Cationic ring-opening isomerization polymerization of spiro orthocarbonates initiated by carbon black

The ring-opening isomerization polymerization of spiro orthocarbonates (SOC), such as 2,8-dimethyl-1,5,7,11-tetraoxaspiro[5.5]undecane ( I ), 8,10,19,20-tetraoxaspiro[5.2.2.5.2.2]-heneicosane-2,4-diene ( II ), and 8,10,19,20-tetraoxaspiro[5.2.2.5.2.2]heneicosane ( III ), initiated by carbon black was investigated. No polymerization of SOC was initiated in the absence of carbon black. But in the presence of channel black having a carboxyl group, the polymerization of SOCs was initiated at 90–150°C to give the corresponding polyether carbonates. The initiating ability of carbon black increased with an increase in its carboxyl group content. Furnace black having no carboxyl group failed to initiate the polymerization. Based on these results, it was concluded that the carboxyl group on carbon black is capable of initiating the polymerization of SOC. During the polymerization, a part of the polymers formed was grafted onto carbon black surface via the termination of growing polymer chains. The percentage of grafting increased with an increase in conversion and reached about 55%. Furthermore, polyether carbonate-grafted carbon black was found to produce a stable colloidal dispersion in chloroform. The mechanism of initiation and grafting were discussed.     

Selective single ring-opening polymerization of spiroorthoesters with aluminium (III) acetylacetonate

A spiroorthoester, 2-methyl-1,4,6-trioxaspiro[4.6]undecane ( 1 ), was polymerized with aluminium (III) acetylacetonate as a catalyst. The resulting polymer structure was analyzed in detail by FT-IR and 270 MHz ¹H NMR, and consisted of poly(orthoester) which was obtained by selective ring-opening of the seven-membered ring. In contrast, 2-methyl-1,4,6-trioxaspiro[4.5]decane ( 2 ) and 2-methyl-1,4,6-trioxaspiro[4.4]nonane ( 3 ) did not afford any polymers. The reactivity difference of these monomers was discussed in terms of their strain energies on the basis of MM2 calculations.     

Syntheses and crosslinking reactions of polymers containing spiroorthoester moieties

The radical copolymerization of unsaturated spiroorthoesters such as 2-methylene-1,4,6-trioxaspiro[4.6]undecane (SOE I) and 2-methylene-9-methyl-1,4,6-trioxaspiro[4,5]decane (SOE II) with vinyl monomers was carried out to find that SOE I and SOE II were copolymerized with electron-poor olefins such as methyl acrylate, acrylonitrile, and methyl methacrylate to obtain the corresponding copolymers containing spiroorthoester moieties, respectively. The obtained copolymers were treated with BF₃.OEt₂ or BzS⁺SbF to afford crosslinked polymers undergoing expansion in volume on crosslinking in those cases of copolymers of SOE I.     

Synthesis and cationic ring-opening polymerization of mono- and bifunctional spiro orthoesters containing ester groups and depolymerization of the obtained polymers: An approach to chemical recycling for polyesters as a model system

A spiro orthoester having an ester moiety, 2-acetoxymethyl-1,4,6-trioxaspiro[4.6]undecane (4) was synthesized, and its cationic polymerization and depolymerization of the obtained polymer (5) were carried out. The monomer 4 underwent cationic polymerization with a cationic catalyst to afford the corresponding poly(cyclic orthoester) 5. The obtained polymer 5 could be depolymerized with a cationic catalyst to regenerate the monomer 4 in an excellent yield. Further, bifunctional spiro orthoesters (6, 8, 9) having diester moieties were synthesized from terephthalic acid, succinic acid, and 1,4-cyclohexanedicarboxylic acid, and their acid-catalyzed reversible crosslinking–decrosslinking was examined. The bifunctional monomer 6 derived from terephthalic acid underwent cationic crosslinking to afford the corresponding network polymer (7), which could be also depolymerized to regenerate the original bifunctional monomer 6. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 2551–2558, 1999     

Grafting polyesters onto carbon black. I. Polymerization of β-propiolactone initiated by alkali metal carboxylate group on the surface of carbon black

By use of carbon black that contained alkali metal carboxylate (? COOM; M?Li, Na, K, Rb, or Cs) group as catalyst the anionic polymerization of β-propiolactone (PL) was carried out at 50°C and the grafting of polyester onto the carbon black surface was investigated. Carbon black that contained ? COOM group was prepared by the reaction of carboxyl group on the surface with corresponding alkali metal hydroxide and was able to initiate the anionic ring-opening polymerization of PL. The carbon black obtained from the reaction gave a stable colloidal dispersion in an organic solvent. It was confirmed that the polyester formed was grafted effectively onto the surface; for instance, by using carbon black that contained ? COOK group as catalyst the grafting ratio was increased to 145% (viz., 1.45 g of polyester was grafted/1 g of carbon black) with an increase in conversion. Furthermore, the effect of alkali metal countercation (M⁺) on the polymerization was studied. The initiating activity of ? COOM group on the surface increased in the following order: ? COOLi < ? COONa < ? COOK < ? COORb < ? COOCs. This order was in agreement with that of increasing electropositivity of these alkali metals.     

Addition reaction of spiro orthoesters with electrophiles: A model reaction for the development of novel polyaddition accompanying ring-opening isomerization

The addition reaction of spiro orthoesters (SOEs) with electrophiles accompanying ring-opening isomerization was investigated as a model reaction for polyaddition of bifunctional SOEs with bifunctional electrophiles. Among several electrophiles such as carboxylic acids and carboxylic anhydrides, acid halides showed particularly high reactivities to SOEs. An equimolar reaction of SOEs with acid chlorides took place selectively, leading to the corresponding 1 : 1 adducts. SOEs with seven-membered cyclic ether rings—1,4,6-trioxaspiro[5.6]undecane derivatives—showed higher reactivities than SOEs with six- and five-membered cyclic ether rings. The reaction accompanied zero shrinkage in volume. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 4502–4509, 1999     

Grafting of Polymers onto a Crosslinked Polymer Carrying Carboxyl Groups as a Model Compound for Carbon Black

Abstract

A cation-exchange resin (a crosslinked polymer carrying carboxyl groups) was used as a model compound for carbon black, and the grafting of several polymers to the resin was investigated. Reaction of acyl chloride groups that had been placed on the ion-exchange resin with polymers having hydroxyl or amino groups, such as polypropylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, polybutadiene glycol, polyvinyl alcohol, silicone diol, silicone diamine, and polyethyleneimine, resulted in grafting to the ion-exchange resin. In further experiments, primary amino groups were placed on the cation-exchange resin by reaction of acyl chloride groups with ethylenediamine. It was found that ring-opening polymerization of γmethyl L-glutamate N-carboxyanhydride is initiated by the amino groups on the resin, and polypeptide was grafted from the cation-exchange resin. Therefore, the reactivity of carboxyl groups on the resin was found to be similar to that on carbon black. However, carboxyl groups on the resin failed to initiate the cationic polymerization of vinyl monomers, in contrast to those on carbon black. This suggested that the acidity of carboxyl groups on carbon black is greater than on the cation-exchange resin.     

Copolymerization of unsaturated spiro ortho esters with maleic acid derivatives

The formation of charge-transfer (CT) complexes of unsaturated spiro ortho esters such as 2-methylene-1,4,6-trioxaspiro[4.4]nonane(I) and 2-methylene-1,4,6-trioxaspiro[4.6]undecane(II) with maleic acid derivatives such as maleic anhydride (Manh), dimethyl maleate (DMM), and N-ethyl maleimide (NEM) was ascertained by ultraviolet (UV) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The stoichiometries of these complexes were estimated as 1:1. The determination of their equilibrium constants (K) was attempted by using the Hanna-Ashbough equation with NMR spectroscopy. Although K values for I-DMM and II-DMM were specified as 0.266 and 0.336 L/mol, respectively, those for the other systems could not be obtained but were assumed to be negligible small (K ? 1). Copolymerization of these systems which was carried out without an initiator determined that spontaneous copolymerization occurs in all cases but that the copolymerization rates of I-DMM and II-DMM systems are slow. The systems in which Manh or DMM was used as an acceptor monomer gave the alternating copolymers at various monomer to feed ratios. The terpolymerizaton of the I–Manh–DMM system established that DMM takes little part in giving the alternating copolymers I and Manh. Consequently, it was assumed that the reactivity of the CT complex monomer is dependent on the contribution of the dative structure to CT complex.     

Cationic equilibrium ring-opening polymerization of bicyclic monomers and its application to chemical recycling

Spiro orthoesters give poly(cyclic orthoester)s by single ring-opening polymerization in the presence of acid catalysts, and this process undergoes the equilibrium polymerization. We have applied the function of equilibrium polymerization to chemical recycling of polymeric materials. Crosslinked poly(cyclic orthoester)s, prepared by radical additions of poly(cyclic orthoester)s possessing exomethylene groups and dithiols, efficiently decrosslinked to bifunctional spiro orthoesters in the presence of CF₃CO₂H in CH₂Cl₂. The dithiol-linked bifunctional spiro orthoester monomers, prepared by the radical additions of spiro orthoester possessing exomethylene group and dithiols, afforded the corresponding crosslinked polymers in the presence of CF₃CO₂H as a catalyst in bulk. The decrosslinking of the obtained crosslinked polymer proceeded quantitatively to obtain the corresponding bifunctional monomer at room temperature in CH₂Cl₂. Further, an acid-catalyzed reversible crosslinking-decrosslinking of a polymer having a spiro orthoester group in the side chain was carried out. The copolymer obtained by the radical copolymerization of 2-methylene-1,4,6-trioxaspiro[4.6]undecane with acrylonitrile was treated with CF₃CO₂H at −10 °C in CH₂Cl₂ to afford the crosslinked polymer quantitatively. The crosslinked polymer was then treated with CF₃CO₂H at room temperature at a low concentration in CH₂Cl₂ to recover the original polymer.     

Phosphorus-containing thermosets obtained by cationic copolymerisation of glycidyl compounds with a spiroorthoester or γ-butyrolactone

The synthesis of a bis[(1,4,6-trioxaspiro[4.4]nonan-2-yl)-methyloxy] ethane (bisSOE) and its copolymerisation with mixtures of diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA) and different phosphorus-containing glycidyl compounds led to materials with enhanced flame retardancy and low shrinkage on crosslinking. Analogous materials were obtained by reaction of mixtures where the spiroorthoester (SOE) is formed in the reaction medium from γ-butyrolactone and a diglycidyl compound.The incorporation of phosphorus in the networks increases the LOI values and all crosslinked polymers showed a slight shrinkage after curing, much lower than that observed in conventional epoxy resins. The materials from preformed SOE showed lower shrinkage than the analogues from lactone and epoxy groups.     

Radical Graft Polymerization of Vinyl Monomers Initiated by A20 Groups Introduced Onto a Carbon Black Surface: Effect of azo Groups on Graft Polymerization

The radical graft polymerization of vinyl monomers from carbon black initiated by azo groups introduced onto the surface was investigated. The introduction of azo groups onto carbon black surface was achieved by three methods: the reaction of 2,2′-azobis[2-(2-imidazolin-2-yl)propane] (AIP) with (1) epoxide groups, which were introduced by the reaction of carbon black with chlorometh-yloxirane; (2) acyl chloride groups, which were introduced by the reaction of carboxyl groups on the surface with thionyl chloride; and (3) 3-chloroformyl-1-cyano-1-methylpropyl groups, which were introduced by the reaction of carbon black with 4,4′-azobis(4-cyanovaleric acid) and then thionyl chloride. The amount of azo groups introduced onto the surface by the above methods was determined to be 0.07-0.19 mmol/g. The graft polymerization of methyl methacrylate was found to be initiated by azo groups introduced onto the carbon black surface. During the polymerization, poly(methyl methacrylate) was effectively grafted onto carbon black through propagation of the polymer from the radical produced on the surface by the decomposition of the azo groups. The percentage of grafting using carbon black having azo groups introduced by method 1 increased to 40%. It was also found that the graft polymerization of several vinyl monomers such as styrene, acrylonitrile, and acrylic acid was initiated by the azo groups introduced onto the surface and the corresponding polymer was effectively grafted onto the surface. Furthermore, the effect of the amount of carbon black having azo groups on the graft polymerization was investigated.     

Synthesis and double ring-opening polymerization of cyclic ketals of γ-methylenelactones

Several cyclic ketals of γ-methylenelactones such as 7-methylene-1,4,6-trioxaspiro-[4,4] nonane ( 3a ), 2-methyl-7-methylene-1,4,6-trioxaspiro [4.4] nonane ( 3b ), and 2,7-dimethylene-1,4,6-trioxaspiro [4.4] nonance ( 3c ) were prepared, and polymerized. The results indicated that the former two monomers polymerized with a quantitative double ringopening to form high polymers via a catonic mechanism, but the latter monomer under the same conditions generated a polymer with a network structure.     

“LIVING-LIKE” CATIONIC POLYMERIZATION OF ISOBUTYL VINYL ETHER INITIATED BY CARBOXYL GROUPS ON CARBON BLACK SURFACE/ETHYLALUMINUM DICHLORIDE SYSTEM IN THE PRESENCE OF 1,4-DIOXANE

The effect of 1,4-dioxane as an added base on the cationic polymerization of isobutyl vinyl ether (IBVE) initiated by carboxyl groups on carbon black surface/ethylaluminum dichloride (EtAlCl₂) system was investigated. Although the cationic polymerization of IBVE by carbon black/EtAlCl₂ system the absence of 1,4-dioxane instaneously proceeded and the monomer conversion achieved 100% within a minute. The molecular weight distribution (MWD) of polyIBVE obtained was very broad. On the contrary, the MWD of polyIBVE obtained was very narrow and narrower than that obtained from the carbon black/ZnCl₂ initiating system by the addition of 1,4-dioxane. The number-average molecular weight (Mn) of polyIBVE obtained was directly proportional to monomer conversion in the cationic polymerization. However, the Mn of polyIBVE obtained from the polymerization by the initiating system in the the presence of 1,4-dioxane was smaller than that of the calculated value, assuming that polyl(IBVE) chain forms per unit carboxyl group on carbon black surface. It was concluded that carbon black/EtAlCl₂ initiating systems in the presence of 1,4-dioxane has an ability to initiate “living-like” cationic polymerization of IBVE based on the above results. PolyIBVE was grafted onto a carbon black surface after quenching the above “living-like” cationic polymerization systems with methanol.     

Grafting of polyesters onto carbon black. VI. Copolymerization of alkylene carbonate with cyclic acid anhydride initiated by alkali metal carboxylate groups on carbon black surface

The ring-opening copolymerization of alkylene carbonate with cyclic acid anhydride was found to be initiated by carbon black containing potassium carboxylate (COOK) groups to give an alternating polymer, i.e., polyester. The polyester was propagated from COOK groups and effectively grafted from carbon black surface: e.g., the grafting ratio of polyester from ethylene carbonate (EC) and phthalic anhydride (PAn) went up to over 100%. On the other hand, the initiating activity of alkali metal carboxylate groups increased, depending on the alkali metal countercation, in the following order: COOLi < COONa < COOK < COORb < COOCs. This order was in agreement with that of increasing electropositivity of the counteraction. The activation energy of the copolymerization of EC with PAn was determined to be 26.3 kcal/mol. The rate of the copolymerization was accelerated in an aprotic solvent such as N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone. Furthermore, the effect of solvent and polymerization temperature on the grafting ratio of polyester was investigated.     

Grafting of polyesters from carbon whisker surface: Copolymerization of epoxides with cyclic acid anhydrides initiated by COOK groups introduced onto the surface

To modify the surface of carbon whisker (vapor-grown carbon fiber) the grafting of polyesters by use of potassium carboxylate (COOK) groups introduced onto the surface was investigated. The introduction of COOK groups onto the carbon whisker was achieved by the treatment of surface carboxyl groups with KOH aqueous solution. Untreated carbon whisker has no ability to initiate the polymerization. It was found that the anionic ring-opening alternating copolymerization of epoxides with cyclic acid anhydrides is successfully initiated by COOK groups on the carbon whisker surface. The corresponding polyester was grafted onto the surface based on the propagation of polymer from COOK groups introduced on the surface. The percentage of grafting of the polyester from styrene oxide and phthalic anhydride was determined to be 91.0%. The polymerization rate and percentage of grafting increased upon addition of crown ether. Furthermore, the rate of polymerization increased with increasing the dielectric constant of the solvent, but the percentage of grafting decreased. Polyester-grafted carbon whisker was found to give a stable colloidal dispersion in a good solvent for the grafted polymer. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Preparation of polymer‐grafted carbon black nanoparticles by surface‐initiated atom transfer radical polymerization

Pristine carbon black was oxidized with nitric acid to produce carboxyl group, and then the carboxyl group was consecutively treated with thionyl chloride and glycol to introduce hydroxyl group. The hydroxyl group on the carbon black surface was reacted with 2‐bromo‐2‐methylpropionyl bromide to anchor atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) initiator. The ATRP initiator on carbon black surface was verified by TGA, FTIR, EDS, and elemental analysis. Then, poly (methyl methacrylate) and polystyrene chains were respectively, grown from carbon black surface by surface‐initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (SI‐ATRP) using CuCl/2,2‐dipyridyl (bpy) as the catalyst/ligand combination at 110 °C in anisole. ¹H NMR, TGA, TEM, AFM, DSC, and DLS were used to systemically characterize the polymer‐grafted carbon black nanoparticles. Dispersion experiments showed that the grafted carbon black nanoparticles had good solubilities in organic solvents such as THF, chloroform, dichloromethane, DMF, etc. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 3451–3459, 2007     

Cationic grafting from carbon black. VII. Grafting of polyacetals by cationic ring-opening polymerization of trioxane and 1,3-dioxolane initiated by CO+ClO4− groups on carbon black

The cationic ring-opening polymerization of trioxane and 1,3-dioxolane was found to be initiated by CO⁺CIO₄^? groups on a carbon black surface, which were introduced by the reaction of COCI groups with AgCIO₄. The activation energy of the ring-opening polymerization of trioxane was estimated to be 15.5 kcal/mol. In the polymerization system, poly(oxymethylene) and poly(1,3-dioxolane) formed were effectively grafted onto carbon black depending upon the propagation of these polymers from the carbon black surface; for instance, the grafting ratio of poly(oxymethylene) onto carbon black increased with an increase in conversion and went up to about 180%. Although the grafted chain of poly(oxymethylene) was subject to stepwise thermal depolymerization from the chain ends, the thermal stability of poly(oxymethylene)-grafted carbon black was improved by acetylation of hemiformal end groups. The molecular weight of ungrafted poly(oxymethylene) formed in the polymerization was determined to be 1.8–2.0 × 10⁴. Furthermore, the copolymerization of trioxane with 1,3-dioxolane, styrene, and other comonomers initiated by CO⁺CIO₄^? groups and the thermal stability of these acetal copolymer-grafted carbon black were investigated.     

Living cationic polymerization of isobutyl vinyl ether by the carboxyl group of the carbon black/zinc chloride initiating system

The effect of zinc chloride (ZnCl₂) on the cationic polymerization of isobutyl vinyl ether (IBVE) initiated by carboxyl groups on a carbon black surface was investigated. Although the polymerization of IBVE was initiated by carboxyl groups on the surface, the rate of polymerization was small and the molecular weight distribution (MWD) of poly IBVE was very broad. The rate of the polymerization was found to be drastically increased, and 100% monomer conversion was achieved in a short time by the addition of ZnCl₂. The number-average molecular weights (M_n) of the polyIBVE were directly proportional to monomer conversion in the polymerization initiated by the carbon black/ZnCl₂ system. By addition of the monomer at the end of the first-stage polymerization, the added monomer was smoothly polymerized at the same rate as in the first stage. The M_n of the polymer was in excellent agreement with the calculated value, assuming the polyIBVE chain forms per unit carboxyl group on the surface and MWD was narrow (M_w/M_n = 1.2 ～ 1.3). Based on the results, it is concluded that carbon black/ZnCl₂ system has an ability to initiate the living cationic polymerization of IBVE. Furthermore, it was found that polyIBVE was grafted onto the carbon black surface after the quenching of the living polymer with methanol. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Cationic grafting from carbon black. II. Polymerization of styrene initiated by CO+ClO group on the surface of carbon black

The cationic grafting of polystyrene initiated by carbon black containing the CO⁺ClO group was investigated. The introduction of CO⁺ClO groups onto a carbon black surface was achieved by the reaction of AgClO₄ with carbon black that contained a COCI group. The latter was introduced by the reaction of carboxyl groups with SOCl₂. It was found that polystyrene chains could be grown from CO⁺ClO groups on the surface of carbon black. Moreover, polystyrene was effectively grafted from carbon black: the grafting ratio at 20°C increased to 58% as conversion increased. Furthermore, the grafting ratio and molecular weight of ungrafted polystyrene decreased with an increase in polymerization temperature. These results were explained by the fact that the increasing temperature of the polymerization caused an increase in the rate of chain transfer reaction of the growing polymer chain to the monomer. The carbon black obtained from the reaction produced a stable colloidal dispersion in a good solvent for polystyrene.     

Cationic Grafting of Vinyl Polymers onto a Carbon Whisker,Initiated by Acylium Perchlorate Groups Introduced onto the Surface

Abstract

The cationic graft polymerization of vinyl monomers onto a carbon whisker, vapor-grown carbon fiber, initiated by acylium perchlorate groups introduced onto the surface, was investigated. The introduction of acylium perchlorate groups onto a carbon whisker was achieved by the treatment of a carbon whisker having acyl chloride groups, which were introduced by the reaction of surface carboxyl groups with thionyl chloride, with silver perchlorate in nitrobenzene. It was found that the cationic polymerization of vinyl monomers, such as styrene, indene, N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone, and n-butyl vinyl ether, is initiated by acylium perchlorate groups on a carbon whisker. In the polymerization, the corresponding vinyl polymers were grafted onto a carbon-whisker surface based on the propagation of polymer from the surface: the percentage of grafting of polystyrene and polyindene reached 42.5 and 100.3%, respectively. The percentage of polystyrene grafting decreased with increasing polymerization temperature because of preferential chain transfer reactions at higher temperatures. Polymer-grafted carbon whisker gave a stable colloidal dispersion in a good solvent for grafted polymer.