Catalysis of ring-opening and vinyl polymerizations by dicobaltoctacarbonyl

In the presence of Si? H containing cocatalysts, dicobaltoctacarbonyl has been found to very efficiently catalyze the ring-opening polymerization of cyclic ethers, especially epoxides, as well as certain vinyl monomers. The reaction conditions employed are very similar to those used in Co₂(CO)₈ catalyzed hydrogenation and hydrosilylation reactions. Detailed investigations have been carried out to elucidate the nature of the active species for this catalytic system. A cationic mechanism is proposed based on the experimental results of those investigations.     

Regioselective rhodium-containing catalysts for ring-opening polymerizations and hydrosilylations

Organometallic rhodium complexes are described which are highly efficient initiators for the ring-opening polymerization of expoxides and other heterocyclic compounds. A cocatalyst, consisting of a compound or polymer containing silicon–hydrogen bonds must also be present. These same catalyst–cocatalyst mixtures are also highly active for hydrosilylation reactions. Other complexes bearing phosphine ligands have been discovered, which while active for hydrosilylation, are not catalysts for epoxide polymerizations. Polymer supported rhodium catalysts are also described which permit the synthesis of epoxy-functional silanes in high yields without competing ring-opening polymerization.     

Azahelicenes as visible light photoinitiators for cationic and radical polymerization: Preparation of photoluminescent polymers and use in high performance LED projector 3D printing resins

In this article, novel azahelicenes (AZs) were synthesized and proposed as high performance visible light photoinitiators for both the free radical polymerization of acrylates and the cationic polymerization (CP) of epoxides upon visible light exposure using Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) @405, @455, and @470 nm. Excellent polymerization initiating abilities are found and high final conversions were obtained. Remarkably, an exceptional long lifetime photoluminescence property of the polymer films was observed when synthesized in presence of AZs. A full picture of the involved chemical mechanisms is given. AZs being high performance photoinitiators, their use in new cationic LED 3D printing resins will be also presented, that is, the cationic process upon LED projector @405 nm can be useful to reduce the shrinkage usually observed for radical polymerization. LED projector printing is very interesting compared to laser writing as this technology projects the profile of an entire layer of a 3D object at one time. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2016 , 55, 1189–1199     

Polymerization of epoxide with hydroxylamides as thermally latent initiators

A new class of thermally latent initiators for the ring‐opening polymerization of epoxides has been developed. The latent initiators developed herein were the hydroxylamides 1a , 1b , and 1c , which were synthesized from phthalide, 3‐isochromanone, and cis‐cyclohexahydrophthalide, respectively, by their ring‐opening reactions with pyrrolidine. These hydroxylamides were designed so that their hydroxyl groups could attack the amide moiety intramolecularly upon heating, leading to ring closure and formation of the corresponding lactones while releasing pyrrolidine, the initiator for the anionic ring‐opening polymerization of an epoxide. The temperatures at which this thermal dissociation occurred were strongly dependent on the hydroxylamide molecular structure. When using the hydroxylamides as thermally latent initiators, the polymerizations of bisphenol‐A diglycidyl ether were investigated at various temperatures. This investigation clarified that the threshold temperature, that is, the temperature at which polymerization was initiated, increased in the order of 1a , 1b , and then 1c . © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2016 , 54, 2611–2617     

双光子光聚合技术及其研究进展

本文对双光子光聚合技术进行了比较全面系统的综述,主要介绍了双光子光聚合的基本原理,国内外双光子光聚合光敏引发体系和具有大的双光子吸收截面有机分子的研究现状以及双光子光聚合技术的潜在应用领域.     

Redox initiated cationic polymerization: Silane‐N‐aryl heteroaromatic onium salt redox couples

In this article, a new route for the synthesis of N‐aryl heteroaromatic onium salts by the direct copper catalyzed arylation of pyridine, substituted pyridines, isoquinoline, and acridine with diaryliodonium salts is described. It was demonstrated that these N‐aryl heteroaromatic onium salts undergo facile platinum or rhodium‐catalyzed reduction by silanes bearing Si? H groups. The reduction of N‐aryl heteroaromatic onium salts generates Brønsted acids. When this redox reaction was carried out in situ in the presence of an appropriate monomer, cationic polymerization was observed. Using this approach, the cationic polymerizations of epoxides, oxetanes, 1,3,5‐trioxane, styrene, and vinyl ethers were carried out. The use of optical pyrometry to monitor the redox initiated cationic polymerizations of some representative multifunctional monomers is described. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2010     

乙烯基阳离子聚合引发剂的新进展

本文围绕着乙烯基阳离子聚合这一核心，简要地介绍了近年来在阳离子聚合引发剂方面取得的新进展，包括活性阳离子聚合和普通阳离子聚合引发剂两个部分。     

Interaction of epoxy and vinyl ethers during photoinitiated cationic polymerization

A kinetic study of the independent and simultaneous photoinitiated cationic polymerization of a number of epoxide and vinyl (enol) ether monomer pairs was conducted. The results show that, although no appreciable copolymerization takes place, these monomers undergo complex interactions with one another. These interactions are highly dependent on the epoxide monomer employed. In all cases, the rate of epoxide ring-opening polymerization is accelerated, whereas that of the vinyl ether is depressed. When highly reactive cycloaliphatic epoxides are subjected to photoinitiated cationic polymerization in the presence of vinyl ethers, the two polymerizations proceed in a sequential fashion, with the vinyl ether polymerization taking place after the epoxide polymerization is essentially complete. A mechanism involving an equilibration between alkoxy-carbenium and oxonium ions has been proposed to explain the results. In addition, the free-radical-induced decomposition of the diaryliodonium salt photoinitiator also takes place, leading to a decrease in the induction period. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 4007–4018, 1999     

Atom transfer radical polymerization of vinyl monomers in the presence of tetraethylthiuram disulfide

In situ ATRPs of MMA, St in the presence of TD catalyzed by FeCl₃/PPh₃ and CuBr₂/bpy have been studied, respectively. The results showed that the initiator Et₂NCS₂X (X = Cl or Br) and catalyst FeCl₂ or CuBr were formed in situ from the initiating components and the polymerization exhibited living radical polymerization characteristics. In the case of St polymerization with TD/CuBr/bpy initiating system, an inverse ATRP was observed.     

Evaluation of initiator systems for controlled and sequentially curable free‐radical/cationic hybrid photopolymerizations

Free‐radical/cationic hybrid photopolymerizations of acrylates and epoxides were initiated using a three‐component initiator system comprised of camphorquinone as the photosensitizer, an amine as the electron donor, and a diaryliodonium salt. Thermodynamic considerations revealed that the oxidation potential of the electron donor must be less than 1.34 V relative to SCE for electron transfer with the photoexcited camphorquinone to take place. This electron transfer leads to the production of the active centers for the hybrid polymerization (two radicals and a cation). Further investigation revealed that only a subset of electron donors that meet the oxidation potential requirement resulted in polymerization of the epoxide monomer; therefore, a second requirement for the electron donor (pK_b higher than 8) was established. Experiments performed using a combination of electron donors revealed that the onset of the hybrid system's cationic polymerization can be advanced or delayed by controlling the concentration and composition of the electron donor(s). These studies demonstrate that a single three‐component initiator system can be used to initiate and chemically control the sequential curing properties of a free‐radical/cationic hybrid photopolymerization and is a viable alternative to separate photoinitiators for each type of polymerization. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 1747–1756, 2005     

烯烃可控/活性正离子聚合新方法与新工艺及其应用

<正>离子聚合是高分子科学中重要的聚合方法之一,也是制备聚异丁烯或丁基橡胶等关键材料不可或缺的聚合方法.本文总结了异丁烯、苯乙烯及其衍生物等单体可控/活性正离子聚合的新引发体系、聚合反应特征的调节与转化、水相介质中正离子聚合新方法与新工艺、微观分子混合与正离子聚合新工艺及其用于设计合成异丁烯基聚合物.这些方法与技术是发展高效节能与绿色减排先进聚合物生产技术的重要途径,部分研究成果已在产业化中得到应用与验证.发展可控/活性正离子聚合新体系、新方法与新工艺,为实现绿色低碳高分子化工过程及相关产品工程(新结构、新功能、高性能与高品质)提供了新思路与新技术.     

Cationic Polymerization: New Developments and Applications

The chemistry and technology of photoinitiated cationic polymerization is a rapidly advancing field of investigation. This article reports on recent developments made in our laboratory in the development of new photoinitiators and photosensitizers. S,S-Dialkyl-S-phenacylsulfonium salts have been prepared using a new, highly efficient and cost-effective synthetic method and their use in the polymerization of various monomer systems studied. Also described is the development of alkoxyanthracene photosensitizers that may be employed to broaden the spectral sensitivity of various onium salt photoinitiators including the new S,S-dialkyl-S-phenacylsulfonium salts. A marked acceleration of the rate of the ring-opening polymerization of epoxide monomers was achieved using these photosensitizers. This article concludes with a brief discussion of the use of photoinitiated cationic polymerizations in such typical applications as can coatings, silicone release coatings and in stereolithography.     

Living polymerization of substituted acetylenes

For many years, considerable research efforts have been dedicated to π‐conjugated polymers because of their extraordinary electronic, optical, and structural properties. The employed transition‐metal‐based initiating systems comprise not only simple transition‐metal salts but also rather sophisticated mixtures of two, three, or four compounds and even highly defined single‐component systems such as transition‐metal alkylidene complexes. Extensive fine‐tuning of the electronic and steric properties of initiator–monomer systems eventually allowed the tailor‐made synthesis of conjugated materials via living polymerization techniques. This article focuses on recent developments in the field of the living polymerization of substituted acetylene derivatives. Ill‐defined group 5 and 6 transition metal halide‐based initiators, well‐defined transition‐metal alkylidene complexes, and rhodium(I)‐based systems that induce the living polymerization of numerous substituted acetylenes are reviewed. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 5723–5747, 2005     

Infrared thermography analysis of the thermally latent polymerization of 3‐ethyl‐3‐phenoxymethyloxetane

Infrared thermography was employed to analyze multiple batches of the thermally latent polymerization of 3‐ethyl‐3‐phenoxymethyloxetane at once. The temperature changes in the polymerization depended on the polymerization rates. That is, a fast polymerization was exothermic, increasing the temporal temperature of the polymerization by approximately 130 °C within a few minutes. Infrared thermography, which can analyze multiple samples instantaneously, proved effective as a screening method for thermally latent curing systems. Exothermicity in the crosslinking polymerization of 1,4‐bis(3‐ethyloxetanylmethoxy)benzene was also analyzed by infrared thermography. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 5519–5524, 2006     

Naphthalimide‐phthalimide derivative based photoinitiating systems for polymerization reactions under blue lights

Naphthalimide‐phthalimide derivatives (NDPDs) have been synthesized and combined with an iodonium salt, N‐vinylcarbazole, amine or 2,4,6‐tris(trichloromethyl)‐1,3,5‐triazine to produce reactive species (i.e., radicals and cations). These generated reactive species are capable of initiating the cationic polymerization of epoxides and/or the radical polymerization of acrylates upon exposure to very soft polychromatic visible lights or blue lights. Compared with the well‐known camphorquinone based systems used as references, the novel NDPD based combinations employed here demonstrate clearly higher efficiencies for the cationic polymerization of epoxides under air as well as the radical polymerization of acrylates. Remarkably, one of the NDPDs (i.e., NDPD2) based systems is characterized by an outstanding reactivity. The structure/reactivity/efficiency relationships of the investigated NDPDs were studied by fluorescence, cyclic voltammetry, laser flash photolysis, electron spin resonance spin trapping, and steady state photolysis techniques. The key parameters for their reactivity are provided. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2015 , 53, 665–674     

Valence-variable Catalysts for Redox-controlled Switchable Ring-opening Polymerization

As a representative class of sustainable polymer materials, biodegradable polymers have attracted increasing interest in recent years. Despite significant advance of related polymerization techniques, realizing high sequence-control and easy-handling in ring-opening (co)polymerizations still remains a central challenge. To this end, a promising solution is the development of valence-variable metal-based catalysts for redox-induced switchable polymerization of cyclic esters, cyclic ethers, epoxides, and CO₂. Through a valence-determined electron effect, the switch between different catalytically active states as well as dormant state contributes to convenient formation of polymer products with desired microstructures and various practical performances. This redox-controlled switchable strategy for controlled synthesis of polymers is overviewed in this Review with a focus on potential applications and challenges for further studies.     

苯乙烯阴离子本体聚合引发剂缔合及其机理的研究

分别以正丁基锂和叔丁基锂为引发剂,采用自制管式流动反应装置,对较高温度下苯乙烯阴离子本体聚合动力学进行了研究.证实了正丁基锂主要以六元缔合结构形式引发聚合,并导致超分子团聚体的形成,从而使进一步的聚合因单体扩散受阻而受到限制,并伴随聚合转化率停滞平台（SCP）的产生.随后由于前期聚合累积的能量,使超分子结构完全解离.聚合温度越高,SCP持续时间越短.结果还表明,在正丁基锂引发剂中,存在一个以六元缔合结构为基础形成的更大的缔合体结构.原子力显微镜照片显示,超分子结构的直径分别为20～30nm和50～60nm.此外,在阴离子聚合过程中活性种的缔合结构只决定于初始引发剂的分子结构,而不同活性种缔合结构对阴离子聚合的链增长存在很大影响,从而解释了采用不同结构的锂系引发剂引发苯乙烯单体聚合时聚合速率存在巨大差异的原因.     

Water‐soluble polymer‐grafted platinum nanoparticles for the subsequent binding of enzymes. synthesis and SANS

Functionalized platinum nanoparticles (PtNPs) possess catalytic properties towards H₂0₂ oxidation, which are of great interest for the elaboration of electrochemical biosensors. To improve the understanding of phenomena involved in such systems, we designed platinum‐polymer‐enzyme model nanostructures according to a bottom–up approach. These structures have been elaborated from elementary building units based on polymer‐grafted PtNPs obtained from surface initiated‐atom transfer radical polymerization. This paper describes the polymerization of ter‐butyl methacrylate from PtNPs and its subsequent hydrolysis to obtain a water‐soluble corona, followed by an activated ester modification to introduce an enzyme (glucose oxidase). The structure of the objects, the molecular weight and the grafting density of the polymer chains were principally elucidated by small angle neutron scattering (SANS). After the grafting of the enzyme, the final hybrid structures were characterized by both microscopy and SANS to attest for the covalent grafting of the enzyme. Composition and enzyme activity of the nanohybrid objects, have also been determined by UV spectroscopy. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012     

Synthesis of highly reactive polyisobutylene by selective polymerization with o‐cresol/AlCl3 initiating system

Highly reactive polyisobutylenes (HRPIBs) with very large proportion (up to 95 mol%) of exo‐double bond end groups and number average molecular weight (M_n) of 5400–8500 Dalton (Da) could be successfully synthesized by the selective cationic polymerization of isobutylene (IB) from the mixed C₄ fraction feed using o‐cresol/AlCl₃ as initiating system at ?20°C. A possible mechanism was proposed for the cationic polymerization process. The presence of large weakly coordinating counteranion in propagating species could lead to decreasing the possibility of the side transfer reactions via carbenium ion arrangements. This o‐cresol/AlCl₃ initiating system exhibited extremely high selectivity toward IB polymerization in the mixed C₄ fraction feed and a good property for rapid β‐proton abstraction from ? C H ₃ in the growing polyisobutylenes (PIBs) chain ends. High extent of α‐double bond end groups in HRPIBs prepared in the mixed C₄ fraction feed could be comparable to that in those commercially produced by cationic polymerization of IB in inert solvent (e.g. hexane). To our knowledge, this is the first example to achieve HRPIBs via completely selective polymerization of IB from C₄ mixed feed with AlCl₃‐based initiating system, providing a potentially practical process for its simplicity and low costs. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.