Synthesis and thermochemistry of phenylmaleimide- and phenylnadimide-terminated bisphenol A polycarbonates

Phenylmaleimide (PMI)- and phenylnadimide (PNI)-terminated bisphenol A polycarbonates (PCs) were prepared by solution or interfacial phosgenation processes, and their thermal crosslinking, both with and without a free radical initiator, and the thermal stability of the resultant network polymers were investigated. m-PMI PCs were prepared by interfacial phosgenation of bisphenol A and m-hydroxyphenylmaleimide, but p-hydroxyphenylmaleimide caused rapid phosgene hydrolysis under interfacial conditions and PCs from it could only be made by solution phosgenation. The degree of crosslinking of PMI PCs, as measured by their gel fraction, heated in the absence of a free radical initiator was generally higher at 250°C than at 300°C and increased with the concentration of PMI end groups. m- and p-PMI PCs form thermosets having nearly complete gel fractions by radical initiated curing at 150–200°C. The gel fraction of these thermosets decreases with exposure to higher temperatures (300°C). This behavior is attributed to BA PC chain degradation induced by nitrogen-containing maleimide reaction products. p-PNI PC was prepared by solution phosgenation and the thermal reaction of it in the presence of the initiator produced only a small increase in molecular weight. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Free‐radical polymerization of dioxolane and dioxane derivatives: Effect of fluorine substituents on the ring opening polymerization

Partially fluorinated and perfluorinated dioxolane and dioxane derivatives have been prepared to investigate the effect of fluorine substituents on their free‐radical polymerization products. The partially fluorinated monomer 2‐difluoromethylene‐1,3‐dioxolane (I) was readily polymerized with free‐radical initiators azobisisobutyronitrile or tri(n‐butyl)borane–air and yielded a vinyl addition product. However, the hydrocarbon analogue, 2‐methylene‐1,3‐dioxolane (II), produced as much as 50% ring opening product at 60 °C by free‐radical polymerization. 2‐Difluoromethylene‐4‐methyl‐1,3‐dioxolane (III) was synthesized and its free‐radical polymerization yielded ring opening products: 28% at 60 °C, decreasing to 7 and 4% at 0 °C and −78 °C, respectively. All the fluorine‐substituted, perfluoro‐2‐methylene‐4‐methyl‐1,3‐dioxolane (IV) produced only a vinyl addition product with perfluorobenzoylperoxide as an initiator. The six‐membered ring monomer, 2‐methylene‐1,3‐dioxane (V), caused more than 50% ring opening during free‐radical polymerization. However, the partially fluorinated analogue, 2‐difluoromethylene‐1,3‐dioxane (VI), produced only 22% ring opening product with free‐radical polymerization and the perfluorinated compound, perfluoro‐2‐methylene‐1,3‐dioxane (VII), yielded only the vinyl addition polymer. The ring opening reaction and the vinyl addition steps during the free‐radical polymerization of these monomers are competitive reactions. We discuss the reaction mechanism of the ring opening and vinyl addition polymerizations of these partially fluorinated and perfluorinated dioxolane and dioxane derivatives. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 5180–5188, 2004     

Photoionization Mass Spectrometry: A Useful Method to Evaluate the Pyrolysis Process of Glycoside Flavor Precursor

The thermal decomposition behavior and the pyrolysis products of benzyl‐2,3,4,6‐tetra‐O‐acetyl‐β‐D‐glucopyranoside (BGLU) were studied with synchrotron vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) photoionization mass spectrometry at temperatures of 300, 500 and 700 °C at 0.062 Pa. Several pyrolysis products and intermediates were identified by the measurement of photoionization mass spectra at different photon energies. The results indicated that the primary decomposition reaction was the cleavage of O‐glycosidic bond of the glycoside at low temperature, proven by the discoveries of benzyloxy radical (m/z = 107) and glycon radical (m/z = 331) in mass spectra. As pyrolysis temperature increased from 300 to 700 °C, two possible pyrolytic modes were observed. This work reported an application of synchrotron VUV photoionization mass spectrometry in the study of the thermal decomposition of glycoside flavor precursor, which was expected to help understand the thermal decomposition mechanism of this type of compound. The possibility of this glycoside to be used as a flavor precursor in high temperature process was evaluated.     

Thermal decomposition of copolymers of styrene and halogenated monomers

Copolymers of 1,2,2,2-tetrachloroethyl esters of unsaturated acids and halogenated N-phenyl maleimides with styrene were pyrolyzed; volatile products were analyzed with a mass spectrometer combined with a gas chromatograph. Hydrogen halide and carbon dioxide in the volatile products were determined during the thermal decomposition of copolymers in glass ampoules; the acyl chloride groups were determined in the residues. The thermal decomposition of copolymers of tetrachloroethyl esters with styrene sets in at ca. 230° by the release of chloral from the copolymer and splitting of some of the CCl bonds in the copolymer. The decomposition of copolymers of styrene with halogenated N-phenyl maleimides starts above 300° by depolymerization of the polystyrene chain sections and by splitting of some of the carbon-halogen bonds. At 310 and 500° for copolymers of tetrachloroethyl esters and at 500° for halogenated N-phenyl maleimides, there is radical dehydrohalogenation of the copolymers, with depolymerization of polystyrene blocks and splitting of carbon-carbon bonds in the main chain.     

Gelsemine Support Studies: Observation of an Unusual Free Radical Cyclization-Fragmentation Sequence

Treatment of vinylogous urethanes 9a and 9b with tri-n-butyl in hydride generated a tree radical that underwent cyclization-fragmentation to afford oxindole-ketones 10 and 11 in high yield. Vinylogous urethane 13 , gave only cyclization-reduction products 15 and 16 upon treatment with tri-n-butyltin hydride at 80 °C, but also afforded a low yield of cyclization-fragmentation product 14 upon treatment with tris(trimethyl-silyl)silane at 140 °C.     

Radiolysis of phenol in aqueous solution at elevated temperatures

γ-Radiolysis and pulse radiolysis of phenol in aqueous solution up to supercritical condition have been carried out. G-values of phenol consumption and product formation have been determined. While dihydroxybenzenes were major products at room temperature, multi-ring compounds and benzene were formed above 300 °C. This indicates reaction mechanism was changed above 300 °C, where phenoxyl radical plays a predominant role. This is supported by the observation of phenoxyl radical in pulse radiolysis. In supercritical water, the G-values increased with decrease of density.     

An oxyluminescence investigation of the auto-oxidation of nylon 66

The kinetics of the thermal oxidation of stabilised and unstabilised nylon 66 fibres and films have been studied by photon counting oxyluminescence methods from 50°C to 150°C. The activation energies for initiation (E₁), propagation (E₃) and termination (E₅) over this temperature range are: E₁ = 16 kcal mol^?1, E₃ = 17·5 kcal mol^?1 and E₅ ≈ 12 kcal mol^?1. The extent of orientation of the polymer does not change the nature of the oxyluminescence curve or E₃ and E₅ above 110°C.Significant losses of critical mechanical properties of the fibres occur in the induction period at 100°C and non-stationary kinetics are described to enable this region to be studied by oxyluminescence. The oxidation rate in the induction period and the limiting rate region in air is one-third the rate in oxygen at atmospheric pressure. Non-stationary methods show that alkyl radical reactions are competitive with alkyl peroxy radical formation in air over the temperature range 100°C to 140°C. This affects the course of the oxidation reaction and the stabiliser efficiency and explains the observation of unsaturated oxidation products by phosphorescence spectroscopy.     

Etude par RPE des radicaux libres daus le tétraoxane irradié

The free radicals induced in tetraoxane at liquid nitrogen temperatures by ⁶⁰Co γ-rays have been studied by ESR. The powder spectrum as well as he spectra of the single crystal rotated around the b axis have been studied through their modifications from ?196°C up to + 80°C. These spectra show that at low temperatures two radicals exist conserving the cyclic nature of the parent molecule. During the course of annealing, starting at ?140°C and towards ?85°C they are gradually replaced by radicals with a linear structure, this being the first step in the post-polymerization process of tetraoxane. Further increase in temperature leads to radical sites situated on the polymer chains. At low temperatures evidence has also been found for the formyl radical, radical pairs, and a photo-sensitive radical.     

ESR study of primary radical formation during mechanical degradation of poly(2,6-dimethyl-p-phenylene oxide) solid

Radical formation during mechanical degradation of solid poly(2,6-dimethyl-p-phenylene oxide) (PPO) was investigated by electron spin resonance (ESR). The ESR spectrum of PPO fractured at room temperature in air consisted of eight lines with a separation of about 5.5 gauss with g = 2.0043, indicating a small asymmetry. For PPO fractured in liquid nitrogen, a similar spectrum was observed at ?196°C in air or in vacuo. These spectra have been identified as belonging to a 2,6-dimethyl-substituted phenoxy radical and thus indicate the occurrence of main-chain rupture. The phenyl radical which was expected to be formed together with a 2,6-dimethyl-substituted phenoxy radical could not be detected, but at temperatures below ?46°C a small hump was observed at g = 2.034. By subtracting the spectrum observed after decay of this hump from the original one, the resulting curve was the characteristic asymmetric spectrum of a peroxy radical, which was presumably formed by the reaction between a phenyl radical and oxygen. The radical decay curve showed two stepwise-decaying regions; one located in the temperature region between about ?120°C and ?80°C where only a small number of radicals decayed, another located in the temperature region from about ?30°C to 100°C where almost all mechanically formed radicals decayed. The latter radical decay, which occurred considerably below the glass-transition temperature of PPO, was attributed to the molecular motions associated with the mechanical β^* relaxation on the basis of the activation energy and the temperature region.     

Radiation-induced solid-state polymerization of derivatives of methacrylic acid. III. An electron spin resonance study of radical reactions in irradiated octadecyl methacrylate

The electron spin resonance spectrum of gamma-irradiated octadecyl methacrylate (m.p. ≈ 12°C.) was due to a mixture of three radicals formed by (1) loss of a hydrogen atom from the paraffin chain, (2) addition of a hydrogen atom to the double bond, and (3) addition of a monomer molecule to radicals formed by (1) or (2). On warming monomer added to radicals (1) and (2) between ?170 and ?50°C., and above ?50°C. the spectrum was solely due to propagating methacrylate radicals. The total radical concentration decreased slightly at ?150°C. and was then constant up to ?30°C. A marked decrease in radical concentration occurred from ?30 to +12°C., it took place rapidly and reached an equilibrium value after each successive increase in temperature. Differential thermal analysis indicated a solid—solid phase change at ?30°C. When the sample was kept at 0°C. there was no further decrease in radical concentration even with 50% conversion to polymer. With 2% added chloranil the (chloranil)^? was observed to be of about the same concentration as methacrylate radicals. The initial total radical concentration was lower and decreased to zero by 0°C. on warming. No polymer was obtained.     

(Supercritical) Ammonia for Recycling of Thermoset Polymers

Chemical recycling of thermosetting bisphenol-A-polycyanurate, triphenylisocyanurate and of N-phenylmaleimide (pPMI) as well as 4,4′-methylenbis- (4-N-phenylmaleimide) (pBMI) has been studied. Polycyanurate thermosets undergo ammonolytic degradation to the level of oligomeric soluble products already at room temperature, complete degradation to bisphenol-A and melamine, however requires supercritical conditions (160 °C) and longer reaction times. Polyimides prepared by free radical polymerisation after ammonolysis at 160 °C give the corresponding amines and linear polymers with unsubstituted imide and diamide units. SEC of the polymer analogous (with respect to the carbon chain) reaction products and of linear pPMI shows that the polymers have a polymodal molar mass distribution with a high molar mass and an oligomeric fraction.     

ESR spectra of poly(methacrylic acid) and poly(methyl methacrylate): Reinterpretation of the 9-line spectrum

The temperature dependence of the ESR spectra of poly(methacrylic acid) and poly-(methyl methacrylate) γ-irradiated at room temperature was studied between ?196°C and +25°C. The conventional 9-line spectrum was observed throughout this range with no significant spectral change, in contrast to the propagating radical ··· CH₂? °C(CH₃)COOR found in methacrylic acid monomer or barium methacrylate dihydrate irradiated at ?196°C. In addition, the irradiation of methacrylic acid monomer with a low dose at 0°C gave the same 13-line spectrum as that of the propagating radical obtained by the irradiation at ?196°C, while prolonged irradiation at 0°C gave the same conventional 9-line spectrum as that of poly(methacrylic acid) or poly(methyl methacrylate). The conventional 9-line spectrum has a much weaker 4-line component than that of the propagating radical. The difference comes from the surrounding matrix, and the conventional 9-line spectrum is well interpreted by introducing the concept of the distribution of the conformational angle in the irregular polymer matrix. From simulation of the ESR spectrum, it was found that the intensity of the 4-line component is very sensitive to the distribution, and that the observed 9-line spectrum is well reproduced assuming a Gaussian distribution (half-height width of 5–6°) around the most probable conformation which is nearly the same as that of the propagating radical, where the conformational angles of the two C? H_β bonds to the half-filled p-orbital are 55° and 65°.     

Radiation-induced polymerization at high dose rate. III. Isoprene in bulk

Radiation-induced polymerization of isoprene in bulk state was studied at 25°C in a wide dose rate range. Variations of the rate of polymerization and molecular weight of the products were essentially the same as those observed in the monomers which were capable of both radical and cationic polymerizations. At low dose rate, 7.0-230 rad/sec, radical polymerization took place. At high dose rate, 8.8 × 10³-2.2 × 10⁵ rad/sec, radical and cationic polymerizations took place concurrently. The average molecular weight of the high-dose-rate product was about 850, independent of dose rate. The microstructure of the products at high dose rate consisted mainly of trans- 1,4 units with only about 7% of cis- 1,4 and 10% of 3,4-vinyl units. The residual unsaturation in the high-dose-rate products was 90%. Decreases in cis units and residual unsaturation at high dose rate were accounted for by the change in predominant mechanism of polymerization with dose rate.     

Thermal decomposition products of polyisobutylene

Polyisobutylene was decomposed at 325, 345, and 365°C under vacuum, and the volatile products were trapped by using liquid nitrogen. The products, C₁–C₂₄ hydrocarbons, were analyzed by gas chromatography. The formation of the main products is discussed on the basis of a free-radical mechanism. Intramolecular radical transfer can account for the production of most fragments including dimers, trimers, tetramers, and so on, of isobutylene.     

Four-center type photopolymerization in the crystalline state. VI. Kinetic and structural study of the polymerization of p-phenylenediacrylic acid diethyl ester

The effect of temperature on the four-center type photopolymerization has been investigated for p-phenylenediacrylic acid diethyl ester over a wide temperature range including crystal transition point (56°C) and melting point (96°C) of monomer. With the elevation of temperature between ?50 and 15°C, the polymerization rate in the initial stage increased and the degree of polymerization decreased monotonously, while the rate in the later stage decreased above ?25°C. With irradiation at above 25°C, the monomer crystals became sticky, and the polymerization was suppressed at the stage of oligomerization with low conversion. This tendency was enhanced above the crystal transition point, giving mainly dimer in low yield. Above the melting point, only radical polymerization occurred with the aid of oxygen. The steric configuration of the products in the crystalline state was 1,3-trans with respect to the cyclobutane ring. Peaks in NMR spectra of all products were assigned to the protons involved in four compounds up to tetramer. Various results obtained have been interpreted in terms of the change, as a function of temperature, from a topochemical polymerization which proceeds under a control of the monomer lattice to a photoinitiated vinyl-type polymerization in the disordered state. It is concluded that a rigid crystal lattice is indispensable for the four-center type photopolymerization to proceed smoothly.     

Syntheses and crosslinking reactions of self-curable copolymers containing pendant cyclic iminoethers and carboxylic acid groups

Soluble copolymers containing both pendant cyclic iminoethers such as 4,4-dimethyl-2-oxazoline or 4,4,6-trimethyl-4H-dihydro-1,3-oxazine and carboxylic acid were successfully synthesized by radical copolymerizations of 4,4-dimethyl-2-vinyl-2-oxazoline, 4,4-dimethyl-2-isopropenyl-2-oxazoline, or 4,4,6-trimethyl-2-vinyl-4H-dihydro-1,3-oxazine with methacrylic acid and styrene, methyl methacrylate, or ethyl acrylate using AIBN as an initiator in benzene or DMF at 60 or 80°C. The crosslinking reaction of the copolymers obtained did not occur by heating at 70°C. However, these copolymers quantitatively produced gel products by heating at 130°C. The rate of crosslinking reaction of the copolymer increased with increasing pendant cyclic iminoether and carboxylic acid groups. The rate of crosslinking was also affected by the molecular motion of the polymer chain. Our results show that the copolymers of more sterically hindered 2-vinyl-2-oxazolines are more stable and so they can be crosslinked in a controlled manner and at higher temperatures than the previously studied polyoxaziline system.     

Radiolysis of acid water (0.4 M H2SO4) at elevated temperatures with fast neutrons and proton beam

To elucidate the G-values of water decomposition products at elevated temperatures up to 270°C, radiolysis of acid water, 0.4 M H₂SO₄, has been carried out with fast neutrons in a reactor by a combination of the Fricke, cerium and bichromate dosimeters. At room temperature, the radical yield is smaller and the molecular yield is larger than those established in γ-radiolysis and net water decomposition is smaller. With increasing temperature, the ratio of the radical to molecular yields becomes similar to that in γ-radiolysis at room temperature. In order to check the above evaluation, proton beam radiolysis was also conducted at elevated temperatures as a model experiment. Although the temperature range was limited between room temperature and 80°C, the proton beam experiment confirms the evaluation obtained in the fast neutron radiolysis.     

Thermal degradation of polymers with phenylene units in the chain. IV. Aromatic polyamides and polyimides

The breakdown mechanism of an aromatic polyamide and four polyimides has been studied under vacuum in the temperature range of 375–620°C, by using techniques described earlier, involving collection and analysis of volatile products as well as analyses of residues at different temperatures. The decomposition of the polyamide up to 375°C yielded predominantly carbon dioxide, while between 375 and 450°C about equal amounts of carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide formed. Hydrogen is the major product between 450 and 550°C, along with hydrogen cyanide, methane, and carbon monoxide. The major reaction at the lower temperatures seems to be the cleavage of the linkage between the carbonyl group and the ring, with subsequent formation of a carbodiimide linkage via isocyanate intermediates, and liberation of carbon dioxide. Alternatively, cleavage between the carboxyl and the NH-group leads to the formation of carbon monoxide. Carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide are also the major volatile decomposition products of the polyimides at the lower temperatures. The primary cleavage reaction is believed to be the rupture of the imide ring between a carbonyl and nitrogen, with subsequent formation of isocyanate groups. The latter react with each other to form carbodiimide linkages and carbon dioxide, while the remaining benzoyl radical is the source for carbon monoxide.     

Effect of glyoxylic oxime ether on radical polymerization of styrene

Methyl benzyloxyiminoacetate (MBOIA), a glyoxylic oxime ether, revealed different behaviors depending on the kinds of monomers used in the radical polymerization. MBOIA served as a retarder for styrene (St) and an inhibitor for vinyl acetate, whereas it showed little effect on the polymerization of methyl methacrylate. The retardation effect of MBOIA on the polymerization of St with dimethyl 2,2′‐azobisisobutyrate (MAIB) was examined in detail in benzene. The rate constant (k_x) of the reaction of MBOIA with polystyrene (PS) radical was 92 L/mol s at 50 °C, 112 L/mol s at 60 °C, and 143 L/mol s at 70 °C, indicating that the reactivity of MBOIA toward PS radical is less than that of St by a factor of about 3. The Arrhenius plot of k_x gave an activation energy of 20.3 kJ/mol. A nitrogen‐centered radical of a stationary state was observed by electron spin resonance (ESR) in the polymerization of St with MAIB at 60 °C in benzene in the presence of MBOIA, which is assignable to the radical (MBOIA ·) formed by addition of PS radical to MBOIA. The stationary MBOIA · concentration increased with increasing MBOIA concentration and then tended to be saturated at high concentrations. The rate constant of termination between MBOIA · radicals was 1.87 × l0⁵ L/mol s at 60 °C with ESR. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 2772–2781, 2002     

Poly(N-n-butylitaconimide). Preparation and characterization

Poly(N-n-butylitaconimide) was prepared by radical polymerization in benzene and in bulk at 60°C and was subsequently fractionated at 30°C with benzene and methanol as solvent and nonsolvent, respectively. Relationships between molecular weight and intrinsic viscosity (Mark-Houwink-Sakurada equations) in tetrahydrofuran, benzene, and toluene at 30°C are established. From the Burchard-Stockmayer-Fixman plot, the characteristic ratio of this polymer is determined, and local chain conformation is discussed in relation to the termination process in radical polymerization. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.