Copolymerization of CO2 and cyclohexene oxide

Generation of high value polymers from carbon dioxide is of general technological interest given that CO2 is both inexpensive and relatively easy to handle on an industrial scale. Previous work on the use of CO2 as a comonomer has focused primarily on development of new catalysts, and the effects of conventional process variables such as temperature and concentration on the polymerization outcome have not been examined in great detail. Recently, we, as well as Darensbourg and colleagues, have shown that one can generate zinc-based catalysts for the polymerization of CO2 and cyclohexene oxide which produce over 400 grams of polymer per gram of metal. In this paper, we use a product of the reaction between zinc oxide and the fluorinated half-ester of maleic anhydride to generate copolymers of CO2 and cyclohexene oxide where CO2 is both reactant and sole solvent. In general, we found that the outcome of the polymerization depends greatly on the proximity to the ceiling temperature and the critical cyclohexene oxide concentration, and also on the phase behavior of the cyclohexene oxide-CO2 binary.     

Copolymerization of cyclohexene oxide with CO2 by using intramolecular dinuclear zinc catalysts

The intramolecular dinuclear zinc complexes generated in situ from the reaction of multidentate semi-azacrown ether ligands with Et(2)Zn, followed by treatment with an alcohol additive, were found to promote the copolymerization of CO(2) and cyclohexene oxide (CHO) with completely alternating polycarbonate selectivity and high efficiency. With this type of novel initiator, the copolymerization could be accomplished under mild conditions at 1 atm pressure of CO(2), which represents a significant advantage over most catalytic systems developed for this reaction so far. The copolymerization reaction was demonstrated to be a living process as a result of the narrow polydispersities and the linear increase in the molecular weight with conversion of CHO. In addition, the solid-state structure of the dinuclear zinc complex was characterized by X-ray crystal structural analysis and can be considered as a model of the active catalyst. On the basis of the various efforts made to understand the mechanisms of the catalytic reaction, including MALDI-TOF mass analysis of the copolymers' end-groups, the effect of alcohol additives on the catalysis and CO(2) pressure on the conversion of CHO, as well as the kinetic data gained from in situ IR spectroscopy, a plausible catalytic cycle for the present reaction system is outlined. The copolymerization is initiated by the insertion of CO(2) into the Zn--OEt bond to afford a carbonate-ester-bridged complex. The dinuclear zinc structure of the catalyst remains intact throughout the copolymerization. The bridged zinc centers may have a synergistic effect on the copolymerization reaction; one zinc center could activate the epoxide through its coordination and the second zinc atom may be responsible for carbonate propagation by nucleophilic attack by the carbonate ester on the back side of the cis-epoxide ring to afford the carbonate. The mechanistic implication of this is particularly important for future research into the design of efficient and practical catalysts for the copolymerization of epoxides with CO(2.).     

Copolymerization of poly(propylene oxide) methacrylate macromonomer with styrene

Graft copolymers of styrene and poly(propylene oxide) were prepared by reaction between styrene and a poly(propylene oxide) methacrylate macromonomer. The graft copolymers were characterized by i.r., GPC and ¹H-NMR and mechanical properties were examined. The effect of zinc chloride on the copolymerization was evaluated. The results showed a decrease in the incorporation of macromonomer in the graft copolymer when zinc chloride was added to the system. This effect has been attributed to interaction among chains of poly(propylene oxide) and the zinc chloride.     

Copolymerization of β-pinene with styrene oxide and N-vinylpyrrolidone

The copolymerization of β-pinene with styrene oxide (SO) and β-pinene with N-vinylpyrrolidone (VP) was investigated by using SnCl₄ in dichloromethane diluent at low temperature. Monomer reactivity ratios were evaluated for both copolymers at ?80°C; these are r₁(SO) = 2.979 and r₂(β-pinene) = 0.002 and r₁(VP) = 0.096 and r₂(β-pinene) = 0.294.     

Copolymerization of vinylsilanes with styrene

New vinylsilanes (M₂), i. e. phenylvinylsilane (I), allylmethylsilane (II), allylphenylsilane (III), and p-vinylphenylmethylsilane (IV), were prepared and copolymerized with styrene (M₁). The monomer reactivity ratios were r₁ = 5.7 and r₂ = 0, r₁ = 36 and r₂ = 0, r₁ = 29 and r₂ = 0₁, and r₁ = 0.91 and r₂ = 1.1, respectively. From the results of infrared and NMR spectra it was indicated that the vinylsilanes participated in copolymerization in the form of a vinyl type of polymerization and not in the form of a hydrogen-transfer type of polymerization. The reaction of copolymer with alcohols and methyl methacrylate and appropriate catalysts was investigated.     

Copolymerization of styrene with vinyltriethoxysilane and vinyltriacetoxysilane

Styrene was copolymerized in bulk with vinyltriethoxysilane at 80°C and vinyltriacetoxysilane at 60, 80, and 100°C with the use of benzoyl peroxide as an initiator at low conversions. Copolymer composition was determined from the silicon content and reactivity ratios were calculated by the conventional scheme of copolymerization. The low r₁ value (styrene) in the styrene-vinyltriacetoxysilane system (St–VTAS) as compared to styrene-vinyltriethoxysilane (St–VTES) copolymerization may be attributed to higher reactivity of VTAS towards the polystyryl radical. Further, in the St–VTAS system, r₁ tends to decrease with increasing polymerization temperature. The influence of silicon comonomer on properties of the copolymers (intrinsic viscosity, solubility, dielectric and thermal behavior) was studied.     

Copolymerization of cyclohexene oxide and carbon dioxide using (salen)Co(III) complexes: synthesis and characterization of syndiotactic poly(cyclohexene carbonate)

Synthetic routes to a series of new (salen-1)CoX (salen-1 = N,N'-bis(salicylidene)-1,2-diaminoalkane; X = halide or carboxylate) species are described and the X-ray crystal structures of two (salen-1)CoX (salen- = N,N'-bis(3,5-di-tert-butylsalicylidene)-1,2-diaminocyclohexane; X = Cl, I) complexes are presented. (R,R)-(salen-)CoX (X = Cl, Br, I, OAc, pentafluorobenzoate (OBzF(5))) catalysts are active for the copolymerization of cyclohexene oxide (CHO) and CO(2), yielding syndiotactic poly(cyclohexene carbonate) (PCHC), a previously unreported PCHC microstructure. Variation of the salen ligand and reaction conditions, as well as the inclusion of [PPN]Cl ([PPN]Cl = bis(triphenylphosphine)iminium chloride) cocatalysts, has dramatic effects on the polymerization rate and the resultant PCHC tacticity. Catalysts rac-(salen-)CoX (salen- = N,N'-bis(3,5-di-tert-butylsalicylidene)-1,2-diaminopropane; X = Br, OBzF(5)) have high activities for CHO/CO(2) copolymerization, yielding syndiotactic PCHCs with up to 81% r-centered tetrads. Using Bernoullian statistical methods, PCHC tetrad and triad sequences were assigned in the (13)C NMR spectra of these polymers in the carbonyl and methylene regions, respectively.     

Copolymerization of styrene with acrylonitrile and maleic anhydride

The complex formation constants for styrene (donor)-acrylonitrile (acceptor) and styrene-maleic anhydride (acceptor) systems are found to be 0.19 ± 0.01 and 0.28 ± 0.01 l/mol (¹H NMR, CCl₄, 298 K); the same values are characteristic for three-component systems of these monomers. The calculated ΔH ₀ values (the AM1 method) for styrene-acrylonitrile (C₁) and styrene-maleic anhydride (C₂) complexes comprise ?1.24 and ?2.30 kJ/mol. Changes in charges on double bonds of complex-bonded molecules are in the range from 0.001 to 0.006 au. These values are typical of π-π complexes. By analyzing the composition and rate of bulk copolymerization (333 K, 0.03 mol/l AIBN), we have shown that two complexes are involved in chain propagation: r ₁ = $ k_{2C_1 } /k_{2C_2 } $ = 0.26 ± 0.015 and r ₂ = $ k_{3C_2 } /k_{3C_1 } $ = 4.17 ± 0.143.     

Copolymerization of styrene and acrylonitrile with functional silanes

Styrene has been copolymerized to high conversions with vinylmethyl diacetoxysilane (VMDAS) and vinylmethyldiethoxysilane (VMDES) in bulk and in toluene at 60 using azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) as initiator. Acrylonitrile has also been copolymerized with VMDAS at 50 in bulk using AIBN. The compositions of the copolymers were determined from the silicon contents; reactivity ratios were calculated by the Kelen-Tüdös method. The reactivity ratio r₁ (styrene) is higher for styrene-VMDES than for styrene-VMDAS, indicating higher reactivity of VMDAS towards polystyryl radical. VMDAS was found to be more reactive towards the polyacrylonitrile than towards the polystyrene radical. The influences of the silicon comonomer on properties such as intrinsic viscosity, solubility, molecular weight distribution and thermal behaviour were also studied.     

Copolymerization of isopropenyl and isopropylidene oxazolones with styrene

2-Isopropenyl-4-isopropyl-2-oxazolin-5-one (M₂), was copolymerized with styrene (M₁), and the monomer reactivity ratios were determined to be r₁ = 0.31 ± 0.03, r₂ = 1.12 ± 0.10. New isomerized oxazolones (M₂), 2-isopropylidene-4-methyl-3-oxazolin-5-one, 2-isopropylidene-4-isopropyl-3-oxazolin-5-one, and 2-isopropylidene-4-isobutyl-3-oxazolin-5-one were prepared and copolymerized with styrene. The monomer reactivity ratios were: r₁ = 0.36 = 0.07, r₂ = 0.0; r₁ = 0.39 ± 0.06, r₂ = 0.00 ± 0.10; r₁ = 0.39 ± 0.10, r₂ = 0.0, respectively. The isomerized oxazolones showed no tendency towards homopolymerization by radical initiator. From the results of infrared and NMR spectra and hydrolysis of the copolymer, it was indicated that the isomerized oxazolones participated in copolymerization in the form of 1–4 polymerization of the conjugated dienes (exo double bond at C₂ and the C?N in the ring). Copolymers reacted with nucleophilic reagents such as amines and alcohols.     

松香丙烯酸基二元单体与苯乙烯的共聚反应

以丙烯酸松香加成物(RA)与甲基丙烯酸-2-羟乙酯的酯化物(RAH)为二元单体,采用溶液聚合法制备了苯乙烯与RAH的共聚物.通过正交实验法研究了反应条件对RAH与苯乙烯共聚反应的影响.对正交实验的结果分析得出:在反应温度为105℃下,RAH与苯乙烯的质量比为1:2,引发剂的用量为单体质量的1.5%,反应时间为8小时,单体转化率最高,为85%;原料配比对共聚反应的影响最为显著,其次是反应温度和引发剂用量,反应时间的影响最小.通过红外光谱分析和核磁共振图谱分析表明成功合成了RAH与苯乙烯的共聚物,热重分析表明产物的热稳定性随单体中RAH比例的增加而增加.     

Copolymerization of styrene and methacrylic acid in concentrated emulsions

Copolymerization of styrene and methacrylic acid was carried out by the concentrated emulsion polymerization method, using sodium dodecylsulfate and AIBN as emulsifier and initiator, respectively. Compared to conventional emulsion polymerization, a much smaller amount of water (5–25 vol %) is employed as the continuous phase and thus the loss of methacrylic acid, which is very soluble in water, is minimized. The concentrated emulsion, which has the appearance of a gel, was prepared at room temperature, and was polymerized at 40°C. The size of copolymer latexes is affected by the internal phase ratio, and was in the range of 0.2–0.3 μm in diameter. Potentiometric titration was used to determine the surface density of the carboxylic groups of the copolymer latexes and its dependence on the feed molar ratio of methyacrylic acid to styrene. NMR and IR spectroscopies have been employed to determined the composition of the copolymer latexes.     

Copolymerization of carbon dioxide and cyclohexene oxide catalyzed by chromium complexes bearing semirigid [ONSO]‐type ligands

Chromium complexes supported by tetradentate dianionic imine‐thioether‐bridged bis(phenol) ligands were prepared and employed in the synthesis of poly(cyclohexene carbonate) via the copolymerization of CO₂ and cyclohexene oxide. The catalytic activity, product selectivity, and kinetic behaviors of these [ONSO]Cr^III complexes have been systematically investigated. Results indicate the presence of electron‐withdrawing substituents on the ligands to enhance catalytic activity and polymer selectivity. A turnover frequency of 100 h^?1 is observed at a temperature of 110 °C, producing polycarbonate with >60% selectivity. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2016 , 54, 1938–1944     

Copolymerization of ethylene and styrene to a nearly-alternating crystalline copolymer

An almost alternating stereoregular copolymer can be obtained by copolymerizing ethylene and styrene with the catalyst ethylenebis(1-indenyl)zirconium dichloride activated by methylaluminoxane at −25°C. The regular microstructure pointed out by the NMR spectrum allows the copolymer to crystallize as shown by calorimetric and X-ray diffraction measurements.     

Copolymerization of butadiene and styrene with neodymium naphthenate based catalyst

Copolymerization of butadiene (Bd) and styrene (St) was carried out in toluene at 50 °C by a conventional rare earth catalytic system, Nd(naph)₃-Al(i-Bu)₃-Al(i-Bu)₂Cl. It exhibited a high catalytic activity and high stereospecificity in the copolymerization. The influences of the conditions in polymerization on the yield, composition, microstructure and molecular weight of copolymer were thoroughly studied. According to the 13C-NMR spectrum, the resultant copolymer containing 18% St units, and the diad fraction of St-trans Bd or St-vinyl Bd can hardly be found in its 13C-NMR. The cis-1,4 content of Bd unit of the copolymer decreased little with the increase of St content. The GPC curves indicate the presence of two kinds of active sites in the polymerization.     

Copolymerization of butadiene and styrene with a gadolinium tricarboxylate catalyst

Homo- and copolymerizations of butadiene (BD) and styrene (St) were carried out by gadolinium catalysts having various tricarboxylate ligands [Gd(OCOR)₃: R = CH₃, CH₂Cl, CHCl₂, CCl₃, and CF₃], to investigate the effects of ligands and discuss the cis polymerization mechanism. Polymerization of BD with Gd(OCOR)₃—(i—Bu)₃Al—Et₂AlCl catalysts was carried out in hexane at 50°C. By each catalyst, poly(BD) having a high cis content (cis = 97–99%) in 22–85% yields for 2–24 h were obtained. The ligands with low pKa values increased the polymerization activity as follows: R of Gd(OCOR)₃: CF₃ > CCl₃ > CHCl₂ > CH₂Cl ～ CH₃. On the other hand, in the polymerization of St or copolymerization of BD and St under similar conditions, the highest activity was attained by a Gd(OCOCCI₃)₃- based catalyst. The difference in the optimum ligand among the homo- and copolymerization of BD and St was discussed on the basis of energy levels of the catalysts. In the copolymers of BD and St, the cis-1,4 content of the BD unit decreased with increasing St content. Furthermore, according to the diad analysis of copolymers (St content ～ 14.5 mol %) by ¹³C NMR spectroscopy, the low cis value of the BD unit was observed in the St-BD diad (cis/trans/vinyl = 24/53/23), while the high cis value of the BD unit remained in the BD-BD diad (cis/trans/vinyl = 89/10/1). These results suggest that the terminal BD unit is controlled by the cis configuration by the coordination between the penultimate cis vinylene unit and the gadolinium metal catalyst, whereas the presence of the penultimate St unit interferes with cis polymerization of the terminal BD unit. The difference in the coordination mechanism in the course of polymerization between rare earth metal and transition metal catalysts such as the Ni(acac)₂ and Co(acac)₃-based catalyst was also discussed. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Copolymerization of styrene. V. Copolymerization with α-cyanocinnamamide

Copolymers of styrene with α-cyanocinnamamide were prepared by free radical initiation in bulk and in DMF solution and also by thermal initiation in bulk. The copolymerization parameters were determined by the conventional scheme of copolymerization and by an improved scheme taking into account the penultimate unit. Different values of the copolymerization parameters were obtained at the above mentioned different polymerization conditions, indicating the existence of a solvent effect. The influence of the comonomer on some of the basic properties, like intrinsic viscosity, solubility, melting range, and glass transition temperature and on some mechanical and behavior properties of the copolymers was studied in comparison with homopolystyrene.