Kinetic study of the radical polymerization behavior of N‐(1‐phenylethylaminocarbonyl)methacrylamide

Polymerization of N‐(1‐phenylethylaminocarbonyl)methacrylamide (PEACMA) with dimethyl 2,2′‐azobisisobutyrate (MAIB) was kinetically studied in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). The overall activation energy of the polymerization was estimated to be 84 kJ/mol. The initial polymerization rate (R_p) is given by R_p = k[MAIB]^0.6[PEACMA]^0.9 at 60 °C, being similar to that of the conventional radical polymerization. The polymerization system involved electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopically observable propagating poly(PEACMA) radical under the actual polymerization conditions. ESR‐determined rate constants of propagation and termination were 140 L/mol s and 3.4 × 10⁴ L/mol s at 60 °C, respectively. The addition of LiCl accelerated the polymerization in N,N‐dimethylformamide but did not in DMSO. The copolymerization of PEACMA(M₁) and styrene(M₂) with MAIB in DMSO at 60 °C gave the following copolymerization parameters; r₁ = 0.20, r₂ = 0.51, Q₁ = 0.59, and e₁ = +0.70. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 2013–2020, 2005     

Radical heterogeneous polymerization behavior of N‐methyl‐α‐fluoroacrylamide in benzene

The polymerization of N‐methyl‐α‐fluoroacrylamide (NMFAm) initiated with dimethyl 2,2′‐azobisisobutyrate (MAIB) in benzene was studied kinetically and with electron spin resonance. The polymerization proceeded heterogeneously with the highly efficient formation of long‐lived poly(NMFAm) radicals. The overall activation energy of the polymerization was 111 kJ/mol. The polymerization rate (R_p) at 50 °C is given by R_p = k[MAIB]^0.75±0.05 [NMFAm]^0.44±0.05. The concentration of the long‐lived polymer radical increased linearly with time. The formation rate (R_p?) of the long‐lived polymer radical at 50 °C is expressed by R_p? = k[MAIB]^1.0±0.1 [NMFAm]^0±0.1. The overall activation energy of the long‐lived radical formation was 128 kJ/mol, which agreed with the energy of initiation (129 kJ/mol), which was separately estimated. A comparison of R_p? with the initiation rate led to the conclusion that 1‐methoxycarbonyl‐1‐methylethyl radicals (primary radicals from MAIB), escaping from the solvent cage, were quantitatively converted into the long‐lived poly(NMFAm) radicals. Thus, this polymerization involves completely unimolecular termination due to polymer radical occlusion. ¹H NMR‐determined tacticities of resulting poly(NMFAm) were estimated to be rr = 0.34, mr = 0.48, and mm = 0.18. The copolymerization of NMFAm(M₁) and St(M₂) with MAIB at 50 °C in benzene gave monomer reactivity ratios of r₁ = 0.61 and r₂ = 1.79. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 39: 2196–2205, 2001     

Kinetic study on the radical polymerization of 2‐methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine

Polymerization of 2‐methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine (MPC) was kinetically investigated in ethanol using dimethyl 2,2′‐azobisisobutyrate (MAIB) as initiator. The overall activation energy of the homogeneous polymerization was calculated to be 71 kJ/mol. The polymerization rate (R_p) was expressed by R_p = k[MAIB]^0.54±0.05 [MPC]^1.8±0.1. The higher dependence of R_p on the monomer concentration comes from acceleration of propagation due to monomer aggregation and also from retardation of termination due to viscosity effect of the MPC monomer. Rate constants of propagation (k_p) and termination (k_t) of MPC were estimated by means of ESR to be k_p = 180 L/mol · s and k_t = 2.8 × 10⁴ L/mol · s at 60 °C, respectively. Because of much slower termination, R_p of MPC in ethanol was found at 60 °C to be 8 times that of methyl methacrylate (MMA) in benzene, though the different solvents were used for MPC and MMA. Polymerization of MPC with MAIB in ethanol was accelerated by the presence of water and retarded by the presence of benzene or acetonitrile. Poly(MPC) showed a peculiar solubility behavior; although poly(MPC) was highly soluble in ethanol and in water, it was insoluble in aqueous ethanol of water content of 7.4–39.8 vol %. The radical copolymerization of MPC (M₁) and styrene (St) (M₂) in ethanol at 50 °C gave the following copolymerization parameters similar to those of the copolymerization of MMA and St; r₁ = 0.39, r₂ = 0.46, Q₁ = 0.76, and e₁ = +0.51. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 509–515, 2000     

Kinetic and ESR studies on radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate in the presence of fullerene

The effect of fullerene (C₆₀) on the radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) in benzene was studied kinetically and by means of ESR, where dimethyl 2,2′-azobis(isobutyrate) (MAIB) was used as initiator. The polymerization rate (R_p) and the molecular weight of resulting poly(MMA) decreased with increasing C₆₀ concentration ((0–2.11) × 10⁻⁴ mol/L). The molecular weight of polymer tended to increase with time at higher C₆₀ concentrations. R_p at 50°C in the presence of C₆₀ (7.0 × 10⁻⁵ mol/L) was expressed by R_p = k[MAIB]^0.5[MMA]^1.25. The overall activation energy of polymerization at 7.0 × 10⁻⁵ mol/L of C₆₀ concentration was calculated to be 23.2 kcal/mol. Persistent fullerene radicals were observed by ESR in the polymerization system. The concentration of fullerene radicals was found to increase linearly with time and then be saturated. The rate of fullerene radical formation increased with MAIB concentration. Thermal polymerization of styrene (St) in the presence of resulting poly(MMA) seemed to yield a starlike copolymer carrying poly(MMA) and poly(St) arms. The results (r₁ = 0.53, r₂ = 0.56) of copolymerization of MMA and St with MAIB at 60°C in the presence of C₆₀ (7.15 × 10⁻⁵ mol/L) were similar to those (r₁ = 0.46, r₂ = 0.52) in the absence of C₆₀. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 36: 2905–2912, 1998     

Radical and cationic polymerizations of 3‐ethyl‐3‐methacryloyloxymethyloxetane

3‐Ethyl‐3‐methacryloyloxymethyloxetane (EMO) was easily polymerized by dimethyl 2,2′‐azobisisobutyrate (MAIB) as the radical initiator through the opening of the vinyl group. The initial polymerization rate (R_p) at 50 °C in benzene was given by R_p = k[MAIB]^0.55 [EMO]^1.2. The overall activation energy of the polymerization was estimated to be 87 kJ/mol. The number‐average molecular weight (M?_n) of the resulting poly(EMO)s was in the range of 1–3.3 × 10⁵. The polymerization system was found to involve electron spin resonance (ESR) observable propagating poly(EMO) radicals under practical polymerization conditions. ESR‐determined rate constants of propagation (k_p) and termination (k_t) at 60 °C are 120 and 2.41 × 10⁵ L/mol s, respectively—much lower than those of the usual methacrylate esters such as methyl methacrylate and glycidyl methacrylate. The radical copolymerization of EMO (M₁) with styrene (M₂) at 60 °C gave the following copolymerization parameters: r₁ = 0.53, r₂ = 0.43, Q₁ = 0.87, and e₁ = +0.42. EMO was also observed to be polymerized by BF₃OEt₂ as the cationic initiator through the opening of the oxetane ring. The M?_n of the resulting polymer was in the range of 650–3100. The cationic polymerization of radically formed poly(EMO) provided a crosslinked polymer showing distinguishably different thermal behaviors from those of the radical and cationic poly(EMO)s. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 39: 1269–1279, 2001     

Spontaneous alternating copolymerization of N-phenylmaleimide with ethyl α-phenylacrylate

The spontaneous copolymerization of N-phenylmaleimide (NPMI) (M₁) with ethyl α-phenylacrylate (EPA)(M₂) were carried out in dioxane at 85°C. A high alternating tendency was observed. The monomer reactivity ratios were r₁ = 0.07 ±0.01 and r₂ = 0.09 ± 0.02. The maximum copolymerization rate and molecular weight occurs at 70–80 mol% (M₁) in feed ratio. The spontaneous alternating copolymerization is considered to be carried out via a contact-type charge transfer complex (CTC) formed between the monomers. Thermogravimetric analyses (TGA) indicate the resulting copolymers have high thermal stability. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 36: 2927–2931, 1998     

Radical polymerization behavior of ethyl ortho-formylphenyl fumarate involving intramolecular hydrogen abstraction

The radical polymerization behavior of ethyl ortho-formyl-phenyl fumarate (EFPF) using dimethyl 2,2′-azobisisobutyrate (MAIB) as initiator was studied in benzene kinetically and ESR spectroscopically. The polymerization rate (R_p) at 60°C was given by R_p = k[MAIB]^0.76[EFPF]^0.56. The number-average molecular weight of poly(EFPF) was in the range of 1600–2900. EFPF was also easily photopolymerized at room temperature without any photosensitizer probably because of the photosensitivity of the formyl group of monomer. Analysis of ¹H? and ¹³C-NMR spectra of the resulting polymer revealed that the radical polymerization of EFPF proceeds in a complicated manner involving vinyl addition and intramolecular hydrogen-abstraction. The polymerization system was found to involve ESR-observable poly(EFPF) radicals under the actual polymerization conditions. ESR-determined rate constant (2.4–4.0 L/mol s) of propagation at 60°C increased with decreasing monomer concentration, which is mainly responsible for the observed low de-pendency of R_p on the EFPF concentration. Copolymerizations of EFPF with some vinyl monomers were also examined. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Radical polymerization behavior of trimethoxyvinylsilane

Trimethoxyvinylsilane (TMVS) was quantitatively polymerized at 130 °C in bulk, using dicumyl peroxide (DCPO) as initiator. The polymerization of TMVS with DCPO was kinetically studied in dioxane by Fourier transform near‐infrared spectroscopy. The overall activation energy of the bulk polymerization was estimated to be 112 kJ/mol. The initial polymerization rate (R_p) was expressed by R_p = k[DCPO]^0.6[TMVS]^1.0 at 120 °C, being closely similar to that of the conventional radical polymerization involving bimolecular termination. The polymerization system involved electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopically observable polymer radicals under the actual polymerization conditions. ESR‐determined apparent rate constants of propagation and termination were 13 L/mol s and 3.1 × 10⁴ L/mol s at 120 °C, respectively. The molecular weight of the resulting poly(TMVS)s was low (M_n = 2.0–4.4 × 10³), because of the high chain transfer constant (C_mtr = 4.2 × 10^?2 at 120 °C) to the monomer. The bulk copolymerization of TMVS (M₁) and vinyl acetate (M₂) at 120 °C gave the following copolymerization parameters: r_l = 1.4, r₂ = 0.24, Q₁ = 0.084, and e₁ = +0.80. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 5864–5871, 2005     

Synthesis of substituted polymethylenes by radical polymerization of N,N,N′,N′-tetraalkylfumaramides and their characterization

Radical polymerization of N,N,N′,N′-tetraalkylfumaramides (TRFAm) bearing methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, and isobutyl groups as N-substituents (TMFAm, TEFAm, TnPFAm, TIPFAm, and TIBFAm, respectively) was investigated. In the polymerization of TEFAm initiated with 1,1′-azobiscyclohexane-1-carbonitrile (ACN) in benzene, the polymerization rate (R_p) was expressed as follows: R_p = k [ACN]^0.28 [TEFAm]^1.26, and the overall activation energy was 102.1 kJ/mol. The introduction of a bulky alkyl group into N-substituent of TRFAm decreased the R_p in the following order: TMFAm > TEFAm > TnPFAm > TIBFAm > TIPFAm ～ 0. The relative reactivities of these monomers were also investigated in radical copolymerization with styrene (St) and methyl methacrylate (MMA). In copolymerization of TRFAm (M₂) with St (M₁), monomer reactivity ratios were determined to be r₁ = 1.07 and r₂ = 0.20 for St–TMFAm, and r₁ = 1.88 and r₂ = 0.11 for St–TEFAm, from which Q₂ and e₂ values were estimated to be 0.35 and 0.44 for TMFAm, and 0.19 and 0.47 for TEFAm, respectively. The other TRFAm were also copolymerized with St, but copolymerization with MMA gave polymers containing a small amount of TRFAm units. The polymer from TRFAm consists of a less-flexible poly(N,N-dialkylaminocarbonylmethylene) structure. The solubility and thermal property of the polymers were also investigated.     

Reactive oligomers. I. Preparation and polymerization of ethylene glycol bis(methyl fumarate)

Ethylene glycol bis(methyl fumarate) (EGBMF) was prepared as a new type of divinyl compound and reactive oligomer: a needle crystal, m.p. 104.5°C. Homopolymerization of EGBMF was carried out in dioxane with 0.1 mol/L AIBN at [M] = 1 mol/L and 60°C; the rate of polymerization was estimated to be 4.44 × 10^?6 mol/L s in a good agreement with diethyl fumarate (DEF). The cyclization constant K_c was obtained as 1.64 mol/L, being rather low compared with diallyl oxalate which is 1,9-diene having two ester groups analogous to EGBMF. Gelatin occurred at about 35% conversion. Finally, the copolymerization of EGBMF (M₁) with diallyl phthalate (DAP) (M₂) is tentatively explored with the intention of the improvement of allyl resins in mechanical properties; remarkable rate enhancement was observed for copolymerization. The monomer reactivity ratios were estimated to be r₁ = 0.96 and r₂ = 0.025, the r₁ value being reduced compared with the DEF-DAP copolymerization system. These results are discussed from the standpoint of steric effect on the polymerization of fumarate as an internal olefin.     

Poly(styrene‐b‐isobutylene) multiarm star‐block copolymers

Multiarm star‐branched polymers based on poly(styrene‐b‐isobutylene) (PS‐PIB) block copolymer arms were synthesized under controlled/living cationic polymerization conditions using the 2‐chloro‐2‐propylbenzene (CCl)/TiCl₄/pyridine (Py) initiating system and divinylbenzene (DVB) as gel‐core‐forming comonomer. To optimize the timing of isobutylene (IB) addition to living PS⊕, the kinetics of styrene (St) polymerization at −80°C were measured in both 60 : 40 (v : v) methyl cyclohexane (MCHx) : MeCl and 60 : 40 hexane : MeCl cosolvents. For either cosolvent system, it was found that the polymerizations followed first‐order kinetics with respect to the monomer and the number of actively growing chains remained invariant. The rate of polymerization was slower in MCHx : MeCl (k_app = 2.5 × 10⁻³ s⁻¹) compared with hexane : MeCl (k_app = 5.6 × 10⁻³ s⁻¹) ([CCl]_o = [TiCl₄]/15 = 3.64 × 10⁻³M; [Py] = 4 × 10⁻³M; [St]_o = 0.35M). Intermolecular alkylation reactions were observed at [St]_o = 0.93M but could be suppressed by avoiding very high St conversion and by setting [St]_o ≤ 0.35M. For St polymerization, k_app = 1.1 × 10⁻³ s⁻¹ ([CCl]_o = [TiCl₄]/15 = 1.82 × 10⁻³M; [Py] = 4 × 10⁻³M; [St]_o = 0.35M); this was significantly higher than that observed for IB polymerization (k_app = 3.0 × 10⁻⁴ s⁻¹; [CCl]_o = [Py] = [TiCl₄]/15 = 1.86 × 10⁻³M; [IB]_o = 1.0M). Blocking efficiencies were higher in hexane : MeCl compared with MCHx : MeCl cosolvent system. Star formation was faster with PS‐PIB arms compared with PIB homopolymer arms under similar conditions. Using [DVB] = 5.6 × 10⁻²M = 10 times chain end concentration, 92% of PS‐PIB arms (M_n,PS = 2600 and M_n,PIB = 13,400 g/mol) were linked within 1 h at −80°C with negligible star–star coupling. It was difficult to achieve complete linking of all the arms prior to the onset of star–star coupling. Apparently, the presence of the St block allows the PS‐PIB block copolymer arms to be incorporated into growing star polymers by an additional mechanism, namely, electrophilic aromatic substitution (EAS), which leads to increased rates of star formation and greater tendency toward star–star coupling. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 1629–1641, 1999     

Radical-initiated homo- and copolymerizations of methacryloyl fluoride

The kinetics of methacryloyl fluoride (MAF) homopolymerization was investigated in methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) with azobis(isobutyronitrile) as initiator. The rate of polymerization (R_p) followed the expression R_p = k[AIBN]^0.55[MAF]^1.18. The overall activation energy was calculated as 74.4 kJ/mol. The relative reactivity ratios of MAF(M₂) copolymerization with styrene (r₁ = 0.083, r₂ = 0.14), and methyl methacrylate (r₁ = 0.48, r₂ = 0.81) in methyl ethyl ketone were obtained. Application of the Q–e scheme (in styrene copolymerization) led to Q = 2.22 and e = 1.31. The glass transition temperature (T_g) of poly(MAF) was 90°C by thermomechanical analysis. Thermogravimetry of poly(MAF) showed a 10% weight loss of 228°C in air.     

Kinetic and ESR studies on radical copolymerization of p-tert-butoxystyrene and di-n-butyl maleate in benzene

The copolymerization of p-tert-butoxystyrene (TBOSt) (M₁) and di-n-butyl maleate (DBM) (M₂) with dimethyl 2,2′-azobisisobutyrate (MAIB) in benzene at 60°C was studied kinetically and by means of ESR spectroscopy. The monomer reactivity ratios were determined to be r₁ = 2.3 and r₂ = 0 by a curve-fitting method. The copolymerization system was found to involve ESR-observable propagating polymer radicals under practical copolymerization conditions. The apparent rate constants of propagation (k_p) and termination (k_t) at different feed compositions were determined by ESR. From the relationship of k_p and f₁ (f₁ = [M₁]/([M₁] + [M₂])) based on a penultimate model, the rate constants of five propagations of copolymerization were evaluated as follows; k₁₁₁ = 140 L/mol s, k₂₁₁ = 3.5 L/mol s, k₁₁₂ = 61 L/mol s, k₂₁₂ = 1.5 L/mol s, and k₁₂₁ = 69 L/mol s. Thus, a pronounced penultimate effect was predicted in the copolymerization. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 36: 1449–1455, 1998     

Radical polymerization of benzyl N-(2,6-dimethylphenyl)itaconamate

The polymerization of benzyl N-(2,6-dimethylphenyl)itaconamate (BDMPI) with benzoyl peroxide (BPO) in N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) was studied kinetically by ESR. The polymerization rate (R_p) at 70°C was given by R_p = k[BPO]^0.78[BDMPI]^1.1. The overall activation energy of polymerization was determined to be 83.7 kJ/mol. The number-average molecular weight of poly(BDMPI) was in the range of 1500–2000 by gel permeation chromatography. From the ESR study, the polymerization system was found to involve ESR-observable propagating radicals of BDMPI under practical polymerization conditions. Using the polymer radical concentration by ESR, the rate constants of propagation (k_p) and termination (k_t) were determined in the temperature range of 50–70°C. The k_p value seemed dependent on the chain-length of propagating radical. The analysis of polymers by the MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry suggested that most of the resulting polymers contain the dimethylamino terminal group. The copolymerization of BDMPI (M₁) and styrene (M₂) at 50°C in DMF gave the following copolymerization parameters; r₁ = 0.49, r₂ = 0.26, Q₁ = 1.2, and e₁ = +0.63. The thermal behavior of poly(BDMPI) was examined by dynamic thermogravimetry and differential scanning calorimetry. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 35 : 1891–1900, 1997     

Polymerization of N-acryloyl pyrrolidone and synthesis of graft copolymer by using the mechanism of initiation of anionic ring-opening polymerization

N-acryloyl pyrrolidone (NAP) was synthesized by reaction of pyrrolidone with acryloyl chloride. First, the polymerization of NAP and copolymerization of NAP with styrene (St) were carried out at 60°C, using 2,2′-azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) as an initiator. Kinetic studies showed that the rate of polymerization (R_p) could be expressed by R_p = K [AIBN]^0.5 [NAP]^1.0. The reactivity of NAP was found to be larger than that of N-methacryloyl pyrrolidone. The overall activation energy was calculated to be 24.3 kcal mole^?1. The following monomer reactivity ratio and Q and e values were obtained. NAP(M₁)—St(M₂): r₁ = 1.50, r₂ = 0.35, Q₁ = 0.42, and e₁ = 1.60. Second, graft copolymers were synthesized by reacting pyrrolidone, in the presence of a catalytic amount of its potassium salt, with poly(NAP-co-St).     

Kinetic and ESR studies on radical polymerization behavior of N‐(2‐phenylethoxycarbonyl)methacrylamide

Polymerization of N‐(2‐phenylethoxycarbonyl)methacrylamide (PECMA) with dimethyl 2,2′‐azobisisobutyrate (MAIB) was investigated in tetrahydrofuran (THF) kinetically and by means of electron spin resonance (ESR). The overall activation energy of the polymerization was calculated to be 58 kJ/mol. The initial polymerization rate (R_p) is expressed by R_p = k[MAIB]^0.3[PECMA]^2.3 at 60 °C. Such unusual kinetics may be ascribable to primary radical termination and to acceleration of propagation due to monomer association. Propagating poly(PECMA) radical was observed as a 13‐line spectrum by ESR under practical polymerization conditions. ESR‐determined rate constants of propagation (k_p, 4.7–10.5 L/mol s) and termination (k_t, 4.6 × 10⁴ L/ml s) at 60 °C are much lower than those of methacrylamide and methacrylate esters. The Arrhenius plots of k_p and k_t gave activation energies of propagation (24 kJ/mol) and termination (25 kJ/mol). The copolymerizations of PECMA with styrene (St) and acrylonitrile were examined at 60 °C in THF. Copolymerization parameters obtained for the PECMA (M₁) − St(M₂) system are as follows: r₁ = 0.58, r₂ = 0.60, Q₁ = 0.73, and e₁ = +0.22. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 4264–4271, 2000     

Copolymerization of vinyl monomers with Gd(OCOCCl3)3-(i-Bu)3Al-Et2AlCl

The polymerization of polar monomers such as methyl methacrylate (MMA), methyl acrylate (MA), methacrylonitrile (MAN), and acrylonitrile (AN) was carried out with gadolinium-based Ziegler–Natta catalysts [Gd(OCOCCl₃)₃-(i-Bu)₃Al-Et₂AlCl] in hexane at 50°C under N₂ to elucidate the effect of the monomer's HOMO(highest occupied moleculor orbital) and LUMO (lowest unoccupied molecular orbital) levels on the polymerizability. In the case of homopolymerization, all monomers were found to polymerize and the order of relative polymerizability was as follows: MM > MA > MAN > AN. On the other hand, the result of copolymerization of St with MMA shows that the values of the monomer reactivity ratios are r₁ = 0.06 and r₂ = 1.98 for St(M₁)/MMA(M₂). The monomer reactivity ratios of styrene (St), p-methoxystyrene (PMOS), p-methylstyrene (PMS), and p-chlorostyrene (PCS) evaluated as r₁ = 0.55 and r₂ = 1.07 for St(M₁)/PMOS(M₂), r₁ = 0.38 and r₂ = 0.51 for St(M₁)/PMS(M₂), and r₁ = 0.72 and r₂ = 1.25 for St(M₁)/PCS(M₂) were compared with those for St(M₁)/MMA(M₂). The copolymerization behavior is apparently different from the titanium-based Ziegler—Natta catalyst, regarding a larger monomer reactivity ratio of PCS. The lower LUMO level of PCS and MMA may enhance a back-donation process from the metal catalyst, therefore resulting in high polymerizability. These results are discussed on the basis of the energy level of the gadolinium catalyst and the HOMO and LUMO levels of the monomers. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 35: 2591–2597, 1997     

Radical polymerization of vinyl thiocyanatoacetate: Participation of group‐transfer mechanism

Vinyl thiocyanatoacetate (VTCA) was synthesized, and its radical polymerization behavior was studied in acetone with dimethyl 2,2′‐azobisisobutyrate (MAIB) as an initiator. The initial polymerization rate (R_p) at 60 °C was expressed by R_p = k[MAIB]^0.6±0.1 [VTCA]^1.0±0.1 where k is a rate constant. The overall activation energy of the polymerization was 112 kJ/mol. The number‐average molecular weights of the resulting poly (VTCA)s (1.4–1.6 × 10⁴) were almost independent of the concentrations of the initiator and monomer, indicating chain transfer to the monomer. The chain‐transfer constant to the monomer was estimated to be 9.6 × 10^?3 at 60 °C. According to the ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectra of poly (VTCA), the radical polymerization of VTCA proceeded through normal vinyl addition and intramolecular transfer of the cyano group. The cyano group transfer became progressively more important with decreasing monomer concentration. © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 573–582, 2002; DOI 10.1002/pola.10137     

Stereospecific radical polymerization of fluoroalkyl acrylates

The free‐radical polymerization of 2,2,2‐trifluoroethyl acrylate (TFEA), 1,1,1,3,3,3‐hexafluoro‐2‐propyl acrylate (HFiPA) and perfluoro‐tert‐butyl acrylate (PFtBA) was carried out under various conditions and the stereostructure of the obtained polymers was investigated. Most polymerizations of the three monomers afforded polymers rich in diad syndiotacticity (r) in bulk or in solution; the r‐specificity was higher in the HFiPA and PFtBA polymerization than in the TFEA polymerization. Although the tacticity was nearly independent of reaction temperature during the polymerization of TFEA, the r‐specificity increased by lowering the reaction temperature during the polymerization of the other two monomers. The polymerization stereochemistry was also affected by the reaction solvents including toluene, tetrahydrofuran, and fluoroalcohols. It was noted that the stereochemistry of the polymerization of HFiPA and PFtBA also depended on the monomer concentration, and a lower monomer concentration led to a higher r‐specificity. By optimizing the aforementioned reaction conditions, the poly(HFiPA) having r = 81% (polymerization in tetrahydrofuran at −98 °C at [M]_o = 0.2M) and the poly(PFtBA) having r = 77% (polymerization in toluene at −78 °C at [M]_o = 0.2M) were obtained. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 1024–1032, 2000     

Radical polymerization of N-phenyl-α-methylene-β-lactam

N-phenyl-α-methylene-β-lactam (PML), a cyclic analog of N,N-disubstituted methacrylamides which do not undergo radical homopolymerization, was synthesized and polymerized with α,α′-azobis (isobutyronitrile) (AIBN) in solution. Poly (PML) (PPML) is readily soluble in tetrahydrofuran, chloroform, pyridine, and polar aprotic solvents but insoluble in toluene, ethyl acetate, and methanol. PPML obtained by radical initiation is highly syndiotactic (rr = 92%), exhibits a glass transition at 180°C, and loses no weight upto 330°C in nitrogen. The kinetics of PML homo-polymerization with AIBN was investigated in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone. The rate of polymerization (R_p) can be expressed by R_p = k[AIBN]^0.55[PML]^1.2 and the overall activation energy has been calculated to be 87.3 kJ/mol. Monomer reactivity ratios in copolymerization of PML (M₂) with styrene (M₁) are r₁ = 0.67 and r₂ = 0.41, from which Q and e values of PML are calculated as 0.60 and 0.33, respectively.