Effect of styrene oligomers on syndiospecific polymerization of styrene

Styrene oligomers, preferentially consisting of styrene dimers and trimers, are formed by a free radical mechanism at the thermal polymerization of stabilizer-free styrene during storage and at higher polymerization temperatures. The identity of several dimer and trimer fractions formed in such a free radical polymerization, their influence on a coordinative polymerization reaction, the syndiospecific polymerization of styrene, as well as their effect on the properties of the resulting polymers has been investigated.Styrene dimers and styrene trimers reduce the polymerization activity of the transition metal catalyst significantly, especially at low amounts of oligomers added to the styrene. This behavior is discussed with respect to a proposed mechanism involving complexation of the active transition metal species with the specific oligomer instead of the styrene monomer, resulting in increased steric hindrance towards insertion of a styrene molecule to the active site.Both oligomers reduce the molecular weight of the syndiotactic polystyrene, by acting as chain-transfer agents. The constancy of the polydispersity over the whole concentration range of added dimer or trimer indicates that the uniformity of the active sites of the coordinative polymerization is not significantly influenced by the presence of the oligomers.The thermal properties of the polymers demonstrate that the oligomers do not affect the high syndiospecificity of the active catalytic sites, whereas the increase in crystallization temperature with increasing amounts of styrene dimer or trimer is comparable to effects observed by the addition of crystallization nucleators to semicrystalline polymers.     

Investigations of thermal polymerization in the stable free‐radical polymerization of 2‐vinylnaphthalene

The feasibility of utilizing stable free‐radical polymerization (SFRP) in the synthesis of well‐defined poly(2‐vinylnaphthalene) homopolymers has been investigated. Efforts to control molecular weight by manipulating initiator concentration while maintaining a 2,2,6,6‐tetramethylpiperidinyl‐1‐oxy (TEMPO):benzoyl peroxide (BPO) molar ratio of 1.2:1 proved unsuccessful. In addition, systematic variations of the TEMPO: BPO molar ratio did not result in narrow molecular weight distributions. In situ Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) indicated that the rate of monomer disappearance under SFRP and thermal conditions were identical. This observation indicated a lack of control in the presence of the stable free radical, TEMPO. The similarities in chemical structure between styrene and 2‐vinylnaphthalene suggested thermally initiated polymerization occurred via the Mayo mechanism. A kinetic analysis of the thermal polymerization of styrene and 2‐vinylnaphthalene suggested that the additional fused ring in 2‐vinylnaphthalene increased the propensity for thermal polymerization. The observed rate constant for thermal polymerization of 2‐vinylnaphthalene was determined using in situ FTIR spectroscopy and was one order of magnitude greater than styrene, assuming pseudo‐first‐order kinetics. Also, an Arrhenius analysis indicated that the activation energy for the thermal polymerization of 2‐vinylnaphthalene was 30 kJ/mol less than styrene. © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 583–590, 2002; DOI 10.1002/pola.10131     

Thermal stability of poly(styrene) containing no head-to-head units

General purpose poly(styrene) prepared by conventional radical techniques contains a head-to-head unit as a consequence of polymerization termination by radical coupling. As has been previously demonstrated, thermal stress promotes homolysis of the bond linking the head-to-head components. The macroradicals generated depolymerize rapidly to generate styrene monomer. This decomposition during processing can lead to finished articles containing objectionable levels of styrene monomer, particularly for food packaging applications in which even low levels of monomer can promote objectionable taste and aroma. Polymer containing no head-to-head units should not be prone to this facile decomposition. In this instance, poly(styrene) has been prepared by nitroxyl-mediated polymerization of styrene monomer followed by reductive removal of nitroxyl end groups. Polymer prepared in this manner contains no head-to-head units and displays thermal stability much greater than that observed for conventional poly(styrene). A direct comparison of the stability for the two polymers is readily available by thermogravimetric techniques. A quantitative reflection of the difference in stability is available from the rate constants for the respective decomposition.     

Copolymerization of styrene. V. Copolymerization with α-cyanocinnamamide

Copolymers of styrene with α-cyanocinnamamide were prepared by free radical initiation in bulk and in DMF solution and also by thermal initiation in bulk. The copolymerization parameters were determined by the conventional scheme of copolymerization and by an improved scheme taking into account the penultimate unit. Different values of the copolymerization parameters were obtained at the above mentioned different polymerization conditions, indicating the existence of a solvent effect. The influence of the comonomer on some of the basic properties, like intrinsic viscosity, solubility, melting range, and glass transition temperature and on some mechanical and behavior properties of the copolymers was studied in comparison with homopolystyrene.     

Nitroxide‐Mediated Radical Polymerization in Miniemulsion at Stationary State: Rationale for Independence of Polymerization Rate on Nitroxide Partitioning Using Oil‐Phase Initiation

Summary: Simulations based on the kinetics and mechanism of nitroxide‐mediated free radical polymerization (NMP) have been carried out in order to understand the hitherto largely unexplained effects (or lack thereof) of nitroxide partitioning in aqueous miniemulsion NMP. The focus has been on the miniemulsion NMP of styrene mediated by TEMPO and 4‐hydroxy‐TEMPO, two nitroxides with very similar activation‐deactivation equilibria, but very different organic phase‐aqueous phase partition coefficients. The general conclusion is that the organic phase propagating radical and nitroxide concentrations are unaffected by the partition coefficient in the stationary state, but the rate of polymerization and the extent of bimolecular termination increase with increasing nitroxide water solubility in the pre‐stationary state region. Specific NMP systems are, therefore, affected differently by nitroxide partitioning depending on whether polymerization predominantly occurs in the stationary state or not, which in turn is governed mainly by the activation‐deactivation equilibrium constant and the rate of thermal initiation.

Simulated organic‐phase propagating radical concentrations in the presence of thermal initiation for TEMPO‐mediated miniemulsion free radical polymerization of styrene for different nitroxide partitioning coefficients at 125 °C.     

60Co-initiated copolymerization of styrene with vinyl acetate

The kinetic behavior of the ⁶⁰Co-initiated copolymerization at 25°C of styrene with vinyl acetate at 1100 and 2000 rad/hr was studied. As in the case of thermal and photochemical copolymerizations of these monomers, the growing chains are particularly rich in styrene units, and the overall rate is affected by a diluent effect due to the vinyl acetate monomer. However, in the case of the radiation copolymerization, this effect is partially counterbalanced by an increase of the initiation rate with the vinyl acetate concentration; the polymerization rate curve shows a maximum at a vinyl acetate molar fraction of 0.25. This effect is due to the very different free radical yields of these two monomers. The experimental results may be understood on the basis of a kinetic scheme which involves an energy transfer process from the excited vinyl acetate molecules to the styrene monomer and a termination reaction of the growing chains by very short styrene radicals when the mixture is rich in vinyl acetate.     

Polymerization photoinitiated by carbonyl compounds. VI. Mechanism of benzil photoinitiation

The mechanism of the photoinitiation of the vinyl polymerization sensitized by benzil and 4,4′-dimethoxybenzil was studied. The monomers considered were methacrylic acid esters and styrene derivatives. All these monomers are efficient quenchers of the excited triplet benzil. However, the initiation efficiency of the benzil is important only when styrene derivatives are employed as monomers. The main polymerization process follows a simple free radical mechanism. The initiation step is a consequence of the interaction (triplet benzil–monomer double bond) through a charge transfer complex.     

Heterogeneous initiators for the synthesis of polymer nanocomposites

Nanocomposites are obtained by the radical polymerization of styrene and methyl methacrylate on the surface of a dispersed filler containing chemisorbed compounds of quaternary ammonium, which catalyze decomposition of cumene hydroperoxide. The heterogeneous catalysts of hydroperoxide decomposition are obtained via the adsorption of cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide and acetylcholine chloride on sodium montmorillonite, cellulose, and chitosan. The highest rate of the polymerization of both monomers is provided by the cellulose–cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide catalyst. For a more hydrophilic methyl methacrylate, the rate of radical initiation is significantly lower at the same concentrations of the catalyst and hydroperoxide compared with hydrophobic styrene; however, the rate of polymerization is higher than for styrene because of a higher activity of methyl methacrylate in chain-propagation reactions. Relatively high rates of radical generation upon contact of cellulose–cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide and cellulose–acetylcholine with hydroperoxides open the possibility to create cellulose-based disinfecting and medical materials.     

Radical polymerization of metal-coordinated monomers with ligands of pyrrole-containing schiff bases

The copper complexes and the cobalt complex with the ligand of 3-(2-pyrrolylmethyl-enimino)propene-1 (PIP) or p-(2-pyrrolylmethylenimino)styrene (PIS) were synthesized and homopolymerizations and the copolymerization with styrene, acrylonitrile, methyl methacrylate and acrylic acid studied. In the polymerization of chelate monomers, inhibition of radical polymerization by the central metal ion was observed, but the chelate polymer could be obtained only if the initiator was present in higher concentrations in the feed. It is considered that the strength of inhibition depends on the electronic configuration of d-orbitals of the central metal ion. The initiation mechanism of the cupric chelate monomer may be reduction of the metal ion by the redox reaction with a primary radical via the intramolecular electron transfer through the π-conjugated system of the ligand prior to the propagation step. This mechanism was verified by studying the redox reaction of various copper complexes with DPPH. In the system of the copper complex containing PIS and acylic acid the alternating copolymer could be obtained at any mole fraction of monomer mixture in feed.     

Polymerization photoinitiated by carbonyl compounds. IV. α-diketones and α-substituted alkanones

The photoinitiation efficiency of the free-radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate and styrene by several carbonly compounds has been determined. The compounds considered were α-substituted ketones and α-dicarbonyl compounds. For the ketones, the initiation efficiency employing methyl methacrylate depends on the α substitution; the values obtained change from less than 10^?3 (acetone) to 0.65 (3-hydroxy-3-methyl-2-butanone). All ketones are more efficient towards methyl methacrylate than styrene. This result can be explained in terms of triplet quenching by the last monomer. The results obtained employing α-dicarbonyl compounds do not conform to a simple pattern. In particular, benzil shows a considerably larger efficiency towards styrene than for methyl methacrylate. Since benzil is efficiently quenched by styrene, the initiation must involve the interaction of an excited benzil molecule and the monomer.     

Polymerization of methyl methacrylate in a tetrahydrofuran–maleic anhydride system. Part II

A donor–acceptor complex consisting of tetrahydrofuran and maleic anhydride initiates photochemical and thermal polymerization of methyl methacrylate. The mechanism of the transformation of this complex was investigated by studying changes in its electrical conductivity, its chemiluminescence, and various influences on its initiating capability (water, air, DPPH, substitution of styrene for methyl methacrylate and of 1,4-dioxane for tetrahydrofuran). It has been shown that initiation by radicals cannot be clearly excluded and that ionic radicals form in the system and can initiate the anionic growth of the chain.     

Kinetic features of radical polymerization of styrene under microwave irradiation conditions

A comparative study of radical polymerization of styrene under thermal and microwave heating conditions has been carried out. The polymerization reaction orders with respect to the monomer and initiator concentrations and the polymerization rate constants have been determined. It has been found that non-thermal microwave effects are not manifested during styrene polymerization, because styrene is a weakly polar substance.     

一种新型甲壳型液晶高分子的设计与合成

甲壳型液晶高分子是我国科学家最早设计和合成、受到国际学术界广泛关注的一类新型液晶高分子[1～ 6 ] .迄今已合成出 1 0个系列 1 0 0多种甲壳型液晶高分子 ,其中多数以乙烯基氢醌 [7] 、乙烯基对苯二胺 [8] 、乙烯基对苯二甲酸 [9] 和 2 -羟基 - 5-氨基苯乙烯 [10 ] 为关键中间体 .液晶核由 3个苯环以— COO—或— CONH—连接而成 .由于— COO—和— CONH—易与阳离子和阴离子相互作用 ,故已报道的甲壳型液晶高分子都是由自由基聚合反应制得 ,而很难用离子型聚合反应合成 .本文设计合成了一类未见文献报道的小分子液晶化合物 ,由此…     

SYNTHESIS OF HETEROARM STAR-SHAPED POLYMER BY THE USE OF POLYFUNCTIONAL CHAIN-TRANSFER AGENT via CONVENTIONAL FREE RADICAL POLYMERIZATION

Heteroarm star-shaped polymers were synthesized by conventional free radical polymerization in two steps by the use of polyfunctional chain transfer agent.In the first step,free radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate was carried out in the presence of a polyfunctional chain transfer agent,pentaerythritol tetrakis(3-mercaptopropinate).At appropriate monomer conversions,two-arm PMMA having two residual thiol groups at the chain center or three-arm PMMA having one residual thiol group at the core wer...     

Photopolymerization of methyl methacrylate sensitized by aliphatic ketones

The polymerization of methyl methacrylate photosensitized by several alkyl ketones has been investigated. It was found that alkyl ketones can induce the free radical polymerization of the monomer with an efficiency that increases when the triplet lifetime decreases. For ketones of similar triplet lifetime those decomposing predominantly by a type I photocleavage show greater initiation efficiencies than those that react by a type II mechanism. The results obtained show that quenching of the excited ketones by the monomer does not induce polymerization. For ketones bearing γ-hydrogens the initiation is due to the 1,4-biradical produced by intramolecular hydrogen abstraction.     

Controlled radical polymerization in the presence of N‐oxyls

Recent development in controlled radical polymerization has provided a tool to combine a relatively robust radical polymerization technique with structural control. This contribution focuses on stable free radical polymerization in the presence of nitroxides. The influence of 2,2,6,6‐tetramethyl‐piperidine‐N‐oxyl (TEMPO) and temperature on the copolymerization of styrene and acrylonitrile will be discussed. In the second part a new class of nitroxide stable free radicals will be presented that shows enhanced performance in styrene polymerizations.     

Synthesis of poly(chloromethylstyrene‐b‐styrene) block copolymers by controlled free‐radical polymerization

The controlled free‐radical polymerization of styrene and chloromethylstyrene monomers in the presence of 2,2,6,6‐tetramethyl‐1‐piperidinyloxyl (TEMPO) has been studied with the aim of synthesizing block copolymers with well‐defined structures. First, TEMPO‐capped poly(chloromethylstyrene) was prepared. Among several initiating systems [self‐initiation, dicumyl peroxide, and 2,2′‐azobis(isobutyronitrile)], the last offered the best compromise for obtaining a good control of the polymerization and a fast polymerization rate. The rate of the TEMPO‐mediated polymerization of chloromethylstyrene was independent of the initial concentration of TEMPO but unexpectedly higher than the rate of the thermal self‐initiated polymerization of chloromethylstyrene. Transfer reactions to the chloromethyl groups were thought to play an important role in the polymerization kinetics and the polydispersity index of the resulting poly(chloromethylstyrene). Second, this first block was used as a macroinitiator in the polymerization of styrene to obtain the desired poly(chloromethylstyrene‐b‐styrene) block copolymer. The kinetic modeling of the block copolymerization was in good agreement with experimental data. The block copolymers obtained in this work exhibited a low polydispersity index (weight‐average molecular weight/number‐average molecular weight < 1.5) and could be chemically modified with nucleophilic substitution reactions on the benzylic site, opening the way to a great variety of architectures. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 3845–3854, 2000     

Reverse atom transfer radical polymerization of vinyl monomers with Fe[SC(S)NEt2]3 alone as the catalyst

The living radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate and styrene was successfully carried out with diethyl 2,3‐dicyano‐2,3‐diphenylsuccinate (DCDPS)/ferric tri(diethyldithiocarbamate) as a novel reverse atom transfer radical polymerization initiation system in which DCDPS was a hexa‐substituted ethane‐type thermal iniferter, DC was a diethyldithiocarbamate group, and no additional ligands such as nitrogen‐ or phosphine‐based compounds were required. The bulk polymerization of methyl methacrylate was carried out at 95 °C, and that of styrene was carried out at 120 °C. Poly(methyl methacrylate) and polystyrene (PSt) with high molecular weights and quite narrow molecular weight distributions (as low as 1.09 for PSt) were obtained. ¹H NMR spectroscopy revealed the presence of an α‐(carbethoxycyanophenyl)methyl group from the initiator and an ω‐DC group from the catalyst in the obtained polymers. Various chain‐extension reactions under UV light or thermal treatments were successfully conducted to prove the presence and efficient reinitiating of the ω‐DC group. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 39: 3464–3473, 2001     

Thermal polymerization of styrene: New data on the conversion dependence of the initiation rate

With the aid of new acceptors of free radicals usable at high temperatures (T > 100°C), the rate of initiation w _i has been measured experimentally for the thermal polymerization of styrene at 122.5°C in a wide range of conversions C = 0–80%. It has been shown that the value of w _i tends to increase in the course of polymerization transformation in agreement with the w _i = f(C) relationship calculated from the kinetic data on the thermal polymerization of styrene in the absence of counters of free radicals. Hypothetical reasons for this non-trivial tendency have been formulated. The experimental dependence w _i = f(C) has been measured for the first time and has been invoked to refine currently available mathematical models for the thermal polymerization of styrene that assume that w _i remains invariable in the course of polymerization transformation.     

Thermal self‐initiation of styrene in the presence of TEMPO radicals: Bulk and miniemulsion

In TEMPO (2,2,6,6,‐tetramethyl‐1‐piperidinyloxy) controlled styrene radical polymerizations, the thermal self‐initiation reaction of styrene monomer is one of the main sources for the deviations from ideal living polymerization. However, it is also important because it continuously generates radicals to compensate for the loss of radicals caused by the termination reactions and thereby maintains a reasonable reaction rate. In this report, different initial TEMPO concentrations were used in styrene miniemulsion polymerizations without any added initiator. The consumption rate of TEMPO or radical generation rate was calculated from the length of the induction period and the increasing total number of polymer chains. It was found that there is little difference between the miniemulsions and the corresponding bulk systems in terms of the length of the induction period, which increases linearly with initial TEMPO concentration. After the induction period, the consumption rate of TEMPO or radical generation rate was reduced to a lower level, and a faster initial polymerization rate was found in the bulk system compared to the corresponding miniemulsion system. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 4921–4932, 2004