Polymerization of neat 2‐ethylhexyl acrylate induced by a pulsed electron beam

The bulk polymerization of 2‐ethylhexyl acrylate (2‐EHA), induced by a pulsed electron beam, was investigated with pulse radiolysis, gravimetry, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The roles of the dose rate, pulse frequency, and added acrylic acid (AA) in the polymerization of 2‐EHA were examined at ambient temperature. In the range of 12.6–71.2 Gy/pulse, the polymerization of 2‐EHA was dose‐rate‐dependent: at the same total dose, a lower dose rate yielded a higher conversion. Also, a lower pulse rate gave a higher conversion at the same total dose. The addition of up to 10 wt % AA showed no increase in the conversion of 2‐EHA at a low conversion (8 kGy), but at a higher conversion (16 kGy), a 20 wt % increase in the conversion of 2‐EHA was observed. The estimated values (1.6 ± 0.3) × 10^?3 (dm³ s)^3/2 mol^?1 s^?1/2 for k_p(G/2k_t)^1/2 and 2.6 ± 0.8 dm³ s J^?1 for 2k_tG (where k_p is the rate constant of propagation, k_t is the rate constant of bimolecular termination, and G is the yield of free radicals) were obtained at relatively low conversions. The reaction rate constant of the addition of 2‐EHA^· free radicals to the monomer was measured by pulse radiolysis and found to be 2.8 × 10² mol^?1 dm³ s^?1. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 196–203, 2003     

The effect of organic nitriles on the radiation induced polymerization of styrene

The effect of a range of 10 organic nitriles on the radiation-induced polymerization of styrene was studied. A dose rate of 4.4 rad s^?1 was used. A rate of polymerization of styrene (1.744 mol L^?1 of toluene solution) of 5.0 × 10^?7 mol L^?1 s^?1 was found. With organic nitriles present (styrene:nitrile ratio of 1:0.28) the rate of polymerization increased. Rates in the range of 5.5 × 10^?7 ?5.2 × 10^?6 mol L^?1 s^?1, depending on the nitrile present, were obtained. The polymers were partially characterized and evidence of involvement of each of the nitriles in the polymer chains was revealed. The increase in rate of polymerization has been attributed to the part played by nitrile radicals in the initiation of styrene polymerization. Radical yield values [as G(nitrile radical)] were derived from the relevant rate expressions. Values ranged from 2.7 to 49.5, depending on the particular nitrile. Corresponding values of G(nitrile radical) in the range of 5.1–129.4 were obtained by the manipulation of number-average molar mass data. Values of k_pk_t of approximately 2 × 10^?5 L mol^?1 s^?1 were found. Trommsdorff types of effect are absent from these systems.     

Electrosynthesis of Poly(azure B) from Sulfuric Acid Solution

Electrochemical polymerization of azure B from sulfuric acid solution was carried out by using cyclic voltammetry. The electrolytic solution consisted of 5.0 mmol · dm^?3 azure B and 0.3 mol · dm^?3 H₂SO₄. The temperature for polymerization was controlled at 20°C. A blue film, i.e., poly(azure B) was formed on a platinum foil and had a electrochemical reversibility, stability and a fast charge transfer ability in the 0.5 mol · dm^?3 Na₂SO₄ with pH ≤4.0 solution. The currents of both anodic and cathodic peaks are proportional to υ^1/2 at the scan rate (υ) region of 25 and 600 mV · s^?1 on the cyclic voltammograms. The conductivity of poly(azure B) is 2.8×10^?6 S · cm^?1 at 20°C. The UV‐visible spectrum and Raman spectrum of the polymer are different from those of the monomer. A possible polymerization mechanism of azure B was also proposed.     

Reaktionen der H-Radikale mit aromatischen Halogenverbindungen in wäßriger Lösung

The spectroscopic and kinetic data of the short lived intermediates obtained by the attack of H-radicals on fluoro-, chloro-, bromobenzene, benzylchloride and phenethylchloride in aqueous solutions were studied by pulse radiolysis technique. The first three yield cyclohexadienylradicals (k=1–1.5×10⁹ dm³ mol^?1 s^?1) with characteristic absorption maxima in the region 220–330 nm. In the case of benzylchloride a quantitative abstraction of chlorine by the H-atoms is observed (k=9.5×10⁸ dm³ mol^?1 s^?1) leading to the formation of the benzylradical (λ_max=257, 303, 317.5nm). The attack of H-atoms on phenethylchloride can occur on the aromatic ring forming also a cyclohexadienylradical (k=2.0×10⁹ dm³ mol^?1 s^?1, λ_max=317, 323nm) as well as on the side chain (k=1.5×10⁸ dm³ mol^?1 s^?1) yielding H₂. The intermediates decay according to a second order reaction withk=2 to 4.6×10⁹ dm³ mol^?1 s^?1. To elucidate reaction mechanisms, steady state radiolysis experiments on the same systems were performed.     

Kinetic model of reversible addition‐fragmentation chain transfer polymerization in microemulsions

A simplified kinetic model for RAFT microemulsion polymerization has been developed to facilitate the investigation of the effects of slow fragmentation of the intermediate macro‐RAFT radical, termination reactions, and diffusion rate of the chain transfer agent to the locus of polymerization on the control of the polymerization and the rate of monomer conversion. This simplified model captures the experimentally observed decrease in the rate of polymerization, and the shift of the rate maximum to conversions less than the 39% conversion predicted by the Morgan model for uncontrolled microemulsion polymerizations. The model shows that the short, but finite, lifetime of the intermediate macro‐RAFT radical (1.3 × 10^?4–1.3 × 10^?2 s) causes the observed rate retardation in RAFT microemulsion polymerizations of butyl acrylate with the chain transfer agent methyl‐2‐(O‐ethylxanthyl)propionate. The calculated magnitude of the fragmentation rate constant (k_f = 4.0 × 10¹–4.0 × 10³ s^?1) is greater than the literature values for bulk RAFT polymerizations that only consider slow fragmentation of the macro‐RAFT radical and not termination (k_f = 10^?2 s^?1). This is consistent with the finding that slow fragmentation promotes biradical termination in RAFT microemulsion polymerizations. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 604–613, 2010     

Free‐radical copolymerization of styrene and m‐isopropenyl‐α,α′‐dimethylbenzyl isocyanate studied by 1H NMR kinetic experiments

The free‐radical copolymerization of m‐isopropenyl‐α,α′‐dimethylbenzyl isocyanate (TMI) and styrene was studied with ¹H NMR kinetic experiments at 70 °C. Monomer conversion vs time data were used to determine the ratio k_p × k_t^?0.5 for various comonomer mixture compositions (where k_p is the propagation rate coefficient and k_t is the termination rate coefficient). The ratio k_p × k_t^?0.5 varied from 25.9 × 10^?3 L^0.5 mol^?0.5 s^?0.5 for pure styrene to 2.03 × 10^?3 L^0.5 mol^?0.5 s^?0.5 for 73 mol % TMI, indicating a significant decrease in the rate of polymerization with increasing TMI content in the reaction mixture. Traces of the individual monomer conversion versus time were used to map out the comonomer mixture composition drift up to overall monomer conversions of 35%. Within this conversion range, a slight but significant depletion of styrene in the monomer feed was observed. This depletion became more pronounced at higher levels of TMI in the initial comonomer mixture. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 1064–1074, 2002     

The Polymerization of Free Enols with Electron-Deficient Comonomers

Abstract

The balance between kinetics and thermodynamics is illustrated herein by the first direct polymerization of vinyl alcohol, the thermodynamically unstable tautomer of acetaldehyde, at a rate faster than it can tautomerize. Vinyl alcohol was formed through the acid catalyzed hydrolysis of ketene methyl vinyl acetal. With excess water present, the kinetics of tautomerization first order dependence upon vinyl alcohol (k_obs = 2.73 × 10^?4 s^?1). Under water starved conditions, however, the kinetics now show a zero order dependence upon the concentration of vinyl alcohol (k_obs = 3.5 × 10^?6 M/s). Under these latter conditions, the half life of vinyl alcohol is nearly 24 hours at room temperature. Although cationic and homo free radical polymerization of vinyl alcohol failed, we found that this meta-stable species could be quantitatively polymerized in a copolymerization (AIBN, hυ, -10 to 25°C) with maleic anhydride. The k_obs for copolymerization was found to be 4.41 × 10^?4 sec^?1 at ?10°C. Since the rate of polymerization is far greater than that of tautomerization under these conditions (ca. 30 times faster at ?10°C), there is no significant increase in acetaldehyde concentration during polymerization.     

Pulse radiolysis studies of intermolecular charge transfers involving tryptophan and three-electron-bonded intermediates derived from methionine

The oxidation processes of the radiation-generated, three-electron-bonded intermediates AcMet₂ [S??S]⁺ and AcMet [S??Br] were investigated by pulse radiolysis via their reactions with tryptophan (TrpH). These intermediates were derived from N-acetyl-methionine amide (N-AcMetNH₂) and N-acetyl-methionine methyl ester (N-AcMetOMe). The bimolecular rate constant k of the reaction between each intermediate and l-tryptophan (TrpH) was measured. For N-AcMetNH₂, k for the reaction of AcMet₂ [S??S]⁺ with TrpH were 3.4?×?10⁸ and 2.2?×?10⁸?dm³?mol^?1?s^?1 at pH?=?1 and 4.5, respectively. For N-AcMetOMe, k for the reaction of AcMet₂ [S??S]⁺ with TrpH were 4.0?×?10⁸ and 2.8?×?10⁸?dm³?mol^?1?s^?1 at pH 1 and 4.5, respectively. The rate constants for the intermolecular transformation of Met [S??Br] into TrpH⁺ or Trp were also estimated. For N-AcMetNH₂, k for the reaction of AcMet₂ [S??Br] with TrpH were 2.6?×?10⁸ and 3.3?×?10⁸?dm³?mol^?1?s^?1 at pH 1 and 4.5, respectively. Related mechanisms were discussed.     

Molecular weight distribution studies. I. Radiation-induced polymerization of liquid α-methylstyrene

The concentration of water in purified and BaO-dried α-methylstyrene was found to be 1.1 × 10^?4M. The radiation-induced bulk polymerization of the α-methylstyrene thus prepared was studied in the temperature range of ?20°C to 35°C. The polymerization rate varied as the 0.55 power of the dose rate. The theoretical molecular weights and molecular weight distribution were calculated from a proposed kinetic scheme and these values were then compared with those found experimentally. The agreement between these two was reasonably close, and therefore it was concluded that, from the molecular weight distribution point of view, the proposed kinetic scheme for the cationic polymerization of α-methylstyrene is an acceptable one. The rate constant for chain transfer to monomer k_f changed with temperature and was found to be responsible for the decrease in the molecular weight of the polymer with increase in temperature. k_f and k_p at 20°C were found to be 0.95 × 10⁴ l./mole-sec and 0.99 × 10⁶ l./mole-sec, respectively.     

Spectrocoulometric study of the hydrolysis of the tris (1,10-phenanthroline)iron(III) complex ion

The spectrocoulometric technique reported earlier is applied to verify the mechanism and to evaluate the contributions k_Bi of the individual bases to the total rate constant k of the hydrolysis of the tris (1,10-phenanthroline) iron(III) complex, Fe (phen)³⁺₃. Both normal and “open-circuit” spectrocoulometric experiments are used. Partial rate constants for four bases in the acetate-buffered solutions are k_H2O=(3.4±1.2) × 10^?4s^?1 (k_H2O includes the H₂O concentration), k_OH=(1.20±0.06)×10⁷ mol^?1dm³s^?1, k_phen=(1.4±0.2) mol^?1dm³s^?1, k_Ac=(3.8±0.3)×10^?2 mol^?1dm³s^?1, at 25°C and ionic strength 0.5 mol dm^?3. The Fe(phen)³⁺³ hydrolysis, with (phen)₂ (H₂O) Fe-O-Fe (H₂O) (phen)⁴⁺² formation, is first order with respect to Fe (phen)³⁺³ and the bases present in the solution. The rate-determining step in the hydrolysis is the entry of a base to the coordinating sphere of the complex, as in the hydrolysis of the analogous 2,2′-bipyridyl complex.     

Cerium (IV)-2-chloroethanol redox-pair initiated polymerization of acrylamide in aqueous medium

The kinetics of acrylamide polymerization has been investigated by employing cericammoniumnitrate-2-chloroethanol redox pair under nitrogen atmosphere at 30 ± 1°C. The rate of monomer disappearance is directly proportional to the concentration of 2-chloroethanol (1.0 × 10^?2 ? 10.0 × 10^?2 mol. dm^?3) and is inversely proportional to the ceric ion concentration (2.5 × 10^?3 ? 10.0 × 10^?3 mol. dm^?3) but shows square dependence to the concentration of monomer (5.0 × 10^?2 ? 25.0 × 10^?2 mol. dm^?3). The rate of ceric ion disappearance is directly proportional to the initial concentration of ceric ion and 2-chloroethanol but independent of acrylamide concentration. The viscometric average molecular weight (M _v) decreases on increasing the concentration of ceric ion and increases on increasing the concentrations of acrylamide and 2-chloroethanol. A tentative mechanism has been proposed.     

Aspects of the radiation-induced polymerization of 2-vinyl anthraquinone

2-Vinyl anthraquinone has been polymerized, via radiation-induced initiation, in dimethyl-sulphoxide and in dichloromethane. Solvent to monomer ratios of 1 : 0.030 to 1 : 0.0167 mol have been examined for dose rates in the range 0.035 to 0.129 Gy s^?1 and exposure times in the range 1.44 × 10⁴ to 4.32 × 10⁶ s. Rates of polymerization were found to lie in the range from 2.4 × 10^?8 to 1.92 × 10^?6 mol L^?1 s^?1. Values for the chain transfer constant to dimethyl-sulphoxide and to dichloromethane have been calculated. In addition, values of the kinetic ratio k/k_t, for the polymerization of 2-vinyl anthraquinone have been estimated. The dependence of R_p on the monomer concentration and on the radiation intensity have been shown to be in broad agreement with a simplified steady-state kinetic scheme. A value of G(radical) for 2-vinyl anthraquinone was obtained via electron spin resonance studies, and shown to be 0.24. This G(radical) value and those obtained indirectly from kinetic data are discussed in relation to the molar mass values obtained from the poly(2-vinyl anthraquinone) products.     

The rate constants for the reaction of the hydroxyl radical with methyl,n-propyl,and n-butyl nitrites

The kinetics of the reaction of OH radicals with methyl, n-propyl, and n-butyl nitrite have been studied in a discharge flow system under pseudo first-order conditions. The OH radicals were generated by the reaction of H atoms with NO₂ and the concentration of OH; monitored by resonance fluorescence, was followed as a function of time in an excess of each nitrite. Values of k(CH₃ONO) = (0.6 ± 0.09) × 10⁹ dm³ mol^?1 s^?1 k(n – C₃H₇ONO) = (1.39 ± 0.20) × 10⁹ dm³ mol^?1 s^?1, and k(n – C₄H₉ONO) = (2.89 ± 0.43) × 10⁹ dm³ mol^?1 s^?1 at 295 K were obtained. These results agree with previous relative rate measurements from this laboratory but the value for k (CH₃ONO) is a factor of 7 greater than the value obtained by relative rate measurements elsewhere using a different OH source.     

Use of samarium (III) acetate as initiator in ring-opening polymerization of trimethylene carbonate

Abstract

In this work was evaluated the activity of samarium acetate (III) (Sm(OAc)₃) as a possible initiator in the polymerization by ring opening of trimethylene carbonate (TMC). All polymerizations were carried out under solvent-free melt conditions in ampoules-like flasks, equipped with a magnetic stirrer. The effects of different parameters of reaction, such as molar ratio monomer to initiator, temperature and reaction time, on typical variables of polymers, e.g., conversion of TMC to poly(trimethylene carbonate) (PTMC), dispersity and molar mass, were analyzed. The molar ratio of monomer to initiator was varied between 0 and 1000?mol/mol and the temperature among 70 and 150?°C. Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (¹H-NMR and HMBC) and Size Exclusion Chromatography (SEC) were used to characterize the polymers. The results indicate that the Sm(OAc)₃ induces the polymerization of TMC to high conversion with number-average molecular weights of 3.11?×?10³ to 38.40?×?10³?Da. Based on the ¹H-NMR end-group analysis of low-molecular-weight PTMC, it was proposed a coordination–insertion mechanism for the polymerization, with a breakdown of the acyl-oxygen bond of the TMC. In according to the kinetic study carried out, the polymerization rate is first-order with respect to monomer concentration with apparent rate constants of k_ap?=?7.02?×?10^?4?mol?×?L^?1?×?h^?1.     

Synthesis and kinetic analysis of DPE controlled radical polymerization of MMA

The 1,1‐diphenylethene (DPE) controlled radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate was performed at 80 °C by using AIBN as an initiator and DPE as a control agent. It was found that the molecular weight of polymer remained constant with monomer conversion throughout the polymerization regardless of the amounts of DPE and initiator in formulation. To understand the result of constant molecular weight of living polymers in DPE controlled radical polymerization, a living kinetic model was established in this research to evaluate all the rate constants involved in the DPE mechanism. The rate constant k₂, corresponding to the reactivation reaction of the DPE capped dormant chains, was found to be very small at 80 °C (1 × 10^?5 s^?1), that accounted for the result of constant molecular weight of polymers throughout the polymerization, analogous to a traditional free radical polymerization system that polymer chains were terminated by chain transfer. The polydispersity index (PDI) of living polymers was well controlled <1.5. The low PDI of obtained living polymers was due to the fact that the rate of growing chains capped by DPE was comparable with the rate of propagation. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2009     

Kinetics of the photoaquation of Hexacyanoferrate(II) ion

Kinetics of the photoaquation of hexacyanoferrate(II) ion in aqueous solution were studied potentiometrically and spectrophotometrically. Supposing the simplest mechanism (see Fig. 3. in text), the photoaquation in alkaline medium can be well described. The value of the constants at pH = ll.0 are: ø = 0.8-1.0, k₆ = (3.0 ± 0.5) × 10^?8 s^?1 and k_?6 = 1.5 ± 0.2 mol^?1 dm₃ s^?1. To describe the photoaquation in neutral medium t was extended (k′ = 3.33 x 10² mol^?1 dm³s^?1). The quantum yield in acidic medium can be calculated by combination of ø values of different protonated complexes. The reversibility of photoaquation in alkaline medium is also explained by the scheme.     

Catalytic Adsorptive Stripping Voltammetry of Molybdenum: Redox Kinetic Measurements

The electrode mechanism of Mo(VI) reduction was studied under catalytic adsorptive stripping mode by means of square‐wave voltammetry (SWV). Mo(VI) creates a stable surface active complex with mandelic acid. The electrode reaction of Mo(VI)‐mandelic acid system undergoes as one‐electron reduction, exhibiting properties of a surface electrode process. In the presence of chlorate, bromate, and hydrogen peroxide, the electrode reaction is transposed into a catalytic mechanism. The experimental results are compared with the recent theory for surface catalytic reaction, enabling qualitative characterization of the electrode mechanism in the presence of different catalytic agents. Utilizing both the method of “split SW peaks” and “quasireversible maximum” the standard redox rate constant of Mo(VI)‐mandelic acid system was estimates as k_s=150±5 s^?1. By fitting the experimental and theoretical results, the following catalytic rate constants have been estimated: (8.0±0.5)×10⁴ mol^?1 dm³ s^?1, (1.0±0.1)×10⁵ mol^?1 dm³ s^?1, and (3.2±0.1)×10⁶ mol^?1 dm³ s^?1, for hydrogen peroxide, chlorate, and bromate, respectively.     

Magnesium chloride supported high mileage catalysts for olefin (decene-l) polymerization XIV. Propagation and chain transfer

Decene-l was polymerized with the MgCl₂/ethylebenzoate/p-cresol/AIEt₃/TiCl₄-AlEt₃/methyl-p-toluate catalyst at 50° using an A/T ratio of 167 and a range of monomer concentration. The concentration of the two kinds of active sites are [Ti] = 12% and [Ti] = 4% of the total titanium. The rate constants of propagation are 24 M^?1 s^?1. Chain transfers to AIEt₃, monomer, and by β-hydride elimination have rate constant values of 1.7 × 10^?3 M^?1 s^?1, 1.34 × 10^?2 M^?1 s^?1, and 1.7 × 10^?2 s^?1, respectively. Poly(decene-l) have relatively narrow MW which are unchanged during the course of a polymerization. Therefore, the active site concentrations in the CW catalyst for propylene and decene polymerization are identical and their rate constant values agree within a factor of 2. However, the rate of decene polymerization depends on fractional order of monomer concentration and decreases with the increase of activator concentration. Furthermore, the formation of metal polymer bonds has a rate independent of these concentrations. These kinetic behaviors are a manifestation of absorption processes of these species which are not seen in propylene polymerizations.     

Polymerization of diallyl phthalate in solution by γ-radiation

The polymerization of diallyl phthalate has been studied in two solvents, benzene (G_Radical = 0.7) and chloroform (G_R = 11.2), γ-radiation being used to investigate the effect of the solvent on the rates of polymerization and also chain transfer to the solvent. Kinetic analysis shows that in benzene solution the initiating species come almost exclusively from the monomer, but in chloroform they arise only from the solvent. The latter was further confirmed from the chlorine analysis of the polymer wherein chloroform appears to have telomerized with diallyl phthalate. In neither of the solvents was high molecular weight polymer obtained. The k_p/k_t^1/2 for the polymerization of DAP was found to be 3.3 × 10^?4 and 1.17 × 10^?3 in benzene and chloroform solutions, respectively. The chain-transfer constant C_S was 11.25 × 10^?3 and 9.75 × 10^?3 for benzene and chloroform, respectively.     

Olefin copolymerization with metallocene catalysts. II. Kinetics,cocatalyst, and additives

The kinetics of ethylene/propylene copolymerization catalyzed by (ethylene bis (indeyl)-ZrCI₂/methylaluminoxane) has been investigated. Radiolabeling found about 80% of the Zr to be catalytically active. The estimates for rate constants at 50°C are k₁₁ = 1104 (M_s)^?1, k₁₂ = 430 (M_s)^?1, k₂₂ = 396 (M_s)^?1,k₂₁ = 1020 (M_s)^?1, and k^A_tr,1 + k^A_tr.2 = 1.9 × 10^?3 s^?1. Substitution of trimethylaluminum for methylaluminoxane resulted in proportionate decrease in polymerization rate. The molecular weight of the copolymer is slightly increased by loweing the [Al]/[Zr] ratio, or addition of Lewis base modifier but at the expense of lowered catalytic activity and increase in ethylene content in the copolymer. Lowering of the polymerization temperature to 0°C resulted in a doubling of molecular weight but suffered 10-fold reduction in polymerization activity and increase of ethylene in copolymer.