Simulation of pseudostationary radical polymerization, 1. Chain-length distributions for arbitrary initiation profiles

A procedure is developed which allows to treat arbitrary periodic initiation profiles (asymmetric and symmetric triangle profiles, sinusoidal profiles, Gaussian profiles etc.) in pseudostationary radical polymerization. Using an iterative method these profiles are transformed into the (likewise periodic) radical profiles and into the chain-length distributions of the resulting polymer in case of termination by disproportionation. These distributions are analysed for the position of their inflection points which may be used for experimental determination of the elementary rate constant of chain propagation k_p. It turned out that for all profiles that have at least one discontinuity (e.g. asymmetric triangle profiles) the position of the point of inflection is a correct measure of k_p for a conveniently wide range of experimental parameters. In case of profiles without discontinuity (symmetric triangle profiles, sinusoidal and Gaussian profiles) the position of the inflection point is shifted to lower values which means that the k_p values determined on this basis will be a little too small. In most cases, however, the error introduced by this fact will not exceed the overall error of the experiment so that in practice the method of determining k_p in pseudostationary polymerization is not restricted to those profiles which exhibit discontinuities.     

Enolic Schiff-base aluminum complexes and their application in lactide polymerization

A series of NNOO-tetradentate enolic Schiff-base ligands were prepared where ligand L₁ = bis(benzoylacetone)propane-1,2-diimine, L₂ = bis(acetylacetone)-propane-1,2-diimine, L₃ = bis-(acetylacetone)cyclohexane-1,2-diimine. Their further reaction with aluminum tris(ethyl) formed complexes LAlEt (1a, 2a and 3a). The solid structure of complexes 1a, 2a and 3a confirmed by X-ray single crystal analysis manifested that these complexes were all monomeric and five-coordinated with an aluminum atom in the center. The configurations of these complexes varied from trigonal bipyramidal geometry (tbp) to square pyramidal geometry (sqp) due to their different auxiliary ligand architectures. ¹H NMR spectra indicated that all these complexes retained their configuration in solution states. Their catalytic properties to polymerize racemic-lactide (rac-LA) in the presence of 2-propanol were also studied. The diimine bridging parts as well as the diketone segment substituents had very close relationship with their performance upon the polymerization process. All these complexes gave moderately isotactic polylactides with controlled molecular weight and very narrow molecular weight distributions.     

New particles as pseudostationary phase for electrokinetic chromatography

Summary The aim of this work is to develop new particles which are specially designed for use as pseudostationary phase in electrokinetic chromatography. They should be able to form stable suspensions independent of the composition of the electrolyte. The necessary surface coating was synthesized in our laboratory. The surface of these particles consists of chromatographic groups which are responsible for the interaction with the analytes and charged groups which ensure the mobility of the particles in the electric field. Both kinds of groups are chemically bonded to the support silica material. Therefore this pseudostationary phase forms stable suspensions even in electrolytes containing high proportions of organic modifiers. The particle diameter is in the range of 500 nm which makes continuous UV and fluorescence detection possible. Applications of these particles are demonstrated for the separation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and naphthalene derivatives. Investigations are made concerning the selectivity and impact of the particles on band broadening. Presented at the 21^st ISC held in Stuttgart, Germany, 15^th–20^th September, 1996.     

Synthesis of anilinonaphthoquinone-based nickel complexes and their application for olefin polymerization

A series of anilinonaphthoquinone-based nickel complexes, Ni(C₁₀H₅O₂NAr)(Ph)(PPh₃) (Ar = C₆H₃-2,6-Me (1c); Ar = C₆H₂-2,4,6-Me (2c); Ar = C₆H₃-2,6-Et (3c)), were synthesized and the structures of 1c-3c were confirmed by single crystal X-ray analyses. The anilinonaphthoquinone-ligated nickel complexes activated with B(C₆F₅)₃ showed high activities for ethylene polymerization at 40 °C under atmospheric pressure of ethylene and gave polyethylene with long chain branches and short chain branches. The activity of these systems was decreased by lowering polymerization temperature accompanied by increase in molecular weight. The number of the chain branches was also decreased with lowering polymerization temperature and increasing the bulkiness of the ligand.     

Thermal decomposition behavior of mono-aminimides and their application to polymerization of epoxide

Mono-aminimide compounds [N,N-dimethyl-N-(2-hydroxypropyl)-amine-N′-propionimide ( 1 ), trimethylamine valerimide ( 2 ), and trimethylamine benzimide ( 3 )] were found to exhibit different thermal decomposition behaviors and polymerization efficiencies for an epoxide (phenyl glycidyl ether, PGE). The thermal decomposition rate of aminimides at 150°C decreased in the order 1 > 2 > 3 . It seemed that hydrogen bonding enchanced the decomposition rate, and the resonance effect induced by the phenyl group suppressed the decomposition. 1 was thermolyzed to give isocyanate and tertiary aminoalcohol, which subsequently reacted with each other to give isocyanate and tertiary aminoalcohol, which subsequently reacted with each other to give urethane. When 2 was heatted, the isocyanurate generated from 2 remained intact. On heating of 3 , we observed the formation of triphenyl isocyanurate. PGE reacted with those aminimides and gave different products depending on their thermolyzed products. Equimolar mixtures of isocyanate, tertiary amine, PGE were used in the model reactions, and the thermal reaction between the expected decompostion products of aminimides was investigated in the presence and absence of PGE. The rate of PGE consumption was in the order PGE + 2 > PGE + 1 > PGE + 3 . It is clear that the formation of urethanes and oxazolidone derivatives affects the polymerization process.     

Thermal decomposition behavior of bis-aminimides and their application to polymerization of epoxide

Bis-aminimide compounds [bis-N, N,-dimethyl-N,-(2-hydroxypropyl)-amine-N,′-adipimide ( 1 ) and bis-trimethylamine adipimide ( 2 )] were found to exhibit different thermal decomposition behavior and polymerization efficiency for an epoxide (phenyl glycidyl ether, PGE). The thermal decomposition rate of 1 was much higher than that of 2. It seemed that hydrogen bonding enhanced the decomposition rate. Compound 1 was thermolyzed to give a diisocyanate and a tertiary aminoalcohol, which subsequently reacted with each other to give a urethane. When 2 was heated, the isocyanate generated from 2 remained unreacted. PGE reacted with thoseaminimides to give different products, depending on their thermolyzed products. Mixtures of diisocyanate, tertiary amine, and PGE were used in the model reactions, and the thermal reaction between the expected decomposition products of aminimides was investigated in the presence and absence of PGE. The amount of high molecular weight fraction in PGE + 2 is greater than that of PGE + 1 . In the former, the free isocyanate groups may act as a chain extender to give higher molecular weight fractions.     

Characterization of dendrimer properties by capillary electrophoresis and their use as pseudostationary phases

The general properties of dendrimers and in particular their electrolytic characteristics that are relevant in electrokinetic separations, are described. In order to confirm theoretical considerations on commercial dendrimer charge and hydrodynamic radius, several capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) experiments were performed. Electrophoretic mobilities measured at different pH values indicated a sensible increase of dendrimer hydrodynamic radius at pH values lower than 2.5. This was probably due to the Coulombic repulsion of charged amine groups of the inner dendrimer shells. The principal reasons that should address the use of dendrimers as pseudostationary phases in micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC) are discussed. Moreover, a survey of different separations performed utilizing dendrimers in MEKC as well as of several future plausible uses of various classes of dendrimers is presented.     

New aspects on intrinsically conducting organic systems and their synthesis

Organic polymer films with intrinsic conductivity can be produced in a continuous process directly from the monomers by anodic oxidation. This paper describes the synthesis, the scope available for variation in the process, and the main properties of the new polymers. Electrochemical oxidation, e.g. of pyrrole to polypyrrole, is a new polymerization principle that differs essentially from those adopted for classical plastics, i.e. radical or ionic polymerization and polyaddition or polycondensation techniques. It is not only the principle underlying the synthesis that differs, and the properties of the new polymers are unusual.     

Synthesis and characterization of phosphorous-bridged bisphenoxy titanium complexes and their application to ethylene polymerization

Phosphorous-bridged bisphenoxy titanium complexes were synthesized and their ethylene polymerization behavior was investigated. Bis[3-tert-butyl-5-methyl-2-phenoxy](phenyl)phosphine tetrahydrofuran titanium dichloride (4a) was obtained by treatment of 3 equiv of n-BuLi with bis[3-tert-butyl-2-hydroxy-5-methylphenyl](phenyl)phosphine hydrochloride salt (3a) followed by TiCl₄(THF)₂ in THF. THF-free complexes 5a-5d were synthesized more conveniently by the direct reaction of MOM-protected ligands (2a-2d) with TiCl₄ in toluene. X-ray analysis of 4a revealed that the ligand is bonded to the octahedral titanium (IV) center in a facial fashion and two chlorine atoms possess cis-geometry. Complexes 4a and 5a-5d were utilized as catalyst precursors for ethylene polymerization. Complex 5c gave high molecular weight polyethylene (M_w = 1,170,000, M_w/M_n = 2.0) upon activation with Al(ⁱBu)₃/[Ph₃C][B(C₆F₅)₄] (TB). Ethylene polymerization activity of 5d activated with Al(ⁱBu)₃/TB reached 49.0 × 10⁶ g mol (cat) ⁻¹ h⁻¹.     

Mechanistic aspects of group transfer polymerization

The experimental evidence supporting the involvement of enolate anions in group transfer polymerization(GTP) is reviewed. The results of silyl group exchange studies between living silyl ketene acetal-ended oligomers under typical GTP conditions are discussed. It is concluded that the observations of significant amounts of silyl group exchange in the presence of polymerizing monomer are not consistent with the originally proposed “associative mechanism” based on the GTP Criterion which precludes intermolecular silyl group exchange.     

Preparation of macroporous functionalized polymer beads by a multistep polymerization and their application in zirconocene catalysts for ethylene polymerization

Macroporous functionalized polymer beads of poly(4‐vinylpyridine‐co‐1,4‐divinylbenzene) [P(VPy‐co‐DVB)] were prepared by a multistep polymerization, including a polystyrene (PS) shape template by emulsifier‐free emulsion polymerization, linear PS seeds by staged template suspension polymerization, and macroporous functionalized polymer beads of P(VPy‐co‐DVB) by multistep seeded polymerization. The polymer beads, having a cellular texture, were made of many small, spherical particles. The bead size was 10–50 μm, and the pore size was 0.1–1.5 μm. The polymer beads were used as supports for zirconocene catalysts in ethylene polymerization. They were very different from traditional polymer supports. The polymer beads could be exfoliated to yield many spherical particles dispersed in the resulting polyethylene particles during ethylene polymerization. The influence of the polymer beads on the catalytic behavior of the supported catalyst and morphology of the resulting polyethylene was investigated. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 873–880, 2003     

New aspects of the low-concentrated aniline polymerization in the solution and in SiC nanocrystals dispersion

Results of the simultaneous in-situ UV-vis and open-circuit potential (OCP) monitoring of the low-concentrated aniline (An) polymerization in the presence of camphorsulfonic acid (CSA) suggested that during the induction period (IP) step a transition state formed, which probably included anilinium cation and the oxidant anion, antecedent to a propagation step. No aniline oligomers were registered at this stage but they appeared at the beginning of the propagation step under the investigation conditions. The moments of formation of insoluble pernigraniline phase and appearance of emeraldine units in the growing pernigraniline chains were ascertained by the comparison of kinetic and OCP profiles of the polymerization process both in the solution and in SiC dispersion water mediums. It is deduced that pernigraniline reduction by aniline molecules begins earlier than it is generally accepted (i.e., earlier than OCP maximum is reached) and probably in parallel to a continuing appearance of pernigraniline units even in the same chains that undergo the reduction. It was found that an addition of the SiC dispersion phase into the polymerization mixture accelerates differently all stages of the aniline polymerization. Finally, this polymerization process leads to the formation of polyaniline (PANI)-CSA shell with thickness in the range from 0.5 nm to a few nm at the SiC nanocrystals surface.     

Radiation induced polymerization of vinyl monomers and their application for preparation of wood-polymer composites

Polymerizing effects of high energy radiation has been found suitable for preparation of wood-polymer composites. In the present work after evaluating polymer products that have been obtained by irradiation method, wood-polymer composites have been prepared by in situ polymerization of vinyl acetate, acrylic acid and acrylic acid/styrene mixture using two samples of Iranian hardwoods, Beech and Hornbeam. These woods and their composites have been tested for their physical and mechanical properties. The results have shown that chemical bonding between polymer and the cell wall component lead to better strength properties in the composites.     

New polyethylene macroinitiators and their subsequent grafting by atom transfer radical polymerization

A semicrystalline polyethylene (PE) macroinitiator was prepared by copolymerizing ethylene and an inititating monomer (5-norbornen-2-yl-2'-bromo-2'-methyl propanoate) (3) using [N-(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)-2-(2,6-diisopropylphenylimino)isobutanamidato]-Ni(eta1-CH2Ph)(PMe3) (1) and Ni(COD)2 (bis(1,5-cyclooctadiene)-nickel) (2). Although 3 decomposes Ni(COD)2, if the initiating species (1/2) are exposed to ethylene for a period of time, t1, and then 3 is introduced for another period of time, t2, the polymerization takes place in a controlled manner. Variations in temperature, pressure, and [3] afford a great deal of control over the composition and architecture of the PE macroinitiator. Subsequent grafting with methyl methacrylate (MMA) yields PE-graft-PMMA with narrow polydispersities and increasing PMMA content at longer reaction times. Because the products are semicrystalline materials with high melting points, they are anticipated to function as blend compatibilizers for linear polyethylene.     

Preparation of functionalized montmorillonites and their application in supported zirconocene catalysts for ethylene polymerization

Ethylene polymerization was carried out with zirconocene catalysts supported on montmorillonite (or functionalized montmorillonite). The functionalized montmorillonite was from simple ion exchange of [CH₃O₂CCH₂NH₃]⁺ (MeGlyH⁺) ions with interlamellar cations of layered montmorillonites. The functionalized montmorillonites [high‐purity montmorillonite (MMT)‐MeGlyH⁺] had larger interlayer spacing (12.69 Å) than montmorillonites without treatment (9.65 Å). The zirconocene catalyst system [Cp₂ZrCl₂/methylaluminoxane (MAO)/MMT‐MeGlyH⁺] had much higher Zr loading and higher activities than those of other zirconocene catalyst systems (Cp₂ZrCl₂/MMT, Cp₂ZrCl₂/MMT‐MeGlyH⁺, Cp₂ZrCl₂/MAO/MMT, [Cp₂ZrCl]⁺[BF₄]/MMT, [Cp₂ZrCl]⁺[BF₄]^?/MMT‐MeGlyH⁺, [Cp₂ZrCl]⁺[BF₄]^?/MAO/MMT‐MeGlyH⁺, and [Cp₂ZrCl]⁺[BF₄]^?/MAO/MMT). The polyethylenes with good bulk density were obtained from the catalyst systems, particularly (Cp₂ZrCl₂/MAO/MMT‐MeGlyH⁺). MeGlyH⁺ and MAO seemed to play important roles for preparation of the supported zirconocenes and polymerization of ethylene. The difference in Zr loading and catalytic activity among the supported zirconocene catalysts is discussed. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 1892–1898, 2002