Living and apparently living carbocationic polymerizations

Some years ago, the occurrence of living carbocationic polymerization had not generally been expected to be possible, since it is well known that most carbocationic species are quite unstable and have very short lifetimes, and since transfer to monomer had been shown to be important, particularly near room temperature. However, during the last years, many reports of living carbocationic polymerizations have been made. They were based on the observation of various features usually linked to living polymerizations, such as a linear increase of mol. wts. with conversion, sometimes even after several monomer additions, which was attributed to the absence of termination and transfer. In some cases, narrow mol. wt. distributions were also obtained. There seems to be now a general agreement that in these polymerizations a reversible termination occurs, making eventually further growth possible on all macromolecules. Another general feature of those apparently living systems is that the ratio of propagation rate and initiation rate is not too high, so that the concentration of macromolecules is approximately equal to that of the initiator. But the experimental data do not necessarily imply, as this has been generally assumed, that transfer is absent and that the nature of active sites is completely different from those in more classical systems. It is shown that the values of transfer constants already measured in these last ones are compatible with the results obtained in the apparently living systems. A perfectly linear relationship between number-average degree of polymerization (D̄P̄_n) and polymer yield may be observed even up to mol. wts. of about 2.10⁴ with transfer constants k_trM/k_p as high as 5.10⁻⁴ in apparently living systems. Termination and transfer might be, however, reduced in some cases by various means that are examined, such as the presence of polar additives, a lowering of temperature and the presence of excess monomer. The distinction between systems obeying all the main criteria for living polymerization and those which are only apparently living is discussed.     

Design of new polymer architectures by combination of anionic and cationic living polymerization techniques

The grafting of polystyryl lithium onto poly(chloroethyl vinyl ether) chains has been investigated. The reaction proceeds cleanly and quantitatively thus allowing the synthesis of comblike polymers. Since the dimensions of the polystyrene branches and of the poly(chloroethyl vinyl ether) backbone can be controlled by living polymerizations, both the length and the number of branches of the graft copolymers can be tuned. The latter behave as star polymers. The possibility to initiate a new cationic polymerization of chloroethyl vinyl ether from polystyrene branches bearing acetal termini in order to prepare the corresponding stars with poly(chloroethyl vinyl ether-b- styrene) branches is also examined. Finally access to hyperbranched polymers of controlled architecture and dimensions by deactivation of a second amount of polystyryl lithium onto the last blocks of poly(chloroethyl vinyl ether) is also reported.     

Block copolymers of styrene and p-acetoxystyrene with polyisobutylene by combination of living carbocationic and atom transfer radical polymerizations

Successful combination of quasiliving carbocationic (QLCP) and atom transfer radical polymerizations (ATRP) was carried out by initiating ATRP with polyisobutylene (PIB) macroinitiators obtained by QLCP. It has been found that 1-chloro-1-phenylethyl-telechelic PIBs with M̄_n of 7 800 and 30 700 are efficient macroinitiators for ATRP of styrene in bulk and in xylene solution and for p-acetoxystyrene (pAcOSt) in xylene. Size exclusion chromatography (SEC) traces clearly indicated quantitative initiation and the formation of the desired polystyrene-block-polyisobutylene-block-polystyrene (PSt-PIB-PSt) and PpAcOSt-PIB-PpAcOSt triblock copolymers. Experiments also revealed absence of thermal self-initiation of styrene under ATRP conditions.     

Near- and supercritical fluid solvents for living anionic polymerizations

Near- and supercritical fluids are investigated as solvents for anionic polymerizations of 1,3-dienes. Solvent strength (solubility parameter) of mixtures of light hydrocarbons containing cyclohexane is shown to be adjustable using solvatochromic probe methods. The results indicate that these mixtures have solubility parameter values that are lower than conventional liquid solvents and represent a regime of solvent strength that has remained unexplored for ionic polymerizations. The anionic initiator 3-methyl-1,1-diphenyl-pentyllithium (MDPPL) was shown to be soluble in supercritical ethane and that its ultraviolet/visible absorption maximum was sensitive to systematic density changes of the supercritical fluid induced by pressure profiling. These results were extended to the anionic polymerization of isoprene in butane/cyclohexane mixtures.     

Synthetic applications of non-polymerizable monomers in living carbocationic polymerization

The foundation and methodology of using highly reactive but non-polymerizable monomers in living cationic polymerizations is introduced. The chemistry and kinetics of 1,1-diphenylethylene (DPE) addition to living polyisobutylene (PIB) in methyl chloride/n-hexanes 40/60 v/v at −80°C is reported. Monoaddition occurred even when large excess of 1,1-diphenylethylene was used. The methanol quenched polymer of the DPE capped PIB carried -OCH₃ functionality exclusively, suggesting that the diphenyl alkyl chain-ends are completely ionized, which was confirmed by conductivity studies. By in-situ functionalization using soft nucleophiles a variety of functional groups were obtained, most notably ester upon reaction with silyl ketene acetal. It was found that the diphenyl carbenium ion is an efficient initiating species for the polymerization of reactive monomers such as vinyl ethers and α-methylstyrene. The synthesis of PIB based block copolymers was accomplished by sequential monomer addition, using para-methylstyrene, α-methylstyrene or isobutyl vinyl ether as the second monomer. It involved capping with DPE, followed by tailoring the Lewis acidity to the reactivity of the second monomer by the addition of titanium(IV) alkoxide, by replacing the Lewis acid with a weaker one or by the use of a common ion salt. PIB-b-PMMA was obtained by the combination of living cationic and group transfer (GTP) polymerizations.     

Anionic amphiphilic end‐linked conetworks by the combination of quasiliving carbocationic and group transfer polymerizations

A series of amphiphilic end‐linked conetworks was synthesized by the combination of two “quasiliving” polymerization techniques, quasiliving carbocationic (QLCCP) and group transfer polymerizations (GTP). The hydrophobic monomer was polyisobutylene methacrylate synthesized by the QLCCP of isobutylene and subsequent terminal modification reactions. The hydrophilic monomer was methacrylic acid (MAA) introduced via the polymerization of 2‐tetrahydropyranyl methacrylate followed by acid hydrolysis after (co)network formation. The conetwork syntheses were performed by sequential monomer/crosslinker additions under GTP conditions. All the precursors and the extractables from the conetworks were characterized by gel permeation chromatography and ¹H NMR. The resulting polymer conetworks were investigated in terms of their degree of swelling (DS) in aqueous media and in tetrahydrofuran (THF) over the whole range of ionization of the MAA units and in n‐hexane for uncharged conetworks. The DSs in water increased with the degree of ionization (DI) of the MAA units and the hydrophilic content in the conetwork, whereas the DSs in THF increased with the reduction of the DI of the MAA units. The effective pK of the MAA units in the conetworks increased from 8.4 to 10.5 with decreasing MAA content. These findings can facilitate the design of similar unique conetworks with adjustable swelling behavior and composition‐dependent pK values. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 4289–4301, 2009     

Kinetic simulation of living carbocationic polymerizations. II. Simulation of living isobutylene polymerization using a mechanistic model

This paper discusses the kinetic simulation of TiCl₄--coinitiated living carbocationic isobutylene (IB) polymerizations governed by dormant-active equilibria, using a mechanistic model. Two kinetic models were constructed from the same underlying mechanism: one using a commercial simulation software package (Predici^®), and the other using the method of moments. Parameter estimation from experimental batch reactor data with Predici yielded a rate constant of propagation k_p = 4.64 × 10⁸ ± 2.75 × 10⁸ L/mol s, with no constraints imposed. This agrees with k_p data measured with diffusion clock and competition methods, but disagrees with kinetically obtained k_p values. Estimation of rate constants with Predici^® and the GREG parameter estimation software packages revealed that it was difficult to estimate the complete set of kinetic parameters, due to correlated effects of the parameters on model predictions. Estimability analysis confirmed that some of the strongly correlating parameters could not be estimated simultaneously using the available experimental data. Using k_p = 6 × 10⁸ ± 2.75  × 10⁸ L/mol s measured by Mayr, and using starting estimates of other rate constants defined by experimentally observed correlations, yielded the set of rate constants required for the simulations. Both kinetic models yielded good agreement with experimental data, with the exception of M_w values that slightly diverged from the theoretically predicted ‘M_w−M_n = constant’ relationship. This may indicate the occurrence of a minor side reaction. However, the k_p/k₋₁ = 17.5 L/mol average run length calculated from measured and simulated MWD data agrees well with earlier literature values.     

Synthetic applications of non-polymerizable monomers in living carbocationic polymerization; recent developments

Recent developments using non-(homo)polymerizable monomers, for the synthesis of functional polymers and block copolymers by living cationic polymerization are discussed. The preparation of block copolymers based on IB and αMeSt or IBVE are reported using DPE capping followed by Lewis acidity moderation. The use of non-polymerizable diolefins such as bis (diphenylethylenes) for in situ coupling of living chains is also discussed. Depending on the structure of the diolefin mono- or diaddition is observed.     

Controlling polymer structures by atom transfer radical polymerization and other controlled/living radical polymerizations

Fundamentals of controlled/living radical polymerization (CRP) and Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization (ATRP), relevant to the synthesis of controlled polymer structures are described. Macromolecular brushes with star like structure are used as an example to illustrate synthetic power of ATRP.     

Modelling carbocationic polymerizations: Kinetics of the reactions of carbocations with alkenes

Reactions of carbocations with olefins and related π-nucleophiles follow second order kinetics, first order with respect to carbocation and first order with respect to olefin. The rate constants are equal for paired and non-paired ions and independent of the nature of the negative counter-ions. Rate constants k < 10⁷-10⁸ L mol⁻¹ s⁻¹ can be calculated by lg k(20 °C) = s (N+E), where E represents the strengths of the electrophiles, while nucleophiles are characterized by the slope parameter s and the nucleophilicity parameter N. These parameters can be used for selecting initiators for carbocationic polymerizations and for designing copolymers.     

Grafting by in situ coupling of epoxy groups of a living copolymer with an anionic living polymer

A tetrahydrofuran (THF) solution of the living random copolymer of methyl methacrylate (MMA) and glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) was prepared by the living anionic copolymerization of the two monomers, using 1,1‐diphenylhexyllithium (DPHLi) as initiator, in the presence of LiCl ([LiCl]/[DPHLi]₀ = 3), at −50°C. The copolymer thus obtained has a controlled composition and molecular weight and a narrow molecular weight distribution. By introduction of an anionic living polystyrene (poly(St)) or anionic living polyisoprene (poly(Is)) solution into the above system at −30°C, a coupling reaction took place and a graft copolymer with a polar backbone and nonpolar side chains was produced. The solvent used in the preparation of the living poly(St) or poly(Is) affects the coupling reaction. When benzene was the solvent, a graft copolymer of high purity, controlled graft number and molecular weight, and narrow molecular weight distribution (M_w/M_n = 1.11–1.21) was obtained. In the coupling reaction, the living poly(St) reacted only with the epoxy groups and not with the carbonyls of the backbone polymer. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 105–112, 1999     

Automated parallel anionic polymerizations: Enhancing the possibilities of a widely used technique in polymer synthesis

Anionic polymerization techniques have been implemented successfully in a commercial automated synthesizer. The main problems for a successful adaptation of the experimental technique in the automated synthesizer are addressed, as well as some simple potential applications, such as the anionic polymerization of styrene, isoprene, and methyl methacrylate. The obtained results were reproducible and in concordance with literature knowledge. The apparent rate constant of the anionic polymerization of styrene in cyclohexane initiated by sec‐butyllithium could be determined at two different concentrations of the monomer and initiator in a temperature range of 10–60 °C. All the synthesis and characterization experiments of the polymers were performed within a short time period. Moreover, the syntheses of poly(styrene‐b‐isoprene) and poly(styrene‐b‐methyl methacrylate) block copolymers were also successfully carried out within the automated synthesizer. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 4151–4160, 2005     

Biomimetic carbocationic polymerizations III: Investigation of isoprene polymerization initiated by dimethyl allyl bromide

Natural rubber (poly(1,4‐cis‐isoprene), NR) is a polymer of considerable industrial importance due to its exceptional properties. It is mostly produced from the cultivation of Hevea brasiliensis, and to a limited extent from Parthenium argentatum. Till date none of the synthetic equivalent of NR exists. Recently we suggested that the mechanism of NR biosynthesis is based on carbocationic polymerization, similarly to that of natural oligoisoprenoids forming by enzyme‐catalyzed prenylation. In this article we present proof of concept of a new bio‐inspired synthetic route towards the synthesis of polyisoprenes based on carbocationic polymerization initiated by dimethyl allyl bromide (DMABr)/TiCl₄. It is shown that using this strategy, 1,4‐oligoisoprene carrying a dimethyl allyl head group is produced in both cis and trans configurations, together with cyclized sequences. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 2172–2180, 2009     

Synthesis of block‐graft polymers by anionic polymerizations

Two poly(4‐methylstyrene) (P4MS)‐block‐polystyrene (PS)‐block‐P4MS triblock copolymers were prepared by successive anionic addition of styrene and 4‐methylstyrene monomers as the core backbone ( CB ) for the architecture of block‐graft polymers. Both terminal 4‐methylstyrene blocks of CB were metalated with a sec‐butyllithium (sec‐BuLi)/tetramethylethylenediamine (TMEDA) complex in cyclohexane. The first‐generation block‐graft polymer ( 1BG ) was prepared by anionic polymerization of α‐methylstyrene by the lithiated CB in tetrahydrofuran (THF) at –78°C and subsequently the terminal graft ends were capped with a small amount of 4‐methylstyrene. The characterization of those block‐graft polymers was carried out in detail.     

Mechanisms and kinetics of living radical polymerizations

The polymerization rates and activation processes of several variants of living radical polymerization (LRP) are discussed on the basis of recent experimental and theoretical results. Because of bimolecular termination, which is inevitable in LRP as well as in conventional radical polymerization, the time‐conversion curves of LRP have several characteristic features depending on the experimental conditions, such as the presence or absence of conventional initiation. Despite the presence of termination (and initiation, in some cases), polymers obtained by LRP can have a low polydispersity, provided that the number of terminated chains is small compared to the number of potentially active chains. A large rate constant of activation, k_act, is another fundamental requisite for low polydispersities. Systematic experimental investigation into k_act has clarified the exact mechanisms of activation in several LRP systems. The magnitudes of k_act was found to largely differ from system to system.     

Vinylation of cellulose in superbase catalytic systems: towards new biodegradable polymer materials

Diverse celluloses including non-mercerized and mercerized ones have been successfully vinylated with acetylene in the superbase catalytic systems MOH/DMSO and MOH/THF (M = Na, K) at 85–140 °C. Depending on the reaction conditions, degree of substitution of the hydroxyl groups by highly reactive polymerazable vinyloxy groups ranges 0.11–1.22, the yields of vinylated celluloses (insoluble in water, but soluble in DMSO) being 41–89 %. Vinylated celluloses are easily decomposed under the action of white rot fungi: Phanerochaete chrysosporium, Trametes versicolor and Trametes hirsutus, and can constitute a basis for the preparation of biodegradable polymer materials (due to polymerization or polyaddition at the vinyloxy group).     

Novel diblock copolymer‐grafted multiwalled carbon nanotubes via a combination of living and controlled/living surface polymerizations

Diels–Alder cycloaddition reactions were used to functionalize multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) with 1‐benzocylcobutene‐1′‐phenylethylene (BCB‐PE) or 4‐hydroxyethylbenzocyclobutene (BCB‐EO). The covalent functionalization of the nanotubes with these initiator precursors was verified by FTIR and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). After appropriate transformations/additions, the functionalized MWNTs were used for surface initiated anionic and ring opening polymerizations of ethylene oxide and ε‐caprolactone (ε‐CL), respectively. The OH‐end groups were transformed to isopropylbromide groups by reaction with 2‐bromoisobutyryl bromide, for subsequent atom transfer radical polymerization of styrene or 2‐dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate to afford the final diblock copolymers. ¹H NMR, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), TGA, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were used for the characterization of the nanocomposite materials. TEM images showed the presence of a polymer layer around the MWNTs as well as the dissociation of MWNT bundles. Consequently, this general methodology, employing combinations of different polymerization techniques, increases the diversity of diblocks that can be grafted from MWNTs. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 1104–1112, 2010     

Macromolecular engineering by controlled/living ionic and radical polymerizations

Various methods for the synthesis of well‐defined (co)polymers with controlled dimension, polydispersity, topology, composition and functionality are discussed. They include controlled/living vinyl polymerization using anionic, cationic and radical intermediates being in equilibria with dormant species. Special emphasis is placed on the radical polymerization and on the needs for the comprehensive structure property correlation.