations of butene-2 with TiCl3 or Al(C2H5)3–TiCl3 catalyst

A study of the isomerization of butene-2 with TiCl₃ or Al(C₂H₅)₃–TiCl₃ catalyst in n-heptane has been investigated at 60–80°C to elucidate further the mechanism of monomer-isomerization polymerization. It was found that positional and geometrical isomerizations in the presence of these catalysts occurred concurrently with activation energies of 14–16 kcal/mole. The presence of Al(C₂H₅)₃ with TiCl₃ catalyst could accelerate the initial rates of these isomerizations and initiate the monomer-isomerization polymerization of butene-2. From the results obtained, it was concluded that the isomerization of butene-2 proceeds via an intermediate σ-complex between the transition metal hydride and butene isomers.     

Cationic polymerization of α,β-disubstituted olefins. IV. Stereospecific polymerization of propenyl alkyl ethers catalyzed by BF3·O(C2H5)2 and Al2(SO4)3–H2SO4 complex

The cis- and trans-propenyl alkyl ethers were polymerized by a homogeneous catalyst [BF₃·O(C₂H₅)₂] and a heterogeneous catalyst [Al₂(SO₄)₃–H₂SO₄ complex]. Methyl, ethyl, isopropyl, n-butyl and tert-butyl propenyl ethers were used as monomers. The steric structure of the polymers formed depended on the geometric structures of monomer and the polymerization conditions. In polymerizations with BF₃·O(C₂H₅)₂ at ?78°C., trans isomers produced crystalline polymers, but cis isomers formed amorphous ones except for tert-butyl propenyl ether. On the other hand, highly crystalline polymers were formed from cis isomers, but not from the trans isomers in the polymerization by Al₂(SO₄)₃–H₂SO₄ complex at 0°C. The x-ray diffraction patterns of the crystalline polymers obtained from the trans isomers were different from those produced from the cis isomers, except for poly(methyl propenyl ether). The reaction mechanism was discussed briefly on these basis of these results.     

Modification mechanism in olefin polymerization catalysts TiCl4/MgCl2–aromatic ester–Al(C2H5)3

An IR/UV study of the interaction between ethyl benzoate and Al(C₂H₅)₃ in dilute heptane solution at 25–75°C demonstrated that the ester is readily reduced under these conditions with the formation of two aluminum dialkyl alkoxides, Al(C₂H₅)₂ and Al(C₂H₅)₂OC(C₂H₅)₂C₆H₅, as major products. Rate constants of the reduction of the initial AI(C₂H₅)₃ · ester complex by free AI(C₂H₅)₃ are 2.9 (26°C), 14.4 (50°C), and 59.6 (75°C) L/mol min; E_act = 52.0 kj/mol. Study of propylene polymerization with this catalytic system at 50°C showed that preliminary aging of the AI(C₂H₅)₄–ethyl benzoate mixtures at 25°C for 24 h and at 50°C for 2 h does not adversely affect catalyst performance. These data suggest that the possible actual modifier in this catalytic system is aluminum alkoxide with a highly branched tertiary alkoxy group.     

Influence of SeOCl2 on the polymerization of propylene by TiCl3–Al(C2H5)3

The influence of SeOCl₂ on the polymerization of propylene by TiCl₃–Al(C₂H₅)₃, and the temperature dependence of the stereospecificity of the catalyst, TiCl₃–Al(C₂H₅)₃, have been investigated. SeOCl₂ decreases the rate of polymerization and increase the stereospecificity of the catalyst, which could be explained on the basis of a decrease of the concentration of Al(C₂H₅)₃ accompanied by a reaction between Al(C₂H₅)₃ and SeOCl₂. On the other hand, the stereospecificity of the catalyst, TiCl₃–Al(C₂H₅)₃, increases gradually with a decrease in polymerization temperature from 40 to 0°C. From these results, we conclude that SeOCl₂ exerts no essential influence on the polymerization of propylene by TiCl₃–Al(C₂H₅)₃, and that the stereospecificity of the catalyst is attributed mainly to the reducing ability of the organometallic compound.     

Kinetics and mechanism of stereospecific polymerization of methyl methacrylate with VOCl3–AlEt2Cl catalyst system

Methyl methacrylate was polymerized at 40°C with VOCl₃–AlEt₂Cl catalyst system in n-hexane. The rate of polymerization was proportional to catalyst and monomer concentration at Al/V ratio of 2 and overall activation energy of 9.25 kcal/mole support a coordinate anionic mechanism of polymerization. The catalytic activity and stereospecificity of this catalyst system is discussed in comparison with that of VOCl₃–AlEt₃ catalyst system.     

Crystal Structures of [Mn2(H2O)4(phen)2(C4H4O4)2] · 2 H2O and [Mn(phen)2(H2O)2][Mn(phen)2(C4H4O4)](C4H4O4) · 7 H2O

Reactions of 1,10‐phenanthroline monohydrate, Na₂C₄H₄O₄ · 6 H₂O and MnSO₄ · H₂O in CH₃OH/H₂O yielded a mixture of [Mn₂(H₂O)₄(phen)₂(C₄H₄O₄)₂] · 2 H₂O ( 1 ) and [Mn(phen)₂(H₂O)₂][Mn(phen)₂(C₄H₄O₄)](C₄H₄O₄) · 7 H₂O ( 2 ). The crystal structure of 1 (P1 (no. 2), a = 8.257(1) Å, b = 8.395(1) Å, c = 12.879(2) Å, α = 95.33(1)°, β = 104.56(1)°, γ = 106.76(1)°, V = 814.1(2) ų, Z = 1) consists of the dinuclear [Mn₂(H₂O)₄(phen)₂(C₄H₄O₄)₂] molecules and hydrogen bonded H₂O molecules. The centrosymmetric dinuclear molecules, in which the Mn atoms are octahedrally coordinated by two N atoms of one phen ligand and four O atoms from two H₂O molecules and two bis‐monodentate succinato ligands, are assembled via π‐π stacking interactions into 2 D supramolecular layers parallel to (101) (d(Mn–O) = 2.123–2.265 Å, d(Mn–N) = 2.307 Å). The crystal structure of 2 (P1 (no. 2), a = 14.289(2) Å, b = 15.182(2) Å, c = 15.913(2) Å, α = 67.108(7)°, β = 87.27(1)°, γ = 68.216(8)°, V = 2934.2(7) ų, Z = 2) is composed of the [Mn(phen)₂(H₂O)₂]²⁺ cations, [Mn(phen)₂(C₄H₄O₄)] complex molecules, (C₄H₄O₄)^2– anions, and H₂O molecules. The (C₄H₄O₄)^2– anions and H₂O molecules form 3 D hydrogen bonded network and the cations and complex molecules in the tunnels along [001] and [011], respectively, are assembled via the π‐π stacking interactions into 1 D supramolecular chains. The Mn atoms are octahedrally coordinated by four N atoms of two bidentate chelating phen ligands and two water O atoms or two carboxyl O atoms (d(Mn–O) = 2.088–2.129 Å, d(Mn–N) = 2.277–2.355 Å). Interestingly, the succinato ligands in the complex molecules assume gauche conformation bidentately to chelate the Mn atoms into seven‐membered rings.     

Role of heterogeneous Cr(AcAc)3–AlEt3 catalyst system in isoprene polymerization

Polymerization of isoprene in presence of a heterogeneous Ziegler-type catalyst system, Cr(AcAc)₃–AlEt₃, has been studied in benzene medium. The rate of polymerization is first-order with respect to catalyst as well as monomer concentration. The rate studies, activation energy, and polymer microstructures are reported in order to follow the probable mechanism of polymerization.     

Electron paramagnetic resonance study of the TiCl4/Al(i-C4H9)3 system

Toluene solutions of titanium tetrachloride-triisobutyl aluminium varying in molar ratio from 1: 3 to 1: 30 are studied by electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy at 77 K. It is shown that the stepwise reduction of Ti(IV) to Ti(III) occurs under these conditions, resulting in the formation of TI ₂ ⁷⁺ and TI ₂ ⁶⁺ heterovalent compounds. A feasible mechanism for the interaction between TiCl₄ and Al(i-Bu)₃ is proposed.     

Copper(II) and Nickel(II) Alkylxanthate Complexes (R = C2H5, i-C3H7, i-C4H9, s-C4H9, and C5H11): EPR and Solid-State 13C CP/MAS NMR Studies

Alkylxanthate complexes of the general formula [M{S(S)COR}₂] (M = Ni, ⁶³Cu, and ⁶⁵Cu; R = C₂H₅, i-C₃H₇, i-C₄H₉, s-C₄H₉, and C₅H₁₁) were synthesized and studied by EPR and high-resolution solid-state ¹³C CP/MAS NMR. In the copper(II) complexes stabilized in the matrix of nickel(II) compounds, square planar chromophores [CuS₄] are characterized by rhombic distortion (EPR data). Experimental EPR spectra were simulated at the second order of perturbation theory. Nickel(II) complexes were characterized by ¹³C NMR spectra. In all cases, the –OC(S)S– groups were found to exhibit intramolecular structural equivalence.