Living Polymerization of 1-Trimethylsilyl-1-propyne and 4-Methyl-2-pentyne by NbCl5-Based Catalysts

Sequential homopolymerization of disubstituted acetylenes 1-trimethylsilyl-1-propyne and 4-methyl-2-pentyne by NbCl₅–Ph₃SiH was investigated and the main evidence of living polymerization, namely, continuation of chain propagation after addition of a new portion of monomer was observed. AB and BA type block copolymers of 1-trimethylsilyl-1-propyne and 4-methyl-2-pentyne were synthesized by sequential polymerization of these monomers in presence of NbCl₅–based catalytic systems.     

Living polymerization of 4-methyl-2-pentyne and 1-trimethylsilyl-1-propyne initiated by NbCl5-Ph4Sn catalyst

The polymerization of 4-methyl-2-pentyne and 1-trimethylsilyl-1-propyne initiated by catalytic systems based on niobium pentachloride and Et₃SiH, Bu₄Sn, Ph₄Sn, and Ph₃SiH as cocatalysts has been investigated. Direct evidence for the living polymerization of 4-methyl-2-pentyne and 1-trimethylsilyl-1-propyne with the NbCl₅-Ph₄Sn catalytic system is derived. These are the linear molecular mass dependence on conversion and the continuation of chain propagation after introduction of a new monomer portion.     

Phase equilibrium and rheology of poly(1-trimethylsilyl-1-propyne) solutions

The phase equilibrium and rheological properties of poly(1-trimethylsilyl-1-propyne) solutions obtained with tantalum catalysts are studied. For three polymers with different molecular masses, phase diagrams are determined in a number of solvents. From these diagrams, the Hansen solubility parameters of poly(1-trimethylsilyl-1-propyne) are calculated by the method proposed in this work. Dilute solutions of poly(1-trimethylsilyl-1-propyne) behave as Newtonian liquids, whereas the viscosity of viscoelastic concentrated systems decreases as the shear rate grows. The molecular and rheological characteristics of studied poly(1-trimethylsilyl-1-propyne) samples are compared with the samples prepared with NbCl₅ catalysts. Poly(1-trimethylsilyl-1-propyne) obtained with a catalytic system involving tantalum pentachloride is characterized by high intrinsic viscosity and solution viscosity compared to poly(1-trimethylsilyl-1-propyne) prepared with niobium catalyst. The difference in properties is due to the dissimilar ratios of cis and trans units in the samples.     

Chemical modification of poly(vinyltrimethylsilane) and poly(1-trimethylsilyl-1-propyne) using highly reactive metallating systems

Poly(vinyltrimethylsilane) and poly(1-trimethylsilyl-1-propyne) are metallated using normal and secondary butyllithium chelate complexes with tetramethylethylenediamine and superbases based on complexes of normal and secondary butyllithium with potassium tert-pentoxide as metallating agents. Optimal conditions ensuring metallation of poly(vinyltrimethylsilane) and poly(1-trimethylsilyl-1-propyne) with a high yield without degradation of macrochains are determined. Poly(vinyltrimethylsilane) and poly(1-trimethylsilyl-1-propyne) are functionalized via reactions of metallated polymers with CO₂, trimethylsilyl chlorosulfone, diethyl disulfide, and ethylene oxide. COOH, SO₃H, OH, and thioester groups are introduced into poly(vinyltrimethylsilane), and SO₃H and COOH groups are incorporated into poly(1-trimethylsilyl-1-propyne). Upon introduction of carboxyl groups into poly(vinyltrimethylsilane), its hydrophilicity and permselectivity with respect to H₂O/N₂, H₂O/H₂, and H₂O/CH₄ pairs increase. The introduction of SO₃H groups into poly(1-trimethylsilyl-1-propyne) and poly(vinyltrimethylsilane) leads to the appearance of proton conductivity of these polymers.     

Synthesis and properties of homo- and copolymers of trifluoropropyldimethylsilyl-1-propyne with trimethylsilyl-1-propyne

Homopolymerization of 1-(3,3,3-trifluoropropyldimethylsilyl)-1-propyne is investigated in the presence of catalysts based on tantalum (V) chloride and niobium (V) pentachloride with various cocatalysts. As a result of homopolymerization, an insoluble polymer is formed. It is established that the insolubility of the homopolymer is connected with the presence in the polymer of “pseudocrystalline” regions playing the role of physical links. Copolymerization of 1(3,3,3-trifluoropropyldimethylsilyl)-1-propyne and trimethylsilyl-1-propyne under the action of the TaCl₅-Ph₃Bi system is studied. The relative activity constants of monomers, whose ratio points to the formation tendency of copolymers enriched with trimethylsilyl-1-propyne at the early stages of polymerization, are estimated. It is shown that the structures and solubilities of the obtained copolymers depend on their compositions. Gas-transport and hydrophobic-hydrophilic properties for soluble samples are studied. Soluble copolymers have good film-forming properties, improved hydrophobicity, stability against hydrocarbons, and high levels of gas permeability: properties that make them promising materials for the separation of various liquids and gaseous water-organic media.     

Macrochain configuration, stucture of free volume and transport properties of poly(1-trimethylsilyl-1-propyne) and poly(1-trimethylgermyl-1-propyne)

The relationship between poly(1-trimethylsilyl-1-propyne) (PTMSP) and poly(1-trimethylgermyl-1-propyne) (PTMGP) microstructure, gas permeability and structure of free volume is reported. n-Butane/methane mixed-gas permeation properties of PTMSP and PTMGP membranes with different cis-/trans-composition have been investigated. The n-butane/methane selectivities for mixed gas are by an order higher than the selectivities calculated from pure gas measurements (the mixed-gas n-butane/methane selectivities are 20?C40 for PTMSP and 22?C35 for PTMGP). Gas permeability and n-butane/methane selectivity essentially differ in polymers with different cis-/trans-composition. Positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy investigation of PTMSP and PTMGP with different microstructure has determined distinctions in total amount and structure of free volume, i.e. distribution of free volume elements. The correlation between total amount of free volume and gas transport parameters is established: PTMSP and PTMGP with bigger free volume exhibit higher n-butane permeability and mixed-gas n-butane/methane selectivity. Such behavior is discussed in relation to the submolecular structure of polymers with different microstructure and sorption of n-butane in polymers with different free volume.     

Synthesis and gas permeation properties of poly(4-methyl-2-pentyne)

Poly(4-methyl-2-pentyne) [PMP] is an amorphous, glassy, di-substituted acetylene-based polymer. PMP has a low density of 0.78 g/cm³ and a high fractional free volume of 0.28. The permeabilities for helium, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide, methane, ethane, propane, and n-butane were determined at temperatures from 20 to 65°C and pressures from 10 to 150 psig. PMP is the most permeable purely hydrocarbon-based polymer known; its permeabilities are only exceeded by poly(1-trimethylsilyl-1-propyne) [PTMSP] and poly(1-trimethylgermyl-1-propyne) [PTMGeP]. The oxygen permeability of PMP at 25°C is 2700 × 10⁻¹⁰ cm³(STP) cm/cm² s cmHg and the nitrogen permeability is 1330 × 10⁻¹⁰ cm³(STP) cm/cm² s cmHg. The high gas permeabilities in PMP result from its very high free volume, and probably, interconnectivity of the free-volume-elements. For a glassy polymer, PMP exhibits unusual organic vapor permeation properties. Permeabilities in PMP are higher for large, condensable gases, such as n-butane, than for small, permanent gases such as helium. The permeabilities of condensable gases and permanent gases decrease as the temperature is increased. This behavior is completely unexpected for a glassy polymer and has been observed previously in only high-free-volume glassy PTMSP.     

Separation of hydrocarbon and sulfur-containing gases on a new poly-(1-trimethylsilyl-1-propyne)/poly-(1-phenyl-1-propyne) mixed stationary phase in the presence of water

The separation of hydrocarbons (methane, ethane, propane, n-butane, ethylene, and propylene) and sulfur-containing gases (hydrogen disulfide, sulfur dioxide, carbonyl sulfide) on a new mixed stationary phase poly-(1-trimethylsilyl-1-propyne)/poly-(1-phenyl-1-propyne) in the presence of water has been studied by gas chromatography. It has been demonstrated that the new mixed stationary phase outperforms the known polymeric adsorbents and stationary phases by resolution, asymmetry factor, and column efficiency.     

Chromatographic and adsorption properties of the mixed stationary phase poly(1-trimethylsilyl-1-propyne)/poly(1-phenyl-1-propyne)

Adsorption and chromatographic properties of the mixed stationary phase poly-(1-trimethylsilyl-1-propyne)/poly(1-phenyl-1-propyne) (PTMSP/PPP) composed as 97: 3 by weight have been investigated by methods of low-temperature nitrogen adsorption and gas chromatography on packed columns. The resultant phase has uniform mesoporous structure. The chromatographic properties of the mixed phase are significantly different from the properties of the original porous polymers PTMSP and PPP. The adsorbent obtained by modifying Chromosorb P NAW with a mixture of polymers provides the selective separation of chlorosubstituted, saturated, and aromatic hydrocarbons.     

Chromatographic properties and polarity evaluation of poly(1-trimethylsilyl-1-propyne) and poly(1-phenyl-1-propyne)

The chromatographic properties of poly(1-trimethylsilyl-1-propyne) (PTMSP) and poly(1-phenyl-1-propyne) (PPP) were studied by gas chromatography using packed columns. The selectivity and efficiency of columns packed with PTMSP and PPP were compared to the data obtained for columns with other known adsorbents and stationary phases. The McReynolds and Rohrschneider constants, on the basis of which the polarity of the new phases was evaluated, were calculated. The results of the investigation of chromatographic properties allow PTMSP to be brought in line with the polymeric adsorbents Porapak Q, Porapak QS, and Chromosorb 106, while PPP, with the methyphenylsilicon phases SE-52 and OV-3.     

An electrooptical method for studying the mean length of stereoblocks in poly(1-trimethylsilyl-1-propynes) and poly(1-trimethylgermyl-1-propynes)

It was shown that equilibrium electrooptical properties (the Kerr effect) in solutions of disubstituted polyacetylenes poly(1-trimethylsilyl-1-propyne) and poly(1-trimethylgermyl-1-propyne) are related to the dipole structure of these polymers that is associated with the partial spiralization of their chains. A method of estimating the length of monomer unit sequences occurring in the same spatial configuration (stereoblocks) was developed. This method is based on the experimental measurement of the specific Kerr constant of disubstituted polyacetylenes. The sizes of stereoblocks in polymer chains that were synthesized with the use of various catalysts and that differ in the mean ratio of trans: cis C=C bonds, as estimated by the electrooptical method, were compared with the X-ray diffraction data on the same film polymers. There was good agreement between the results obtained by both methods.     

Gas permeability and stability of poly(1-trimethylsilyl-1-propyne-co-1-phenyl-1-propyne) membranes

A significant reduction in the gas permeability of the poly(1-trimethylsilyl-1-propyne) (PMSP) membrane was investigated in terms of the membrane thickness and the storage environment. The effects of physical aging were observed with thinner membranes and under vacuum conditions compared with storage in air. The decrease in the permeability coefficient was dependent on the decrease in the hole saturation constant of Langmuir adsorption (C'_H), which is related to the volume of the microvoids. Physical aging in the PMSP membrane affected not only the glassy domain but also the rubbery one. To stabilize the permeability of the PMSP membrane, a poly(1-trimethylsilyl-1-propyne-co-1-phenyl-1-propyne) [poly(TMSP-co-PP)] membrane was prepared. Poly(TMSP-co-PP) has the same unit of poly(1-phenyl-1-propyne), which membrane has stable permeability. The poly(TMSP-co-PP) with less than 20 mol % PP content was estimated to be a random copolymer based on theoretical gas permeation analysis. In the poly(TMSP-co-PP) membrane, the relation between the PP content and C'_H was similar to the relation between the PP content and the gas permeability. The stability of the permeability was dependent on the PP content. The poly(TMSP-co-PP) membrane containing 10 mol % PP had both high permeability and good stability under some of the aging conditions performed in this work. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Extraction of butanol from aqueous solutions by pervaporation through poly(1-trimethylsilyl-1-propyne)

Poly(1-trimethylsilyl-1-propyne) (PTMSP) was synthesized using a TaCl₅–Al(i-Bu)₃ catalysis system. Pervaporation and sorption of n-butanol–water mixtures were studied, and the peculiarities of water and butanol co-permeation are discussed. The strong dependence of water partial flux (with a minimum at 1 wt.% butanol in feed) on butanol concentration in feed was observed. S-shaped isotherms of butanol and total sorption were found for PTMSP in 0–1 wt.% concentration range. It appears that blocking of PTMSP nanopores by high sorbing organic molecules controls the pervaporation of butanol from dilute aqueous solutions. Data are discussed in regard with PTMSP morphology.     

Gas permeation properties of blend and copolymer membranes composed of 1-trimethylsilyl-1-propyne and 1-phenyl-1-propyne structures

The poly(1-trimethylsilyl-1-propyne) (PMSP) has the potential to be an important membrane gas separation material due to the fact that it has the highest gas permeability of all polymeric membranes. One problem with PMSP is a decrease in the gas permeability with age. In order to understand the aging processes, we studied the change in free volume and the molecular motions of the PMSP and its membranes modified with 1-phenyl-1-propyne (PP) structures; that is, a copolymer and a blend of PMSP and PPP. During aging, the unrelaxed volume of the PMSP membrane was relaxed, and the molecular motion of carbons dropped, suggesting that the decrease in the microvoids caused a tighter chain packing. The copolymer and blend membrane had stable permeability compared to the PMSP. In particular, the addition of a small amount of the PP structure provided excellent stability with high gas permeability. A decrease in the unrelaxed volume of modified membranes was hardly observed with age; however, the molecular motion of some carbons slightly changed. This change did not affect the gas permeability. In this case, a larger unrelaxed volume was probably a dominant factor in the gas permeation of the PMSP rich membranes relative to the molecular motion in the T₁ measurement. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Rheological properties of poly(1-trimethylsilyl-1-propyne) solutions

The phase state and rheological properties of poly(1-trimethylsilyl-1-propyne) solutions in toluene and cyclohexane are studied. Samples of poly(1-trimethylsilyl-1-propyne) have the same backbone structure (cis-trans configuration ratio) but different molecular masses. Phase diagrams of these systems are derived via optical interferometry. It is found that they have an upper critical mixing temperature (UCMT) whose value exceeds the boiling points of the individual solvents. The two solvents exhibit limited solubility with respect to the studied polymer, and this parameter decreases with an increase in the molecular mass of the polymer. In the transition from dilute to concentrated solutions, the pattern of the rheological behavior changes from Newtonian to pseudoplastic. The concentration dependences of the zero-shear-rate viscosity of the solutions are typical for flexible-chain polymers. The viscous behavior of the poly(1-trimethylsilyl-1-propyne)-solvent system can be described through a single generalized viscosity-concentration relationship if dimensionless reduced values that take into account the contribution of the molecular mass, the nature of the solvent, and the pattern of intermolecular interactions in the solutions are used as the argument and the function.     

Copolymerization of 1-(trimethylsilyl)-1-propyne with disubstituted hydrocarbon acetylenes

Copolymerization of 1-(trimethylsilyl)-1-propyne (MeC ≡ CSiMe₃) with several aromatic and aliphatic disubstituted acetylenes (MeC ≡ CPh, n-BuC ≡ CPh, 2-octyne, and 4-octyne) were examined by using Ta and Nb catalysts. The TaCl₅–Ph₃Bi catalyst was effective in copolymerization with the aromatic acetylenes, whereas the NbCl₅–Ph₃Bi catalyst was preferable in copolymerization with the aliphatic acetylenes. The copolymerization products were not mixtures of homopolymers but copolymers. The relative reactivity of monomer tended to decrease with increasing steric effect of monomer: 2-octyne > MeC ≡ CSiMe₃ > 4-octyne > MeC ≡ CPh > n-BuC ≡ CPh. The copolymers of MeC ≡ CSiMe₃ with MeC ≡ CPh [copoly(TMSP/PP)s] had high molecular weight (M _w > 1 × 10⁶), and provided thermally stable tough films. With increasing MeC ≡ CPh content of copoly(TMSP/PP), the oxygen permeability coefficient (P) decreased, while the separation factor (P/P) increased.     

Chemical modification of poly(substituted-acetylene). I. Synthesis and gas permeability of poly(1-trimethylsilyl-1-propyne)/poly (dimethylsiloxane) graft copolymer

In order to improve the selectivity and the stability and the stability for gas permeation of poly (1-trimethylsilyl-1-propyne) (PTMSP) membrane, it was chemically modified by grafting polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) chains. The graft copolymers were synthesized by four different methods via metallation of PTMSP with n-butyllithium. PDMS content of the graft co-polymers was controlled in the range of 4–92 mol %. Very tough, thin membranes could be prepared from these graft copolymers using a solvent casting method. Thermal property and gas permeability of the copolymer membranes thus obtained were evaluated. These membranes were relatively thermally stable, and the softening points were over about 150°C. Oxygen permeability coefficients Po₂ and selectivity Po₂/PN₂ of PTMSP/PDMS graft copolymers depended on the PDMS content, the former was in the range of 1 X 10^?8 to 2 × 10^?7 cm³ (STP)· cm/(cm²· s · cm. Hg) and the latter was 2.0–3.1. Minimum values of PO₂ and PN₂ occured at PDMS content of about 55 mol %. The introduction of more than 60 mol % of PDMS resulted in oxygen permeability coefficient which was maintained for more than one moth (PO₂ = 2 ? 6 × 10 ^?8 cm ³ (STP)· cm/(cm²·s·cm Hg), PO₂/PN₂ = 2.3–2.7).     

Electrooptical and Conformational Properties of Poly(1-Trimethylsilyl-1-Propynes) with Different Chain Microstructures

The methods of the Kerr effect and solution hydrodynamics were applied to study the electrooptical and hydrodynamic properties of samples of disubstituted polyacetylenes, poly(1-trimethylsilyl-1-propynes), prepared by polymerization of 1-trimethylsilyl-1-propyne with NbCl₅ and TaCl₅/BuLi as catalysts. The experimental electrooptical characteristics of polymers were compared with those calculated by PM3 semiempirical quantum-chemical method.     

The studies of molecular structure of Poly(1-trimethylsilyl-1-propyne) stereoisomers by the flow birefringence method

Optical properties of poly-1-trimethylsilyl-1-propyne (PTMSP) stereoisomers in solutions have been studied by means of flow birefringence method. Stereoisomers were chosen with various trans- and cis-configurations abundances of double CC bonds in monomeric units. The differences of main polarizabilities (α₁ − α₂) or statistical segments have been determined. Significant growth of (α₁ − α₂) values with increasing of the trans-isomer contents in chain molecule has been found. Optical anisotropy of monomeric segments, having cis- and trans-configurations, has been theoretically evaluated. It has been shown that observed significant increase of experimentally measured (α₁ − α₂) values cannot be sufficiently explained by only specific chain polarizability growth due to higher trans-isomers contents. It has been demonstrated that high (α₁ − α₂) value and it’s growth with increase of abundance of monomeric segments in trans-configuration has been caused by thermodynamical rigidity increase, i.e., higher number of monomeric units included into PTMSP statistical segment.     

The effect of solvent nature upon the optical anisotropy of poly-(1-trimethylsilyl-1-propyne)

Optical properties of poly-(1-trimethylsilyl-1-propyne) in solvents with different refractive indices and optical anisotropies have been studied by the dynamic birefringence method. An optical shape-effect has been detected in solvents characterized by refractive indices n_s different from those of dry polymer n_k. It was revealed that this effect is an effect of the macromolecule segment shape; this allowed us to estimate thermodynamic rigidity of the molecular chains under study (A = 82 × 10⁻⁸ cm). It has been found that the optical shear coefficient of the studied polymers solutions in anisotropic solvents exceeds considerably the same parameter in an isotropic solvent. It has been shown that this difference is caused by the solvent anisotropic molecules orientation by the axis of maximal polarizability along the macromolecule backbone. The assumption that the solvent molecules orientation order with respect to chain molecules does not depend on the chain molecule thermodynamic rigidity allowed us to obtain independent estimate of the sizes of static segments of the macromolecules under study (98 × 10⁻⁸ cm).