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.     

Trialkylsilyl-Protected Functional Initiators for Stereospecific Anionic Polymerization of Methacrylates

Anionic polymerizations of methyl methacrylate with trialkylsilyl-protected lithium benzylamides were conducted in the presence of aluminum compounds such as n-Bu₃Al. When the Me₃Si-protected amide was used, the carbonyl attack took place to some extent to form a methacrylamide derivative with slightly lower initiator efficiency (∼0.9). In the case of i-Pr₃Si-protected amide, the carbonyl addition was completely suppressed. The obtained polymers had narrow molecular weight distribution and carried benzylamino end-group, as revealed by NMR analysis, which is readily accessible for further chemical transformations such as acylation with acryloyl chloride and debenzylation with H₂/Pd-C. Difuntional initiators with protected groups were also examined.     

Dual Reactivity of Magnesium Compounds as Initiators for Anionic and Cationic Polymerization

Organomagnesium compounds are well known initiators of anionic polymerization of polar monomers. However, we have found recently that in the presence of compounds with labile halogen atoms, e.g., benzyl chloride, they are also active initiators of cationic polymerization of isobutylene and styrene in hydrocarbon media. The tentative scheme of cationic initiation is suggested assuming the formation of benzyl cation connected with Mg₂Cl₅⁻ counter-ion. The scheme is confirmed by quantum-chemical calculations and ¹H NMR analysis of polyisobutylene. On addition of a polar monomer, N,N-dimethylacrylamide or 2-vinylpyridine, to Bu₂Mg-BzCl-isobutylene polymerizing mixture, the former readily polymerizes. The mixture of homopolymers rather than block copolymers is formed in this case, however, this fact proves the co-existence of anionic and cationic centers in the system.     

Microwave Effects Due to Anionic or Cationic Initiators in Emulsion Polymerization Reactions

Summary: Emulsion polymerization reactions were performed under microwave irradiation and conventional heating using anionic or cationic initiators and surfactants. Microwave irradiation promoted higher reaction rates for both initiators and surfactants, in comparison with the conventional heating. The effect of high power microwave irradiation was studied using a method of cycles of heating and cooling, where rapid polymerization reactions were obtained. In the reactions with anionic initiator and surfactant, a decrease in the particle diameters was observed with microwave heating, and even smaller particles were obtained using high power microwave irradiation. Moreover, the decrease in the particle size was acompanied by an increase in the polymer molecular weight. On the other hand, these effects were not observed for reactions with cationic initiator and surfactant.     

Helix—Sense—Selective Polymerization of N,N—Diphenyl （Meth） acrylamide by Anionic Catalysts

In this paper, the helix-sense-selective polymerization of N,N-diphenyl acrylamide (DPAA) and N,N-diphenyl methacrylamide (DPMAA) were studied with living helix prepolymer as anionic initiator, and the chiral optical properties of the obtained polymers were investigated too. It was shown that optically active polymers of DPAA and DPMAA could be obtained under the experimental condition, and exhibited the same screw sense as that of the prepolymer.     

用双官能团引发剂进行的原子转移自由基嵌段和无规共聚

原子转移自由基聚合［１］,可同时适用于非极性单体和极性单体,如苯乙烯、二烯烃类和（甲基）丙烯酸酯、丙烯腈类单体［１～３］,这是传统的活性聚合如阴离子聚合和基团转移聚合所不及的;可以用于制备包括无规、嵌段、星形与高支化物在内的诸多结构清晰的高分子化合物...     

Polymerization of Acetylenic Derivatives. XXVI. Polymerization of 9-Ethynylanthracene with Phosphinic,Arsinic, and Stibinic Initiators

9-Ethynylanthracene has been polymerized at 80°C by use of complex phosphinic, arsinic, and stibinic initiators, e. g., NiCl₂′2PPh₃, and the obtained products have been divided into benzene-soluble and benzene-insoluble fractions. It has been shown that the benzene-insoluble polymer has a conjugated polyenic structure while the soluble polymer, with M less than 1500 daltons, contains dihydroanthracene units in the backbone in addition to the conjugated double bonds. It has been found that by using the above initiators the polymers are mainly cis. The cis to trans isomerization has been shown by DTA and DSC measurements to occur between 260 and 290° C.     

Synthesis of Hydroxy-Functional PMMA Macromonomers by Anionic Polymerization

Living anionic polymerization has been utilized to synthesize hydroxy end-functionalized PMMA macromonomers with styryl or allyl functionalities as the polymerizable end-groups. Protected hydroxy-functionalized alkyl lithium initiators have been used to initiate anionic polymerization of MMA. Subsequently the living chains with protected hydroxyl function have been terminated using 4-vinylbenzyl chloride (4-VBC) or allyl methacrylate (ALMA) to form α-hydroxy-ω-styryl and α-hydroxy-ω-allyl PMMA, respectively. These protected hydroxy-functionalized PMMA macromonomers have been characterized by GPC and ¹H-NMR. Termination using 4-VBC led to 50% functionalization, whereas that using allyl methacrylate led to 100% functionalization of the hydroxy-PMMA.     

Asymmetric Polymerization of Menthyl Methacrylate by Anionic Catalysts

In this paper,(-) menthyl methacrylate(-) MnMA) was polymerized at -78℃ in toluene with three types of anionic catalysts, which were complexes of fluorenyllithium with (-) sparteine-((-)-Sp),(S,S)-( )-2,3-dimethoxy-1,4-bis(dimethylamino) butane( )DDB) and N,N,N,N′-tetra-methylethylenediamine(TMEDA), and the chiral optical property of the obtained polymer was studied. The circular dichroism (CD) spectrum of the polymer showed negative Cotton effect.     

Kinetics of Nitroxide Mediated Radical Polymerization of Styrene with Unimolecular Initiators

Summary: This study examined the kinetics of nitroxide-mediated radical polymerization of styrene with unimolecular (alkoxyamine) initiators. Control of polymerization rate and polymer molecular weight in unimolecular nitroxide-mediated radical polymerization was studied by looking at the effects of the three main factors: initiator concentration, temperature, and initiator molecular weight on polymerization rate, molecular weight and polydispersity. In addition, the behavior of the unimolecular initiating systems was compared to that of the corresponding bimolecular system. The effective TEMPO concentration and degree of self-initiation of styrene were proved to be significant in dictating magnitudes of molecular weight averages and widths of molecular weight distribution.     

Anionic Polymerization of Z,Z-2,4Hexadienedinitrile

Abstract

Z,Z-2,4-Hexadienedinitrile, synthesized by the oxidative cleavage of o-phenylenediamine, was found to undergo anionic polymerization with n-BuLi in DMF at room temperature or below. The polymerization behavior appears to be similar to that of acrylonitrile polymerization using n-BuLi as initiator. Infrared and NMR analysis of the polymer indicate the presence of both 1,4 and 1,2 linkages, with the latter predominating.     

Silazyl-Lithiums: A kind of new Initiators for the Anionic Non- equilibrium Ring-opening Polymerization of Octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane (D_4)

The anionic non-equilibrium polymerization of cyclosiloxane has mainly been focused on the polymerization of cyclosiloxanes initiated by organo-lithium, especially on the polymerization of hexamethylcyclotrisiloxane (D3)1-3. The polymerization of D4 initiated by the new hexamethyldi- silazyl-lithium (MMNLi) initiator was first studied in our lab4. The special characters of Si-N bond impart several advantages to the new silazyl-lithium initiator. The end group linked to Si-N bond could b…     

The Anionic Polymerization of Trimethylvinylsilane

Trimethylvinylsilane was found to polymerize anionically in cyclo-hexane much like styrene or dienes, except for the occurrence of a termination step. The propagation and initiation reactions were found to be first order with respect to trimethylvinylsilane and one-half order with respect to the initiator and chain ends initially, but first order after the initiator was consumed. Rate constants for initiation, propagation, and termination were found to increase in the presence of ethers, with the termination rate constant increasing the fastest. In the absence of ethers, the propagation rate constant is small, 1.4 mL^1/2/(mol^1/2 min) at 22°C.     

Anionic Polymerization of Ethylene Oxide by Anhydrous Potassium Hydroxide

The heterogeneous anionic polymerization of ethylene oxide in tetrahydro-furan by anhydrous potassium hydroxide, prepared in situ by addition of an equivalent of water to potassium naphthalene, was studied. The effect of time of polymerization, degree of conversion, and monomer and catalyst concentration on the molecular weights was studied. The system was a living one with no chain transfer. The efficiency of the catalyst was low. The polymerization was faster than those previously reported using solid potassium hydroxide due to the high dispersion of the catalyst prepared in this manner. The rate of polymerization increased about threefold by addition of two equivalents of dimethylsulfoxide to the catalyst due to solvation effects.     

硫氰基/有机铜锂体系引发MMA阴离子聚合研究

采用有机锂为引发剂,以甲基丙烯酸酯（MMA）类为单体进行阴离子聚合,其副反应较严重,因为在此类单体分子中存在卢碳和羰基碳两个亲核点,引发剂进攻羰基碳则会使链终止,在聚合过程中发生各种副反应,以碱金属（Li,Na,K）为反离子的有机碳负离子化合物,其亲核性较强,倾向于进攻羰基碳,因此甲基丙烯酸酯类单体的阴离子聚合除了采用较大立体阻碍引发剂外。     

Triblock and Radial Star-Block Copolymers Comprised of Poly(ethoxyethyl glycidyl ether), Polyglycidol,Poly(propylene oxide) and Polystyrene Obtained by Anionic Polymerization Initiated by Cs Initiators

The anionic polymerization of ethoxyethyl glycidyl ether (EEGE) initiated by cesium alkoxide was studied. The ring-opening polymerization of EEGE in the presence of cesium alkoxide of 1-methoxy-2-ethanol does not involve any side reactions. The presence of an additional alcohol leads to a significant increase of the initiator efficiency. Aqueous solutions of poly (ethoxyethyl glycidyl ether) (PEEGE) exhibit lower critical solution temperature (LCST), and the polymer solubility in water is extremely sensitive to its MW. Two novel types of block copolymers based on PEEGE were synthesized: triblock-copolymers of ABA (A′:BA′) structure, where A is the PEEGE block, A′ polyglycidol (PG) and B the polypropylene oxide (PPO) block, and A₂S (A′₂S) and A₄S (A′₄S) heteroarm stars, where S is the polystyrene block. The synthesis of the ABA block was performed by polymerization of EEGE initiated by bi-functional PPO/Cesium alkoxide macroinitiator. The PEEGE blocks were converted into PG blocks by successful cleavage of the ethoxyethyl group. Polystyrene/PEEGE and polystyrene/PG three- and five- heteroarm star copolymers were synthesized by a coupling reaction between well-defined chain-end-functionalized polystyrenes carying dendritic benzyl bromide moieties with living anionic polymers of PEEGE with one cesium alkoxide terminal group. The coupling reaction proceeds quantitatively without any side reactions, and thus series of star-branched polymers can be systematically synthesized. Polystyrenes with two or four PG arms have been obtained after the cleavage of the protecting group. The compact structure of these multi-arm star polymers and their amphiphilic character leads to the formation of nanoparticles in aqueous solution with rather uniform size distribution and a mean diameter of 15 nm.     

Living Carbocationic Polymerization. V. Linear Telechelic Polyisobutylenes by Bifunctional Initiators

The synthesis of α,ω-di-t-chloropolyisobutylene has been accomplished by living polymerization using aliphatic and aromatic tert-diacetate initiators in conjunction with BCl₃ coinitiator in various solvents in the ?20 to ?70°C range. The living nature of the polymerizations was demonstrated with the instantaneous initiators 2,4,4,6-tetramethyl-heptane-2,6-diacetate and 1,4-di(2-propyl-2-acetate)benzene by linear [Mbar]_n versus amount of PIB formed (W _PIB) plots starting at the origin. The formation of undesirable indanyl structures that arise with the aromatic initiator can be suppressed by decreasing the temperature and the polarity of the polymerization medium (i.e., by using CH₃Cl/n-C₆H₁₄ mixtures). Living polymerization of isobutylene can also be obtained with noninstantaneous initiators, e.g., 2,5-dimethylhexane-2,5-diacetate, 2,5-dimethylhexyne-2,5-diacetate. However, with these systems the initiator efficiency is less than 100%.