Ultrasonic spectroscopic evaluation of the ring‐opening metathesis polymerization of dicyclopentadiene

An in situ ultrasonic spectroscopy technique was used to study the ring‐opening metathesis polymerization of dicyclopentadiene catalyzed by bis(tricyclohexylphosphine)benzylidene ruthenium dichloride. A reaction cell employing a flexible poly(ethylene terephthalate) window for pulse echo ultrasonic spectroscopy was used to monitor the polymerization. The changes in the density, wave speed, acoustic modulus, and attenuation were all simultaneously monitored. In comparison with Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy data, the changes in the density, velocity, and modulus only accurately measured the rate constant for the metathesis of the cyclopentyl unsaturation. The ultrasonic values were within 6% of the values determined by FTIR. The activation energy for metathesis of the cyclopentyl unsaturation was 84 kJ mol^?1, following first‐order kinetics. Rate constants for the polymerization of the norbornyl unsaturation could not be determined by ultrasound. The gel point, vitrification, and qualitative information about the reaction rate could be determined from the change in the attenuation. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 41: 1323–1333, 2003     

Advances in the frontal ring opening metathesis polymerization of dicyclopentadiene

The frontal ring opening metathesis polymerization of dicyclopentadiene using first and second generation Grubbs' catalysts is reported. To have sufficiently long pot lives, dimethylaminopyridine is added as an inhibitor. By choosing the proper compositions, it is possible to determine the ranges in which pure frontal polymerization occurs. A thorough study on the effect of the above components on the maximum temperatures reached by the front and on its velocities is performed. Namely, temperatures range from 164 to 205 °C depending on the type of catalyst and the above component ratios. Besides, front velocities range from 1.0 to 15.0 cm/min, which are one of the lowest and one of the highest values reported so far in any frontal polymerization experiment reported in literature. This finding allows the complete control of the frontal ring opening polymerization of dicyclopentadiene also in practical applications. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2014 , 52, 2776–2780     

Effect of limonene on the frontal ring opening metathesis polymerization of dicyclopentadiene

The frontal ring opening metathesis polymerization (FROMP) of dicyclopentadiene (DCPD) in the presence of limonene, using second generation Grubbs’ catalysts, is reported. The effect of limonene on the amount of catalyst and the typical frontal polymerization parameters, as maximum temperature (T_max) and velocity of the front (V_f), is studied. In addition, the influence of limonene on the mechanical properties of the polymeric samples is reported. Finally, a deep study on the swelling properties of polymers is done. It has been demonstrated that limonene acts as both inhibitor and solvent of the catalyst. The T_max, V_f, T_g, and Young modulus values decrease as the amount of limonene increases, and the polymer samples swell in THF depending on the amount of limonene. All results indicate that the limonene addition on FROMP of results in advantages on the polymerization reaction and its parameters and on the final polymer properties. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2016 , 54, 63–68     

Tailored molybdenum imido alkylidene N-heterocyclic carbene complexes as latent catalysts for the polymerization of dicyclopentadiene

Three novel molybdenum imido alkylidene N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) pre-catalysts, that is, Mo(N-t-Bu)(1-(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)-3-isopropyl-4-phenyl-1H-1,2,3-triazol-5-ylidene)(CHCMe₂Ph)(OTf)₂ ( I1 , OTf = CF₃SO₃), Mo(N-t-Bu)(1-(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)-3-isopropyl-4-phenyl-1H-1,2,3-triazol-5-ylidene)(CHCMe₂Ph)(OTf)(t-BuO) ( I2 ) and Mo(N-2,6-Me₂-C₆H₃)(1,3,4-triphenyl-4,5-dihydro-1H-1,2,4-triazol-5-ylidene)(CHCMe₂Ph)(OTf)₂ ( I3 ) are presented. Compared to complexes based on imidazol-2-ylidenes or imidazolin-2-ylidenes, (1-(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)-3-isopropyl-4-phenyl-1H-1,2,3-triazol-5-ylidene) used in precatalysts I1 and I2 exerts a comparably strong trans effect to the triflate groups trans to the NHC, while (1,3,4-triphenyl-4,5-dihydro-1H-1,2,4-triazol-5-ylidene) used in I3 has a weaker trans effect on the triflate. In combination with a suitable second anionic ligand at molybdenum, that is, OTf, t-BuO, compounds I1 – I3 require higher temperatures to become active and can thus be used as truly room temperature latent pre-catalysts, even for a highly reactive monomer such as dicyclopentadiene (DCPD). When used as latent precatalysts, I1 – I3 offer access to poly-DCPD with different degrees of cross-linking and glass-transition temperatures (T_g). © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2017 , 55, 3028–3033     

Analytical estimates of front velocity in the frontal polymerization of thermoset polymers and composites

This note presents approximate analytical expressions for the velocity of the self-propagating reaction front in the frontal polymerization of thermoset polymers and composites. Prior estimates available in the literature for the front velocity have been limited by their applicability to simple reaction kinetics. The improved estimates provided in this work are shown to be applicable to complex reaction kinetics encountered in the frontal polymerization of neat thermoset polymers or fiber-reinforced polymer-matrix composites with a wide range of polymer chemistries, including dicyclopentadiene, cyclooctadiene, acrylates, and epoxies. They are also shown to be applicable to wide range of values of the initial temperature and initial degree of cure of the resin, and of the volume fraction of the reinforcing phase.     

Reactivity of oxetane monomers in photoinitiated cationic polymerization

Studies of the onium salt photoinitiated cationic ring‐opening polymerizations of various 3,3‐disubstituted oxetane monomers have been conducted with real‐time infrared spectroscopy and optical pyrometry. The polymerizations of these monomers are typified by an extended induction period that has been attributed to the presence of a long‐lived tertiary oxonium ion intermediate formed by the reaction of the initially formed secondary oxonium ion with the cyclic ether monomer. Because the extended induction period in the photopolymerization of these monomers renders oxetane monomers of limited value for many applications, methods have been sought for its minimization or elimination. Three general methods have been found effective in markedly shortening the induction period: (1) carrying out the photopolymerizations at higher temperatures, (2) copolymerizing with more reactive epoxide monomers, and (3) using free‐radical photoinitiators as synergists. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 3205–3220, 2005     

Latent Olefin Metathesis Catalysts for Polymerization of DCPD

Summary: Advances in design of latent ruthenium phenylindenylidene catalysts bearing salicylaldimine ligands for ring-opening metathesis polymerization are described. The presence of the substituents in ortho position in N-aryl ring of salicylaldimine ligand has been found to be the main factor determining the catalyst stability. The best of the studied catalysts after acid activation offers activity comparable to that of the dichloride systems in ring-opening metathesis polymerization of DCPD, while maintaining very high stability in the monomer solution.     

Metathesis polymerization of N-aryl norbornene dicarboximides. I

Metathesis polymerization of N-phenyl-exo-norbornene dicarboximide and ortho/meta/para methyl substituted phenyl nadimides was carried out using WCl₆/tetramethyltin. Structural characterization was done by FTIR, ¹H- and ¹³C-NMR. A mixture of cis and trans double bond structures were introduced in the backbone during polymerization. The cis content was higher (52 to 65%). In the DSC scan of poly(N-o-tolyl nadimide), two exotherms were observed at 240 and 270°C while in other samples only one exothermic transition was observed above 240°C. These exotherms disappeared in the second heating cycle. The T_g of the polymers, as determined in the second heating cycle, was highest in poly(N-o-tolyl nadimide) and lowest in poly(N-m-tolyl nadimide). The polymers were stable up to 443 ± 3°C and decomposed above this temperature in a single step. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 35 : 2917–2924, 1997     

Degradable precision polynorbornenes via ring‐opening metathesis polymerization

In an attempt to introduce monomer sequence control in a growing polynorbornene via ring‐opening metathesis polymerization, we employ dioxepins to efficiently determine the location of the monomers on the macromolecule backbone. Owing to the acid‐labile acetal group, dioxepins allow scission of the polymer at the point of the dioxepin insertion and thus provide an indirect way to determine the monomer location. Additionally, dioxepins are used as spacers in the synthesis of multiblock polynorbornenes that are readily cleavable to afford the individual polynorbornene blocks. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2016 , 54, 1236–1242     

UV‐ignited frontal polymerization of an epoxy resin

By combining frontal polymerization and radical‐induced cationic polymerization, it was possible to cure thick samples of an epoxy monomer bleached by UV light. The effect of the relative amounts of cationic photoinitiator and radical initiator was thoroughly investigated and was related to the front's velocity and its maximum temperature. The materials obtained were characterized by quantitative conversion also in the deeper layers, not reached by UV light. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 2066–2072, 2004     

钌催化降冰片烯开环移位聚合的研究

CpRuCl(PPh~3)~2/O~2和CH~3OCH~2CH~2CpRuCl(PPh~3)~2/O~2体系对降冰片(NBE)开环移位聚合(ROMP)有活性,降冰片烯的转化率和聚降冰片烯主链双键顺反比与气氛催化剂摩尔比及催化剂本身性质有关。在实验的基础上提出了钌催化降冰片烯开环移位聚合的可能机理。     

Olefin polymerization and copolymerization with soluble transition‐metal complex catalysts

Olefin polymerizations catalyzed by Cp′TiCl₂(O‐2,6‐ⁱPr₂C₆H₃) ( 1 – 5 ; Cp′ = cyclopentadienyl group), RuCl₂(ethylene)(pybox) { 7 ; pybox = 2,6‐bis[(4S)‐4‐isopropyl‐2‐oxazolin‐2‐yl]pyridine}, and FeCl₂(pybox) ( 8 ) were investigated in the presence of a cocatalyst. The Cp*TiCl₂(O‐2,6‐ⁱPr₂C₆H₃) ( 5 )–methylaluminoxane (MAO) catalyst exhibited remarkable catalytic activity for both ethylene and 1‐hexene polymerizations, and the effect of the substituents on the cyclopentadienyl group was an important factor for the catalytic activity. A high level of 1‐hexene incorporation and a lower r_E · r_H value with 5 than with [Me₂Si(C₅Me₄)(N^tBu)]TiCl₂ ( 6 ) were obtained, despite the rather wide bond angle of Cp Ti O (120.5°) of 5 compared with the bond angle of Cp Ti N of 6 (107.6°). The 7 –MAO catalyst exhibited moderate catalytic activity for ethylene homopolymerization and ethylene/1‐hexene copolymerization, and the resultant copolymer incorporated 1‐hexene. The 8 –MAO catalyst also exhibited activity for ethylene polymerization, and an attempted ethylene/1‐hexene copolymerization gave linear polyethylene. The efficient polymerization of a norbornene macromonomer bearing a ring‐opened poly(norbornene) substituent was accomplished by ringopening metathesis polymerization with the well‐defined Mo(CHCMe₂Ph)(N‐2,6‐ⁱPr₂C₆H₃)[OCMe(CF₃)₂]₂ ( 10 ). The key step for the macromonomer synthesis was the exclusive end‐capping of the ring‐opened poly(norbornene) with p‐Me₃SiOC₆H₄CHO, and the use of 10 was effective for this polymerization proceeding with complete conversion. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 4613–4626, 2000     

Photoinduced cationic ring‐opening frontal polymerizations of oxetanes and oxiranes

The photoinitiated cationic ring‐opening polymerizations of certain epoxides and 3,3‐disubstituted oxetanes display the characteristics of frontal polymerizations. When irradiated with UV light, these monomers display a marked induction period, during which little conversion of the monomer to the polymer takes place. The local application of heat to an irradiated monomer sample results in polymerization that occurs as a front propagating rapidly throughout the entire reaction mass. For the characterization of these frontal polymerizations, the use of a new monitoring technique, employing optical pyrometry, has been instituted. This method provides a simple, rapid means of following these fast polymerizations and quantitatively determining their frontal velocities. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 1630–1646, 2004     

Ruthenium‐based metathesis initiators: Development and use in ring‐opening metathesis polymerization

For many years, olefin metathesis has been a central topic of industrial and academic research because of its great synthetic utility. The employed initiators cover a wide range of compounds, from simple transition‐metal salts to highly sophisticated and well‐defined alkylidene complexes. Currently, ruthenium‐based catalysts are at the center of attention because of their remarkable tolerance toward oxygen, moisture, and numerous functionalities. This article focuses on recent developments in the field of ring‐opening metathesis polymerization using ruthenium‐based catalysts. ruthenium‐based initiators and their applications to the preparation of advanced polymeric materials are briefly reviewed. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 2895–2916, 2002