Radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate in the presence of stereoregular poly(methyl methacrylate). V. Kinetics of initial template polymerization

The influence of stereoregular poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) as a polymer matrix on the initial rate of radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) has been measured between ?11 and +60°C using a dilatometric technique. Under proper conditions an increase in the relative initial rate of template polymerization with respect to a blank polymerization was observed. Viscometric studies showed that the observed effect could be related to the extent of complex formation between the polymer matrix and the growing chain radical. The initial rate was dependent on tacticity and molecular weight of the matrix polymer, solvent type and polymerization temperature. The accelerating effect was most pronounced (a fivefold increase in rate) at the lowest polymerization temperature with the highest molecular weight isotactic PMMA as a matrix in a solvent like dimethylformamide (DMF), which is known to be a good medium for complex formation between isotactic and syndiotactic PMMA. The acceleration of the polymerization below 25°C appeared to be accompanied by a large decrease in the overall energy and entropy of activation. It is suggested that the observed template effects are mainly due to the stereoselection in the propagation step (lower activation entropy Δ S_p^?) and the hindrance of segmental diffusion in the termination step (higher activation energy Δ E_t^?) of complexed growing chain radicals.     

Anionic polymerization of methyl methacrylate initiated with lithium diphenylamide (Ph2NLi) in the presence of divalent transition metal halide

Anionic polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) in the presence of divalent transition metal halide (MX₂ = FeBr₂, MnCl₂, CoCl₂, NiBr₂) was investigated. Initiating systems with various combinations of MX₂, lithium diphenylamide (Ph₂NLi), and organolithium (RLi, where R = nBu, Me) were effective to giving a high yield of poly(methyl methacrylate)s (PMMAs) at ?78 °C in toluene. The tacticity of the resulting PMMAs was highly dependent on the combination of the reagents used for the generation of the initiating systems within a syndiotactic (rr = 59%) to isotactic (mm = 65%) range. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 31–37, 2004     

Stereocontrol in the free‐radical polymerization of methacrylates with fluoroalcohols

The free‐radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA), ethyl methacrylate (EMA), isopropyl methacrylate (IPMA), and tert‐butyl methacrylate (t‐BuMA) was carried out under various conditions to achieve stereoregulation. In the MMA polymerization, syndiotactic specificity was enhanced by the use of fluoroalcohols, including (CF₃)₃COH as a solvent or an additive. The polymerization of MMA in (CF₃)₃COH at −98 °C achieved the highest syndiotacticity (rr = 93%) for the radical polymerization of methacrylates. Similar effects of fluoroalcohols enhancing syndiotactic specificity were also observed in the polymerization of EMA, whereas the effect was negligible in the IPMA polymerization. In contrast to the polymerizations of MMA and EMA, syndiotactic specificity was decreased by the use of (CF₃)₃COH in the t‐BuMA polymerization. The stereoeffects of fluoroalcohols seemed to be due to the hydrogen‐bonding interaction of the alcohols with monomers and growing species. The interaction was confirmed by NMR measurements. In addition, in the bulk polymerization of MMA at −78 °C, syndiotactic specificity and polymer yield increased even in the presence of a small amount {[(CF₃)₃COH]/[MMA]_o < 1} of (CF₃)₃COH. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 4693–4703, 2000     

Single electron transfer‐living radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate in fluoroalcohol: Dual control over molecular weight and tacticity

The Cu(0)‐mediated single electron transfer‐living radical polymerization (SET‐LRP) of methyl methacrylate (MMA) using ethyl 2‐bromoisobutyrate (EBiB) as an initiator with Cu(0)/N,N,N′,N′′,N′′‐pentamethyldiethylenetriamine as a catalyst system in 1,1,1,3,3,3‐hexafluoro‐2‐propanol (HFIP) was studied. The polymerization showed some living features: the measured number‐average molecular weight (M_n,GPC) increased with monomer conversion and produced polymers with relatively low polydispersities. The increase of HFIP concentration improved the controllability over the polymerization with increased initiation efficiency and lowered polydispersity values. ¹H NMR, MALDI‐TOF‐MS spectra, and chain extension reaction confirmed that the resultant polymer was end‐capped by EBiB species, and the polymer can be reactivated for chain extension. In contrast, in the cases of dimethyl sulfoxide or N,N‐dimethylformamide as reaction solvent, the polymerizations were uncontrolled. The different effects of the solvents on the polymerization indicated that the mechanism of SET‐LRP differed from that of atom transfer radical polymerization. Moreover, HFIP also facilitated the polymerization with control over stereoregularity of the polymers. Higher concentration of HFIP and lower reaction temperature produced higher syndiotactic ratio. The syndiotactic ratio can be reached to about 0.77 at 1/1.5 (v/v) of MMA/HFIP at ?18 °C. In conclusion, using HFIP as SET‐LRP solvent, the dual control over the molecular weight and tacticity of PMMA was realized. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 6316–6327, 2009     

Synthesis of polar block grafted syndiotactic polystyrenes via a combination of iridium‐catalyzed activation of aromatic C?H bonds and atom transfer radical polymerization

A combination of iridium‐catalyzed C H activation/borylation and atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) was used to generate polar graft copolymers of syndiotactic polystyrene (sPS). The borylation at aromatic C H bonds of sPS and subsequent oxidation of boronate ester proceeded without negatively affecting the molecular weight properties and the tacticity of sPS. A macroinitiator suitable for ATRP could be synthesized by the esterification of 2‐bromo‐2‐methylpropionyl bromide and hydroxy‐functionalized sPS. The graft polymerizations of methyl methacrylate and tert‐butyl acrylate from the macroinitiator using ATRP afforded polar block grafted sPS materials, syndiotactic polystyrene‐graft‐poly(methyl methacrylate) (sPS‐g‐PMMA) and syndiotactic polystyrene‐graft‐poly(tert‐butyl acrylate) (sPS‐g‐PtBA). The latter was hydrolyzed to yield an amphiphilic graft copolymer, syndiotactic polystyrene‐graft‐poly(acrylic acid) (sPS‐g‐PAA). The structures of the copolymers were characterized by NMR and FTIR spectroscopies. Size exclusion chromatography and ¹H NMR spectroscopy were used to study any changes in the molecular weight properties from the parent polymer. A decrease in the hydrophobicity of the graft copolymers was confirmed by water contact angle measurements. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 6655–6667, 2009     

Dependence of the glass transition temperature of poly(methyl methacrylate) on tacticity and molecular weight

The preparation of five samples of poly(methyl methacrylate) covering a wide range of tacticity and their electron irradiation to produce series of varying molecular weight are described. The glass transition temperature T_g of each polymer was determined by DTA techniques. Plots of T_g and the reciprocal of the molecular weight are well fitted in every case by a straight line. The data are also fitted to the Gibbs-DiMarzio theory and the values of the energy and free-volume parameters obtained are discussed. A method of estimating T_g of pure syndiotactic poly(methyl methacrylate) by extrapolation is presented, the value obtained being 160°C.     

Anionic polymerization of biomass‐derived furfuryl methacrylate: Controlling polymer tacticity and thermoreversibility

Biomass‐derived furfuryl methacrylate (FMA) has been successfully polymerized for the first time by anionic polymerization to produce atactic (at‐), isotactic (it‐), or syndiotactic (st‐) poly(furfuryl methacrylate) (PFMA), depending on initiator structure and reaction conditions. Thermal properties of the PFMA materials are strongly affected by the polymer tacticity. Most notably, while both isotactic and syndiotactic polymers can undergo inter‐ or intrachain crosslinking reactions when heated to 290 °C, there is no evidence for the atactic polymer to perform the same reaction. Furthermore, the PFMA tacticity also greatly affects the amount of stable carbonaceous materials it produces when heated to 650 °C, with st‐PFMA forming the largest amount of such materials (26.9%), as compared to only 5.6% by at‐PFMA. Using the Diels–Alder (DA) “click reaction” between the reactive furfuryl group within the PFMA polymers as the diene equivalent and a bismaleimide as the dienophile, thermoreversible smart polymers have been successfully prepared. Thermoreversibility of the preformed crosslinked polymers has been demonstrated, thanks to the facile retro‐DA reaction upon heating and the DA reaction upon cooling of such self‐healing materials. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2013, 51, 2793–2803     

聚合温度对聚甲基丙烯酸三丁基锡酯等规度的影响(Ⅰ)

本文测定了0—130℃温度范围内,由~(60)Co-γ射线和两种活性不同的引发剂引发聚合的聚甲基丙烯酸三丁基锡酯的等规度。利用~(13)C-NMR测定聚合物分子链的等规度,如预料的那样,以间同立构为主,并随着聚合温度的升高间同立构等规度降低。作者认为影响聚合物等规度的因素主要是取代基的极性效应。计算出的控制等规度的活化能参数与聚甲基丙烯酸甲酯和聚甲基丙烯酸三甲基锡酯的属同一数量级,可相互比较。     

Synthesis of poly(methyl methacrylate) macromonomer

Anionic polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) was carried out in tetrahydrofuran (THF) or THF/toluene mixture at ?78°C initiated by triphenylmethyl sodium or lithium as initiators. Highly syndiotactic PMMA of low polydispersity (M _w/m _n = 1.11–1.17) could be prepared with triphenylmethyl lithium in THF or THF/toluene mixture at ? 78°C. Moreover, PMMA macromonomer having one vinylbenzyl group per polymer chain was prepared by the couplings of living PMMA initiated by triphenylmethyl lithium with p-chloromethyl styrene (CMS) at ?78°C. The coupling reaction of living PMMA initiated by triphenylmethyl sodium with CMS was scarcely occurred.     

Synthesis,free-radical polymerization,and stereochemical configuration of methyl α-p-cyanobenzylacrylate

Methyl α-p-cyanobenzylacrylate was synthesized from dimethyl malonate following well-known organic reactions. The purified monomer was polymerized by a free-radical mechanism in benzene solution, using AIBN as initiator in the interval 50–90°C. The kinetic results seem to indicate an apparent ceiling temperature near 90°C. The analysis by ¹³C-NMR of polymers obtained indicates that the macromolecular chains are predominantly syndiotactic and the tacticity is independent of the polymerization temperature in the experimental interval studied. However, the determination of conditional probabilities for iso- and syndiotactic additions and the persistence ratios indicate that the propagation mechanism for the radical polymerization of methyl α-p-cyanobenzylacrylate does not follow a typical Bernoullian statistics.     

Free‐radical polymerization of styrene with p‐nitrobenzyl triphenyl phosphonium ylide as an initiator

The free‐radical polymerization of styrene with p‐nitrobenzyl triphenyl phosphonium ylide as an initiator in dioxane at 80 ± 1 °C in a dilatometer under a nitrogen atmosphere for 150 min resulted in a syndiotactic polymer, as evidenced by IR, ¹H NMR, and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy. A ¹H NMR spectrum showed methylene protons as triplets; ¹³C NMR signals of the phenyl ipso carbons were used for the determination of the tacticity. The system followed ideal kinetics. Gel permeation chromatography data were used evaluate the weight‐average molecular weight. The overall activation energy was 47 kJ/mol. Electron spin resonance spectroscopy confirmed the initiation by the phenyl radical obtained by the dissociation of the ylide and the free‐radical mode of polymerization. Differential scanning calorimetry studies showed the glass‐transition temperature of the polymer to be 342 K. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 6524–6533, 2005     

Synthesis and structural characterization of syndiotactic trans‐1,2 and cis‐1,2 polyhexadienes

The (E) isomer in mixtures of (E) and (Z) 1,3‐hexadiene was polymerized with the system CoCl₂(PⁱPrPh₂)₂‐MAO, a highly active and stereospecific catalyst for the preparation of 1,2 syndiotactic polybutadiene. A new crystalline polymer with a melting point of 109 °C was obtained. The polymer was characterized by IR, NMR (¹³C, ¹H in solution and ¹³C in the solid‐state), X‐ray diffraction, DSC, GPC and it was found to have a trans‐1,2 syndiotactic structure with a 5.18 ± 0.04 Å fiber periodicity. Since only the (E) isomer was polymerized, at the end of the reaction we were able to separate the (Z) isomer, which was ultimately polymerized with CpTiCl₃‐MAO at low temperature, obtaining a low molecular weight, stereoregular polymer that, characterized by IR and NMR methods, was found to exhibit a cis‐1,2 syndiotactic structure, never reported before. Molecular mechanics calculations were carried out on the trans‐1,2 syndiotactic polymer and structural models consistent with the X‐ray diffraction data are proposed. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 5339–5353, 2007     

Polymerization of MMA catalyzed by different novel mixed ligand lanthanocene{(Cp)(Cl) LnSchiff-base (THF)},(COT) -Ln(methoxyethylindenyl)(THF) /Al (i -Bu)_3 systems

This article deals that the rare earth metal complexes along with Al(i'-Bu),can catalyze the polymerization of methyl-methacrylate (MMA) into high molecular weight poly(MMA) along with narrow molecular weight distributions (MWD).A typical example was mentioned in the case of {Cp(Cl) Sm-Schiff-base(THF)} which expresses maximum (conv.% = 55.46 and Mn=354×103) efficiency along with narrow MWD (Mw/Mn<2) at 60℃.The resulting polymer was partially syndiotactic (>60%).The effect of the catalyst,temperature,catalyst/MMA molar ratio,catalyst/Al( i-Bu)3 molar ratio on the polymerization of MMA at 60℃ were also investigated.     

Chain dimensions and entanglement spacings in dense macromolecular systems

In this article, we reexamine and extend a relationship proposed earlier between entanglement density and chain dimensions in polymer melts. The power-law equation presented in the earlier work, relating the entanglement molecular weight M_e, melt chain density ρ, and the packing length p is tested with additional polymer species. Now included are additional polydienes and their hydrogenated derivatives, the isotactic forms of polypropylene and polystyrene, the essentially syndiotactic form of poly(methyl methacrylate), along with poly(tetrafluoroethylene), poly(vinylmethyl ether), various poly(methacrylates), and polymeric sulfur. We find that within experimental uncertainties, M_e/ρ and p are related through an equation (M_e/ρ = 218p³) that is insensitive to temperature (25°C ≤ T ≤ 380°C) and which seems to be universal for flexible Gaussian chains in the melt state. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 37: 1023–1033, 1999     

(Diisopropylamido) bis (methylcyclopentadienyl) lanthanides as single-component initiators for polymerization of methyl methacrylate

It was first found that (diisopropylamido)bis(methylcyclopentadienyl)lanthanides (MeC₅H₄)₂LnN(i-Pr)₂(THF) (Ln = Yb ( 1 ), Er ( 2 ), Y ( 3 )) exhibit extremely high catalytic activity in the polymerization of methyl methacrylate. The reactions can be carried out over a quite broad range of polymerization temperatures from -78 to 40°C. The catalytic activity of the complexes increases with an increase of ionic radii of the metal elements, i.e. Y > Er > Yb. The results of GPC (gel permeation chromatography) indicate that the number-average molecular weights (M_n) of polymers obtained exceed 100 × 10³ and the molecular weight distribution (M_w/M_n) becomes broad with the increase of temperature. Furthermore highly syndiotactic PMMA (87.7%) can be obtained by lowering the reaction temperature to −78°C. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 36: 1593–1597, 1998     

Synthesis of well‐defined syndiotactic poly(methyl methacrylate) with low‐temperature atom transfer radical polymerization in fluoroalcohol

The copper‐mediated atom transfer radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) in 1,1,1,3,3,3‐hexafluoro‐2‐propanol (HFIP) was studied to simultaneously control the molecular weight and tacticity. The polymerization using tris[2‐(dimethylamino)ethyl]amine (Me₆TREN) as a ligand was performed even at ?78°C with a number‐average molecular weight (M_n) of 13,400 and a polydispersity (weight‐average molecular weight/number‐average molecular weight) of 1.31, although the measured M_n's were much higher than the theoretical ones. The addition of copper(II) bromide (CuBr₂) apparently affected the early stage of the polymerization; that is, the polymerization could proceed in a controlled manner under the condition of [MMA]₀/[methyl α‐bromoisobutyrate]₀/[CuBr]₀/[CuBr₂]₀/[Me₆TREN]₀ = 200/1/1/0.2/1.2 at ?20°C with an MMA/HFIP ratio of 1/4 (v/v). For the field desorption mass spectrum of Cu^IBr/Me₆TREN in HFIP, there were [Cu(Me₆TREN)Br]⁺ and [Cu(Me₆TREN)OCH(CF₃)₂]⁺, indicating that HFIP should coordinate to the Cu^I/Me₆TREN complex. The syndiotacticity of the obtained poly(methyl methacrylate)s increased with the decreasing polymerization temperature; the racemo content was 84% for ?78°C, 77% for ?30°C, 75% for ?20°C, and 63% for 30°C. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 1436–1446, 2006     

Influence of the polymerization temperature on the stereoregularity of radical poly(phenyl methacrylate)

The dependence of the tacticity of radical poly(phenyl methacrylate) upon polymerization temperature has been examined by NMR spectroscopy. Bernouillian statistics were confirmed for polymerization temperatures between 30 and 80°, but slight deviation was found for elevated temperatures (100°). The calculated values of differential enthalpies and entropies of activation for isotactic and syndiotactic propagations revealed that poly(methyl methacrylate) radicals grow more easily in syndiotactic placement than poly(phenyl methacrylate) radicals.     

Opening and Addition Modes in Propagation During Radical Polymerization of Fumaric and Maleic Derivatives

Abstract

Polymers of bis(trimethylsilyl) fumarate, di-tert-amyl fumarate, and methyl tert-amyl fumarate were prepared by radical polymerization at 60 or 120°C. The polymers were converted into poly(dimethyl fumarate) via thermolysis or hydrolysis and subsequent methylation to determine the tacticity using ¹³C-NMR spectroscopy. The probabilities of meso addition (P _m) were revealed to be 0.66 (60°C) for the bis(trimethylsilyl) ester, 0.60 (60°C) and 0.52 (120°C) for the di-tert-amyl ester, and 0.54 (60 and 120°C) for the methyl tert-amyl ester. From the temperature dependence of the P _m values, the differences in activation enthalpies and entropies for the meso and racemo additions were evaluated. The microstructure of poly(dimethyl fumarate) derived from poly(maleic anhydride) was also examined. The opening and addition modes in propagation of the fumaric and maleic derivatives were discussed based on the results obtained in the present and previous work.     

Polymerization of meta-naphthoquinone methide: 3,4-benzo-6-methylenebicyclo [3.1.0] hex-3-ene-2-one

Polymerization behavior of meta-naphthoquinone methide, 3,4-benzo-6-methylenebicyclo[3.1.0]hex-3-ene-2-one ( 1 ), was studied. Radical initiator 2,2′-azobis(isobutyronitrile) (AIBN) induced polymerization of 1 , but ionic initiators potassium tert-butoxide, butyllithium, and boron trifluoride etherate did not. Polymerization of 1 proceeded via ring-opening and aromatization to give a polymer with head-to-tail monomer unit placement. Compound 1 copolymerized with methyl methacrylate (MMA) in the presence of AIBN to obtain the monomer reactivity ratios r₁ ( 1 ) = 0.28 ± 0.07 and r₂(MMA) = 0.39 ± 0.02 at 60°C and Q and e values of Q = 1.04 and e = −1.03, indicating that 1 is a conjugative and electron-donating monomer. Ring-opening and aromatization of 1 also took place in the copolymerization. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 35: 741–746, 1997     

Ester derivatives of α-hydroxymethylacrylates: Itaconate isomers giving high molecular weight polymers

New ester derivatives of ethyl α-hydroxymethylacrylate were synthesized using acid chlorides (traditional solution reactions), sodium salts of acids (with phase transfer catalysis), and trifluoroacetic anhydride (trifluoroacetate). The interfacial process gave high yields of clean products under very mild conditions. Derivatives obtained include the formate, acetate, hexanoate, stearate, benzoate, trifluoroacetate, and adamantanoate. Bulk polymerizations with 2,2′-azobis (isobutyronitrile) gave high molecular weight polymers with intrinsic viscosities of over 2 dL/g and molecular weights of several million [based on size-exclusion chromatography (SEC) comparison to polystyrene standards]. These high molecular weights were the result of autoacceleration in the bulk as shown by monitoring molecular weight with respect to conversion. Solution polymerization in benzene gave more typical polymer, e.g., the acetate derivative showed an SEC molecular weight of 52,000. Glass transition temperatures for the n-alkyl esters decreased from the formate (77°C) to the hexanoate (15°C); the stearate showed a side-chain melting point of 40°C but no T_g. Glass transitions were observed for the trifluoroacetate, benzoate, and adamantanoate polymers at 69, 130, and 214°C, respectively. Solution ¹³C-NMR showed evidence of tacticity information for the formate and acetate derivatives with appaent preference for syndiotactic polymer formation similar to that of methyl methacrylate. FTIR and solid-state ¹³C-NMR analysis gave spectra with functional group peaks and chemical shift values expected based on composition. The stearate monomer and polymer gave solid-state ¹³C chemical shifts of 34 and 33 ppm, respectively, for the central CH₂ units consistent with monoclinic and orthorhombic crystal packing. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.