RAFT Inverse Miniemulsion Polymerization of Acrylamide

RAFT inverse miniemulsion polymerization is demonstrated for the first time as an alternate way to synthesize hydrophilic polymer latexes. The kinetic behavior of inverse RAFT miniemulsion polymerization of acrylamide is similar to that observed in aqueous RAFT solution polymerization. A water‐soluble initiator provides better control than a lipophilic initiator in inverse RAFT miniemulsion polymerization under the conditions used here.

     

Laccase‐Catalyzed Oxidative Polymerization of Phenols

Laccase‐catalyzed oxidative polymerization of phenol and its derivatives has been performed in aqueous organic solvents at room temperature in air. Laccase derived from Pycnoporus coccineus efficiently induced the polymerization to produce polyphenols consisting of a mixture of phenylene and oxyphenylene units. The unit ratio of the polymer could be precisely controlled by selection of the solvent and the monomer substituent.

     

Structural studies on polyformals. III. Poly-1,3-dioxocane and poly-1,3-dioxonane

Molecular and crystal structures of poly-1,3-dioxocane and poly-1,3-dioxonane, the polyformals [? OCH₂O? (CH₂)_m? ]_m with m = 5 and m = 6, respectively, are analyzed. Poly-l13-dioxocane is triclinic, space group with m = 5 and m = 6, respectively, are analyzed. Poly-1,3-dioxocane is triclinic, space group (fiber axis) and N (number of chains per unit cell) = 2. Poly-1,3-dioxonane is orthorhombic, (fiber axis) = 18.8 Å, and N = 2. The molecular conformations are roughly where T, G, and G are the trans, and the two gauche forms, respectively.     

The Interaction between Collagen and an Aluminum Tanning Agent

The interaction between collagen and organometallic aluminum complexes was studied. From the analysis of the IR and UV spectra, the viscosity of collagen, and the treated collagen, a possible interaction model of the collagen with the aluminum tanning agent has been found. It indicates that such an aluminum tanning agent could be used as a cleaner tanning agent in leather tanning.

Viscosity curves of the untreated collagen solution (a) and the collagen solution treated with aluminum tanning agent (b).     

Chain Transfer and Efficiency of End‐Group Introduction in Free Radical Polymerization of Methyl Methacrylate in the Presence of Poly(methyl methacrylate) Macromonomer

Summary: Experimental and modeling studies of addition–fragmentation chain transfer (AFCT) during radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate in the presence of poly(methyl methacrylate) macromonomer with 2‐carbomethoxy‐2‐propenyl ω‐ends (PMMA‐CO₂Me) at 60 °C are reported. The results revealed that AFCT involving PMMA‐CO₂Me formed in situ during methyl methacrylate polymerization has a negligible effect on the molecular weight distribution.

     

Particle Size Effects in TEMPO‐Mediated Radical Polymerization of Styrene in Aqueous Miniemulsion

Summary: 2,2,6,6‐Tetramethylpiperidinyl‐1‐oxy (TEMPO)‐mediated radical polymerization of styrene in aqueous miniemulsion at 125 °C using sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate and poly(vinyl alcohol), respectively, as colloidal stabilizers has been investigated. The particle size had a dramatic effect on the polymerization process. Decreasing particle size led to a markedly higher polymerization rate, but less control and a lower degree of livingness. For particles with diameters greater than approximately 170 nm, the polymerization behavior was essentially the same as in the corresponding bulk system. By varying the particle size within an appropriate range, it is possible to tune the polymerization such that the polymerization rate is increased while still maintaining reasonable control and livingness.

     

Kinetic Analysis of the Amphiphilic Star Block Copolymerization

A kinetic model of the amphiphilic star block copolymerization is developed. The star polymer species, resulting from star polymerization with dendrimer cores and hydrophobic monomers, are used as macroinitiators and initiate the graft polymerization of the hydrophilic monomers. Analytical expressions for the size distributions for the species formed in every step are derived. The method with monomers added to the reaction system in batches decreases the polydispersity index for the products obtained. It reaches a minimum if the monomer feed quantity is equal in every step. Therefore, the dimension and structure of the amphiphilic star block copolymers produced can be designed by using the proposed kinetic mechanism.

     

Studies on Radical Cations I. Molecular and electronic structure of [3]radialene cation produced by γ-irradiation in condensed phase

γ-Irradiation of tris (methylidene)-cyclopropane (‘[3]radialene’) 1 in a rigid electron scavenging matrix (butylchoride/i-pentane, 1:1) at 77 K leads to formation of its molecular cation 1 ⁺. Slight softening of the matrix by a temperature increase of 3–5 K results in formation of a newly absorbing species, tentatively assigned arising from structrral relaxation of 1 ⁺ by π-bond rotation:      

UV‐Responsive Behavior of Azopyridine‐Containing Diblock Copolymeric Vesicles: Photoinduced Fusion,Disintegration and Rearrangement

A novel amphiphilic diblock copolymer composed of a hydrophilic poly(ethylene oxide) and a hydrophobic polymethacrylate with photochromic azopyridine moieties in the side groups was synthesized by atom transfer radical polymerization. The copolymeric vesicles showed photoinduced circular process including fusion, damage and defect formation, disruption, disintegration and rearrangement in H₂O/THF during the irradiation of UV light. The process of photoresponsive cycle can be inhibited at any moment by visible light.

     

AGET ATRP in the Presence of Air in Miniemulsion and in Bulk

Summary: The recently developed initiation system, activators generated by electron transfer (AGET), is used in atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) in the presence of a limited amount of air. Ascorbic acid and tin(II ) 2‐ethylhexanoate are used as reducing agents in miniemulsion and bulk, respectively. An excess of reducing agent consumes the oxygen present in the system and, therefore, provides a deoxygenated environment for ATRP. ATRP of butyl acrylate is successfully carried out in miniemulsion and in the presence of air. During polymerization the radical concentration remains constant. The polymerization reaches over 60% monomer conversion after 6 h, which results in polymers with a predetermined molecular weight = 14 000 g · mol⁻¹ and a low polydispersity ( = 1.23). AGET ATRP of styrene is also successful in bulk in the presence of air, as evidenced by linear semi‐logarithmic kinetics, which leads to polystyrene with an of 13 400 g · mol⁻¹ and a low polydispersity index ( = 1.14).

Appearance of miniemulsion before and after the reducing agent ascorbic acid was added (left); and GPC traces representing molecular weights during the AGET ATRP of BA in miniemulsion in the presence of air (right).     

Narrowly Distributed Dendronized Polymethacrylates by Reversible Addition‐Fragmentation Chain Transfer (RAFT) Polymerization

Summary: RAFT is applied to the dendronized macromonomers of the first and second generation, 1 and 2 , respectively. Good results are obtained in the presence of AIBN as radical initiator, with compound 6 as mediator and at mediator to monomer ratios of 2:200 for monomer 1 ( = 320 000, PDI = 1.24) and monomer 2 ( = 178 000, PDI = 1.20). The common characteristics of a controlled polymerization are reasonably met. The more sterically demanding G2 monomer 2 requires higher polymerization temperatures.

     

Aqueous RAFT Polymerization of Acrylamide and N,N‐Dimethylacrylamide at Room Temperature

Summary: The first example of a room temperature reversible addition‐fragmentation chain transfer polymerization conducted directly in aqueous media is detailed. Under these conditions acrylamide and N,N‐dimethylacrylamide may be polymerized in a controlled fashion to near quantitative conversions employing a difunctional trithiocarbonate chain transfer agent (CTA). Hydrolysis studies conducted at pH 5.5 suggest that the CTA is stable up to approximately 50 °C.

     

Ab-initioMRD–CI calculations on a C?NO2 decomposition pathway of nitrobenzene

To study molecular decomposition pathways it is necessary to use ab initio multireference determinant–configuration interaction or MCSCF (multiconfiguration SCF ) calculations. The MRD –CI (multireference double excitation–configuration interaction technique of Buenker and Peyerimhoff) calculations on the decomposition pathway of nitrobenzene were carried out using all of the occupied molecular orbitals in the region of the bond being dissociated, plus all of the virtual orbitals. An effective CI Hamiltonian was used into which were folded the effects of all of the occupied molecular orbitals from which excitations were not allowed. So far we have investigated the lowest ¹A₁, ³A₁, ¹A₂, ³A₂, ¹B₁, ³B₁, ¹B₂, ³B₂ states and are investigating the higher states. Our results show a wealth of structure in the potential energy surfaces for the various electronic states of nitrobenzene as a function of distance. A number of the states are predissociative and change dominant configuration one or more times along these potential energy surfaces.     

Development of a Kinetic Model for Thermal Crosslinking of Rubbery Polymers

Summary: A kinetic model for the thermal crosslinking of rubbery polymers is presented. The reaction mechanism used to develop the model includes thermal radical generation producing a polymeric radical and a primary radical, crosslinking from attack of a polymer radical to any inactive polymer molecule, bimolecular radical termination among chains of any degree of branching, and radical termination between a polymer radical and a primary radical from the thermal radical generation. The overall polymer population is divided into “generations”, which are defined in terms of the number of primary (linear) chains of original rubbery polymer attached to the polymer molecule. Mass balances for each generation are written down, and expressions to calculate fraction of branched molecules, gel fraction, and number and weight average chain lengths are derived. Model simulations, parameter sensitivity analyses and preliminary parameter estimation studies are presented, taking the thermal crosslinking of linear polybutadiene as a case study.

Development of a kinetic model for thermal crosslinking of rubbery polymers: reaction mechanism, model equations and parameter sensitivity analyses.     

Rearrangements of Radical Cations of [2.2]Paracyclophanes and of a bridged [14]annulene to those of pyrenes: An ESR and ENDOR study

ESR and ENDOR studies have been carried out on the radical cations obtained consecutively by reaction of trans-10b, 10c-dimethyl-10b, 10c-dihydropyrene ( 4 ) with AlCl₃ in CH₂C1₂. The primarily formed ${\bf 4}^{+ \atop \dot{}}$ rearranges at 253 K to the radical cation(s) of 1,6- ( 5a ) and/or 1,8-dimethylpyrene ( 5b ). At 323 K, the spectra of ${\bf 5a}^{+ \atop \dot{}}$/${\bf 5b}^{+ \atop \dot{}}$ are replaced by that of the highly persistent radical cation of 1,3,6,8-tetramethylpyrene ( 6 ). Surprisingly, ${\bf 6}^{+ \atop \dot{}}$ is also the only observable paramagnetic product resulting from a treatment of 4,5,7,8- ( 1 ), 4,7,13,16- ( 2 ), and 4,5,12,13-tetramethyl[2.2]paracyclophane ( 3 ) with AlCl₃ in CH₂Cl₂ at 353 K. The structures of the intermediates in the rearrangement [${\bf 1}^{+ \atop \dot{}}$, ${\bf 2}^{+ \atop \dot{}}$, ${\bf 3}^{+ \atop \dot{}}$] → ${\bf 6}^{+ \atop \dot{}}$ are discussed.     

Oxazolidines versus schiff bases

The formation of oxazolidines from propionaldehyde and aliphatic β-aminoalcohols is complicated by the appearance of appreciable amounts of unsaturated Schiff bases. The simple Schiff base, often the dominant species when aromatic aldehydes react with amines, could not be detected in the present aliphatic systems. We conclude that in aliphatic systems the order of stability is and . The gem-dimethyl group α to nitrogen stablizes the heterocyclic ring remarkably.