Polymerization of vinylcyclopropanes. III. Cationic polymerization of stereoisomers of 1-halo-2-vinylcyclopropanes

Vinylcyclopropane derivatives, 1-chloro- and 1-bromo-2-vinylcyclopropane, have respectively two stereoisomers, and radical polymerizations of both isomers gave 1,5-type polymers. On the other hand, only the cis isomers gave a polymer which had mainly 1,2-type structural units in cationic polymerizations with Lewis acids. The difference between the cationic polymerizabilities of the cis and trans isomers is interpreted in terms of steric conformation of monomers.     

Polymerization of vinylcyclopropanes. IV. Radical copolymerization of 1,1-dichloro-2-vinylcyclopropane with maleic anhydride

Radical copolymerization between 1,1-dichloro-2-vinylcyclopropane (M₁) and maleic anhydride (M₂) was studied. Rearrangement of the radical caused from monomer M₁ and cyclization of growing chain, which was suggested from a consideration of composition and structure of the obtained copolymer, complicate the propagation step in this system. A peculiar copolymer composition equation containing four reactivity ratio parameters was developed, and these parameters were determined.     

Polymerization of vinylcyclopropanes. V. Radical copolymerization of 1, 1-dichloro-2-vinylcyclopropane with monosubstituted ethylenes

A peculiar copolymer composition equation applicable to the radical copolymerization of 1,1-dichloro-2-vinylcyclopropane with monosubstituted ethylenes was developed. The theory was applied to such ethylenes as methyl acrylate, methyl methacrylate, and styrene. The reactivity ratio parameters which give the best fit to the experimental data were determined.     

Polymerization rates by calorimetry. II

By means of isothermal kinetic calorimetry, an automatic instantaneous record of polymerization rate can be obtained, independent of conversion. A large improvement in resolving kinetic events is thereby realized. Certain abrupt changes in rate due to electrolyte level have been observed.     

Polymerization of oriented monomers. II. Polymerization of 4-vinylpyridine perchlorate in micellar aggregates

Polymerization of 4-vinylpyridinium perchlorate (I) is studied under isotropic and anisotropic conditions. Anisotropy or orientation of I may be achieved by micelle formation in concentrated aqueous or acid solutions, i.e., above the monomer's critical micelle concentration (CMC). Some properties of the isotropically and anisotropically obtained polymers are comparatively studied with the emphasis placed on the elucidation of their structure by ¹³C-NMR spectroscopy. By the same spectroscopic technique the microstructure of 1,2-polymer is further investigated in conjunction with the proposed polymerization model. It is concluded that polymer structure is affected by the organization of the monomers into micelles whereas their microstructure is not.     

Polymerization of t-butyl thiirane. II. Polymerization of enantiomerically enriched monomer. Mechanism of stereoelective process

The kinetics of enantiomerically enriched t-butyl thiirane was studied. The stereoelectivity and the kinetic behavior are not changed when a monomer of an initial enantiomeric composition lower than a defined limit value is used. When the enantiomeric composition is higher than this value, the stereoelectivity increases. In agreement with kinetic results, a mechanism is proposed involving, in a first step, the complexation of monomer on preexisting sites of the initiator with formation of highly selective chiral active species on which propagation occurs.     

Free-radical functionalisation of vinylcyclopropanes

Free-radical mediated cyclopropane ring opening of 2-silylbicyclo[3.1.0]hexane 1 has been carried out leading to the corresponding trisubstituted cyclopentenes 5 and 6 in good yield with complete 1,2-stereocontrol. [3+2]-Annulation has also been performed by trapping the resulting radical with electron-rich and electron-poor olefins, leading to the corresponding polycyclic compounds. Further studies on the functionalisation of dihydropyridines and pyrroles using this methodology is also described.     

Studies of silyl-accelerated 1,5-hydrogen migrations in vinylcyclopropanes.

Thermal 1,5-hydrogen (retro-ene) rearrangements of 1-silylmethylated 2-vinylcyclopropanes have been studied. cis-1-Silylmethyl-2-vinylcyclopropanes 17 and 19 undergo facile 1,5-hydrogen transposition upon mild thermolysis in benzene or toluene solution (80-110 degrees C) to give nearly quantitative yields of ring-opened 1-silyl-1,4-diene products. These reactions occur at temperatures at least 100 degrees C lower than those of the nonsilylated substrates. The silicon center and its ligands influence both the rate and stereoselectivity of diene formation, with the triphenylsilyl substrate providing the fastest reaction and highest (exclusive) stereoselectivity in forming the diene, regardless of the E/Z geometry of the vinylcyclopropane. The trimethylsilyl and triethoxysilyl compounds (19b and 19c) rearrange more slowly and with lower stereoselectivity. It is proposed that the rearrangement process takes place via a concerted suprafacial migration by one of two diastereotopic methylene hydrogens through a transition state having the silyl-carbon bond antiperiplanar to the breaking C-C bond of the cyclopropane ring. This conformational arrangement leads to weakening of the cyclopropane ring bond through orbital hyperconjugation, which facilitates the hydrogen transfer. The corresponding trans-1-silylmethyl-2-vinylcyclopropanes are thermally stable under these conditions. In contrast, cis-1-stannylmethyl-2-vinylcyclopropanes 19d,e undergo loss of the stannyl group at room temperature to afford a ring-opened 1,5-diene product 25 through a process that may take place by initial 1,5-stannyl migration.     

Cationic-Initiated Ring-Opening Polymerization of Cyclopropenone Ketals. II. Novel Polymers via Bromine as Polymerization Initiator

Cyclopropenone ketals are functionally capable of undergoing both vinyl and ring-opening polymerization. In a previous paper we reported ring-opening polymerization via boron trifluoride etherate initiation to yield a polymer of complicated structure. However, this previous study showed that conventional cationic initiators yield an exceptionally stable carbocation intermediate which is essentially incapable of further propagation. This paper reports the effective use of the unconventional cationic initiator, elemental bromine, to yield polymer, proposed to be formed by a sequence of steps which involve initial addition of bromine to the cyclopropene double bond, followed by electrophilic ring opening of the brominated cyclopropane ring and propagation via the carbocation intermediate formed. At least three different and simultaneous pathways are believed to be involved. The resulting polymers have [Mbar]_n values in the range of 10,000.     

Polymerization of aromatic aldehydes. II. Cationic cyclopolymerization of phthalaldehyde

Phthalaldehyde was found to undergo cyclopolymerization with ease by several cationic catalysts and by γ-ray irradiation. The polymer was composed entirely of the dioxyphthalan unit, as confirmed by infrared spectroscopy and ready decomposition to monomer. The enhanced polymerizability of phthalaldehyde as compared with other aromatic aldehydes was explained in terms of the intermediate-type or, preferably, concerted propagation scheme. The conversion reached a saturation value of 87% in about 1 hr in methylene chloride at ?78°C, indicating an equilibrium polymerization. The ceiling temperature of the polymerization was ?43°C, as estimated from the relation between the saturation yield and polymerization temperature. The enthalpy and entropy of propagation were ?5.3 kcal/mole and ?23.0 eu, respectively. Since the molecular weight of the polymer was proportional to conversion, the propagating chain end was considered to be “living” in this system. The rate constant for propagation was calculated to be 0.18 1/mole-sec in methylene chloride at ?78°C with BF₃OEt₂ catalyst.     

Thermal isomerizations of vinylcyclopropanes to cyclopentenes

The thermal isomerization of vinylcyclopropane to cyclopentene was discovered in 1960 and soon recognized as the simplest known example of a [1,3] sigmatropic shift. Experimental observations for the parent rearrangement and for isomerizations shown by substituted systems suggest that diradical transition structures are involved; recent theoretical treatments of the reaction find no minima corresponding to diradical intermediates. The common dichotomy opposing concerted versus diradical and thus necessarily stepwise mechanisms appears inappropriate. The reaction of vinylcyclopropane may involve four energetically concerted paths traversed by different conformational forms of nearly isoenergetic diradical species leading through four isometric diradical transition structures to cyclopentene. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Comput Chem 19: 222–231, 1998     

Reaction of vinylcyclopropanes with butyllithium

Vinylcyclopropanes III and IV gave mainly allyl anions I, II, and XIII respectively under strong metalating conditions. Cyclopropyllithiums V and XV were also formed unexpectedly in significant quantities and were further explored.     

Anionic polymerization of N-substituted maleimide. II. Polymerization of N-ethylmaleimide

Anionic polymerization of N-ethylmaleimide (N-EMI) was carried out with potassium t-butoxide, lithium t-butoxide, n-butyllithium, and ethylmagnesium bromide as initiators in THF and in toluene. An almost quantitative yield of poly(N-EMI) was obtained with potassium t-butoxide as initiator in THF in a wide range of polymerization temperatures. Initiators possessing lithium as counter cation produced poly(N-EMI) in slightly lower yields and ethylmagnesium bromide gave the polymer only in less than 35% yield in THF. As a polymerization reaction solvent, THF was preferable for the polymerization of N-EMI compared with toluene with respect to polymer yields. Poly(N-EMI) obtained with anionic initiators exerted unimodal molecular weight distribution. From ¹H- and ¹³C-NMR spectra of poly(N-EMI) anionic polymerization of N-EMI with potassium t-butoxide was revealed to proceed at carbon–carbon double bond. t-Butoxide system was found to have a “living” polymerization character, i.e., the observed average degree of polymerization was in good agreement with the one calculated from the initial molar ratio of N-EMI/initiator and the yield of polymer.     

Vinyl Polymerization by Metal Complexes. XV. Polymerization of Acrylonitrile Initiated by Imidazole-Copper(II) Complex

The polymerization of acrylonitrile initiated with the imidazole-copper (II) complexes was studied in dimethylsulfoxide solution. The ability of the complexes to initiate polymerization seems to depend on their anion. 2-Substituted imidazole-copper (II) complexes of the type, CuL₄X₂ (L = imidazole as ligand and X = anion), were also found to initiate vinyl polymerization. From the data of electronic spectra in dimethylsulfoxide solution, the initiation mechanism is discussed in terms of the formation of the active species by the interaction of the complex with monomer molecules.     

Polymerization of vinyl chloride in the presence of precipitants. II.

The kinetics of the radiation-induced polymerization of vinyl chloride in the presence of precipitants has been successfully described by a one-parameter equation as follows, where ?₀ is initial monomer volume fraction, X is conversion, t is time, and k is reaction constant. The equation was confirmed for extensive conditions of temperatures and monomer concentrations in the case of polymerization in methanol. The degree of polymerization was related with the reaction constant k, initial monomer volume fraction ?₀, monomer chain transfer constant C_m, conversion X, and the initiation rate I as follows, The factors which determine the value of the reaction constant k were elucidated through measurements of the reaction constant k and the degree of polymerization DP _n.     

Polymerization of hexamethylcyclotrisiloxane with a biscatecholsiliconate. II. Kinetics of polymerization

The kinetics of polymerization were investigated for the polymerization of hexamethylcyclotrisiloxane (D₃) in toluene with methanol or water as an initiator, benzyltrimethylammonium bis(o-phenylenedioxy)phenylsiliconate as a catalyst, and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) as a promoter. The rate of initiation was found to be comparable with both water and methanol. Addition of catechol drastically reduces the rate of initiation. The rate of propagation was found to be dependent upon the catalyst, DMSO, catechol and the aging of the catalyst solution. Two types of functional groups were postulated to be present during the propagation reaction, i.e., ?SiOH (dormant form) and ?SiONR₄ (living form). The former can be converted to the latter by R₄NOH derived from hydrolysis of catalyst. A postulated mechanism of polymerization with biscatecholsiliconate is presented.     

Polymerization of cyclic acetals. II. Synthesis of amphiphilic block copolymers

The sequential copolymerization of 1,3,6-trioxacyclooctane (TOC) and 1,3-dioxolane (DOL) (B) with various vinyl monomers (A) was investigated. Under appropriate conditions amphiphilic block copolymers of the type AB and ABA were formed. The reaction mixtures and the isolated polymers were analyzed by GPC (double detection—IR and UV at 254 nm), IR, ¹H-, and ¹³C-NMR spectroscopy. Block copolymers with chosen molecular weights and low polydispersity could be obtained only by sequential copolymerization of p-methoxystyrene on “living” TOC. In the polymerization of DOL with α-methylstyrene and i-butyl vinyl ether (IBVE) transfer reactions take place to a larger degree.     

Polymerization by oxidative coupling. II. Oxidation of 2,6-disubstituted phenols

Many 2,6-disubstituted phenols are readily oxidized with oxygen, a tertiary amine and a copper (I) salt being used as catalyst. The products are diphenoquinones (I) or 1,4-polyphenylene ethers (II): The effect of variation of the substituents on the phenol and the infrared spectra of the polymers is discussed. Amine complexes of copper salts are the only effective catalysts found for the polymer-forming reaction. The effect on the catalyst of varying the copper salt and the ligand is discussed.     

Polymerization of liposomes composed of diene-containing lipids by radical initiators. II. Polymerization of monodiene-type lipids as liposomes

1-Palmitoyl-2(2,4-octadecadienoyl)-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (POPC), a polymerizable lipid that contains one diene group in only a 2-acyl chain, was polymerized as liposome in an aqueous medium. Polymerization was initiated by water-insoluble azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN), or water-soluble azobis(2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride (AAPD). AIBN was mixed with monomeric lipids, and the mixture was dispersed in an aqueous medium by sonication to prepare AIBN-containing monomeric lipid liposomes. On the other hand, AAPD was simply added to the liposome suspension. The POPC liposomes were easily polymerized by the addition of AAPD, a water-soluble radical initiator, but few were polymerized by AIBN. The results suggested that the diene group in the 2-acyl chain was in an aqueous phase and, therefore, easily polymerized by a water-soluble radical initiator. The polymerized POPC liposomes were revealed to be more stable than those of monomeric ones because the scattered-light intensity from the polymerized POPC liposome suspension changed a little by the addition of Triton X-100. For only the polymerized ones, the liposome structure was confirmed by TEM after addition of an excess amount of Triton X-100.