Reaction mechanism of the alternating copolymerization of aziridines with cyclic imides

The copolymerizations of N-substituted aziridines and cyclic imide were studied. N-Ethylsuccinimide copolymerized with ethylenimine, but N-ethylethylenimine did not copolymerize with succinimide and N-ethylsuccinimide without catalyst. The effect of additives on the copolymerization of ethylenimine with succinimide and that of N-ethylethylenimine with succinimide and N-ethylsuccinimide was also examined. The rate of copolymerization of ethylenimine with succinimide was accelerated by the addition of N-acetylethylenimine or water. The copolymerization of N-ethylethylenimine with succinimide was initiated only by water, but N-ethylethylenimine did not copolymerize with N-ethylsuccinimide in the presence of water. Gas evolved on heating the copolymer of ethylenimine and succinimide was analyzed and confirmed to be ammonia. On the basis of these results the reaction mechanisms of the copolymerization of ethylenimine with succinimide or N-ethylsuccinimide and of N-ethylethylenimine with succinimide initiated by water are discussed.     

Alternative copolymerization of aziridines and carbon monoxide by γ-ray irradiation

The copolymerization of carbon monoxide and aziridines such as ethylenimine and propylenimine was carried out by γ-ray irradiation. Aziridines and carbon monoxide were allowed to copolymerize under γ-ray irradiation from a Co⁶⁰ source and gave a crystalline solid copolymer. The yield of the copolymer increased with reaction temperature. The composition of copolymers obtained did not depend on the feed ratio of monomers and was found to be almost equimolar. The copolymer of ethylenimine and carbon monoxide melted at about 322–335°C. with decomposition and has an infrared spectrum identical with that of poly-β-alanine obtained by the hydrogen-migration polymerization of acrylamide. The hydrolyzed product of the ethylenimine–carbon monoxide copolymer was confirmed to be β-alanine by paper chromatography. These results lead to the conclusion that the copolymerization of aziridines and carbon monoxide took place alternatively by γ-ray irradiation, and produced crystalline poly-β-alanines.     

Preparation of crystalline polyamides by the alternating copolymerization of aziridines and cyclic imides

The copolymerization of aziridines and cyclic imides was studied. Aziridines copolymerized alternately with cyclic imides to give crystalline polyamides. Ethylenimine and succinimide copolymerized to nylon 2,4, melting near 300°C., without any catalyst. Similarly, the corresponding crystalline polyamides were obtained from the systems of 1,2-propylenimine–succinimide, ethylenimine–glutarimide, and ethylenimine–phthalimide. The copolymerization of aziridines and cyclic imides in the presence of BF₃OEt₂ gave a copolymer which was rich in aziridine units, whereas, the addition of triethylamine had no influence on the copolymer composition. A mechanism of copolymerization was proposed based on the facts that N-tetramethylenesuccinamide was obtained by the reaction of pyrrolidine and succinimide, N-acetylethylenimine reacted with acetamide to yield N,N′-diacetylethylenediamine and that the rate of this copolymerization was dependent on the electrophilicity of imide.     

Copolymerization of <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-vinylpyrrolidone with new allyl monomers

Radical copolymerization of N-vinylpyrrolidone with diallylacylhydrazines, 2,2-diallyl-1,1,3,3-tetraethylguanidinium chloride, N-allyl-2-azanorborn-5-ene, and N-allylmaleimide in the bulk and in organic solvents was studied. The kinetic features of the reactions were examined, the structures of the copolymers obtained were determined, and their physicochemical and biological properties were studied.     

Selective hydrolysis of oxazoline block copolymers

Block copolymers, composed of a hydrophobic block [poly(N-t-butylbenzoyl ethylenimine) or poly(N-lauroyl ethylenimine)] and a hydrophilic block [poly(N-propionyl ethylenimine)], synthesized by cationic ring-opening polymerization of 2-substituted Δ2-oxazolines, were selectively deacylated by acid hydrolysis. The hydrolysis process was monitored by using ¹H-NMR. The results show that the propionyl groups could be removed from the hydrophilic block of the polymer chain without touching the hydrophobic block, if appropriate reaction conditions were used.     

Precise architecture of 1:1 alternating copolymers between germylenes and p-benzoquinone derivatives: First clear- cut evidence of biradical mechanism in polymerization chemistry

Germylenes bearing a bulky amide substituent have been copolymerized with various p-benzoquinone derivatives without any added catalyst to give novel class of germanium-containing polymers having a tetravalent germanium unit and a p-hydroquinone unit alternatingly in the main chain (“oxidation-reduction alternating copolymerization”). The resulting copolymers have high molecular weight (Mw>5.5×10⁴) and are soluble in common organic solvents. A novel biradical mechanism involving a germyl radical and a semiquinone radical is proposed on the basis of ESR analysis of the propagating polymer end as well as trapping experiments using a disulfide or TEMPO radical.     

Alternating copolymerization of N-(alkyl-substituted phenyl)maleimides with isobutene and thermal properties of the resulting copolymers

Radical copolymerization of N-(alkyl-substituted phenyl)maleimides (RPhMI) with isobutene (IB) was carried out with an initiator in various solvents at 60°C. The copolymerization of N-(2,6-diethylphenyl)maleimide (2,6-DEPhMI) with IB in benzene proceeded readily in a homogeneous system to give an alternating copolymer over a wide range of the comonomer compositions in the feed. Whereas the alternating tendency of the copolymerization of other RPhMI with IB decreased depending on the alkyl substituents of RPhMI in the following order: 2,6-DEPhMI > N-(2,6-dimethylphenyl)maleimide ≥ N-(2-methylphenyl)maleimide >. N-(4-ethylphenyl)maleimide. The copolymerization reactivities were discussed based on the rate constants for the homo-propagations and cross-propagations. Subsequently, the effect of the solvent on the rate and the reactivity ratios was examined. It was revealed that the copolymerization in chloroform proceeded with higher alternating tendency at a higher copolymerization rate than in the copolymerizations in benzene or dioxane. The copolymers of RPhMI with IB showed excellent thermal stability, i.e., high glass transition temperature and initial decomposition temperature over 200 and 350°C, respectively. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

γ-ray-induced copolymerization of carbon monoxide with cyclic hydrocarbons

The γ-ray-induced copolymerization of carbon monoxide with saturated or unsaturated cyclic hydrocarbons, such as cyclohexane, cyclohexene, 4-vinyl-1-cyclohexene, and cyclopentadiene was studied at 30°C. Resinous or powdery polymers were obtained in the copolymerization. The results of elementary analysis, infrared spectra, and NMR spectra showed that copolymers containing ketone and ring structures were produced. The copolymers were confirmed to be partially crystalline by the x-ray diffraction diagram. Further, the influence of the addition of ethylenimine on the copolymerization of carbon monoxide with cyclohexane or cyclohexene was examined. A powdery polymer formed in the copolymerization was concluded to be a terpolymer of carbon monoxide with cyclic hydrocarbon and ethylenimine. On the basis of the experimental results, a mechanism of the copolymerization is proposed.     

Helix‐sense‐selective copolymerization of triphenylmethyl methacrylate with chiral 2‐isopropenyl‐4‐phenyl‐2‐oxazoline

The asymmetric induction leading to a one‐handed helix was investigated in the anionic and radical copolymerization of triphenylmethyl methacrylate (TrMA) and (S)‐2‐isopropenyl‐4‐phenyl‐2‐oxazoline ((S)‐IPO), and highly isotactic copolymers with a reasonable optical activity were obtained. In the anionic copolymerization, the optical activity of the obtained copolymers depended on the polarity of solvents, and a highly optically active copolymer was produced in the copolymerization in toluene. The chiral oxazoline monomer functioned not only as a comonomer but also as a chiral ligand to endow the polymer with large negative optical rotation in the copolymerization with TrMA. The copolymers with small positive optical rotation were obtained in THF, indicating that IPO unit may work only as the chiral monomer that dictates the helical sense via copolymerization with TrMA. The isotacticity of the obtained copolymers depended on the contents of TrMA units in the copolymers, but was almost independent of the solvent for copolymerization. In the radical copolymerization, the obtained copolymers exhibited small optical activities. It seemed that the chiral monomer cannot induce one‐handed helical structure of TrMA sequences even if the sequences probably have a high isotacticity. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2019 , 57, 441–447     

Copolymerization of carbon dioxide and N-phenylethylenimine

Copolymerizations of carbon dioxide and N-phenylethylenimine were carried out with the use of various catalysts and solvents. The infrared spectrum of the polymer produced showed the characteristic absorption peak at 1730–1735 cm^?1 based on the urethane linkage. The content of the urethane linkage decreased in the following order: Mn(acac)₂ ≈ MnCl₂4H₂O > Al(OBu)₃ > Ti(OBu)₄ > ZnCl₂ ? BF₃OEt₂ = VCl₃ = Mn(acac)₃ = FeCl₃ = CrCl₃ · 6H₂O = 0. The manganase (bivalent) catalyst in combination with n-hexane solvent was found to be the best system for the copolymerization, and this system received detailed study. Generally speaking, both the polymer yield and the content of the urethane linkage increased with increasing content of carbon dioxide in the feed as well as with increasing polymerization temperature. From the fractionation of polymer in methanol, it was found that the produced polymer is composed of both homopolymer of N-phenylethylenimine and copolymer of N-phenylethylenimine and carbon dioxide. The content of the urethane linkage of the copolymer thus fractionated was as high as about 80%.     

Copolymerization of N-vinylsuccinimide with butyl acrylate in an electron-donor medium of tertiary aminese

The effect of electron-donor solvents on the parameters of the NMR signals of vinyl protons in N-vinylsuccinimide and butyl acrylate was examined. The kinetics of copolymerization of N-vinylsuccinimide with butyl acrylate in triethylamine and tributylamine was studied by monitoring the running concentrations of the monomers in the course of the reaction. The copolymerization constants were calculated. The diad and triad composition of the copolymers formed in the medium of tertiary amines was predicted, and their microstructural nonuniformity was evaluated.     

Radical copolymerization of 3-tri-n-butylstannylstyrene with several vinyl monomers

The free radical homopolymerization and copolymerization of 3-tri-n-butylstannylstyrene (3-BTS) with styrene (ST), ethyl acrylate (EA), methyl methacrylate (MMA), vinyl acetate (VA), and acrylonitrile (AN) were carried out using 2,2′-azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) at 60°C. It was found that the yield of conversion to poly(3-BTS) increased with the molar ratio of initiator to monomer as well as with polymerization time. The conversion at equilibrium after 50 h was about 40%. The compositions of copolymer samples were determined from elemental analyses. Monomer reactivity ratio and Q-e values were calculated. The copolymers of 3-BTS-MMA and 3-BTS-AN were found to be alternating. The copolymers of 3-BTS with MMA, EA and AN were not soluble in any of a large number of organic solvents tested. The insolubility is believed to be due to formation of intermolecular coordination among the tributylstannyl moiety and the carbonyl or cyano groups of the polymer. These copolymers, however, were “soluble” in trihaloacetic acid, but this solubility was due to a cleavage of the trialkyltin moiety from the phenyl groups. The glass temperatures, T_g, and melting temperatures T_m, of the various polymers were also studied.     

Effect of supercritical CO2 on the copolymerization behavior of cyclohexene oxide/CO2 and copolymer properties with DMC/Salen‐Co(III) catalyst system

The copolymerization of cyclohexene oxide (CHO) and carbon dioxide (CO₂) was carried out under supercritical CO₂ (scCO₂) conditions to afford poly (cyclohexene carbonate) (PCHC) in high yield. The scCO₂ provided not only the C1 feedstock but also proved to be a very efficient solvent and processing aid for this copolymerization system. Double metal cyanide (DMC) and salen‐Co(III) catalysts were employed, demonstrating excellent CO₂/CHO copolymerization with high yield and high selectivity. Surprisingly, our use of scCO₂ was found to significantly enhance the copolymerization efficiency and the quality of the final polymer product. Thermally stable and high molecular weight (MW) copolymers were successfully obtained. Optimization led to excellent catalyst yield (656 wt/wt, polymer/catalyst) and selectivity (over 96% toward polycarbonate) that were significantly beyond what could be achieved in conventional solvents. Moreover, detailed thermal analyses demonstrated that the PCHC copolymer produced in scCO₂ exhibited higher glass transition temperatures (T_g ～ 114 °C) compared to polymer formed in dense phase CO₂ (T_g ～ 77 °C), and hence good thermal stability. Additionally, residual catalyst could be removed from the final polymer using scCO₂, pointing toward a green method that avoids the use of conventional volatile organic‐based solvents for both synthesis and work‐up. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2016 , 54, 2785–2793     

Copolymerization of divinyl monomers with maleic and fumaric acid derivatives

The process of formation of reticular copolymer molecular structures produced in free radical copolymerization of divinyl monomers (divinyl ethers of diethylene glycol and hydroquinone, divinyl sulfide, p-divinylbenzene, etc.) with maleic and fumaric acid derivatives is studied. The basic factor that determines the features of molecular and network structures of copolymers is reactivity of the divinyl monomer in copolymerization with monovinyl monomer. The network of copolymers of maleic anhydride with the divinyl ether of hydroquinone is formed out of oligomer microgels. Divinyl sulfide in copolymerization with maleic acid is disposed to cyclocopolymerization; also crosslinking reactions occur. Formation of a network structure of copolymers of divinylbenzene with maleic and fumaric acid derivatives is shown to proceed via an alternating copolymerization mechanism. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 36 : 371–378, 1998     

Study of the kinetics of styrene copolymerization with divinyl sulfide and the structure of macromolecules

The kinetics of the free-radical copolymerization of styrene with divinyl sulfide in the presence of N,N′-bis(vinyloxyethyl)thiuram disulfide as an iniferter has been studied. The rate of polymerization is shown to decrease with increasing iniferter concentration. The structure of the copolymers isolated in the course of copolymerization has been investigated by electron microscopy and compared with that of the copolymers synthesized using AIBN as an initiator. Evolution in the morphology of the polymer phase during the process, which consists in self-organization of the secondary supramolecular structure into spheroids with diameters of 0.1–10 μm, has been revealed. The stages of the formation of polymer particles of various structures are described by the scheme of morphogenesis.     

Synthesis and characterization of poly(p-arylene sulfide ketone/Schiff base) copolymers

Poly(p-arylene sulfide ketone/Schiff base) copolymers(PASK/SB) were prepared by solution polycondensation of 4,4’-diflurobenzophenone(DFBP) and N-phenyl(4,4’-diflurodiphenyl) ketimine(DFBI) with sodium sulfide in the presence of sodium hydroxide under normal pressure.Elemental analyses,FT-IR,NMR,DSC,TGA and XRD were used to characterize the resultant copolymers.It was found that the copolymers had good thermal properties with glass transition temperature(T_g) of 155.0-172.0°C,melting temperature(T_m) of 298-344°C,5%weight loss temperatures(T_d) of 471.0-501.5°C.These copolymers were almost amorphous with the content of DFBI beyond 30%.The polymer with 100% DFBI had excellent solubility,and it could dissolve in some solvents such as tetrahydrofuran(THF) and N-methyl-2- pyrrolidone(NMP).The processability of polymers was improved.Meantime the viscosity of PASK made from hydrolysis of PASK/SB(H-PASK/SB) was greatly improved from 0.135 dL/g to 0.605 dL/g.     

Nanoporous polymer networks based on <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-vinylpyrrolidone

A method of preparing nanoporous polymer networks containing N-vinylpyrrolidone units via the crosslinking radical copolymerization in bulk performed in the presence of amphiphilic N-vinylpyrrolidone copolymers with the branched morphology and different physicochemical characteristics is developed. It is shown that macromolecular nanoobjects may be extracted from polymer composites using good solvents, such as chloroform and isopropyl alcohol. The physicomechanical, thermal, and diffusion–sorption properties of polymer composites before and after their extraction are compared. SEM and low-temperature nitrogen adsorption measurements reveal that nanosized pores are contained in the network copolymers after extraction of the polymer additives. The specific surface area, total pore volume, pore size, and pore-size distribution are determined. The maximum specific surface area of polymer networks attains ~26 m²/g, and mesopores compose the main type of pores.     

Hydrogen-transfer polymerization of methyl-substituted acrylamides

Base-catalyzed hydrogen-transfer polymerization and copolymerization of acrylamide and its methyl-substituted derivatives were studied in pyridine at 110°C. n-Butyllithium was used as an initiator. The observed rates of these homopolymerizations were found to decrease in the following order: acrylamide > crotonamide > methacrylamide > N-methylacrylamide > N-methylcrotonamide > tiglinamide > N-methylmethacrylamide ? α-chlorocrotonamide ? α-cyanocrotonamide = 0. Acrylamide gave the polymer with the highest degree of polymerization among the monomers examined. It was found that the number and the position of the methyl substituent in acrylamide affected significantly both the rate of polymerization and the molecular weight of the polymer. Although all polymers obtained, except the N-methyl derivatives, contained both methanol-soluble and methanol-insoluble fractions, a polyamide structure with unsaturated terminal monomer unit was confirmed by both infrared and NMR determinations. From the NMR determination of the saturated and terminal unsaturated units, the degree of polymerization of the resulting polyamides were also obtained. The monomers were also found to copolymerize by a hydrogen-transfer mechanism. However, the main chain of the resulting copolymers was composed of the more reactive monomer unit, and the less reactive monomer was incorporated only as a terminal unit when a less reactive monomer was copolymerized with a more reactive one. From these results, it was concluded that these polymerizations proceeded via an intermolecular hydrogen-transfer mechanism (i.e., stepwise mechanism).     

Styrene/maleimide copolymer with stable second-order optical nonlinearity

Radical copolymerization of N-(azo dye) maleimide or N-(substituted phenyl) maleimide and styrene were carried out using 2,2′-azobis-isobutyronitrile as an initiator in THF at 60°C. These copolymers exhibit high solubility in most of the organic solvents and excellent thermal stability up to 280°C under nitrogen atmosphere. The copolymer films which were heated at 200–240°C under high corona field exhibit d₃₃ = 3–5 pm/V, in the Maker-fringe measurement. Experimental results also showed that the copolymer with azo dye as chromophore did not decay in second harmonic response even at 130°C. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Synthesis of phenyl-s-triazine-based copoly(aryl ether)s derived from hydroquinone and resorcinol

A novel series of soluble and heat-resistant copoly(arylene ether phenyl-s-triazine)s (PAEPs) have been prepared for their potent utilities as structural coatings, high-temperature membranes or adhesives. The copolymers have been synthesized via the nucleophilic displacement polymerization of 2,4-bis(4-fluorophenyl)-6-phenyl-1,3,5-triazine (BFPT) with various ratios of hydroquinone (HQ) and resorcinol (RS). A key feature of these copolymers is the incorporation of multiply meta-ether linkages in the polymer chain, which results in an improvement in the solubility of poly(arylene ether phenyl-s-triazine)s in common organic solvents (e.g., N,N’-dimethylacetamide, N,N’-dimethylformamide, N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone). The new random copolymers exhibit high glass transitions exceeding 241 °C and excellent thermal and thermo-oxidative stabilities associating with decomposition temperatures for 5% mass-loss in excess of 531 °C. These copolymers can be easily cast into tough, clear and creasable films and exhibit good mechanical properties. All copolymers are amorphous except PAEP9010 as evidenced by WAXD. Their solubility increases with an increase in meta-ether linkage content in the polymer backbone, while the crystallinity and the overall thermal stability appear to decrease slightly. This kind of phenyl-s-triazine-based poly(arylene ether) copolymers may be considered a good candidate for using as high-performance polymeric materials.