Polymerization of hexamethylcyclotrisiloxane with a biscatecholsiliconate. II. Kinetics of polymerization

The kinetics of polymerization were investigated for the polymerization of hexamethylcyclotrisiloxane (D₃) in toluene with methanol or water as an initiator, benzyltrimethylammonium bis(o-phenylenedioxy)phenylsiliconate as a catalyst, and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) as a promoter. The rate of initiation was found to be comparable with both water and methanol. Addition of catechol drastically reduces the rate of initiation. The rate of propagation was found to be dependent upon the catalyst, DMSO, catechol and the aging of the catalyst solution. Two types of functional groups were postulated to be present during the propagation reaction, i.e., ?SiOH (dormant form) and ?SiONR₄ (living form). The former can be converted to the latter by R₄NOH derived from hydrolysis of catalyst. A postulated mechanism of polymerization with biscatecholsiliconate is presented.     

The kinetics reaction of 1-chloro-2,3-epoxypropane with n-butyl and iso-butyl alcohols

The reactions of 1-chloro-2,3-epoxypropane with n-butyl and isobutyl alcohols and their 3-chloro-2-hydroxypropyl ethers, respectively, in the presence of boron fluoride diethyl etherate catalyst are of the first order with regard to 1-chloro-2,3-epoxypropane as well as to the catalyst. In the catalyst concentration range of 1.4 to 47.3 mmol/l., the participation of the catalyst in the reaction is incomplete. The mechanism of the reactions resembles S_N2 in regard to changes of activation entropy and influence of dielectric constant of the reaction medium upon the reaction rate. The established values of K (the ratio of propagation to initiation rates) are suitable for calculating the compositions of the adducts obtained. The experimentally obtained yields of 3-chloro-2-hydroxypropyl ethers of lower alcohols are compared with those calculated from the kinetically determined values of K.     

Kinetic study of ethylene polymerization with chromium oxide catalysts by a radiotracer technique

The quenching of polymerization with a chromium oxide catalyst by radioactive methanol ¹⁴CH₃OH enables one to determine the concentration of propagation centers and then to calculate the rate constant of the propagation. The dependence of the concentration of propagation centers and the polymerization rate on reaction time, ethylene concentration, and temperature was investigated. The change of the concentration of propagation centers with the duration of polymerization was found to be responsible for the time dependence of the overall polymerization rate. The propagation reaction is of first order on ethylene concentration in the pressure range 2–25 kg/cm². For catalysts of different composition, the temperature dependence of the overall polymerization rate and the propagation rate constant were determined, and the overall activation energy E_ov and activation energy of the propagation state E_p were calculated. The difference between E_ov and E_p is due to the change of the number of propagation centers with temperature. The variation of catalyst composition and preliminary reduction of the catalyst influence the shape of the temperature dependence of the propagation center concentration and change E_ov.     

Living cationic polymerization of isobutyl vinyl ether by EtAlCl2 in the presence of ether additives: Cyclic ethers,cyclic formals,and acyclic ethers with oxyethylene units

The living cationic polymerization of isobutyl vinyl ether (IBVE) was investigated in the presence of various cyclic and acyclic ethers with 1-(isobutoxy)ethyl acetate [CH₃CH(OiBu)OCOCH₃, 1 ]/EtAlCl₂ initiating system in hexane at 0°C. In particular, the effect of the basicity and steric hindrance of the ethers on the living nature and the polymerization rate was studied. The polymerization in the presence of a wide variety of cyclic ethers [tetrahydrofuran (THF), tetrahydropyran (THP), oxepane, 1,4-dioxane] and cyclic formals (1,3-dioxolane, 1,3-dioxane) gave living polymers with a very narrow molecular weight distribution (MWD) (M?_ω/M?_n ≤ 1.1). On the other hand, propylene oxide and oxetane additives resulted in no polymerization, whereas 1,3,5-trioxane gave the nonliving polymer with a broader MWD. The polymerization rates were dependent on the number of oxygen and ring sizes, which were related to the basicity and the steric hindrance. The order of the apparent polymerization rates in the presence of cyclic ether and formal additives was as follows: nonadditive ～ 1,3,5-trioxane ? 1,3-dioxane > 1,3-dioxolane ? 1,4-dioxane ? THP > oxepane ? THF ? oxetane, propylene oxide ? 0. The polymerization in the presence of the cyclic formals was much faster than that of the cyclic ethers: for example, the apparent propagation rate constant k in the presence of 1,3-dioxolane was 10³ times larger than that in the presence of THF. Another series of experiments showed that acyclic ethers with oxyethylene units were effective as additives for the living polymerization with 1 /EtAlCl₂ initiating system in hexane at 0°C. The polymers obtained in the presence of ethylene glycol diethyl ether and diethylene glycol diethyle ether had very narrow molecular weight distribution (M?_ω/M?_n ≤ 1.1), and the M?_n was directly proportional to the monomer conversion. The polymerization behavior was quite different in the polymerization rates and the MWD of the obtained polymers from that in the presence of diethyl ether. These results suggested the polydentate-type interaction or the alternate interaction of two or three ether oxygens in oxyethylene units with the propagating carbocation, to permit the living polymerization of IBVE. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Polymerization of 3,6-Dibromo-9-(2,3-Epoxypropyl)Carbazole with Lewis Acids

Abstract

The kinetics of polymerization of 3,6-dibromo-9-(2,3-epoxypro-pyl) carbazole with stannic chloride and boron trifluoride etherate were studied by a microcalorimetric technique. Complex kinetics of the polymerization rate were observed. A spontaneous increase of the reaction rate was recorded after it decreased and after polymerization for some time at the minimal rate. This effect is explained by a change in the mechanism of polymerization. At the high enough degree of conversion, transition from an active chain end mechanism to an activated monomer mechanism takes place.     

Ring-opening polymerization by N-heterocyclic carbenes as catalysts: Characteristics and kinetics

In this work catalytic ring-opening polymerization of cyclic esters in THF in the presence of benzyl alcohol is described. The polymerization is catalyzed by 1,3-bis(4-methoxyphenyl)imidazolium carbene, N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC). The ability of two different monomers, ?-caprolactone and L-lactide, to enter into the polymerization via ring-opening polymerization with NHCs as catalysts was evaluated. The plot of ln([M]₀/[M]_t) versus reaction time yielded a straight line indicating that the kinetics of polymerization of ?-caprolactone and L-lactide was first-order in monomer concentration. Moreover, a direct relation between the rate of ring-opening polymerization of ?-caprolactone and the catalyst concentration suggested a first-order dependence of the rate of polymerization on the catalyst concentration.     

Interchain exchange in the anionic polymerization of hydroxyalkyl (meth) acrylates

The kinetics of chain propagation and interchain exchange reactions in the anionic polymerization of 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate initiated by lithium tert-butylate were compared. The kinetic parameters of the reactions under consideration were determined. An abnormal ratio between the activation energies of chain propagation and interchain exchange was revealed and explained by the involvement of hydroxyl groups in changes of reactivities of double bonds and ester groups of the initial monomer, the resulting polymer, and the growing active centers of polymerization. The effect of self-inhibition of polymerization was observed and attributed to the fact that ethylene glycol and its alkoxy alcoholate occurring as H-bonded cyclic complexes form at the beginning of the reaction.     

Polymerization chemistry of the family of cyclic imino ethers

Characteristics of the polymerization mechanisms of the family of cyclic imino ethers are described. The variety of the mechanism of propagation has been systematized on the basis of the nature of propagating species, i.e., cationic or electrophilic covalent (dipole) species. In the polymerizations of 2-alkyl cyclic imino ethers (5- and 6-membered), propagation mechanism via one of these two different species has been established, which is dependent upon the relative nucleophilic reactivities of the monomer and the counter anion derived from initiator. The polymerization of cyclic pseudoureas having a cyclic amine substituent at 2-position proceeds in two different ways. Ionic propagation leads to the single isomerization/ring-opening polymerization involving only the cyclic imino ether ring. On the other hand, covalent propagation gives rise to the double isomerization ring-opening polymerization involving the two rings of cyclic imino ether and cyclic amine. Polymerization of 5-membered cyclic iminocarbonate with a sulfonate initiator proceeds through the isomerization/ring-opening of 2-oxazoline ring. The same monomer was isomerized to the corresponding cyclic urethane when it was treated with benzyl bromide.     

Cyclo- and Cyclized Diene Polymers. XIX. Polymerization of Butadiene with the C2H5AlCl2 + TiCl4 Catalyst

Abstract

The polymerization of butadiene with an EtAlCl₂-TiCl₄ catalyst system yields cyclopolybutadiene with varying amounts of trans-1, 4 units, depending upon the Al/Ti ratio and the solvent. Apparently different active centers are produced at Ti > Al and Al > Ti ratios. When the catalyst system has Ti > Al, there is a rapid decrease in the initial polymerization rate and the cyclopoly butadiene contains large amounts of methyl groups, 10–12% of trans-1, 4 units, 2–3% of 1, 2 units, and, when the polymerization is carried out in aromatic solvents, aromatic moieties are incorporated in the structure. When the catalyst system has Al > Ti, there is a very slow decrease of the initial polymerization rate, and the cyclopoly butadiene contains up to 40% of trans-1, 4 units, less than 1% of 1, 2 units, and methyl groups and solvent moieties are essentially absent even when the polymerization is carried out in aromatic solvents. Cocatalytic amounts of iodine greatly increase the initial rate of polymerization. The Ti > Al catalyst may promote 1, 3-cation-radical propagation with transoid monomer to yield a perhydrophenanthrene structure while the Al > Ti catalyst may promote 1,2 cation-radical propagation with cisoid monomer to yield a perhydroanthracene structure.     

Crown-Ether Phase-Transfer Catalysts for Reduction of Ketones,Oxidation of Olefins and Polymerization of p-Xylenedibromide

Various homogeneous and heterogeneous crown ether catalysts were prepared and applied as phase transfer catalysts for some reductions, oxidations and polymerizations. Among various crown ethers, 15-crown-5 seems the best to catalyze the reduction of ketones and aldehydes with sodium borohydride in nonpolar aprotic solvents. A granular entrapped 15-crown-5-polyacrylamide catalysts was also prepared and applied as a heterogeneous catalyst for these reductions which seem to obey pseudo-first-order kinetics with rate constant 10^?4–10⁵ s^?1. The steric effects of ketones and the effects of temperature and concentration of crown ethers, sodium borohydride and carbonyl compounds were also investigated. Among various crown ethers, 18-crown-6 is the best to catalyze the oxidation of olefins such as styrene, xylene and stilbene with potassium permanganate. Crown ethers were successfully applied as catalysts for anionic polymerization of p-xylenedibromide with sodium dithionite as an initiator.     

p-Chlorophenyldiazonium hexafluorophosphate as a catalyst in the polymerization of tetrahydrofuran and other cyclic ethers

p-Chlorophenyldiazonium hexafluorophosphate is shown to be a convenient and effective catalyst for initiating the polymerization of tetrahydrofuran (TH) and other cyclic ethers. The polymerizations apparently proceed without any significant termination or transfer reactions (i.e., “living” polymers result), and materials of very high molecular weight can be obtained. A mobile monomer-polymer equilibrium for THF was obtained during polymerization and equilibrium conversions were determined at a number of temperatures. The ceiling temperature derived from these data was 84°C., the heat of polymerization was ?4.58 kcal./mole and the corresponding entropy change was ? 17.7 cal./°C.-mole. Hydrocarbons are suitable inert solvents for these polymerizations, but concentrated solutions must be used at ambient temperatures in order to stay above the required equilibrium monomer conceiitration and also to dissolve the catalyst which is insoluble in hydrocarbons. It was shown that acyclic ethers act as transfer agents in these polymerizations and that transfer with consequent reduction of molecular weight continues even after monomer-polymer equilibrium is reached. Cyclic ethers do not act as transfer agents but only copolymerize. Trimethyl orthoformate was shown to be a particularly effective transfer agent; it resulted in a polymer with methoxy endgroups and produced methyl formate as a by-product. The data obtained are consistent with a mechanism involving initiation by hydrogen abstraction and polymerization via tertiary oxonium ions associated with PF^?₆ gegenions. This gegenion is thought to be responsible for the “living” nature of the system.     

Living cationic polymerization of vinyl monomers: Mechanism and synthesis of new polymers

This paper reviews the recent progress in our research on the living cationic polymerization of vinyl compounds by the hydrogen iodide/iodine (HI/I₂) initiating system, with emphasis on its scope, mechanism, and applications to new polymer synthesis. The scope of the living cationic polymerization has been expanded to include vinyl ethers, propenyl ethers, unsaturated cyclic ethers, and styrene derivatives as monomers. The initiation/propagation mechanism was discussed on the basis of recent direct analysis on the living system by NMR and UV/visible spectroscopy. The proposed mechanism involves a quantitative formation of Hl-vinyl ether adduct [CH₃-CH(OR)-I; l] that is by itself incapable of initiating polymerization. In the presence of iodine, however, the CH-I bond of l is electrophilically activated by iodine and living propagation occurs via the insertion of vinyl ether to the activated CH-I bond. Such living polymerizations were found to proceed in not only nonpolar but polar solvents (CH₂Cl₂) as well. Quenching the living end with amines gave polymers capped with an amino group that in turn enabled us to determine the living end concentration. Applications of the HI/I₂-initiated living process to the synthesis of new bifunctional and block polymers were also described.     

Cationic Polymerization of Cyclic Sulfides

Abstract

The mechanism of the cationic polymerization of several thietanes and of propylene sulfide under the influence of triethyloxonium tetrafluoroborate in methylene chloride is described. The thietane polymerizations stop at limited conversions because of a termination reaction occurring between the reactive chain ends (cyclic sulfonium salts) and the sulfur atoms of the polymer chain. The maximum conversions obtained under identical conditions differ markedly for the different monomers. Ratios of rate constants of propagation (k_p) to rate constants of termination (k_t) have been calculated. The differences in k _p/k_t. values for the different monomers are explained in terms of differences in basicity and differences in steric hindrance of the monomers compared to the corresponding polymers. In the case of propylene sulfide it is proposed that the main termination reaction is the formation of 12-membered ring sulfonium salts by an intramolecular reaction of the third sulfur of the growing polymer chain with the reactive chain end (three-membered ring sulfonium salt). This terminated polymer is able to reinitiate the polymerization, for example, by reaction of a monomer molecule at the exocyclic carbon atom of the sulfonium salt function. The cyclic tetramer of propylene sulfide is formed in this reaction. After complete polymerization, formation of cyclic tetramer continues, probably via a backbiting mechanism. In methylene chloride as solvent, the absolute value of the rate constant of propagation for 3,3-dimethylthietane changes with changing concentration of initiator and by adding different amounts of indifferent electrolyte to the reaction mixture. From these changes, and assuming that the value of the dissociation constant of the growing chain-ends is close to values of dissociation constants of low molecular weight sulfonium salts, separate rate constants for propagation via free ions and ion-pairs were calculated. The propagation constant of free ions is about 70 times higher than that of ion pairs in methylene chloride at 20°C. Free ions and ion pairs are nearly equally reactive in nitrobenzene.     

Kinetics of Ziegler propylene polymerization

Rate studies were done on the polymerization of propylene with the TiCl₃–diethyl aluminum chloride catalyst system. The polymerization is initially first-order with respect to propylene concentration. There is a rapid rate decline in the initial period, during which time the reaction becomes functionally second-order. A physical explanation for this behavior has been adapted from the Avrami equation for crystal growth kinetics. A yield equation was developed which fits experimental data closely. Rate correlations show that the initial rate is exponentially related to the TiCl₃/alkyl ratio. Water and other active hydrogen compounds reduce rate; hydrogen increases rate. A “bimetallic” mechanism is proposed which views catalyst activation as consisting of three equilibria, followed by a propagation step where an alkyl group is transferred to the growing chain, and a realkylation of the hydride that remains after the propagation step.     

Polymerization of cyclic imino ethers: From its discovery to the present state of the art

Topics concerning the cationic ring‐opening polymerization of cyclic imino ethers and functional material production based on the resulting polymers are reviewed. Cyclic imino ethers are readily subjected to isomerization polymerization via cationic initiators. Mechanistic studies have provided a new concept, electrophilic polymerization. Double isomerization polymerization and no‐catalyst alternating copolymerization are interesting examples that show characteristics of the ring opening of cyclic imino ethers. The living polymerization of these monomers affords precisely controlled polymeric materials. Through the use of the unique properties of the product polymers, various functional polymeric materials, such as polymeric nonionic surfactants, compatibilizers, hydrogels, stabilizers for dispersion polymerization, biocatalyst modifiers, and supramolecular assemblies, have been developed. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 192–209, 2002     

Radiation-Induced Polymerization of Urea Canal Complex. Part 4. Radiation-Induced Polymerization of Acrylonitrile in Urea-Ethylene Glycol Supercooled Liquid System

Abstract

Using elementary analysis, NMR on ^{3 1}P and ¹H nuclei, and electroconductivity methods, the acrylonitrile, methacrylonitrile, formaldehyde, and β-propiolactone anionic polymerization in the presence of triethylphosphine is shown to follow the macrozwitterion mechanism: quartary phosphonium being on one end of a polymer chain and the growing anion on the other. The number of covalent bonds through the whole polymer chain between charges forming the active center increases with the propagation reaction. The active centers stationary concentration in the system is low when connected with both the slow initiation reaction and with the fast active centers termination reaction. Thus the ion interaction of different growing polymer chains can be ignored. The active centers parts occurring in the form of ion pairs (the ends are near and form the “cyclic”) and of free ions (the ends are separated) are determined by the monomolecular equilibrium, and its constant depends upon the macro-zwitterion polymerization degree K_d ⁽ⁿ⁾ = K_d ^(I)n^3/2. Such constant depends upon the chain length affords the macrozwitterion self-accelerated propagation with its length, as the free ion reactivity is more than that of ion pairs. The self-accelerated chain propagation effect shows up as an increase of polymerization initial rate order and polymer molecular weight in the monomer concentration. This effect can be avoided by the introduction of electrolyte into the system, which dissociates into ions and transforms all cyclic ion pairs into the linear form, the latter dissociating independently of chain length. The strict mathematical analysis of stationary and nonstationary polymerization kinetics made it possible to determine all the elementary constants separately: K_i = 5.6 × 10^?4 liters/ (mole) (min); K_- = 2.5 × 10⁴ liter/ (mole) (min); K_± = 2.0 liters/ (mole) (min); K_t = 0.84/min; K_t ¹ = 4/min; K_d ^(I) = 10^?4; K₃ = 0.07 × 10^?4 mole/liter.     

Survey of Recent Progress in Polymerization Studies of Selected Heterocycles

Abstract

The last symposium exclusively on the polymerization of cyclic ethers and sulfides held at an ACS meeting took place in Atlantic City in September 1965 [11. This survey is intended to give a general overview of the areas of active research since then and to summarize the progress that has been made in these areas. The polymerizations of cyclic ethers and cyclic sulfides are compared and contrasted. The influence of the size of the heterocyclic ring on the polymerization is described. In addition, the survey is intended to anticipate in a general way what the other participants in this symposium will discuss in detail so that the conference will seem more a single unit rather than a series of disconnected papers. As usual, limitations of time and space compel a certain selection process and no attempt has been made to be all-inclusive.     

Kinetics and mechanism of acetylene polymerization

The kinetics of acetylene polymerization initiated by Ti(OBu)₄/4AlEt₃ catalyst was studied by radioquenching with C^*O to count the number of active sites [C] and by CH₃OT^* to determine the total metal polymer bonds [MPB] and M?_n of the polymer. The amount of quenching agent and time of reaction required and the kinetic isotope effect for CH₃OT^* were determined. The effects of Al/Ti ratio, catalyst aging, catalyst concentration, temperature, and monomer pressure on the polymerization were investigated. Detailed kinetic data on the variation of rate of polymerization, R_p, [C] [MPB], and M?_n with time were obtained at 298 and 195°K. The results required the assumption that the catalytic species C, is initially active and within less than 30 min all are converted by bimolecular kinetics to a far less active species. Analysis of the data yielded rate constants of propagation and termination and their energies of activation. Estimates of chain transfer efficiency were obtained. The mechanisms for the propagation, termination, and transfer processes were discussed. By drawing on our earlier EPR results we propose probable structures for the catalytically active species.     

Dicobalt octacarbonyl-catalyzed cationic polymerization of allylic and enolic ethers

In the presence of silanes bearing Si H groups, dicobalt octacarbonyl [Co₂(CO)₈] efficiently catalyzes the cationic polymerization of a wide variety of enol ether and other related monomers including vinyl ethers, 1-propenyl ethers, 1-butenyl ethers, 2,3-dihydrofuran, 3,4-dihydro-2H-pyran, ketene acetals, and allene ethers. In addition, this catalyst system is also effective for the polymerization of complimentary allylic and propargylic ethers by a process involving tandem isomerization and cationic polymerization. This latter process occurs by a stepwise mechanism in which the allylic or propargylic ether is first isomerized, respectively, to the corresponding enol ether or allenic ether and then this latter compound is rapidly cationically polymerized in the presence of the catalyst. In accord with this mechanism, it has been shown that the structure of the polymers prepared from related enol and allyl ethers using the above catalyst system are identical. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 35: 1579–1591, 1997     

The number of active centers and propagation rate constant in ethylene polymerization with a homogeneous catalyst based on cobalt 2,6-bis[imino]pyridyl complex with methylaluminoxane activator

The number of active centers C _p and propagation rate constant k _p upon ethylene polymerization with a homogeneous catalyst based on a cobalt complex with bis[imino]pyridyl ligands (LCoCl₂, where L is 2,6-(2,6-(Me)₂C₆H₃N=CMe)₂C₅H₃N) using methylaluminoxane as an activator was determined by quenching by radioactive carbon monoxide (¹⁴CO). It was found that the drop in activity during polymerization on the above catalyst is due to the decreasing number of active centers (from 0.23 to 0.14 mol/mol Co within 15 min of polymerization); the propagation rate constant remained unchanged, 3.5 × 10³ l/(mol s) at 35°C, which is substantially lower than for a catalyst based on an iron complex with analogous bis[imino]pyridyl ligands. It follows from the data on molecular mass characteristics of the produced polymer that the homogeneous catalyst LCoCl₂/methylaluminoxane is of monocenter type, and the obtained value of the propagation rate constant reflects the true reactivity of its active centers.