Polyaddition of bifunctional spiro orthoesters with bifunctional acid chlorides accompanying double ring‐opening isomerization

Polyaddition of bifunctional spiro orthoesters (SOEs) with bifunctional acid chlorides was examined to develop zero‐shrinkage polymerization. The polyaddition afforded the corresponding polyether‐esters by repeating the addition reaction accompanying the double ring‐opening isomerization of the SOE moiety in a manner similar to the reaction of monofunctional SOEs with acid chlorides. The polyaddition accompanied a slight shrinkage or expansion in volume. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 68–73, 2000     

Expanding vinyl ether monomer repertoire for ring-expansion cationic polymerization: Various cyclic polymers with tailored pendant groups

Herein, we clarified the ring-expansion cationic polymerization with a cyclic hemiacetal ester (HAE)-based initiator was versatile in terms of applicable vinyl ether monomers. Although there was a risk that higher reactive vinyl ethers may incur β-H elimination of the HAE-based cyclic dormant species to irreversibly give linear chains, the polymerizations were controlled to give corresponding cyclic polymers from various alkyl vinyl ethers of different reactivities. Functional vinyl ether monomers were also available, and for instance a vinyl ether monomer carrying an initiator moiety for metal-catalyzed living radical polymerization in the pendant allowed construction of ring-linear graft copolymers through the grafting-from approach. Furthermore, ring-based gel was prepared via the addition of divinyl ether at the end of the ring-expansion polymerization, where multi HAE bonds cyclic polymers or fused rings were crosslinked with each other. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2017 , 55, 3082–3089     

Model reaction for thermally latent curing through addition of hemiacetal ester and epoxide by schiff‐base–zinc halide complexes

Schiff‐base–zinc halide complexes (ZnX₂/ 1 ) thermal‐latently catalyze the reaction of glycidyl phenyl ether (2) and 1‐propoxyethyl 2‐ethylhexanoate (3) that proceeds at moderately elevated temperatures. The catalysis by the ZnX₂/ 1 complexes proceeds via the thermal dissociation of 3 to produce the corresponding carboxylic acid that nucleophilically attacks 2 predominantly over the thermally dissociated vinyl ether. ZnX₂/ 1 complexes catalyze both the dissociation of 3 to produce the carboxylic acid intermediate and its addition to 2 . Although conventional latent catalysts for this reaction exhibit Lewis acidities under ambient conditions that are responsible to the gradual degradation of hemiacetal esters and the polymerization of epoxides, a mixture of 2 , 3 , and ZnX₂/ 1 can be stored for 3 months at ambient conditions. The stored mixture is as active as the freshly prepared mixture, keeping the excellent activity and latency of ZnX₂/ 1 . As well as the model reaction, the thermally latent polyaddition of bisphenol A diglycidyl ether (9) and di‐1‐propoxyethyl adipate (10) is also promoted with ZnCl₂/ 1 at a moderate elevated temperature. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 3370–3379, 2007     

Synthesis and crosslinking reaction of poly(hydroxyurethane) bearing a secondary amine structure in the main chain

This article describes the polyaddition of bifunctional five‐membered cyclic carbonates and diethylenetriamine. The polyaddition proceeded via the selective addition of the primary amino group to the cyclic carbonates to give poly(hydroxyurethane)s bearing a secondary amine structure in the main chain. The resulting poly (hydroxyurethane) having a secondary amine structure was crosslinked by a reaction with a bifunctional dithiocarbonate to give a networked poly(hydroxyurethane–mercaptothiourethane). © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 5899–5905, 2005     

Synthesis and cationic ring-opening polymerization of mono- and bifunctional spiro orthoesters containing ester groups and depolymerization of the obtained polymers: An approach to chemical recycling for polyesters as a model system

A spiro orthoester having an ester moiety, 2-acetoxymethyl-1,4,6-trioxaspiro[4.6]undecane (4) was synthesized, and its cationic polymerization and depolymerization of the obtained polymer (5) were carried out. The monomer 4 underwent cationic polymerization with a cationic catalyst to afford the corresponding poly(cyclic orthoester) 5. The obtained polymer 5 could be depolymerized with a cationic catalyst to regenerate the monomer 4 in an excellent yield. Further, bifunctional spiro orthoesters (6, 8, 9) having diester moieties were synthesized from terephthalic acid, succinic acid, and 1,4-cyclohexanedicarboxylic acid, and their acid-catalyzed reversible crosslinking–decrosslinking was examined. The bifunctional monomer 6 derived from terephthalic acid underwent cationic crosslinking to afford the corresponding network polymer (7), which could be also depolymerized to regenerate the original bifunctional monomer 6. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 2551–2558, 1999     

Synthesis and photochemical reaction of novel p-alkylcalix[n]arene derivatives containing cationically polymerizable groups

New photoreactive p-methylcalix[6]arene (MCA) derivatives containing cationically polymerizable groups such as propargyl ether (calixarene 1), allyl ether (calixarene 2), and ethoxy vinyl ether (calixarene 3) groups were synthesized with 80, 74, and 84% yields by the substitution reaction of MCA with propargyl bromide, allyl bromide, and 2-chloroethyl vinyl ether (CEVE), respectively, in the presence of either potassium hydroxide or sodium hydride by using tetrabutylammonium bromide (TBAB) as a phase transfer catalyst (PTC). The p-tert-butylcalix[8]arene (BCA) derivative containing ethoxy vinyl ether groups (calixarene 4) was also synthesized in 83% yield by the substitution reaction of BCA with CEVE by using sodium hydride as a base and TBAB as a PTC. The MCA derivative containing 1-propenyl ether groups (calixarene 5) was synthesized in 80% yield by the isomerization of calixarene 2, which contained allyl ether groups, by using potassium tert-buthoxide as a catalyst. The photochemical reactions of carixarene 1, 3, 4, 5, and 6 were examined with certain photoacid generators in the film state. In this reaction system, calixarene 3 containing ethoxy vinyl ether groups showed the highest photochemical reactivity when bis-[4-(diphenylsulfonio)phenyl]sulfide bis(hexafluorophosphate) (DPSP) was used as the catalyst. On the other hand, calixarene 1 containing propargyl ether groups had the highest photochemical reactivity when 4-morpholino-2,5-dibuthoxybenzenediazonium hexafluorophosphate (MDBZ) was used as the catalyst. It was also found that the prepared carixarene derivatives containing cationically polymerizable groups such as propargyl, allyl, vinyl, and also 1-propenyl ethers have good thermal stability. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 1805–1814, 1999     

Synthesis and cationic photopolymerization of 1‐butenyl and 1‐pentenyl ethers

Several 1‐butenyl and 1‐pentenyl ether monomers were prepared by the ruthenium catalyzed multistage double bond isomerization of the corresponding 3‐butenyl and 4‐pentenyl ethers and characterized. Employing tris(triphenylphosphine)ruthenium(II) dichloride as a catalyst, the isomerization of octyl 4‐pentenyl ether to octyl 1‐pentenyl ether in 60% yield could be achieved in 110 min at 200–205°C. Under similar conditions, 3‐butenyl octyl ether was isomerized to 1‐butenyl octyl ether in greater than 99% yield. The reactivities of both types of monomers in photoinitiated cationic polymerization were determined using real‐time infrared spectroscopy and the monomers were found to polymerize at very nearly the same rate in the presence of a diaryliodonium salt photoinitiator. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 199–209, 1999     

Isolation,spectra, structure,and ring-opening polymerization of strained macrocyclic aryl(ether ketone) dimer

Macrocyclic arylene ether ketone dimer was isolated from a mixture of cyclic oligomers obtained by the nucleophilic substitution reaction of bisphenol A and 4,4′-difluorobenzophenone and easily polymerized to high molecular weight linear poly-(ether ketone). The cyclic compound was characterized by FTIR, ¹H- and ¹³C-NMR, and single-crystal x-ray diffraction. Analysis of the spectral and crystal structure reveals extreme distortions of the phenyl rings attached to the isopropylidene center and of the turning points of the molecular polygons. The release of the ring strain on ring-opening combined with entropical difference between the linear polymer chain and the more rigid macrocycle at temperatures of polymerization may be the proposed motivating factors in the polymerization of this precursor to high molecular weight poly(ether ketone). © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 35 : 1753–1761, 1997     

Reaction of benzoxazine-based phenolic resins with strong and weak carboxylic acids and phenols as catalysts

The reaction of 3,4-dihydro-3,6-dimethyl-2H-1,3-benzoxazine using strong and weak carboxylic acids and phenols as catalysts has been studied using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The auto-accelerated curing using sebacic acid as catalyst is further documented using ¹H-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and dielectric analysis. Termination of curing, using strong acids or no catalyst, are discussed. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 1913–1921, 1999     

Enantiomeric discrimination of cyclic β-amino acids using (18-crown-6)-2,3,11,12-tetracarboxylic acid as a chiral NMR solvating agent

(18-Crown-6)-2,3,11,12-tetracarboxylic acid is an excellent chiral NMR solvating agent for cyclic β-amino acids with cyclopentane, cyclohexane, cycloheptane, cyclopentene, cyclohexene, bicyclo[2.2.1]heptane, and bicyclo[2.2.1]heptene rings. The crown ether was added to the neutral β-amino acids in methanol-d₄. A neutralization reaction between the crown ether and β-amino acid forms the ammonium ion needed for favorable association. Enantiomeric discrimination of the two hydrogen atoms α to the amine and carboxylic acid moieties of the β-amino acid was observed with every substrate studied. Trends in the order of the enantiomeric discrimination of certain hydrogen atoms for substrates of similar structures correlate with the absolute configuration.     

A novel one-pot oxidation polymerization of dithiols obtained from bifunctional five-membered cyclic dithiocarbonates with amines

One-pot oxidation polymerization of dithiols, obtained from bifunctional five-membered cyclic dithiocarbonates ( 4a and 4b ) with two equivalents of amines, was studied. The monomers 4a and 4b were synthesized by the reactions of bisphenol A diglycidyl ether and neopentyl glycol diglycidyl ether with carbon disulfide, respectively. Polydisulfides with M̄_ns 4600–20,200 were obtained quantitatively in the oxidation polymerization of the dithiols obtained in situ by the reactions of 4a with benzylamine, n-butylamine, and piperidine. On the other hand, dithiols obtained from 4b with benzylamine, afforded cyclic disulfides as well as the polydisulfide under similar conditions. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 36: 79–84, 1998     

Multifunctional coupling agents: Synthesis and model reactions

New multifunctional coupling agents with one 2‐oxazoline group, one oxazinone group, and one allyl ether group were prepared. It was shown by means of model reactions that under the conditions of reactive extrusion, the 2‐oxazoline group and the oxazinone group reacted selectively with carboxylic groups and amino groups, respectively. The allyl ether group remained unaffected under the reaction conditions chosen. As a model reaction, the conversion of the coupling agents with 11‐aminoundecanoic acid resulted in the formation of an allyloxy‐functionalized poly(ester amide). The reaction could be performed stepwise, in the course of which the reaction of the amino group proceeded at 110 °C in solution, whereas the reaction of the carboxylic group was performed in the melt at 220 °C. Furthermore, the utilization of the coupling agents for the preparation of telechelic poly(propylene glycol) with one oxazoline group and one allyl ether group on each chain end was described. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 655–667, 2003     

Structure–reactivity relationships of alkyl α‐hydroxymethacrylate derivatives

A series of alkyl α‐hydroxymethacrylate derivatives with various secondary functionalities (ether, ester, carbonate, and carbamate) and terminal groups (alkyl, cyano, oxetane, cyclic carbonate, phenyl and morpholine) were synthesized to investigate the effect of intermolecular interactions, H‐bonding, π–π interactions, and dipole moment on monomer reactivity. All of the monomers except one ester and one ether derivative are novel. The polymerization rates, determined by using photo‐DSC, showed the average trend (aromatic carbamate > hydroxyl > ester > carbonate ～ aliphatic carbamate ～ ether), with several exceptions due to the differences in terminal groups. There is a correlation between the chemical shift differences of the double bond carbons, the calculated dipole moments, and the reactivities only for nonhydrogen bonded monomers. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011     

Acceleration effect of five‐membered cyclic dithiocarbonate on an epoxy–amine curing system

A bifunctional cyclic five‐membered dithiocarbonate (DTC), having a bisphenol A structure, was found to be an effective accelerator for a epoxy–amine curing system comprised of bisphenol A diglycidyl ether and amine‐terminated polypropylene glycol. The acceleration effect was evaluated by monitoring the time‐dependence of the storage modulus of the reaction mixture with a dynamic mechanical analyzer. The reactions involved in the curing system were investigated in detail by performing a series of model reactions using the corresponding monofunctional monomers. This investigation revealed that (1) DTC reacted with amine rapidly, (2) the reaction afforded the corresponding adduct having a thiourethane and thiol moieties, and (3) the thiol reacted rapidly with epoxide. The thiourethane moiety incorporated into the resulting adduct effectively catalyzed the reaction of epoxide and amine, and this catalysis was the predominant mechanism for the acceleration effect arisen by the addition of DTC. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 4606–4611, 2007     

Synthesis of a poly(vinyl ether) containing a benzocyclobutene moiety and its reaction with dienophiles

1‐Benzocyclobutenyl vinyl ether (1) was easily prepared by the elimination reaction of hydrogen bromide from 1‐benzocyclobutenyl 1‐bromoethyl ether obtained by 1‐bromobenzocyclobutene and ethylene glycol via two steps in a good yield. Cationic polymerizations of 1 was carried out at −78°C for 2 h in toluene in the presence of BF₃OEt₂ as an initiator to give quantitatively the corresponding polymers (2) as white solids. As a model reaction of the polymer reaction of 2 with dienophiles, the Diels–Alder reactions of 1‐methoxybenzocyclobutene with maleic anhydride (MA) in toluene at 100–140°C for 3 h were carried out to obtain the corresponding Diels–Alder adduct quantitatively at 140°C. The polymer reactions of 2 with MA and N‐phenylmaleimide (MI) in toluene were carried out to yield the corresponding Diels–Alder adduct polymers in good yields. The degree of introduction of the dienophile could be controlled by temperature, and the unreacted benzocyclobutene moiety could further react with another benzocyclobutene moiety or dienophile. The properties (solubilities, T_g, and temperature of 10% weight loss) of the polymers obtained from the polymer reaction were quite different from those of 2. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 59–67, 1999     

Synthesis and polymerization reactions of cyclic imino ethers. VI. Polymers with biphenyl structure

A monomer of the AB‐type and a bifunctional comonomer of the AA‐type containing two 2‐oxazoline rings and a biphenyl structural unit were prepared from the corresponding carboxylic acids via their esterification and subsequent amidation with an aminoalcohol. The cyclization of an amide to 2‐oxazoline structure was achieved by treatment with thionyl chloride followed by liberation of the free base with sodium hydrocarbonate in an aqueous solution. The prepared monomers were used for the polyaddition polymerization of the AB‐type monomer having a 2‐oxazoline and phenol group bound on adjacent rings of the biphenyl structure in solution. The monomer of the AA‐type was used for AA+BB‐type polyaddition reactions with aliphatic dicarboxylic acids. Both types of polymerizations have been performed in melt and in solution. The structures of the polymers were determined, and the thermal properties of the polymers were evaluated. Liquid‐crystalline (LC) structures of the prepared polymers were observed by DSC measurements and optical microscopy. The polyaddition reactions of the monomers containing a 2‐oxazoline ring and a biphenyl unit represent a new efficient way for the preparation of a biphenyl unit containing poly(ether amide)s and poly(ester amide)s. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012     

Hyperbranched polyethers by ring‐opening polymerization: Contribution of activated monomer mechanism

Propagation in the cationic ring‐opening polymerization of cyclic ethers involves nucleophilic attack of oxygen atoms from the monomer molecules on the cationic growing species (oxonium ions). Such a mechanism is known as the active chain‐end mechanism. If hydroxyl groups containing compounds are present in the system, oxygen atoms of HO? groups may compete with cyclic ether oxygen atoms of monomer molecules in reaction with oxonium ions. At the proper conditions, this reaction may dominate, and propagation may proceed by the activated monomer mechanism, that is, by subsequent addition of protonated monomer molecules to HO? terminated macromolecules. Both mechanisms may contribute to the propagation in the cationic polymerization of monomers containing both functions (i.e., cyclic ether group and hydroxyl groups) within the same molecule. In this article, the mechanism of polymerization of three‐ and four‐membered cyclic ethers containing hydroxymethyl substituents is discussed in terms of competition between two possible mechanisms of propagation that governs the structure of the products—branched polyethers containing multiple terminal hydroxymethyl groups. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 457–468, 2003     

Cyclic(arylene ether) oligomers containing the phenylphosphine oxide moiety

A series of cyclic(arylene ether) oligomers containing the phenylphosphine oxide moiety has been synthesized by reaction of bis(4-fluorophenyl)phenylphosphineoxide with dihydroxy compounds 1a–d as well as 1,2-dihydro-4-(4-hydroxyphenyl) (2H)phthalazin-1-one in DMF in the presence of anhydrous K₂CO₃ under high dilution conditions. These cyclic oligomers are amorphous and have high solubility in organic solvents. The MALDI-TOF-MS technique has been used as a powerful tool to analyze these cyclic systems. The cyclic(arylene ether) oligomers readily undergo anionic ring-opening polymerization in the melt at 350°C by using potassium 4,4′-biphenoxide as the initiator, affording linear, high molecular weight poly(arylene ether)s containing the phenylphosphine oxide moiety. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 36: 519–526, 1998     

Regiospecific cationic polymerization of spiroorthoesters with different cyclic ether ring sizes

Spiroorthoesters (SOEs), cis‐2,3‐tetramethylene‐1,4,6‐trioxaspiro[4,5]decane ( I ) and cis‐2,3‐tetramethylene‐1,4,6‐trioxaspiro[4,6]undecane ( II ), with different cyclic ether ring sizes were synthesized, and their stereostructure and steric energy were determined. With steric‐hindrance‐sensitized 9‐phenyl‐9,10‐dihydro‐anthracen‐10‐ylium cation as an initiator, I and II underwent regiospecific polymerization to yield trans form of stereoregular poly(ether esters)—poly(trans‐2‐oxycyclohexyl pentanoate) (? [trans‐2‐OCHP]_n? ) ( III ) and poly(trans‐2‐oxycyclohexyl hexanoate) (? [trans‐2‐OCHH]_n? ) ( V ), respectively. With SnCl₄ as another initiator, I and II underwent regiospecific polymerization through different mechanisms to afford cis form poly(cis‐2‐oxycyclohexyl pentanoate) (? [cis‐2‐OCHP]_n? ) ( IV ) and trans form (? [trans‐2‐OCHH]_n? ) ( VI ) stereoregular poly(ether esters). The polymerization mechanisms of SOEs proceeded in the regiospecific manner were determined by the relationship among the sterostructures of SOEs and its subsequently formed polymers, the steric energy of monomers, and the free energy difference in the transition state of reaction. Owing to the conversion of cis substitution at C‐2 and C‐3 in I or II to the trans form during polymerization, polymers III , V , and VI exhibited a higher volume of expansion during polymerization than IV , which showed high volume shrinkage. Group contributions of divalent trans‐ and cis‐1.2‐cyclohexyl groups were derived and confirmed by measuring the densities of the corresponding stereoregular polymers. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012     

Synthesis and properties of multiblock copolymers consisting of poly(L‐lactic acid) and poly(oxypropylene‐ co‐oxyethylene) prepared by direct polycondensation

A multiblock copoly(ester–ether) consisting of poly(l ‐lactic acid) (PLLA) and poly(oxypropylene‐co‐oxyethylene) (PN) was prepared and characterized. Preparation was done via the solution polycondensation of a thermal oligocondensate of l ‐lactic acid, a commercially available telechelic polyether (PN: Pluronic‐F68), and dodecanedioic acid as a carboxyl/hydroxyl adjusting agent. When stannous oxide was used as the catalyst, the molecular weight of the resultant PLLA/PN block copolymers became very high (even with a high PN content) under optimized reaction conditions. The refluxing of diphenyl ether (solvent) at reduced pressure allowed the efficient removal of the condensed water from the reaction system and the feed‐back of the intermediately formed l ‐lactide at the same time in order to successfully bring about a high degree of condensation. The copolymer films obtained by solution casting became more flexible with the increasing PN content as soft segments. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 1513–1521, 1999