Non‐Shrinking Networked Materials from the Cross‐Linking Copolymerization of Spiroorthocarbonate with Bifunctional Oxetane

Summary: The cationic ring‐opening copolymerization behavior of SOC1 with BOXT and the properties of the obtained cross‐linked copolymers are described. SOC1 and BOXT are cationically copolymerized under various feed ratios to obtain the corresponding cross‐linked copolymers in 73–96% yields. The volume change during copolymerization could be controlled by the addition of SOC1 to obtain non‐shrinking or volume‐expanding copolymers. The glass transition temperatures (T_g) of the copolymers also decrease linearly with the feed ratio of SOC1, which suggests that the introduction of the flexible poly(SOC1) segment into the rigid BOXT cross‐linked segment relieves the internal stress in the resins that severely degrade their mechanical properties.

Cationic copolymerization of SOC1 and BOXT.     

Dynamic Monte Carlo Simulation of ATRP in a Batch Reactor

A dynamic MC model was developed to simulate the polymerization kinetics and the detailed microstructure of copolymers made with ATRP in a batch reactor. The model was used to predict monomer conversion, average molecular weight, polydispersity index, and copolymer composition as a function of polymerization time. The model can also predict the distribution of molecular weight, chemical composition, and comonomer sequence length at any polymerization time or comonomer conversion. The simulation was used to explore the effects of rate constants and reactant stoichiometry on the microstructure of chains. Two copolymerization systems were chosen to demonstrate the effect of reactivity ratios and comonomer feed compositions on the final chemical composition distribution.

     

Amphiphilic Poly(4‐acryloylmorpholine)/Poly[2‐(N‐carbazolyl)ethyl acrylate] Random and Block Copolymers Synthesized by NMP

A series of random copolymers and block copolymers containing water‐soluble 4AM and fluorescent VAK are synthesized by NMP. The homopolymerizations of 4AM and VAK and 4AM/VAK random copolymerization are performed in 50 wt% DMF using 10 mol% SG1, resulting in a linear increase in versus conversion, and final polymers with narrow molecular weight distributions ( < 1.4). Reactivity ratios r_VAK = 0.64 ± 0.52 and r_4AM = 0.86 ± 0.66 are obtained for the 4AM/VAK random copolymerization. In addition, a poly(4AM) macroinitiator is used to initiate a surfactant‐free suspension polymerization of VAK. After 2.5 h, the resulting amphiphilic block copolymer has = 12.6 kg · mol^?1, = 1.48, molar composition F_VAK = 0.38 with latex particle sizes between 270 and 475 nm.

     

Kinetic Analysis of A2 + AB2 Polymerization Approach

The kinetic model of the co‐polycondensation with A₂ and AB₂ type monomers is developed and the analytical expressions of the various molecular parameters of the products are derived rigorously. The monomer feed ratio (α) of A₂ to AB₂ significantly affects the molecular parameters and the critical condition of gelation. Gelation can be avoided if α is > . At the critical state, the degree of branching decreases firstly and reaches its minimum value at about α≈0.22. Then, it increases with increasing α‐value. In comparison with experimental results, non‐equal reactivity of the active groups should be considered.

     

On the Importance of the Principle of Microscopic Reversibility in Copolymerization Systems

The importance of taking into account the principle of microscopic reversibility in the analysis of complex copolymerization systems is demonstrated. The analysis of a reversible copolymerization system in which segmental exchange is possible from the point of view of the reaction microreversibility proves that hetero‐reshuffling rate constants depend on homo‐reshuffling rate constants and copolymerization thermodynamics.

     

Reactivity Study of Elementary Steps in the Polymerization Mechanism of Acrylfuranic Compounds by Frontier Molecular Orbital Theory

A reactivity study of the most important elementary steps (propagation, intermolecular degradative transfer, and re‐initiation) in free‐radical polymerization of acrylfuranic systems, furfuryl acrylate (FA), and furfuryl methacrylate (FM), using the frontier molecular orbital theory is described. A qualitative explanation of reactivity trends of these steps for both systems is given based on absolute values of the SOMO/HOMO gap. The small difference between values of k_p for FA and FM compared to that found for MA and MMA ( ) is justified semi‐quantitatively by applying a formulation for the change of energy in the transition state using second‐order perturbation theory.

     

High Temperature Free Radical Copolymerization with Depropagation and Penultimate Kinetic Effects

Summary: Methacrylate copolymers produced under higher temperature starved‐feed conditions are affected by depropagation, and some binary systems also experience a penultimate effect. In this work a generalized set of equations has been developed to describe the combined effect of depropagation and penultimate copolymerization kinetics on instantaneous copolymer composition and average copolymerization rate coefficients. Limiting cases applicable to the methacrylate/styrene system are examined. When combined with depropagation, penultimate kinetics not only decrease the effective propagation rate coefficient but also deviate from terminal model predictions of polymer composition.

Copolymerization chain growth with penultimate kinetics and depropagation.     

Thermoswitchable Electronic Properties of a Gold Nanoparticle/Hydrogel Composite

Summary: A well‐dispersed gold nanoparticle/poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAm) hydrogel nanocomposite with thermoswitchable electrical properties is prepared by the copolymerization of functional Au nanoparticles with N‐isopropylacrylamide. It is found that the electrical conductivity of the nanocomposite changes by two orders of magnitude at moderate temperature (T_tran) upon temperature stimuli. The change of electrical properties is reversible during a heating and cooling cycle.

Schematic illustration of the mechanism of the thermo‐switchable electronic properties of the Au nanoparticle/PNIPAm composite.     

Enzyme‐Catalyzed Preparation of Aliphatic Polyesters Containing Thioester Linkages

Aliphatic polyesters containing thioester linkages were enzymatically prepared by both the copolymerization of lactone with mercaptoalkanoic acid and by the transesterification of polyesters with mercaptoalkanoic acids. The enzymatic copolymerization of ε‐caprolactone with 11‐mercaptoundecanoic acid (11MU) and 3‐mercaptopropionic acid (3MP) was performed under reduced pressure using an immobilized lipase from Candida antarctica (CA). The transesterification of poly(ε‐caprolactone) and poly[(R)‐3‐hydroxybutyrate] was carried out with 11MU and 3MP using lipase CA under reduced pressure.

     

DMAP/Cr(III) Catalyst Ratio: The Decisive Factor for Poly(propylene carbonate) Formation in the Coupling of CO2 and Propylene Oxide

Highly efficient formation of poly(propylene carbonate) can be achieved in the coupling of CO₂ and propylene oxide assisted by 4‐(N,N‐dimethylamino)pyridine (DMAP) and catalyzed with salen chromium(III) chloride by using DMAP/Cr ratios of less than 2. Under these conditions a possible backbiting mechanism is suppressed, leading to only minor amounts of cyclic carbonate as a side product.

     

An Error in Variables Method for Determining the Implicit Penultimate Copolymerization Ratios by On‐Line Monitoring of Reactions

Summary: In copolymerization systems with implicit penultimate effect, there are two radical reactivity ratios, s_a and s_b, which influence the reaction kinetics in addition to the monomer reactivity ratios, r_a and r_b, which govern the copolymer composition. Here, an error in variables method has been developed to determine s_a and s_b. It is based on continuous on‐line monitoring of the polymerization process, where monomer and polymer concentrations are measured through the monitoring of two independent properties of the system. The ratios and the corresponding χ² values were found by taking into account errors emanating from measurements and from calibration of the instruments. It is shown that the kinetic data allows both ratios to be found if both monomer reactivity ratios are less than one. If the system is near ideality (r_ar_b ≅ 1) or if both reactivities are greater than one, only an average radical reactivity ratio, , can be reliably determined.

The 2σ confidence contours for the 3 individual experiments. The reactivity ratios are r_a = 0.5, r_b = 0.2, s_a = 0.3, s_b = 0.4. For clarity the contours are plotted as functions of 1/s_a and 1/s_b.     

Anionic copolymerizations of acrylonitrile with β-propiolactone

Anionic copolymerizations of acrylonitrile (monomer 1) with β-propiolactone (monomer 2) and the structures of the resulting copolymers were studied. The copolymerization with sodium cyanide in N,N-dimethylformamide gave copolymers of the structure I containing acid anhydride linkage in the molecular chains, with the monomer reactivity ratios, r₁ = 1.20, r₂ = 0.00. The copolymerization with potassium hydroxide gave either copolymers of the structure II (r₁ = 0.00, r₂ = 3.64 at 30°C; r₁ = 0.00, r₂ = 5.00 at 40°C) in N,N-dimethylformamide or only β-propiolactone homopolymer in toluene.      

Bayesian Modeling and Markov Chain Monte Carlo Simulations for a Kinetic Study of Homo‐ and Co‐ Polymerization Systems

A Bayesian modeling and Markov Chain Monte Carlo simulation was developed for a kinetic study of homopolymerization and copolymerization systems at the molecular scale. Two copolymerization models – the terminal unit model and the penultimate unit model – were considered. Prior estimates of the kinetic parameters were obtained by L₁‐norm robust statistics. Using the structure of experimental data through a likelihood function, Bayesian modeling was employed to update the prior estimates. The joint posterior probability regions and shimmer bands were calculated for updated reactivity ratios. A method for assessing the power of experimental data in discrimination between copolymerization models is presented. This method was validated for free radical polymerization in binary systems. The evolution of species and radical populations during the course of polymerization were determined. The computational time was considerably decreased by calculating the propagation step from lifetime of the polymer chain and local monomer concentration. To avoid inaccuracies in the results caused by poor choice or false computation of the time step, the time step between successive Monte Carlo events was adapted to the time scale of the fastest reaction. The simulation algorithm is exact, in the sense that it takes full account of the fluctuations and correlations.

     

3‐Ethylated N‐Vinyl‐2‐pyrrolidone with LCST Properties in Water

The monomer 3‐ethyl‐1‐vinyl‐2‐pyrrolidone ( 3 ) and the homopolymer poly(3‐ethyl‐1‐vinyl‐2‐pyrrolidone) ( 5 ) have been synthesized. Polymer 5 is soluble in water and shows a critical temperature (T_c) of 27 °C. The presence of cyclodextrin causes a slight shift of the T_c. The lower critical solution temperature (LCST) could be varied between 27 and 40 °C by copolymerization with N‐vinyl‐2‐pyrrolidone. A linear correlation between the T_c and the copolymer composition is observed.

     

Reactivities of endo versus exo Isomers of Ester‐Substituted Norbornenes in their Addition Copolymerizations Catalyzed by Cyclopentadienyl Nickel Complexes

The addition copolymerization of 5‐norbornene‐2‐carboxylic acid methyl ester (NBCM) with norbornene (NB) catalyzed by CpNi‐based (Cp = η⁵‐C₅H₅) systems, i.e., CpNi(PPh₃)Me/B(C₆F₅)₃ and CpNi(PPh₃)Cl/AlMe₃/B(C₆F₅)₃, was studied with particular focus on the reactivities of the endo‐ versus exo‐isomers of NBCM. Unlike the well‐known higher reactivity of the exo‐isomer in Pd^II‐catalyzed polymerizations, the CpNi system showed a small but noticeable preference for the endo‐ isomer. The better reactivity of the endo‐isomer is more pronounced in the copolymerization of cis‐5‐norbornene‐2,3‐dicarboxylic acid dimethyl ester (NBCD) with NB, where only the endo‐isomer gave the copolymer when the NB/NBCD feed ratio was 6/4.

     

Reactivity of Diamine Monomers in Non‐Equilibrium Copolycondensation Toward Aromatic Copolyamides

Based on the Hammett equation, a general method is established to relate the polycondensation monomer reactivity with both the monomer structural parameters and the properties of the solvent used for the non‐equilibrium ternary copolycondensation to give copolyamides. Linear plots of the logarithm of the monomer reactivity ratio, log r, versus structure parameter ΔpK could be represented by the equation log r = ρΔpK.

Relationship between log r and ΔpK using THF as the solvent.     

Antioxidant Activity of Graft Chitosan Derivatives

Graft chitosan derivatives (CMCTS‐g‐MAAS and CMCTS‐g‐AAS) were prepared by the graft copolymerization of methacrylic acid sodium (MAAS) and acrylic acid sodium (AAS) onto the etherification product of chitosan‐carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCTS). Their antioxidant activity was estimated as superoxide anion scavengers by chemiluminescence techniques. The derivatives with low grafting percentages have a relatively low 50% inhibition concentration (IC₅₀), which could be related to the fact that they have different contents of hydroxyl and amino groups in the polymer chains.

Superoxide radical scavenging activity of CMCTS‐g‐MAAS.     

Design and Control of Copolymer Composition Distribution in Living Radical Polymerization Using Semi‐Batch Feeding Policies: A Model Simulation

Summary: Although controlled/living radical copolymerization has been extensively studied, the control of copolymer composition distribution receives little attention. In this paper, taking RAFT copolymerization as an example, we develop a mathematical model and simulate copolymerization systems with various reactivity ratios. It is demonstrated that through semi‐batch operations with programmed profiles of slow monomer feeding rate, precise control over copolymer composition distribution (uniform and designed gradient distributions) along polymer chain can be achieved. It is also found that the semi‐batch operations have lower rates of polymerization than their batch counterparts. The reason for this difference is analyzed, and the magnitude depends on the reactivity ratios and targeted copolymer composition. The improvement of the semi‐batch rate by distributing a part of the initiator amount to the monomer feeding tank is found to be minor.

Model‐based design and control over composition distribution of gradient copolymers implemented by semi‐batch operations.     

Volumetric Changes of Randomly Crosslinked Model Networks

Equilibrium P–V–T properties of randomly crosslinked amorphous polymer networks are modeled via molecular dynamics simulation for connectivity ratios between 1.0 and 1.5. The relation between connectivity ratio and network shrinkage is studied over a wide range of temperatures and pressures. The simulation results are compared to a mean‐field Flory–Huggins lattice model.

     

Supramolecular Dynamics as Origin for Thermally Induced Insoluble‐to‐Soluble‐to‐Insoluble Transitions of Copolymers in Water

The synthesis of cationic mono‐(6‐O‐(1‐vinylimidazolium))‐ß‐cyclodextrin with toluenesulfonate as the corresponding anion is described. Free‐radical copolymerization of the resulting host–guest complex with N‐isopropylacrylamide or N,N‐diethylacrylamide yielded copolymers showing a temperature‐controlled solubility window in water. The impact of different anionic guests and salt concentrations on solubility behavior was investigated via turbidity measurements.