One‐Step Ring Opening Metathesis Block‐Like Copolymers and their Compositional Analysis by a Novel Retardation Technique

Using a one‐step synthetic route for block copolymers avoids the repeated addition of monomers to the polymerization mixture, which can easily lead to contamination and, therefore, to the unwanted termination of chain growth. For this purpose, monomers ( M1 – M5 ) with different steric hindrances and different propagation rates are explored. Copolymerization of M1 (propagating rapidly) with M2 (propagating slowly), M1 with M3 (propagating extremely slowly) and M4 (propagating rapidly) with M5 (propagating slowly) yielded diblock‐like copolymers using Grubbs’ first ( G1 ) or third generation catalyst ( G3 ). The monomer consumption was followed by ¹H NMR spectroscopy, which revealed vastly different reactivity ratios for M1 and M2 . In the case of M1 and M3 , we observed the highest difference in reactivity ratios (r₁=324 and r₂=0.003) ever reported for a copolymerization method. A triblock‐like copolymer was also synthesized using G3 by first allowing the consumption of the mixture of M1 and M2 and then adding M1 again. In addition, in order to measure the fast reaction rates of the G3 catalyst with M1 , we report a novel retardation technique based on an unusual reversible G3 Fischer‐carbene to G3 benzylidene/alkylidene transformation.     

Organometallic and enzymatic catalysis for ring opening copolymerization of ε‐caprolactone and 4‐methyl‐ε‐caprolactone

A series of copolymers containing ε‐caprolactone (CL) and 4‐methyl‐ε‐caprolactone (MeCL) were synthesized by ring‐opening polymerization (ROP) using Tin(II) bis(2‐ethylhexanoate)(Sn(Oct)₂) or Novozym 435 as catalyst. The molecular structure and weight of copolymers were determined by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and size exclusion chromatography (SEC), respectively. Our kinetic study showed that the monomer reactivity ratios for CL (r₁) and MeCL (r₂) using Sn(Oct)₂ as catalyst were estimated to be near unity and r₁ × r₂ = 1, indicating the random distribution of the monomers in the final copolymer. The results of DSC and XRD consistently indicated that the copolymers were inclined to be amorphous with the increasing of MeCL fraction. Microspheres were prepared from copolymers and characterized by SEM. The preliminary degradability and biocompatibility studies on these copolymers were also assessed. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011     

Hydrophilic and hydrophobic copolymer systems based on acrylic derivatives of pyrrolidone and pyrrolidine

This article deals with the synthesis of hydrophilic methacrylic monomers derived from ethyl pyrrolidone [2‐ethyl‐(2‐pyrrolidone) methacrylate (EPM)] and ethyl pyrrolidine [2‐ethyl‐(2‐pyrrolidine) methacrylate (EPyM)] and their respective homopolymers. For the determination of their reactivity in radical copolymerization reactions, both monomers were copolymerized with methyl methacrylate (MMA), the reactivity ratios being calculated by the application of linear and nonlinear mathematical methods. EPM and MMA had ratios of r_EPM = 1.11 and r_MMA = 0.76, and this indicated that EPM with MMA had a higher reactivity in radical copolymerization processes than vinyl pyrrolidone (VP; r_VP = 0.005 and r_MMA = 4.7). EPyM and MMA had reactivity ratios of r_EPyM = 1.31 and r_MMA = 0.92, and this implied, as for the EPM–MMA copolymers, a tendency to form random or Bernoullian copolymers. The glass‐transition temperatures of the prepared copolymers were determined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and were found to adjust to the Fox equation. Total‐conversion copolymers were prepared, and their behavior in aqueous media was found to be dependent on the copolymer composition. The swelling kinetics of the copolymers followed water transport mechanism case II, which is the most desirable kinetic behavior for a swelling controlled‐release material. Finally, the different states of water in the hydrogels—nonfreezing water, freezing bound water, and unbound freezing water—were determined by DSC and found to be dependent on the hydrophilic and hydrophobic units of the copolymers. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 395–407, 2003     

Cyclodextrins in polymer chemistry: Influence of methylated β-cyclodextrin as host on the free radical copolymerization reactivity ratios of isobornyl acrylate and butyl acrylate as guest monomers in aqueous medium

Methylated β-cyclodextrin (me-β-CD) was used to complex the hydrophobic monomers isobornyl acrylate ( 1 ) and butyl acrylate (2) yielding the water-soluble host/guest complexes isobornyl acrylate/me-β-CD ( 1a ) and butyl acrylate/me-β-CD ( 2a ). The included monomers were copolymerized in water by free-radical mechanism and the kinetics were studied. In order to evaluate these results, the corresponding uncomplexed monomers 1 and 2 were also copolymerized in organic solution. The reactivity ratios of 1a and 2a (r _1a = 0.3, r _2a = 1.7) differ significantly from the reactivity ratios of the corresponding uncomplexed acrylates 1 and 2 in organic solution (r ₁ = 1.3, r ₂ = 1.0). In addition, we found that the weight averages of the copolymers prepared by using me-β-CD are significantly higher than those of the corresponding polymers prepared from uncomplexed monomers in organic solution.     

Reactivity ratios for copolymerization of vinyl chloride with 2-methylpentyl vinyl brassylate by computerized linearization

A computerized version of the Fineman-Ross linearization procedure was used to determine reactivity ratios for copolymerization of vinyl chloride (monomer 1) and 2-methylpentyl vinyl brassylate (monomer 2). From differential refractometry data for the products of low-conversion copolymerization, the procedure gave r₁ = 1.06 and r₂ = 0.234. The ratios computed from chlorine contents of the same products were r₁ = 1.10 and r₂ = 0.239. The polarity factor (e₂) and general monomer reactivity (Q₂) calculated for monomer 2 from these ratios were, respectively, ?0.95 to ?0.98 and 0.032–0.033. The interquartile range for the copolymerization of a mixture of 60% monomer 1 and 40% monomer 2 was 1.4%. These values suggest that from suitable proportions of reactants, sufficiently homogeneous distribution of monomers can be achieved in copolymers of vinyl chloride and 2-methylpentyl vinyl brassylate to offer the possibility of effective internal plasticization.     

Synthesis and characterization of cationic copolymers of butylacrylate and [3‐(methacryloylamino)‐propyl]trimethylammonium chloride

Cationic copolymers of butylacrylate (BA) and [3‐(methacryloylamino)‐propyl]trimethylammonium chloride (MAPTAC) were synthesized by free‐radical‐solution polymerization in methanol and ethanol. An FT‐Raman Spectrometer and NMR were used to monitor the polymerization process. The copolymers were characterized by light scattering, NMR, DSC, and thermogravimetric analysis. It was found that random copolymers could be prepared, and the molar fractions of BA and cationic monomers in the copolymers were close to the feed ratios. The copolymer prepared in methanol had a higher molecular weight than that prepared in ethanol. As the cationic monomer content increased, the glass‐transition temperature (T_g) of the copolymer also increased, whereas the thermal stability decreased. The reactivity ratios for the monomers were evaluated. The copolymerization of BA (M₁) with MAPTAC (M₂) gave reactivity ratios such as r₁ = 0.92 and r₂ = 2.61 in ethanol as well as r₁ = 0.79 and r₂ = 0.90 in methanol. This study indicated that a random copolymer containing a hydrophobic monomer (BA) and a cationic hydrophilic monomer (MAPTAC) could be prepared in a proper polar solvent such as methanol or ethanol. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 39: 1031–1039, 2001     

Synthesis and characterization of styrenic polymers with pendant pyrazole groups. II

The synthesis of styrenic monomers that have pyrazolic or bipyrazolic pendant groups is described. Their homopolymerization and their copolymerization with maleic anhydride (MA) and N-(3-acetoxy propyl) maleimide is reported. The monomers were prepared from the Williamson reaction between 2-pyridine carbinol, hydroxy monopyrazole, hydroxy bipyrazole, and chloromethyl styrene. The homopolymerizations of such styrenic monomers were tried under different conditions, which led to low molecular weight polymers with a high polydispersity. However, alternating copolymers were obtained using maleic anhydride or N-(3-acetoxy propyl) maleimide as comonomers, as shown by ¹H-NMR, elemental analysis, and reactivity ratios r₁ and r₂. Furthermore, the hydrolysis of the acetate function of different copolymers was performed quantitatively. Unlike the acetoxy copolymers, such products do not have any glass transition temperature. Thermogravimetric investigations have shown that these copolymers exhibit good thermostability. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Initiator effect on the cationic ring‐opening copolymerization of 2‐ethyl‐2‐oxazoline and 2‐phenyl‐2‐oxazoline

The aim of this research was to study the effect of the initiator on the resulting monomer distribution for the cationic ring‐opening copolymerization of 2‐ethyl‐2‐oxazoline (EtOx) and 2‐phenyl‐2‐oxazoline (PhOx). At first, kinetic studies were performed for the homopolymerizations of both monomers at 160 °C under microwave irradiation using four initiators. These initiators have the same benzyl‐initiating group but different leaving groups, Cl^?, Br^?, I^?, and OTs^?. The basicity of the leaving group affects the ratio of covalent and cationic propagating species and, thus, the polymerization rate. The observed differences in polymerization rates could be correlated to the concentration of cationic species in the polymerization mixture as determined by ¹H NMR spectroscopy. In a next‐step, polymerization kinetics were determined for the copolymerizations of EtOx and PhOx with these four initiators. The reactivity ratios for these copolymerizations were calculated from the polymerization rates obtained for the copolymerizations. This approach allows more accurate determination of the copolymerization parameters compared to conventional methods using the composition of single polymers. When benzyl chloride (BCl) was used as an initiator, no copolymers could be obtained because its reactivity is too low for the polymerization of PhOx. With decreasing basicity of the used counterions (Br^? > I^? > OTs^?), the reactivity ratios gradually changed from r_EtOx = 10.1 and r_PhOx = 0.30 to r_EtOx = 7.9 and r_PhOx = 0.18. However, the large difference in reactivity ratios will lead to the formation of quasi‐diblock copolymers in all cases. In conclusion, the used initiator does influence the monomer distribution in the copolymers, but for the investigated system the differences were so small that no difference in the resulting polymer properties is expected. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 4804–4816, 2008     

Determination of the reactivity parameters for the copolymerization of butyl acrylate with vinyl acetate

The composition of vinyl acetate–butyl acrylate copolymers obtained with batch emulsion polymerization have been studied by ¹H-NMR. Using the integrated copolymerization Meyer–Lowry equation, the apparent reactivity ratios of the two monomers were calculated as 10.67 for r₁, the reactivity ratio of butyl acrylate (BA), and 0.024 for r₂, the reactivity ratio of vinyl acetate (VAC). These results were compared with those obtained by other methods.     

Copolymerization of new pyrazolone-containing monomers with certain vinyl comonomers

The polymerization ability of two new pyrazolone-containing monomers—3-methyl-1-phenyl-4-crotonoyl-pyrazolone-5 ( Cr ) and 3-methyl-1-phenyl-4-(3′-phenyl-acryloyl) pyrazolone-5 ( Cy )—was investigated. The monomers were obtained by acylation of 3-methyl-1-phenyl-pyrazolone-5 with crotonyl chloride or cinnamoyl chloride, respectively. It was established that the two monomers do not homopolymerize either under the action of ionic and radical initiators nor with γ-rays (doses between 2 and 10 MRad). In contrast to this, the two monomers copolymerize with other vinyl comonomers. Copolymers of Cr and Cy with methacrylic acid (MAA), methyl methacrylate (MMA), and Styrene (St) were synthesized by radical copolymerization. The molecular weights of the polymer products obtained were in the 10,000–65,000 range. It was established that the molecular weight characteristics of the copolymers were affected by the concentration of the pyrazolone-containing monomer and by the chemical nature of the solvent used. The copolymerization of Cr and Cy with MAA was investigated in detail in order to evaluate the relative activity of the new monomers during copolymerization. The reactivity ratios (r) were calculated by three different methods with good agreement. The values obtained for the monomer pairs are: r_MAA = 0.61 ± 0.01, r_Cr = 0.04 ± 0.01; r_MAA = 0.64 ± 0.05, r_Cy = 0.02 ± 0.02. The Q/e values for Cr and Cy were determined using the reactivity ratios of both monomers.     

Radiation-induced copolymerization of tetrafluoroethylene with vinyl ethers

Radiation-induced copolymerization of tetrafluoroethylene with various vinyl ethers has been studied. It was found that tetrafluoroethylene can be copolymerized with vinyl ethers to give alternating copolymers over a wide range of the initial monomer concentration in the monomer mixture. The monomer reactivity ratios were determined for the copolymerization of tetrafluoroethylene with n-butyl vinyl ether as 0.005 (r_TFE) and 0.0015 (r_NBVE). The rate of copolymerization is extremely high and has a maximum at an equimolar concentration of two monomers. The alternating structure of the copolymers was confirmed by the analysis of NMR spectra. Some thermal properties of the copolymers were measured by DSC and DTA.     

Cationic copolymerization of 2-methylene-5,5-dimethyl-1,3-dioxane with 2-methylene-1,3-dioxolane and 2-methylene-1,3-dioxane

Copolymers of the cyclic ketene acetals, 2-methylene-5,5-dimethyl-1,3-dioxane, 3 , (M₁) with 2-methylene-1,3-dioxolane, 4 , (M₂) or 2-methylene-1,3-dioxane, 5 , (M₂), were synthesized by cationic copolymerization. An experimental method was designed to study the reactivity of these very reactive and extremely acid sensitive cyclic ketene acetal monomers. The reactivity ratios, calculated using a computer program based on a nonlinear minimization algorithm, were r₁ = 6.36 and r₂ = 1.25 for the copolymerization of 3 with 4 , and r₁ = 1.56 and r₂ = 1.42 for the copolymerization of 3 with 5. FTIR and ¹H-NMR spectra when combined with the values of r₁ and r₂ showed that these copolymers were formed by a cationic 1,2-polymerization (ring-retained) route. Furthermore the tendency existed to form very short blocks of M₁ or M₂ within the copolymers. Cationic copolymerization of cyclic ketene acetals have the potential to be used for synthesis of novel polymers. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Monomer-isomerization polymerization. XVII. Monomer-isomerizations copolymerizations of 2-butene with 3-heptenes and 4-methyl-2-pentenes with Ziegler-Natta catalyst

2-Butene(2B) copolymerizes with 3-heptene(3H) and 4-methyl-2-pentene(4M2P) by a monomer-isomerization copolymerization mechanism in the presence of TiCl₃–(C₂H₅)₃Al catalyst at 80°C to yield the copolymers of 1-olefin units. By comparison, the copolymerization of 1-butene(1B) with 4-methyl-1-pentene(4M1P) was also carried out under similar conditions. The composition of the copolymers obtained from these copolymerizations was determined from the ratios of optical densities D₇₂₃/D₁₃₈₀ and D₁₁₇₀/D₁₃₈₀ in their infrared (IR) spectra. The apparent monomer reactivity ratios for the monomer-isomerization copolymerization of 2B with 3H and 4M2P, in which the concentration of olefin monomer in the feed was used as 2-olefin, were determined as follows: cis-2B(M₁)/3H(M₂); r₁ = 4.00, r₂ = 0.20: trans-2B(M₁)/3H; r₁ = 3.50, r₂ = 0.20; 4M2P(M₁)-trans-2B(M₂): r₁ = 0.05, r₂ = 9.0. These results indicate that the isomerization of 2-olefins to 1-olefins was important to monomer-isomerization copolymerization.     

N-vinylpyrrolidone and 4-vinyl Benzylchloride Copolymers: Synthesis,Characterization and Reactivity Ratios

The copolymers prepared in this study by free radical copolymerization of N-vinylpyrrolidone (M ₂) with 4-vinylbenzylchloride (M ₁) using 2,2′-azobisisobutyronotrile (AIBN) initiator in 1,4-dioxane solvent at 70°C were characterized by FTIR, ¹H-NMR and ¹³C-NMR techniques. Polymer solubility was tested in both polar and nonpolar solvents. The thermal properties were studied by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimeter (DSC). Copolymer compositions were established by H¹-NMR spectra, while reactivity ratios of the monomers were computed using the linearization methods viz., Fineman-Ross (FR) (r ₁ = 1.67 and r ₂ = 0.67), Kelen-Tudos (KT) (r ₁ = 1.77 and r ₂ = 0.65) and extended Kelen-Tudos (EK-T) (r ₁ = 1.72 and r ₂ = 0.63) methods at lower conversion. Furthermore, reactivity ratios in nonlinear error-in-variables method (RREVM) also compute the reactivity ratios (r ₁ = 1.76 and r ₂ = 0.66); these are found to be in good agreement with each other. The distribution of monomer sequence along the copolymer chain was calculated using a statistical method based on the calculated reactivity ratios.     

Copolymerization of anhydroglucose and anhydromannose derivatives: Structure,reactivity, and conformational analyses

Phosphorus pentafluoride-catalyzed copolymerization of 1,6-anhydro-2,3,4-tri-O-(p-methylbenzyl)-β-D -glucopyranose (TXGL, monomer G) and 1,6-anhydro-2,3,4-tri-O-benzyl-β-D -mannopyranose (TBMN, monomer M) appears to follow classical copolymerization theory. Reactivity ratios calculated by the procedure of Mayo and Lewis were r_G = 0.90 ± 0.08, r_M = 11.5 ± 0.80, from which sequence distributions were calculated. A conformational analysis of anhydro sugar polymerization is presented to explain differences in reactivity of monomers and their derived cations in polymerization and copolymerization. The polymers and copolymers were characterized by viscosity, ¹H- and ¹³C-NMR spectroscopy, optical rotation, and circular dichroism. The reaction gives stereoregular polymers as have other polymerizations and copolymerizations of this class.     

Copolymerization of 1,6-anhydro-ß-D-galactopyranose and 1,6-anhydro-ß-D-mannopyranose derivatives

1,6-Anhydro-2,3,4-tri-O-(p-methylbenzyl)-ß-D -galactopyranose (TXGal,M₁) has been copolymerized with 1,6-anhydro-2,3,4-tri-O-benzyl-ß-D -mannopyranose (TBMan,M₂), the products characterized by NMR, specific rotation, and viscosity, and the reactivity ratios calculated. The reactivity ratios r₁ = 0.37 ± 0.15 and r₂ = 38 ± 4 indicate that the anhydromannose derivative is about 100 times as reactive as that of anhydrogalactose. A comparison of glucose, mannose, and galactose copolymerizations suggests that the reactivity differences of the three propagating cations are comparatively small and the reactivity differences of the monomers large. This result is consistent with a mechanism proposed earlier. Methyl substitution on the aromatic rings of the p-xylyl groups inhibits the initiation process significantly relative to benzyl, but propagation only slightly.     

Copolymerization of vinyl monomers with Gd(OCOCCl3)3-(i-Bu)3Al-Et2AlCl

The polymerization of polar monomers such as methyl methacrylate (MMA), methyl acrylate (MA), methacrylonitrile (MAN), and acrylonitrile (AN) was carried out with gadolinium-based Ziegler–Natta catalysts [Gd(OCOCCl₃)₃-(i-Bu)₃Al-Et₂AlCl] in hexane at 50°C under N₂ to elucidate the effect of the monomer's HOMO(highest occupied moleculor orbital) and LUMO (lowest unoccupied molecular orbital) levels on the polymerizability. In the case of homopolymerization, all monomers were found to polymerize and the order of relative polymerizability was as follows: MM > MA > MAN > AN. On the other hand, the result of copolymerization of St with MMA shows that the values of the monomer reactivity ratios are r₁ = 0.06 and r₂ = 1.98 for St(M₁)/MMA(M₂). The monomer reactivity ratios of styrene (St), p-methoxystyrene (PMOS), p-methylstyrene (PMS), and p-chlorostyrene (PCS) evaluated as r₁ = 0.55 and r₂ = 1.07 for St(M₁)/PMOS(M₂), r₁ = 0.38 and r₂ = 0.51 for St(M₁)/PMS(M₂), and r₁ = 0.72 and r₂ = 1.25 for St(M₁)/PCS(M₂) were compared with those for St(M₁)/MMA(M₂). The copolymerization behavior is apparently different from the titanium-based Ziegler—Natta catalyst, regarding a larger monomer reactivity ratio of PCS. The lower LUMO level of PCS and MMA may enhance a back-donation process from the metal catalyst, therefore resulting in high polymerizability. These results are discussed on the basis of the energy level of the gadolinium catalyst and the HOMO and LUMO levels of the monomers. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 35: 2591–2597, 1997     

Monomer-isomerization polymerization. XVIII. Monomer-isomerization copolymerizations of 4-phenyl-2-butene with 4-methyl-2-pentene and 3-heptene with Ziegler-Natta catalyst

4-Phenyl-2-butene (4Ph2B) undergoes monomer-isomerization copolymerization with 4-methyl-2-pentene (4M2P) and 2-and 3-heptene (2H and 3H) with TiCl₃–(C₂H₅)₃Al catalyst at 80°C to produce copolymer consisting exclusively of 1-olefin units. For comparison the copolymerization of 4-phenyl-1-butene (4Ph1B) with 4-methyl-1-pentene (4M1P) and 1-heptene (1H) was carried out under similar conditions. The composition of the copolymers obtained from these copolymerizations was determined from the ratios of optical densities D₁₃₈₀ and D₁₆₀₀ of infrared (IR) spectra of their thin films. The apparent monomer reactivity ratios for the monomer-isomerization copolymerization of 4Ph2B with 4M2P, 2H, and 3H in which the concentration of olefin monomer in the feed was used as internal olefin and those for the copolymerization of 4Ph1B with 4M1P and 1H were determined as follows: 4Ph2B(M₁)-4M2P(M₂); r₁ = 0.90, r₂ = 0.20, 4Ph1B(M₁)-4M1P (M₂); r₁ = 0.40, r₂ = 0.70, 4Ph2B(M₁)-2H(M₂); r₁, = 0.45, r₂ = 1.85, 4Ph2B(M₁)-3H(M₂); r₁ = 0.50, r₂ = 1.20, 4Ph1B(M₁)-1H(M₂); r₁ = 0.55, r₂ = 0.75. The difference in monomer reactivity ratios seemed to originate from the rate of isomerization from 2- or 3-olefins to 1-oletins in these monomer-isomerization copolymerizations.     

Poly(isobornyl methacrylate‐co‐methyl acrylate): Synthesis and stereosequence distribution analysis by NMR spectroscopy

Copolymerization of isobornyl methacrylate and methyl acrylate ( I/M ) is performed by atom transfer radical polymerization using methyl‐2‐bromopropionate as an initiator and PMDETA/CuBr as catalyst under nitrogen atmosphere at 70 °C. The copolymer compositions determined from ¹H NMR spectra are used to determine reactivity ratios of the monomers. The reactivity ratio determined from linear Kelen–Tudos method and non‐linear error‐in‐variable method, are r_I = 1.25 ± 0.10, r_M = 0.84 ± 0.08 and r_I = 1.20, r_M = 0.82, respectively. 1D, distortion less enhancement by polarization transfer and 2D, heteronuclear single quantum coherence, and total correlation spectroscopy NMR experiments are employed to resolve highly overlapped and complex ¹H and ¹³C{¹H} NMR spectra of the copolymers. The carbonyl carbon of I and M units and methyl carbon of I unit are assigned up to triad compositional and configurational sequences, whereas β‐methylene carbons are assigned up to tetrad compositional and configurational sequences. Similarly, methine carbon of I unit is assigned up to triad level. The couplings of carbonyl carbon and quaternary carbon resonances are studied in detail using 2D hetero nuclear multiple bond correlation spectra. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012     

Copolymers from Castor Oil Prepolymers (COP). 1. Copolymerization of Acrylonitrile with COP

The copolymerization of castor oil prepolymer (COP) was attempted with vinyl monomers in the presence of a free radical initiator at 75°C. It was found that acrylonitrile copolymerizes with COP in good yield, The copolymers were yellow brown in color and were soluble in hot dimethylformamide. The percentage composition of the copolymers was determined by the nitrogen of the copolymers. Their reactivity ratios were determined to be r₁ = 0.53, r₂ = 1.53.