RAFT Miniemulsion Polymerization Kinetics, 1 – Polymerization Rate

The polymerization kinetics of a RAFT‐mediated radical polymerization inside submicron particles (30 < D_p < 300 nm) is considered. When the time fraction of active radical period, ϕ_A, is larger than ca. 1%, the polymerization rate increases with reducing particle size, as for the cases of conventional emulsion polymerization. The rate retardation by the addition of RAFT agent occurs with or without intermediate termination in zero‐one systems. For the particles with D_p < 100 nm, the statistical variation of monomer concentration among particles may not be neglected. It was found that this monomer‐concentration‐variation (MCV) effect may slow down the polymerization rate. An analytical expression describing the MCV effect is proposed, which is valid for both RAFT and conventional miniemulsion polymerizations.

     

A Facile Method for Controlling the Molecular Weight of Hyperbranched Light‐Emitting Polymers

Summary: Two series of hyperbranched conjugated polymers were synthesized via an A₃ + B₂ type Wittig reaction. The molecular weights of the polymers were successfully tuned by simply changing the feed ratio of the monomers. Polymers with higher molecular weights presented more efficient photoluminescence, higher thermal stability and higher performance of LEDs.

     

New Quenching Procedure for Preservation of Initial Polymer/Catalyst Particle Morphology in Ziegler–Natta Olefin Polymerization

Preservation of initial polymer/catalyst particle morphology under air, was examined using stopped‐flow Ziegler–Natta polymerization with various quenching conditions and post‐chemical treatments. The exposure of the initial particles to air caused the fast formation of cracks on the surface, finally leading to significant reformation of the particle shape, when polymerizing particles were washed with heptane at ?65 °C under N₂ or under CO₂. On the other hand, when the particles were washed with heptane containing an appropriate amount of tetrahydrofuran under CO₂, the particle morphology under air was almost completely maintained even after 1 h exposure. The present results are useful for various ex situ characterizations of unstable initial polymer/catalyst particles.

     

Synthesis and properties of polyamides containing imidazoline rings

The novel polyamide containing an imidazoline ring(PAI) was synthesized by a two-stage melt polymerization of dimethyl terephthalate (DMT) with diethylenetriamine (DETA) or triethylenetetramine (TETA). The heat resistance of PAI was superior to that of polyamide which was synthesized only in the first-stage reaction and didn't contain imidazoline ring. Their chemical structures were identified by infrared spectroscopy and NMR. The optimum condition for production was studied by varying several reaction factors, including the contents of H₂O and H₃PO₄, the reaction temperature and the reaction time at second-stage reaction under vacuum. According to study of the characteristics of solution behavior of PAI, both the viscosity and the degree of cyclization could be described by equation of in m-cresol at 30°C.     

Benjamin G. Davis

?When I wake up I row. When I was eighteen I wanted to be Morrissey. …?“ This and more about Benjamin G. Davis can be found on page 3900.

     

Phosphorus Ligands for Iron(III)‐Mediated Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization of Methyl Methacrylate

The iron(III)‐catalyzed atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of methyl methacrylate (MMA) was successfully employed using tributylphosphine (TBP) and trimethylphosphite (TMP) as ligands in the absence of a reducing agent. The effects of solvent and initiator on polymerization of MMA were investigated. Most of the polymerizations with these ligands were well controlled with a linear increase in the number average molecular weights ( ) versus conversion and relatively low molecular weight distribution ( = 1.2–1.4) throughout the reactions, and the measured weights matched with the predicted values. The ethyl 2‐bromoisobutyrate (EBriB) initiated ATRP of MMA with the FeBr₃/TBP or FeBr₃/TMP catalytic system was better controlled in toluene than in the other solvents used in this study at 80 °C.

     

Zur Darstellung von Cyclophosphaten,Cyclophosphatophosphonaten, Diphosphonaten und Diphosphiten in Harnstoffschmelzen

Preparation of Cyclophosphates, Cyclophosphatophosphonates, Diphosphonates, and Di-phosphites in Urea Melts Ammonium cyclotriphosphate (NH₄)P₃O₉, ammonium cyclotetraphosphate [P^IV? P^IV ? O? ]₂, ammonium cyclotriphosphatophosphonates Ammonium organyldiphosphonates And ammonium diphosphites are prepared in high yields on heating acidic phosphates, phosphonates, and phosphites in urea or urea/ammonium nitrate melts. The mechanism of the dehydration of phosphorus compounds containing POH groups in molten urea is discussed.     

Salt effects in the base-catalyzed polymerization of unsaturated amide compounds. II. Polymerization of p-vinylbenzamide and acrylamide

In the presence of a variety of inorganic salts, p-vinylbenzamide underwent vinyl-type polymerization by anionic initiators to form the polystyrene derivative, whereas in dimethyl sulfoxide as solvent the aromatic polyamide was always obtained through a proton-transfer mechanism regardless of the presence of the salts. In the presence of of the salts, acrylamide is generally polymerized to the polyamide through a proton transfer reaction.     

Combining Steric and Electrostatic Stabilization Using Hydrophilic MacroRAFT Agents in an Ab Initio Emulsion Polymerization of Styrene

Hydrophilic (co)polymers carrying a thiocarbonyl thio end group such as poly(dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate), poly(ethylene oxide), and poly(ethylene oxide)‐block‐poly(dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate) have been evaluated as precursors of stabilizers in batch ab initio emulsion polymerization of styrene under acidic conditions to form electrosterically stabilized polystyrene latex particles. As a mixture of P(DMAEMA/H⁺Cl⁻)‐RAFT and PEO‐RAFT failed to give satisfactory results, PEO‐RAFT was used as a control agent for the RAFT polymerization of DMAEMA, and the resulting block copolymer was successfully used in ab initio styrene emulsion polymerization.

     

Structural Link between Giant Molybdenum Oxide Based Ions and Derived Keggin Structure: Modular Assemblies Based on the [BW11O39]9− Ion and Pentagonal {M′M5} Units (M′=W; M=Mo,W)

Linked to the Pentagon : The addition of molybdate to [HBW₁₁O₃₉]^8? ions leads to the formation of mixed pentagonal units {W(Mo₅)} and {W(WMo₄)} trapped as linkers in the resulting modular assemblies, thus establishing the first link between the conventional Keggin ion derivatives and the giant molybdenum oxide and keplerate ions.

     

Bridged polyaromatics: Synthesis,structure, and isomorphous properties of methyl-substituted polymers containing CH2, O,and S bridges

Linear, crystalline polymers corresponding to the general formulas where X is CH₂, O, or S, were synthesized, and their isomorphous relationships were studied. The results point out that a close structural relationship exists within each series of compounds investigated.     

Methacrylic Zwitterionic,Thermoresponsive, and Hydrophilic (Co)Polymers via Cu(0)‐Polymerization: The Importance of Halide Salt Additives

The synthesis of hydrophilic, thermoresponsive, and zwitterionic polymethacrylates is reported by Cu(0)‐mediated reversible deactivation radical polymerization in water and/or water/alcohol mixtures. The predisproportionation of [Cu^I(PMDETA)Cl] in water prior to initiator and monomer addition is exploited to yield well‐defined polymethacrylates with full monomer conversions in 30 min. The addition of supplementary halide salts (NaCl) enables the synthesis of various molecular weight poly[poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate] (PEGMA₄₇₅) (DP_n = 10–80, M_n ≈ 10 000–40 000 g mol⁻¹) with full monomer conversion and narrow molecular weight distributions attained in all cases (Đ ≈ 1.20–1.30). A bifunctional PEG initiator (average M_n ≈ 1000 g mol⁻¹) is utilized for the polymerization of a wide range of methacrylates including 2‐dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate, 2‐morpholinoethyl methacrylate, [2‐(methacryloyloxy)ethyl]dimethyl‐(3‐sulfopropyl)ammonium hydroxide, and 2‐methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine. Despite the high water content, high end group fidelity is demonstrated by in situ chain extensions and block copolymerizations with PEGMA₄₇₅ yielding well‐defined functional telechelic pentablock copolymers within 2.5 h.

     

Preparation of Well‐Defined Poly[(ethylene oxide)‐block‐(sodium 2‐acrylamido‐2‐methyl‐1‐propane sulfonate)] Diblock Copolymers by Water‐Based Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization

Summary: Well‐defined poly[(ethylene oxide)‐block‐(sodium 2‐acrylamido‐2‐methyl‐1‐propane sulfonate)] diblock copolymers [P(EO_m‐b‐AMPS_n)], have been obtained by water‐based ATRP using α‐methoxy‐ω‐(2‐methylbromoisobutyrate) poly(ethylene oxide)s (MeO‐P[EO]_m‐BrⁱB with m ranging from 12 to 113) and CuBr · 2Bpy (Bpy for 2,2′‐bipyridyl) as macroinitiator and catalytic complex, respectively. Compared to direct polymerization in water, it has been demonstrated that the water/methanol (3:1, v/v) mixture is better suited for predicting the final number‐average molar mass from the initial monomer‐to‐macroinitiator molar ratio and achieving a quite narrow polydispersity, even at high monomer conversion ( ≈ 1.4 at 80% conversion). The effect of temperature, solvent mixture composition and addition of NaCl salt on the polymerization rate and extent of control over the copolymer molecular parameters have been highlighted as well.

     

The first normal stress difference and viscosity in shear of liquid crystalline solutions of hydroxypropylcellulose: new experimental data and theory

The constitutive equations for liquid crystalline polymers recently proposed by one of us [1] are applied here to interpret the behaviour of the shear viscosity η and the first normal stress difference N₁() measured for liquid crystalline (LC) solutions of hydroxypropylcellulose in acetic acid. N₁( ) is observed to change from positive to negative and again to positive, as the shear rate increases, at lower concentrations, in the LC phase. The -values at which N₁ changes sign depend on the molecular mass (degree of polymerization) and on the concentration. η shows a small Newtonian plateau at low shear rates and a strong shear-thinning at higher values of . The rate of decrease of η in this region shows an “hesitation” similar to one previously observed in LC solutions of poly-γ-benzyl-L-glutamate PBLG. All these observations can be rationalized within the frame-work of Martins' theory. The expressions for N₁() and η derived from this theory fit very well (quantitatively) to the experimental data and some fundamental viscoelastic parameters of the system under study are thereby obtained for the first time.     

Computer simulation of the aggregation of ion pairs in the polymerization of styrene initiated by RCl/SnCl4/NRCl− systems

Computer simulations show that ion pair aggregation can be responsible for the unusual dependence of the initial rate of polymerization on the concentration of added salt in the cationic polymerization of styrene initiated by RCl/SnCl₄/NRCl⁻. Addition of small amounts of tetraalkylammonium chloride to the system reduces the rate of polymerization due to the decrease of the concentration of propagating free cations. Subsequent salt addition leads to a small rate increase, and then the rate decreases at higher [salt]₀/[SnCl₄]₀ ratio. The simulations show that the rate increase can be ascribed to the formation of aggregates of ion pairs and thus to a higher overall proportion of carbocations resulting in faster polymerization. The decrease of the polymerization rate at higher concentrations of added salt can be explained by the conversion of free SnCl₄ to SnCl anions which are weaker Lewis acids. The effect of various equilibrium constants on the total concentration of carbocations as a function of added salt is simulated.     

Effects of MgCl2 Crystallographic Structure on Active Centre Formation in Immobilized Single‐Centre and Ziegler–Natta Catalysts for Ethylene Polymerization

The ability of a MgCl₂ support to activate a transition metal catalyst has been found to depend both on the crystallographic structure of the support and on the nature of the catalyst. A high degree of crystallographic disorder can be very effective for the immobilization and activation of titanium and vanadium complexes, but is not necessarily effective for zirconocene activation. A highly disordered support prepared by the reaction of MgBu₂ with HCl gave high activity with TiCl₄ but low activity with (n‐PrCp)₂ZrCl₂. High polymerization activities with the zirconocene were only obtained with supports of type MgCl₂/AlR_n(OEt)_3−n prepared from the reaction of AlR₃ with MgCl₂ · 1.1EtOH. These supports are characterized by additional peaks in the X‐ray diffraction pattern, indicating the presence of a crystalline structure which is absent in the other supports and contains highly Lewis acidic sites able to generate the active metallocenium species.

     

Low‐Temperature Growth of Thick Polystyrene Brushes via ATRP

Summary: This contribution describes the graft polymerization of polystyrene (PS) by atom transfer radical polymerization at 50, 60, and 75 °C. Thick PS brushes were grown from initiator‐functionalized PGMA layers on silicon, and constant growth rates provide indirect evidence that the polymerizations were controlled.

Formation of polystyrene brushes at T < T_g by ATRP of styrene from α‐bromoester initiator‐functionalized poly(glycidyl methacrylate) layers.     

End‐On Nitrogen Insertion of a Diazo Compound into a Germanium(II) Hydrogen Bond and a Comparable Reaction with Diethyl Azodicarboxylate

A happy ending : The germanium(II) hydride [LGeH], where L=[HC{(CMe)(2,6‐iPr₂C₆H₃N)}₂], reacts with a diazoalkane to form the hydrazone derivative (see picture). The reaction proceeds through the unprecedented end‐on nitrogen insertion of the diazo compound.

     

Metallocene–methylaluminoxane catalyst for olefin polymerization. II. Bis-η5-(neomenthyl cyclopentadienyl)zirconium dichloride

Bis(neomenthyl cyclopentadienyl)zirconium dichloride/methyl aluminoxane (η⁵-(NMCp)₂ZrCl₂/MAO) catalyst has been investigated for ethylene polymerization. About 51% of the Zr forms active sites more or less instantaneously according to quenching with tritiated methanol. There is an initial drop of rate of polymerization, R_p, of about 30% which remains constant thereafter. The catalytic activity increases monotonically with temperature; it is proportional to [MAO]^1.75 at a constant [Zr] = 1.5 μM and proportional to [Zr]^?1.2 at a constant [MAO] = 64.5 mM. At very large [MAO]/[Zr], the catalyst has extremely high activity; κ_p = 5 × 10³ (Ms)^?1 at 50°C. There is also facile chain transfer to aluminum, κ = 0.14 s^?1 at 50°C. Both κ_p and κ are about 30 times greater than the corresponding rate constants for MgCl₂ supported TiCl₃ catalysts. The TiCl₃/MgCl₂ and (NMCp)₂/MAO catalysts have nearly the same activation energy for propagation (ca. 7 kcal/mol^?1). The higher activity of the latter is due to its larger preexponential factor in κ_p. The dependence of catalytic activity on the [MAO]/[Zr] ratio may be explained by rapid association-dissociation equilibria of MAO involving acid-base and/or electron deficient bridge complexation.