Polymerization and copolymerization of some epoxides by potassium tert-butoxide in DMSO

Copolymerization of tritiated PGE with analogs and with propylene oxide by potassium tert-butoxide in DMSO shows that this anionic polymerization is favored by electron-withdrawing groups. The homopolymerization of PGE and its p-chloro and p-methoxy analogs gives polymer with molecular weight limited by chain transfer. For PGE, where this limit is about 7000, some of the polymer is insoluble, crystalline isotactic material.     

Polymerization of olefin oxides and of olefin sulfides

Two new catalyst systems, sulfur–diethylzinc and 98% hydrogen peroxide–diethylzinc, have been investigated for polymerizing propylene oxide. The sulfur–diethylzinc catalyst system has a broad range of sulfur/zinc atomic ratio for polymerizing propylene oxide heterogeneously to high molecular weight materials in high yields. The highest polymer yield is obtained at the sulfur/zinc atomic ratio of 3–3.5. Like the water–diethylzinc system, the hydrogen peroxide–diethylzinc system has a narrow range of hydrogen peroxide/diethylzinc molar ratio in the vicinity of 0.57 for optimum polymer yield. Crystallinity measurements by x-ray diffraction of a few polymers prepared with these three catalyst systems showed that they are fairly similar in the extent of their crystallinity. A plot of the per cent of polymer insoluble in acetone against inherent viscosity of the original polymer also showed that the polymers prepared with sulfur–diethylzinc and hydrogen peroxide–diethylzinc catalyst systems have similar amounts of crystallinity. Data are given for the polymerizability of ethylene oxide, 1,2-butene oxide, styrene oxide, propylene sulfide, 1,2-butene sulfide, and a vulcanizable copolymer of propylene oxide and allyl glycidyl ether with the sulfur–diethylzinc catalyst system. The polymers from the olefin sulfides had lower inherent viscosities than the polymers from the corresponding olefin oxides. Aging of the sulfur–diethylzinc catalyst (S/Zn atomic ratio = 3.5) improved the yield of poly(propylene oxide). The yield was essentially unchanged when propylene oxide was polymerized in six different solvents. The formation of C₂H₅S_xZnSC₂H₅ and C₂H₅S_xZnS_yC₂H₅ (x and y are integers between 2 and 8) and possibly C₂H₅S_xZnC₂H₅ as the catalytically active species is postulated during the reaction of sulfur and diethylzinc.     

Thermal transitions and structure of epoxy networks based on α, ω‐diamino terminated poly(propylene oxide)‐block‐poly(ethylene oxide)‐block‐poly(propylene oxide) swollen in water

Thermal transitions in epoxy networks prepared by reaction of α, ω‐diamino terminated poly(propylene oxide)‐block‐poly(ethylene oxide)‐block‐poly(propylene oxide) and diglycidyl ether of brominated Bisphenol A, swollen in water, were studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) in a broad temperature range (from ?100 °C to 20 °C). Networks of two different values of initial molar ratio of amino and epoxy groups were prepared, r (r = 1.00, 2.00), and swollen with different amounts of water up to equilibrium concentration values. The qualitatively different kinds of experimental thermograms have been obtained for two networks and classified according to the amount of water in the sample on the basis of the phase diagram of the system. Also, the concentration dependence of the curves in this diagram (glass transition, melting, and crystallization) as well as the fraction of noncrystallizable water supply some information about the morphology of the system. In this sense, the existence of a microphase separated structure of swollen networks is suggested. The structure consists of hydrophilic and hydrophobic domains and depends on the initial molar ratio of the reactive groups. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 43: 699–708, 2005     

Melting behavior of ethylene oxide–propylene oxide (sym-PEP) block copolymers

Melting points and lamellar thicknesses have been measured for ethylene oxide–propylene oxide block copolymers (sym-PEP) with central poly(ethylene oxide) block lengths of 70–100 chain units and end poly(propylene oxide) block lengths of 0–30 chain units. Melting points of the block copolymers are lower than those of the corresponding poly(ethylene oxide) homopolymer by an amount (up to 15°C) which increases as the poly(propylene oxide) block length increases. Most samples have more than one melting transition, which can be assigned to variously folded chain crystals. End interfacial free energies σ_e for the various crystals have been estimated by use of Flory's theory of melting of block copolymers. For a given crystal type (e.g., once-folded-chain) σ_e is higher the longer the chain length of the end poly(propylene oxide) blocks. For a given copolymer σ_e is lower, the more highly folded the poly(ethylene oxide) chain.     

Polymers from aryl glycidyl ethers

High molecular weight, linear polyethers were prepared by polymerizing a series of ring-substituted phenyl glycidyl ethers by using the ferric chloride–propylene oxide and dibutylzinc–water catalyst systems. The α-naphthyl, β-naphthyl, p-phenylphenyl, the o-, m-, and p-methyl, and the o- and p-chlorophenyl polymers resemble the parent polymer in that they are readily crystallizable polyethers which have melting points above 170°C. The other substituted poly(phenyl glycidyl ethers), including the o- and p-isopropyl, p-tert-butyl, p-octyl, and 2,4,6-trichloro derivatives show much less tendency to crystallize and are lower melting. The x-ray and electron diffraction data established that poly(o-chlorophenyl glycidyl ether) crystallizes in an orthorhombic unit cell; data obtained in a parallel study of unsubstituted poly(phenyl glycidyl ether) did not allow assignment of a specific structure.     

Some aspects of the bimetallic μ-oxo-alkoxides for polymerizing epoxides to polyether elastomers

The bimetallic catalysts of Osgan and Teyssie, (RO)₂Al-O-Zn-O-Al(OR)₂, are effective, unusual catalysts for polymerizing epoxides. The polymer obtained from propylene oxide when R = n-Bu is preponderantly isotactic and highly crystalline and thus, largely head-to-tail. Crystallizable, sulfur vulcanizable propylene oxide rubber was made by copolymerizing propylene oxide (PO) with allyl glycidyl ether (AGE) with this catalyst. This product after S vulcanization exhibited gum tensile and other properties which were superior to the commercially available, amorphous PO–AGE copolymer of similar composition. However, the Osgan–Teyssie catalyst is very sensitive to reactive, polar impurities. Hindered alkyl aluminums and especially alkoxides such as Et₂AlOtert–Bu can be added to help alleviate this problem. The reported favorable (but slow) copolymerization of epichlorohydrin with propylene oxide in nonpolar media with the Osgan–Teyssie catalyst has been confirmed and an alternate explanation for this unusual result suggested.     

Syntheses and characterization of N-grafted poly(p-phenylene terephthalamide)

N-grafted poly(p-phenylene terephthalamide)s (PPTA) were synthesized from PPTA and acrylonitrile or propylene oxide via metalation in a solution of the polymer in a sodium methylsulfinylcarbanion–dimethyl sulfoxide solvent at low temperatures. The introduction of these branches into the amide groups of PPTA increased solubility but decreased thermal stability. The effects of the branches on thermal properties and solubility are discussed. The structure of the graft copolymers is described on the basis of wide-angle x-ray diffraction, infrared spectra, and solubility.     

Copolymerization of propylene oxide and carbon disulfide with diethylzinc–electron-donor catalyst

Copolymerization of propylene oxide with carbon disulfide was studied by using a catalyst consisting of diethylzinc (ZnEt₂) and various electron donors. Tertiary amines, tertiary phosphines, and hexamethylphosphoric triamide were the effective donors for the copolymerization, but ZnEt₂–water, alcohol, and primary or secondary amines having high activities for the homopolymerization of propylene oxide were not effective for the copolymerization of propylene oxide and carbon disulfide. The copolymers obtained were of low molecular weight and had a monomer unit ratio (CS₂/PO) of 0.5–0.7. In addition, a considerable amount of 1,3-oxathioran-4-methyl-2-thion was isolated as a by-product.     

DFT predictions of vibrational spectra of titanium tetramethoxide oligomers and the structure of titanium tetraalkoxides in liquid and solid phases

ATR FTIR spectroscopy and quantum chemical calculations were used to investigate temperature dependent changes of structure and polymer–water interactions in a comparative study of poly(ethylene oxide), poly(propylene oxide) and a series of ethylene oxide–propylene oxide–ethylene oxide tri-block copolymers (Poloxamers, Pluronics) with different lengths of the blocks in aqueous media. The observed wavenumber shifts and intensity changes of the bands of different chemical groups of polymers and of water molecules served as a basis for the determination of structural changes and interactions of polymer chains with the surrounding water molecules. It was found that both hydrophilic (ether group–water) and hydrophobic (methyl group–water) interactions are significant for the temperature dependent phase behaviour. A model for the structural changes during the temperature transitions was specified.     

Thermal latency and structure–activity relationship of aminimides in the polymerization of epoxide

1,1-Dimethyl-1-(2-hydroxypropyl)amine p-substituted benzimide (“aminimide”) derivatives were prepared by the reaction of p-substituted methyl benzoates with equimolar amounts of 1,1-dimethylhydrazine and propylene oxide. These ylide compounds are shown to be useful as thermally latent initiators for the polymerization of glycidyl phenyl ether (GPE). Bulk polymerization of GPE with 3 mol % of these aminimides was carried out at 40–150°C for 8 h, showing ≥ 100°C was required for an effective rate. No consumption of the monomer could be observed at temperatures lower than 80°C. p-Methoxy substituted 1 showed the largest thermal latency among four aminimides tested. The activities of the aminimides increased with an increase of electron-donating ability of the substituents on the benzene ring, according to the following order: 1 (p-MeO) > 2 (p-Me) > 3 (H) > 4 (p-NO₂). © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 35: 689–694, 1997     

Interactions and Temperature Transitions of Ethylene Oxide – Propylene Oxide – Ethylene Oxide tri-block Copolymers in Water Media

Summary: ATR FTIR spectra of two ethylene oxide – propylene oxide – ethylene oxide (EO)_n-(PO)_m-(EO)_n tri-block copolymers (Pluronics) with different lengths of the EO blocks were investigated in water media at various temperatures. The observed wavenumber shifts and intensity changes of the bands of different chemical groups of polymers and of water molecules served as a basis for the estimation of structural changes and interactions of polymers with the surrounding water molecules. Two types of such interactions, i.e. hydrophilic (ether group – water) and a hydrophobic (methyl group – water) are detected. In the copolymer with shorter length of the EO blocks, an interchain H₂O bridge in a liquid crystalline phase was discovered and confirmed by ab initio calculations. A model for the structural changes during the temperature transitions is specified.     

Polymerization of propylene with TiCl3–AlEt2Cl–polymeric electron donor catalyst

Polymeric donors having ether or carbonyl groups were added to the TiCI₃–AlEt₂CI catalyst system as the third component, and the effects on the polymerization of propylene were investigated in comparison with the effect of the electron donors with low molecular weight. The polymeric donors were effective in making the catalyst more active, but the donors of low molecular weight depressed the catalyst activity. In the case of poly(propylene glycol dimethyl ether) (PPG-DME), PPG–DME with a number of propylene oxide units (n) of more than 6.7 was effective in enhancing the catalyst activity. These effects were considered to be due to the different reactivities between TiCI₃ and AlEt₂CI-polymeric donor complexes having various chain lengths.     

Polymerization of oxiranes by polymeric organoantimony oxides

Polymeric arylantimony(V) oxides [poly(ArSbO₂), Ar = phenyl, p-chlorophenyl (CPh), and p-methylphenyl (Tol)] were employed as catalysts for the polymerization of oxirane [ethylene oxide (EO)] and also substituted oxiranes [propylene oxide (PO), 1,2-butylene oxide (BO), and epichlorohydrin (ECH)]. The polymerization of EO by ArSbO₂s proceeded 3–60 times faster than that by the other organoantimony and -tin compounds such as triphenylstibine oxide (Ph₃SbO) and arenestannoic acids (ArSnO₂H), respectively. Apparent activation energy for the polymerization of EO was estimated as 13.7, 13.3, and 13.6 kcal/mol for PhSbO₂, TolSbO₂, and CPhSbO₂, respectively. The results of the polymerization as well as ¹H-, ¹³C-, and ¹⁷O-NMR spectroscopy suggested that the polymerization was initiated by ArSbO₂ or Ar₂Sb₂O₄ fragments, which was derived from a nucleophilc solvation of the polymeric ArSbO₂ by oxiranes in situ.     

Nitrogen-containing organozinc and organoaluminum as catalyst for stereospecific polymerization of propylene oxide

Catalytic activities of the reaction products of diethylzinc or triethylaluminum with primary amines in the polymerization of propylene oxide were studied. Generally, organozinc compounds give higher ratio of the crystalline to the amorphous polymer than the organoaluminums. In the reactions of organometallic compounds with primary amines, Et₂AlNPhAlEt₂, Et₂AlN-t-BuAlEt₂, EtZnNH-t-Bu, and EtZn-t-BuZnEt were isolated in crystalline state. EtZnN-t-BuZnEt proved to be an excellent catalyst for the stereospecific polymerization of propylene oxide and forms coordination complexes with some electron donors such as dioxane, pyridine, epichlorohydrin and propylene oxide. The propylene oxide complex is unstable in solution and decomposes at temperatures above room temperature to give poly(propylene oxide), while the pyridine complex has no catalytic activity. Therefore, it is concluded that the polymerization of propylene oxide with this catalyst proceeds through the coordination of propylene oxide to the zinc atom of the catalyst.     

Kinetic elucidation of comonomer‐induced chemical and physical activation in heterogeneous ziegler‐natta propylene polymerization

We have kinetically elucidated the origins of activity enhancement because of the addition of comonomer in Ziegler‐Natta propylene polymerization, using stopped‐flow and continuously purged polymerization. Stopped‐flow polymerization (with the polymerization time of 0.1–0.2 s) enabled us to neglect contributions of physical phenomena to the activity, such as catalyst fragmentation and reagent diffusion through produced polymer. The propagation rate constant k_p and active‐site concentration [C*] were compared between homopolymerization and copolymerization in the absence of physical effects. k_p for propylene was increased by 30% because of the addition of a small amount of ethylene, whereas [C*] was constant. On the contrary, both k_p (for propylene) and [C*] remained unchanged by the addition of 1‐hexene. Thus, only ethylene could chemically activate propylene polymerization. However, continuously purged polymerization for 30 s resulted in much more significant activation by the addition of comonomer, clearly indicating that the activation phenomenon mainly arises from the physical effects. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011     

DFT mechanistic study of the H2‐assisted chain transfer copolymerization of propylene and p‐methylstyrene catalyzed by zirconocene complex

DFT computations have been performed to investigate the mechanism of H₂‐assisted chain transfer strategy to functionalize polypropylene via Zr‐catalyzed copolymerization of propylene and p‐methylstyrene (pMS). The study unveils the following: (i) propylene prefers 1,2‐insertion over 2,1‐insertion both kinetically and thermodynamically, explaining the observed 1,2‐insertion regioselectivity for propylene insertion. (ii) The 2,1‐inserion of pMS is kinetically less favorable but thermodynamically more favorable than 1,2‐insertion. The observation of 2,1‐insertion pMS at the end of polymer chain is due to thermodynamic control and that the barrier difference between the two insertion modes become smaller as the chain length becomes longer. (iii) The pMS insertion results in much higher barriers for subsequent either propylene or pMS insertion, which causes deactivation of the catalytic system. (iv) Small H₂ can react with the deactivated [Zr]?pMS?PP_n facilely, which displace functionalized pMS?PP_n chain and regenerate [Zr]? H active catalyst to continue copolymerization. The effects of counterions are also discussed. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2015 , 53, 576–585     

Triblock Copolymer Based on Poly(propylene oxide) and Poly(1‐[11‐acryloylundecyl]‐3‐methyl‐imidazolium bromide)

The controlled atom transfer radical polymerization of an ionic liquid, 1‐(11‐acryloylundecyl)‐3‐methyl imidazolium bromide (ILBr), from both ends of a telechelic poly(propylene oxide) (PPO) macroinitiator, end‐functionalized with bromoisobutyryloyl is reported. The resulting highly water‐soluble triblock, poly(ILBr‐b‐PO‐b‐ILBr) is multistimuli responsive. This new class of triblocks exhibits classical surface activity in lowering surface tension at the air–water interface and in modifying wetting in waterborne coatings. It also immunizes model colloids against coagulation induced by Debye–Hückel (indifferent electrolyte) electrostatic screening. Further, sol–gel thermoreversibility is unexpectedly found as an additional form of stimuli responsiveness.     

The relationship between the association constants of phenol with ethers and those of tricholoroacetic acid with ethers : Estimation of association constants of trichloroacetic acid with oxirane

The association constants, K_p, of phenol with ethers (tetrahydrofuran, tetrahydropyran dibutyl ether, dipropyl ether, 1,4-dioxane) and those , K_T, of trichloroacetic acid with ethers were measured in CCl₄ over a temparature range 20°–40° using near IR spectra. A linear relationship between K_p and K_T was found. On the basis of this realtionship the association constants of trichloroacetic acid with propylene oxide were estimated from those of phenol with propylene oxide.     

Supported catalysts for stereospecific polymerization of propylene

Tetrabenzyltitanium (B₄Ti), tribenzyltitanium chloride (B₃TiCl), tetra(p-methylbenzyl)titanium (R₄Ti) and tri(p-methylbenzyl)titanium chloride (R₃TiCl) have been used as catalysts for ethylene and propylene polymerization activated by AlEt₂Cl. B₄Ti-AIEt₂Cl in solution polymerizes ethylene readily but its activity decays rapidly. B₄Ti was also supported on Cab-O-Sil, Alon C, and Mg(OH)Cl. The last support was found to give catalyst with longest lifetime with a rate of polymerization, R_p = 7.0 g/hr-mmole Ti-atm ethylene. ¹⁴CO counting techniques gave 1.13 × 10^?3 mole of propagating center per mole of B₄Ti; the rate constant of propagation, k_p = 540 l./mole-sec. None of the tetravalent titanium compounds polymerize propylene in solution. However, when supported on Mg(OH)Cl, Cab-O-Sil, Alon C, Cab-O-Ti, and charcoal, they all polymerize propylene. In this work the supports were characterized by various techniques, including the paramagnetic probe method, to determine the concentration and nature of surface hydroxyls. Those factors controlling the rate and stereospecificity of propylene polymerization were investigated. The system B₃TiCl–Mg(OH)Cl–AlEt₂Cl is the most active with R_p = 2.89 g/hr-mmole Ti-atm propylene. The concentration of propagation center is 0.9 × 10^?3 mole per mole of B₃TiCl; k_p = 32 l./mole-sec. This catalyst gave only about 70% stereoregular polymer. Diethyl ether is found to raise stereospecificity to 100%, but there is a concommittent tenfold decrease of activity. Other interesting catalyst systems are: (π-C₅H₅)TiMe₃–Mg(OH)Cl–AlEt₂Cl (1.56, 89.5); (π-C₅H₅)TiMe₂–Mg(OH)Cl–AlEt₂Cl (0.075, 94.5); and (π-C₅H₅)TiMe₃–Alon C–Al-Et₂Cl (0.08,97.2), where the first number in the parenthesis is R_p in g/mmole Ti-hr-atm and the second entry corresponds to percentage yield of stereoregular polypropylene. Hafnocene and titanocene supported on Mg(OH)Cl produce only oligomers of propylene.     

Preferential solvation of some n-alkyl p-substituted benzoates in propylene glycol + water cosolvent mixtures

The preferential solvation parameters by propylene glycol (PG) of the homologous series of the n-alkyl esters of p-hydroxybenzoic and p-aminobenzoic acids, namely, methyl, ethyl, propyl and butyl derivatives, were derived from their thermodynamic properties of solution by means of the inverse Kirkwood–Buff integrals (IKBI) method. The preferential solvation parameters by the cosolvent, δx_1,3, are negative in water-rich mixtures, but positive in PG-rich mixtures, and the relative magnitudes of δx_1,3 are proportional to the alkyl chain length despite of the solvent involved in the preferential solvation, i.e. PG or water. It is possible that the hydrophobic hydration around aromatic ring and/or methylene groups plays a relevant role in the drugs solvation in water-rich mixtures. The more solvation by PG in PG-rich mixtures could be due mainly to polarity effects and acidic behaviour of the hydroxyl or amine groups of the compounds in front to the more basic solvent present in the mixtures, i.e. PG.