Modeling of Anionic Polymerization of Isoprene in an Industrial Reactor

One of the most important reasons for modeling polymerization processes is to provide a tool for estimating the risks of runaway reactions in polymer industry. This is especially important for batch processes, such as anionic polymerization of isoprene or butadiene. This work presents a theoretical and experimental research of the anionic polymerization of isoprene using cyclohexane as solvent and n‐butyllithium as initiator. In the first part, a phenomenological kinetic expression is obtained that describes the anionic polymerization of isoprene initiated by n‐butyllithium in cyclohexane. In the second, the mass and energy balance equations are solved to model the anionic polymerization of isoprene in a quasi‐adiabatic batch reactor. Adjustment of reactor parameters is made using the data obtained from a laboratory reactor. The proposed model predicts adequately the obtained temperature, pressure, and conversion profiles from this set of experiments. Finally, a mathematical model is developed to predict the behavior for the anionic polymerization of isoprene in an industrial reactor.     

Trialkylsilyl-Protected Functional Initiators for Stereospecific Anionic Polymerization of Methacrylates

Anionic polymerizations of methyl methacrylate with trialkylsilyl-protected lithium benzylamides were conducted in the presence of aluminum compounds such as n-Bu₃Al. When the Me₃Si-protected amide was used, the carbonyl attack took place to some extent to form a methacrylamide derivative with slightly lower initiator efficiency (∼0.9). In the case of i-Pr₃Si-protected amide, the carbonyl addition was completely suppressed. The obtained polymers had narrow molecular weight distribution and carried benzylamino end-group, as revealed by NMR analysis, which is readily accessible for further chemical transformations such as acylation with acryloyl chloride and debenzylation with H₂/Pd-C. Difuntional initiators with protected groups were also examined.     

烯烃聚合中金属化合物间的链转移反应

烯烃聚合过程中, 金属化合物之间快速可逆的链转移反应是一个重要和有用的反应, 它不仅影响催化剂的活性和实现对聚合物分子量的控制, 还可以得到长链烷基金属化合物, 进而通过后续转化得到特种聚烯烃材料, 如官能团化聚烯烃和多嵌段聚烯烃共聚物. 综述了这一方面的主要发展情况.     

New Perspectives in Living/Controlled Anionic Polymerization

Summary: Control of the reactivity and selectivity of active species remains a major challenge in the course of living/controlled polymerizations of vinyl and heterocyclic monomers. We have found that alkyl metal derivatives such as dialkylmagnesium or trialkylaluminum derivatives or the corresponding alkoxyakyl metal derivatives, when added to conventional anionic polymerization systems, are very effective mediators for the controlled anionic polymerization of both styrenic and oxirane monomers. When used as additives to alkali metal alkyl initiators (alkyl lithium, alkyl sodium) for the styrene anionic polymerizations, they strongly retard the reactivity of the propagating species and allow controlling the polymerization in very unusual conditions (bulk, very high temperature). On the contrary, when used in combination to the same alkali metal based initiators for the anionic polymerization of ethylene oxide or propylene oxide, these additives can drastically enhance the reactivity and the selectivity of the propagating species allowing a fast living-like polymerization to proceed already at low temperature in hydrocarbon media.     

Aluminate and Magnesiate Complexes as Propagating Species in the Anionic Polymerization of Styrene and Dienes

The influence of MgR₂ and AlR₃ additives on alkyllithium initiators in the anionic polymerization of butadiene has been investigated in non polar solvents. A strong decrease of the diene polymerization rate in the presence of the two Lewis acids was observed, similarly to that observed in the retarded anionic polymerisation of styrene. With n,s-Bu₂Mg, the percentage of 1,2 vinyl units increases with the [Mg]/[Li] ratio. This behavior is specific to magnesium derivatives bearing secondary alkyl groups and likely results from the additional complexation of lithium species by free dialkylmagnesium and/or a 1,4- to 1,2- chain end isomerization process during chain exchanges between polybutadienyl active chains and dormant ones attached to magnesium species. These reversible exchanges also lead to the formation of one supplementary chain by initial dialkyl magnesium which acts as reversible chain transfer agent. On the contrary with the R₃Al/RLi systems the number of chains is only determined by the concentration of initial alkyllithium and no modification of the polybutadiene microstructure compared to lithium initiators (1,4 units = 80%) is noticed. Dialkyl magnesiate complexes with alkali metal derivatives (i.e. alkoxide) are also able to influence the stereochemistry of the styrene insertion during the propagation reaction. Polystyrenes with different tacticities ranging from predominantly isotactic (85% triad iso) to syndiotactic (80% triad syndio) can be obtained with these initiators.     

Sodium Hydride/Trialkylaluminum Complexes for the Controlled Anionic Polymerization of Styrene at High Temperature

Summary: A new generation of anionic initiators (butyllithium free), based on trialkylaluminum and a readily available alkali metal hydride, has been developed for the control of styrene polymerization at high temperature. Triisobutylaluminum and sodium hydride form heterocomplexes that are efficient for the initiation of styrene polymerization at 100 °C in toluene or in bulk. To be active under such conditions, these systems require the presence of an excess of metal hydride with respect to AlR₃ ([Al]/[Na] < 1). PS chains are specifically initiated by the hydrides coming from NaH, and molar masses are controlled in the range 0.8 < [Al]/[Na] < 1. Fast exchange between dormant 1:1 and active 1:2 complexes (Al:Na), and ligand rearrangements within the 1:2 complex, can explain the observed results.

Initiation of styrene with i‐Bu₃Al/NaH systems.     

阻滞阴离子聚合的研究进展

介绍了阻滞阴离子聚合引发剂体系近十年的研究现状,详细讨论了几代阻滞引发体系各自的阻滞机理,以及在阴离子聚合制备苯乙烯共聚物树脂中的应用。简单介绍了BASF公司应用阻滞阴离子聚合制备高抗冲聚苯乙烯的应用现状,指出了阻滞阴离子聚合活性可控的优点使其具有更广泛的发展空间。     

A Novel Efficient Ligand in Anionic Polymerization at Elevated Temperature

This work confirmed a novel ligand in the anionic polymerization, lithium phenoxide, which helped to improve the controllability of the polymerization. The stability of n‐BuLi against THF at 0°C was effectively improved by adding lithium phenoxide. More than 60% n‐BuLi in THF was alive with the presence of lithium phenoxide after stirring at 0°C for 20 min, compared to 2% under same conditions but without lithium phenoxide. The propagation of polymerization of styrene (St) and methyl methacrylate (MMA) were retarded after adding lithium phenoxide. And by adding more than 10 fold lithium phenoxide, completed conversion was achieved in the polymerization of MMA in THF at 0°C. The lithium phenoxide showed both promoting and inhibiting effects in the polymerization of isoprene (Ip): it promoted the formation of 3,4‐structure, while mitigated the formation of 1,2‐ and 1,4‐structures. In general, the polymerization rate of Ip was promoted by lithium phenoxide.     

活性阴离子聚合及其单体的研究进展

适用于活性阴离子聚合的单体拓展研究是有关活性阴离子聚合的一项重要的研究工作.本文重点介绍了近十年在活性阴离子聚合领域出现的新型单体的结构设计、合成及其聚合过程的研究进展.文中涉及到的新型单体主要包括非(弱)极性类单体、极性单体及其它单体.进一步细分,非(弱)极性类单体分为苯乙烯衍生物类单体和丁二烯衍生物类单体,极性单体中含有丙烯酸酯类单体、丙烯酰胺类单体、氯乙烯以及N-乙烯基咔唑,其它单体包括异氰酸酯类、烯酮类以及杂环类单体.最后本文对上述这些新型单体中的一些单体用于复杂大分子拓扑结构的设计合成情况也作了简要介绍.     

Controlling the Polymer Microstructure in Anionic Polymerization by Compartmentalization

An ideal random anionic copolymerization is forced to produce gradient structures by physical separation of two monomers in emulsion compartments. One monomer (M) is preferably soluble in the droplets, while the other one (D) prefers the continuous phase of a DMSO‐in‐cyclohexane emulsion. The living anionic copolymerization of two activated aziridines is thus confined to the DMSO compartments as polymerization occurs selectively in the droplets. Dilution of the continuous phase adjusts the local concentration of monomer D in the droplets and thus the gradient of the resulting copolymer. The copolymerizations in emulsion are monitored by real‐time ¹H NMR kinetics, proving a change of the reactivity ratios of the two monomers upon dilution of the continuous phase from ideal random to adjustable gradients by simple dilution.     

α－甲基丙烯酸2，3－环氧丙基酯的选择性阴离子聚合

通过对α－甲基丙烯酸２，３－环氧丙基酯双键的选择性阴离子聚合的研究发现：在较低温度下（＜－４０℃），聚合中的副反应主要发生在引发阶段，以引发剂与单体中环氧基的副反应为主；当温度较高时（＞－２０℃），则易出现交联现象而难以进行双键的选择性聚合。ＧＰＣ、１ＨＮＭＲ及ＦＴＩＲ鉴定表明，在较低温度下用１，１′二苯基己基锂作引发剂可合成每个重复单元上均定量带有的环氧基的单分散（　＜１．１０）官能性聚合物，该聚合物易溶于多种溶剂。     

Aziridine Termination of Living Anionic Polymerization

A switch from carbanions to aza‐anions is performed by the addition of N‐tosylaziridine (TAz) to living poly(styryl) (PS) chains. This is the first example of carbanionic aziridine ring‐opening which was previously activated by amidation with a tosyl group to enable nucleophilic ring‐opening by the living chain end. Poly(styrene)‐tosylaziridines (PS‐TAz) with narrow molecular weight distributions and variable molecular weights are synthesized. The removal of the tosyl group and subsequent functionalization is shown, evidencing quantitative transfer to azaanionic species. All polymers are characterized in detail by ¹H NMR spectroscopy, DOSY ¹H NMR spectroscopy, and size exclusion chromatography (SEC). This strategy allows the introduction of amine groups via anionic polymerization in analogy to the well‐established epoxide termination.

     

A New View of the Anionic Diene Polymerization Mechanism

We investigated the anionic polymerization of butadiene in d-heptane solvent using tert-butyl lithium as initiator. Two complementary techniques were used to follow the polymerization processes: ¹H NMR and small angle neutron scattering (SANS). The time resolved ¹H NMR measurements allowed us to evaluate quantitatively the kinetics of the processes involved. The initiation event commences slowly and then progressively accelerates. This indicates an autocatalytic mechanism. The microstructure of the first monomer units attached is to a high extent 1,2. The disappearance of initiator --- at about 10% monomer conversion --- signals the onset of the normal ∼6% vinyl content of the chain. Small angle neutron scattering was used to study the aggregation behavior of the carbon lithium head groups. It is well known that the polar head groups aggregate and form micellar structures. For dienes in non-polar solvents the textbook mechanism assumes the formation of only tetramers during the propagation reaction. By combining ¹H NMR and SANS results we were able to determine quantitatively the aggregation number during all stages of the polymerization. Our measurements show the existence of large-scale structures during the initiation period. The initial degree of aggregation of more than 100 living polymer chains diminished as the polymerization progressed. In addition, even larger, giant structures with N_agg >>1000 and R_g ≈ 1000Å were found.     

Dual Reactivity of Magnesium Compounds as Initiators for Anionic and Cationic Polymerization

Organomagnesium compounds are well known initiators of anionic polymerization of polar monomers. However, we have found recently that in the presence of compounds with labile halogen atoms, e.g., benzyl chloride, they are also active initiators of cationic polymerization of isobutylene and styrene in hydrocarbon media. The tentative scheme of cationic initiation is suggested assuming the formation of benzyl cation connected with Mg₂Cl₅⁻ counter-ion. The scheme is confirmed by quantum-chemical calculations and ¹H NMR analysis of polyisobutylene. On addition of a polar monomer, N,N-dimethylacrylamide or 2-vinylpyridine, to Bu₂Mg-BzCl-isobutylene polymerizing mixture, the former readily polymerizes. The mixture of homopolymers rather than block copolymers is formed in this case, however, this fact proves the co-existence of anionic and cationic centers in the system.     

醇钾及酚钾在甲基丙烯酸甲酯阴离子聚合中的应用

以正丁基锂(n-BuLi)为引发剂,叔丁醇钾(t-BuOK)和苯酚钾(POK)为副反应抑制剂,实现了甲基丙烯酸甲酯(MMA)在四氢呋喃(THF)溶剂中的阴离子聚合。采用凝胶渗透色谱(GPC)、核磁共振氢谱(1 H-NMR)等研究了产物的数均分子量、分子量分布(MWD)和分子结构。结果表明:t-BuOK与n-BuLi之间发生反离子交换反应使活性中心的反离子Li~+被K~+替换,从而在一定程度上抑制了MMA聚合过程中的副反应,当n(t-BuOK)/n(n-BuLi)≥10时,可在0℃下实现MMA的可控阴离子聚合;PMMA分子量分布较窄(1.22),且数均分子量与设计值十分接近,MMA聚合的副反应得到了有效控制;进一步添加的POK能与活性中心的K~+配合,促进对MMA聚合副反应的抑制,使MMA的可控阴离子聚合能在较高温度(40℃)下得以实现,所合成的聚甲基丙烯酸甲酯(PMMA)数均分子量分布窄(1.24)且数均分子量符合设计值。     

Organosilicon‐Assisted Transformation of Living Anionic into Living Cationic Polymerization

A novel method is described for transforming an anionic polymerization process into a cationic polymerization process assisted by organosilyl groups. The reaction of the p‐tolyldimethylsilyl end group of polystyrene and trifluoromethanesulfonic acid produced a silyl triflate end group that served as a macroinitiator for the living cationic polymerization of isobutyl vinyl ether. The Si O linkage in the block copolymers underwent specific cleavage by reaction with tetrabutylammonium fluoride.

     

苯氧铜/正丁基锂体系引发MMA负离子聚合及其活性特征的研究

采用苯氧铜/正丁基锂(PhOCu/n-BuLi)体系引发MMA聚合, 通过GPC, ¹H NMR对聚合物进行了表征. 实验结果表明, 该体系聚合反应速度较快, 温度、引发体系组成是影响聚合物分子量及其分布、单体转化率、引发剂引发效率、聚合物的立构规整性的主要因素; －40 ℃时分子量分布比较窄, 但引发效率也比较低(大约15%). 低引发效率、宽分子量分布与引发剂的聚集状态有关. 分子量与单体浓度、引发剂浓度的关系说明, 该体系具有一定程度的活性聚合特点.