Ring opening during the cationic polymerization of 2-methylene-1,3-dioxepane: Cyclic ketene acetal initiation with sulfuric acid supported on carbon

The stable cyclic ketene acetal, 2-methylene-1,3-dioxepane, 7, has been polymerized cationically in pentane, CH₂Cl₂ and THF at 25°C to form a polymer which is composed of both ring-opened (40–50%) and ring-retained (50–60%) structures. Initiation was catalyzed by using H₂SO₄-supported on activated carbon black. This unique outcome differs significantly from the cationic polymerization of several other five- and six-membered ring cyclic ketene acetals which gave 100% 1,2-vinylpolymerization under these conditions. As the polymerization temperature increased in cationic polymerization of 7 the ring-opened content increased and the molecular weight of the polymers decreased in such solvents as cyclohexane, 1,2-dichloroethane, dimethoxyethane, and bis-(2-methoxyethyl) ether. The mechanism of this polymerization is discussed. This research also illustrated the ability to initiate the cationic polymerization of cyclic ketene acetals by acidified carbon black while avoiding subsequent polymer decomposition. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Stable polymers from cyclic ketene acetals: Cationic polymerization initiated by acid-washed glassware or acid-washed glass beads

Stable polymers were made by the cationic 1,2-polymerization of cyclic ketene acetals initiated by acid-washed glassware or acid-washed glass beads. Among several reactions possible for the very reactive cyclic ketene acetals, only the corresponding acetals of polyketene were formed. These structures were demonstrated by FTIR, ¹H-NMR, and ¹³C-NMR analyses. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Relative reactivities of cyclic ketene acetals via cationic 1,2-vinyl addition copolymerization1

The relationship between the relative reactivities of ten cyclic ketene acetals and their structures was determined via cationic copolymerizations of eight different monomer pairs. Thus, 2-methylene-1,3-dioxolane (1) was copolymerized with 2-methylene-4-methyl-1,3-dioxolane (2), 2-methylene-4,5-dimethyl-1,3-dioxolane (3), 2-methylene-4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-1,3-dioxolane (4), 2-methylene-4-phenyl-1,3-dioxolane (5), and 2-methylene-4-(t-butyl)-1,3-dioxolane (6). Also 2-methylene-1,3-dioxane (7) was copolymerized with 2-methylene-4-methyl-1,3-dioxane (8), 2-methylene-4,4,6-trimethyl-1,3-dioxane (9), and 2-methylene-4-isopropyl-5,5-dimethyl-1,3-dioxane (10). The relative reactivities of these monomers are: 3 > 5 > 4 > 2 > 1 > 6; and 10 > 9 > 8 > 7. In spite of steric demands, substituents at the 4- or 5-positions in 2-methylene-1,3-dioxolane and substituents at the 4- or 6-positions in 2-methylene-1,3-dioxane serve to increase the copolymerization reactivity. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 2841–2852, 1999     

Cationic polymerization of cyclic ketene acetals via zwitterion formation with cyanoallene

This article deals with the polymerization of the cyclic ketene acetals (CKAs) 2‐methylene‐4‐phenyl‐1,3‐dioxolane (2), 2‐methylene‐4‐phenyl‐1,3‐dioxane (3), 4,7‐dimethyl‐2‐methylene‐1,3‐dioxepane (4), 2‐ethylidene‐4‐phenyl‐1,3‐dioxolane (5), 2‐phenylmethylene‐1,3‐dioxolane (6), and 2‐isopropylidene‐4‐phenyl‐1,3‐dioxolane (7) in the presence of cyanoallene (1). For 2 and 3, the homopolymerization of the CKAs proceeded without ring opening, and the number‐average molecular weights of the obtained polymers depended on the feed ratio of 1. However, the reactions of 1 with 4–7 afforded no polymers but did afford spirocyclic 1 : 1 adducts possessing cyclobutane rings. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 2075–2081, 2000     

Cationic 1,2-vinyl addition polymerization of cyclic ketene acetals initiated by conventional acids

Pure 1,2-addition polymers, poly(2-methylene-1,3-dioxolane), 1b , poly(2-methylene-1,3-dioxane), 2b , and poly(2-methylene-5,5-dimethyl-1,3-dioxane), 3b , were prepared using the cationic initiators H₂SO₄, TiCl₄, BF₃, and also Ru(PPh₃)₃Cl₂. Small ester carbonyl bands in the IR spectra of 1b and 2b were observed when the polymerizations were performed at 80°C ( 1b ) and both 67 and 138°C ( 2b ) using Ru(PPh₃)₃Cl₂. The poly(cyclic ketene acetals) were stable if they were not exposed to acid and water. They were quite thermally stable and did not decompose until 290°C ( 1b ), 240°C ( 2b ), and 294°C ( 3b ). Different chemical shifts for axial and equatorial H and CH₃ on the ketal rings were found in the ¹H NMR spectrum of 3b at room temperature. High molecular weight 3b (M̄_n = 8.68 × 10⁴, M̄_w = 1.31 × 10⁵, M̄_z = 1.57 × 10⁵) was obtained upon cationic initiation by H₂SO₄. Poly(2-methylene-1,3-dioxane), 2b , underwent partial hydrolysis when Ru(PPh₃)₃Cl₂ and water were present in the polymer. The hydrolyzed products were 1,3-propanediol and a polymer containing both poly(2-methylene-1,3-dioxane) and polyketene units. The percentages of these two units in the hydrolyzed polymer were about 32% polyketene and 68% poly(2-methylene-1,3-dioxane). No crosslinked or aromatic structures were observed in the hydrolyzed products. The molecular weight of hydrolyzed polymer was M̄_n = 5740, M̄_w = 7260, and M̄_z = 9060. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 35: 3707–3716, 1997     

Cationic ring-opening polymerizations of cyclic ketene acetals initiated by acids at high temperatures

Three unsubstituted cyclic ketene acetals (CKAs), 2-methylene-1,3-dioxolane, 1a , 2-methylene-1,3-dioxane, 2a , and 2-methylene-1,3-dioxepane, 3a , undergo exclusive 1,2-addition polymerization at low temperatures, and only poly(CKAs) are obtained. At higher temperatures, ring-opening polymerization (ROP) can be dominant, and polymers with a mixture of ester units and cyclic ketal units are obtained. When the temperature is raised closer to the ceiling temperature (T_c) of the 1,2-addition propagation reaction, 1,2-addition polymerization becomes reversible and ring-opened units are introduced to the polymer. The ceiling temperature of 1,2-addition polymerization varies with the ring size of the CKAs (lowest for 3a , highest for 2a ). At temperatures below 138°C, 2-methylene-1,3-dioxane, 2a , underwent 1,2-addition polymerization. Insoluble poly(2-methylene-1,3-dioxane) 100% 1,2-addition was obtained. At above 150°C, a soluble polymer was obtained containing a mixture of ring-opened ester units and 1,2-addition cyclic ketal units. 2-Methylene-1,3-dioxolane, 1a , polymerized only by the 1,2-addition route at temperatures below 30°C. At 67–80°C, an insoluble polymer was obtained, which contained mostly 1,2-addition units but small amounts of ester units were detected. At 133°C, a soluble polymer was obtained containing a substantial fraction of ring-opened ester units together with 1,2-addition cyclic ketal units. 2-Methylene-1,3-dioxepane, 3a , underwent partial ROP even at 20°C to give a soluble polymer containing ring-opened ester units and 1,2-addition cyclic ketal units. At −20°C, 3a gave an insoluble polymer with 1,2-addition units exclusively. Several catalysts were able to initiate the ROP of 1a, 2a , and 3a , including RuCl₂(PPh₃)₃, BF₃, TiCl₄, H₂SO₄, H₂SO₄ supported on carbon, (CH₃)₂CHCOOH, and CH₃COOH. The initiation by Lewis acids or protonic acids probably occurs through an initial protonation. The propagation step of the ROP proceeds via an S_N2 mechanism. The chain transfer and termination rates become faster at high temperatures, and this may be the primary reason for the low molecular weights (M_n ≤ 10³) observed for all ring-opening polymers. The effects of temperature, monomer and initiator concentration, water content, and polymerization time on the polymer structure have been investigated during the Ru(PPh₃)₃Cl₂-initiated polymerization of 2a . High monomer concentrations ([M]/[ln]) increase the molecular weight and decreased the amount of ring-opening. Higher initiator concentrations (Ru(PPh₃)₃Cl₂) and longer reaction times increase molecular weight in high temperature reactions. Successful copolymerization of 2a with hexamethylcyclotrisiloxane was initiated by BF₃OEt₂. The copolymer obtained displayed a broad molecular weight distribution; M̄_n = 6,490, M̄_w = 15,100, M̄_z = 44,900. This polymer had about 47 mol % of ( Me₂SiO ) units, 35 mol % of ring-opened units, and 18 mol % 1,2-addition units of 2a . © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 35: 3655–3671, 1997     

Cationic copolymerization of cyclic ketene acetals: The effect of substituents on reactivity

Cationic copolymerizations of 4-methyl-2-methylene-1,3-dioxane, 2 (M₁), with 2-methylene-1,3-dioxane, 1 (M₂); of 4,4,6-trimethyl-2-methylene-1,3-dioxane, 3 (M₁), with 2-methylene-1,3-dioxane, 1 (M₂); of 4-methyl-2-methylene-1,3-dioxolane, 5 (M₁), with 2-methylene-1,3-dioxolane, 4 (M₂); and of 4,5-dimethyl-2-methylene-1,3-dioxolane, 6 (M₁), with 2-methylene-1,3-dioxolane, 4 (M₂) were conducted. The reactivity ratios for these four types of copolymerizations were r₁ = 1.73 and r₂ = 0.846; r₁ = 2.26 and r₂ = 0.310; r₁ = 1.28 and r₂ = 0.825; r₁ = 2.23 and r₂ = 0.515, respectively. The relative reactivities of these monomers towards cationic polymerization are: 3 > 2 > 1; and 6 > 5 > 4. With both five- and six-membered ring cyclic ketene acetals, the reactivity increased with increasing methyl substitution on the ring. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 36: 861–871, 1998     

Redox initiated cationic polymerization: The unique behavior of alkyl glycidyl ethers

Redox systems composed of a diaryliodonium or a triarylsulfonium salt together with a silane bearing Si? H groups were used for the in situ generation of strong Brønsted acids at room temperature in the presence of alkyl glycidyl ether monomers. Secondary oxiranium intermediates are generated with lifetimes from minutes to hours at room temperature. These systems undergo rapid, exothermic cationic chain polymerization when the temperature is raised. Metastable monomer‐redox initiator systems were also observed to undergo frontal polymerizations when a localized heat source is applied to the sample. The application of these delayed cationic ring‐opening polymerization systems for the development of one‐component structural adhesives that undergo rapid thermosetting at low temperatures are discussed. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011     

Living cationic polymerization of isobutyl vinyl ether by the carboxyl group of the carbon black/zinc chloride initiating system

The effect of zinc chloride (ZnCl₂) on the cationic polymerization of isobutyl vinyl ether (IBVE) initiated by carboxyl groups on a carbon black surface was investigated. Although the polymerization of IBVE was initiated by carboxyl groups on the surface, the rate of polymerization was small and the molecular weight distribution (MWD) of poly IBVE was very broad. The rate of the polymerization was found to be drastically increased, and 100% monomer conversion was achieved in a short time by the addition of ZnCl₂. The number-average molecular weights (M_n) of the polyIBVE were directly proportional to monomer conversion in the polymerization initiated by the carbon black/ZnCl₂ system. By addition of the monomer at the end of the first-stage polymerization, the added monomer was smoothly polymerized at the same rate as in the first stage. The M_n of the polymer was in excellent agreement with the calculated value, assuming the polyIBVE chain forms per unit carboxyl group on the surface and MWD was narrow (M_w/M_n = 1.2 ～ 1.3). Based on the results, it is concluded that carbon black/ZnCl₂ system has an ability to initiate the living cationic polymerization of IBVE. Furthermore, it was found that polyIBVE was grafted onto the carbon black surface after the quenching of the living polymer with methanol. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

The use of platinum and rhodium catalysts for the preparation and cationic ring-opening polymerization of silicon-containing epoxides

Regioselective platinum and rhodium catalysts were employed for the preparation of novel silicon-containing polyethers. First, silicon-containing monomers bearing cycloaliphatic epoxy groups were prepared by a rhodium-catalyzed regioselective hydrosilation. Then these monomers were polymerized using a platinum-catalyzed, cationic, ring-opening polymerization to give the linear polyethers. The obtained polyethers were compared with polymers prepared by photoinitiated cationic ring-opening polymerization using onium salt photoinitiators and found to be identical. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Continuous precipitation polymerization of acrylic acid in supercritical carbon dioxide: The polymerization rate and the polymer molecular weight

The precipitation polymerization of acrylic acid in supercritical carbon dioxide was studied in a continuous stirred tank reactor with 2,2′‐azobis(2,4‐dimethylvaleronitrile) as the free‐radical initiator. The reactor temperature was between 50 and 90 °C, the pressure was 207 bar, and the average residence time was between 12 and 40 min. The product polymer was a white, dry, fine powder that dissolved in water. A wide range of polymer molecular weights (5–200 kg/mol) was obtained. The effects of the operating variables on the polymerization rate and on the polymer molecular weight were evaluated. The observed kinetics suggested that polymerization took place in both the supercritical fluid and the precipitated polymer particles. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 2546–2555, 2005     

Living cationic polymerization of vinyl ethers with carboxylic acid/tin tetrahalide initiating systems. I. New initiating systems based on acetic acid and selection of Lewis acid and basic additive leading to living polymers with low polydispersity

Cationic polymerization of isobutyl vinyl ether (IBVE) with acetic acid (CH₃COOH)/tin tetrahalide (SnX₄: X = Cl, Br, I) initiating systems in toluene solvent at 0°C was investigated, and the reaction conditions for living polymerization of IBVE with the new initiating systems were established. Among these tin tetrahalides, SnBr₄ was found to be the most suitable Lewis acid to obtain living poly(IBVE) with a narrow molecular weight distribution (MWD). The polymerization with the CH₃COOH/SnBr₄ system, however, was accompanied with the formation of a small amount of another polymer fraction of very broad MWD, probably due to the occurrence of an uncontrolled initiation by SnBr₄ coupled with protonic impurity. Addition of 1,4-dioxane (1–1.25 vol %) or 2,6-di-tert-butylpyridine (0.1–0.6mM) to the polymerization mixture completely eliminated the uncontrolled polymer to give only the living polymer with very narrow MWD (M _w/M _n ≤ 1.1; M _w, weight-average molecular weight; M _n, number-average molecular weight). The M _n of the polymers increased in direct proportion to monomer conversion, continued to increase upon sequential addition of a fresh monomer feed, and was in good agreement with the calculated values assuming that one CH₃COOH molecule formed one polymer chain. Along with these results, kinetic study and direct ¹H-NMR observation of the living polymerization indicated that CH₃COOH and SnBr₄ act as so-called “initiator” and “activator”, respectively, and the living polymerization proceeds via an activation of the acetate dormant species. The basic additives such as 1,4-dioxane and 2,6-di-tert-butylpyridine would serve mainly as a “suppressor” of the uncontrolled initiation by SnBr₄. The polymers produced after quenching the living polymerization with methanol possessed the acetate dormant terminal and they induced living polymerization of IBVE in conjunction with SnBr₄ in the presence of 1,4-dioxane. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 36: 3173–3185, 1998     

Stereoregulation in cationic polymerization. III. High isospecificity with the bulky phosphoric acid [(RO)2PO2H]/SnCl4 initiating systems: Design of counteranions via initiators

In the cationic polymerization of isobutyl vinyl ether (IBVE) with binary initiating systems consisting of a protonic acid as an initiator and a Lewis acid as an activator/catalyst, phosphoric acid derivatives [(RO)₂POOH] coupled with SnCl₄ gave highly isotactic poly(IBVE)s, whereas those with a bulky substituent (R), [C₄H₉CH(C₂H₅)CH₂O]₂POOH ( 7 ) and (n‐C₁₀H₂₁)₂POOH ( 8 ), led to the highest isotacticity [meso dyad (m) = 86%]. In contrast, isospecificity was lower with IBVE–HCl and CF₃COOH under the same conditions. From the effects of the polymerization temperature (−78 to 0 °C), it was concluded that the high isospecificity with 7 and 8 was due to an enthalpic factor. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 39: 1067–1074, 2001     

Application of carbon arc‐generated Mo‐ and W‐based catalyst systems to the ROMP of norbornene

This study focuses on the application of the carbon arc‐generated molybdenum‐ and tungsten‐based catalyst systems, MoCl₅? C and WCl₆? C, to effect ring‐opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) of bicyclo[2.2.1]hept‐2‐ene (norbornene). The results are compared with those previously obtained by the electrochemically generated MoCl₅? ē? Al? CH₂Cl₂ and WCl₆? ē? Al? CH₂Cl₂ systems. The polymer products are characterized using ¹H and ¹³C NMR, gel permeation chromatography, differential scanning calorimetry and thermo gravimetric analysis. According to NMR spectra analyses, the molybdenum‐based catalyst system produced polynorbornene with ca 48% cis structure whereas tungsten system produced ca 56% cis structure polynorbornene and in both cases the polynorbornene had a blocky distribution. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.