Catalytic action of metallic salts in autoxidation and polymerization. VIII. Polymerization of methyl methacrylate by various metal acetylacetonate–cyclic ether hydroperoxides

Polymerization of methyl methacrylate by cyclic ether hydroperoxide–metal acetylacetonate systems for a number of different metals was carried out to compare with the tert-butyl hydroperoxide–metal acetylacetonate initiating systems. The rate of polymerization of methyl methacrylate with cyclic ether hydroperoxides as initiating systems was much higher than that with tert-butyl hydroperoxide. In cyclic ether hydroperoxide initiating systems, V(III), Co(II,III), Fe(III), Cu(II), and Mn(II) promoted the polymerization rate markedly, and Zn(II), Ni(II), Al(III), and Mg(II) had little or no effect; in the tert-butyl hydroperoxide initiating system only V(III), Co(II), and Mn(II) enhanced polymerization rate, and most of other metals showed little or no effect. Furthermore, noticeable differences in color of solution and appearance during polymerization, and in relation between conversion and the degree of polymerization were observed. The effect of metal acetylacetonates on hydroperoxide initiators in polymerization of methyl methacrylate was also compared with that on the decomposition of hydroperoxides.     

Polymer reactions. III. Structure of polypropylene hydroperoxide

Oxidation of polypropylene introduces hydroperoxide groups into the polymer. Infrared spectroscopy has determined that more than 90% of these groups are intramolecularly hydrogen bonded. The sequential lengths and sequence distributions of these neighboring hydroperoxides were estimated from the electronic spectra of the polyenes derived from the polypropylene hydroperoxide by two methods: (1) reduction, acetylation, and pyrolysis, and (2) reduction and dehydration. The results indicate that all the hydroperoxide groups are present in sequences of length two and greater. Intramolecular hydrogen abstraction during oxidation could account for the formation of these neighboring hydroperoxides.     

Determination of allergenic hydroperoxides in essential oils using gas chromatography with electron ionization mass spectrometry

Fragrance monoterpenes are widely used commercially due to their pleasant scent. In previous studies, we have shown that air‐exposed monoterpenes form hydroperoxides that are strong skin sensitizers. Methods for detection and quantification of the hydroperoxides in essential oils and scented products are thus desirable. Due to thermolability and low UV absorbance, this is a complicated task. We have recently developed a sensitive LC–ESI‐MS method, but with limited structural information and separation efficiency for positional isomers and stereoisomers. In the present study, we investigated derivatization with a trimethyl silyl reagent and subsequent GC with electron ionization MS for the determination of monoterpene hydroperoxides. All investigated monoterpene hydroperoxides could be chromatographed as thermostable trimethyl silyl derivatives and yielded the fragment m/z 89 ([OSi(CH₃)₃]⁺) at a higher extent compared to corresponding alcohols. Limonene‐2‐hydroperoxide and four other hydroperoxide isomers of limonene were separated and detected in sweet orange oil autoxidized for two months. The concentration of limonene‐2‐hydroperoxide isomers was found to be 19 μg/mg in total. Also isomers of linalyl acetate hydroperoxide and linalool hydroperoxide were detected in autoxidized petitgrain oil (two months). The presented GC–MS method showed concentrations in the same order as previous LC–MS/MS analysis of the same type of oils.     

Mechanism of propagation and degenerate chain branching in the oxidation of polypropylene and polyethylene

Samples of polypropylene with adjacent and isolated hydroperoxide groups have been prepared. The rate constants of free-radical formation from solid hydroperoxides were measured by the inhibitor method. It was found that the free radicals yielded by adjacent hydroperoxide groups are formed more rapidly. The main reaction of free-radical formation in oxidized polypropylene is of the type: ROOH + ROOH → RO + H₂O + RO₂^˙. The average yield of free radicals from polypropylene hydroperoxide is 2–4%. Oxygen has no effect on the yield of free radicals. However, the pressure of oxygen Po₂ affects the rate of degenerate chain branching in polypropylene. The number of adjacent hydroperoxide groups and the rate of initiation increase with Po₂. Consequently, a reaction of the type, R^˙, + RH → RH + R^˙, plays an important part in transport of free valence through solid polymer. This reaction is very fast in polyethylene, and no adjacent hydroperoxide groups are formed. The free radicals from polyethylene hydroperoxide are found to form by a reaction of the type: ROOH → RO^˙ + HO^˙.     

Unlike surfactant–polymer interactions of sodium dodecyl sulfate and sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate with water-soluble polymers

Single and mixed micelle formation by sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate (SDBS) and their mixtures in pure water and in the presence of water-soluble polymers such as Synperonic 85 (triblock polymer, TBP), hydroxypropylcellulose (HPC), and carboxymethylcellulose sodium salt (CMC) were studied with the help of conductivity, pyrene fluorescence, cyclic voltammetry, and viscosity measurements. Conductivity measurements showed a single aggregation process for pure surfactants and their mixtures both in pure water as well as in the presence of water-soluble polymers. Triple breaks corresponding to two aggregation processes for SDS, SDBS, and their mixture in the presence of TBP were observed from fluorescence measurements. The first one demonstrated the critical aggregation process due to the adsorption of surfactant monomers on TBP macromolecule. The second one was attributed to the participation of surfactant–polymer aggregates formed at the first one, in the micelle formation process. The aggregation number ( N _agg) of single and mixed micelles and diffusion coefficient ( D) of electroactive probe were computed from the fluorescence and cyclic voltammetry measurements, respectively. Both parameters, along with the viscosity results, indicated stronger SDS–polymer interactions in comparison to SDBS–polymer interactions. Mixed surfactant–polymer interactions showed compensating effects of both pure surfactants. The nature of mixed micelles was found to be ideal in all cases, as evaluated by applying the regular solution and Motomura's approximations.     

Synthesis of poly(arylene ethylene) oligomeric hydroperoxides and their use as initiating agents of radical polymerization

The oxidation to hydroperoxide of poly(arylene ethylenes) (PAE) by oxygen carried out in solutions at 80–110°C. The effect of initiating additions and the nature of solvent relative to the content of hydroperoxide groups in oxidized PAE were investigated. The oxidation to hydroperoxides in PAE occurs at the methylene groups, and the synthesized hydroperoxides are secondary peroxides. The decomposition of PAE hydroperoxides in toluene and chlorobenzene at concentrations of 0.006–0.03 mole/l. for hydroperoxide in the presence and absence of N-phenyl-α-naphthylamine (PNA) was studied. The decomposition of one hydroperoxide has been studied in the presence of cobaltous and manganese resinates and of PNA in chlorobenzene at 30–50°C. The addition of PNA to a chlorobenzene solution of PAE hydroperoxide containing cobaltous or manganese resinate accelerates the hydroperoxide decomposition, reduces the activation energy, and changes the reaction order from the second-order to first-order. The synthesized hydroperoxides initiate the radical polymerization of styrene and methyl methacrylate. The initiating activity of one of the synthesized hydroperoxides of PAE for polymerization of styrene (60°C) in the presence and absence of activating addition of manganese resinate was also evaluated.     

Photo-oxidation of polymers without light: Oxidation of polybutadiene and an ABS polyblend with singlet oxygen

In recent years much evidence has been accumulated to implicate electronically excited oxygen (¹Δ_g) molecules as the agent responsible in photosensitized oxidations for the formation of allylic hydroperoxides from olefins and of endoperoxides from 1,3-dienes. Little regarding the mechanistic aspects of the photo-oxidative degradation of polybutadiene (PBD) is known, however. To determine if electronically excited oxygen (¹Δ_g) molecules can oxidize PBD, the ABS polyblend and standard samples of PBD's containing high trans, high cis, and high vinyl content were treated in homogeneous solution at low temperature with chemically produced singlet oxygen in situ. The source of the singlet oxygen was the triphenylphosphite-ozone adduct. Studies by spectroscopy, elemental analysis, viscosity determinations, and gel measurements showed only the cis- and the trans-PBD were susceptible to oxidation; no chain scission was involved in the attack of cis- and trans-PBD by singlet oxygen; the oxidation of the cis PBD involved the initial formation of hydroperoxides which on thermal decomposition yielded gel. The trans-PBD was found to oxidize but apparently by a mechanism different from that of cis-PBD. Initial singlet oxygen attack of ABS proceeds by oxidation of the PBD portion of the polyblend. It was also observed that when only a small amount of the double bonds in the cis-PBD polymer had been oxidized to hydroperoxides, subsequent thermal treatment of this sample resulted in gross structural changes in the whole polymer.     

Catalytic action of metallic salts in autoxidation and polymerization. IV. Polymerization of methyl methacrylate by cobalt(II) or (III) acetylacetonate–tert-butyl hydroperoxide or dioxane hydroperoxide

Polymerization of methyl methacrylate was carried out by four initiating systems, namely, cobalt(II) or (III) acetylacetonate–tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-Bu HPO) or dioxane hydroperoxide (DOX HPO). Dioxane hydroperoxide systems were much more effective for the polymerization of methyl methacrylate than tert-butyl hydroperoxide systems, and cobaltous acetylacetonate was more effective than cobaltic acetylacetonate in both hydroperoxides. The initiating activity order and activation energy for the polymerization were as follows: Co(acac)₂–DOX HPO (E_a-9.3 kcal/mole) > Co (acac)₃–DOX HPO (E_a = 12.4 kcal/mole) > Co(acac)₂–t-Bu HPO (E_a = 15.1 kcal/mole) > Co(acac)₃–t-Bu HPO (E_a-18.5 kcal/mole). The effects of conversion and hydroperoxide concentration on the degree of polymerization were also examined. The kinetic data on the decomposition of hydroperoxides catalyzed by cobalt salts gave a little information for the interpretation of polymerization process.     

Determination of lipids and their oxidation products by IR spectrometry

We proposed a procedure for the IR spectrometric determination of lipid hydroperoxides in biological systems. The main bands in the IR absorption spectra of linoleic acid and its hydroperoxide were identified, and analytical bands suitable for the determination of both compounds in their mixtures were selected. It was demonstrated that tert-butyl hydroperoxide can be used as an external standard for determining fatty acid hydroperoxides. Using the external standard method (calibration curve) for tert-butyl hydroperoxides, we calculated the concentration of linoleic acid hydroperoxide in its mixture with linoleic acid; it agreed with the specified values. Using the developed procedure, we estimated the concentration of hydroperoxide groups in natural cardiolipin. The results were compared to those obtained by an independent method (activated chemiluminescence).     

Modelization of photocatalyzed oxidation of polyolefins. II. ZnO and TiO2 photocatalyzed decomposition of tert-butyl hydroperoxide and atactic polypropylene hydroperoxides

Direct evidence of the TiO₂ and ZnO photocatalytic decomposition of tert-butyl hydroperoxide and atactic polypropylene hydroperoxides in solution is reported. Molecular and macromolecular hydroperoxides behaved similarly. Untreated TiO₂ in the rutile form was a far more efficient photocatalyst than ZnO in solution; the photoactivities of both pigments were limited on preferential absorption sites. In the solid state no preferential reaction sites were observed. When added to preoxidized atactic polypropylene both pigments were photocatalysts of the formation of macromolecular hydroperoxides and of their decomposition. The photoreactivities of untreated TiO₂ and ZnO varied less than in solution.     

The n.m.r. of paramagnetic complexes of vanadyl acetylacetonate with organic phosphites and hydroperoxides

The vanadium IV ion in vanadyl acetylacetonate (V^IV) forms labile paramagnetic complexes with organic phosphites in the first coordination sphere. The enthalpy of complex formation between V^IV and triphenyl phosphite was 2.6 kcal mol^?1. Complex formation enthalpies ΔH and the activation energies E of ligand (hydroperoxide) escape from the metal ion sphere were determined from the temperature dependence of paramagnetic broadening of the n.m.r. lines of hydroperoxides in the presence of vanadyl acetylacetonate. At low temperatures the phosphite sharply weakens the bond between the metal ion and hydroperoxide in the second coordination sphere (ΔH decreases fivefold). Taken in excess, phosphite displaces the hydroperoxide molecules from the coordination sphere of the V^IV ion and thus blocks it. The observed n.m.r. characteristics of the paramagnetic complexes explain, on the model level, the kinetic regularities of the reaction of hydroperoxides with phosphite catalysed by transient metal ions.     

Photochemistry and Photobiology of Furocoumarin Hydroperoxides Derived from Imperatorin: Novel Intercalating Photo-Fenton Reagents for Oxidative DNA Modification by Hydroxyl Radicals*

Photochemical and photobiological properties of the im-peratorin-derived furocoumarin hydroperoxides la, la', 2a and 2a’have been investigated. Irradiation (350 nm) of the hydroperoxide 2a’afforded the alcohol 2b (2%), a diastereomeric mixture of the hydroxy epoxide 2c (40%; diastereomeric ratio = 80:20) and the epoxide 2d (8%). The formation of these products was rationalized in terms of homolysis of the hydroperoxide bond initiated by intramolecular energy transfer from the photoexcited furocoumarin chromophore. The quantum yields for the photolytic decomposition of hydroperoxides were estimated to be in the range of 0.03–0.85 and decreased in the order 2a ? 2a′? 1a′≥ 1a. The involvement of hydroxyl radicals in these reactions was established by trapping experiments with benzene and spectroscopic evidence was obtained by EPR spin trapping with 5,5-di-methylpyrroline-N-oxide. Fluorescence titration, DNA melting and linear dichroism studies of furocoumarins indicated that these compounds undergo efficient com-plexation and also intercalation into the DNA. The binding parameters K (intrinsic binding constant) and l/n (frequency of binding sites) of complexes between furocoumarin derivatives and DNA were determined to be in the range of 3900–23 900 M-^l and 0.017–0.045. The pho-toreaction of la’and lb’with 2′-deoxyguanosine (dGuo) afforded exclusively 7,8-dihydro-8-oxo-2′-deoxy-guanosine (8-oxodGuo), presumably through singlet oxygen, which was formed in a type II photooxidation process. In contrast, the hydroperoxide 2a oxidized dGuo to oxazo-lone as major and 8-oxodGuo as minor products through hydroxyl radicals, which were generated from 2a under photolytic conditions. Interestingly, the photoreactions of furocoumarins with salmon testes DNA showed that the highly reactive (φ= 0.85) hydroperoxide 2a is also most efficient in inducing the mutagenic DNA oxidation product 8-oxodGuo. Hence, the novel furocoumarin hydroperoxide 2a constitutes the first intercalating photo-Fen-ton reagent and serves as convenient hydroxyl radical source for genotoxicity studies.     

Synthesis and thermal properties of azo-peroxyesters

Abstract  

New azo-perester derivatives of tert-butyl and tert-amyl hydroperoxides were obtained in reactions of azo acid chlorides with hydroperoxides in the presence of an inorganic base. Obtained azo-peresters possess two kinds of the labile functional groups: the azo group and also the perester group. The data from DSC experiments indicate that in the case of azo-perester derivatives of tert-amyl hydroperoxide, the perester group decomposes at a somewhat lower temperature than in the case of tert-butyl derivatives, whereas azo groups decompose at somewhat higher temperature in the case of derivatives with tert-amyl substituent.     

Photo-stabilising action of metal chelates in polypropylene—Part II: Photolysis versus photo-sensitised oxidation under monochromatic irradiation

The photo-stabilising action of three metal chelates in unprocessed and processed polypropylene is examined using normal and second order derivative ultraviolet and infra-red spectroscopic techniques and hydroperoxide analysis. The effects of photolysis with 254 nm light versus photo-sensitised oxidation with 365 nm light are compared. For each exposure condition the rate of carbonyl formation in the polymer is compared with the rate of decomposition of the metal complex. On photolysis, carbonyl growth commences well before the complete destruction of the complexes and none offers protection to the polymer. In fact, all three chelates behave as photo-sensitisers, indicating that stabiliser photolysis products are photo-active. On photo-sensitised oxidation, while the initial hydroperoxide concentration appears to control the onset of carbonyl growth in the polymer, the rate of decomposition of the complexes shows no dependence on hydroperoxide concentration. Solution experiments indicate that there are no dark reactions with hydroperoxides apart from one of the nickel chelates (Cyasorb UV 1084) at high concentrations (～ 10^?2m) only. Essentially, the metal chelates operate by scavenging macroalkyl radical species (P·) and not alkoxy (PO·) and hydroxy radicals (·OH) during photo-oxidation. They also inhibit hydroperoxide formation during processing and one of the nickel chelates (UV 1084) gives products during the early stages of photo-oxidation which appear to operate as effective stabilisers.     

Polymerization of aromatic olefins in the system liquid sulfur dioxide–percompounds: The nature of the initiation

Indene, α-methylstyrene, and styrene were polymerized in liquid sulfur dioxide in the presence of hydroperoxides and peracids. With indene, depending on the molar ratio of the monomer to sulfur dioxide, homopolymerization and polysulfone formation could be observed. With α-methylstyrene spontaneous polymerization in liquid sulfur dioxide was observed; the addition of hydroperoxide increased the yield and molecular weight. Styrene was polymerized in this solvent with hydroperoxides and peracids, the latter being a more effective initiator. The initiation in these systems could be explained by the formation of a mixed anhydride between sulfuric acid and m-chlorobenzoic acid.     

Interaction of inorganic salts with polar polymers. I. Physical properties of phenoxy–calcium thiocyanate mixtures

Calcium thiocyanate is appreciably soluble in “Phenoxy” polymer. Solutions of this salt have significantly different physical properties compared to the pure polymer. The glass-transition temperature T_g is increased, and the kinetics of the glass transition are affected. The melt viscosity and its temperature dependence are increased. The viscosity changes are predicted from the changes in T_g and thermal expansion coefficients, in contrast to ionomers, in which clustering or domain formation cause viscosity to increase. Mechanical properties of the glassy polymers are also affected by the presence of dissolved salt. The most striking effect is an increased resistance to stress cracking by polar organic liquids. This may be related to the T_g increase, or to changes in solubility parameter, as indicated by insolubility of the salt solutions in solvents for the pure polymer. Increased water sorption and electrical conductivity are also results of salt incorporation.     

Use of 9,10-diphenylanthracene as a contrast agent in chemiluminescence imaging: The observation of spreading of oxidative degradation in thin polypropylene films

Thin films of polypropylene were doped with a chemiluminescence (CL) activator, 9,10-diphenylanthracene (DPA), and were thermally oxidised in a CL imaging apparatus to determine whether heterogeneous oxidation processes such as spreading of oxidation could be observed. The presence of DPA resulted in significantly more intense CL images compared with undoped polymer, due to the efficient chemically induced electron exchange luminescence reaction between DPA and hydroperoxides. Hence, the CL images from DPA-doped PP were used to locate the position of hydroperoxides in the oxidising polymer. For thermal oxidation at 150 and 140 °C hydroperoxides were observed to form in localised regions of the films, whilst other areas remained hydroperoxide free. As the oxidation time increased the concentration of hydroperoxides in these areas increased and they were observed to spread to the remainder of the polymer. Time-resolved line maps from the images indicated that zones with high concentration of hydroperoxides travel through the polymer during oxidation. Integrals of CL images from the thermal oxidation of DPA-doped polymers indicated that a significant degree of oxidation had occurred by the end of the “induction period” for a conventional CL-intensity oxidation-time profile. This is a likely reason why spreading of oxidation has not previously been observed for undoped PP films.     

Sulfur compounds as synergistic antioxidants

The decomposition of tert-butyl, cumyl, and polypropylene hydroperoxides catalyzed by SO₂, H₂SO₄, dilauryl thiodipropionate, metal dithiolenes, and metal dithiocarbamates were studied. The principal reaction pathways leading to different products, which depend on the nature of the hydroperoxide and the sulfur compounds, were discussed. Even though metal dithiolenes are remarkable hydroperoxide decomposers, they are prooxidants for polymers under accelerated aging conditions. This is attributed to the instability of the peroxy radical-metal dithiolene complex intermediates. Expressions for optimum composition for each component of a synergistic antioxidant system have been derived.     

Synthesis and thermal properties of azo-peroxyesters

Abstract  New azo-perester derivatives of tert-butyl and tert-amyl hydroperoxides were obtained in reactions of azo acid chlorides with hydroperoxides in the presence of an inorganic base. Obtained azo-peresters possess two kinds of the labile functional groups: the azo group and also the perester group. The data from DSC experiments indicate that in the case of azo-perester derivatives of tert-amyl hydroperoxide, the perester group decomposes at a somewhat lower temperature than in the case of tert-butyl derivatives, whereas azo groups decompose at somewhat higher temperature in the case of derivatives with tert-amyl substituent. Graphical abstract        

Simultaneous Determination of Hydrogen Peroxide and Organic Hydroperoxides in Water

The kinetics of the reactions of H 2 O 2 and of methyl, ethyl, tert -butyl, and cumene hydroperoxides with I m were investigated in the presence and absence of molybdate as catalyst. These results were utilized to develop an analytical method for the simultaneous determination of H 2 O 2 and organic hydroperoxides in aqueous solutions. The total amount of H 2 O 2 and organic hydroperoxides can be determined by the spectrophotometric measurement of $ {\rm I}_3^ - $ formed quantitatively during 30 min of heating at 60°C. Catalase selectively decomposes H 2 O 2 in solutions containing organic hydroperoxides. The total amount of the latter can therefore be determined iodometrically after H 2 O 2 decomposition. In the oxidation of leuco crystal violet to crystal violet by H 2 O 2 and organic hydroperoxides, horseradish peroxidase exerts similar activities in the reactions involving methyl and ethyl hydroperoxides and H 2 O 2 , but its activity is much lower with tert -butyl and cumene hydroperoxide. It was observed that acetate buffer is unsuitable for pH adjustment in this type of hydroperoxide determination in consequence of the slow oxidation of the dye in the blank solution.