γ-Ray-induced terpolymerization of carbon monoxide,aziridines, and cyclic ethers

The terpolymerization of carbon monoxide, aziridines, and cyclic ethers was carried out by γ-irradiation. A partially crystalline solid copolymer was obtained. The infrared spectrum of the copolymer obtained indicated characteristic peaks due to the secondary amide and ester groups. The results of elementry analysis, infrared spectra, and x-ray diffraction of the copolymer showed that terpolymerization of carbon monoxide, aziridine, and cyclic ether took place by γ-irradiation. 2-Vinyl-1,3-dioxolane was polymerized in the system of carbon monoxide and ethylenimine to give a solid polymer. The infrared spectrum showed characteristics of the secondary amide and dioxolane ring, while no absorption due to carbonyl group of ester was observed. The infrared spectra and results of elementary analysis confirmed that the terpolymerization of carbon monoxide–ethylenimine–2-vinyl-1,3-dioxolane occurred.     

Influence of addition of olefins on the alternating copolymerization of carbon monoxide and ethylenimine by azobisisobutyronitrile or by γ-ray irradiation

The alternating copolymerization of carbon monoxide and ethylenimine to give poly-β-alanine could be initiated by γ-irradiation but hardly by α,α'-azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN). It was found that in the case of the addition of olefin, this system could be copolymerized even by AIBN and that, in the γ-ray copolymerization of carbon monoxide and ethylenimine, the addition of olefin brought about an increase in the copolymer yield. No difference was observed between the nature of copolymers obtained by AIBN and those obtained by γ-irradiation, except in the system carbon monoxide–ethylenimine–ethylene. An increase in the amount of reacted olefin gave rise to an increase in copolymer yield. The melting points of the copolymers were in the range 295–335°C. The infrared spectra, x-ray diffraction diagrams, and NMR spectra of the copolymers were almost identical with that of poly-β-alanine obtained by the hydrogen-migration polymerization of acrylamide. Paper chromatographic analysis of the hydrolysis product of the copolymer showed the existence of β-alanine, ethylamine, and δ-aminovaleric acid homolog in the products. From these results, it was concluded that terpolymerization of carbon monoxide, ethylenimine, and olefin took place in the presence of AIBN or γ-irradiation which gave a crystalline solid copolymer containing the units of nylon 3 and nylon 5. A mechanism of this copolymerization was proposed on the basis of these results.     

Radiation-induced postpolymerization of trioxane in the solid state. V. Studies on copolymer composition

Studies on the composition of copolymers obtained by the radiation-induced solid-state postpolymerization of trioxane with 1,3-dioxolane have been carried out. Gas-chromatographic analysis of the reaction mixtures showed that most of the 1,3-dioxolane disappears rapidly from the reaction system in an early stage of polymerization, and that the fraction of ethylene oxide units in the copolymer chain [E] decreases markedly with increasing polymer yield. This finding was confirmed by NMR spectra of the copolymer. DSC thermograms of the copolymer indicated that the relationship between the melting point and the average composition of copolymers prepared in this study differed from that found for copolymers in which comonomer units are distributed statistically in the polymer chain. It was suggested that the copolymer formed by the radiation-induced solid-state postpolymerization of trioxane–1,3-dioxolane is characterized by a heterogeneous distribution of ethylene oxide units in the copolymer chain. It was also found that, in the radiation-induced solid-state postpolymerization of trioxane–1,3-dioxolane, the amount of tetraoxane formation increased linearly with increasing polymer yield. Although it is extremely small compared with that obtained in solution polymerization, it is slightly larger in the trioxane–1,3-dioxolane system than in the trioxane system.     

γ-ray-induced copolymerization of carbon monoxide with cyclic hydrocarbons

The γ-ray-induced copolymerization of carbon monoxide with saturated or unsaturated cyclic hydrocarbons, such as cyclohexane, cyclohexene, 4-vinyl-1-cyclohexene, and cyclopentadiene was studied at 30°C. Resinous or powdery polymers were obtained in the copolymerization. The results of elementary analysis, infrared spectra, and NMR spectra showed that copolymers containing ketone and ring structures were produced. The copolymers were confirmed to be partially crystalline by the x-ray diffraction diagram. Further, the influence of the addition of ethylenimine on the copolymerization of carbon monoxide with cyclohexane or cyclohexene was examined. A powdery polymer formed in the copolymerization was concluded to be a terpolymer of carbon monoxide with cyclic hydrocarbon and ethylenimine. On the basis of the experimental results, a mechanism of the copolymerization is proposed.     

Alternative copolymerization of aziridines and carbon monoxide by γ-ray irradiation

The copolymerization of carbon monoxide and aziridines such as ethylenimine and propylenimine was carried out by γ-ray irradiation. Aziridines and carbon monoxide were allowed to copolymerize under γ-ray irradiation from a Co⁶⁰ source and gave a crystalline solid copolymer. The yield of the copolymer increased with reaction temperature. The composition of copolymers obtained did not depend on the feed ratio of monomers and was found to be almost equimolar. The copolymer of ethylenimine and carbon monoxide melted at about 322–335°C. with decomposition and has an infrared spectrum identical with that of poly-β-alanine obtained by the hydrogen-migration polymerization of acrylamide. The hydrolyzed product of the ethylenimine–carbon monoxide copolymer was confirmed to be β-alanine by paper chromatography. These results lead to the conclusion that the copolymerization of aziridines and carbon monoxide took place alternatively by γ-ray irradiation, and produced crystalline poly-β-alanines.     

New routes for copolymerization of carbon monoxide with styrene or vinyl chloride and photodegradation of these copolymers in solutions

New routes for copolymerization of carbon monoxide with styrene or vinyl chloride were found by emulsion polymerization (nonionic or ionic emulsifier). These procedures yielded copolymers containing carbonyl groups even at high conversion. These carbonyl-containing polyketones were photoirradiated in solvent. In carbon monoxide—styrene copolymer of high molecular weight, the viscosity change produced by photoirradiation was especially remarkable, while in carbon monoxide—vinyl chloride copolymer no pronounced change in viscosity was observed, even at high contents of carbonyl group.     

Cationic copolymerization of 2-vinyl-1,3-dioxane with styrene and 1,3-dioxolane

Copolymerization of 2-vinyl-1,3-dioxane with styrene and 1,3-dioxolane was carried out in methylene chloride at 0°C with triethyloxonium tetrafluoroborate as an initiator. Random copolymers were obtained from both of these monomer pairs, but attempted copolymerization of 2-vinyl-1,3-dioxane with 3,3-bis(chloromethyl)oxetane under similar conditions resulted in the homopolymer of the latter monomer. There were three structural units of 2-vinyl-1,3-dioxane in these copolymers as in its homopolymer: the “ester” unit, which was formed by vinyl addition with hydride shift followed by ring-opening rearrangement, the “vinyl” unit produced by ring-opening reaction, and the unit with a pendant 1,3-dioxane ring formed by simple vinyl addition. The fractions of the ester and vinyl units to the total 2-vinyl-1,3-dioxane units in the copolymer of 2-vinyl-1,3-dioxane with styrene decreased with decreasing 2-vinyl-1,3-dioxane content. On the contrary, the fraction of the vinyl unit in the copolymer of 2-vinyl-1,3-dioxane with 1,3-dioxolane increased slightly with decreasing 2-vinyl-1,3-dioxane content, while that of the ester unit decreased. The reactivities of the propagating species are discussed on the basis of these results.     

Copolymerization of trioxane by γ-radiation

High molecular copolymers of trioxane with different cyclic ethers and formals were produced by γ-radiation from a ⁶⁰Co source. It was polymerized in the solid state at 53°C. Polymerization does not occur in the melt. Irradiation was carried out with exclusion of air at a dose rate of 7 × 10³ rad/hr. The polymerization rate was increased very considerably in the presence of 1,3-dioxolane and epichlorhydrin; the addition of other comonomers may reduce the yield. The concentration of the comonomer is generally higher in the polymer than in the initial mix. These comonomers which increase the polymerization rate are introduced preferentially into the polymer chain; this is proved by the unstable polymer part and the thermal stability. Experiments with the trioxane–1,3-dioxolane system revealed that the unstable polymer part is markedly reduced and the heat stability considerably inproved with rising concentrations of this monomer. The thermal stability and the reduced viscosity of these copolymers are within the range of technical processability.     

Synthesis and Degradation of Vinyl Polymers with Evenly Distributed Thioacetal Bonds in Main Chains: Cationic DT Copolymerization of Vinyl Ethers and Cyclic Thioacetals

We report a novel method to synthesize degradable poly(vinyl ether)s with cleavable thioacetal bonds periodically arranged in the main chains using controlled cationic copolymerization of vinyl ethers with a 7-membered cyclic thioacetal ( 7-CTA ) via degenerative chain transfer (DT) to the internal thioacetal bonds. The thioacetal bonds, which are introduced into the main chain by cationic ring-opening copolymerization of 7-CTA with vinyl ethers, serve as in-chain dormant species to allow homogeneous propagation of vinyl ethers for all internal segments to afford copolymers with controlled overall and segmental molecular weights. The obtained polymers can be degraded into low- and controlled-molecular-weight polymers with narrow molecular weight distributions via hydrolysis. Various vinyl ethers with hydrophobic, hydrophilic, and functional pendants are available. Finally, one-pot synthesis of multiblock copolymers and their degradation into diblock copolymers are also achieved.     

Quasi “Tacticity” of Rigidly Alternating Copolymers of Isobutyl Vinyl Ether and Maleic Anhydride

Since the copolymers of maleic anhydride, a cyclic monomer, and vinyl ethers, such as isobutyl vinyl ether, are made of rigidly alternating monomer unit sequences, quasi "isotactic" and quasi "syndiotactic" configurations for the monomer unit diads and triads are proposed considering the relative orientation of the cyclic anhydride group and the ether side chain with respect to the copolymer backbone.     

γ-Ray-induced copolymerization of ethylene and vinyl chloride in liquid carbon dioxide

The γ-ray-induced copolymerization of ethylene and vinyl chloride with the use of liquid carbon dioxide as a solvent was studied under a total pressure of 400 kg/cm², with a dose rate of 2.5 × 10⁴ rad/hr at 30°C. A rubberlike, sticky polymer is obtained when the molar concentration of vinyl chloride is less than 30% in the monomer mixture, and the polymer is a white powder at higher concentrations of vinyl chloride. Infrared, x-ray, and differential thermal analyses confirm that the polymerization products are noncrystalline, true random copolymers. The rate of copolymerization decreases markedly when a small amount of vinyl chloride is added to ethylene monomer. In the range of vinyl chloride concentration higher than 5%, however, the rate and the molecular weight of copolymer increase with increasing concentration of vinyl chloride. It has been concluded from kinetic considerations based on these results that the rate of initiation increases proportionally with the concentration of vinyl chloride. Further, the growing chain radicals are shown to be deactivated by the cross-termination reaction between the radicals with terminal unit of ethylene and vinyl chloride, and no transfer reaction occurs.     

Copolymerization of 2-methylene-4-phenyl-1,3-dioxolane with electrophilic vinyl monomers through zwitterionic mechanism

Spontaneous copolymerization of cyclic ketene acetal, 2-methylene-4-phenyl-1,3-dioxolane ( I ) with common electrophilic vinyl monomers, such as methyl α-cyanoacrylate (MCA), acrylonitrile (AN), and methyl methacrylate (MMA) were investigated to further explore zwitterion polymerization method with cyclic ketene acetals. In the reaction of I with MCA and AN, spontaneous copolymerization took place at ambient temperature. The copolymers of I with MCA gave low molecular weight polymers, but copolymers obtained with I and AN were high molecular weight polymers. In the reaction of I and MMA, high molecular weight copolymer was obtained only at temperatures above 80°C. Thus, obtained polymers were not the alternating copolymers and possessed high I content in all the cases. From the above results, macrozwitterionic mechanism was suggested as discussed.     

Living cationic polymerization of isobutyl vinyl ether by EtAlCl2 in the presence of ether additives: Cyclic ethers,cyclic formals,and acyclic ethers with oxyethylene units

The living cationic polymerization of isobutyl vinyl ether (IBVE) was investigated in the presence of various cyclic and acyclic ethers with 1-(isobutoxy)ethyl acetate [CH₃CH(OiBu)OCOCH₃, 1 ]/EtAlCl₂ initiating system in hexane at 0°C. In particular, the effect of the basicity and steric hindrance of the ethers on the living nature and the polymerization rate was studied. The polymerization in the presence of a wide variety of cyclic ethers [tetrahydrofuran (THF), tetrahydropyran (THP), oxepane, 1,4-dioxane] and cyclic formals (1,3-dioxolane, 1,3-dioxane) gave living polymers with a very narrow molecular weight distribution (MWD) (M?_ω/M?_n ≤ 1.1). On the other hand, propylene oxide and oxetane additives resulted in no polymerization, whereas 1,3,5-trioxane gave the nonliving polymer with a broader MWD. The polymerization rates were dependent on the number of oxygen and ring sizes, which were related to the basicity and the steric hindrance. The order of the apparent polymerization rates in the presence of cyclic ether and formal additives was as follows: nonadditive ～ 1,3,5-trioxane ? 1,3-dioxane > 1,3-dioxolane ? 1,4-dioxane ? THP > oxepane ? THF ? oxetane, propylene oxide ? 0. The polymerization in the presence of the cyclic formals was much faster than that of the cyclic ethers: for example, the apparent propagation rate constant k in the presence of 1,3-dioxolane was 10³ times larger than that in the presence of THF. Another series of experiments showed that acyclic ethers with oxyethylene units were effective as additives for the living polymerization with 1 /EtAlCl₂ initiating system in hexane at 0°C. The polymers obtained in the presence of ethylene glycol diethyl ether and diethylene glycol diethyle ether had very narrow molecular weight distribution (M?_ω/M?_n ≤ 1.1), and the M?_n was directly proportional to the monomer conversion. The polymerization behavior was quite different in the polymerization rates and the MWD of the obtained polymers from that in the presence of diethyl ether. These results suggested the polydentate-type interaction or the alternate interaction of two or three ether oxygens in oxyethylene units with the propagating carbocation, to permit the living polymerization of IBVE. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

The Role of Donor-Acceptor Complexes in the Initiation of Ionic Polymerization

Work carried out in the past few years aimed at elucidating the mechanism of initiation of vinyl polymerization when a donor and an acceptor molecule, one or both of which may be vinyl monomers, is summarized. The emphasis of our investigation has been on polymerizable ether donors and strong electron acceptors which do not undergo polymerization, or the acceptor vinylidene cyanide. Alkyl vinyl ethers were polymerized in the presence of tetracyanoquinodimethane (TCNQ) and 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyano-p-benzoquinone (DDQ) in polar solvents. Observation of the ESR spectrum of the DDQ radical anion and the isolation of a 1:1 addition product of DDQ and alkyl vinyl ether when the two are mixed in a 1:1 ratio and quenched in alcohol support an initiation mechanism involving a coupling reaction of the donor monomer (radical cation) and the acceptor initiator (radical anion). The reaction of vinylidene cyanide (VC) with the vinyl ethers p-dioxene, dihydropyran, ethyl vinyl ether, isopropyl vinyl ether, and ketene diethylacetal in a variety of solvents at 25°C spontaneously afforded poly(vinylidene cyanide), the cycloaddition products 7,7-dicyano-2,5-dioxo-bicyclo[4.2.0] octane, 8,8-dicyano-2-oxo-bicyclo[4.2.0] octane, the 1,1-dicyano-2-alkoxycyclo-butanes, and 1,1-diethoxy-2,2,4,4-tetracyanohexane, respectively, and with the exception of p-dioxene, homopolymers of the vinyl ethers. In the presence of AIBN at 80°C, alternating copolymers were obtained in addition to the homopolymers and cycloaddition products, supporting the involvement of donor-acceptor complexes. The reaction of styrene with VC spontaneously formed an alternating copolymer in addition to the 1:2 head-to-head cycloaddition product, 1,1,3,3-tetracyano-4-phenylcyclohexane. Mixing VC with any one of the cyclic ethers tetrahydrofuran, oxetane, 2,2-dimethyloxirane, 2-chloromethyloxirane, and phenyloxirane resulted in the polymerization of both the VC and the cyclic ether to afford homopolymers of both. The cyclic ethers trioxane, 3,3-bis(chloromethyl)oxetane, and oxirane initiated the polymerization of VC, but did not undergo ring-opening polymerizations themselves. Other ethers such as 1,3-dioxolane, tetrahydropyran, and diethyl ether did not initiate the polymerization of VC. In these polymerizations, VC and the cyclic ethers polymerize via anionic and cationic propagation reactions, respectively.     

Radical Copolymerization of Vinyl Ethers and Cyclic Ketene Acetals as a Versatile Platform to Design Functional Polyesters

Free‐radical copolymerization of cyclic ketene acetals (CKAs) and vinyl ethers (VEs) was investigated as an efficient yet simple approach for the preparation of functional aliphatic polyesters. The copolymerization of CKA and VE was first predicted to be quasi‐ideal by DFT calculations. The theoretical prediction was experimentally confirmed by the copolymerization of 2‐methylene‐1,3‐dioxepane (MDO) and butyl vinyl ether (BVE), leading to r _MDO=0.73 and r _BVE=1.61. We then illustrated the versatility of this approach by preparing different functional polyesters: 1) copolymers functionalized by fluorescent probes; 2) amphiphilic copolymers grafted with poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) side chains able to self‐assemble into PEGylated nanoparticles; 3) antibacterial films active against Gram‐positive and Gram‐negative bacteria (including a multiresistant strain); and 4) cross‐linked bioelastomers with suitable properties for tissue engineering applications.     

Synthesis of functional polyolefins using cationic bisphosphine monoxide-palladium complexes

The copolymerization of ethylene with polar vinyl monomers, such as vinyl acetate, acrylonitrile, vinyl ethers, and allyl monomers, was accomplished using cationic palladium complexes ligated by a bisphosphine monoxide (BPMO). The copolymers formed by these catalysts have highly linear microstructures and a random distribution of polar functional groups throughout the polymer chain. Our data demonstrate that cationic palladium complexes can exhibit good activity for polymerizations of polar monomers, in contrast to cationic α-diimine palladium complexes (Brookhart-type) that are not applicable to industrially relevant polar monomers beyond acrylates. Additionally, the studies reported here point out that phosphine-sulfonate ligated palladium complexes are no longer the singular family of catalysts that can promote the reaction of ethylene with many polar vinyl monomers to form linear functional polyolefins.     

Miscibility and morphologies of poly(arylene ether phenyl phosphine oxide/sulfone) copolymer/vinyl ester resin mixtures and their cured networks

Nonreactive bisphenol A‐based poly(arylene ether triphenyl phosphine oxide/diphenyl sulfone) statistical copolymers and a poly(arylene ether triphenyl phosphine oxide) homopolymer, each having a number‐average molecular weight of about 20 kg/mol, were synthesized and solution‐blended with a commercial dimethacrylate vinyl ester resin. Free‐radical cured systems produced morphologies that were a function of both the amount of phosphonyl groups and the weight percentage of the copolymers. For example, highly hydrogen‐bonded poly(arylene ether phenyl phosphine oxide) homopolymer/vinyl ester resin mixtures were homogeneous in all proportions both before and after the formation of networks. Copolymers containing low amounts (≤30 mol %) of the phosphonyl groups displayed phase separation either before or during cure. The phase‐separated cured materials generally had phase‐inverted morphologies, such as a continuous thermoplastic copolymer phase and a particulate, discontinuous vinyl ester network phase, except for systems containing a very low copolymer content. The resin modified with a copolymer containing 30 mol % phosphine oxide comonomer showed improved fracture toughness, suggesting the importance of both phase separation and good adhesion between the thermoplastic polymer and the crosslinked vinyl ester filler phase. The results suggested that the copolymers with high amounts of phosphine oxide should be good candidates for interphase sizing materials between a vinyl ester matrix and high‐modulus carbon fibers for advanced composite systems. Copolymers with low amounts of phosphonyl groups can produce tough, vinyl ester‐reinforced plastics. The char yield increases with the concentration of bisphenol A poly(arylene ether phosphine oxide) content, suggesting enhanced fire resistance. The incorporation of thermoplastic copolymers sustains a high glass‐transition temperature but does not significantly affect the thermal degradation onset temperature. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 38: 2409–2421, 2000     

Copolyethers with controlled structure: Mechanism of formation and microstructure

Cationic copolymerization of 3-membered cyclic ethers (oxiranes) with 5-membered cyclic ether (tetrahydrofuran) leads to linear copolyethers containing significant amount of cyclic fraction. When the copolymerization is conducted in the presence of diols, telechelic copolymers are formed by the process in which oxirane is incorporated into copolymer irreversibly by Activated Monomer mechanism, while tetrahydrofuran is incorporated reversibly by Active Chain End mechanism. Thus both kinetic and thermodynamic factors can be used to control the rate of the incorporation of comonomers. Studies of the kinetics of the competing reactions leading to formation of copolymer, studies of copolymer microstructure by ¹³C-NMR and analysis of the composition of the cyclic fraction, led to the correlation between the copolymer microstructure and the amount of cyclic fraction formed. The dependence of the cyclic fraction content on the reaction conditions was therefore explained.     

Fluorocyclopropanes. IV. Copolymers of perfluorocyclopropene

Perfluorocyclopropene undergoes free-radical copolymerization with ethylene, isobutylene, cis- and trans-2-butene, vinyl acetate, methyl vinyl ether, vinyl chloride, styrene, acrylonitrile, tetrafluoroethylene, vinyl fluoride, and vinylidene fluoride. The copolymerization proceeds most readily with electron-rich olefins such as methyl vinyl ether (to yield a 1:1 copolymer), but conditions were found to give copolymers with electron-deficient olefins such as tetrafluoroethylene and vinylidene fluoride. Copolymers with methyl vinyl ether, tetrafluoroethylene, vinyl fluoride, and vinylidene fluoride were examined in detail. Evidence is presented that the perfluorocycloproply ring is incorporated intact into the copolymer and can be subsequently isomerized to a perfluoropropenyl unit by heating at 200–300°C.     

Radical ring‐opening copolymerization behavior of vinyloxirane: Synthesis of copolymer from 2‐isopropenyl‐3‐phenyloxirane and styrene and its functionalization

The radical ring‐opening copolymerization of 2‐isopropenyl‐3‐phenyloxirane (1) with styrene (St) was examined to obtain the copolymer [copoly(1‐St)] with a vinyl ether moiety in the main chain. The copolymers were obtained in moderate yields by copolymerization in various feed ratios of 1 and St over 120 °C; the number‐average molecular weights (M_n) were estimated to be 1800–4200 by gel permeation chromatography analysis. The ratio of the vinyl ether and St units of copoly(1‐St) was estimated with the ¹H NMR spectra and varied from 1/7 to 1/14 according to the initial feed ratio of 1 and St. The haloalkoxylation of copoly(1‐St) with ethylene glycol in the presence of N‐chlorosuccinimide produced a new copolymer with alcohol groups and chlorine atoms in the side group in a high yield. The M_n value of the haloalkoxylated polymer was almost the same as that of the starting copoly(1‐St). The incorporated halogen was determined by elemental analysis. The analytical result indicated that over 88% of the vinyl ether groups participated in the haloalkoxylation. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 3729–3735, 2000