Polymerization of vinylcyclopropanes. II

1,5-Type polymerization of vinylcyclopropane proceeding by the opening of both the double bond and the cyclopropane ring was found. Some other vinylcyclopropane derivatives, 1,1-dichloro-2-vinylcyclopropane, 1,1-dibromo-2-vinylcyclopropane, isopropenylcyclopropane, 1-methyl-1-vinylcyclopropane, 1,1-dichloro-2-methyl-2-vinylcyclopropane, and cis- and trans-1-chloro-2-vinylcyclopropane, were investigated. The observation of infrared spectra, NMR spectra, and other data indicated that the radical polymerization of these compounds gave principally 1,5-type polymer, while in cationic polymerization 1,2-type was predominant. The behavior of the polymerization was discussed in terms of the stability of a cyclopropylcarbinyl ion or radical which is formed in the initiation and propagation steps.     

Polymerization of cyclic monomers, 4. Synthesis and radical polymerization of bi- and trifunctional 2-vinylcyclopropanes

Multifunctional 2-vinylcyclopropanes were synthesized by esterification of the 1-methoxycarbonyl-2-vinylcyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid with ethylene glycol, 1,1,1-trimethylolpropane or 1,4-cyclohexanediol in the presence of 1,3-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCC). The structure of the new vinylcyclopropanes was confirmed by elemental analysis, IR, ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy. The radical polymerization of the 2-vinylcyclopropanes in bulk with 2,2′-azoisobutyronitrile (AIBN) results in transparent crosslinked polymers. The polymerization of the liquid monomers is accompanied by a low shrinkage in volume.     

Polymerization of vinylcyclopropanes. V. Radical copolymerization of 1, 1-dichloro-2-vinylcyclopropane with monosubstituted ethylenes

A peculiar copolymer composition equation applicable to the radical copolymerization of 1,1-dichloro-2-vinylcyclopropane with monosubstituted ethylenes was developed. The theory was applied to such ethylenes as methyl acrylate, methyl methacrylate, and styrene. The reactivity ratio parameters which give the best fit to the experimental data were determined.     

Cationic polymerization of cyclic dienes. V. Polymerization of the methylcyclopentadiene

Methylcyclopentadiene (MCPD) has been polymerized with cationic catalysts in toluene solution at ?78°C. to a white powdery polymer, whose intrinsic viscosity in benzene solution at 30°C. ranged from 0.1 to 0.5. The comparison of the rate of homopolymerization of MCPD with that of cyclopentadiene (CPD) and the copolymerization of MCPD and CPD indicated that MCPD is much more reactive than CPD. It was suggested that the high stability of cycloalkenyl cation is responsible for the high reactivity of cyclic dienes. Infrared and NMR spectroscopy on polymethylcyclopentadiene showed that almost all of the monomer units in polymethylcyclopentadiene produced under the present conditions have a trisubstituted double bond. The mechanism of the initiation reaction in the polymerization of cyclic dienes is also discussed.     

Polymerizations of substituted cyclopropanes. I. Radical polymerization of 1,1-disubstituted 2-vinylcyclopropanes

Diethyl 2-vinylcyclopropane-1,1-dicarboxylate (Ia), 2-vinylcyclopropane-1,1-dicarbonitrile (Ib), ethyl 1-cyano-2-vinylcyclopropanecarboxylate (Ic), and 1,1-diphenyl-2-vinylcyclopropane (Id) were radically homo- and copolymerized. Ia, Ib, and Ic polymerized cleanly in 1,5-type ring-opening fashion to yield polymers of high molecular weight. Id failed to homopolymerize but copolymerized with common monomers which included maleic anhydride. Infrared (IR) spectra indicated that the double bonds of the polymer chains were in trans form. All polymers were soluble in solvents and solution-cast films were clear and flexible, showing T_g values in the 25–40°C range. Model reactions of those monomers with benzenethiol also indicated predominant 1,5-addition reactions. From the results of our investigation it was concluded that the driving force for the facile radical 1,5-polymerization of Ia, Ib, and Ic was the stabilization of growing radicals by two substituents.     

Polymerizations of substituted cyclopropanes. II. Anionic polymerization of 1,1-disubstituted 2-vinylcyclopropanes

Among the four 1,1-disubstituted 2-vinylcyclopropanes, diethyl 2-vinylcyclopropane-1,1-dicarboxylate (Ia), 2-vinylcyclopropane-1,1-dicarbonitrile (Ib), ethyl 1-cyano-2-vinylcyclopropanecarboxylate (Ic), and 1,1-diphenyl-2-vinylcyclopropane (Id), Ib and Ic polymerized well with sodium cyanide in N,N-dimethylformamide. Ib was most reactive and a polymer (IIb) from Ib exhibited an inherent viscosity of 1.05 dl/g (concentration of 1.0 g in 100 ml of 95% H₂SO₄). All experimental results indicated that the polymerization proceeded by ring opening and that the structure of the polymers had pendant vinyl groups. The polymer IIc from Ic was soluble in common solvents like acetone, but IIb was soluble only in 95% H₂SO₄. Reactions of those compounds with benzenethiolate ion in ethanol yielded addition products that supported the ring-opening polymerization of those monomers. In the postulated mechanism of polymerization cyanide ion attacks the carbon of a cyclopropane ring with electron-releasing vinyl group and the resulting anion is thereby stabilized by two electron-withdrawing substituents. The propagation takes place by the reaction of the anion with another monomer molecule.     

Cationic polymerization with boron halides. III. BCl3 coinitiator for olefin polymerization

The polymerization of isobutylene with BF₃, BCl₃, and BBr₃ coinitiators has been investigated. The polymerization with BCl₃ requires the presence of a cationogen, e.g., H₂O. The presence of a polar solvent is also necessary. Surprisingly, large quantities of polar solvent are required for effective polymerization. To obtain high conversions, the mixing sequence of the reagents is critical: BCI₃ must be added last to charges containing the monomer and H₂O in a polar solvent. Ultimate conversions increase by decreasing the temperature. Kinetic termination exists. Experiments with BF₃ and BBr₃ revealed that polymerizations induced with BF₃ proceed in nonpolar and/or polar media. Polymerization stops with BF₃ at less than complete conversion (termination exists). In contrast to findings with BCl₃, polymer yields with BF₃ increase with increasing temperatures. BBr₃ is a very inefficient coinitiator, even in the presence of polar solvent, over the ?10 to ?90°C temperature range. A hypothesis which explains these observations has been developed.     

Anionic polymerization of acrylates. III. Polymerization of 2-ethylhexyl acrylate initiated by lithium-tert-butoxide

The polymerization of 2-ethylhexyl acrylate (EtHA) initiated with lithium-tert-butoxide (t-BuOLi) in tetrahydrofuran (THF) and in the temperature range between ?60 and 20°C was investigated. The reaction rate is distinctly temperature-dependent and at ?60°C is already very low, similarly to the polymerization of methacrylates. Molecular weights of the polymers thus formed, particularly at higher temperatures, are inversely proportional to conversion of the monomer due to the slow initiation reaction. This is documented by the low consumption of alkoxide even at long reaction times, which also depends on the reaction temperature. At higher temperatures the polymerization stops spontaneously, due to the greater extent of autotermination reactions. The weak initiating efficiency of the alkoxide decreases still more with decreasing concentration of the monomer during the polymerization, as confirmed by the concentration dependence of the reaction rate in toluene at ?20°C. The results suggest a negligible initiating effect of alkoxides in complex bases, particularly at lower polymerization temperatures. © 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Cationic polymerization of cyclic dienes. X. Cationic polymerization of 1-vinylcyclohexene and 3-methyl-1,3-pentadiene

1-Vinylcyclohexene (VCH), which has one of the double bonds in the ring and the other outside the ring, was synthesized and polymerized by cationic catalysts. The reactivity of VCH was very large in the polymerizations catalyzed by boron trifluoride etherate (BF₃OEt₂) and stannic chloride–trichloroacetic acid complex. Similar to other cyclic dienes, the polymerization of VCH was a nonstationary reaction having a very fast initiation step. The polymerization proceeded by either a 1,2- or a 1,4-propagation mode in which vinyl group was always involved. Particularly when BF₃OEt₂ was used as a catalyst, an intramolecular proton or an intramolecular hydride ion transfer reaction took place, resulting in the formation of methyl groups in the polymer. The degree of polymerization of polymer formed was about 10. This indicates the preponderance of monomer transfer reaction. To investigate the reason for the high reactivity of cyclic dienes, cationic copolymerizations of VCH and 3-methyl-cis/trans-1,3-pentadiene (cis/trans-MPD) was carried out. The relative reactivity of monomers decreased in the order VCH > trans-MPD > cis-MPD. On the other hand, the resonance stabilization of monomers decreased in the order VCH > trans-MPD > cis-MPD. Therefore, it could be considered that the monomer reactivity is mainly determined by the stability of carbonium ion intermediate. The relative stability of carbonium ion must be VCH > trans-MPD > cis-MPD. Thus the influence of the conformation of ion on its stability was clearly demonstrated.     

Polymerization of vinylcyclopropanes. IV. Radical copolymerization of 1,1-dichloro-2-vinylcyclopropane with maleic anhydride

Radical copolymerization between 1,1-dichloro-2-vinylcyclopropane (M₁) and maleic anhydride (M₂) was studied. Rearrangement of the radical caused from monomer M₁ and cyclization of growing chain, which was suggested from a consideration of composition and structure of the obtained copolymer, complicate the propagation step in this system. A peculiar copolymer composition equation containing four reactivity ratio parameters was developed, and these parameters were determined.     

Cationic polymerization of α,β-disubstituted olefins. Part II. Cationic polymerization of propenyl N-butyl ether

The cationic polymerization of propenyl n-butyl ether (PBE) in methylene chloride with boron fluoride etherate at ?78°C. has been studied. The copolymerization of PBE with vinyl n-butyl ether (VBE) showed that both the isomers are more reactive than VBE, and their monomer reactivity ratios were found to be:     

Ring-opening polymerization of 1-(p-substituted phenyl)-2-vinylcyclopropanes by Ziegler–Natta catalysts

1-(p-Substituted phenyl)-2-vinylcyclopropanes such as 1-phenyl-2-vinylcyclopropane (I_a), 1-(p-chlorophenyl)-2-vinylcyclopropane (I_b), 1-(p-anisyl)-2-vinylcyclopropane (I_c), and 1-(p-tolyl)-2-vinylcyclopropane (I_d) were prepared and polymerized radically, cationically and with Ziegler–Natta catalysts. I_a and I_b polymerized exclusively in 1,5-fashion with radical initiators. However, I_c and I_d polymerized in 1,5-fashion only with Ziegler–Natta catalysts. All polymers were soluble in ordinary organic solvent and solution-cast films were clear and flexible, showing T_g values in the range of 39–71°C. Spectral data indicated that the double bonds of the polymer chains were in trans form in all cases. The difference between the polymerizabilities of different monomers are interpreted in terms of electronic properties of substituents.     

Polymerization of t-butyl thiirane. III. Temperature effect on the stereoelective polymerization

The effect of temperature on stereoelective polymerization of t-butyl thiirane was studied. Although the overall kinetic scheme was not modified by a change of temperature, a strong effect on the stereoelectivity ratio was observed. Very high optical yields were obtained for polymerizations run below 0°C. On the other hand, at temperatures higher than 120°C, the stereoelection is inversed; i.e., the opposite enantiomer is chosen. The stereoselectivity ratio varies with temperature according to an Arrhenius relationship.     

Polymerization of asymmetric polyfunctional monomers. III. Ionic polymerization of acrylic and methacrylic esters of 2-allylphenol

The polymerization of acrylic and methacrylic esters of 2-allyphenol with different anionic, cationic and coordination catalysts was studied. The polymerization occurs exclusively or predominantly through (meth)acrylic C?C double bonds in all the studied cases. With anionic catalysts the allylic groups are not polymerizable and the polymers have linear structure. Polymerization with catalysts based on dialkylaluminum chloride (alone or associated with some metal salts) yields soluble or partially crosslinked polymers, depending on the reaction conditions. The crosslinking is due to the participation of allylic groups in the polymerization reactions. Copolymers of acrylic and methacrylic esters of 2-allylphenol with styrene, acrylonitrile, methyl methacrylate, N-vinylcarbazole and 1,3-pentadiene were synthesized by copolymerization in the presence of anionic catalysts and of systems based on dialkylaluminum chloride.     

Reactivity of 2-halo-2H-azirines. 1. Reactions with nucleophiles.

Nucleophilic substitution reactions of 2-halo-2H-azirines 1a, 1b, 1d, and 1e with potassium phthalimide and aniline allowed the preparation of new substituted 2H-azirines 2-5. The reactions of 2-bromo-2H-azirine 1a with methylamine led to the synthesis of alpha-diimines 7 and 8. 2-Halo-2H-azirines were also established as building blocks for the synthesis of a range of heterocyclic compounds, namely, quinoxalines 10a-10d, 3-oxazoline 14, and 2H-[1,4]oxazines 18 and 20. X-ray crystal structures of alpha-diimine 7, 3-oxazoline 14, and 2H-[1,4]oxazine 18 are reported.