Propagation rate coefficients of isobornyl acrylate,tert‐butyl acrylate and 1‐ethoxyethyl acrylate: A high frequency PLP‐SEC study

Pulsed laser polymerization (PLP) coupled to size exclusion chromatography (SEC) is considered to be the most accurate and reliable technique for the determination of absolute propagation rate coefficients, k_p. Herein, k_p data as a function of temperature were determined via PLP‐SEC for three acrylate monomers that are of particular synthetic interest (e.g., for the generation of amphiphilic block copolymers). The high‐T_g monomer isobornyl acrylate (iBoA) as well as the precursor monomers for the synthesis of hydrophilic poly(acrylic acid), tert‐butyl acrylate (tBuA), and 1‐ethoxyethyl acrylate (EEA) were investigated with respect to their propagation rate coefficient in a wide temperature range. By application of a 500 Hz laser repetition rate, data could be obtained up to a temperature of 80 °C. To arrive at absolute values for k_p, the Mark‐Houwink parameters of the polymers have been determined via on‐line light scattering and viscosimetry measurements. These read: K = 5.00 × 10⁵ dL g⁻¹, a = 0.75 (piBoA), K = 19.7 × 10⁵ dL g⁻¹, a = 0.66 (ptBA) and K = 1.53 × 10⁵ dL g⁻¹, a = 0.85 (pEEA). The bulky iBoA monomer shows the lowest propagation rate coefficient among the three monomers, while EEA is the fastest. The activation energies and Arrhenius factors read: (iBoA): log(A/L mol⁻¹ s⁻¹) = 7.05 and E_A = 17.0 kJ mol⁻¹; (tBuA): log(A/L mol⁻¹ s⁻¹) = 7.28 and E_A = 17.5 kJ mol⁻¹ and (EEA): log(A/L mol⁻¹ s⁻¹) = 6.80 and E_A = 13.8 kJ mol⁻¹. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 6641–6654, 2009     

Kilohertz Pulsed‐Laser‐Polymerization: Simultaneous Determination of Backbiting,Secondary, and Tertiary Radical Propagation Rate Coefficients for tert‐Butyl Acrylate

For the first time, a 1000 Hz pulse laser has been applied to determine detailed kinetic rate coefficients from pulsed laser polymerization–size exclusion chromatography experiments. For the monomer tert‐butyl acrylate, apparent propagation rate coefficients k_p^app have been determined in the temperature range of 0–80 °C. k_p^app in the range of few hundreds to close to 50 000 L·mol^–1·s^–1 are determined for low and high pulse frequencies, respectively. The apparent propagation coefficients show a distinct pulse‐frequency dependency, which follows an S‐shape curve. From these curves, rate coefficients for secondary radial propagation (k_p^SPR), backbiting (k_bb), midchain radical propagation (k_p^tert), and the (residual) effective propagation rate (k_p^eff) can be deduced via a herein proposed simple Predici fitting procedure. For k_p^SPR, the activation energy is determined to be (17.9 ± 0.6) kJ·mol^–1 in excellent agreement with literature data. For k_bb, an activation energy of (25.9 ± 2.2) kJ·mol^–1 is deduced.

     

Kinetic study of the ligand substitution on the trimethylplatinum(iv) complexes with unidentate ligands

Ligand substitution kinetics for the reaction [Pt^IVMe₃(X)(NN)]+NaY=[Pt^IVMe₃(Y)(NN)]+NaX, where NN=bipy or phen, X=MeO⁻, CH₃COO⁻, or HCOO⁻, and Y=SCN⁻ or N₃⁻, has been studied in methanol at various temperatures. The kinetic parameters for the reaction are as follows. The reaction of [PtMe₃(OMe)(phen)] with NaSCN: k₁=36.1±10.0 s⁻¹; ΔH₁^≠=65.9±14.2 kJ mol⁻¹; ΔS₁^≠=6±47 J mol⁻¹ K⁻¹; k₋₂=0.0355±0.0034 s⁻¹; ΔH₋₂^≠=63.8±1.1 kJ mol⁻¹; ΔS₋₂^≠=−58.8±3.6 J mol⁻¹ K⁻¹; and k₋₁/k₂=148±19. The reaction of [PtMe₃(OAc)(bipy)] with NaN₃: k₁=26.2±0.1 s⁻¹; ΔH₁^≠=60.5±6.6 kJ mol⁻¹; ΔS₁^≠=−14±22 J mol⁻¹K⁻¹; k₋₂=0.134±0.081 s⁻¹; ΔH₋₂^≠=74.1±24.3 kJ mol⁻¹; ΔS₋₂^≠=−10±82 J mol⁻¹K⁻¹; and k₋₁/k₂=0.479±0.012. The reaction of [PtMe₃(OAc)(bipy)] with NaSCN: k₁=26.4±0.3 s⁻¹; ΔH₁^≠=59.6±6.7 kJ mol⁻¹; ΔS₁^≠=−17±23 J mol⁻¹K⁻¹; k₋₂=0.174±0.200 s⁻¹; ΔH₋₂^≠=62.7±10.3 kJ mol⁻¹; ΔS₋₂^≠=−48±35 J mol⁻¹K⁻¹; and k₋₁/k₂=1.01±0.08. The reaction of [PtMe₃(OOCH)(bipy)] with NaN₃: k₁=36.8±0.3 s⁻¹; ΔH₁^≠=66.4±4.7 kJ mol⁻¹; ΔS₁^≠=7±16 J mol⁻¹K⁻¹; k₋₂=0.164±0.076 s⁻¹; ΔH₋₂^≠=47.0±18.1 kJ mol⁻¹; ΔS₋₂^≠=−101±61 J mol⁻¹ K⁻¹; and k₋₁/k₂=5.90±0.18. The reaction of [PtMe₃(OOCH)(bipy)] with NaSCN: k₁ =33.5±0.2 s⁻¹; ΔH₁^≠=58.0±0.4 kJ mol⁻¹; ΔS₁^≠=−20.5±1.6 J mol⁻¹ K⁻¹; k₋₂=0.222±0.083 s⁻¹; ΔH₋₂^≠=54.9±6.3 kJ mol⁻¹; ΔS₋₂^≠=−73.0±21.3 J mol⁻¹ K⁻¹; and k₋₁/k₂=12.0±0.3. Conditional pseudo-first-order rate constant k₀ increased linearly with the concentration of NaY, while it decreased drastically with the concentration of NaX. Some plausible mechanisms were examined, and the following mechanism was proposed. [Note to reader: Please see article pdf to view this scheme.] © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 30: 523–532, 1998     

The kinetics and mechanisms of gas phase elimination of primary,secondary, and tertiary 2‐hydroxyalkylbenzenes

2‐Phenylethanol, racemic 1‐phenyl‐2‐propanol, and 2‐methyl‐1‐phenyl‐2‐propanol have been pyrolyzed in a static system over the temperature range 449.3–490.6°C and pressure range 65–198 torr. The decomposition reactions of these alcohols in seasoned vessels are homogeneous, unimolecular, and follow a first‐order rate law. The Arrhenius equations for the overall decomposition and partial rates of products formation were found as follows: for 2‐phenylethanol, overall rate log k₁(s⁻¹)=12.43−228.1 kJ mol⁻¹ (2.303 RT)⁻¹, toluene formation log k₁(s⁻¹)=12.97−249.2 kJ mol⁻¹ (2.303 RT)⁻¹, styrene formation log k₁(s⁻¹)=12.40−229.2 kJ mol⁻¹(2.303 RT)⁻¹, ethylbenzene formation log k₁(s⁻¹)=12.96−253.2 kJ mol⁻¹(2.303 RT)⁻¹; for 1‐phenyl‐2‐propanol, overall rate log k₁(s⁻¹)=13.03−233.5 kJ mol⁻¹(2.303 RT)⁻¹, toluene formation log k₁(s⁻¹)=13.04−240.1 kJ mol⁻¹(2.303 RT)⁻¹, unsaturated hydrocarbons+indene formation log k₁(s⁻¹)=12.19−224.3 kJ mol⁻¹(2.303 RT)⁻¹; for 2‐methyl‐1‐phenyl‐2‐propanol, overall rate log k₁(s⁻¹)=12.68−222.1 kJ mol⁻¹(2.303 RT)⁻¹, toluene formation log k₁(s⁻¹)=12.65−222.9 kJ mol⁻¹(2.303 RT)⁻¹, phenylpropenes formation log k₁(s⁻¹)=12.27−226.2 kJ mol⁻¹(2.303 RT)⁻¹. The overall decomposition rates of the 2‐hydroxyalkylbenzenes show a small but significant increase from primary to tertiary alcohol reactant. Two competitive eliminations are shown by each of the substrates: the dehydration process tends to decrease in relative importance from the primary to the tertiary alcohol substrate, while toluene formation increases. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 31: 401–407, 1999     

Propagation Kinetics of Isoprene Radical Homopolymerization Derived from Pulsed Laser Initiated Polymerizations

The propagation kinetics of isoprene radical polymerizations in bulk and in solution are investigated via pulsed laser initiated polymerizations and subsequent polymer analyses via size‐exclusion chromatography, the PLP‐SEC method. Because of low polymerization rate and high volatility of isoprene, the polymerizations are carried out at elevated pressure ranging from 134 to 1320 bar. The temperatures are varied between 55 and 105 °C. PLP‐SEC yields activation parameters of k_p (Arrhenius parameters and activation volume) over a wide temperature and pressure range that allow for the calculation of k_p at technically relevant ambient pressure conditions. The k_p values determined are very low, e.g., 99 L mol^?1 s^?1 at 50 °C, which is even lower than the corresponding value for styrene polymerizations. The presence of a polar solvent results in a slight increase of k_p compared to the bulk system. The k_p values reported are important for determining rate coefficients of other elemental reactions from coupled parameters as well as for modeling isoprene free‐radical polymerizations and reversible deactivation radical polymerization with respect to tailored polymer properties and optimizing the polymerization processes.     

Theoretical and experimental studies of the diketene system: Product branching decomposition rate constants and energetics of isomers

The kinetics and mechanism for the thermal decomposition of diketene have been studied in the temperature range 510–603 K using highly diluted mixtures with Ar as a diluent. The concentrations of diketene, ketene, and CO₂ were measured by FTIR spectrometry using calibrated standard mixtures. Two reaction channels were identified. The rate constants for the formation of ketene (k₁) and CO₂ (k₂) have been determined and compared with the values predicted by the Rice–Ramsperger–Kassel–Marcus (RRKM) theory for the branching reaction. The first-order rate constants, k₁ (s⁻¹) = 10^{15.74 ± 0.72} exp(−49.29 (kcal mol⁻¹) (±1.84)/RT) and k₂ (s⁻¹) = 10^{14.65 ± 0.87} exp(−49.01 (kcal mol⁻¹) (±2.22)/RT); the bulk of experimental data agree well with predicted results. The heats of formation of ketene, diketene, cyclobuta-1,3-dione, and cyclobuta-1,2-dione at 298 K computed from the G2M scheme are −11.1, −45.3, −43.6, and −40.3 kcal mol⁻¹, respectively. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 39: 580–590, 2007     

Ag(I)‐Catalyzed Chlorination of Linezolid during Water Treatment: Kinetics and Mechanism

The kinetic and mechanistic study of Ag(I)‐catalyzed chlorination of linezolid (LNZ) by free available chlorine (FAC) was investigated at environmentally relevant pH 4.0–9.0. Apparent second‐order rate constants decreased with an increase in pH of the reaction mixture. The apparent second‐order rate constant for uncatalyzed reaction, e.g., k″_app = 8.15 dm³ mol⁻¹ s⁻¹ at pH 4.0 and k″_app. = 0.076 dm³ mol⁻¹ s⁻¹ at pH 9.0 and 25 ± 0.2°C and for Ag(I) catalyzed reaction total apparent second‐order rate constant, e.g., k″_app = 51.50 dm³ mol⁻¹ s⁻¹ at pH 4.0 and k″_app. = 1.03 dm³ mol⁻¹ s⁻¹ at pH 9.0 and 25 ± 0.2°C. The Ag(I) catalyst accelerates the reaction of LNZ with FAC by 10‐fold. A mechanism involving electrophilic halogenation has been proposed based on the kinetic data and LC/ESI/MS spectra. The influence of temperature on the rate of reaction was studied; the rate constants were found to increase with an increase in temperature. The thermodynamic activation parameters E_a, ΔH^#, ΔS^#, and ΔG^# were evaluated for the reaction and discussed. The influence of catalyst, initially added product, dielectric constant, and ionic strength on the rate of reaction was also investigated. The monochlorinated substituted product along with degraded one was formed by the reaction of LNZ with FAC.     

Polymerization of neat 2‐ethylhexyl acrylate induced by a pulsed electron beam

The bulk polymerization of 2‐ethylhexyl acrylate (2‐EHA), induced by a pulsed electron beam, was investigated with pulse radiolysis, gravimetry, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The roles of the dose rate, pulse frequency, and added acrylic acid (AA) in the polymerization of 2‐EHA were examined at ambient temperature. In the range of 12.6–71.2 Gy/pulse, the polymerization of 2‐EHA was dose‐rate‐dependent: at the same total dose, a lower dose rate yielded a higher conversion. Also, a lower pulse rate gave a higher conversion at the same total dose. The addition of up to 10 wt % AA showed no increase in the conversion of 2‐EHA at a low conversion (8 kGy), but at a higher conversion (16 kGy), a 20 wt % increase in the conversion of 2‐EHA was observed. The estimated values (1.6 ± 0.3) × 10^?3 (dm³ s)^3/2 mol^?1 s^?1/2 for k_p(G/2k_t)^1/2 and 2.6 ± 0.8 dm³ s J^?1 for 2k_tG (where k_p is the rate constant of propagation, k_t is the rate constant of bimolecular termination, and G is the yield of free radicals) were obtained at relatively low conversions. The reaction rate constant of the addition of 2‐EHA^· free radicals to the monomer was measured by pulse radiolysis and found to be 2.8 × 10² mol^?1 dm³ s^?1. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 196–203, 2003     

Synthesis and kinetics of polymerization of hydrophilic monomers: 2,3-dihydroxypropylacrylate and 2,3-dihydroxypropylmethacrylate

Unsaturated monomers containing none, one, or two hydroxyl groups were obtained by the reaction of glycerol (1,2,3-trihydroxypropane) with acrylic and methacrylic chloride. The experimental values of the mole fractions of the different monomers were compared with those theoretically obtained by considering different mechanisms involving two or seven kinetic constants. Agreement between the theoretical and experimental results could only be achieved by assuming that the reactivity of the hydroxyl groups changed with the presence of the substituents. The investigation of the radical polymerizations 2,3-dihydroxypropylacrylate (GA) and 2,3-dihydroxypro- pylmethacrylate (GM) was carried out at several temperatures in water–dioxane solutions. Ultraviolet spectroscopic techniques were used to determine the kinetic constants, and the results were compared with those obtained in the same conditions for methyl acrylate, methyl methacrylate, 2-hydroxyethylacrylate, and 2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate. The values of the ratio k_p/k_t^1/2 for the methacrylic monomer GM were higher than 0.5 L^1/2 mol^−1/2 s^−1/2 at temperatures between 50 and 65 °C. These values exceeded 2 L^1/2 mol^−1/2 s^−1/2 for the acrylic monomer GA, perhaps the highest values reported for this kind of monomer. Electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy was also used to study the polymerization of GM. All the polymers were soluble in the reaction mixture until very high conversions, and the gel effect was never detected at monomer concentrations equal to or lower than 1 mol L⁻¹. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 39: 1843–1853, 2001     

Influence of the stereochemical configuration on the radical polymerization of methacrylic monomers: cis‐ and trans‐(2‐cyclohexyl‐1,3‐dioxan‐5‐yl) methacrylate

The synthesis of two new isomeric monomers, cis‐(2‐cyclohexyl‐1,3‐dioxan‐5‐yl) methacrylate (CCDM) and trans‐(2‐cyclohexyl‐1,3‐dioxan‐5‐yl) methacrylate (TCDM), starting from the reaction of glycerol and cyclohexanecarbaldehyde, is reported. The process involved the preparation of different alcohol acetals and esterification with methacryloyl chloride of the corresponding cis and trans 5‐hydroxy compounds of 2‐cyclohexyl‐1,3‐dioxane. The radical polymerization reactions of both monomers, under the same conditions of temperature, solvent, monomer, and initiator concentrations, were studied to investigate the influence of the monomer configuration on the values of the propagation and termination rate constants (k_p and k_t ).The values of the ratio k_p /k_t ^1/2 were determined by UV spectroscopy by the measurement of the changes of absorbance with time at several wavelengths in the range 275–285 nm, where an appropriate change in absorbance was observed. Reliable values of the kinetics constants were determined by UV spectroscopy, showing a very good reproducibility of the kinetic experiments. The values of k_p /k_t ^1/2, in the temperature interval 45–65 °C, lay in the range 0.40–0.50 L^1/2/mol^1/2s^1/2 and 0.20–0.30 L^1/2/mol^1/2s^1/2 for CCDM and TCDM, respectively. Measurements of both the radical concentrations and the absolute rate constants k_p and k_t were also carried out with electron paramagnetic resonance techniques. The values of k_p at 60 °C were nearly identical for both the trans and cis monomers, but the termination rate constant of the trans monomer was about three times that of the cis monomer at the same temperature. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 3883–3891, 2000     

Thioketone‐Mediated Polymerization of Butyl Acrylate: Controlling Free‐Radical Polymerization via a Dormant Radical Species

It is demonstrated by experiment and simulation that the commercially available thioketone 4,4‐bis(dimethylamino)thiobenzophenone is capable of controlling AIBN‐initiated bulk butyl acrylate polymerization at 80 °C. On the basis of molecular weight data and from monomer conversion versus time curves, the associated rate parameters are estimated. The addition rate coefficient, k_ad, for the reaction of a propagating chain with the thioketone is close to 10⁶ L · mol⁻¹ · s⁻¹ and the fragmentation rate coefficient, k_frag, is around 10⁻² s⁻¹ giving rise to large equilibrium constants in the order of 10⁸ L · mol⁻¹. Furthermore, cross‐ and self‐termination of the dormant radical species are identified to be operational.

     

Synthesis and kinetics of polymerization of acrylic and methacrylic monomers containing 1,3-dioxane groups in their structure

(5-Ethyl-1,3-dioxane-5-yl) methyl acrylate (HEDA) and (5-ethyl-1,3-dioxane-5-yl)methyl methacrylate (HEDMA) were synthesized by reaction between acryloyl and methacryloyl chloride with 5-ethyl, 5-hydroxymethyl, 1,3-dioxane. The kinetics of the polymerization of both are studied at different temperatures in benzene solution. Dilatometric techniques and nonlinear least-squares methods were used to obtain the kinetic data and to determine the kinetic constants, respectively. The values of k_p/k^1/2_t for the acrylic and methacrylic monomers are higher than those corresponding to methyl acrylate and methyl methacrylate, respectively. Important changes in k_p/k^1/2_t with temperature occur in the polymerization of HEDA, and the corresponding Arrhenius plot gives an activation energy of 5.6 kcal mol⁻¹. On the contrary, only slight changes with temperature are observed in this ratio for HEDMA and the activation energy associated with the polymerization reaction is ca. 1.7 kcal mol⁻¹. The stereo-structure of both polymers was determined by ¹³C-NMR spectroscopy and the molar fractions of tactic dyads, triads (and in the case of the methacrylic polymer also pentads) were determined from different resonance signals. Finally, the glass transition temperatures of both PHEDA and PHEDMA are 33 and 123°C, respectively. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 35: 1125–1132, 1997     

Pulsed laser polymerization study of the propagation kinetics of acrylamide in water

Pulsed laser polymerization was used in conjunction with aqueous‐phase size exclusion chromatography with multi‐angle laser light scattering detection to determine the propagation rate coefficient (k_p) for the water‐soluble monomer acrylamide. The influence of the monomer concentration was investigated from 0.3 to 2.8 M, and k_p decreased with increasing monomer concentration. These data and data for acrylic acid in water were consistent with this decrease being caused by the depletion of the monomer concentration by dimer formation in water. Two photoinitiators, uranyl nitrate and 2,2′‐azobis(2‐amidinopropane) (V‐50), were used; k_p was dependent on their concentrations. The concentration dependence of k_p was ascribed to a combination of solvent effects arising from association (thermodynamic effects) and changes in the free energy of activation (effects of the solvent on the structure of the reactant and transition state). Arrhenius parameters for k_p (M^?1 s^?1) = 10^7.2 exp(?13.4 kJ mol^?1/RT) and k_p (M^?1 s^?1) = 10^7.1 exp(?12.9 kJ mol^?1/RT) were obtained for 0.002 M uranyl nitrate and V‐50, respectively, with a monomer concentration of 0.32 M. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 1357–1368, 2005     

Living Anionic Polymerization of N-Methacryloyl-2-methylaziridine

Anionic polymerization of N-methacryloyl-2-methylaziridine ( 1 ) proceeded with 1,1-diphenyl-3-methylpentyllithium (DMPLi) in the presence of LiCl or Et₂Zn to give the polymers possessing predicted molecular weights and narrow molecular weight distributions (M_w/M_n < 1.1) at −78 ∼ −40 °C in THF. In each polymerization initiated with DMPLi/LiCl at the various temperatures ranging from −40 to −60 °C, the linear relationship between polymerization time and conversion of monomer was obtained from the GLC analysis. The rate constant and the activation energy of the anionic polymerization for 1 were determined as follows: ln k = −5.85 × 10³/T + 23.3 L mol⁻¹ s⁻¹ and 49 ± 4 kJ mol⁻¹, respectively. Poly( 1 ) showed the glass transition temperature at 98 °C, and gave the insoluble product at higher temperature around 150 °C through the thermal cross-linking of highly strained N-acyl-aziridine moiety.     

Role of Mononuclear Rare Earth Metal Complexes in Promoting the Hydrolysis of 2-Hydroxypropyl p-Nitrophenyl Phosphate

Two long-chain multidentate ligands： 2,9-di-（n-2＇,5＇,8＇-triazanonyl）-1,10-phenanthroline （L^1） and 2,9-di- （n-4＇,7＇,10＇-triazaundecyl）-1,10-phenanthroline （L^2） were synthesized. The hydrolytic kinetics of 2-hydroxypropyl p-nitrophenyl phosphate （HPNP） catalyzed by the complexes of L^1 or L^2 with La（Ⅲ） or Gd（Ⅲ） have been studied in aqueous solution at （298.2±0.1） K, I=0.10 mol·dm^-3 KNO3 in pH 7.5-9.1, respectively, finding that the catalytic effect of GdL^1 was the best among the four complexes for hydrolysis of HPNP. Its kLnLH-1, kLnLand pKa are 0.047 mol^-1·L·s^-1, 0.000074 mol^-1·L·s^-1 and 8.90, respectively. This paper expounded the studied result with the structure of the ligands and the properties of the metal ions, and deduced the catalysis mechanism.     

Kinetic study of the reactions Br + IBr→I + Br2 and I + Br2→Br + IBr

The kinetics of the title reactions have been studied using the discharge-flow mass spectrometic method at 296 K and 1 torr of helium. The rate constant obtained for the forward reaction Br+IBr→I+Br₂ (1), using three different experimental approaches (kinetics of Br consumption in excess of IBr, IBr consumption in excess of Br, and I formation), is: k₁=(2.7±0.4)×10⁻¹¹ cm³ molecule⁻¹s⁻¹. The rate constant of the reverse reaction: I+Br₂→Br+IBr (−1) has been obtained from the Br₂ consumption rate (with an excess of I atoms) and the IBr formation rate: k₋₁=(1.65±0.2)×10⁻¹³ cm³molecule⁻¹s⁻¹. The equilibrium constant for the reactions (1,−1), resulting from these direct determinations of k₁ and k₋₁ and, also, from the measurements of the equilibrium concentrations of Br, IBr, I, and Br₂, is: K₁=k₁/k₋₁=161.2±19.7. These data have been used to determine the enthalpy of reaction (1), ΔH₂₉₈°=−(3.6±0.1) kcal mol⁻¹ and the heat of formation of the IBr molecule, ΔH_f,298°(IBr)=(9.8±0.1) kcal mol⁻¹. © 1998 John Wiley & sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 30: 933–940, 1998     

Dark‐cure studies of cationic photopolymerizations of epoxides: Characterization of the active center lifetime and kinetic rate constants

We have characterized the effective rate constants for termination/trapping (k_t/t) and propagation (k_p) for solvent‐free cationic photopolymerizations of phenyl glycidyl ether for conversions up to 50%. We have performed dark‐cure experiments in which active centers are produced photochemically for a specified period of time until the initiating light is shuttered off, and then the polymerization rate is monitored in the dark. This method is especially well suited for characterizing cationic polymerizations because of the long active center lifetimes. Our analysis provides profiles of the instantaneous kinetic rate constants as functions of conversion (or time). For photopolymerizations of phenyl glycidyl ether initiated with iodonium photoinitiators, k_t/t and k_p remain essentially invariant for conversions up to 50%. For the photoinitiator (tolycumyl) iodonium tetrakis (pentafluorophenyl) borate (IPB), the values of k_t/t at 50 and 60 °C are 0.027 and 0.033 min^?1, respectively. The corresponding values of k_t/t for diaryliodonium hexafluoroantimonate (IHA) are 0.041 and 0.068 min^?1. The values of k_p at 50 °C for IPB and IHA are 0.6 and 0.4 L mol^?1 s^?1, respectively. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 2064–2072, 2003     

Easy Access to Chain‐Length‐Dependent Termination Rate Coefficients Using RAFT Polymerization

Chain‐length‐dependent termination rate coefficients of the bulk free‐radical polymerization of styrene at 80 °C are determined by combining online polymerization rate measurements (DSC) with living RAFT polymerizations. Full k_t versus chain‐length plots were obtained indicating a high k_t value for short chains (2 × 10⁹ L · mol⁻¹ · s⁻¹) and a weak chain‐length dependence between 10 and 100 monomer units, quantified by an exponent of −0.14 in the corresponding power law 〈k_t^i,i〉 = k_t⁰ · P^−b.

Double logarithmic plots of 〈k_t^i,i〉 versus P, evaluated from experimental time‐resolved R_p data according to the procedure described in the text, for different CPDA and AIBN concentrations. The best linear fit for (10 < P < 100) is indicated as full line.     

Criteria for living systems with a special emphasis on living cationic polymerization of alkenes

A number of new living systems have been reported in recent years. Classic anionic polymerization of nonpolar monomers allows the synthesis of well-defined high molecular weight polymers (DP > 1000), block copolymers, chains with perfect terminal functionalities and behaves as a true living system. Some new systems abuse the term “living polymerization.” A relatively modest criterion for living systems is proposed “3 X 10,000,” i.e., k_p/k_t > 10⁴ mol^-1 L, k_p/k_tr > 10⁴, 1/k_t/tr > 10⁴ s (translated to < 10% of chains deactivated at t ≈ 1000 s), which is related to a typical limit of the polymeric chain dimensions (DP ≈ 100) and standard synthetic manipulations (≈ 15 min). New living cationic systems are discussed in detail with special emphasis on exchange phenomena. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.