Anionic Polymerization and Copolymerization of Hydrocarbon Monomers Catalyzed by Organobarium Initiators

The barium salt of the dimeric dianion of 1,1-diphenylethylene (Ba-DPhE) initiates polymerization and copolymerization of monomers capable of anionic polymerization (butadiene, isoprene, styrene) in ethereal and hydrocarbon solvents. Ba-DPhE is more stereospecific in butadiene polymerization (up to 70% of cis-1, 4-units in hydrocarbon medium) than initiators based on other metals of Groups I and II. The relative reactivity of monomers in copolymerization processes in THF decreases in an order typical for anionic polymerization: styrene > butadiene > isoprene. The most interesting feature of organobarium initiators is their ability to form random butadiene-styrene copolymers with high cis-1,4-butadiene unit content when copolymerization proceeds in a hydrocarbon medium.

A new phenomenon in anionic polymerization, the dependence of diene units structure on copolymer composition, was observed. Thus an increase of styrene content in butadienestyrene copolymer leads to conversion of cis-1,4-butadiene units into trans-1,4-units (in benzene) or to conversion of 1,4-units to 1,2-units (in THF). Similarly, an increase of butadiene content in its copolymer with isoprene (in benzene) leads to conversion of cis-1,4-isoprene units into trans-1,4-units.

Spectrophotometric, conductometric, and viscometric methods were used to study organobarium active centers. Certain anomalies connected with the formation of specific aggregates due to coupling of bifunctional hydrocarbon chains with bivalent counterions were observed.