The kinetics of the bimolecular self-reaction of t-butyl radicals in solution. II. Disproportionation/combination ratios

Disproportionation/combination ratios P_d/P_c of self-reacting t-butyl radicals are determined as a function of solvent and temperature. the observed large solvent and temperature dependences are ascribed to anisotropic reorientational motions of the radicals during their encounter in the solvent cage. Results for other alkyl radicals are compatible with this concept.     

Effects of diffusion on the self-termination kinetics of isopropylol radicals in solution

Rate constants for the bimolecular self-reaction of isopropylol radicals [(CH₃)₂?OH] in various solvents are determined as functions of temperature by kinetic electron spin resonance. For hydrocarbon solvents they are well described by theoretical equations for reactions controlled by translational diffusion if diffusion coefficients of 2-propanol, a constant reaction distance, and a spin statistical factor of 1/4 are applied. Deviations from 2k_t ～ D at high diffusion constants agree with trends expected from recent theoretical models. For hydrogen-bonding solvents large negative deviations are observed. They are attributed to steric constraints and slower rotational diffusion of radical–solvent aggregates. The disproportionation-to-combination ratio of isopropylol increases with solvent viscosity. As previously for tert-butyl, this is explained by anisotropic reorientation during encounters. Further, rate data are given for the decarbonylation of the 2-hydroxy-2-methylpropanoyl radical and for several hydrogen abstraction reactions of isopropylol.     

Effect of the solvent on the equilibria of acid-base indicators in aprotic and amphiprotic solvents

The dissociation constants of a series of indicators inN,N-dimethylformamide medium have been determined, and compared with those for the indicators in other aprotic solvents (dimethylsulphoxide and acetonitrile) and in some amphiprotic solvents (water, methanol, ethanol, propan-2-ol and tertbutanol). The effect of the solvent characteristics on the pK values have been evaluated, and the pK + p _ws ^t (H⁺) values shown to be linearly correlated with the Dimroth and ReichardtE _T ^N and acceptor number solvatochromic parameters.     

Solvent effect on the radical polymerization of di-n-butyl itaconate

Solvent effect on the polymerization of di-n-butyl itaconate (DBI) with dimethyl azobisisobutyrate (MAIB) was investigated at 50 and 61°C. The solvents used were found to affect significantly the polymerization. The polymerization rate (R_p) and the molecular weight of the resulting polymer are lower in more polar solvents. The initiation rate (R_i) by MAIB, however, shows a trend of being rather higher in polar solvents. The stationary state concentration of propagating poly(DBI) radical was determined by ESR in seven solvents. The rate constants of propagation (k_p) and termination (k_t) were evaluated by using R_p, R_i, and the polymer radical concentration observed. The k_p value decreases fairly with increasing polarity of the solvent used, whereas k_t is not so influenced by the solvents. The solvent effect on k_p is explained in terms of a difference in the environment around the terminal radical center of the growing chain. Copolymerization of DBI with styrene (St) was also examined in three solvents with different physical properties. The poly(DBI) radical shows a lower reactivity toward St in a more polar solvent.     

Effect of solvent on the termination rate constant in initial stages of free radical polymerization

The effect of solvent on the termination rate constant K_t, in the initial stages of free radical polymerizations has been estimated by considering its effect on the viscosity of the medium and on the overall dimensions of the macroradicals. The expression derived predicts that K_t is inversely proportional to the viscosity of the reaction medium, η₀, and that K_t, increases as the overall dimensions of the radicals decrease in poorer solvents. The effect of solvent on the η₀K_t, product depends on the average size and concentration of polymer in the system. For relatively high concentrations of high-molecular-weight polymers η₀K_t can be greater in a better solvent than in a poorer solvent. This trend would be reversed for low concentrations and/or low polymer molecular weights. Good agreement has been found between experimental and estimated values of η₀K_t.     

Kinetics and mechanism of monomolecular heterolysis of commercial organohalogen compounds: XXXVIII. Correlation analysis of solvent effects on the activation parameters of heterolysis of <Emphasis Type="Italic">t</Emphasis>-BuBr and <Emphasis Type="Italic">t</Emphasis>-BuI

Heterolysis of t-BuBr and t-BuI in aprotic solvents involves a H - S compensation effect. The G of t-BuBr heterolysis in aprotic solvents decreases with increasing solvent polarity and cohesion, whereas the respective value for t-BuI heterolysis decreases with increasing solvent polarity, nucleophilicity, and polarizability. In protic solvents, a negative effect of nucleophilic solvation is observed.Translated from Zhurnal Obshchei Khimii, Vol. 74, No. 9, 2004, pp. 1476–1483.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2004 by Ponomarev, Zaliznyi, Dvorko.This revised version was published online in April 2005 with a corrected cover date.     

Solution polymerization of methyl methacrylate using trioctylmethylammonium persulfate initiator: Kinetics of polymerization and activation parameters for the primary decomposition of the initiator

The kinetics of solution polymerization of methyl methacrylate using trioctylmethylammonium persulfate (aliquat persulfate) at 60°C has been studied in t-butyl alcohol, N,N-dimethyl formamide, acetonitrile, dioxane, acetone, and methyl ethyl ketone. The rate of polymerization depends markedly on the solvent used. The initiator exponent is close to 0.5 in the first three solvents but larger than this value in the other three solvents. The overall activation energy of the polymerization has been determined in all the solvents. The rate constants and activation parameters for the primary decomposition of the initiator have been determined in the first three solvents where ideal polymerization conditions prevail. The activation parameters for the decomposition of AQ₂S₂O₈ in the organic solvents depend on the type of solvent. They are very different from those of the free S₂O^2?₈ ion in water. These differences have been explained taking into consideration the various ionic forms in which the initiator exists in the studied solvents using a previously postulated model of the activated state.     

The Effect of Viscosity on the Diffusion and Termination Reaction of Organic Radical Pairs

The effect of viscosity on the diffusion efficiency (F_dif) of an organic radical pair in a solvent cage and the termination mechanism, that is, the selectivity of disproportionation (Disp) and combination (Comb) of the geminated caged radical pair and the diffused radicals encountered, were investigated quantitatively by following the photolysis of dimethyl 2,2′-azobis(2-methylpropionate) (V-601) in the absence and presence of PhSD. F_dif and Disp/Comb selectivity outside the cage [Disp_(dif)/Comb_(dif)] are highly sensitive to the viscosity. In contrast, the Disp/Comb selectivity inside the cage [Disp_(cage)/Comb_(cage)] is rather insensitive. The difference in viscosity dependence between Disp_(cage)/Comb_(cage) and Disp_(dif)/Comb_(dif) is explained by the spin state of the radical pair inside and outside the cage and the spin state dependent configurational changes of the radical pair upon their collision. Given that the configurational change of the radicals associates the displacement and reorganization of solvents around the radicals, the termination outside the cage, which requires larger change than that inside the cage, is highly viscosity dependent. Furthermore, while the bulk viscosity of each solvent shows good correlation with F_dif and Disp/Comb selectivity, microviscosity is the better parameter predicting F_dif and Disp_(dif)/Comb_(dif) selectivity regardless of the solvents.     

Initiation mechanisms in copolymerization: Reaction of t-butoxyl radicals with co-monomers ethyl vinyl ether and methyl methacrylate

The radical trapping technique employing 1,1,3,3-tetramethyl-1,3-dihydro-1H-isoindol-2-yloxyl as a scavenger has been used to investigate the reaction of t-butoxyl radicals with mixtures of ethyl vinyl ether and methyl methacrylate. The range of identified products includes those from both addition and hydrogen abstraction with both monomers, head addition with ethyl vinyl ether, and some second monomer addition products. Relative rate constants have been obtained for various pairs of constituent reactions. t-Butoxyl radicals add to ethyl vinyl ether one to two times faster than to methyl methacrylate, depending on which monomer is in excess. The ratio is less than 1 in nonolefinic solvents and as high as 6 in t-butanol. This solvent effect is thought to be due to the radicals complexing to either methyl methacrylate or t-butanol (H-bonding), thereby increasing its electrophilic character. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Kinetics of oxidation of adenosine by t-butoxyl radical: Protection and repair by caffeic acid

The kinetics of oxidation of adenosine and caffeic acid by t-BuO^• has been studied by the photolysis of t-BuOOH in the presence of t-BuOH. The rates and the quantum yields (φ) of oxidation of caffeic acid by t-BuO^• radicals have been determined in the absence and presence of varying concentrations of adenosine. An increase in the concentration of adenosine has been found to decrease the rate of oxidation of caffeic acid suggesting that adenosine and caffeic acid compete for t-BuO^• radicals. From competition kinetics, the rate constant of t-BuO^•–caffeic acid reaction has been calculated to be 8.15 × 10⁸ dm³ mol⁻¹ s⁻¹. The results of experimentally determined quantum yield (φ_exptl) values of oxidation of caffeic acid and the quantum yield values calculated (φ_cal) by assuming that caffeic acid reacts only with t-BuO^• radicals suggest that caffeic acid not only protects adenosine from t-BuO^• radicals but also repairs adenosine radicals formed by the reaction of t-BuO^• radicals. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 37: 515–521, 2005     

4-N,N-Dimethylamino-4'-Isopropylbenzophenone as polymerization photoinitiator. Effect of solvent and photoinitiator concentration on its photoreactivity and on the polymerization process

Several kinetics aspects of the methyl methacrylate (MMA) polymerization using 4-dimethylamino-4'-isopropylbenzophenone (PI) as photoinitiator have been studied. The order of the polymerization reaction with respect to monomer and initiator concentrations have been investigated, as well as the polymerization behavior under well-stirred and unstirred conditions; values of initiation quantum yield (?_i) and k_p/k_t^1/2 have also been determined. It has been found that the nature of the polymerization-initiating radicals depends on the type of solvent and the photoinitiator concentration ([PI]). In cyclohexane solution and at low [PI] (< 5 x 10^-5M), the cyclohexyl radical is practically the only polymerization initiating radical, while at higher [PI] both radicals, cyclohexyl and the aminoalkyl derived from PI, participate in the initiation step, increasing the participation of the later as the [PI] increases. When benzene is used as solvent both phenyl and aminoalkyl radicals participate in the initiation step at any [PI] employed. Efficiencies of the radicals derived from solvent and photoinitiator have been determined.     

Décomposition du percarbonate de O,O-t-butyle et O-isopropényle en solution dans des cyclanes

Thermolysis of O,O-t-butyl and O-isopropenyl percarbonate in cyclohexane involves free-radical acetonylation of solvent. Free radicals derived from solvent add to the percarbonate double bond and after a double β-scission reaction, cyclohexylacetone carbon dioxide and t-butoxy radicals are formed. Abstracting H atoms from the solvent, t-butoxy radicals regenerate free radicals from solvent, and the reaction becomes a chain process. Extending the study to other cycloalkanes it has been shown that the process is a general synthesis method for cycloalkylacetones. On the other hand, competitive reactions of pairs of solvents have shown that the reactivity of the substrates depends on H atom lability and on more complex phenomena like transfers between hydrocarbons and C-centered free-radicals.     

Aging and degradation of polyolefins. I. Peroxide-initiated oxidations of atactic polypropylene

Efficiencies of polymer radical production by thermal decomposition of di-tert-butylperoxy oxalate (DBPO) have been measured in bulk atactic polypropylene (PP) at 25–55°C; they range from 1 to 26%, depending on [DBPO], temperature, and presence of oxygen. Most of the polymer radicals thus produced disproportionate in the absence of oxygen but form peroxy radicals in its presence. Most of the pairs of peroxy radicals interact by a first-order reaction in the polymer cage. The fraction that escapes gives hydroperoxide in a reaction that is half order in rate of initiation. In interactions of polymer peroxy radicals, in or out of the cage, about one-third give dialkyl peroxides and immediate chain termination, two-thirds give alkoxy radicals. About one-third of the later cleave at 45°C; the rest abstract hydrogen to give hydroxy groups and new polymer and polymer peroxy radicals. The primary peroxy radicals from cleavage account for the rest of the chain termination. Cleavage of alkoxy radicals and crosslinking of PP through dialkyl peroxides nearly compensate. Up to 70% of the oxygen absorbed has been found in hydroperoxides. The formation of these can be completely inhibited, but cage reactions are unaffected by inhibitors. Concentrations of free polymer peroxy radicals have been measured by electron spin resonance and found to be very high, about 10^?3M at 58–63°C. Comparison with results on 2,4-dimethylpentane indicate that rate constants for both chain propagation and termination in the polymer are much smaller than those for the model hydrocarbon but that the ratio, k_p/(2k_t)^½, is about the same.     

Effect of mixtures of water and organic solvents on the acidities of 5‐membered heteroaromatic carboxylic acids

pKa values of various 5‐membered heterocyclic aromatic carboxylic acids (pKa^s) were determined in solutions of 20.3, 35.2, 50.1, 65.1, and 79.9 weight percent of organic solvents in water. The pKa^s values show good linearity when they are ploted as a function of the dielectric constants of the mixed solvents methanol, ethanol, isopropyl alcohol, and tert‐butyl alcohol. On the other hand, the pKa^s values show a poor correlation with the dielectric constants in aqueous acetonitrile, N,N‐dimethylformamide, dimethyl sulfoxide, and dioxane. The pKa values in pure water and in pure organic solvent could be calculated by extrapolation of the plot of the pKa^s versus percentage of organic solvent. The pKa^s values of 4‐ and 5‐sub‐stituted 2‐thiophenecarboxylic acids were also determined, and the ρ values are calculated in the same series of the solvents.     

Radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate in the presence of stereoregular poly(methyl methacrylate). V. Kinetics of initial template polymerization

The influence of stereoregular poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) as a polymer matrix on the initial rate of radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) has been measured between ?11 and +60°C using a dilatometric technique. Under proper conditions an increase in the relative initial rate of template polymerization with respect to a blank polymerization was observed. Viscometric studies showed that the observed effect could be related to the extent of complex formation between the polymer matrix and the growing chain radical. The initial rate was dependent on tacticity and molecular weight of the matrix polymer, solvent type and polymerization temperature. The accelerating effect was most pronounced (a fivefold increase in rate) at the lowest polymerization temperature with the highest molecular weight isotactic PMMA as a matrix in a solvent like dimethylformamide (DMF), which is known to be a good medium for complex formation between isotactic and syndiotactic PMMA. The acceleration of the polymerization below 25°C appeared to be accompanied by a large decrease in the overall energy and entropy of activation. It is suggested that the observed template effects are mainly due to the stereoselection in the propagation step (lower activation entropy Δ S_p^?) and the hindrance of segmental diffusion in the termination step (higher activation energy Δ E_t^?) of complexed growing chain radicals.     

Rate constants for the decarboxylation of the t-butoxicarbonyl radical and concurring radical terminations directly obtained by kinetic ESR

Rate constants of various simultaneous reactions of t-butoxicarbonyl and t-butyl radicals generated by photolysis of t-butylpivalate in n-heptane are directly determined by kinetic electron spin resonance. The temperature dependence of the decarboxylation reaction t-BuO?O → t-Bu^. + CO₂ obeys log )K/S^?1( = 13.8?49.0/θ where θ = 2.303 RT/kJ ^. mol^?1. The self- and cross-termination of the radicals are diffusion limited.     

Phenacyl dimethyl sulphonium ylide-mercuric chloride complex initiated radical polymerization of methylmethacrylate

Summary The metal-ylide-initiated radical polymerization of methylmethacrylate (MMA) at 85±0.1°C using dioxan as inert solvent was investigated by dilatometry. Kinetic parameters, average rate of polymerization (R _p ) and reaction orders with respect to initiator and monomer have been determined and are 0.33±0.1 and 1.33, respectively. Polymerization was inhibited by hydroquinone and non-polar solvents, but is favoured by polar solvent. The activation energy (E) and k _p ² /k_t values were 64.0 kJ mol^–1 and 3.3×10^–2 l mol^–1 s^–1 respectively. A suitable mechanism consistent with the observed kinetic data is proposed.     

Transient free radicals in viscous solvents

The majority of free radicals are highly reactive species which participate in bimolecular reactions with each other. Validation of the theory of molecular diffusion and reactivity in the liquid state requires knowledge of rate constants of radical–radical reactions (recombination, disproportionation) and their viscosity dependencies. An accurate comparison of theory and experiment has become available due to experimentally measured diffusion coefficients of reactive radicals by transient grating technique. Initial distribution of radicals in solution can be not random but pair-wise as in photo- or thermoinitiation of free radical polymerization reactions. Probability of a radical escape of a partner (cage escape) characterizes the initiator efficiency. Despite decades of measurement of cage effect values, cage effect dynamics with free radicals have only been investigated quite recently. The present tutorial review considers the effect of viscosity of Newtonian liquid on two types of recombination—in the solvent bulk and in a cage. Further, since radicals are paramagnetic species, external magnetic field affects probability of their reactions in pairs. These effects are also observed in viscous liquids, and reasons for such observations are explained. The recently discovered low magnetic field effect is also observed on radical pairs in viscous liquids.     

Studies on the polymerization of methyl methacrylate activated by azobisisobutyramidine

Kinetic studies on methyl methacrylate polymerization were carried out with watersoluble 2,2′-azobisisobutyramidine (ABA). The rate of polymerization was proportional to the square root of the initiator concentration in the solvents chloroform, methanol, and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), which confirms the bimolecular nature of the termination reaction. The monomer exponent was unity in chloroform but in methanol and DMSO the rate of polymerization passed through a maximum when plotted against the monmer concentration. This behavior in methanol has been attributed to be due to the enhanced rate of production of radical with increasing proportion of methanol. The rate of decomposition of the ABA has been observed to be faster in methanol than in chloroform. The situation becomes more complicated with DMSO, which was found to reduce the value of δ = (2k_t)^1/2/k_p in methyl methacrylate polymerization. The rate of polymerization was observed to be highly dependent on the nature of the solvent, the rate increasing with increased electrophilicity of the solvent. The dependence of R_p on the solvent has been explained in the light of the stabilization of the transition state due to increased solvation of the basic amidine group of the initiator with the increased electrophilicity of the solvent.     

Effects of mercaptides on anionic polymerization. III. Polymerization of methyl methacrylate by thiophenoxides in polar aprotic solvents

Sodium thiophenoxide initiated the polymerization of methyl methacrylate in polar aprotic solvents (DMF, DMSO, HMPA). The active species that initiated the polymerization of the monomer was found by spectrophotometric measurements and by the sodium fusion method to be sodium thiophenoxide itself. The activation energy for the polymerization of the monomer in DMF solvent obtained was E = 3.4 kcal/mole below 30°C, and E = ?3.3 kcal/mole above the temperature. The phenomena were reasoned as the result of the formation of two active species: a solvent-separated ion pair and a contact ion pair. The effects of counterions on the reactivity of thiophenoxide increased with increasing electropositivity of the metals: Li < Na < K. Sodium phenoxide, the oxygen analog of thiophenoxide, was also found to initiate the polymerization of the monomer in the solvents. The relative reactivity of thiophenoxide to phenoxide for the monomer in HMPA at 30°C was thus determined: phenyl-SNa > phenyl-ONa. The relative effect of the polar aprotic solvents on the reactivity of thiophenoxide was also as follows: HMPA > DMF > DMSO. The kinetic studies were made by the graphical evaluation of rate constants. The following results were obtained for the monomer at 20°C in DMF solvent: K_p = 3.5 × 10² 1./mole-hr and K_t = 9.8 × 10^?2/hr.