Asymmetric induction radical copolymerization of optically active l-menthyl vinyl ether with vinylene carbonate and indene

The copolymerizations of l-menthyl vinyl ether (l-MVE) with the monomers vinylene carbonate (VCA) and indene (IN) were carried out in benzene with azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) as an initiator to obtain optically active copolymers. The optically active l-menthyl residue from the copolymer main chain was removed using dry hydrogen bromide gas. After the ether cleavage reaction, the copolymers prepared (VA–VCA and VA–IN) were still optically active, and hence it was found that asymmetric induction had taken place in the copolymer main chain. The optical rotatory dispersion (ORD) and circular dichroism (CD) data of the original and ether-cloven copolymers were also determined.     

Asymmetric induction copolymerization of optically active l-menthyl vinyl ether with styrene and N-phenylmaleimide

The copolymerizations of l-menthyl vinyl ether (l-MVE) with styrene (St) and N-phenylmaleimide (N-PMI) as comonomers were carried out in benzene with azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) as an initiator to give optically active copolymers. After the removal of the optically active menthyl group by use of hydrogen bromide gas, the ether-cloven l-MVE-N-PMI copolymer (VA-N-PMI) was still optically active. On the other hand, the optical activity of l-MVE-St copolymer disappeared after ether cleavage. It is thought that asymmetric induction took place in the polymer main chains. The optical rotatory dispersion and circular dichroism of the original and ether-cloven copolymers were measured in order to confirm the asymmetric induction.     

Asymmetric induction copolymerization. Cationic copolymerization of l-menthyl vinyl ether with indene and acenaphthylene

l-Menthyl vinyl ether (l-MVE) was homopolymerized and copolymerized with the monomers indene (IN) and acenaphthylene (ANp) by BF₃OEt₂ as a catalyst. The chiral menthyl substituent was cloven from the homopolymers and copolymers using dry-hydrogen bromide gas. After the removal of optically active menthyl group, poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) from l-MVE homopolymer was optically inactive, and copolymers (VA-IN, VA-ANp) from l-MVE-IN and l-MVE-ANp copolymers were still optically active. Hence, in the case of l-MVE homopolymer, it was concluded that asymmetric induction in the polymer main chain can only produce pseudoasymmetry. In the case of l-MVE-IN and l-MVE-ANp copolymers, it was found that asymmetric induction proceeded in the copolymer main chain and was caused by the influence of chiral menthyl group.     

Effect of catalysts on asymmetric induction cationic copolymerization of l-menthyl vinyl ether with indene

Cationic copolymerization of l-menthyl vinyl ether (l-MVE) with indene (IN) was carried out with several catalysts in toluene (Tol) at 0°C. The catalysts used were BF₃OEt₂, CH₃COClO₄, and SnCl₄. l-Menthyl residue, an optically active side chain of the copolymer obtained, was removed with dry hydrogen bromide gas by the ether cleavage reaction. Ether-cloven copolymers [vinyl alcohol(VA)–IN] also had optical rotation. The efficiency of asymmetric induction to the polymer main chain was in the order of BF₃OEt₂ > CH₃COClO₄ > SnCl₄.     

The effect of solvents on asymmetric induction cationic copolymerization of l-menthyl vinyl ether with indene

Cationic copolymerization of l-menthyl vinyl ether (l-MVE) with indene (IN) was carried out in several solvents with BF₃OEt₂ as catalyst at 0°C. The solvents used in this study were selected toluene (Tol), chloroform (CHCl₃), chlorobenzene (BzCl), 1,2-dichloroethane (EtCl₂), and nitrobenzene; (BzNO₂)/Tol = 65/35 mixture solvent. l-Methyl residue, which is an optically active side chain of copolymer produced by cationic copolymerization, was removed with dry hydrogen bromide gas by ether cleavage reaction. The copolymer [vinyl alcohol(VA)–lN], produced by the ether cleavage reaction, also showed optical rotation. From this result, therefore, it was concluded that asymmetric induction takes place in the copolymer main chain. The efficiency of asymmetric induction was determined by the measurement of optical rotation of VA–IN copolymer after the ether cleavage reaction. The efficiency of asymmetric induction in the copolymer main chain developed from the variation on polymerization solvents; the order was Tol > EtCl₂ > BzCl > CHCl₃ > BzNO₂/Tol (65/35) mixture solvent.     

Optically active polymers containing side-chain photochromic moieties. Synthesis and chiroptical properties of copolymers of trans-N(4-azobenzene)-maleimide with (−)-menthyl vinyl ether and (+)(S)-2-methylbutyl vinyl ether

The copolymers of trans-N(4-azobenzene)-maleimide (ABM) with optically active alkyl vinyl ethers, such as (?)-menthyl vinyl ether (MtVE) and (+)S-2-methylbutyl vinyl ether (MBVE), have been prepared either by direct copolymerization or by functionalization with trans-4-amino-azobenzene of the corresponding alternating copolymers of maleic anhydride with MtVE and MBVE. The chiroptical properties of the above copolymers have been studied by CD measurements. The induced optical activity on the side-chain trans-azobenzene moieties is discussed in terms of different conformational rigidity of the macromolecules.     

Asymmetric Induction Copolymerization of Optically Active N-(1-Menthyl Carboxylatomethyl) Citraconimide with Methyl Methacrylate

Copolymerization of an optically active N-(1-menthyl carboxylatomethyl)citraconimide (MCMCI) was carried out with methyl methacrylate (MMA) with azobisisobutyronitrile as the initiator in benzene at 50°C. All the copolymers obtained were optically active. After the removal of the optically active menthyl group, the hydrolyzed poly(MCMCI-co-MMA)'s still showed optical activity. The asymmetric induction to the copolymer main chain and the mechanism are discussed based on the measurements of optical rotatory dispersion and circular dichroism of the original and hydrolyzed copolymers.     

Stereochemistry of alternating isobutene–maleic anhydride,isobutene–dimethyl fumarate,and isobutene–dimethyl maleate copolymers

The stereochemical composition of the free radical alternating isobutene–maleic anhydride (IB/MA), isobutene–dimethyl fumarate (IB/DMF), and isobutene–dimethyl maleate (IB/DMM) copolymers was investigated by proton magnetic resonance. In contrast to the singlet gem-dimethyl resonance found in polyisobutene or in the alternating isobutene/acrylonitrile copolymer, the gem-dimethyl resonance of IB/MA, hydrolyzed IB/MA, and esterified IB/MA is a quadruplet with peaks of approximately equal intensity. The multiplicity of the spectra is consistent with the presence of equal amounts of threo-di-isotactic and threo-di-syndiotactic triads, disproving previous claims that such copolymers are predominantly threo-di-isotactic. The spectrum of the analogous IB/DMF indicates that the copolymer is composed entirely of erythro-di- isotactic and erythro-di-syndiotactic triads. This result is consistent with the exclusive trans opening of the dimethyl fumarate double bond and provides the first example for the stereospecific double bond opening of a noncyclic monomer in free radical polymerization. In contrast, the spectrum of IB/DMM shows that the dimethyl maleate double bond opens approximately 93% cis and 7% trans during copolymerization. Since the stereochemical composition of IB/DMF and IB/DMM is not the same, it is concluded that the radicals formed from dimethyl maleate and/or dimethyl fumarate do not equilibrate freely among all the possible configurations before isobutene addition.     

Optically active polymers containing side-chain azobenzene moieties: Photochromic and photoresponsive behavior of copolymers of N-(4-azobenzene) maleimide with (−)-menthyl vinyl ether and (+) (S)-2-methylbutyl vinyl ether

Photochromic behavior and photoisomerization kinetics of optically active copolymers of trans-N-(4-azobenzene) maleimide (ABM) with (?) -menthyl vinyl ether (MtVE) and (+) (S) -2-methylbutyl vinyl ether were studied by UV spectroscopy under irradiation at 348 nm. The resulting data have been compared with those of the corresponding copolymers containing also trans-N-(4-azobenzene) maleamic acid co-units as well as of low molecular weight model compounds. The photoresponsive behavior has been also investigated by circular dichroism measurements at various extents of photoisomerization. The results are discussed in terms of structural requirements of the macromolecules. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Radical copolymerization of proto-hemin dimethyl ester

Iron(III) proto-porphyrin IX dimethyl ester (HDME) can copolymerize with π-conjugated monomers binding at one end of the polymer chain. Apparent Q, e values of HDME were Q = 70 and e = ?0.17. The copolymerization of HDME with π-unconjugated monomer was feasible by using π-conjugated monomer as a third component. When unconjugated vinylimidazoles were used as monomers, the obtained ternary copolymers of HDME formed intramacromolecular complexes of iron(II) porphyrin with vinylimidazole residues, which gave stable carbon monoxide adducts.     

Synthesis and characterization of well‐defined optically active methacrylic diblock copolymers

A new, simple, and cost‐effective approach toward the development of well‐defined optically active diblock copolymers based on methacrylate monomers is described for the first time. Starting from the low‐cost optically active (S)‐(?)‐2‐methyl‐1‐butanol, a new optically active methacrylic monomer, namely, (S)‐(+)‐2‐methyl‐1‐butyl methacrylate [(S)‐(+)‐MBuMA], was synthesized. Reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer polymerization was then used for preparing well‐defined poly[(S)‐(+)‐MBuMA] homopolymers and water‐soluble diblock copolymers based on [(S)‐(+)‐MBuMA] and the hydrophilic and ionizable monomer 2‐(dimethyl amino)ethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA). The respective homopolymers and diblock copolymers were characterized in terms of their molecular weights, polydispersity indices, and compositions by size exclusion chromatography and ¹H NMR spectroscopy. Polarimetry measurements were used to determine the specific optical rotations of these systems. The structural and compositional characteristics of micellar nanostructures possessing an optically active core generated by p((S)‐(+)‐MBuMA)‐b‐p(DMAEMA) chains characterized by predetermined molecular characteristics may be easily tuned to match biological constructs. Consequently, the aggregation behavior of the p[(S)‐(+)‐MBuMA]‐b‐p[DMAEMA] diblock copolymers was investigated in aqueous media by means of dynamic light scattering and atomic force microscopy, which revealed the formation of micelles in neutral and acidified aqueous solutions. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012     

Stereoelective radical copolymerization of (RS)-α-methylbenzyl vinyl ether with (S)-(-)- or (R)-(+)-N-(α-methylbenzyl)maleimide

Racemic α-methylbenzyl vinyl ether was copolymerized with optically active (S)-(-)- or (R)-(+)-N-(α-methylbenzyl)maleimide using 2,2′-azobisisobutyronitrile in order to examine the possibility of stereoelective radical polymerization of vinyl-type racemic monomers. The resulting copolymers were found to have almost alternating sequences of the two kinds of monomeric units. The non-polymerized α-methylbenzyl vinyl ether, recovered from the copolymerization system, showed an optical activity of opposite sign to the optically active comonomer used, indicating clearly that the co-polymerization process is stereoelective. It was confirmed that α-methylbenzyl vinyl ether preferentially incorporated in the copolymer has the same absolute configuration as the optically active N-substituted maleimide.     

Optically active polymers containing side-chain photochromic moieties: Synthesis and chiroptical properties of copolymers of trans-4-(phenylazo)-1-naphthyl acrylate and trans-4-(1-naphthylazo)-phenyl acrylate with (?)-menthyl acrylate

The synthesis of photochromic optically active copolymers from trans-4-(phenylazo)-1-naphthyl acrylate (PANA), or trans-4-(1-naphthylazo)-phenyl acrylate (NAPA), and (?)-menthyl acrylate (MtA) is described. The copolymers prepared, having different contents of trans-phenylazonaphthalene moieties, have been characterized by IR, ¹H-NMR, UV, and GPC techniques. The chiroptical properties have been investigated by circular dichroism (CD) and the induced optical activity on the side-chain trans-phenylazonaphthalene chromophores discussed in terms of different conformational situations of the macromolecules in both the copolymer series. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

A polarity‐activation strategy for the high incorporation of 1‐alkenes into functional copolymers via RAFT copolymerization

A new synthetic methodology for the preparation of copolymers having high incorporation of 1‐alkene together with multifunctionalities has been developed by polarity‐activated reversible addition‐fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) copolymerization. This approach provides well‐defined alternating poly(1‐decene‐alt‐maleic anhydride), expanding the monomer types for living copolymerizations. Although neither 1‐decene (DE) nor maleic anhydride (MAn) has significant reactivity in RAFT homopolymerization, their copolymers have been synthesized by RAFT copolymerizations. The controlled characteristics of DE‐MAn copolymerizations were verified by increased copolymer molecular weights during the copolymerization process. Ternary copolymers of DE and MAn, with high conversion of DE, could be obtained by using additive amounts (5 mol %) of vinyl acetate or styrene (ST), demonstrating further enhanced monomer reactivities and complex chain structures. When ST was selected as the third monomer, copolymers with block structures were obtained, because of fast consumption of ST in the copolymerization. Moreover, a wide variety of well‐defined multifunctional copolymers were prepared by RAFT copolymerizations of various functional 1‐alkenes with MAn. For each copolymerization, gel permeation chromatography analysis showed that the resulting copolymer had well‐controlled M_n values and fairly low polydispersities (PDI = 1.3–1.4), and ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopies indicated strong alternating tendency during copolymerization with high incorporation of 1‐alkene units, up to 50 mol %. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 3488–3498, 2008     

Copolymerization of Maleic Anhydride with Benzofuran,Indole, and Benzothiophene

Abstract

Maieic anhydride (MAn) forms alternating copolymers with benzofuran (BF), indole, and benzothiophene (BT) under the influence of azobisisoburyronitrile. In all three cases the yield and molecular weight were highest when equimolar amounts of both monomers were used. The association constants of charge-transfer complex formation of MAn with the three comonomers have been measured at various temperatures by NMR. The following values were obtained (at 20°C):

MAn-BF ca. 0.01 liter/mole (in cyclohexanone)

MAn-indole 0.28 liter/mole (in chloroform)

MAn-BT 0.30 liter/mole (in chloroform)

The results indicate that the reactivity of the comonomers to form copolymers with MAn is governed by the resonance stabilization of the monomer and to a lesser extent by complex formation. The rate of copolymerization is much higher for the MAn-BF system than for the two other systems. In the former case it is not necessary to invoke charge-complex formation to explain the copolymerization.     

Free-radical copolymerization of L-(—)-menthyl methacrylate with acetylphenyl (meth)acrylates

The free-radical copolymerization of L-(—)-menthyl methacrylate with o- and p-acetylphenyl (meth)acrylates is performed to obtain new carbonyl-containing optically active copolymers. It is shown that the reactivity ratios and the yield of copolymers are lower for o-acetylphenyl methacrylate than those for the corresponding para isomer because of the steric hindrance from acetyl substituents in phenyl rings. The optical activity of the synthesized copolymers is estimated.     

Synthesis and characterization of blue‐light emissive carbazole containing perfluorocyclobutyl arylene ether polymers

A series of N‐alkyl/aryl carbazole 3,6‐substituted arylene trifluorovinyl ether (TFVE) monomers were synthesized in high purity and yield from a concise four‐step synthesis using carbazole as a starting material. Condensate‐free, step‐growth chain extension of the monomers afforded perfluorocyclobutyl (PFCB) arylene ether homo‐ and copolymers as solution processable, optically transparent blue‐light emissive materials. Arylene TFVE monomers and conversion to PFCB arylene ether polymers were structurally elucidated and purity confirmed by high resolution mass spectroscopy, NMR (¹H, ¹³C, and ¹⁹F) spectroscopy, gel permeation chromatography, and attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared analysis. Thermal analysis by differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis revealed glass transition temperatures >150 °C and onset of decomposition in nitrogen >410 °C with 40 wt % char yield up to 900 °C. Optical and electrochemical studies included solution (tetrahydrofuran) and solid state (spin cast thin film) UV–vis/fluorescence spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry which showed structure dependence of these blue emissive systems on the nature of the N‐alkyl/aryl carbazole substitution in either homo‐ or copolymer configurations. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2014 , 52, 552–560     

Cyclocopolymerization of d-limonene with maleic anhydride

d-Limonene (Lim), a nonconjugated 1,5-diene, was copolymerized with maleic anhydride (MAn) in tetrahydrofuran with α,α′-azobisisobutyronitrile as initiator. The composition, spectral analyses, and other physical properties of the resulting copolymer and its hydrolysed product suggest that Lim readily undergoes an inter-intramolecular cyclocopolymerization with MAn, leading to a 1:2 alternating copolymer. The findings and the proposed cyclocopolymerization mechanism are consistent with participation of a charge-transfer complex of the comonomers in the propagation step. The copolymers are optically active and their CD spectra are characterized by dichroic bands attributable to electronic transitions of carbonyl or carboxylic chromophores.     

Controlled cationic alternating copolymerization of various enol ethers and benzaldehyde derivatives: Effects of enol ether structures

Significant structural effects of enol ether monomers were demonstrated in cationic alternating copolymerizations with benzaldehyde derivatives (BzAs). α‐Methyl, β‐methyl, β,β‐dimethyl, and cyclic enol ethers were copolymerized with BzAs by the EtSO₃H/GaCl₃ system with 1,4‐dioxane in toluene at ?78 °C. β‐Methyl and cyclic monomers, β‐monosubstituted compounds, induced copolymerizations with BzAs, some of which were well controlled to yield alternating copolymers with controlled molecular weights (MWs) and narrow MW distributions. Conversely, an α‐methyl vinyl ether (VE) did not copolymerize with BzAs at all, probably due to its high reactivity and unfavorable ketal linkage formations. In addition, a β,β‐dimethyl VE underwent only cyclotrimerizations because of its larger steric repulsion. The product alternating copolymers, especially those with cyclic units, exhibited improved thermal properties compared to those with simple VEs units. Under appropriate conditions, the alternating copolymers selectively degraded into the corresponding cinnamaldehyde derivatives by acid hydrolysis. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2014 , 52, 1334–1343     

Contribution to the mechanism of copolymerization of phenylvinyl alkyl ethers and thioethers with maleic anhydride

The equilibrium constants of the charge-transfer complex monomers of phenylvinyl alkyl ethers (I) and thioethers (II) with maleic anhydride (MAn) were determined by the transformed Benessi—Hildebrand NMR method, and it was found that the bulkiness of alkyl groups had no significant influence on the equilibrium constant. The rate of copolymerization, however, was largely dependent on the bulkiness of the alkyl groups in the phenylvinyl alkyl ether series. The rate of copolymerization of I (R = Et; sec-Bu) and II (R = Et; sec-Bu) with MAn was proportional to the square root of AIBN concentration, and intrinsic viscosity of poly-I (R = Et)-co-MAn was proportional to the reciprocal square root of AIBN concentration. Spontaneous copolymerization did not occur, but I (R = Et) copolymerizes with MAn in the presence of oxygen; II did not copolymerize with MAn in the presence of oxygen; nor in the presence of peroxide initiators. In the copolymerization of I (R = Et) and MAn, it was found that molecular weight increases with conversion. By applying the generalized model described by Shirota and co-workers, the reactivity ratios k_1c/k₁₂ and k_2c/₂₁ for copolymerization of I (R = Et) and II (R = Et) with MAn were calculated from the change of copolymerization rate with monomer feed at constant total monomer concentration.