Mechanism of the controlled radical polymerization of styrene and methyl methacrylate in the presence of dicyclopentadienyltitanium dichloride

The mechanism of the controlled radical polymerization of styrene and methyl methacrylate in the presence of dicyclopentadienyltitanium dichloride (Cp₂TiCl₂) was studied using quantum chemical calculations and electron spin resonance spectroscopy. It was established that the reduction of Cp₂TiCl₂ to Cp₂TiCl during the macromolecule synthesis occurs through the living polymerization mechanism, which adjusts the growth of a polymeric chain. The geometrical structures of the molecular complexes between a growing macroradical and Cp₂TiCl₂ and transition states of radical inhibition steps were optimized and the thermodynamic and kinetic parameters of the elementary reactions were estimated for several feasible directions of the process. On this basis, the observed kinetic features of vinylic monomer polymerization with participation of organic compounds of titanium are discussed. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effect of chlorosilanes on the radical polymerization of styrene and methyl methacrylate

Styrene (St) and methyl methacrylate (MMA) were polymerized by azobisisobutyronitrile at 50°C. in the presence of silanes such as tetramethylsilane, trimethylcholorosilane, dimethyldichlorosilane, methyltrichlorosilane, and tetrachlorosilane. The polymerization rates of both St and MMA in the presence of silanes were nearly equal to those in the absence of silanes. On the other hand, the molecular weights decreased gradually as the concentration of chlorosilane increased. The chain transfer constants of all the silanes in the polymerization of St and MMA at 50°C. were calculated by Mayo's equation. The chain transfer constants of Me₄Si, Me₃SiCl, Me₂SiCl, MeSiCl₃, and SiCl₄ were 0.31 × 10^?3, 1.25 × 10^?3, 1.78 × 10^?3, 1.92 × 10^?3, and 2.0 × 10^?3, for St and 0.13 × 10^?3, 0.22 × 10^?3, 0.245 × 10^?3, 0.27 × 10^?3, and 0.30 × 10^?3, for MMA, respectively. From these results, it was found that the Si? Cl bond was radically cleaved. The Q_tr values of the silanes, in the same order as above, were found to be 1.03 × 10^?4, 2.33 × 10^?4, 2.83 × 10^?4, 3.10 × 10^?4, and 3.35 × 10^?4, respectively and the e_tr values were +0.58, +1.30, +1.50, +1.48, and +1.43, respectively.     

Effect of triphenyl phosphite on the radical polymerization of styrene and methyl methacrylate

The effects of triphenyl phosphite (TPP) on the radical polymerization of styrene (St) and methyl methacrylate (MMA) initiated with α,α,-azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) was investigated at 50°C. The rate of polymerization of St and MMA at a constant concentration of TPP was found to be proportional to the monomer concentration and the square root of the initiator concentration. The rate of polymerization and the degree of polymerization of both St and MMA increased with increasing TPP concentration. The accelerating effect was shown to be due to the decrease of the termination rate constant k_t with an increase in the viscosity of the polymerization systems. The chain transfer constant C_tr of TPP in St and MMA systems was determined from the degree of polymerization system. The C_tr of TPP was almost zero in the St system and 6.5 × 10^?5 in the MMA system.     

New azo-peroxidic initiators in the radical polymerization of styrene and methyl methacrylate

Two new azo-perester compounds, di-tert-butyl-6,6′-azobis-(6-cyanoperoxyheptanoate) (6,6-di-tBu) and di-tert-amyl-6,6′-azobis-(6-cyanoperoxyheptanoate) (6,6-di-tAm), synthesized on the basis of 6,6′-azobis-(6-cyanoheptanoic acid) (ACHpA), were investigated for their use in the radical polymerization of styrene (S) and methyl methacrylate (MMA). Their characteristics are given, including chemical (IR spectra), thermal (DSC) and kinetic, i.e., thermal decomposition studied by volumetric and gas chromatographic methods. The rate constants and activation energies of the decomposition of both the azo and perester bonds were determined. The new azo-peresters were utilized to initiate the radical solution polymerizations of S and MMA at 60 °C. The kinetic parameters of the processes, i.e., polymerization rate and overall rate constant, were determined. Subsequently, the polymerization products were characterized by IR and DSC. It was found that the perester groups were present in the obtained polymers, and hence, the polymers are “active” for further polymerization.     

Cationic polymerization of styrene initiated by phosphorus oxychloride

Cationic polymerization of styrene (St) initiated by phosphorus oxychloride was carried out at 30° in dichloromethane and nitrobenzene. The rate of polymerization was proportional to (POCl₃) and (St)². The degree of polymerization of the polymer decreased with increasing conversion in the range beyond 30% and increased with increasing (St) although it was independent of (POCl₃) in both solvents. The rate and the degree of polymerization were enhanced with increasing dielectric constant of the mixed solvent composed of C₆H₅NO₂, CH₂Cl₂, and benzene. Addition of water revealed a cocatalytic effect in both systems. The molecular weight distribution (MWD) of the polymer was studied.     

Effects of chlorophosphines on the radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate

The effect of chlorophosphines (phosphorus trichloride, dichlorophenylphosphine, chlorodiphenylphosphine) on the radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate was investigated in benzene solution. The polymerization was carried out at 50°C by the standard solution method, α,α′-azobisisobutyronitrile being used as an initiator. These chlorophosphines accelerated the polymerization of methyl methacrylate but did not affect the rate of decomposition of α,α′-azobisisobutyronitrile. Ultraviolet and infrared spectral data suggested that the acceleration effect was due to the complex formation of methyl methacrylate with each chlorophosphine. From the result of a copolymerization with styrene, it was found that the reactivity of methyl methacrylate monomer increased in the presence of dichlorophenylphosphine.     

Specifics of radical polymerization of styrene and methyl methacrylate in the presence of ruthenium carborane complexes

The specifics of the radical polymerization of styrene and methyl methacrylate in the presence of ruthenium closo- and exo-nido-carborane complexes with phosphine and diphosphine ligands were investigated. It was shown that, depending on a coinitiator, the polymerization proceeds through the atom transfer radical mechanism or the reverse atom transfer radical mechanism to high conversions without gelation to yield macromolecules with a low polydispersity. The influence of the ligand environment, the oxidation state of ruthenium atoms in the carborane complexes, and the temperature conditions on the specific features of the polymer synthesis was established.     

Atom transfer radical polymerization of styrene and methyl methacrylate catalyzed by FeCl2/iminodiacetic acid

The atom transfer radical polymerization of styrene and methyl methacrylate with FeCl₂/iminodiacetic acid as the catalyst system in bulk was successfully implemented at 70 and 110 °C, respectively. The polymerization was controlled: the molecular weight of the resultant polymer was close to the calculated value, and the molecular weight distribution was relatively narrow (weight‐average molecular weight/number‐average molecular weight ∼ 1.5). Block copolymers of polystyrene‐b‐poly(methyl methacrylate) and poly(methyl methacrylate)‐b‐poly(methyl acrylate) were successfully synthesized, confirming the living nature of the polymerization. A small amount of water added to the reaction system increased the reaction rate and did not affect the living nature of the polymerization system. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 4308–4314, 2000     

Monomer-containing manganese complexes in polymerization of methyl methacrylate and styrene

Polymerization of methyl methacrylate and styrene in the presence of manganese cyclopentadienyl carbonyl-olefin complexes, with styrene and methyl methacrylate as olefins, was studied. The molecular-weight distribution of the polymers obtained was examined.     

Effects of initiators and photo-acid generators on nitroxide-mediated photo-living radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate

The effects of the structure of initiators and photo-acid generators on the nitroxide-mediated photo-living radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate were explored. The bulk polymerization was performed at room temperature using nine different initiators in the presence of (4-tert-butylphenyl)diphenylsulfonium triflate as the photo-acid generator. 2,2′-Azobisisobutyronitrile, 2,2′-azobis(2,4-dimethylvaleronitrile), dimethyl 2,2′-azobis(2-methylpropionate), and 2,2′-azobis(N-butyl-2-methylpropionamide) produced the polymers with a molecular weight distribution (MWD) around 1.6, while the racemic- and meso-(2RS,2′RS)-azobis(4-methoxy-2,4-dimethylvaleronitrile) provided a 1.4 MWD. 2,2′-Azobis(2-methylbutyronitrile), 1,1′-azobis(cyclohexane-1-carbonitrile), and 1-(cyano-1-methylethoxy)-4-methoxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine produced a broad MWD over 4.0. The structure of the photo-acid generator also had an influence on the molecular weight control. The photo-acid generator of sulfonium salts supporting the alkyl, methoxy, phenoxy, methylthio, and tert-butoxycarbonylmethoxy groups, coupled with halogens with the exception of the iodide had no effect on the MWD. On the other hand, the salts containing the iodide, phenylthio, and naphthyl groups produced polymers with broad MWDs and with uncontrolled high molecular weights.     

Effect of temperature and solvent on polymer tacticity in the free‐radical polymerization of styrene and methyl methacrylate

The effect of temperature and solvent on polymer tacticity in free‐radical polymerization of styrene and methyl methacrylate was studied by ¹³C and ¹H NMR, respectively. Polystyrene shows a mild syndiotactic tendency (P_m = 0.36 ± 0.02) that is independent of temperature over a wide range (?10 to 120 °C), while poly(methyl methacrylate) shows a stronger syndiotactic tendency (P_m = 0.17 ± 0.01 at 30 °C) that decreases as temperature is increased (P_m = 0.22 ± 0.02 at 80 °C). None of the polymerization solvents studied (bulk, THF, DMF, DMSO, acetonitrile, and acetone) had a significant effect on polymer tacticity in either system. The triad fractions of both polymers showed deviations from the Bernoulli model, implying that the antepenultimate unit affects the propagation reaction. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2013 , 51, 3351–3358     

Effects of polysulfides on the polymerization of methyl methacrylate

The effect of organic sulfur compounds on the radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate initiated by azobisisobutyronitrile at 50°C. has been studied. The sulfur compounds used were benzene-type polysulfides (C₆H₅CH₂? S_n? CH₂C₆H₅; n = 0–4), benzyl mercaptan, and sulfur (S₈). All sulfur compounds studied, except dibenzyl, dibenzyl monosulfide, and dibenzyl disulfide, were found to behave as retarders under these experimental conditions. Chain-transfer constants of these compounds were determined from rate measurements and from the conventional method based on numberaverage degree of polymerization. Chain-transfer constants of benzyl-type polysulfides were less than those of mercaptan and sulfur and increased with increasing sulfur. The correlation of the reactivities of sulfur compounds as transfer agents and their molecular structures is discussed.     

Nitroxide-mediated photo-living radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate in solution

The photoradical polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) was performed in an acetonitrile solution at room temperature using (2RS,2′RS)-azobis(4-methoxy-2,4-dimethylvaleronitrile) as the initiator, 4-methoxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl as the mediator, and (4-tert-butylphenyl)diphenylsulfonium triflate as the photo-acid generator. This solution polymerization showed a non-steady-state during the very early stage followed by a steady-state. The polymerization produced oligomers with several thousand molecular weights at a very low conversion under the non-steady-state. It was confirmed that the polymerization proceeded in accordance with a living mechanism under the steady-state based on the linear correlations for both the first-order time-conversion plots and the conversion–molecular weight plots. The molecular weight distributions of the polymers obtained in the steady-state were approximately 1.8. The block copolymerization with isopropyl methacrylate ( ⁱ PMA) demonstrated that the growing polymer chain ends of the MMA prepolymer were stabilized even at a high conversion and efficiently initiated the ⁱ PMA polymerization.     

New efficient boron-containing initiators of methyl methacrylate radical polymerization

An efficient method for methyl methacrylate radical polymerization by tri-n-propyl-, triisopropyl-, and triisobutylborane ammonia complexes, including the addition of a boron-containing initiating agent into the monomer in air, was developed. An advantage of this method is that the reaction occurs at room temperature, requires no peroxide components, and leads to polymers with enhanced thermal stability.__________Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 10, pp. 2120–2125, October, 2004.     

Atom transfer radical polymerization of methyl acrylate,methyl methacrylate and styrene in the presence of trolamine as a highly effective promoter

Transition metal-mediated atom transfer radical polymerization(ATRP) is a ‘‘living'/controlled radical polymerization. Recently, there has been widely increasing interest in reducing the high costs of catalyst separation and post-polymerization purification in ATRP. In this work, trolamine was found to significantly enhance the catalytical performance of Cu Br/N,N,N0,N0-tetrakis(2-pyridylmethyl) ethylenediamine(Cu Br/TPEN) and Cu Br/tris[2-(dimethylamino) ethylamine](Cu Br/Me6TREN). With the addition of 25-fold molar amount of trolamine relative to Cu Br, the catalyst loadings of Cu Br/TPEN and Cu Br/Me6 TREN were dramatically reduced from a catalyst-to-initiator ratio of 1 to 0.01 and 0.05,respectively. The polymerizations of methyl acrylate, methyl methacrylate and styrene still showed first-order kinetics in the presence of trolamine and produced poly(methyl acrylate), poly(methyl methacrylate) and polystyrene with molecular weights close to theoretical values and low polydispersities. These results indicate that trolamine is a highly effective and versatile promoter for ATRP and is promising for potential industrial application.     

Synthesis of styrene/methyl methacrylate copolymers by atom transfer radical polymerization: 2D NMR investigations

Copolymers of styrene and methyl methacrylate were synthesized by atom transfer radical polymerization using methyl 2‐bromopropionate as initiator and CuBr/N,N,N′,N′,N″‐pentamethyldiethylenetriamine as catalyst. Molecular weight distributions were determined by gel permeation chromatography. The composition of the copolymer was determined by ¹H NMR. The comonomer reactivity ratios, determined by both Kelen–Tudos and nonlinear error‐in‐variables methods, were r_S = 0.64 ± 0.08, r_M = 0.63 ± 0.08 and r_S = 0.66, r_M = 0.65, respectively. The α‐methyl and carbonyl carbon resonances were found to be compositionally and configurationally sensitive. Complete spectral assignments of the ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectra of the copolymers were done by distortionless enhancement by polarization transfer and two‐dimensional NMR techniques such as heteronuclear single quantum coherence and heteronuclear multiple quantum coherence. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 2076–2085, 2006     

Effect of azoinitiators on nitroxide-mediated photo-living radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate

In order to clarify the initiator factor dominating the molecular weight distribution of the resulting polymer, the nitroxide-mediated photo-living radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate was performed using eight different kinds of azoinitiators: i.e., 2,2′-azobisisobutyronitrile, 2,2′-azobis(2-methylbutyronitrile), 2,2′-azobis(2,4-dimethylvaleronitrile), 1,1′-azobis(cyclohexane-1-carbonitrile), racemic-(2RS,2′RS)-azobis(4-methoxy-2,4-dimethylvaleronitrile), meso-(2RS,2′SR)-azobis(4-methoxy-2,4-dimethylvaleronitrile), dimethyl 2,2′-azobis(2-methylpropionate), and 2,2′-azobis(N-butyl-2-methylpropionamide). The bulk polymerization was carried out at room temperature for 3 h using 4-methoxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl (MTEMPO) as the mediator in the presence of bis(alkylphenyl)iodonium hexafluorophosphate as the photo-acid generator. All the initiators provided a molecular weight distribution below 1.7 for the MTEMPO/initiator ratio of 2, although at the ratio of unity, about half of the initiators produced the molecular weight distribution around 2.3–3.4. The UV analysis revealed that the initiators having a higher ε value tended to more strictly control the molecular weight and provide a higher initiator efficiency. The half-lives of the initiators had little effect on the molecular weight control and initiator efficiency.     

Calorimetric investigation of polymerization reactions. I. Diffusion-controlled polymerization of methyl methacrylate and styrene

The rate of bulk polymerization of methyl methacrylate and styrene was determined directly, continuously and over the whole range of conversion with a differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) operated isothermally. At the later stages of the accelerated polymerization of methyl methacrylate, a previously unknown inflection or peak in the rate of polymerization was observed. The variation of the rate after the onset of the gel effect, including this peculiar inflection, was interpreted on the basis of the diffusion behavior of monomer molecules and polymeric radicals in the polymer–monomer system, their diffusion rates being predicted from the free volume theory. The final conversion at which no further polymerization proceeds was determined for both monomers. It was affirmed quantitatively that the final conversion has a close relation with the transition of the polymer–monomer system from a viscous liquid to a glassy state.