Simultaneous hydrosilation and ring-opening polymerization as a route to novel polymer architectures

Typical platinum, rhodium and cobalt hydrosilation catalysts have been found to catalyze the ring-opening polymerization of many different types of heterocyclic monomers. In particular, epoxide monomers undergo especially rapid polymerization with these catalysts. Investigations have shown that in the case of platinum and rhodium catalysts these polymerizations proceed at the surface of the metal colloids by means of a novel cationic mechanism. In contrast, polymerizations with octacarbonyldicobalt take place by a homogeneous cationic mechanism. In all cases, polymerization appears to proceed by the formal attack of a positively charged silicon species on the heteroatom with the formation of a silicon-oxygen bond. Interesting comb, graft, block and network polymers can be prepared by carrying out simultaneous epoxide ring-opening and hydrosilation reactions using these catalysts.     

Electrophilic Activation of Silicon–Hydrogen Bonds in Catalytic Hydrosilations

Hydrosilation reactions represent an important class of chemical transformations and there has been considerable recent interest in expanding the scope of these reactions by developing new catalysts. A major theme to emerge from these investigations is the development of catalysts with electrophilic character that transfer electrophilicity to silicon by Si‐H activation. This type of mechanism has been proposed for catalysts ranging from Group 4 transition metals to Group 15 main group species. Additionally, other electrophilic silicon species, such as silylene complexes and η³‐H₂SiRR′ complexes, have been identified as intermediates in hydrosilation reactions. In this Review, different types of catalysts are compared to highlight the range of hydrosilation mechanisms that feature electrophilic silicon centers. The importance of these catalysts to the development of new hydrosilation reactions is also discussed.     

Kinetic studies of photopolymerization using real time FT-IR spectroscopy

The real time FT-IR (RT/FT-IR) technique has been recognized as a very vital tool to quantitatively study the curing parameters such as the effects of initiator (or catalyst) type and concentration, accelerator, stabilizer, irradiation wavelength, temperature, and curing environments. Herein, our results in studies of photoinduced polymerizations for adhesive and coating applications are reported. The photoinduced polymerizations studied included anionic and hydrosilation (a polyaddition polymerization) reactions. In photoinduced anionic polymerization our studies for ethyl cyanoacrylate polymerization are described. The effect of the concentration of photoinitiator and inhibitor on the ethyl cyanoacrylate polymerization kinetic rate will be discussed. In photoinduced catalytic hydrosilation reaction studies, the effects of the catalyst concentration and staging irradiation are disclosed. The hydrosilation reaction was monitored using a Si? H silicone hydride stretching band located at 2169 cm^?1. The cyanoacrylate polymerization was monitored using the C?C stretching band occurring at 1617 cm^?1. The hydrosilation conversion was completed with an appropriate formulation. For monofunctional cyanoacrylate monomer, the photoinduced conversion to straight chain polymer was approximately 85% for a 60 s period. The intrinsic rates of the reactions were calculated for kinetic comparisons. For very fast cyanoacrylate polymerization studies, new FT-IR kinetic software was used to collect 204 spectra/min. Some detailed experimental techniques and polymerization reaction mechanisms are also discussed. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

The role of N-acyllactam in polymerizations of lactams

In anionic, cationic and non-catalyzed polymerizations of lactams, highlyreactive N-acyllactams are formed in slow initiation steps. These imides enter then the propagation and termination reactions. All types of lactam polymerizations can be accelerated by an intentional addition of N-acyllactams or other acylating agents, including the polymerizations where N-acyllactams are not spontaneously formed. The rate data of the initiation, propagation, transacylation and side reactions and of N-acyllactam hydrolyses, alcoholyses, acidolyses and aminolyses are surveyed.     

Modified cubic spherosilicates as macroinitiators for the synthesis of inorganic–organic starlike polymers

Modified cubic spherosilicate cages of the type [Si₈O₂₀]^8? were used as rigid, inorganic cores for the synthesis of macroinitiators for thermal and photoinduced free radical and controlled radical polymerizations. Two different routes to these macroinitiators were investigated: the direct modification of the octaanion with chlorosilane‐functionalized initiators and the hydrosilation of SiH‐substituted cages. The latter synthesis of the macroinitiators resulted in more defined reaction products. With these compounds, the polymerizations of styrene and methyl methacrylate were carried out. The free radical polymerizations showed broad polydispersities based on coupling reactions, whereas the copper‐mediated atom transfer radical polymerizations (ATRP) revealed that good polymerization control could be achieved with the prepared initiators. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 3858–3872, 2002     

Regioselective hydrosilations. IV. The synthesis and polymerization of monomers containing epoxy and alkoxysilane groups

Using rhodium and platinum catalyzed regioselective hydrosilation, a series of α-hydrogen-ω-epoxy silane and siloxane compounds have been prepared in good yields. These intermediates have been further condensed with vinyltrimethoxysilane in subsequent hydrosilation reactions to prepare an interesting new class of ambifunctional monomers containing both epoxy and trimethoxysilane groups. It was further shown that these same compounds could be synthesized by a simplified “one-pot” two-step procedure. An investigation of the simultaneous cationic ring-opening polymerization of the epoxy groups and the acid-catalyzed condensation of the trimethoxysilyl groups was carried out. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Synthesis and Polymerization of Novel Cationically Polymerizable Monomers

Abstract

The use of novel chemo- and regioselective hydrosilation reactions to prepare several series of ambifunctional silicon-containing epoxy monomers and oligomers is described. These monomers can be polymerized using traditional cationic initiators or by employing onium salt photoinitiators.     

Synthesis of functional polyolefins using cationic bisphosphine monoxide-palladium complexes

The copolymerization of ethylene with polar vinyl monomers, such as vinyl acetate, acrylonitrile, vinyl ethers, and allyl monomers, was accomplished using cationic palladium complexes ligated by a bisphosphine monoxide (BPMO). The copolymers formed by these catalysts have highly linear microstructures and a random distribution of polar functional groups throughout the polymer chain. Our data demonstrate that cationic palladium complexes can exhibit good activity for polymerizations of polar monomers, in contrast to cationic α-diimine palladium complexes (Brookhart-type) that are not applicable to industrially relevant polar monomers beyond acrylates. Additionally, the studies reported here point out that phosphine-sulfonate ligated palladium complexes are no longer the singular family of catalysts that can promote the reaction of ethylene with many polar vinyl monomers to form linear functional polyolefins.     

Organic and polymer chemistry of electrophilic tri‐ and tetrasubstituted ethylenes

A survey of the spontaneous reactions of electrophilic olefins and nucleophilic olefins is presented as an area in which organic chemistry merges with polymer chemistry. The products include both small molecules and polymers, arising via tetramethylene biradical zwitterions that can cyclize or initiate polymerizations. Electrophilic tri‐ and tetrasubstituted olefins are particularly useful in delineating the transition from radical chemistry to ionic chemistry. A periodic table embodying these results enables predictions. Charge‐transfer complexes, although observed in many of these reactions, play no significant role. Various aspects arising from these investigations include new cationic initiators, Lewis acid catalysis, quinodimethane chemistry, and photochemistry. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 2845–2858, 2004     

Alkene hydrosilation by a cationic hydrogen-substituted iridium silylene complex

A cationic hydrogen-substituted iridium silylene complex [(PNP)(H)Ir Si(Mes)H][B(C6F5)4] (2) was synthesized via hydride abstraction from the corresponding neutral iridium silyl hydride complex. DFT calculations for 2 indicate that the cationic charge is localized at the silicon center and depict a LUMO with predominant silicon p-orbital character. Notably, complex 2 reacts rapidly with unhindered alkenes at ambient temperatures to afford disubstituted silylene complexes via Si-C bond formation. Complex 2 is also the catalyst for alkene hydrosilation of primary silanes with a high degree of anti-Markovnikov selectivity.     

The synthesis and cationic polymerization of multifunctional silicon-containing epoxy monomers and oligomers

Several series of multifunctional silicon-containing epoxide monomers and oligomers have been prepared using rhodium catalyzed hydrosilation reactions. Dialkyl and diarylsilanes can be condensed with vinyl epoxides to give high yields of the desired diepoxides while the hydrosilation of alkyl and aryl silanes yields a mixture of di and tri epoxy substituted products. The condensation of αω,? Si? H difunctional compounds with vinyl epoxides can be carried out regioselectively to give α-hydrogen-ω-epoxy intermediates, which can be further reacted with di and tri olefins bearing terminal double bonds to give a series of well characterized epoxy functional oligomers. An investigation of the photoinitiated cationic polymerization of the monomers and oligomers, which were prepared during the course of these studies, was carried out. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Orthogonal synthesis and modification of polymer materials

In this review, we detail the progress throughout the years toward developing truly orthogonal polymerization mechanisms and modification procedures en route to complex macromolecular structures built from synthetic polymer materials. The orthogonal modifications of polymer side-chains and end-groups via sequential click reactions is described providing post-polymerization routes to functional materials and unique polymer topologies. Further, historical and modern orthogonal polymerization methodologies are thoroughly reviewed showing the evolution of the field through the decades long study of selective polymerization mechanisms that provide unique copolymer structures that are typically difficult to achieve. These include the combinations of reversible deactivation radical polymerization mechanisms with a variety of polymerization mechanisms including ring opening polymerizations, ring opening metathesis polymerizations, and cationic polymerizations, to name a few.     

Modulating Polymer Dispersity with Light: Cationic Polymerization of Vinyl Ethers Using Photochromic Initiators

Deterministic methods for tuning polymer dispersity are rare, especially for nonradical polymerizations. Reported here is the first example of photomodulating dispersity in controlled cationic polymerizations of vinyl ethers using carboxy‐functionalized dithienylethene initiators. Reversible photoisomerization of these initiators induces changes in their acidities by up to an order of magnitude. Using the more acidic, ring‐closed isomers as initiators results in polymers with lower dispersities. The degree of light‐induced pK_a change in the initiators correlates with the degree of dispersity change in polymers derived from the isomeric initiators. The polymerizations are controlled, and dynamic photoswitching of dispersity during the polymerization reaction was demonstrated. This work provides a framework for photomodulating dispersity in other controlled polymerizations and developing one‐pot block copolymerization reactions in which the dispersities of component blocks can be controlled using light.     

Enhancing Temporal Control and Enabling Chain‐End Modification in Photoregulated Cationic Polymerizations by Using Iridium‐Based Catalysts

Gaining temporal control over chain growth is a key challenge in the enhancement of controlled living polymerizations. Though research on photocontrolled polymerizations is still in its infancy, it has already proven useful in the development of previously inaccessible materials. Photocontrol has now been extended to cationic polymerizations using 2,4,6‐triarylpyrylium salts as photocatalysts. Despite the ability to stop polymerization for a short time, monomer conversion was observed over long dark periods. Improved catalyst systems based on Ir complexes give optimal temporal control over chain growth. The excellent stability of these complexes and the ability to tune the excited and ground state redox potentials to regulate the number of monomer additions per cation formed allows polymerization to be halted for more than 20 hours. The excellent stability of these iridium catalysts in the presence of more nucleophilic species enables chain‐end functionalization of these polymers.     

Thiol-Ene Cationic and Radical Reactions: Cyclization,Step-Growth,and Concurrent Polymerizations for Thioacetal and Thioether Units

Thiol-ene cationic and radical reactions were conducted for 1:1 addition between a thiol and vinyl ether, and also for cyclization and step-growth polymerization between a dithiol and divinyl ether. p-Toluenesulfonic acid (PTSA) induced a cationic thiol-ene reaction to generate a thioacetal in high yield, whereas 2,2′-azobisisobutyronitrile resulted in a radical thiol-ene reaction to give a thioether, also in high yield. The cationic and radical addition reactions between a dithiol and divinyl ether with oxyethylene units yielded amorphous poly(thioacetal)s and crystalline poly(thioether)s, respectively. Under high-dilution conditions, the cationic and radical reactions resulted in 16- and 18-membered cyclic thioacetal and thioether products, respectively. Furthermore, concurrent cationic and radical step-growth polymerizations were realized using PTSA under UV irradiation to produce polymers having both thioacetal and thioether linkages in the main chain.     

Redox initiated cationic polymerization: Reduction of diaryliodonium salts by 9‐BBN

Diaryliodonium salts undergo facile reduction by the dialkylborane, 9‐BBN. The combination of these two reagents constitutes a redox couple that can be employed as a convenient and versatile initiator system for the cationic polymerizations of styrenic monomers, vinyl ethers and the ring‐opening polymerizations of cyclic ethers and acetals including; epoxides, oxetanes, tetrahydrofuran, and 1,3,5‐trioxane. The polymerizations of these monomers can be carried out in either neat monomer or under solution conditions. Typically, the redox cationic polymerizations of the above monomers are rapid and exothermic. Optical pyrometry (infrared thermography) was employed as a convenient method with which to monitor and optimize the aforementioned redox initiated cationic polymerizations. Studies of the effects of variations in the structure and concentrations of the diaryliodonium salt and 9‐BBN on the polymerizations of various monomers were carried out. A mechanism for the redox cationic initiation of the polymerizations was proposed. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 5639–5651, 2009     

Catalysis by gold dispersed on supports: the importance of cationic gold

There are many examples of catalysis in solution by cationic complexes of gold, and recent results, reviewed here in this critical review, demonstrate that cationic gold species on oxide and zeolite supports are also catalytically active, for reactions including ethylene hydrogenation and CO oxidation. The catalytically active gold species on supports are evidently not restricted to isolated mononuclear gold complexes, but include gold clusters, which for at least some reactions are more active than the mononuclear complexes and for some reactions less active. Fundamental questions remain about the nature of cationic gold in supported catalysts, such as the nature of the cationic gold clusters and the nature of gold atoms at metal-support interfaces (88 references).     

Relation between the reactivities of vinyl monomers in ionic polymerizations and their 1H NMR spectra

¹H NMR chemical shifts of the protons in the vinyl groups of monomers are correlated with their reactivities in anionic, coordinated anionic, and cationic polymerizations. The relative reactivities of styrenes in anionic addition reactions with living polystyrene increase linearly with the chemical shift of the proton trans to the substituent (δ_H1). Only the plot for 2,4,6-trimethylstyrene deviates very much from the linear relation because of the large steric hindrance. The relative reactivities of methacrylates in anionic copolymerizations increase with increasing chemical shifts of protons attached to the β-carbon of methacrylates. In cationic polymerizations of styrenes, the relative reactivities decrease with increasing δ_H1. The relative reactivities in coordinated anionic polymerizations with Ti-containing Ziegler initiators show a typical feature of cationic polymerization, and those with V-containing initiators show a typical feature of anionic polymerization, indicating the importance of the coordination process in the propagation reaction with Ti-containing initiator systems. From the results, it can be concluded that the chemical shifts of the protons attached to the β-carbon of vinyl monomers can be used as a practical measure of the reactivity of vinyl monomers in ionic polymerizations and also as a tool for understanding the mechanism of polymerization. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 2134–2147, 2002     

Unconventional methods of initiating cationic polymerization using onium salts

Onium salts are latent sources of cationic species that can be released on demand to initiate cationic polymerizations by the application of various external physical and chemical stimuli. This paper will report on the use of several different types of stimuli to provide interesting and useful unconventional methods for initiating cationic polymerizations.     

Recent Progress of Photo- and Radiation-Induced Ionic Polymerizations

Photoinduced ionic polymerizations of the monomers α-methylstyrene, cyclohexeneoxide, nitroethylene, and acrylonitrile were carried out in the presence of electron acceptor or donor molecules. These polymerizations are proved to be initiated by ions formed through the dissociation of the photoexcited electron donor-acceptor complex and to proceed by ionic mechanism.

The molecular weight distribution of the polymer and the light intensity dependency on the rate of polymerization indicate that free ionic and ion-pair propagations coexist in the cationic polymerization of α-methylstyrene.

Anionic polymerizations were observed for the nitroethylenetetrahydrofuran and acrylonitrile-dimethylformamide systems.

Radiation-induced cationic polymerizations of styrene and α-methylstyrene were found to proceed by free cationic propagation. The effect of added electron acceptors in these polymerizations was investigated.