p-Quinones in the radical polymerization of styrene

Russian Chemical Bulletin - The polymerization of styrene in the presence of p-quinones of various structures was studied. The polymerization kinetics and molecular weight characteristics of...     

Microwave-assisted nitroxide-mediated radical polymerization of styrene

The first single-mode microwave-assisted nitroxide-mediated radical polymerizations (NMRP) of styrene in bulk were successfully performed. The results showed that the polymerization proceeded in a controlled way. The power of microwave irradiation has considerable effect on the polymerization rate. The polymerization rates under appropriate power of microwave irradiation were faster than that under conventional heating (CH) at the same polymerization temperature. The living nature of the polymer was proved by successful chain extension polymerization and ¹H NMR spectrum analysis.     

Transfer reactions in radical polymerization of styrene in acetone–chloroform mixture

The study of chain-transfer reactions in thermal and AIBN-initiated polymerization of styrene is aimed at the determination of transfer constants to the solvents at 60°C. For thermal polymerization the transfer constants C_s to acetone, chloroform, and chloroform mixed with acetone are 3.2 × 10^?5, 4.1 × 10^?5, and 4.4 × 10^?5, respectively. In the case of AIBN-initiated polymerization, the transfer constant of chloroform in the mixture acetone–chloroform is C_s = 3.3 × 10^?4. All these transfer constants are average values. It has been found that neither acetone nor chloroform satisfies the Mayo equation in the presence of transfer agent very well. These anomalies can be explained by assuming a complexation phenomenon. The changes in the polarity and resonance are taken into account. It is considered that in the chain-transfer reactions under investigation, the association or complex-forming ability of solvent and monomer or polymer play a role. In studying the chain-transfer reaction in the acetone–chloroform solvent mixture another phenomenon affecting the determination of the chain transfer constant is assumed. This phenomenon consists in formation of associates in which both solvents participate.     

Copper(0)-mediated radical polymerization of styrene at room temperature

The “living’/controlled radical polymerization (LRP) of styrene (St) at room temperature is rarely reported. In this work, copper(0) (Cu(0))-mediated radical polymerization of St at room temperature was investigated in detail. Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) as well as a binary solvent, tetrahydrofuran/1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-propanol were used as the solvents, respectively. Methyl-2-bromopropionate and ethyl 2-bromoisobutyrate were used as the initiators, respectively. The polymerization proceeded smoothly with moderate conversions at room temperature. It was found that DMF was a good solvent with the essential features of LRP, while DMSO was a poor solvent with uncontrollable molecular weights. Besides, the match among the initiator, solvent and molar ratios of reactants can modulate the livingness of the polymerization, and the proper selection of ligand was also crucial to a controlled process. This work provided a first example of Cu(0)-mediated radical polymerization of St at room temperature, which would enrich and strength the LRP technique.     

A competitive particle nucleation mechanism in the polymerization of homogenized styrene emulsions

The effects of concentrations of surfactant (sodium lauryl sulfate [SLS]) and initiator (sodium persulfate [SPS]) on the polymerization of homogenized styrene emulsions, stabilized by SLS/lauryl methacrylate (LMA) or SLS/stearyl methacrylate (SMA), were studied. The rate of polymerization increases with increasing [SLS] or [SPS]. In addition to monomer droplet nucleation, the formation of particle nuclei in the aqueous phase (homogeneous nucleation) plays a crucial role in the polymerization kinetics. In comparison with the LMA containing polymerization system, monomer droplet nucleation becomes more important when the more hydrophobic SMA was used as the costabilizer. Furthermore, the degree of homogeneous nucleation increases with increasing [SPS].     

Oligomer formation in the radiation-induced polymerization of styrene

Analyses of the oligomers formed in radiation-induced polymerization of purified styrene were performed. The principal dimeric products were cis- and trans-diphenyl-cyclobutane with a relatively small amount of 1-phenyltetralin; the trimeric products were the optical isomers of 1-phenyl-4-[1′-phenylethyl-(1′)]-tetralin in gamma-ray and 60 MeV proton irradiation. Oligomer formation increased with increasing dose, but more gradually than the linear formation of high polymer with dose. The yield was 0.25–3.1 μmol/J at low doses and decreased to an asymptotic value of 0.15 at higher doses. It appears that oligomers act as chain transfer agents during the polymerization reaction which would account for the observed decrease in molecular weight of the high polymer with increase in dose. Although the thermal and radiation-induced polymerization of styrene have different initiation steps, the oligomers produced by both reactions are similar in composition.     

Online monitoring of polymerization reactions in inverse emulsions

Automatic continuous online monitoring of polymerization reactions (ACOMP) was adapted to the monitoring of acrylamide polymerization in inverse emulsions. This is the first application of ACOMP to heterogeneous phase polymerization. The conversion and reduced viscosity were monitored by continuously inverting and diluting the emulsion phase using a small reactor sample stream and a breaker surfactant solution, followed by UV absorption and viscometric detection. This inversion into a stable portion of the polymer/surfactant phase diagram is accomplished in tens of seconds, yielding dilute solutions containing acrylamide (Aam), polyacrylamide (PA), oil droplets, and small quantities of surfactant, initiator and other debris, and low molecular weight compounds. After establishing the means of making ACOMP measurements, a first application of the method is made to resolving some of the kinetic issues involved in emulsion polymerization, including the evolution of molecular mass, and the simultaneous action of an "intrinsic" initiator and an added chemical initiator.     

Electrochemical dediazoniation of arenediazonium ions and subsequent radical polymerization at the liquid-liquid interface

Arenediazonium ions are dediazoniated through reduction by decamethylferrocene in the 1,2-dichloroethane (DCE) after the electrochemical transfer of the arenediazonium ions from the aqueous side of the interface between the DCE and the aqueous phase (W). Cyclic voltammetry of the ion transfer clearly shows that this process is described as an E _r C _i process, that is, the diffusion-limited transfer of the ions across the interface followed by the irreversible dediazoniation in the DCE phase. Arene radicals formed in DCE can initiate the radical polymerization of styrene at the interface. The polystyrene formed in the interfacial region significantly impedes the transfer of tetraethylammonium ions across the DCEIW interface. Published in Russian in Elektrokhimiya, 2008, Vol. 44, No. 1, pp. 80–84. The text was submitted by the authors in English.     

Conversion-time curves in the diffusion-controlled free radical polymerization of styrene

In order to calculate conversion-time curve in radical polymerization, the termination rate constant for interacting polymer radicals with chain lengths n and s is written as: k_t,ns = k(ζ_n + ζ_s) where k ∝ exp(−0.40/v_f) (v_f: free volume), and ζ = 1 at n ⩽ n_c and ζ = (n_c/n)^1,5 at n ⩾ n_c + 1 (n_c: a critical chain length of polymer moving by reptation). The curves are applicable to the experimental data obtained from 20°C to 154°C in the thermal polymerization of styrene. Further, it is shown that the curves can be applied to the experimental data for polymerization in the presence of initiator.     

Sterically hindered nitrogen-containing compounds in radical polymerization of styrene

The influence exerted on the radical polymerization of styrene by organic compounds containing a tert-butyl group and a nitrogen atom in various oxidation states (tert-butylamine, 2-methyl-2-nitrosopropane, 2-methyl-2-nitropropane) was examined.     

氮氧自由基调控下苯乙烯的活性自由基聚合

本文用亚磷酸三-(2,2,6,6-四甲基哌啶氮氧自由基)酯(PT3)作为稳定自由基,偶氮二异丁腈(AIBN)和四乙基秋兰姆(TETD)分别作为起始自由基引发剂引发苯乙烯在125℃聚合。实验结果表明：在两种自由基引发剂存在下,Pb都可以有效地控制苯乙烯的聚合,分子量随转化率线性增长,分子量分布控制在1．15-1．6。对AIBN和TETD聚合过程比较可以发现：TETD引发下的聚合速度快于AIBN的聚合速度,就分子量分布和分子量的控制而言,两者具有相拟的能力。用得到的大分子聚合物为引发剂戚功进行的扩链实验也证明在三臂聚合物中心的烷氧胺可以继续引发苯乙烯聚合。     

Controlled radical polymerization of styrene in the presence of nitronyl nitroxides

Bulk radical polymerization of styrene in the presence of nitronyl nitroxides (2-(4-substituted phenyl)-4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-4,5-dihydroimidazolyl-1-oxyl 3-oxide) was studied. All nitronyl nitroxides, like other nitroxyl radicals such as 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine 1-oxyl radical (TEMPO), act as reversible radical scavengers. The efficiency of controlling the polymerization is affected by the substituent at the 4′-position. The efficiency increases with electron donating strength of 4′-substituents, at least at the beginning of the reaction. However, the thermal stability of nitronyl nitroxides decreases in the same order. Thus, TEMPO is more suitable than nitronyl nitroxides for controlled/“living” radical polymerization of styrene.     

Controlled radical polymerization of styrene in the presence of molecular iodine

Controlled radical polymerization of styrene in toluene by the RITP method in the presence of I₂ and radical initiators, 2,2′-azobis(isobutyronitrile) and benzoyl peroxide, was studied.

     

Kinetics of radical polymerization—XXVIII. Investigation of radical reactivity of aromatic aldonitrones in the polymerization of styrene

A study was made of the kinetics of polymerization of styrene initiated by azoisobutyronitrile at 50 in the presence of ξ-aryl-N-phenyl-nitrones meta- and para-substituted. Aromatic aldonitrones were found to be effective inhibitors of radical polymerization. The reactivities of the inhibitors show significant substituent effect obeying the Hammett-Taft equation, and ρ = +0.86. The rate constant of the side-reaction (dipolar cycloaddition) between the monomer and inhibitor was determined. The substituent effect can be described by the Hammett equation, with ρ = +0.88.     

Auto-acceleration of radical polymerization rate in polymerization of styrene under the condition of predominant transfer

Styrene was polymerized at 20°C for 252 days in the presence of 2,2′-azobis(isobutyronitrite) azobis(isobutyronitrile) (AIBN). When [AIBN]_σ = 0.268 mmol l⁻¹, the instantaneous weight-average degree of polymerization (140,000) of the polymer formed is independent of conversion x between 0.05 and 0.60. This independence shows predominant transfer to monomer. Auto-acceleration of polymerization starts at about x = 0.02. In order to explain this auto-acceleration, an equation derived previously for the relationship between termination rate, free volume and volume fraction of polymer is applied to the kinetic data obtained under the condition of predominant transfer to monomer. It is concluded that polymer molecules may move by reptation and the mobility of segments decreases with decreasing free volume.     

Studies of the radical polymerization of styrene in the presence of polybutadiene

Polymerization of styrene in solutions containing polybutadiene can be used for study of the intermediate stages in the radical polymerization of the monomer.     

Kinetic behavior of propagating radical in bulk polymerization of styrene

High resolution ESR spectra of polystyrene radical at various conversion in the bulk polymerization have been determined. The propagation and termination rate coefficients during the whole process of polymerization were evaluated from the conversion and the propagating radical concentration determined by ESR. It was found that the propagating radical has two stable conformations. The reduction of the radical activity with the conversion is partly resulting from the wrapping effect which is due to the far slower segment relaxation and the very rapid propagation.     

Influence of allyl ethers on free radical polymerization of styrene

The effect of allyl ethers on the free radical polymerization of styrene has been studied with respect to chain transfer, copolymerization, and conversion. The studies have been performed in an inert atmosphere or in air. Six different allyl ethers have been used as model substances in order to show the effect of structural differences of the ethers on the polymerization. Contrary to what was expected, no chain transfer through hydrogen abstraction was found. Nor did any copolymerization occur. When the polymerization was performed in air, the allyl ethers had a retarding effect on the polymerization rate, due to oxidation of the allyl ethers. The oxidation rate of the allyl ethers was found to be related to their structure, where the functionality and presence of intramolecular hydrogen bonding are the main factors.