Polycondensation of benzyl chloride and its derivatives: A study of the reaction at different temperatures

The polycondensation reactions of benzyl chloride, α-chloroethylbenzene, and benzhydryl chloride in the presence of SnCl₄ or AlCl₃ as catalysts have been investigated in the temperature range between +80° and ?135°C. Polycondensations of benzyl chloride and α-chloroethylbenzene are quite similar in the reaction kinetics and are thought to occur by the same displacement mechanism. Polycondensation of benzhydryl chloride, however, seems to involve the formation of benzhydryl carbonium ions. At low temperatures linear polymers tend to be formed, in contrast with branched polymers produced at room temperature. Steric effects are found to play a major role in protecting polymers from branching at lower temperatures. Polybenzyl polymers are found to be less linear than poly(-α-methylbenzyl), even when prepared at ?135°C.     

Characterization of polyethylenes by x-ray diffraction and 13C-NMR: Temperature studies and the nature of the amorphous halo

X-ray diffraction patterns of linear and branched polyethylenes typically show two sharp reflections and an amorphous halo. The position of the halo depends on branch content and temperature. A single curve describes the position of the halo maximum (2θ_halo) for a range of liquid hydrocarbons and polyethylenes in the 20–140°C range. At temperatures well below their melting point, branched polymers give 2θ_halo values which differ significantly from those observed for the liquid Linear polymers show a greater divergence, indicating that some of the material giving rise to the halo is much better packed than in the liquid.Parallel ¹³ C NMR spin-lattice relaxation studies suggest that this relatively ordered material has a trans conformation but a low average T_1c value. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Cycloaddition Reactions and Dendritic Polymer Architectures – A Perfect Match

Summery: The potential of cycloaddition (CA) reactions for the synthesis of dendritic polymers is pointed out. The [4 + 2] Diels Alder cycloaddition as well as 1,3-dipolar CA reactions including “click chemistry” are addressed, and the advantages of these reactions like high selectivity, thus high tolerance towards additional functionalities, high yields and synthesis under mild reaction conditions are highlighted. New perfectly branched dendrimers as well as hyperbranched polymers have been prepared and modified using the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction of azines with alkynes. The 1,3-dipolar CA reaction of bisazine with maleimides results in hyperbranched and thus, irregular and broadly distributed polymers though with a degree of branching of 100% due to special intermediate formation. The [4 + 2] Diels Alder cycloaddition was successfully applied for the synthesis of highly branched polyphenylene structures using the AB₂ + AB and the A₂ + B₃ approach. CA reactions are also very suitable for highly efficient polymer analogous reactions and thus, they can also be used to prepare complex polymer architectures like dendronized polymers.     

Clickable Nucleic Acids: Sequence‐Controlled Periodic Copolymer/Oligomer Synthesis by Orthogonal Thiol‐X Reactions

Synthetic polymer approaches generally lack the ability to control the primary sequence, with sequence control referred to as the holy grail. Two click chemistry reactions were now combined to form nucleobase‐containing sequence‐controlled polymers in simple polymerization reactions. Two distinct approaches are used to form these click nucleic acid (CNA) polymers. These approaches employ thiol–ene and thiol‐Michael reactions to form homopolymers of a single nucleobase (e.g., poly(A)_n) or homopolymers of specific repeating nucleobase sequences (e.g., poly(ATC)_n). Furthermore, the incorporation of monofunctional thiol‐terminated polymers into the polymerization system enables the preparation of multiblock copolymers in a single reaction vessel; the length of the diblock copolymer can be tuned by the stoichiometric ratio and/or the monomer functionality. These polymers are also used for organogel formation where complementary CNA‐based polymers form reversible crosslinks.     

Functional polymers and sequential copolymers by phase transfer catalysis. XXII. Vinylidene fluoride–trifluoroethylene copolymers by surface modification of polyvinylidene fluoride

Polyvinylidene fluoride films and powders have been used to synthesize vinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene copolymers. The synthetic procedure involves a phase transfer catalyzed heterogenous dehydrofluorination, followed by electrophilic chlorination or bromination. A phase transfer catalyzed displacement of bromine or chlorine by fluoride ion completes the synthesis. Dehydrofluorinations were up to 40% complete at room temperature and up to 100% complete at 90°C. Electrophilic chlorination of the resulting carbon–carbon double bonds were complete on both powder or films. The bromination of dehydrohalogenated polymers does not go to completion even when the reaction is carried out in solution. Displacement reactions were incomplete and resulted in further dehydrohalogenation when tetrabutylammonium hydrogen sulfate (TBAH) or 18-crown-6 and KF were used in organic solvents. Using TBAH, KHF₂, and water, high degrees of displacement were achieved only on the brominated compounds. The chlorinated products gave both displacement and elimination.     

SmI2－Mediated Addition Reaction of α－Halomethylsulfones to Carbonyl Compounds. A Convenient Synthesis of β－Hydroxysulfones

Due to the chemoselective dehalogenation by SmI2, the addition of a-halomethylsulfones to carbonyl compounds afforded ,β-hydroxysulfones. Those reactions with α-bromomethylsulfones gave the products in moderate to good yields. The SmI2-mediated addition of gem-dihalomethylsulfones to ketones also afforded α-halo-β-hydroxysulfones in moderate yields.     

Synthesis and applications of polymers containing metallacyclopentadiene moieties in the main chain

Organometallic polymers containing metallacycles in the main chain were prepared by the reactions of diynes with low-valent organometallic complexes such as CpCo(PPh₃)₂, CP₂Ti(CH₂=CHC₂H₅), and (ⁱPrO)₂Ti(CH₂=CHCH₃). Their polymer reactions involving the conversion of the main chain structures gave rise to polymers containing functional groups in their main chain repeating units. Design and synthesis of organometallic polymers that potentially serve as novel functional materials are also described.     

Synthesis and electrical conductivity of poly(arylene vinylene). I. Poly(2,5-dimethoxyphenylene vinylene) and poly(2,5-dimethylphenylene vinylene)

The highly conjugated aromatic polymers, poly(2,5-dimethoxyphenylene vinylene) and poly(2,5-dimethylphenylene vinylene), were obtained from their water soluble, sulfonium salt precursor polymers. Films of these polymers were reacted with either AsF₅ or I₂ vapor. Poly(2,5-dimethoxyphenylene vinylene) showed increases in electrical conductivity of up to 14 to 15 orders of magnitude for these two dopants, while an 8 to 9 order of magnitude increase was observed for poly(2,5-dimethylphenylene vinylene) with the same dopants. The synthesis of the precursor polymers, the properties and elimination reactions of films of the precursors, the doping reactions, and the conductivities of the resulting phenylene vinylene films are discussed.     

Fluorinated Phenanthrenes as Aryne Precursors: PAH Synthesis Based on Domino Ring Assembly Using 1,1‐Difluoroallenes

On treatment with the catalyst InBr₃, 1,1‐difluoroallenes that bear a cyclopentene moiety and an aryl group underwent domino ring assembly in the presence or absence of N‐bromosuccinimide or N‐iodosuccinimide to afford aryne precursors such as three‐ringed ortho‐fluoro(halo)phenanthrenes, four‐ringed ortho‐fluoro(halo)tetraphenes, ortho‐fluoro(halo)chrysenes and fluoro[4]helicenes. Metalation of the aryne precursors followed by elimination of the fluoride resulted in the unprecedented systematic generation of arynes bearing π‐extended systems. Diels?Alder reactions of these arynes with isobenzofurans afforded the corresponding cycloadducts whose reductive aromatisation in an SnCl₂/HBr system furnished fully aromatised benzotriphenylenes. In addition, oxidative aryl?aryl coupling (the Scholl reaction) of these benzotriphenylenes facilitated the synthesis of ‘half HBCs’ (hexabenzocoronenes).     

Synthesis and Characterization of Novel Poly(Arylene Ether)s from 4,4′‐Thiodiphenol

Four novel perfluoroalkylated poly(arylene ether)s have been synthesized successfully using four perfluoroalkyl‐activated bisfluoro monomers. These polymers are synthesized through nucleophilic displacement of the fluorine atoms on the benzene ring with 4,4′‐thiodiphenol and are named as 1a, 1b, 1c and 1d, respectively. The polymers obtained by displacement of the fluorine atoms exhibit weight‐average molar masses up to 3.9×10⁴ g · mol^?1 in Gel permeation chromatography. These poly(arylene ether)s showed very high thermal stability up to 548°C for 10% weight loss in TGA under nitrogen and high glass transition temperature (T_g) up to 178°C in DSC depending on the repeat unit structures. The glass transition temperatures taken as peak in tan δ in DMA measurements are in good agreement with the DSC T_g values. All the polymers synthesized are soluble in a wide range of organic solvent such as CHCl₃, CHCl₂, THF, NMP, DMF and toluene. Transparent thin films of these polymers cast from THF exhibited tensile strengths up to 72 MPa, modulus up to 1.69 GPa with low elongation at break depending on their exact repeating unit structures. Rheological properties showed ease of processability of these polymers with no change in melt viscosity with temperature.     

Nucleophilic displacement reactions on fluorine. II. The role of σ- and π-bond nucleophiles

S_N2 displacement reactions on fluorine by σ- and π-bond nucleophiles are discussed and shown to constitute a general class of reaction. Mechanisms are suggested for reactions mentioned in the literature which are consistent with this generalization.     

Sterically encumbered poly(arylene ether)s containing spiro‐annulated substituents: Synthesis and thermal properties

Four novel 2‐trifluoromethyl‐activated bisfluoro monomers have been synthesized successfully using a Suzuki‐coupling reaction of 3‐trifluoromethyl‐4‐fluoro phenyl boronic acid with 2,7‐dibromofluorene with varied pendants. Four monomers were converted to a series of fluorene‐based poly(arylene ether)s with pendants by nucleophilic displacement of the fluorine atoms on the terminal benzene ring with 4,4′‐hexafluoroisopropylidenediphenol. The polymers obtained by displacement of the fluorine atoms, exhibit weight‐average molecular weight up to 9.89 × 10⁴ g/mol in GPC. Thermal analysis studies indicated that these polymers did not show melting endotherms but did show relatively high T_g values up to 270 °C in DSC and outstanding thermal stability up to 532 °C for 5% weight loss in TGA in a nitrogen atmosphere. The polymers are soluble in a wide range of organic solvents: THF, CHCl₃, NMP, DMAc, DMF, toluene and EAc, and so forth, at room temperature. Transparent and flexible films were easily prepared by solution casting from chloroform solution of each of the polymers. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2010     

Rhodium‐Catalyzed Intramolecular Hydroarylation of 1‐Halo‐1‐alkynes: Regioselective Synthesis of Semihydrogenated Aromatic Heterocycles

The regioselective intramolecular hydroarylation of (3‐halo‐2‐propynyl)anilines, (3‐halo‐2‐propynyl) aryl ethers, or (4‐halo‐3‐butynyl) aryl ethers was efficiently catalyzed by Rh₂(OCOCF₃)₄ to give semihydrogenated aromatic heterocycles, such as 4‐halo‐1,2‐dihydroquinolines, 4‐halo‐3‐chromenes, or 4‐(halomethylene)chromans, in good to excellent yields. Some synthetic applications taking advantage of the halo‐substituents of the products are also illustrated.     

Plasma polymerization of phenylsilane

Comparative studies on plasma polymerizations of phenylsilane (PhSiH₃) and toluene (PhCH₃) have been carried out to prepare plasma polymers containing aromatic groups. The IR and ESCA spectra show that PhSiH₃ and PhCH₃ are subjected to ring-opening reactions in a discharge state to form polymers involving alkyl chains as well as aromatic groups. The ring-opening reactions are more feeble in the PhSiH₃ system than in the PhCH₃ system, which may be due to stabilization of phenyl–Si bonds in PhSiH₃ by contribution of p_π?d_π bonding. Aromatic groups incorporated into the plasma polymers from PhSiH₃ are mono-substituted.     

Study of bulk chain coupling reactions. I. Reaction between bisoxazolones and amine-terminated polyamide 12

2,2′-Bis(4,4-dimethyl-5(4H)-oxazolone) ( B3 ) and 2,2′-(1,2-ethylene)-bis(4,4-dimethyl-5(4H)oxazolone) ( B4 ) have been reacted in the bulk with α, ω-diamino polyamide-12 ( PA12 ) of M?_n = 1000. The reactions have been studied by SEC, and ¹H- and ¹³C-NMR and resulting polymers characterized by DSC and TGA. The chain coupling reaction is fast and gives high molar mass polymers within 10 min at 200°C with B4 while some side reactions occur with B3 leading to polymers of lower molar mass. The crystallinity of resulting polymers is lower than that of starting oligomer. However, the thermal stability is higher. Model reactions using B3 or B4 and hexamethylene diamine or 1-dodecanamine have been carried out and studied. An intramolecular cyclodehydration giving 2-imidazolin-5-ones takes place during the reactions. Higher cyclization extent is found in the presence of amino group excess. 2-Imidazolin-5-one heterocyclic structures are also observed in the chains of the polymers obtained from PA12 and B3 or B4 . © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Anionic Synthesis of Heteroarm,Star-Branched Polymers. Scope and Limitations

Abstract

The scope and limitations of the following methods for the synthesis of heteroarm star-branched polymers are presented: (a) divinylbenzene linking reactions; (b) coupling reactions with macromolecular silyl halides; and (c) 1,1-diphenylethylene-based living linking reactions. The methodology of using l, 3-bis(1-phenylethenyl)benzene to prepare A₂B₂ hetero 4-armed stars is reviewed, and the synthesis of well-defined (polystyrene)₂(1,4-polybutadiene)₂ heteroarm stars is described. The synthesis of well-defined ABC heteroarm star polymers using macromonomers functionalized with 1, 1-diphenylethylene groups is described.     

Kinetic behavior in self-assembly process of associative polymer solutions

Using associative polymers with different micro-block length (N_H), their kinetic behaviors in the self-assembly process have been discussed with steady flow, step shear rate and dynamic light scattering (DLS) experiments. The results showed that the N_H is the most important parameter to affect rheology of associative polymers, and the equilibrium time and viscosity recovery are an obvious difference from seconds to hours after violent pre-shearing. With DLS data, the hydrophobic micro-zone size is always a polydispersion distribution, and gradually concentrated three scales of size, the associative polymers with higher N_H values have a longer time to reach equilibrium state. The kinetic behavior of associative polymers has a greater potential to apply in enhanced oil recovery (EOR) field, we conclude that the polymers with medium associative strength have a smaller shear thinning index and higher viscosity recovery, and may satisfy the polymer flooding requirements of displacement efficiency and injectivity.     

Displacement polymerization. III. Synthesis and characterization of polyazoxyarylethers

A new class of polyazoxyarylethers was prepared by nucleophilic displacement polymerization using an activated dichlorocompound and a bisphenol dianion in anhydrous aprotic solvent. Model reactions were studied with 3,3′- and 4,4′-dichloroazoxybenzene and various phenol and thiophenol salts to find out the reaction conditions for polycondensation. IR, ¹H NMR, and elemental analyses were used to establish the structure of the model compounds and the polymers. Thermal analysis indicated that the oxy derivative is less prone to thermo-oxidative degradation than the corresponding thio derivative of polyazoxyarylether. The polymers are crystalline and soluble in halogenated hydrocarbons and polar solvents.     

Intrinsically Microporous Polyesters From Betulin – Toward Renewable Materials for Gas Separation Made From Birch Bark

Betulin, an abundant triterpene, can be extracted from birch bark and can be used as a renewable monomer in the synthesis of microporous polyesters. Cross‐linked networks and hyperbranched polymers are accessible by an A₂ + B₃ reaction, with betulin being the A₂ monomer and B₃ being a trifunctional acid chloride. Reaction of betulin with a diacid dichloride results in linear, soluble polyesters. The present communication proves that the polyreaction follows the classic schemes of polycondensation reactions. The resulting polymers are analyzed with regard to their micro‐porosity by gas sorption, NMR spectroscopy, and X‐ray scattering methods. The polymers feature intrinsic microporosity, having ultrasmall pores, which makes them candidates for gas separation membranes, e.g., for the separation of CO₂ from N₂.     

Mechanical relaxation spectroscopy of three triepoxide-based polymers

Three network structure polymers formed by the chemical reactions of a triepoxide with aniline, 3-chloroaniline,and 4-chloroaniline were prepared and their shear modulus relaxation spectra studied over the 10⁻³- to 1-Hz range and temperatures up to their rubber modulus region. The decrease in the unrelaxed modulus with increase in temperature is found to be a reflection of both an increase in volume, and a decrease in the relaxed modulus of the sub-T_g relaxations process. It is quantitatively shown that the increase in the rubber modulus with increase in temperature above T_g is predominantly due to an increase in the entropy and not to a decrease in the number of cross-links density on thermal expansion. The unrelaxed modulus remained unaffected by the change in the overall size of the phenyl groups of the amines and of the steric hindrance to their rotations caused by the proximity of the chlorine atom to the cross-linking N-atom in the network structure, but the rubber modulus was effected. The shear modulus spectra could be fitted to a stretched exponential decay function with a temperature-independent stretch parameter of 0.25 for two polymers and 0.22 for one. The time–temperature superposition of the spectra did not yield a master curve, and a vertical displacement of the data also failed to produce it. This was more clearly demonstrated by the spectra of the mechanical loss tangent. After considering the various contributions to the shear modulus, it was concluded that deviations from the time–temperature superposition of the spectra are intrinsic to these polymers and arise from the change in the viscoelastic functions for segmental dynamics on change in the temperature such that the overall distribution of relaxation times remains unaffected. The mechanical loss tangent of the three polymers is found to be higher than that of polycarbonate at ambient temperature, implying a higher loss of mechanical energy before these polymers may fracture. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 37: 3071–3083, 1999