Polymerization of propadiene. III. Catalyst systems based on various rhodium (I) complexes

The polymerization of propadiene to 1,2-polyallene by various Rh(I) based catalysts is described and discussed. Also the interrelations between these Rh(I) complexes are discussed and an overall reaction scheme is given. A mechanism is put forward in which the formation of a common intermediate from propadiene and different Rh(I) complexes is the rate determining step. It is found that the activity decreases in the order: cis-Rh(CO)₂P(C₆H₅)₃Cl > [Rh(CO)₂Cl]₂ > Rh(CO)₃Cl. The complexes Rh[P(C₆H₅)₃]₂(CO)Cl and Rh[P(C₆H₅)₃]₃Cl proved to be inactive in the polymerization of propadiene.     

Polymerization of propadiene. IV. Kinetics and mechanism of polymerization under the influence of rhodium(I) complexes

The kinetics and mechanisms of propadiene polymerization under the influence of [Rh(CO)₂Cl]₂, Rh(CO)₂P(C₆H₅)₃Cl, Rh(CO)₃Cl are reported. The reaction rates are first-order in Rh(CO)₂P(C₆H₅)₃Cl and Rh(CO)₃Cl and half-order in [Rh(CO)₂Cl]₂. They are second-order in the substrate for Rh(CO)₃Cl and [Rh(CO)₂Cl]₂ and first-order for Rh(CO)₂P(C₆H₅)₃Cl. The data are interpreted in terms of a common intermediate mechanism. The formation of this common intermediate is the rate-determining step. A solvent effect is also discussed.     

Polymerization in lyotropic liquid crystals. I. Change of structure during polymerization

Polymerization was made at 60°C in a lyotropic liquid crystal of sodium undecenoate and water. The liquid crystalline structure prior to polymerization was identified by optical microscopy and low-angle x-ray diffraction as an array of hexagonal closely packed cylinders with the hydrophobic part of the soap in the center of the cylinders. During polymerization the structure became isotropic at 60°C. Cooling to 20°C transformed the structure to a lamellar liquid crystal–a reversible transition. The structure of the lamellar phase was interpreted as a polyethylene backbone from which deformed decanoate chains reached toward the aqueous layer. Molecular models showed the model to accept head-tail, head-head, and tail-tail configurations in cis and trans conformations with the exception of the cis tail-tail configuration.     

Dual functional catalysis for ethylene polymerization to branched polyethylene. I. Evaluation of catalytic systems

Synthesis of low-density polyethylene, that is, a density of less than 0.925 g/cm³, has traditionally been accomplished by the use of free-radical initiators at high ethylene pressures or of an alpha olefin comonomer such as 1-butene at lower pressures. We investigated an alternative route to branched, low-density polyethylene with a single monomer, ethylene, as the feed in conjunction with multicomponent catalyst systems capable of in situ dimerization of ethylene and subsequent copolymerization to produce low-density polyethylene. This article discusses the details of the evaluation of a number of dual-functional systems based on Ziegler-Natta catalysts. Specific, well defined, dual-functional catalyst systems which could easily produce branched, low-density polyethylene with levels of 20–30 branches per 1000 carbon atoms were developed. Variations in the relative number of component catalysts resulted in systematic, predictable changes in the properties of the polyethylene produced, which demonstrated the utility of the dual-functional catalyst concept.     

Polymerization of propadiene. II. Catalyst systems based on 3d transition metals and various stabilizing ligands

A variety of catalyst systems based on 3d transition metals, i.e., V(III), Cr(III), Mn(II), Fe(II), Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), and various stabilizing ligands, i.e., propadiene, methylacetylene, phenylacetylene, and 1,4-butadiene, were prepared. The activity of these catalytic systems towards the polymerization of a series of monomers (propadiene, methylacetylene, phenylacetylene, 1,4-butadiene, ethene, and propene) is investigated. Optimum conditions for the preparation of 1,2-polyallene, polymethylacetylene and polyphenylacetylene are given.     

Polymerization of hexamethylcyclotrisiloxane with a biscatecholsiliconate. I. Nature of polymerization

Polymerization behavior of hexamethylcyclotrisiloxane (D₃) in toluene solution with the use of benzyltrimethylammonium bis(o-p;henylenedioxy)phenylsiliconate as a catalyst, dimethyl sulfoxide as promoter, and adventitious moisture as initiator was investigated. The polymerization system gives a linear difunctional polymer, HO(Me₂SiO)_xH, with a molecular weight which is inversely proportional to the amount of water reacted rather than to the amount of catalyst employed. The polymerization in the presence of H₂O gives rise to molecular weight distributions very close to Poisson distributions. The normalized experimental GPC curve agrees very well with the theoretical GPC curve calculated from the polymerization scheme: \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$$ \begin{array}{*{20}c} {{\rm H}_2 {\rm O} + ({\rm Me}_2 {\rm SiO})_3 \to {\rm HO}({\rm Me}_2 {\rm SiO})_3 {\rm H}} \\ {{\rm HO(Me}_{\rm 2} {\rm SiO)}_{\rm 3} {\rm H} + {\rm N(Me}_{\rm 2} {\rm SiO)}_{\rm 3} \to {\rm HO}({\rm Me}_2 {\rm SiO})_{3(n + 1)} {\rm H}} \\ \end{array} $$\end{document} Polymerization carried out in the combined presence of H₂O and ROH, where R is Me or Me₃Si, gives rise to bimodal molecular weight distributions. The resulting polymers consist of HO(Me₂SiO)_2xH and RO(Me₂SiO)_xH. The molecular weight of the former is twice that of the latter, and their proportion depends on the ratio of H₂O to ROH. The system is a special type of “living” polymer.     

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.     

Polymerization of 1,3,5-trithiane in the solid state initiated by UV-irradiation. I. Polymerization conditions and polymer characterization

The solid-state 1,3,5-trithiane polymerization initiated by UV-irradiation was studied at various irradiation times and various polymerization temperatures. The conversion of monomer to polymer reaches limiting values (at longest) in about 30 min of reaction. The apparent activation energy of this process is somewhat higher than in the chemically initiated polymerization. Generated by UV, active centers, which initiate the polymerization, are stable. On the basis of X-ray diffraction studies it was found that the prepared polythiomethylene has a hexagonal structure and high degree of crystallinity. In the polymer investigated, a new additional crystal phase is formed, which is not stable.     

Polymerization of acrylonitrile by catalytic systems consisting of triphenylphosphine and a lewis acid

Polymerization of acrylonitrile in the presence of systems that consisted of triphenylphosphine (PPh₃) and a Lewis acid R_mMX_n (ZnCl₂, Me₃Al, Et₃Al, Et₂AlCl, EtAlCl₂, AlCl₃) was studied. The systems that contained Me₃Al and Et₃Al (i.e., Lewis acid of moderate acidity) were the most efficient catalysts. Conductometric measurements carried out in the polymerization systems showed the presence of ions. The presence of phosphonium cation in the polyacrylonitrile chain formed by the PPh₃–R_mMX_n catalytic systems was determined by IR, ¹H-NMR, and ³¹P-NMR spectroscopy. The average molecular weight measurements and kinetic chain lengths of polyacrylonitrile formed within the reaction time in the presence of PPh₃–Et₃Al showed that transfer reactions occur. According to the results obtained, the polymerization reaction of acrylonitrile by PPh₃–R_mMX_n involved a zwitterion formed by the attack of PPh₃ on acrylonitrile complexed by Lewis acid [Ph₃P^⊕? CH₂? C^?H? C?N → MR_mX_n] and the anion [CH₂?C^?? C?N] formed by the proton abstraction from the monomer.     

Polymerization of olefins with nonstationary catalytic systems in a stationary mode

The functioning of an ideal mixing reactor in the polymerization of olefins with nonstationary catalytic systems in a steady mode was studied. Equations are derived for the dependence of the stationary polymerization rate and the degree of polymerization of the forming polymers on the intensity of the material exchange of the reactor from the external medium, and the rate constants of the elementary reactions-initiation, growth, chain termination, and formation and deactivation of active centers.     

Activation of radical polymerization by microwaves—I. Polymerization of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate

2-Hydroxyethylmethacrylate (HEMA) in bulk without any radical initiator is treated with a polarized microwave beam (2.45 GHz) inside a wave guide at various electrical powers (P₀). The fluid monomer polymerizes finally to form a solid material. The various steps of the reaction of polymerization are described through study of the variation with time of the temperature of the sample and of the part (P_u) of the electrical power (P₀) degraded in the polymerizable medium because of dielectric loss.     

Effect of amines on the ceric ion-initiated polymerization of vinyl monomers. I. Polymerization of acrylonitrile by ceric ion–triethylamine catalyst system

The polymerization of acrylonitrile was studied in aqueous solution with ceric ammonium sulfate in the presence of triethylamine as initiator at 30, 40, and 50°C. The rate of polymerization was found to be linear with the concentration of the amine and independent of ceric ion concentration. A reaction scheme involving initial complex formation between ceric ion and the amine and subsequent disproportionation of the conplex to produce free radicals is proposed for the initiation reaction. The termination step is postulated as involving oxidation of the polymer chains by ceric ions. The results have been explained in the light of the proposed reaction scheme.     

Vinylation of cellulose in superbase catalytic systems: towards new biodegradable polymer materials

Diverse celluloses including non-mercerized and mercerized ones have been successfully vinylated with acetylene in the superbase catalytic systems MOH/DMSO and MOH/THF (M = Na, K) at 85–140 °C. Depending on the reaction conditions, degree of substitution of the hydroxyl groups by highly reactive polymerazable vinyloxy groups ranges 0.11–1.22, the yields of vinylated celluloses (insoluble in water, but soluble in DMSO) being 41–89 %. Vinylated celluloses are easily decomposed under the action of white rot fungi: Phanerochaete chrysosporium, Trametes versicolor and Trametes hirsutus, and can constitute a basis for the preparation of biodegradable polymer materials (due to polymerization or polyaddition at the vinyloxy group).     

Anionic polymerization of acrylates. I. Polymerization of 2-ethylhexylacrylate in nonpolar solvents

Initiation with a combined initiator n-butyllithium/lithium tert-butoxide in the ratio 1:6 brings the anionic polymerization of 2-ethylhexylacrylate (EtHA) in toluene and n-heptane at temperatures between ?78 and ?20°C up to a quantitative conversion. In the initial stages of the process the molecular weight distribution (MWD) of the products is polymodal as a result of the stablizing function of the alkoxide; MWD of the final product after a complete consumption of the monomer is medium, being visibly dependent on the reaction temperature and without any distinct content of low-molecular weight components, which suggests a sufficient activity of all growth centers, and thus an essential restriction of side termination reactions.     

Vinyl polymerization by cobaltic ions in aqueous solution: Part I. Polymerization of methyl methacrylate

Polymerization of methyl methacrylate initiated by cobaltic ions in perchloric, nitric and sulfuric acids was studied in the temperature range 15–25°C. In all three acids, water oxidation occurred as a side reaction. In HClO₄ and HNO₃ media monomer oxidation was shown to be an additional complicating feature. Rates of cobaltic ion disappearance, monomer disappearance, and chain lengths of polymers were measured with variations in [M], [Co³⁺], [H⁺], initially added [Co²⁺], and temperature. In HClO₄ and HNO₃ experimental results favored simultaneous initiation by Co³⁺ and CoOH²⁺ species, while in H₂SO₄, Co³⁺ ions alone were the active entities. An appropriate kinetic scheme to fit all the experimental observations is proposed. The various rate constants were evaluated.     

Radiation-induced polymerization of glass forming systems. VI. Polymerization rate at higher conversion in binary systems

The effect of temperature and composition on the inflection point in the time–conversion curve and the saturated conversion was investigated in the radiation-induced radical polymerization of binary systems consisting of a glass-forming monomer and a solvent. In the polymerization of completely homogeneous systems such as glycidyl methacrylate (GMA)–triacetin and hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA)–propylene glycol systems, the time–conversion curve has an inflection point at polymerization temperatures between T_vm (T_v of monomer system) and T_vp (T_v of polymer system). Such conversions at the inflection point changed monotonically between 0 and 100% in this temperature range. T_v was found to be 30–50°C higher than T_g (glass transition temperature) and a monotonic function of composition (monomer–polymer–solvent). The acceleration effect continued to 100% conversion above T_vp, and no acceleration effect was observed below T_vm. The saturated conversion in homogeneous systems changed monotonically between 0 and 100% for polymerization temperatures between T_gm (T_g of monomer system) and T_gp (T_g of polymer system). T_g was also a monotonic function of composition. No saturation in conversion was observed above T_gp, and no polymerization occurred below T_gm. In the polymerization of completely heterogeneous systems such as HEMA–dioctyl phthalate, no acceleration effect was observed at any temperature and composition. The saturated conversion was 100% above T_g of pure HEMA, and no polymerization occurred below this temperature in this system.     

Synthesis of a novel titanium complex catalyst and its catalytic performance for olefin polymerization

Russian Journal of Applied Chemistry - A phenoxy-ester Ti based complex of bis[5-methyl-3-trimethylsilyl phenyl salicylate]titanium(IV) dichloride was prepared for olefin polymerization. The...     

Radiation-induced solid-state polymerization in binary systems. II. Relationship between polymerization rate and physical structure of binary systems

The radiation-induced solid-state polymerization of binary systems consisting of acrylic monomer (acrylamide, acrylic acid) and organic compounds was investigated. In the previous paper on binary systems the authors reported that the rate of polymerization increased in the solid state (eutectic mixture systems). The mechanism of rate increase has been investigated by examination of phase diagrams, viscosities, and surface tension of the binary systems. Viscosity and surface tension are the measure of the molecular interaction of the two-component systems. In addition, the effect of linear crystal growth rate and half maximum width of the x-ray diffraction diagram of the crystallization process were determined. The larger the molecular interaction between the two components, the slower the linear crystal growth rate of monomer. The size of the monomer crystal decreases and the dislocation density of the monomer crystals increases in systems with large molecular interaction. Consequently it can be concluded that the physical structure of a binary solid system is the most important parameter determining the rate increase of solid-state polymerization. Dislocation on the grain boundary is more important than defects inside of the crystal lattice. It was found that the acceleration of polymerization rate is large in binary systems with larger molecular interaction. In some systems such as organic acid—amide systems with strong hydrogen bonds, glassy phases may be formed in which monomer may readily polymerize at very low temperatures.     

Polymerization of ethylene using a high-activity Ziegler–Natta catalyst. I. Kinetic studies

Factors affecting the particular shape of kinetic rate–time profiles in the polymerization of ethylene with a MgCl₂-supported TiCl₄ catalyst activated by Al(C₂H₅)₃ have been investigated. Examination of the dependence of the polymerization rate on the concentration of Al(C₂H₅)₃ resulted in a Langmuir–Hinshelwood rate law. Analysis of the polymerization rate as a function of the polymerization temperature gave about 46 kJ mol^?1 for the overall activation energy. Examination of the rapid decay of the polymerization rate with time showed that this decay is represented better by a first-order decay law than by a second-order one. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.