Reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer mediated radical polymerization of asymmetrical divinyl monomers targeting hyperbranched vinyl polymers

Reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) mediated radical polymerizations of allyl methacrylate and undecenyl methacrylate, compounds containing two types of vinyl groups with different reactivities, were investigated to provide hyperbranched polymers. The RAFT agent benzyl dithiobenzoate was demonstrated to be an appropriate chain‐transfer agent to inhibit crosslinking and obtain polymers with moderate‐to‐high conversions. The polymerization of allyl methacrylate led to a polymer without branches but with five‐ or six‐membered rings. However, poly(undecenyl methacrylate) showed an indication of branching rather than intramolecular cycles. The hyperbranched structure of poly(undecenyl methacrylate) was confirmed by a combination of ¹H, ¹³C, ¹H–¹H correlation spectroscopy, and distortionless enhancement by polarization transfer 135 NMR spectra. The branching topology of the polymers was controlled by the variation of the reaction temperature, chain‐transfer‐agent concentration, and monomer conversion. The significantly lower inherent viscosities of the resulting polymers, compared with those of linear analogues, demonstrated their compact structure. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 26–40, 2007     

Branched polystyrene with abundant pendant vinyl functional groups from asymmetric divinyl monomer

Branched polystyrenes with abundant pendant vinyl functional groups were prepared via radical polymerization of an asymmetric divinyl monomer, which possesses a higher reactive styryl and a lower reactive butenyl. Employing a fast reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) equilibrium, the concentration of active propagation chains remained at a low value and thus crosslinking did not occur until a high level of monomer conversion. The combination of a higher reaction temperature (120 °C) and RAFT agent cumyl dithiobenzoate was demonstrated to be optimal for providing both a more highly branched architecture and a higher polymer yield. The molecular weights (M_ws) increased with monomer conversions because of the controlled radical polymerization characteristic, whereas the M_w distributions broadened showing a result of the gradual increase of the degree of branching. The evolution of branched structure has been confirmed by a triple detection size exclusion chromatography (TRI‐SEC) and NMR technique. Furthermore, the double bonds in the side chains were successfully used for chemical modification reactions. ¹H NMR and FTIR measurements reveal that the great mass of pendant vinyl groups were converted to the corresponding objective end‐groups. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 6023–6034, 2008     

Manipulating supramolecular self-assembly via tailoring pendant group size of linear vinyl polymers

In a series of poly[di(alkyl) vinylterephthalates] (PDAVTs) synthesized via radical polymerization, fine-tuning the size and shape of the side groups manipulated the supramolecular self-assembly and led to control over the formations between amorphous and 2D ordered hexagonal phases. To introduce the 2D long-range ordered structure, the size of the ester side groups at the 2- and 5-positions of the phenyl rings laterally attached to the backbones had to be in the range of propyl/isopropyl to hexyl. The relatively extended backbones observed in these polymers were attributed to steric effects from the side groups. When the n-alkyl groups were larger than hexyl, the ability to form the liquid crystalline phase gradually decreased. A completely disordered phase could be observed by substituting dodecyl groups as side groups.     

Expanding vinyl ether monomer repertoire for ring-expansion cationic polymerization: Various cyclic polymers with tailored pendant groups

Herein, we clarified the ring-expansion cationic polymerization with a cyclic hemiacetal ester (HAE)-based initiator was versatile in terms of applicable vinyl ether monomers. Although there was a risk that higher reactive vinyl ethers may incur β-H elimination of the HAE-based cyclic dormant species to irreversibly give linear chains, the polymerizations were controlled to give corresponding cyclic polymers from various alkyl vinyl ethers of different reactivities. Functional vinyl ether monomers were also available, and for instance a vinyl ether monomer carrying an initiator moiety for metal-catalyzed living radical polymerization in the pendant allowed construction of ring-linear graft copolymers through the grafting-from approach. Furthermore, ring-based gel was prepared via the addition of divinyl ether at the end of the ring-expansion polymerization, where multi HAE bonds cyclic polymers or fused rings were crosslinked with each other. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2017 , 55, 3082–3089     

Polymerization of monolayers of vinyl and divinyl monomers

Monolayer balance techniques have been used to study “two-dimensional” polymerization of monomolecular films of octadecyl methacrylate and a divinyl ester. Polymerizations were initiated with ultraviolet radiation, and reaction rates and properties of the product evaluated from surface pressure–area isotherms. The polymerization rate of the acrylate in argon is linear up to 70% conversion; the product obtained in this way exhibits an isotherm which may reflect the packing and orientation of the starting monolayer. Rate data for the divinyl system—the product of which should be a sheet-like, two-dimensional analog of a network system—exhibit no unusual features.     

Block polymers of isocyanates and vinyl monomers by homogeneous anionic polymerization

The “living” polymer method was used to prepare block polymers of vinyl monomers and isocyanates at low temperatures in toluene–tetrahydrofuran mixtures. Vinyl monomers and diisocyanates, which have one hindered isocyanate group, as in 2,4-toluene diisocyanate, form block polymers which contain pendant reactive isocyanate groups. These block polymers can be crosslinked with water, diols, diamines, etc. The polymerization is apparently limited to block polymer formation, since the polyisocyanate anion is incapable of initiating the polymerization of common vinyl monomers.     

Anionic polymerization of vinyl monomers with xanthates

The polymerization of vinyl monomers with various xanthates (potassium tert-butylxanthate, potassium benzylxanthate, zinc n-butylxanthate, etc.) were carried out at 0°C in dimethylformamide. N-Phenylmaleimide, acrylonitrile, methyl vinyl ketone, and methyl methacrylate were found to undergo polymerization with potassium tert-butylxanthate; however, styrene, methyl acrylate, and acrylamide were not polymerized with this xanthate. In the anionic polymerization of methyl vinyl ketone with potassium tert-butylxanthate, the rate of the polymerization was found to be proportional to the catalyst concentration and to the square of the monomer concentration. The activation energy of methyl vinyl ketone polymerization was 2.9 kcal/mole. In the polymerization, the order of monomer reactivity was as follows: N-phenylmaleimide > methyl vinyl ketone > acrylonitrile > methyl methacrylate. The initiation ability of xanthates increased with increasing basicity of the alkoxide group and with decreasing electronegativity of the metal ion in the series, lithium, sodium, and potassium tert-butylxanthate. The relative effects of the aprotic polar solvents on the reactivity of potassium tert-butylxanthate was also determined as follows: diethylene glycol dimethyl ether > dimethylsulfoxide > hexamethylphosphoramide > dimethylformamide > tetrahydrofuran (for methyl vinyl ketone); dimethyl sulfoxide > hexamethylphosphoramide > dimethylformamide ? diethylene glycol dimethyl ether (for acrylonitrile).     

Enzymatic polymerization of vinyl monomers

The possibility of using horse radish peroxidase as a catalyst for polymerization of monomers (vinylformamide and sodium vinylsulfonate) in the presence of hydrogen peroxide and 2,4-pentanedione in aqueous medium at room temperature was studied.     

Synthesis of vinyl polymers with pendant phenoxazinyl group

Vinyl monomers bearing phenoxazine units, were synthesized: 2-vinyl-phenoxazine starting with phenoxazine in a five-step synthesis; 3-acrylamido- or 3-methacrylamido-phenoxazines with or without 10-PhCH₂ or 10-Me-substituent starting with o-benzylideneaminophenol or o-anisidine via 3-aminophenoxazines; and 3-(p-styrenesulfonamido)phenoxazines with or without 10-PhCH₂- or 10-Me-substituent, also via 3-aminophenoxazines. Polymerizations of these noval monomers proceeded smoothly, except those having no 10-substituent. Changes of the visible absorption spectrum of iodine in THF with addition of the polymers and oligomers thus prepared were considerable, with the appearance of new absorption peaks for polymers with 10-Me-substituent.     

Living cationic polymerization of vinyl monomers: Mechanism and synthesis of new polymers

This paper reviews the recent progress in our research on the living cationic polymerization of vinyl compounds by the hydrogen iodide/iodine (HI/I₂) initiating system, with emphasis on its scope, mechanism, and applications to new polymer synthesis. The scope of the living cationic polymerization has been expanded to include vinyl ethers, propenyl ethers, unsaturated cyclic ethers, and styrene derivatives as monomers. The initiation/propagation mechanism was discussed on the basis of recent direct analysis on the living system by NMR and UV/visible spectroscopy. The proposed mechanism involves a quantitative formation of Hl-vinyl ether adduct [CH₃-CH(OR)-I; l] that is by itself incapable of initiating polymerization. In the presence of iodine, however, the CH-I bond of l is electrophilically activated by iodine and living propagation occurs via the insertion of vinyl ether to the activated CH-I bond. Such living polymerizations were found to proceed in not only nonpolar but polar solvents (CH₂Cl₂) as well. Quenching the living end with amines gave polymers capped with an amino group that in turn enabled us to determine the living end concentration. Applications of the HI/I₂-initiated living process to the synthesis of new bifunctional and block polymers were also described.     

Single‐chain nanoparticles with well‐defined structure via intramolecular crosslinking of linear polymers with pendant benzoxazine groups

Controlled intramolecular collapse of linear polymer chains with crosslinkable groups is an efficient way to prepare single‐chain nanoparticles in the size range of 5–20 nm. However, the nature of the crosslinking group is critical. In present study, poly(styrene‐co‐chloromethyl styrene) [P(St‐co‐CMS)] was synthesized via reversible addition‐fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization and then was converted into polystyrene azide (PS? N₃). Polystyrene containing benzoxazine side groups [P(St‐co‐BS)], which can be used as the precusor for the later intramolecular collapse, was obtained from PS? N₃ and 3‐(4‐(prop‐2‐ynyloxy)phenyl)‐3,4‐dihydro‐2H‐benzo[e][1,3]oxazine (P‐APPE) via the method of click chemistry. The sub‐20 nm polymeric nanoparticles with well‐defined structure via thermally intramolecular crosslinking of P(St‐co‐BS) were prepared. The structure change from the linear polymers to the single‐chain nanoparticles was confirmed by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), and gel permeation chromatography (GPC). The morphology and the dimension of the nanoparticles were characterized by using transmission electron microscope (TEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), as well as dynamic light scattering (DLS). The results reveal that the size of the nanoparticles can be regulated by changing the molecular weight of the precursors and the amount of pendant benzoxazine groups by the use of controlled polymerization techniques. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011     

Miscibility of methacrylic polymers with different pendant groups

Miscibility is not always common in blends of homologous polymers that differ in structure but possess the same functional groups. In this study, two methacrylate polymers, which differ by a methylene unit, were found to be miscible in accordance with morphology and thermal transition criteria of polymer miscibility. Miscibility of the pair poly(phenyl methacrylate) and poly‐(benzyl methacrylate) is quite unusual. Interactions between carbonyl units and phenyl rings of these two polymers are discussed. FT‐IR results indicate an intimate mixing state between these two polymers leading to mutual influence in the absorbance wavenumbers for C=O, ether groups and, possibly, phenyl rings.     

A sterically hindered cobalt o-iminobenzosemiquinone complex in the polymerization of vinyl monomers

The influence of bis[4,6-di-tert-butyl-N-(2,6-dimethylphenyl)-o-iminobenzosemiquinonato]cobalt (II) on the radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate and styrene under the conditions of radical initiation by azo-bis-isobutyric acid dinitrile in the temperature range 70–90°C has been studied. The use of the cobalt complex containing redox-oxidized ligands leads to the suppression of autoacceleration of the polymerization of methyl methacrylate and to a linear increase in the molecular masses of the polymers with conversion. In the case of styrene polymerization, the control over the kinetics of the process and molecular weight characteristics of the polymers synthesized in the presence of the cobalt iminobenzosemiquinone complex is less pronounced.     

Anionic graft copolymerization of diene polymers with vinyl monomers

A mixture of homopolymer and graft copolymer was obtained by adding the monomer at 0°C to the polylithiodiene solution. Styrene, methyl methacrylate, and acrylonitrile were used as the monomers. Polylithiodienes were prepared by the metalation of diene polymers, i.e., polybutadiene or polyisoprene, with the use of n-butyllithium in the presence of a tertiary amine (N,N,N′,N′-tetramethylethylenediamine) in n-heptane. The graft copolymers were separated by solvent extraction and were confirmed by turbidimetric titration and elementary analysis. Oxidation of the polybutadiene–styrene grafts revealed that the molecular weight of the side chains was the same as the molecular weight of the free polystyrene formed. The grafting efficiency and grafting percentage were studied for polybutadiene–styrene graft copolymers prepared under various conditions.     

Synthesis and polymerization of heteroaromatic vinyl monomers

Methods of preparing new monomers, 2-vinyl and 2-isopropenyloxazoles and 2-isopropenyl-1,3,4-oxadiazoles are described. New methods were developed to synthesize monomers containing an isoxazole or a thiazole ring. Radical homopolymerization and copolymerization with styrene of these monomers were carried out by using AIBN as an initiator. Monomer reactivity ratios r₁, r₂ and Alfrey-Price Q–e values were determined by the Fineman-Ross and the Mayo-Lewis methods. The localization energy of the β-carbon was calculated by a HITAC-5020 computer, and the monomer reactivity is discussed in terms of L_β.     

Complexation behaviour of polymers with pendant cyclodextrin side groups

The influence of the chain conformation on the formation of polymeric supramolecular complexes as well as the influence of the complexation on the conformation of the polymer chain has been studied. The complexation of pyrene into the cavity of β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) was investigated in aqueous solutions of β-CD substituted poly(allylamine) (PAA) under variation of external parameters, i.e. temperature, pH, ionic strength and addition of urea. The observed changes of the complexation constant K for the formation of the 2:1 β-CD/pyrene complex can be explained by a change of the chain flexibility which leads to a variation of the mean distance between neighbouring β-CD-moieties along the polymer chain. The intra-chain association of the decyl group with β-CD in PAA with co-pendant decyl and β-CD is disrupted by the addition of 1-adamantanamine HCl resulting in a more extended structure of the polymer. The β-CD moiety in PAA-CD shows one order of magnitude greater affinity to 2-(p-toluidyl)naphthalene-6-sulfonate than the native β-CD and the affinity increases further by the presence of decyl side groups.     

Formation of alternating copolymers via spontaneous copolymerization of 1,3-dehydroadamantane with electron-deficient vinyl monomers

Copolymerizations of 1,3-dehydroadamantane, 1, and various vinyl monomers were carried out in THF at room temperature. On mixing 1 with electron-deficient vinyl monomers, such as acrylonitrile and methyl acrylate, in the absence of any initiator, the copolymerization spontaneously proceeded to give alternating copolymers in 28-88% yield. By contrast, no reaction of 1 occurred at all when isobutyl vinyl ether or styrene was mixed under similar conditions. These contrastive results indicate the high electron density of a central sigma-bond in a strained [3.3.1]propellane derivative, 1. Alternating sequences of the resulting copolymers were characterized by NMR and MALDI-TOF-MS measurements. DSC and TGA measurements revealed the high thermal stability of the alternating copolymers containing bulky, stiff, and strain-free adamantane skeletons.