Relationships between the chemical structures and the solubility,diffusivity, and permselectivity of propylene and propane in 6FDA‐based polyimides

The solubility, diffusivity, and permselectivity of propylene and propane in 40 different polyimides synthesized from 2,2‐bis(3,4‐decarboxyphenyl)hexafluoropropane dianhydride (6FDA) were determined at 298 K. The influence of the chemical structures on the physical and gas permeation properties of the 6FDA‐based polyimides was studied. The solubility of propylene in an unrelaxed volume of a polymer matrix mainly contributes to the total solubility of propylene for various 6FDA‐based polyimides. The diffusivity, the permeability of propylene, and the permselectivity in the propylene/propane mixed‐gas system depend on the solubility of propylene. This is thought to be associated with the penetrant‐induced plasticization effect. 6FDA‐based polyimides, which have a high glass‐transition temperature and a large fractional free volume, exhibit a high permeability with a relatively low permselectivity. Changing the number of  CH3 substituents in the phenylene linkage and changing the connectivity in the main chain are good ways of controlling the solubility of propylene and the corresponding permselectivity in the propylene/propane mixed‐gas system. Some 6FDA‐based polyimides restrict the solubility of propylene through the introduction of a  CONH linkage between the phenylene linkage; the  Cl substituent in the phenylene linkage at the diamine moiety exhibits a high separation performance in the mixed‐gas system. The polyimides are potentially useful membrane materials for the separation of propylene and propane in the petrochemical industry. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 38: 2525–2536, 2000     

Gas transport properties of soluble poly(phenylene sulfone imide)s

Gas transport of helium, hydrogen, carbon dioxide, oxygen, argon, nitrogen, and methane in three soluble poly(phenylene sulfone imide)s based on 2,2-bis(3,4-decarboxyphenyl) hexafluoropropane dianhydride (6FDA) has been investigated. The effects of increasing length of well-defined oligo(phenylene sulfone) units on the gas permeabilities and diffusivities were determined and correlated with chain packing of the polymers. Activation energies of diffusion and permeation were calculated from temperature-dependent time-lag measurements. The influences of the central group in the diamine moiety of 6FDA-based polyimides on physical and gas transport properties are discussed. The incorporation of a long oligo(phenylene sulfone) segment in the polymer backbone decreases gas permeability and permselectivity simultaneously. The decreases in permeability coefficients can be mainly related to decreases in diffusion coefficients. Changing the central group of diamine moiety from  S to  SO₂ leads to a 45–50% decrease in CO₂ and O₂ permeabilities without appreciable increase in the selectivities. This is considered to be due to the formation of charge transfer complexes. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 35: 1855–1868, 1997     

Gas permeability and permselectivity of polyimides with large aromatic rings

Polyimides with large aromatic rings were prepared from 3,6-diaminocarbazole (CDA), N-ethyl-3,6-diaminocarbazole (ECDA), 2,7-diaminofluorene (DAF), 2,7-diaminofluorenon (DAFO), and dimethyl-3,7-diaminodibenzothiophene-5,5-dioxide (DDBT) with 2-bis(2,4-dicarboxyphenyl) hexafluoropropane dianhydride (6FDA) and 3,3′,4,4′-biphenyltetracarboxylic dianhydride (BPDA). Their physical properties, including gas permeability and permselectivity, were investigated in comparison with those of the related polyimides from 1,3-phenylenediamine (mPD). Glass transition temperatures of the polyimides with large aromatic rings were much higher than those of the mPD-based polyimides as a result of increased rigidity of the former polymer chains. With changing diamine from mPD to the large aromatic diamines, charge transfer (CT) interaction between the moieties of acid anhydride and diamine seems to be enhanced, judging from the red shift of absorption edge of the polyimide films and the red shift of CT excitation band of the 6FDA-based polyimides in solution. Fraction of free space (V_F) was a little smaller for the polyimides with large aromatic rings except DDBT than for the mPD-based polyimides, probably because of enhancement in polymer chain-chain interactions as a result of the increased CT interaction. The DDBT-based polyimides had large V_F than the mPD-based polyimides because of the nonplanar structure of neighboring dibenzothiophene-5,5-dioxide and imide rings. For the 6FDA-based polyimides, permeability coefficients to H₂, O₂, N₂, CO₂, and CH₄ were in the order, DAFO < mPD ～ DAF < CDA < ECDA < DDBT. As for the membrane performance for H₂/CH₄, CO₂/CH₄, and O₂/N₂ systems, it is significant to change diamine from mPD to DDBT or CDA, but not to DAF or DAFO. The DDBT-based polyimides were excellent for H₂/CH₄ and CO₂/CH₄ separations. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Effect of methyl substituents on permeability and permselectivity of gases in polyimides prepared from methyl-substituted phenylenediamines

Permeability and solubility coefficients for H₂, CO₂, O₂, CO, N₂, and CH₄ in polyimides prepared from 6FDA and methyl-substituted phenylenediamines were measured to investigate effects of the substituents on gas permeability and permselectivity. The methyl substituents restrict internal rotation around the bonds between the phenyl rings and the imide rings. The rigidity and nonplanar structure of the polymer chain, and the bulkiness of methyl groups make chain packing inefficient, resulting in increases in both diffusion and solubility coefficients of the gases. Polyimides from tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine and trimethyl-m-phenylenediamine display very high permeability coefficients and very low permselectivity due to very high diffusion coefficients and very low diffusivity selectivity, as compared with the other polyimides having a similar fraction of free space. This suggests that these polyimides have high fractions of large-size free spaces.     

Silicon‐terminated telechelic oligomers by ADMET chemistry: Synthesis and copolymerization

Methoxydimethylsilane and chlorodimethylsilane‐terminated telechelic polyoctenomer oligomers (POCT) have been prepared by acyclic diene metathesis (ADMET) chemistry using Grubbs' ruthenium Ru(Cl₂)(CHPh)(PCy₃)₂ [Ru] or Schrock's molybdenum Mo(CH CMe₂Ph)(N 2,6 C₆H₃ i Pr₂)(OCMe(CF₃)₂)₂ [Mo] catalysts. These macromolecules have been characterized by FTIR, ¹H‐, ¹³C‐, and ²⁹Si‐NMR spectroscopy. The molecular weight distributions of these polymers have been determined by GPC and vapor pressure osmometry (VPO). The number‐average molecular weight (M_n) values of the telechelomers are dictated by the initial ratio of the monomer to the chain limiter. The termini of these oligomers (M_n = 2000) can undergo a condensation reaction with hydroxy‐terminated poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) macromonomer (M_n = 3300) [HO Si(CH₃)₂ O { Si(CH₃)₂O }_x  Si(CH₃)₃], producing an ABA‐type block copolymer, as follows: (CH₃)₃SiO [ Si(CH₃)₂O ]_x [ CHCH (CH₂)₆ ]_y [ OSi(CH₃)₂ ]_x OSi(CH₃)₃. The block copolymers were characterized by ¹H‐ and ¹³C‐NMR spectroscopy, VPO, and GPC, as well as elemental analysis, and were determined by VPO to have a M_n of 8600. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 849–856, 1999     

Solubility and transport of water vapor in some 6FDA-based polyimides

Permeability, diffusion, and solubility coefficients for H₂O vapor in four different 6FDA-based polyimides were determined at temperatures between 25 and 45°C and over a wide range of relative humidities. The solubility of H₂O vapor in some of the polyimides studied can be described by the “dual-mode sorption” model whereas in other polyimides it is represented by the Flory-Huggins equation, which suggests that the latter polymers are plasticized by H₂O. The solubility of H₂O vapor in the polyimides decreases as the temperature is raised and increases with increasing polarity of the polymer. The diffusion coefficients for H₂O in the polyimides studied either increase or pass through a weak maximum with increasing H₂O activity, or concentration in the polymers. The latter behavior is probably due to a clustering of H₂O molecules in the polyimides at higher H₂O activities or concentrations. The diffusion coefficients for H₂O decrease as the chain-packing density of the polyimides increases. The permeability coefficients for H₂O vapor in 6FDA-based polyimide membranes either increase slightly or are constant as the H₂O activity is increased. The experimental values of the permeability coefficients are consistent with the values determined from diffusion and solubility coefficients. The permeability of the polyimides to H₂O vapor appears to be controlled by the solubility of H₂O in the polymers. The polyimides studied exhibit a very high selectivity for H₂O vapor relative to CH_4, and therefore are potentially useful membrane materials for the dehydration of natural gas. ©1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Synthesis of poly(hydroxymethylene-co-ethylene) by hydrogenation of the ethylene and carbon monoxide copolymer obtained by radical initiator with Ru/α-alumina and oxygen gas permeability

A new polymer (polyalcohol) was synthesized by hydrogenation of an ethylene carbon monoxide (CO) copolymer produced by a radical method with a catalyst and H₂. The Ru/α-alumina catalyst systems showed an excellent activity for hydrogenation of the radical copolymer of CH₂CH₂ and CO. Films prepared by melting and pressing the synthesized polyalcohol had a high gas barrier property and high tensile modulus. This new polymer has hydroxymethylenic units [ CH(OH) ] and ethylenic units [ CH₂CH₂ ] in its molecular structure. The new functional polymer poly(hydroxymethylene-co-ethylene),  [ CH(OH) ]_n[ CH₂CH₂ ]_m , is amorphous and has excellent and important properties as a high oxygen gas barrier film for wrapping and storage. This may be attributed to the new structure of poly(hydroxymethylene-co-ethylene) (PHME as an IUPAC name), or ethylene methine alcohol copolymer (EMOH as a generic name), compared to the other ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer (EVOH as a generic name),  [ CH₂CH₂ ]_m [ CH₂CH(OH) ]_n , which is used as one of the highest gas barrier polymers. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 36: 889–900, 1998     

UV Laser‐Induced Gas‐Phase Copolymerization of Carbon Disulfide and Ethene

Summary: The laser irradiation at 193 nm of a gaseous mixture of carbon disulfide and ethene induces the copolymerization of both compounds and affords the chemical vapour deposition of a C/S/H polymer, the composition of which indicates the reaction between two to three CS₂ molecules and one C₂H₄ molecule. Polymer structure is interpreted on the basis of X‐ray photoelectron and FT‐IR spectra as consisting of >CS, >CC<,  CH₂ CH₂ , (CC)S_nC_{4 − n},  C (CS) S ,  S (CS) S , and C S S C configurations. The gas‐phase copolymerization of carbon disulfide and ethene represents the first example of such a reaction between carbon disulfide and a common monomer.

Scheme showing the expected reaction of excited CS₂ molecules with other CS₂ molecules to form dimers, which then react with another CS₂ molecule or add to ethene.     

Living cationic polymerization route to poly(oligooxyethylene carbonate) vinyl ethers

The addition of dialkyl (R = Me or Et) carbonates to poly(oxyethylene)-based solid polymeric electrolytes resulted in enhanced ionic conductivities. Relatively high conductivities in lithium batteries with solutions of lithium salts in di(oligooxyethylene) carbonates such as R( OCH₂ CH₂ )_nOC(O) O ( CH₂CH₂O )_mR (R = Et, n = 1, 2, or 3, m = 0, 1, 2, or 3) and related carbonates were obtained. In this respect, related comb-shaped poly(oligooxyethylene carbonate) vinyl ethers of the type  CH₂CH(OR) were prepared [R = ( OCH₂ CH₂ )_nOC(O) O ( CH₂CH₂O )_mR′; (1) n = 2 or 3, m = 0, R′ = Et; (2) n = 2 or 3; m = 3, R′ = Me]. The direct preparation of derived target polymers of this class by polymerization of the corresponding vinyl ether-type monomers could not be achieved because of a rapid in situ decarboxylative decomposition of these monomers (as formed) during the final step of their synthesis. Instead, a prepolymer was prepared by a living cationic polymerization of CH₂CH (OCH₂CH₂ )_n O C(O) CH₃ (n = 2 or 3). The hydrolysis of its pendant ester groups, followed by the reaction of the hydrolyzed prepolymer with each of several alkyl chloroformates of the type Cl C(O) O( CH₂CH₂O )_mR′ (m = 0, 2, or 3, R′ = Me or Et) resulted in the corresponding target polymers. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 2171–2183, 2002     

Supramolecular hexagonal structure of a segmented liquid crystalline polyester with allyl group as lateral substituent

The molecular structure of the phase—stable at room temperature—for the polymer with formula [ p C₆H₄ COO p C₆H₃(R) p C₆H₃(R) OOC p C₆H₄ O (CH₂)₁₀O ]_x, with R =  CH₂ CHCH₂, is reported. The cell is hexagonal (a = b = 13.43 Å, c = 33.3 Å, γ = 120°), space group P6₃, six chains per unit cell (d_calcd = 1.23 g cm⁻³). The six chains are packed together to give a bundle with the center of mass set at the origin of the unit cell. The allyl groups are placed inside the bundle, thus explaining the unexpected reactivity of the double bonds to give crosslinking when fiber samples are annealed in the solid state. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 37: 1601–1607, 1999     

Photooxidation of 1,3-butadiene containing systems: Rate constant determination for the reaction of acrolein with ⋅OH radicals

The photooxidation of the 1,3-butadiene–NO–air system at 298 ± 2 K was investigated in an environmental chamber under simulated atmospheric conditions. The irradiation gave rise to the formation of acrolein in a 55% yield, based on 1,3-butadiene initial concentration for all the experimental runs. The rate of formation of acrolein was the same as that of 1,3-butadiene consumption, indicating that acrolein is the major product of the 1,3-butadiene oxidation in air. The dependence of acrolein concentration on irradiation time showed thata secondary process, identified as an oxidation of acrolein by ^?OH radicals, was occurring during the photochemical runs. The rate constant of this secondary process was determined by measuring the relative rates of disappearance of acrolein and n-butane during the irradiation of acrolein-n-butane-NO-air mixtures. The so obtained relative rate constant value was placed on an absolute basis using a reported rate constant for the n-butane + ^?OH reaction; a value of (1.6 ± 0.2) × 10¹⁰ M^?1 sec^?1 was obtained.     

Study on thermal degradation mechanisms of comb polyacrylates containing long fluorocarbon side chains by TG/FTIR

Thermal degradation of two series of polyacrylates containing long fluorocarbon chains [abbr.: PF_nA {HCF₂(CF₂)_n−1  CH₂ O C(O) , n = 4, 6, 8, 10} and abbr.: PFF_nEA {CF₃(CF₂)_n−1  CH₂CH₂ O C(O) , n = 6, 8, 10}] was investigated by TG /FTIR. Thermal degradation behavior of polymers changed depending on the type of tie groups, which link the fluorocarbon chains to the main chain, and also on the length of fluorocarbon chains. It was clarified that the apparent activation energies (ΔE_a ) of PF_nA series obtained by Ozawa's method varied in the order of PF₄A > PF₆A > PF₈A > PF₁₀A, while those of PFF_nEA series having tie group of  CH₂ CH₂ O C(O) were almost constant. The results for PF_nA series (tie group:  CH₂ O C(O) ) are attributable to the shield effect of long fluorocarbon chains on the back‐biting reaction in the thermal degradation of comb polymers rather than the change of C C bond dissociation energy in the main chain. It was found that TG curves of PFF_nEA series were shifted to the lower temperature region than those of PF_nA. This result can be attributable to the scission of side groups followed by the evaporation of fluorocarbon compounds and carbon dioxide. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 2794–2803, 2000     

Permeability,permselectivity, and penetrant‐induced plasticization in fluorinated polyimides studied by positron lifetime measurements

The ortho‐positronium (o‐Ps) lifetime τ₃ and its intensity I₃ in various fluorinated polyimides were determined by the positron annihilation technique and were studied with the spin–lattice relaxation time T₁ and the propylene permeability, solubility, diffusivity, and permselectivity for propylene/propane in them. τ₃, I₃, and the distribution of τ₃ changed when the bulky moieties in the polyimides were changed. The polyimides, having both large τ₃ and I₃ values, exhibited a short T₁ and a high permeability with a low permselectivity. The propylene permeability and diffusivity were exponentially correlated with the product of I₃ and the average free‐volume hole size estimated from τ₃. In highly plasticized states induced by the sorption of propylene, the permeability increased with the propylene pressure in excellent agreement with the change in the free‐volume hole properties probed by o‐Ps. The large and broad distribution of the free‐volume holes and increased local chain mobility for the 2,2‐bis(3,4‐decarboxyphenyl) hexafluoropropane dianhydride‐based polyimides are thought to be important physical properties for promoting penetrant‐induced plasticization. These results suggest that o‐Ps is a powerful probe of not only the free‐volume holes but also the corresponding permeation mechanism and penetrant‐induced plasticization phenomenon. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 41: 308–318, 2003     

Preparation of poly(alkylenebenzimidazole) by ruthenium complex catalyzed polycondensation of 3,3′‐diaminobenzidine with α,ω‐diols

The reactions of 3,3′‐diaminobenzidine with 1,12‐dodecanediol in 1 : 1–1:3 molar ratios in the presence of RuCl₂(PPh₃)₃ catalyst give poly(alkylenebenzimidazole), [ (CH₂)₁₁ O (CH₂)₁₁ Im / (CH₂)₁₀ Im ]_n (Im: 5,5′‐dibenzimidazole‐2,2′‐diyl) (I_a‐I_d) in 71–92% yields. The relative ratio between the [(CH₂)₁₁ O (CH₂)₁₁ Im ] unit (A) and the [‐ (CH₂)₁₀ Im ] unit (B) in the polymer chain varies depending on the ratio of the substrates used. The polymer I_a obtained from the 1 : 3 reaction contains these structural units in a 98 : 2 ratio. The polymers are soluble in polar solvents such as DMF (N,N‐dimethylformamide), DMSO (dimethyl sulfoxide), and NMP (N‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidone) and have molecular weights M_n (M_w) of 4,200–4,800 (4,800–6,500) by GPC (polystyrene standard). The polymerization of the diol and 3,3′‐diaminobenzidine in higher molar ratios leads to partial cross‐linking of the resulting polymers I_e and I_f via condensation of imidazole NH group with CH₂OH group. Similar reactions of 3,3′‐diaminobenzidine with α,ω‐diols, HO(CH₂)_mOH (m = 4–10), in a 1 : 3 molar ratio give the polymers containing [ (CH₂)_m−1 O (CH₂) _m−1 Im ] and [ (CH₂) _m−2 Im ] units with partial cross‐linked structures. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 1383–1392, 1999     

Ru and Sm catalyzed polyaddition of dialdehydes to give polyesters. Application of Tishchenko type reactions to polymer synthesis

RuH₂(PPh₃)₄ catalyzed Tishchenko type polyaddition of terephthal-aldehyde gives aromatic polyester ( 1 ), which contains three structural units, [OCH₂ C₆H₄ CH₂O] ( 1a ), [OCH₂ C₆H₄ CO] ( 1b ), and [CO C₆H₄ CO] ( 1c ). ¹H-NMR spectrum shows the presence of the three units in a 1 : 2 : 1 ratio. Isophthalaldehyde also undergoes similar polyaddition to give another aromatic polyester ( 2 ), while 1,12-dodecanedial gives an aliphatic polyester ( 3 ) containing the following structural units: [OCH₂ (CH₂)₁₀ CH₂O] ( 3a ), [OCH₂ (CH₂)₁₀ CO] ( 3b ), and [CO (CH₂)₁₀ CO] ( 3c ). The above polymers have M_n of 2.7 × 10³−5.4 × 10³ and M_w of 4.3 × 10³ − 9.7 × 10³, respectively. Mixtures of terephthalaldehyde and 1,12-dodecanedial produce copolymers, which contain the units 1a–1c and 3a–3c in a random sequence. In the copolymerization, terephthalaldehyde shows a strong tendency to give 1c units, whereas 1,12-dodecanedial predominantly affords 3a units. SmI₂ also catalyzes polyaddition of terephthalaldehyde to give the corresponding polyester with M_n of 1.7 × 10³ and M_w of 3.7 × 10³, respectively. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 35: 1265–1273, 1997     

Effects of physical aging on solubility,diffusivity, and permeability of propane and n-butane in poly(4-methyl-2-pentyne)

The effects of physical aging on the solubility, diffusivity, and permeability of propane and n-butane in a hydrocarbon-based disubstituted polyacetylene, poly(4-methyl-2-pentyne) (PMP), were studied. As the relative pressure of propane and n-butane increased, the solubility of both hydrocarbons increased. Like other glassy polymers, the sorption isotherms for propane and n-butane in all PMP films were concave to the relative pressure axis, indicating dual-mode sorption behavior. The diffusion of propane and n-butane in PMP followed typical Fickian diffusion in a plane sheet. The propane diffusivity in both the unaged and aged films increased with increasing concentration of propane sorbed in the film. The n-butane diffusivity in aged films also increased with increasing n-butane concentration. However, unaged films showed the opposite behavior: the diffusivity decreased with increasing n-butane concentration. These diffusion phenomena are a consequence of the interplay between thermodynamic and mobility factors. The permeabilities of propane and n-butane decreased monotonically with increasing penetrant concentration, similar to the behavior observed in other common glassy polymers. The relaxation of the nonequilibrium excess free volume in PMP films induced the decrease in both solubility and diffusivity. As a result, the permeability of propane and n-butane in PMP decreased upon physical aging. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 42: 2407–2418, 2004     

Sorption,diffusion, and partial molar volumes of C4 hydrocarbons in rubbery polymers

Sorption and dilation isotherms and diffusion coefficients for seven hydrocarbons (n-butane, isobutane, 1-butene, cis-2-butene, trans-2-butene, isobutylene, and 1,3-butadiene) in two rubbery polymers, 1,2-polybutadiene (PB) and poly(ethylene-co-vinyl acetate) (EVAc), were measured at 25°C. Dissolution parameters (Henry's law coefficient and Flory-Huggins interaction parameter), partial molar volumes, and diffusion coefficients were determined. PB exhibited greater affinity and lower diffusivity than EVAc to the C₄ gases, although the gases showed nearly the same partial molar volumes in the two polymers. The diffusivity of such elongated molecules as trans-2-butene in both polymers was higher than that of bulky molecules with similar partial molar volume, such as cis-2-butene and isobutylene. Pressure-dependent permeabilities of PB and EVAc films to the hydrocarbons were predicted and discussed based on the dissolution parameters and the diffusivities. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Gas‐transport properties of indan‐containing polyimides

A series of indan‐containing polyimides were synthesized, and their gas‐permeation behavior was characterized. The four polyimides used in this study were synthesized from an indan‐containing diamine [5,7‐diamino‐1,1,4,6‐tetramethylindan (DAI)] with four dianhydrides [3,3′4,4′‐benzophenone tetracarboxylic dianhydride (BTDA), 3,3′4,4′‐oxydiphthalic dianhydride (ODPA), (3,3′4,4′‐biphenyl tetracarboxylic dianhydride (BPDA), and 2,2′‐bis(3,4′‐dicarboxyphenyl) hexafluoropropane dianhydride (6FDA)]. The gas‐permeability coefficients of these four polyimides changed in the following order: DAI–BTDA < DAI–ODPA < DAI–BPDA < DAI–6FDA. This was consistent with the increasing order of the fraction of free volume (FFV). Moreover, the gas‐permeability coefficients were almost doubled from DAI–ODPA to DAI–BPDA and from DAI–BPDA to DAI–6FDA, although the FFV differences between the two polyimides were very small. The gas permeability and diffusivity of these indan‐containing polyimides increased with temperature, whereas the permselectivity and diffusion selectivity decreased. The activation energies for the permeation and diffusion of O₂, N₂, CH₄, and CO₂ were estimated. In comparison with the gas‐permeation behavior of other indan‐containing polymers, for these polyimides, very good gas‐permeation performance was found, that is, high gas‐permeability coefficients and reasonably high permselectivity. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 42: 2769–2779, 2004     

Synthesis of Chain‐End Functionalized Polyolefins with a Bis(phenoxy imine) Titanium Catalyst

Polyethylenes and highly syndiotactic poly(propylene)s possessing chain end hydroxyl groups were synthesized by living polymerizations using L₂TiCl₂ [ 1 , L: C₆F₅NCH(2 O C₆H₃ 3 ^tBu)]/MAO and functionalized α‐olefins, H₂CCH(CH₂)_n Y [ 2 ; YOAlMe₂, n = 4 ( 2a ); YOSiMe₃, n = 9 ( 2b )]. Because the primary insertion of 2 to a cationic species L₂Ti⁺ Me ( 3 ) derived from 1 /MAO is much faster than the successive secondary insertion of 2 , addition of an equimolar amount of 2 to 3 resulted in the quantitative formation of L₂Ti⁺ CH₂ CH(Me) (CH₂)_n Y [ 4 ; YOAlMe₂, n = 4 ( 4a ); YOSiMe₃, n = 9 ( 4b )]. These cationic species 4 served as functionalized initiators for the living polymerization of both ethylene and propylene and afforded polyolefins having extremely narrow molecular weight distributions and a hydroxyl group at the initiating chain end. The terminating chain end of the syndiotactic poly(propylene)s was also functionalized by adding an excess amount of 2b as a chain end capping agent to the living L₂Ti–polymeryl species. Due to much slower insertion of the second molecule of 2b relative to the first one, the obtained polymers were end capped quantitatively by a single molecule of 2b . Telechelic syndiotactic poly(propylene)s were successfully synthesized through a living polymerization initiated by 4b and an end capping using 2b .

     

Gel formation in cationic polymerization of divinyl ethers. II. 2,2-Bis{4-[(2-vinyloxy)ethoxy]phenyl}propane

Cationic polymerization of 2,2-bis{4-[(2-vinyloxy)ethoxy]phenyl}propane [CH₂CH O CH₂CH₂O C₆H₄ C(CH₃)₂ C₆H₄ OCH₂CH₂ O CHCH₂; 2], a divinyl ether with oxyethylene units adjacent to the polymerizable vinyl ether groups and a bulky central spacer, was investigated in CH₂Cl₂ at 0°C with the diphenyl phosphate [(C₆H₅O)₂P(O)OH]/zinc chloride (ZnCl₂) initiating system. The polymerization proceeded quantitatively and gave soluble polymers up to 85% monomer conversion. In the same fashion as the polymerization of 1,4-bis[2-vinyloxy(ethoxy)]benzene (CH₂CH O CH₂CH₂O C₆H₄ OCH₂CH₂ O CHCH₂; 1) that we already studied, the content of the unreacted pendant vinyl ether groups of the produced soluble polymers decreased with monomer conversion, and almost all the pendant vinyl ether groups were consumed in the soluble products prior to gelation. Alternatively, endo-type double bonds were gradually formed in the polymer main chains by chain transfer reactions and other side reactions as the polymerization proceeded. The polymerization behavior of isobutyl vinyl ether (3), a monofunctional vinyl ether, under the same conditions, showed that the endo-type olefins in the polymer backbones are of no polymerization ability with the growing active species involved in the present polymerization systems. These results indicate that the intermolecular crosslinking reactions occurred primarily by the pendant vinyl ether groups, and the final stage of crosslinking process leading to gelation also may occur by the small amount of the residual pendant vinyl ether groups (supposedly less than 2%). The formation of the soluble polymers that almost lack the unreacted pendant vinyl ether groups is most likely due to the frequent occurrence of intramolecular crosslinking reactions. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 1931–1941, 1999