Kinetics of the gamma-radiation-induced polymerization of ethylene in tert-butyl alcohol

The gamma-radiation-induced polymerization of ethylene in the presence of 13–30 ml of tert-butyl alcohol was carried out under a pressure of 120–400 kg/cm² at a dose rate of 1 × 10³ to 2.5 × 10⁴ rad/hr at 30°C with a 100 ml reactor. The polymerization rate and the molecular weight of the polymer increased with reaction time and pressure and decreased with amount of tert-butyl alcohol. The polymer yield increased almost proportionally with the dose rate, while the molecular weight was almost independent of it. These results were graphically evaluated, and the rate constants of initiation, propagation, and termination for various conditions were determined. No transfer was observed. On the basis of these results the role of tert-butyl alcohol in the polymerization is discussed.     

Effect of dose rate on the radiation-induced polymerization of ethylene in tert-butyl alcohol

The dependence of the dose rate on the rate of radiation-induced polymerization of ethylene in tert-butyl alcohol containing 5 vol-% water was studied. The reaction was carried out by use of a reactor with a capacity of 100 ml under the following conditions: pressure, 200 kg/cm²; temperature, 24 ± 3°C; dose rate, 3.7 × 10⁴?1.6 × 10⁵ rad/hr; amount of medium, 70 ml. The dose rate exponents for rate of the polymerization, the molecular weight, and the number of polymer chain were found to be about 0.8, ?0.1, and 0.9, respectively. These results were well explained with kinetic results (obtained by a novel analytical method) for the polymerization which contain both first-order and second-order terminations for the concentrations of propagating radical. The individual values of the rate constants in each elementary reaction were also obtained.     

Effect of amount of medium on the radiation-induced polymerization of ethylene in tert-butyl alcohol

The kinetics of the radiation-induced polymerization of ethylene in the presence of various amounts of medium (tert-butyl alcohol containing 5 vol-% of water) was studied, and the effect of the amount of medium on the polymerization was investigated. The polymerization was carried out by use of a reactor of 100 ml capacity under the following conditions: temperature, 24 ± 3°C; pressure, 200 kg/cm²; dose rate, 2.0 × 10⁴?1.6 × 10⁵ rad/hr. The amount of polymerized monomer and the rate of polymerization were maximum when about 50 ml of the medium was used. Data obtained with the use of 30, 50, and 90 ml of the medium were analyzed kinetically and the rate constants of each elementary reaction were determined by the method based on a reaction mechanism which contains both first- and second-order terminations for the concentration of propagating radical. These results were compared with those obtained with the use of 70 ml of the medium already reported in the previous paper. The dose rate exponents of the rate of polymerization were about 0.7–0.8. It was found that G values for the initiation of ethylene and the medium were 1.5 and 3.8, respectively, and the rate of propagation was proportional to the fugacity of ethylene. It is supposed that the medium plays an important role in the first-order termination, because the apparent rate constant of the reaction was larger when a larger amount of medium was used.     

Radiation-induced heterogeneous polymerization of ethylene in the presence of ethyl alcohol

The radiation-induced heterogeneous polymerization of ethylene in ethyl alcohol was carried out in a reactor with a capacity of 100 ml under the following reaction conditions: temperature, 24 ± 3°C; pressure, 200–400 kg/cm²; amount of ethyl alcohol, 30–70 ml; dose rate, 3.7 × 10⁴?1.05 × 10⁵ rad hr. The effects of amount of ethyl alcohol, pressure, and dose rate on the rate of polymerization at the steady state, the amount of polymerized monomer, the molecular weight of polymer, and the number of polymer chains were studied compared with the results obtained in the polymerization in tert-butyl alcohol. It was found that there is an acceleration period in the early stage of reaction followed by a steady state. The rate of polymerization was maximum when about 50 ml of ethyl alcohol was used. The molecular weight of polymer increased with a decrease in the amount of ethyl alcohol. The dependences of pressure (p) and dose rate (I) on the rate of polymerization at steady state (R_s) and the molecular weight of polymer (M?_n) were expressed as follows; R_s ∝ p^0.74, M?_n ∝ p^0.3?0.4, R_s ∝ I^0.9 and M?_n ∝ I^{?0.1 ?0.0}. The results were analyzed by a kinetic treatment based on a reaction mechanism containing both first-and second-order terminations. The rate constant of first-order termination by radical occlusion was considerably larger than that in the polymerization in tert-butyl alcohol, because the affinity of ethyl alcohol for polyethylene is smaller than that of tert-butyl alcohol. It was found that chain transfer to ethyl alcohol takes place easily and the G value of ethyl alcohol for initiation is larger than 1.5.     

Role of chain transfer in heterogeneous polymerization of ethylene

The role of chain transfer was studied for the radiation-induced polymerization of ethylene in precipitating media, namely n-butyl alcohol, tert-butyl alcohol and their mixtures. The affinities of those solvents for polyethylene are similar, but the chain-transfer coefficient of n-butyl alcohol is larger than that of tert-butyl alcohol. The polymerizations were carried out in a reactor of 100 ml under a pressure of 300 kg/cm², at 60°C, dose rate of 3.07 × 10⁴–1.75 × 10⁵ rad/hr in the presence of 50 ml of solvents. The polymerization in tert-butyl alcohol shows the kinetic behavior characteristic of a heterogeneous polymerization, such as rate acceleration, high dose rate dependence of polymerization rate, and low dose rate dependence of polymer molecular weight, whereas the polymerization in n-butyl alcohol does not exhibit such behavior and gives polymer having a molecular weight much lower than that of polymer obtained in tert-butyl alcohol. The polymer formed in tert-butyl alcohol exhibits a bimodal molecular weight distribution measured by gel permeation chromatography. In mixed tert-butyl alcohol and n-butyl alcohol solvent, with increasing fraction of n-butyl alcohol, the two peaks not only shift to lower molecular weight but the higher molecular weight peak becomes relatively small. Eventually, the polymer formed in n-butyl alcohol exhibits a unimodal distribution. Those results are well explained on the basis of the proposed scheme for heterogeneous polymerization.     

Kinetics of styrene homogeneous polymerization to atactic polypropylene

The rate of polymerization of styrene initiated by hydroperoxidized atactic polypropylene in a homogeneous toluene solution has been measured at 60 and 70°C. The reaction is first-order with respect to styrene concentration and independent of the polymeric hydroperoxide concentration above 2 × 10^?5N hydroperoxide. The individual rate constants, length and frequency of the grafted polystyrene chains along the polypropylene backbone have been calculated and their significance discussed. The initiation rate constant compares closely with values reported for the analogous tert-butyl hydroperoxide-initiated polymerization. The rate constant for the chain transfer termination elementary step at 70°C., however, is 18 times the value reported for the tert-butyl hydroperoxide-initiated polymerization of styrene. This high constant accounts for the relatively low rates of polymerization observed and high termination rates. Chain deactivation is presumably accelerated by increased collisions between growing styrene chains and inactive propylene hydroperoxide and polystyrene molecules. Distribution of polystyrene grafts on polypropylene is estimated from knowledge of effects of styrene concentration, polymeric hydroperoxide concentration, and temperature upon the rate of polymerization.     

Effect of alcohols on the gamma-radiation-induced polymerization of ethylene

Gamma-radiation-induced polymerization of ethylene in alcohols such as methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, isobutyl, sec-butyl, tert-butyl, and n-pentyl alcohols was carried out under a pressure of 400 kg./cm.²at 30°C. at a dose rate of 1.4 × 10⁵ rad/hr. in a batch reactor of 100 ml. capacity. The yield and molecular weight of polymer formed in the alcohols (except tert-butyl alcohol) were much lower than those of the bulk polymerization under the same conditions, whereas the addition of tert-butyl alcohol increased the yield and reduced the molecular weight. From the infrared spectra of the polymers and those of the bromination products it was concluded that only primary OH exists in the polymer formed in methyl alcohol and that both primary and secondary OH are in the polymer formed in other primary alcohols. Both secondary and tertiary OH were observed in the polymer when the secondary alcohols were used, and only tertiary OH in the case of tert-butyl alcohol. These polymers were found to contain small amounts of vinylidene unsaturation and methyl group. On the basis of these results the roles of the alcohols in the polymerization are discussed.     

Effect of temperature on the radiation-induced polymerization of ethylene in various media

The effects of temperature on the radiation-induced polymerization of ethylene in bulk and in the presence of ethyl alcohol, n-butyl alcohol, tert-butyl alcohol, cyclohexane, 2,2,4-trimethylpentane, and 2,2,5-trimethylhexane were studied. The changes of the amounts of polymerized monomer with the reaction temperature were different from each other in these reaction systems, especially in the range lower than 60–80°C. At temperatures lower than 60–80°C, as the reaction temperature increases, the amount of polymerized monomer decreased in bulk and in the presence of tert-butyl alcohol. The amount was almost constant in the presence of ethyl alcohol and 2,2,4-trimethylpentane, and it increased in the presence of n-butyl alcohol, cyclohexane, and 2,2,5-trimethylhexane. However, in the temperature range higher than 60–80°C, the amount of polymerized monomer increased with increasing temperature in every reaction system except for bulk polymerization. The molecular weight of polymer decreased with increasing temperature in every reaction system except at temperatures lower than 25°C. The molecular weight of polymer formed in bulk, in tert-butyl alcohol, and also in 2,2,4-trimethylpentane were relatively higher than that in other reaction systems. A bimodal molecular weight distribution was observed for the polymer formed in bulk and in tert-butyl alcohol at 40–60°C. These results are discussed in connection with the heterogeneity of the reaction system. The differences due to temperature in each reaction system are explained as due to the difference in affinity of the reaction system for the propagating chain and in the facility of chain transfer to the medium.     

A novel scheme of heterogeneous polymerization of ethylene

The heterogeneous polymerization of ethylene initiated by radiation in tert-butyl alcohol was studied. The polymerization was carried out in a 100-ml reactor at 25–100°C and pressures of 200–300 kg/cm² in the presence of 50 ml of tert-butyl alcohol containing 7 wt-% water. The amounts of polymerized monomer, the average molecular weight of polymer formed, and the molecular weight distribution of polymer were measured at various stages of reaction and at various temperatures. The molecular weight distribution was found to be very much dependent on the reaction time and temperature. For the polymer formed at 50–60°C in the very early stages of reaction, the molecular weight distribution is unimodal, and in the intermediate stage a shoulder appears at a molecular weight higher than the first peak which increases as the polymerization proceeds; eventually a bimodal curve is formed. The bimodal distribution curves were analyzed to determine the fractions and average molecular weights of the each peak. On the basis of these data for the molecular weight distribution and kinetic behavior, a new scheme for the heterogeneous polymerization is proposed which indicates that the polymerization proceeds via propagating radicals in two different physical states, namely, loose and rigid states.     

Nucleophilic character of the tert-butyl radical. Absolute rate constants for the reactions with substituted toluenes

The decay of photochemically generated tert-butyl radicals is studied at 48°C in 11 m- and p-substituted toluenes by time-resolved electron spin resonance spectroscopy. It is governed by the second-order self-termination perturbed by a pseudo-first-order reaction of the radical with the toluenes. The first-order lifetimes yield the rate constants k_A for hydrogen transfer from toluenes to tert-butyl. Substituent effects on the rate constants confirm the nucleophilic character of the radical.     

Polymerisation of methyl methacrylate with tert-butyllithium and triisobutylaluminium in toluene: mechanism of initiation and termination by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionisation time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI TOF MS)

The polymerisation of methyl methacrylate (MMA) using triisobutylaluminium/tert-butyllithium in hydrocarbon at 0°C and −78°C has been investigated by matrixassisted laser desorption ionisation time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI TOF MS). Although the system gives extremely good control over molecular weight and narrow molecular weight distribution, initiation of polymerization can be complicated by formation of small amounts of tert-butyl isoprenyl ketone ( 1 ), and termination of polymerization can occur by end cyclisation of the end unit of 3 . Both complications in initiation and termination can be avoided by suitable reaction conditions. Incorporation of 1 is suppressed by increasing the alkylaluminium content and by higher temperature. Termination by cyclisation has been found to occur over much longer time scales than propagation and can therefore be avoided by controlled termination after the appropriate reaction time.     

Exchange reactions of urethanes with proton-donating compounds: Kinetics of the reactions of phenyl-<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-phenylurethane with butyl alcohols

The exchange reactions of phenyl-N-phenylurethane with aliphatic alcohols, namely, n-butyl, sec-butyl, and tert-butyl alcohols, in ortho-dichlorobenzene and in the media of the corresponding alcohols were studied. In the absence of a catalyst and proton-donating compounds, the monomolecular cleavage of phenyl-N-phenylurethane to isocyanate and alcohol proceeds at a noticeable rate starting only at 250°C. Between 40 and 80°C, the exchange reactions take place via direct exchange between urethane and the photon-donating compound and are second-order up to high conversions (until the almost complete disappearance of the initial urethane). Activation energies and apparent rate constants have been determined for the exchange reactions of phenyl-N-phenylurethane with butyl alcohols. The rates of the exchange reactions in the alcohol medium are compared with those in ortho-dichlorobenzene.     

Thermally reversible polymer systems by cyclopentadienylation. I. A model for termination by cyclopentadienylation of olefin polymerization

The reaction between tert-butylchloride (t-BuCl) and dimethylcyclopentadienylaluminum (Me₂AlCPD) was studied as a model for initiation by the tert-butyl cation (t-Bu^⊕) and termination by cyclopentadienylation by the Me₂Al(CPD)Cl^? counteranion of isobutylene polymerization. All reaction products formed in this model system have been identified and quantitatively determined. A comprehensive scheme that indicates pathways to these products was developed (scheme III). It is proposed that the predominant product, tert-butylcyclopentadiene (t-BuCPD), arises in the collapse of the t-Bu^⊕-Me₂Al(CPD)Cl^? ion pair, mainly by CPD^? transfer to the tert-butyl cation. The minor products are neopentane (t-BuMe) and isobutylene (i-C₄H₈), which are probably formed, respectively, by Me^? transfer to and proton loss from the t-butyl cation. Cyclopentadienylation selectivity increases by lowering the temperature and extrapolation of results suggests 100% cyclopentadienylation at ?55°C. The t-BuCl/Me₂AlCPD ratio strongly influences the overall reaction pathway. The reaction is first order in t-BuCl with ΔE_a of ca. 7 kcal/mole (1,2-dichloroethane or chlorobenzene solvents, +24 to ?29°C). Indirect evidence indicates that the kinetic product of cyclopentadienylation is 5-t-BuCPD and that this isomer cannot be tert-butylated; that is, the initiation of 5-t-BuCPD polymerization by t-Bu^⊕ is sterically unfavorable. Detailed analysis of the chemistry and kinetics of the t-BuCl/Me₂AlCPD model system holds important clues to the controlled polymerization of olefins leading to macromolecules with cyclopentadiene (CPD) termini.     

Synthesis of Derivatives of of Δ2-Imidazolin-5-one and Imidazolidine Containing Residues of Sterically-hindered Phenols

1-Substituted 4-benzylidene-2-{-[3,5-di(tert-butyl)-4-hydroxyphenyl]vinyl}-4-benzylidene-²-imidazolin-5-ones have been synthesized by the interaction of azomethines and N-acylhydrazones (derivatives of 3,5-di(tert-butyl)-4-hydroxybenzaldehyde) with 4-benzylidene-2-methyloxazol-5-one. The acylation of 1,2-bis[3,5-di(tert-butyl)-4-hydroxybenzylideneamino]ethane with acid chlorides in acetonitrile in the presence of triethylamine leads to 1,3-diacyl-2-[3,5-di(tert-butyl)-4-hydroxyphenyl]imidazolidine.     

Rate constants for the reaction of tert-butyl radicals with chloroform in solution

The decay of photochemically generated tert-butyl radicals in methylcyclopentane solutions containing chloroform is studied by time-resolved ESR spectroscopy. In the pure solvent it perfectly follows the second-order rate law for radical self-termination. Increasing chloroform concentrations cause increasing admixture of a pseudo-first-order decay from which the rate constant of the title reaction is obtained. For 273 K ≦ T ≦ 323 K, where θ = 2.303RT kcal/mol. CIDNP studies of the reaction mechanism and NMR product yields show H and Cl abstractions to occur with the temperature-independent ratio k_H/k_Cl = 1.4 ± 0.1. The results point to polar effects in the transfer reactions of tert-butyl. The potential of time-resolved ESR spectroscopy in studies of first- and pseudo-first-order reaction rates is discussed.     

Anionic polymerization of N-substituted maleimide. V. A study on the kinetic features of anionic polymerization of N-phenylmaleimide

The kinetic feature of the anionic polymerization of N-PMI was investigated in THF. The polymerization system initiated with lithium tert-butoxide was revealed to be so-called “slow-initiation” system. The rate constant of the initiation reaction, k_i, was obtained to be 4.2 × 10^?3 (L mol^?1 s^?1) at ?72°C. The apparent rate constants of the propagation reaction, k, at ?72°C were individually obtained from each slope of the first-order plots in the later stages of the polymerizations for four different initiator concentrations. Each k is fairly close to that of initiation rate around 10^?3. The propagation reaction was concluded to be dominated by ion-pair mechanism from the analysis of the kinetic data and the results of the addition effects of crown ether and common salt.     

Liquid-phase oxidation of isobutane—a reanalysis of the data

Data on the liquid-phase oxidation of isobutane at 50 and 100°C have been reexamined, using a modified mechanism to take into account the termination by isobutylperoxy radicals. Algebraic expressions are derived from steady-state methods. Using Arrhenius parameters fitted by transition-state A factors and activation energies derived from observed “best” rate constants, new sets of parameters are derived for the rate constants for propagation by t? BuO₂ + t? BuH → t-BuO₂H + t? Bu^?: where θ = 2.303RT in kcal/mol. This, together with new values for the termination parameters and rates of i-butyl production by k_4B, is shown to give good agreement with the published data. An important reaction: is shown to quench the possible contributions to termination of adventitious radicals such as CH₃O^?₂.     

The self-inhibited pyrolysis of isobutane

The pyrolysis of isobutane was investigated in the ranges of 770° to 855°K and 20 to 150 Torr at up to 4% decomposition. The reaction is homogeneous and strongly self-inhibited. A simple Rice-Herzfeld chain terminated by the recombination of methyl radicals is proposed for the initial, uninhibited reaction. Self-inhibition is due to abstraction of hydrogen atoms from product isobutene giving resonance-stabilized 2-methylallyl radicals which participate in termination reactions. The reaction chains are shown to be long. It is suggested that a previously published rate constant for the initiation reaction (1) is incorrect and the value k₁ = 10^16.8 exp (?81700 cal mol^?1/RT)s^?1 is recommended. The values of the rate constants for the reactions (4i) (4t) (8) are estimated to be and From a recalculation of previously published data on the pyrolysis of isobutane at lower temperatures and higher pressures, the value k_11c, = 10^9.6 cm³ mol^?1 s^?1 is obtained for the rate constant of recombination of t-butyl. A calculation which is independent of any assumed rate constants or thermochemistry shows that the predominant chain termination reaction is the recombination of two methyl radicals in the conditions of the present work and the recombination of two t-butyl radicals in those of our previous study at lower temperatures and higher pressures.     

Radiation-induced heterogeneous polymerization of methyl methacrylate in precipitants

The radiation-induced heterogeneous polymerization of methyl methacrylate in various precipitants, mainly methyl alcohol, was carried out, and the effects of reaction conditions on the polymerization behavior and the molecular weight distribution of polymer were studied. Bimodal molecular weight distributions were found for the polymer produced by the heterogeneous polymerizations in methyl alcohol and in tert-butyl alcohol. The apparent activation energy is 1.0 and 4.5 kcal/mole, respectively, for the polymerization at a monomer concentration of 10 vol-% in methyl alcohol above and below 35°C. The polymerization at a monomer concentration lower than 40 vol-% in methyl alcohol proceeded with the precipitation of polymer. The dose rate exponent of the mean rate of heterogeneous polymerization decreased from 0.5 to a smaller value as the polymerization progressed. The ratio of the two peaks in the bimodal molecular weight distributions of polymer produced in methyl alcohol was affected by the reaction conditions. These results show the coexistence in the polymerizations of two different physical states of propagating chain, a loose state and a rigid one. The reaction scheme is discussed in connection with the physical factors which affect the solubility or the mobility of propagating chains, and the rate of elementary reactions, which influences the degree of propagating chains.     

Selective alkylation of xylenes by alcohols on zeolite catalysts

The peculiarities of catalytic performance of crystalline aluminosilicates of different types and compositions (X, Y including dealuminated Y, mordenite, pentasil ZSM-5), as well as of amorphous aluminosilicate catalyst in conversion of xylene + alcohol mixtures were studied. New data were obtained for alkylation ofo-xylene withtert-butyl alcohol, concerning controlling the selectivity and stability of the zeolite catalysts in reactions proceeding with the participation of water, including the water evolved during the reaction, in particular by controlling the acidic properties and hydrophobycity of the zeolites. A catalyst ensuring production of 1,2-dimethyl-4-tert-butylbenzene (DMTBB) with a 94% yield and selectivity of alcohol conversion to the target product of 94–97% was developed. The catalyst can be used as the basis for a high-performance and environmentally safe method for the synthesis of DMTBB. The catalysts developed can be also used for selective alkylation ofo-xylene by C₃-C₅ alcohols and for alkylation ofm-xylene bytert-butyl alcohol.Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No, 12, pp, 2912–2917, December, 1996.