Polymerization of alkylene oxides by dialkylzinc–lewis base systems

Dialkylzinc–Lewis base systems are found to be active catalysts for the polymerization of alkylene oxides. The diethylzinc–dimethyl sulfoxide system is especially effective in the preparation of high polymers of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide. Diethylzine does not react with dimethyl sulfoxide, but there is strong association between the compounds. The proton magnetic resonance spectrum of a poly(ethylene oxide) prepared by the catalyst system suggests that the n-butoxyl group is attached to the end of the polymer chain. Polymerization of ethylene oxide seems to be initiated by the ethyl–zinc bond. The active species of the system seems to be diethylzinc coordinated with dimethyl sulfoxide. The efficiency of the catalyst system for the formation of high molecular weight polymer is 10^?1?10^?2. The other part of the catalyst is responsible for the formation of low polymers.     

Polymerization of acrylonitrile initiated by ceric ion-organic sulphur compounds reducing agent systems

Polymerization of acrylonitrile was investigated using ceric ion-organic sulfur compounds reducing agent systems. The organic sulphur compounds used as the reductants are, thiourea, thioacetamide, 2-amino ethanethiol, cysteine, and thioglycolic acid. The rates of polymerization were measured within the temperature range of 25 to 40 °C. The initiation was by the radical produced from Ce⁴⁺-sulphur compounds reaction. The rate of monomer disappearance was proportional to [M]^1.5, [S]^0.5 and the rate of ceric disappearance was directly proportional to [S] and [Ce⁴⁺]. A kinetic scheme involving the initiation by the primary radical and termination of the growing polymer radicals by the mutual type has been suggested and the kinetic percentage have been evaluated.     

Kinetics and mechanism of acrylonitrile polymerization by p-toluenesulfinic acid. II. Polymerization mechanism

The retardation of acrylonitrile (AN) polymerization by p-toluenesulfinic acid (TSA) in the presence of relatively strong acids has been further investigated. Conductance measurements supported the hypothesis that an ionic complex, presumably RSO₂H₂⁺, is obtained by a reaction of the sulfinic acid with a proton. It is postulated that this complex is a chain transfer agent for the observed retardation. On the basis of this assumption, a kinetic scheme was developed involving additional termination steps by the complex. The scheme accounts for the maximum in initial rate observed on increasing the concentration of added sulfonic acid at a constant TSA concentration. It also provides an explanation for the elimination of the autoacceleration in the bulk polymerization of AN when strong acids are added. The orders derived from the kinetic equations are in good agreement with the orders evaluated from the kinetic experiments.     

Polymerization of acrylonitrile initiated by ceric ion–citric acid redox system

Heterogeneous polymerization of acrylonitrile initiated by ceric ammonium sulfate–citric acid (C.A.) redox system is reported at 35 ± 0.2°C under nitrogen atmosphere. The rate of monomer disappearance is found to be proportional to [C.A.]⁰, [Ce⁴⁺]^0.63, and [Monomer]^1.59. The rate of ceric ion disappearance is directly proportional to ceric ion concentration but independent of monomer concentration. The initial rate was independent of [H₂SO₄]. The molecular weight of polyacrylonitrile increases with increasing monomer concentration and decreasing ceric ion concentration. Activation energy was found to be 27.9 kJ/mol.     

Controlled macromolecular synthesis by the nucleophile/lewis acid binary systems

Amphiphilic initiator systems consisting of bulky nucleophiles as propagating species and bulky electrophiles (Lewis acids) as monomer activators bring about high-speed living anionic polymerization of polar vinylic and heterocyclic monomers to give narrow molecular weight distribution (MWD) polymers.     

Polymerization of acrylonitrile initiated by styrene-arsenic sulfide complex

Arsenic sulfide interacts with styrene to form a complex which in DMSO at 80±0.1°C under N₂ atmosphere, initiates radical polymerization of acrylonitrile. The kinetic equation of the system isR _p [complex]^0.5 [AN]. The value ofk _p ² /k _t and energy of activation for the system are computed as 5.0×10^–1 l mol^–1 s^–1 and 98.2 kJ mol^–1, respectively. The polymerization is retarded by hydroquinone. The effect of polar and non-polar solvents has also been discussed. A possible mechanism for the reaction has also been proposed.     

Polymerization of olefins with nonstationary catalytic systems in a stationary mode

The functioning of an ideal mixing reactor in the polymerization of olefins with nonstationary catalytic systems in a steady mode was studied. Equations are derived for the dependence of the stationary polymerization rate and the degree of polymerization of the forming polymers on the intensity of the material exchange of the reactor from the external medium, and the rate constants of the elementary reactions-initiation, growth, chain termination, and formation and deactivation of active centers.     

Polymerization of acrylonitrile by V5+–lactic acid system in aqueous sulfuric acid

Kinetics of polymerization of acrylonitrile by the redox system V⁵⁺–lactic acid in sulfuric acid at 20–35°C was studied. Oxidation of lactic acid by V⁵⁺ in the absence of monomer was also carried out under identical conditions. The rates of polymerization, V⁵⁺ disappearance and the chainlengths of polyacrylonitrile were measured. From the results it is concluded that the polymerization reaction is initiated by an organic free radical arising from the V⁵⁺–lactic acid reaction with termination by V⁵⁺ ions. Mutual termination of active polymer radicals does not appear to operate under the conditions studied. The various rate parameters were evaluated.     

Polymerization of lanthanide acrylonitrile complexes

The molecular complexes of some lanthanides scandium (Sc3+), yttrium (Y3+), lanthanum (La3+), gadolinium (Gd3+), cerium (Ce3+) and ytterbium (Yb3) have been studies in dimethyl formamide (DMF) spectrophtometrically equilibrium constants (K), molar extintion coefficient (epsilon), energy of transition (E) and free energy (delta G*) were calculated. The polymerization of acrylonitrile has been studied and investigated in the presence of Sc3+, Y3+, La3+, Gd3+, Ce3+, and Yb3+ ions. The IR spectra of the formed AN-M (III) Br3 polymer complexes show the absence of the C identical to N band and the presence of two new bands corresponding to NH2 and OH groups. Magnetic moment values and the thermal stabilities of homopolymer and the polymer complexes were studied by means of thermogravimetric analysis and the activation energies for degradation were calculated.     

Polymerization of acrylonitrile initiated by KO2- nitrobenzene

Polymerization of acrylonitrile initiated by a potassium superoxide (KO₂)-nitrobenzene system was carried out in anhydrous dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) at 25°C. The initial rate of polymerization was rapid and a high-molecular-weight polymer was obtained. The molecular weight was proportional to monomer concentration and inversely to concentration of initiator within 5 min. The overall activation energy was estimated as ?2.6kcal/mol deg in the temperature range of 20–50°C. In addition to nitrobenzene anion radical, other anion radicals generated by one-electron transfer from KO₂ to charge transfer agents such as m-dinitrobenzene benzoquinone, benzophenone, and naphthalene were effective in the polymerization of acrylonitrile. It is proposed that polymerization proceeds via an anionic mechanism that involves one-electron transfer from anion radicals to monomer.     

Metal compounds in free-radical processes. III. Polymerization of acrylonitrile initiated by copper (II) nitrate in presence or absence of triphenylphosphine

The bulk polymerization of acrylonitrile (AN) initiated by copper (II) nitrate, Cu(II), in the absence of light has been studied. The rate of the AN polymerization may be expressed in the Cu(II) concentration range from 5 × 10^?4 to 1 × 10^?1 mole 1.^?1 by the equation, R_p = k₅[Cu(II)]^0.68, where k₅ = K_AN[AN]/(1 + K_AN[AN]). From the spectrophotometric measurements the values of 0.70 l./mole and 0.08 l, mole were obtained for the equilibrium constant at 20 and 60°C, respectively, K_AN = [C]/[AN]-[Cu(II)], corresponding to the formation of the complex C from acrylonitrile and copper (II) nitrate. An addition of triphenylphosphine (C₆H₅)₃P into the polymerization system reduces R_p, and no polymerization takes place at all provided [(C₆H₅)₃P]/[Cu-(II)] ≧ 5. The retardation effect of (C₆H₅)₃P on the polymerization of AN initiated by Cu(II) is attributed to a competitive reaction of Cu(II) with (C₆H₅)₃P in which Cu(II) is reduced and the product of this reduction CuNO₃·2(C₆H₅)₃P is inactive with respect to the polymerization of AN.     

Investigation on catalytic systems containing nickel supported on silica and bonded with organic ligands and complexed by lewis acids

The catalytic properties of the

(n = 0–3) system, resulting from the reaction of (C₃H₅)₂Ni with hydroxide groups of silica gel and complexation with a Lewis acid, MeAlCl₂, have been studied in the oligomerization of propylene. It has been ascertained that when n > 3 the excess of MeAlCl₂ is carried out from the catalyst bed by the products. The yield of the product is influenced by the rate of propylene flow and the composition of the catalyst. The yield of products increases with the rise in the propylene flow rate. The highest yield was obtained for n = 1 and the flow of propylene = 360 ml/min g. The elimination by the olefin of the allyl group from the complex in the initial stages of oligomerization was ascertained. This testifies to the formation of new forms of the surface nickel complex that should contain catalytically active NiH or NiR bonds. The EPR studies determined the valence of nickel in this system (n = 1) to be +2 and thus made it possible to propose its structure.     

Asymmetric cyclization of unsaturated aldehydes catalyzed by a chiral lewis acid

A highly enantioselective cyclization of prochiral unsaturated aldehydes has been accomplished with a chiral zinc reagent derived from dimethylzinc and ($\text{R}$)-(+)-1,1′-bi-2-naphthol.     

Polymerization of styrene with nickel complex/methylaluminoxane catalytic systems

Polymerization of styrene using catalytic systems based on nickel derivatives and methylaluminoxane (MAO) was studied. Among tested catalysts, nickel bis(acetylacetonate) and nickel dichloride show the maximum activity. Bis(phosphine)nickel dichlorides exhibit lower activity, depending on the nature of the phosphine ligand. Polymer yields decrease by lowering the catalyst concentration, by increasing the reaction temperature, or by carrying out the polymerization in a polar donor solvent. Weight average molecular weight of most of the prepared polystyrenes ranges from 9000 to 25,000, with polydispersity indexes of 1.6–3.8. However, polystyrene prepared in dioxane solvent exhibits a small fraction of very high molecular weight (about 140,000). From NMR analysis, the products seem generally to be constituted of two polymers with different steric microstructure: atactic polystyrene and partially isotactic polystyrene (ca. 75–85% meso diads). Catalytic site specificity is correlated with the type of nickel ligand, while the effect of reaction temperature is less defined. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 36: 2119–2126, 1998     

Polymerization of acrylonitrile in presence of tributylborine

Summary It was found that acrylonitrile polymerizes in presence of tributyiborine activated by the boron trifuloride ether complex.     

Polymerization of acrylonitrile initiated by a manganese(III) acetate glycerol redox system

The kinetics of polymerization of acrylonitrile(AN) initiated by manganese(III) acetate in the presence of glycerol was investigated in the temperature range of 30–40°C. The effect of varying the concentrations of glycerol, sulfuric acid, acetic acid, metal ion, and monomer on the rate was studied. A suitable reaction scheme and rate expression have been proposed. Termination was mutual and was caused by the combination of two growing polymer radicals.