Stereochemistry of anionic vinyl polymerization

The stereochemistry of anionic polymerization of vinyl monomers: CH₂=C(R)C(Y)=X where X and Y are O, N or C and R = H or alkyl is discussed in terms of a: the geometry of the -CH₂C-(R)C(Y)=X intermediate existing as E- or Z-isomers; b: the interactions of cation (Li, Na, etc.) with the anion and coordinating groups on the penultimate or antepenultimate asymmetric carbon. The E/Z ratio appears to be determined directly by the s-trans/s-cis approach of the monomer. The nature of the coordination of the counter ion is considerably more complicated and is discussed in detail.     

Oligomerization of vinyl monomers 20. Carbon-13 NMR of oligomers of 2-vinylpyridine. Studies of labelled end groups

Oligomers of 2-vinylpyridine initiated with Li, Na, K, and Rb salts of ¹³C-labeled or-unlabeled 2-ethylpyridine and terminated with ¹³C-labeled or -unlabeled methyl iodide were separated by liquid chromatography and analyzed by ¹³C-NMR of the initial or terminal CH₃ group. The stereochemistry of the three dyads which flank the initial or terminal methyl group could be determined and this allowed us to evaluate the stereochemistry of both methylation and vinyl addition. The methylation of the Li and Na salts of the oligomer anions is highly (> 95%) stereoselective and independent of chain length, whereas the stereoselectivity of the K and Rb salts is substantially less. These data indicate that the Li and Na oligomer and polymer anions exist in a chelated form in which the metal ion is complexed with the penultimate 2-pyridine group, the other counterions being chelated to a lesser extent. The stereochemistry of monomer addition was found to be less stereoselective than that of methylation for the Li and Na salts. In addition, the apparent meso-stereoselectivity of monomer addition of the Na, K, and Rb systems was greater than that of the Li ion. For the latter system, in particular, the mechanism appeared to be Markoff-like and consistent with different reactivities of anions flanked by a distinct dyad or triad stereochemistry. These data appear to be consistent with the intramolecular coordination that tends to hold the third asymmetric center close to the propagating carbanion.     

Solvation effects in anionic polymerization of polar vinyl monomers

The anionic polymerization (AP) of polar vinyl monomers (PVM) is strongly affected by additives with electron donor and electron acceptor properties. For the purpose of estimating the interactions of the active centers (AC) of chain growth with different ligands, the approach of studying a reference system was adopted, viz. lithium picrate (LiPi) in dioxane (DO). Three types of interaction were distinguished: with electron pair donors (EPD), with Li salts and alkoxides, and with Lewis acids. Spectral evidence was found of charge transfer complexation with Li alkoxides and enolates, leading to modified dianionic Meisenheimer adducts. The experimental procedure was employed in studies of competitive solvation of LiPi by two ligands. The results were related to reviewed literature data on the kinetics and stereochemistry of methyl methacrylate (MMA) and 2-vinylpyridine (2VP) polymerizations by lithium initiators.     

Effect of zinc salts on the spontaneous copolymerization of 4-vinylpyridine with various electron-rich vinyl monomers

The spontaneous copolymerization of 4-vinylpyridine (4-VP) complexed with three different zinc salts (chloride, acetate, and triflate) with various electron-rich vinyl monomers (p-methoxystyrene, MeOSt; p-methylstyrene, MeSt; α-methylstyrene, α-MeSt; p-tert-butylstyrene, BuSt; styrene, St) was investigated in methanol at 75°C. Increasing the zinc salt concentration or the nucleophilicity of the electron-rich monomer increased the copolymer yields. All obtained copolymers are characterized by high molecular weight (10⁵) and broad molecular weight distribution. Both ¹H-NMR and elemental analyses confirmed the almost 1 : 1 copolymer structure. Changing the anion of the zinc salt does not have a considerable effect either on the copolymerization rate or on the molecular weight. The proposed mechanism exhibits the formation of a σ-bond between the β-carbons of the two donor–acceptor monomers. This creates the 1,4-tetramethylene biradical intermediate which can initiate the copolymerization reaction. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 35 : 2787–2792, 1997     

Electrochemical anionic polymerization of 4-vinylpyridine in pyridine

The preparation of poly-4-vinylpyridine (poly-4VP) by electrochemical polymerization of 4-vinylpyridine (4VP) in pyridine containing sodium tetraphenylboron (NaBPh₄) is described. Information on the influence of monomer concentration, current density, polymerization rate, molecular weight, and electrochemical efficiency is presented. The polymerizations were performed under conditions of constant electrolysis current. Polymer formed in the cathodic compartment only, where a red-orange solution developed after about 15 min of electrolysis time. The optical absorption spectra of these colored solutions were studied. Cyclic voltammograms of 4VP in pyridine and NaBPh₄ are also reported, and the influence of the scan rate upon peak current is described. The results indicate that the polymerization was anionic and nonterminating. The characteristics of the electrochemical polymerization of 4VP in pyridine are compared with those of the same monomer in liquid NH₃. In the former case, the catholyte was homogeneous, and polymer growth occurred in the liquid phase, while in the latter growth took place in a heterogeneous environment. Kinetic consequences of these physical differences are pointed out. Suggestions for the mechanism of this electrochemical initiation are advanced.     

Effect of tertiary diamines on anionic polymerization of polar vinyl monomers

Tertiary diamines that exhibit chelating capability to lithium are shown to decrease the reactivity of growing species when used in classical anionic polymerization of methacrylic monomers. Out of the different diamines investigated, sparteine turns out to be the most efficient chelating agent. The beneficial effect of the latter additives on the overall reactivity of methacrylic anions was exploited to prepare poly(MMA) samples of controlled size at room temperature. The decrease in reactivity was also demonstrated from a kinetic point of view, upon measuring the actual rate constant of propagation using vinyl pyridine as model monomer.     

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.     

Sulfur-containing vinyl monomers. XIII. Cationic copolymerizations of vinyl sulfides with some vinyl monomers

Cationic copolymerizations of vinyl sulfides (VS) with some vinyl monomers with boron tri-fluoride-diethyl etherate catalyst were investigated to evaluate their monomer reactivities. The effects of VS on the copolymer yield and viscosity of the resulting copolymers revealed the inhibition or retardation mechanism which was explained in terms of the formation of a stable vinylsulfonium salt by the reaction between a propagating carbonium ion and VS monomer. From the results of copolymerizations of phenyl vinyl sulfide (PVS) with isobutyl vinyl ether (IBVE), β-chloroethyl vinyl ether (CEVE), α-methylstyrene (α-MeSt), and styrene (St), the relative reactivities of these monomers were found to be in the following order: IBVE > CEVE > PVS > α-MeSt > St. The relatively higher reactivity of PVS than St derivatives was explained on the basis of the conjugative and electron-donating nature of the VS monomer. The effects of alkyl and para-substituted phenyl groups in vinyl sulfides on their reactivities toward the propagating carbonium ion were correlated with polar factors and compared with those of the hydrolysis of α-mercaptomethyl chlorides. The transition state for the propagation reaction in cationic polymerization of VS was proposed to be a π-complex type structure.     

Polymerization of oriented monomers. II. Polymerization of 4-vinylpyridine perchlorate in micellar aggregates

Polymerization of 4-vinylpyridinium perchlorate (I) is studied under isotropic and anisotropic conditions. Anisotropy or orientation of I may be achieved by micelle formation in concentrated aqueous or acid solutions, i.e., above the monomer's critical micelle concentration (CMC). Some properties of the isotropically and anisotropically obtained polymers are comparatively studied with the emphasis placed on the elucidation of their structure by ¹³C-NMR spectroscopy. By the same spectroscopic technique the microstructure of 1,2-polymer is further investigated in conjunction with the proposed polymerization model. It is concluded that polymer structure is affected by the organization of the monomers into micelles whereas their microstructure is not.     

Electroconductivity study of active centers of polar vinyl monomers in the anionic polymerization

Ion equilibria in THF solutions of organolithium compounds are studied at ?30°C. The extremely low values of the dissociation constants (from 10^?11 to 10^?13M) and the formation of ion triples of the types A^?, B⁺, A^? prove that active centers exist in THF mainly as contact ion pairs with very small interionic distance (～ 2.5 Å) and tend to form higher associates. A comparison is made between the physicochemical characteristics of active centers of vinyl nitriles, ketones, and esters. A planar structure is proposed for the anion of methyl methacrylate. The results indicate that the intramolecular chelate complexation between the polar group and the counterion of the active center decreases in the order . A greater participation of ion triples in the propagation reaction is proposed.     

Electronic structure and geometry of the active centres in anionic polymerization of vinyl monomers

The charge distributions in the ions (CH₃CHR) and in the molecules CH₃CHRLi (RNO₂, CN, COOCH₃, C₆H₅, CHCH₂, H, NH₂ or OCH₃), modelling the active centres of the two extreme types in anionic polymerization, were calculated by the CNDO/2 method. The geometry of these compounds was partly optimized. Both the geometry and the charge distribution in anions were found to exhibit no strong dependence on R. This suggests that in free ion polymerization, the equality r₁r₂ = 1 holds. The active centres of the polarized bond type are fairly varied. Two reasons for their reactivity may exist: the polarity of their CLi bond and their geometry facilitating the insertion of a monomer. The electronic structure of the neutral molecules considered correlates with the low degree of association of the living chains.     

Trimethylsilylmethyllithium: A novel initiator for the anionic polymerization of cyclosiloxanes and vinyl monomers

Trimethylsilylmethyllithium has been successfully used for the ring opening polymerization of cyclosiloxanes, in toluene or in the bulk, with the [211] cryptand or DMSO as promoters. Initiation reaction has been followed by ¹H, ¹³C, ²⁹Si and ⁷Li NMR in the case of D3 and D4 polymerizations. Suitable conditions have been found in which monomodal distributions of molecular weights of polysiloxanes are observed even in the case of D4 and 1,3,5,7-tetramethyl-1,3,5,7-tetravinylcyclotetrasiloxane homopolymerizations and copolymerizations. This organolithium compound can also initiate the anionic polymerization of vinyl monomers such as butadiene, styrene and MMA.     

Oligomerization of vinyl monomers. XXI. Characterization of model carbanions of living poly(2-vinylpyridine) in THF by 7Li-NMR and conductance: Evidence for the occurrence and nature of triple ion formation

The formation of triple anions is demonstrated by ⁷Li-NMR in THF solutions of 1-lithio-1-(2-pyridyl)ethane, 1-lithio-1(3-methyl-2-pyridyl)ethane, and 1-lithio-1,3-di(2-pyridyl) butane. Good agreement with conductance data was demonstrated in the case of 1 . Triple anion formation in the case of 2 was found to be about twice as high as in 1 possibly as a result of the greater charge density on the carbanion in the case of 2 .     

The anionic oligomerization of hexamethylcyclotrisiloxane with methylmethoxysilanes

The polymerization of hexamethylcyclotrisiloxane (D₃) initiated with inorganic and organometallic bases was studied in the presence of methylmethoxysilanes of general formula (MeO)_nSiMe_4−n (n = 1, 2, 3 or 4) as chain transfer agents. In the case of n = 2, 3 or 4, the process can proceed in a specific way leading to the predominant formation of linear oligomers composed of sequences of structure [(Me)₂SiO]₃ (monomer unit) and fragments of one molecule of the methylmethoxysilane. The reaction provides a good method for synthesis of some of these oligomers. The mechanism of the oligomerization is discussed.     

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.     

Functional monomers and polymers. XIX. Copolymerization of vinyl monomers containing nucleic acid bases

Taking into account the specific base–base interaction existing between nucleic acid molecules, we studied the free-radical copolymerization of N-β-methacryloyloxyethyl derivative of uracil with that of adenine at 60°C in various solvents. N-β-Methacryloyloxyethyltheophylline as well as methyl methacrylate were used also as comonomers. From the data on the rates in different comonomer feed ratios and the r₁ and r₂ values obtained, copolymerizability was discussed in some detail. The results suggest that the interaction between uracil and adenine bases plays a role in the copolymerization behavior.     

Organic Stereochemistry. Part 4

This Part 4 continues a general presentation of the principles of stereochemistry with special reference to medicinal compounds and their interactions with biological systems. Here, we discuss and illustrate two major aspects of conformational isomerism, namely a) the concept of torsional isomerism about single bonds, and b) the intertwined conformational and configurational aspects of the stereochemistry of cyclic systems. The review begins with a brief reminder of the history and thermodynamics of conformational isomerism, and goes on to explain and illustrate the conventions and graphical representations used for conformers. Examples are then examined, beginning with ethane, the simplest one, and building up to more complex cases, documenting the attractive or repulsive role of substituents. A similar approach is applied when dealing with cyclic systems, although here the presentation necessarily takes into account configurational aspects specific to cyclic systems. The pharmacological implications of the concepts discussed here will be presented in Part 6.     

Single-electron and two-electron transfer in the anionic polymerization of vinyl monomers and the ring-opening polymerization of lactones*

Single-electron-transfer (SET) and two-electron-transfer reactions and their mechanisms were examined in the anionic polymerization of vinyl monomers and in the ring-opening polymerization of lactones. SET resulted in the formation of radical anions or enolates at the initiation step of styrene or lactone polymerization with naphthalene sodium as a catalyst. However, alkali-metal supramolecular complexes such as M⁺crown–M⁻ (M = Na or K) were able to transfer two electrons to both these monomers to form carbanions as reactive intermediates. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 2158–2165, 2002