Microstructural characterization of acrylonitrile/pentyl acrylate copolymers by one and 2‐D NMR spectroscopy

Acrylonitrile/pentyl acrylate (A/P) copolymers of different monomer composition were prepared by solution polymerization using benzoyl peroxide as initiator. Copolymer compositions were determined by elemental analysis and quantitative ¹³C¹H‐NMR spectroscopy. The comonomer reactivity ratios, determined by both Kelen Tudos (KT) and nonlinear error in variables (EVM) methods are r_A = 0.75 and r_p = 0.45. 2‐D heteronuclear correlation spectroscopy (HSQC) was used to simplify the complex ¹H spectra of A/P copolymers in terms of configurational and compositional sequences. The microstructure was obtained in terms of the distribution of A‐ and P‐ centered triad sequences from ¹³C¹H‐NMR spectra of the copolymers. The copolymerization mechanism was found to follow a first order Markov Model. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 533–543, 1999     

Reactivity ratios and sequence structures of the copolymers prepared using photo‐induced copolymerization of MMA with MTMP

4‐Methacryloyl‐2,2,6,6‐tetramethyl‐piperidine (MTMP) was applied as reactive hindered amine piperidine. Photo‐induced copolymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA, M₁) with MTMP (M₂) was carried out in benzene solution at ambient temperature. The reactivity ratios for these monomers were measured by running a series of reactions at various feed ratios of initial monomers, and the monomer incorporation into copolymer was determined using ¹H NMR. Reactivity ratios of the MMA/MTMP system were measured to be r₁ = 0.37 and r₂ = 1.14 from extended Kelen‐Tüdos method. The results show that monomer MTMP prefers homopolymerization to copolymerization in the system, whereas monomer MMA prefers copolymerization to homopolymerization. Sequence structures of the MMA/MTMP copolymers were characterized using ¹H NMR. The results show that the sequence structure for the main chain of the MMA/MTMP copolymers is mainly composed of a syndiotactic configuration, only with a little heterotactic configuration. Three kinds of the sequences of rr, rr′, and lr′ in the syndiotactic configuration are found. The sequence‐length distribution in the MMA/MTMP copolymers is also obtained. For f₁ = 0.2, the monomer unit of MMA is mostly separated by MTMP units, and for f₁ = 0.6, the alternating tendency prevails and a large number of mono‐sequences are formed; further up to f₁ = 0.8, the monomer unit of MTMP with the sequence of one unit is interspersed among the chain of MMA. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Ethylene‐norbornene copolymers prepared with metallocene‐ based catalysts: new sequence assignments by 13C NMR

A series of ethylene‐norbornene copolymers were synthesized in the presence of zirconocenes with different symmetries and ligand patterns and at different norbornene (N)/ethylene (E) mole ratios. Copolymers were characterized by ¹³C NMR spectroscopy; Inadequate NMR sequences were used also. The comparison of ¹³C NMR spectra of copolymers prepared with different norbornene content and the correlation between ¹³C NMR chemical shifts and conformational structures of the chain on the basis of molecular mechanics calculations were performed. Preliminary assignments were revised and new comonomer sequences such as ENNE which contain meso and racemo NN dyads were assigned.     

Carbon-13 NMR spectroscopy of acrylic monomer and Lewis acid complexes

¹³C NMR spectra of acrylic monomers complexed with a Lewis acid were measured and their electronic structures discussed in relation to their alternating copolymerizability. The β-carbon of acrylonitrile and methacrylonitrile showed a downfield shift due to the complex formation with the Lewis acid, while the α-carbon showed an upfield shift and the nitrile carbon showed no significant shift. The degree of shift of olefinic carbons decreased in the following order: AlCl₃ > EtAlCl₂ > Et_1.5AlCl_1.5 > Et₂AlCl > SnCl₄, EtOAlCl₂ > Et(EtO)AlCl, which seems to run parallel to the Lewis acidity and acid strength. On the other hand, the chemical shift of olefinic carbons of methyl acrylate, methyl methacrylate, and olefinic diesters was influenced little by complex formation with Lewis acids, whereas the carbonyl and alkoxyl carbons were deshielded significantly by the complex formation. These results are discussed in terms of electron distribution on the carbons and an alternating polymerization mechanism.     

Initiator selectivity during free radical copolymerizations of styrene and methyl methacrylate initiated by anaerobic copper(II) oxidation of carbon‐13 labeled acetophenone

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analysis of the ¹³C‐labeled chain ends of polystyrene, polyMMA, and styrene‐MMA copolymers prepared by polymerizations initiated using ¹³C‐labeled‐phenacyl radicals were investigated. The phenacyl radicals were generated by anaerobic oxidation of acetophenone‐methyl‐¹³C using a Cu(II) octanoate‐pyridine complex in the presence of triethylamine and triphenylphosphine. NMR analysis of the ¹³C‐labeled chain ends of these polymers afforded insight into the initiation mechanism. In copolymerization experiments using ¹³C‐labeled acetophenone initiator, the NMR spectra provided evidence that the phenacyl radical reacts 2.7 times faster with styrene than with MMA. The resonances of the labeled phenacyl carbons also showed that the sequence and stereosequence distributions of monomer units at the chain ends are nearly the same as those that prevail along the polymer chains. Styrene–styrene, styrene–MMA, and MMA–styrene enchainments at the chain ends are equally likely to have meso (erythro) or racemic(threo) configurations but the ratio of meso to racemic MMA‐MMA enchainments is ～ 3/7. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 2347–2356, 2008     

Nuclear magnetic resonance studies on microstructure of ethylene copolymers. VI. Carbon-13 spectra of ethylene–vinyl acetate copolymers

The 22.6-MHz Fourier-transform noise-decoupled ¹³C (carbon-13) NMR spectra of several ethylene–vinyl acetate (E–VA) copolymers were obtained. We found that triad information on monomer placement can be deduced from carbonyl resonances, triad and pentad information can be deduced from methine carbon resonances, and triad information is available from the methylene carbon resonances. The random comonomer distributions in E–VA polymerizations were demonstrated up to pentad placements. In addition, the use of model-compound data in the analysis of copolymer spectra was shown.     

Sequence analysis of glycolide and p‐dioxanone copolymers

Low and medium molecular weight copolymers constituted by glycolide and p‐dioxanone units have been synthesized by a ring‐opening polymerization. The p‐dioxanone monomer was obtained from (2‐hydroxyethoxy)acetate or by thermal depolymerization of poly(p‐dioxanone). ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectra were highly sensitive to the chemical sequences, which were effectively assigned by considering the data from samples with different compositions, and the acquisition of heteronuclear ¹H and ¹³C NMR‐correlated spectra. End groups were also identified, allowing methylene protons of sequences involving up to two glycolide units to be distinguished. These data seem basic to analyze degradation products or the influence of thermal treatments in chain microstructure. Glycolide/p‐dioxanone copolymers are an interesting system because changes on chemical sequences can easily occur due to a depolymerization reaction that eliminates p‐dioxanone residues. Furthermore, depending on the polymerization conditions, the occurrence of transesterification reactions may be highly significant. These reactions have a great impact in properties such as the melting temperature and can be easily quantified by NMR spectroscopy because of the occurrence of a new chemical sequence. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2009     

New ligands for atom‐transfer radical polymerization

A new type of ligands based on organic acids, such as acetic acid, iminodiacetic acid, succinic acid and isophthalic acid, has been successfully employed in the iron‐mediated atom‐transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of vinyl monomers, such as styrene (St) and methyl methacrylate (MMA). The systems containing different organic acids can react at 250°C to 1300°C in “living”/controlled radical polymerizations giving polymers with relatively narrow molecular weight distributions (M_w/M_n = 1.2–1.5). ¹H NMR spectroscopy has been used to study the structure of the resulting polymers. Block copolymers were synthesized to confirm the ìlivingî nature of the system. The measured molecular weights are close to the calculated values for the polymerization of MMA and are somewhat lower than the theoretical ones for styrene.     

Copolymerization of 4‐Propanoylphenyl Acrylate with Methyl Methacrylate: Synthesis,Characterization and Reactivity Ratios

The new acrylic monomer 4‐propanoylphenyl acrylate (PPA) was synthesized and copolymerized with methyl methacrylate (MMA) in methyl ethyl ketone at 70±1°C using benzoyl peroxide as a free radical initiator. The copolymers were characterized by FT‐IR, ¹H‐NMR and ¹³C‐NMR spectroscopic techniques. The compositions of the copolymers were determined by ¹H‐NMR analysis. The reactivity ratios of the monomers were determined using Fineman‐Ross (r₁=0.5535 and r₂=1.5428), Kelen‐Tüdös (r₁=0.5307 and r₂=1.4482), and Ext. Kelen‐Tüdös (r₁=0.5044 and r₂=1.4614), as well as by a nonlinear error‐in‐variables model (EVM) method using a computer program, RREVM (r₁=0.5314 and r₂=1.4530). The solubility of the polymers was tested in various polar and non‐polar solvents. The elemental analysis was determined by a Perkin‐Elmer C‐H analyzer. The molecular weights (M_w and M_n) of the copolymers were determined by gel permeation chromatography. Thermogravimetric analysis of the polymers reveals that the thermal stability of the copolymers increases with an increase in the mole fraction of MMA in the copolymers. Glass transition temperatures of the copolymers were found to increase with an increase in the mole fraction of MMA in the copolymers.     

Sequence Distribution and Stereoregularity in Styrene/Butyl Methacrylate Copolymers Obtained at High Conversion by Stable Free‐Radical Polymerization

¹³C NMR spectra of styrene/butyl methacrylate copolymers prepared in bulk at 125°C using 2,2,6,6‐tetramethyl‐1‐(1‐phenylethoxy)piperidine as the initiator were analyzed. After assignment of the carbon resonances of the aromatic C‐1 region, the Mayo‐Lewis terminal model (MLTM) was tested by comparison of experimental and predicted values of configurational triad sequences. It follows that MLTM provides an excellent prediction across a wide conversion range for all comonomer feeds.     

丙烯／长链α－烯烃共聚物的13C—NMR和红外光谱法测定组成

ssignment of Peaks of 13C nuclear magnetic resonannce spectra ofpropylene/pentene-- 1 and propylene/das-- 1 copolymers and determination ofcomposition of these copelymers by 13C NMR method were studied. The moreconvenient infrared method for determining composition of these copolymers, together with that of reported propylene/octene-- 1 copolymers, was established by construing curves of IR absorption ratios A_720cm--1/A_970cm--1 (A_733cm--1/A_970cm--1 forpentene copolymers) against ratios of two component ofcopolymer calculated from ¹³C-NMR spectra of experimental samples and blends of PP.respective homopolymer of known compositions. Linearity of these calibration cruves testifies the rationality in selecting the IR absortion peaks.     

NMR Determination of the Microstructure of Polyvinyl Chloride Sulfone). II. 13C-(1H) Spectra

The ¹³C-(¹H) NMR spectra of poly(vinyl chloride sulfone)s with macroscopic compositions corresponding to the ratio vinyl chloride (V):SO₂(S) = n from ca. 1 to 4 have been analyzed in terms of comonomer sequences and configurational placements. In the copolymer with n ? 1, methylene and methine carbons in SVS sequences were resolved and were sensitive to “across SO₂” tacticity. No SVS sequences were observed in the copolymer with n = 2.0, confirming that it had a regular SVVS structure, which also showed a high “internal” stereosequence regularity. It was not possible to discriminate the methylene or methine carbon atoms in S(V)_n S sequences with n ≥ 2.     

One‐ and two‐dimensional NMR characterization of N‐vinyl‐2‐pyrrolidone/methyl acrylate copolymers

N‐vinyl‐2‐pyrrolidone/methyl acrylate (V/M) copolymers were prepared by free‐radical bulk polymerization using benzoyl peroxide as an initiator. The copolymer composition of these copolymers was calculated from ¹H NMR spectra. The radical reactivity ratios for N‐vinyl‐2‐pyrrolidone (V) and methyl acrylate (M) were r_V = 0.09, r_M = 0.44. These reactivity ratios for the copolymerization of V and M were determined using the Kelen–Tudos and nonlinear least‐squares error‐in‐variable methods. The ¹³C{¹H} and ¹H NMR spectra of these copolymers overlapped and were complex. The complete spectral assignment of the ¹³C and ¹H NMR spectra were done with distortionless enhancement by polarization transfer and two dimensional ¹³C‐¹H heteronuclear single quantum correlation spectroscopic experiments. The two‐dimensional ¹H‐¹H homonuclear total correlation spectroscopic NMR spectrum showed the various bond interactions, thus inferring the possible structure of the copolymers. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 2225–2236, 2002     

One‐ and two‐dimensional NMR characterization of N‐vinyl‐2‐pyrrolidone/methyl acrylate copolymers

N‐vinyl‐2‐pyrrolidone/methyl acrylate (V/M) copolymers were prepared by free‐radical bulk polymerization using benzoyl peroxide as an initiator. The copolymer composition of these copolymers was calculated from ¹H NMR spectra. The radical reactivity ratios for N‐vinyl‐2‐pyrrolidone (V) and methyl acrylate (M) were r_V = 0.09, r_M = 0.44. These reactivity ratios for the copolymerization of V and M were determined using the Kelen–Tudos and nonlinear least‐squares error‐in‐variable methods. The ¹³C{¹H} and ¹H NMR spectra of these copolymers overlapped and were complex. The complete spectral assignment of the ¹³C and ¹H NMR spectra were done with distortionless enhancement by polarization transfer and two dimensional ¹³C‐¹H heteronuclear single quantum correlation spectroscopic experiments. The two‐dimensional ¹H‐¹H homonuclear total correlation spectroscopic NMR spectrum showed the various bond interactions, thus inferring the possible structure of the copolymers. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 2225–2236, 2002     

Determination of the microstructure of polychloroprenes from 1H and 13C NMR data

Commercial samples of chloroprene rubbers were studied by high-resolution NMR spectroscopy (600 MHz). ¹H and ¹³C NMR proved to be efficient in quantitative analysis of the microstructure of polychloroprenes.     

Synthesis of poly(β‐pinene)‐g‐poly(meth)acrylate by the combination of living cationic polymerization and atom transfer radical polymerization

New graft copolymers of β‐pinene with methyl methacrylate (MMA) or butyl acrylate (BA) were synthesized by the combination of living cationic polymerization and atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). β‐Pinene polymers with predetermined molecular weights and narrow molecular weight distributions (MWDs) were prepared by living cationic polymerization with the 1‐phenylethyl chloride/TiCl₄/Ti(OiPr)₄/nBu₄NCl initiating system, and the resultant polymers were brominated quantitatively by N‐bromosuccinamide in the presence of azobisisobutyronitrile, yielding poly(β‐pinene) macroinitiators with different bromine contents (Br/β‐pinene unit molar ratio = 1.0 and 0.5 for macroinitiators a and b , respectively). The macroinitiators, in conjunction with CuBr and 2,2′‐bipyridine, were used to initiate ATRP of BA or MMA. With macroinitiator a or b , the bulk polymerization of BA induced a linear first‐order kinetic plot and gave graft copolymers with controlled molecular weights and MWDs; this indicated the living nature of these polymerizations. The bulk polymerization of MMA initiated with macroinitiator a was completed instantaneously and induced insoluble gel products. However, the controlled polymerization of MMA was achieved with macroinitiator b in toluene and resulted in the desired graft copolymers with controlled molecular weights and MWDs. The structures of the obtained graft copolymers of β‐pinene with (methyl)methacrylate were confirmed by ¹H NMR spectra. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 1237–1242, 2003     

Synthesis,characterization and release profiles of nanoparticles self‐assembled from poly (PEGMA‐co‐MMA‐co‐acryloyl‐β‐CD) copolymers

A novel amphiphilic copolymer was synthesized from poly (ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate (PEGMA950), methyl methacrylate (MMA) and acryloyl‐β‐cyclodextrin (acryloyl‐β‐CD) using the composites of (NH₄)₂S₂O₈/NaHSO₃ as the oxidation–reduction initiators. The successful fabrication of poly(PEGMA‐co‐MMA‐co‐acryloyl‐β‐CD) copolymers was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR), ¹H‐nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H NMR) spectra. The amphiphilic copolymer could self‐assemble into nanoparticles (NPs), and their morphology and particle size distribution were characterized with transmission electron microscopy (TEM), atomic force microscope (AFM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS) methods. Ibuprofen (IBU) was encapsulated in the novel NPs, and the release profiles of IBU were investigated. FTIR and ¹H NMR spectra illustrated that the poly(PEGMA‐co‐MMA‐co‐acryloyl‐β‐CD) copolymers were synthesized without any residual monomers and initiators. TEM and AFM photographs suggested that the obtained NPs were spherical, and the DLS results indicated that the diameter of blank NPs was 157.3 ± 32.7 nm. The IBU release profile showed that the IBU‐loaded NPs had certain pH responsibility. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Polymerization of coordinated monomers. XV. 13C-NMR study on the alternating copolymers of methyl methacrylate with styrene

By the use of various metal halides methyl methacrylate and styrene were copolymerized to produce equimolar alternating sequences and different cotacticities. The ¹³C-NMR spectra of these copolymers were simple in comparison to those of random copolymers because of the fixed monomer sequence which yielded sharply split triplets for carbonyl, methoxy, and quaternary carbons. The relative intensities in these split peaks varied according to the metal halide used. A comparison of the intensities made it possible to obtain clear-cut and quantitative information on the methyl methacrylate-centered triad cotacticity of the copolymers. The spectral assignment with respect to the methoxy carbon was definitely justified by the combined use of partly relaxed Fourier transform and selective decoupling techniques. The spectrum of aromatic C₁ carbon in styrene units also split into three main peaks. From their relative intensities the splitting was attributed to styrene-centered triad cotacticity. The assignment of this carbon was compared with two other assignments made for random copolymers of methyl methacrylate with styrene; they were contradictory, however. Furthermore, an apparent discrepancy was observed between methyl methacrylate-and styrene-centered tactic triads of these alternating copolymers. The origin of this discrepancy suggests a close relationship with the copolymerization mechanism.     

Influence of feeding strategies of mixed microbial cultures on the chemical composition and microstructure of copolyesters P(3HB‐co‐3HV) analyzed by NMR and statistical analysis

NMR spectroscopy was applied for quantitative and qualitative characterization of the chemical composition and microstructure of a series of poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate‐co‐3‐hydoxyvalerate) copolymers, P(3HB‐co‐3HV), synthesized by mixed microbial cultures at several different feeding strategies. The monomer sequence distribution of the bacterially synthesized P(3HB‐co‐3HV) was defined by analysis of their high‐resolution 1D ¹³C NMR and 2D ¹H/¹³C HSQC and ¹H/¹³C HMBC NMR spectra. The results were verified by employment of statistical methods and suggest a block copolymer microstructure of the P(3HB‐co‐3HV) copolymers studied. Definitive distinction between block copolymers or a mixture of random copolymers could not be achieved. NMR spectral analysis indicates that the chemical composition and microstructure of the copolymers can be tuned by choosing a correct feeding strategy. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Donor-acceptor complexes in copolymerization. L. Preparation and microstructure of chlorine-containing alternating conjugated diene–acceptor monomer copolymers

Neighboring monomer units cause significant shifts in the infrared absorption peaks attributed to cis- and trans-1,4 units in conjugated diene-acceptor monomer copolymers. Conjugated diene-maleic anhydride alternating copolymers apparently have a predominantly cis-1,4-structure, while alternating diene-SO₂ copolymers have a predominantly trans-1,4 structure. Alternating copolymers of butadiene, isoprene, and pentadiene-1,3 with α-chloroacrylonitrile and methyl α-chloroacrylate, prepared in the presence of Et_1.5AlCl_1.5(EASC), have trans-1,4 unsaturation. Alternating copolymers of chloroprene with acrylonitrile, methyl acrylate, methyl methacrylate, α-chloroacrylonitrile, and methyl α-chloroacrylate prepared in the presence of EASC-VOCl₃ have trans-1,4 configuration. The reaction between chloroprene and acrylonitrile in the presence of AlCl₃ yields the cyclic Diel-Alder adduct in the dark and the alternating copolymer under ultraviolet irradiation. The equimolar, presumably alternating, copolymers of chloroprene with methyl acrylate and methyl methacrylate undergo cyclization at 205°C to a far lesser extent than theoretically calculated, to yield five and seven-membered lactones. The polymerization of chloroprene in the presence of EASC and acetonitrile yields a radical homopolymer with trans-1,4 unsaturation.