Mechanism of dispersion polymerization of L-lactide initiated with 2,2-dibutyl-2-stanna-1,3-dioxepane

 Biodegradable polyester microspheres were synthesized directly by ring-opening polymerization of l-lactide initiated with 2,2-dibutyl-2-stanna-1,3-dioxepane. The polymerizations were carried out at 95 °C in a mixture of organic solvents (heptane/1,4–dioxane 4:1 v:v), in the presence of poly(dodecyl acrylate)-g-poly(ɛ-caprolactone) used as a surface-active agent. Under these conditions the poly(L-lactide) synthesized was shaped into microspheres. The absence of new particles in the polymerizations with multistep monomer addition indicated that after the formation of particle seeds the propagation proceeds exclusively inside the microspheres. The mean volume of these microspheres was proportional to the monomer conversion. It was found that regardless of the initiator concentration the average number of poly(L-lactide) macromolecules in one microsphere was 1.84 × 10⁸. Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time of flight spectroscopy of poly(L-lactide) in the microspheres indicated that the propagation in the particles was accompanied by intra- and intermolecular transesterification side reactions, resulting in reshuffling of the polymer segments and the formation of cyclic oligomers. Received: 20 December 2000 Accepted: 7 June 2001     

NEW POLYMER SYNTHESES 106. POLYCARBONATES BY RING-OPENING POLYCONDENSATIONS OF TIN-CONTAINING MACROCYCLES WITH BISCHLOROFORMATES

2,2-Dibutyl-2-stanna-1,3-dioxepane (DSDOP) was polycon-densed with bisphenol-A bischloroformate (BABC) in bulk. Regardless of the reaction temperature and time only number average molecular weights (M_ns) around 8,000–11,000 were obtained. ¹³C NMR spectra proved that the isolated copoly-carbonates possessed a random sequence. MALDI-TOF spectra of the crude and of the fractionated samples revealed that all samples contained macrocyclic polycarbonates. DSDOP was also used as initiator for the macrocyclic polymerization of-cap-rolactone. The resulting cyclic polylactones were then polycon-densed with BABC in situ. M_ns in the range of 25,000–40,000 and M_ws in the range of 40,000–65,000 were found based on polystyrene calibrated GPC measurements. Similar results were obtained when 1,6-hexanediol bischloroformate was used as electrophilic reaction partner in the polycondensation step.     

MACROCYCLES. 9. SMECTIC MULTIBLOCK COPOLYESTERS VIA MACROCYCLIC POLYMERIZATION OF δ-VALEROLACTONE AND ε-CAPROLACTONE

Using 2,2-dibutyl-2-stanna-1,3-dioxepane (DSDOP) as cyclic initiator 1:1 copolymerizations of ε-caprolactone (ε-CL) and δ-valerolactone (δ-VC) were conducted in bulk at 80°C. A nearly equimolar incorporation and a random sequence were found by NMR spectroscopy and crystallization below 20°C was detected by DSC measurements. In a second series of experiments, the in situ formed macrocyclic copolyesters were reacted with an excess of sebacoyl chloride and after addition of silylated 4,4′,-dihydroxybiphenyl copolycondensations were performed in bulk at 230°C. These copolycondensations proceeded satisfactorily without significant transesterification and despite a biphasic character of the melt. This biphasic character resulted from the formation of a smectic LC-phase by the 4,4′-dioxybiphenyl sebacate blocks. For comparison a homopolyester was prepared from sebacoyl chloride and silylated 4,4′-dihydroxybiphenyl. The thermal properties of this homopolyester and of the LC-blocks in the copolyester were nearly identical indicating the absence of transesterification during the synthesis at 230°C. However, the properties of the LC-phase above 200–210°C did not completely agree with the data reported for the homopolyester in the literature (which are themselves inconsistent).     

A dynamic nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopic study of conformational properties of 1,3-dioxepane and 4,4,7,7-tetramethyl-1,3-dioxepane

The 251 MHz ¹H and the natural abundance 63.1 MHz ¹³C NMR spectra of 1,3-dioxepane (1) and 4,4,7,7-tetramethyl-1,3-dioxepane (2) have been investigated over the temperature range of 5 to ?180 °C. While the spectra of 1 show no dynamic NMR effect, compound 2 exists in solution as a 1:1 mixture of a symmetrical (C₂) twist-chair and its mirror image conformation. The free energy barrier for the conformational racemization of 2 is 43 kJ mol^?1 (10.3 kcal mol^?1). Interconversion paths between various conformations of 2 are discussed. Compound 1 is suggested to have a symmetrical (C₂) twist-chair conformation which is rapidly pseudorotating via a chair conformation to achieve a time averaged symmetry of C_2v, even at ?180 °C.     

Preparation and properties of polyesters from diphenylmethane-4,4′-di(methylthiopropionic acid) and aliphatic diols

The new linear polyesters containing sulfur in the main chain were obtained by melt polycondensation of diphenylmethane-4,4′-di(methylthiopropionic acid) with ethanediol, 1,3-propanediol, 1,4-butanediol, 1,5-pentanediol, 1,6-hexanediol, 1,2-propanediol, 1,3-butanediol, and 2,2′-oxydiethanol. Low-molecular weights, low-softening temperatures and, very good solubility in organic solvents are their characteristics. The structure of all polyesters was determined by elemental analysis, FT-IR and ¹H-NMR spectroscopy, and x-ray diffraction analysis. The thermal behavior of these polymers was examined by differential thermal analysis (DTA), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The kinetics of polyesters formation by uncatalyzed melt polycondensation was studied in a model system: diphenylmethane-4,4′-di(methylthiopropionic acid) and 1,4-butanediol or 2,2′-oxydiethanol at 150, 160, and 170°C. Reaction rate constants (k₃) and activation parameters (ΔG^≠, ΔH^≠, ΔS^≠) from carboxyl group loss were determined using classical kinetic methods. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Synthesis and characterization of four-armed poly(1,3-dioxepane) tetraol

A new four-armed poly(1,3-dioxepane) tetraol was prepared by cationic ring-opening polymerization of 1,3-dioxepane (DOP) in the presence of 6,6-bis(5-hydroxyl-2-oxapentyl)-4,8-dioxaundecanediol-1,11 (THA) with triflic acid(I) as initiator. The structure of the poly(DOP) tetraol obtained was characterized by ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectra. The molecular weights of the obtained tetraols were controlled by the mole ratio of DOP consumed to initial THA, and it was found that each macromolecule contains only one THA unit on the average. GPC studies showed that the cyclic oligomers in the products were negligible. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 2347–2353, 1999     

“Living” free radical ring-opening copolymerization of 4,7-dimethyl-2-methylene-1,3-dioxepane and conventional vinyl monomers

It is the first report on the atom transfer radical ring-opening copolymerizations of unsaturated cyclic acetal: 4,7-dimethyl-2-methylene-1,3-dioxepane (DMMDO) with conventional vinyl monomers, styrene (St), acrylonitrile (AN) and methyl acrylate (MA) in the presence of ethyl α-bromobutyrate as initiator and CuBr/2,2^′-bipyridyl as catalyst/ligand at 110 °C. ¹H, ¹³C NMR and IR data show that the copolymerizations of DMMDO with St (or AN or MA) yield the copolymers, poly(DMMDO-co-St) [or poly(DMMDO-co-AN) or poly(DMMDO-co-MA)] with narrow molecular weight distribution, and low content of DMMDO in the copolymers for electron-donor St, higher contents of DMMDO for electron-acceptor AN or MA are observed.     

Polymers of carbonic acid. XXVII. Macrocyclic polymerization of trimethylene carbonate

2,2-Dibutyl-2-stanna-1,3-dioxepane (DSDOP) was used as cyclic initiator for the polymerization of trimethylene carbonate (TMC). The polymerizations were either conducted in concentrated chlorobenzene solution at 50 and 80°C or in bulk at 60 and 120°C. With monomer/initiator ratios ≤100 the conversion was complete within 2 h at 80°C and within 12 h at 50°C. Variation of the reaction time revealed that the rapid polymerization is followed by a relatively rapid (backbiting) degradation even at 80°C. The polymerizations in bulk at 60°C were somewhat slower than those at 80°C in solution, but the influence of degradation reactions was less pronounced. With optimized reaction time the number average molecular weight (M_n) roughly parallels the monomer/initiator ratio and M_n's up to 100,000 were obtained. In contrast to a classical living polymerization broader polydispersities (1.5–1.7) were found. In the case of 5,5-dimethyltrimethylene carbonate rapid degradation and chain transfer reactions prevented the formation of high molecular weight polymers. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 2179–2189, 1999     

Macrocycles 27: Cyclic aliphatic polyesters of isosorbide

Numerous polycondensations of isosorbide and suberoyl chloride or other aliphatic dicarboxylic acid dichlorides were performed with pyridine as a catalyst and HCl acceptor. The reaction conditions were varied to optimize both the molecular weight and the fraction of cyclic oligo‐ and polyesters. Furthermore, we attempted to obtain the cyclic monomer by catalyzed back‐biting degradation of the molten cyclic polyesters above 220 °C in vacuo. The polyesters were characterized by viscosity and size exclusion chromatographic measurements as well as matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry. In selected cases, mixtures of linear and cyclic polyesters were treated with a hot solution of partially methylated β‐cyclodextrin in methanol. This treatment allowed for a selective extraction of the linear chains up to approximately 5000 Da. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 3414–3424, 2003     

Cationic polymerization of 1,3-dioxepane in the presence of 2,2-bis(hydroxymethyl)butanol

Cationic polymerization of 1,3-dioxepane (DOP) initiated by triflic acid was carried out in the presence of 2,2-bis(hydroxymethyl)butanol (BHMB). The structure and molecular weight of the products were characterized by GPC and NMR spectra. The results showed that molecular weight of the polyacetal obtained could be controlled by the initial mole ratio of DOP/BHMB. GPC showed that as the mole ratio of BHMB/DOP increased, the content of cyclic oligomers also increased. Proton, ¹³C and 2D HMQC-fg NMR demonstrated that no hydroxymethyl group of BHMB appeared as an end group. It was also illustrated by proton NMR that some BHMB units existed in cyclic oligomers. The mechanism of formation of cyclic oligomers was discussed. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 36: 2899–2903, 1998     

Synthesis,crystal structure and photophysical properties of 1,4‐bis(1,3‐diazaazulen‐2‐yl)benzene: a new π building block

A dimerized 1,3‐diazaazulene derivative, namely 1,4‐bis(1,3‐diazaazulen‐2‐yl)benzene [or 2,2′‐(1,4‐phenylene)bis(1,3‐diazaazulene)], C₂₂H₁₄N₄, (I), has been synthesized successfully through the condensation reaction between 2‐methoxytropone and benzene‐1,4‐dicarboximidamide hydrochloride, and was characterized by ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR spectroscopies, and ESI–MS. X‐ray diffraction analysis reveals that (I) has a nearly planar structure with good π‐electron delocalization, indicating that it might serve as a π building block. The crystal belongs to the monoclinic system. One‐dimensional chains were formed along the a axis through π–π interactions and adjacent chains are stabilized by C—H…N interactions, forming a three‐dimensional architecture. The solid emission of (I) in the crystalline form exhibited a 170 nm red shift compared with that in the solution state. The observed optical bandgap for (I) is 3.22 eV and a cyclic voltammetry experiment confirmed the energy levels of the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) and the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO). The calculated bandgap for (I) is 3.37 eV, which is very close to the experimental result. In addition, the polarizability and hyperpolarizability of (I) were appraised for its further application in second‐order nonlinear optical materials.     

Addition of 1,2- and 1,3-Dithiols to 2-alkoxypropenals - a New Method for the Production of Substituted Dithiacycloalkanes

The reaction of 2-alkoxypropenals with ethane-1,2-dithiols and propane-1,3-dithiols under various conditions was studied by ¹H NMR and chromato-mass spectrometry. Under kinetically controlled conditions at 20° in the absence of catalysts the addition of dithiols takes place according to the Markovnikov rule. The primary adducts are unstable and are quickly converted into the corresponding substituted 1,4-dithiacycloheptane or 1,4-dithiane. The latter in turn can be converted under the reaction conditions or at high temperature into a thiolane derivative. The reaction of 2-ethoxypropenal with a twofold excess of ethane-1,2-dithiol at 60°C in the presence of p-toluenesulfonic acid leads to 2-methyl-2,2'-bi(dithiolane)     

Enantioselective 1,4-Addition of Aliphatic Grignard Reagents to Enones Catalyzed by Readily Available Copper(I) thiolates derived from TADDOL. Preliminary communication

Two simple thiols derived from the parent TADDOL, α,α,α′,α′ tetraphenyl-2,2-dimethyl-1,3-clioxolan-4,5-dimethanol, are used to prepare Cu¹ complexes C and D to catalyze (0.05 equiv.) 1,4-additions of Grignard reagents RMgCl to cyclic enones with enantioselectivities which are comparable to or better than previously reported (enantiomer ratios up to 92:8).     

Polyesters by lipase-catalyzed polycondensation of unsaturated and epoxidized long-chain α,ω-dicarboxylic acid methyl esters with diols

Long-chain, symmetrically unsaturated α,ω-dicarboxylic acid methyl esters (C₁₈, C₂₀, C₂₆) were obtained by the catalytic metathetical condensation of 9-decenoic, 10-undecenoic, and 13-tetradecenoic acid methyl esters, respectively, with the homogeneous Grubbs catalyst bis(tricyclohexyl phosphine) benzylidene ruthenium dichloride dissolved in methylene chloride. The dicarboxylic acid esters were epoxidized chemoenzymatically with H₂O₂/methyl acetate with Novozym 435^®, an immobilized lipase B from Candida antarctica. Polyesters from symmetrically unsaturated or epoxidized α,ω-dicarboxylic acid methyl esters with 1,3-propanediol or 1,4-butanediol, respectively, were achieved by enzymatic polycondensation with the same biocatalyst applied. With 1,3-propanediol as a substrate, the linear unsaturated and epoxidized polyesters had molecular weights of 1950–3300 g/mol and melting points of 47–75 °C, whereas with 1,4-butanediol as a substrate, the resulting polyesters showed higher molecular weights, 7900–11,600 g/mol, with similar melting points of 55–74 °C. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 39: 1601–1609, 2001     

Macrocycles 11. Polycondensations of aliphatic dicarboxylic acid dichlorides with catechol or bis-trimethylsilyl catechol

When O,O′-Bistrimethylsilyl catechol (BTSC) was polycondensed with adipoyl chloride in o-dichlorobenzene the 10-membered cyclic monomer was the main reaction product regardless of the concentration. Even the polycondensation in bulk yielded the macrocyclic monomer as the main product. Polycondensations of free catechol yielded similar results. Polycondensations of catechol or BTSC with suberoyl chloride, sebacoyl chloride, and decane-1,10-dicarbonyl chloride in concentrated solutions or in bulk yielded cyclic oligoesters as the main reaction products whereas linear oligoesters or polyesters were a minority. Polycondensations of BTSC with the longer diacid dichlorides in refluxing o-dichlorobenzene under high dilution yielded the 12–14-membered cyclic monomers as the main products. The molecular weights and the cyclic structure of all reaction products were characterized by mass spectrometery, fast-atom bombardment (FAB) or MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 3861–3870, 1999     

THE EFFECTS OF MONOMER STRUCTURE OF CYCLIC KETENE ACETALS ON THE BEHAVIOR OF CONTROLLED RADICAL RING-OPENING POLYMERIZATION

Polymerization of three cyclic ketene acetals: i.e., 5,6-benzo-2-methylene-1,3-dioxepane (BMDO), 2-methylene-4-phenyl-1,3-dioxolane (MPDO) and 4, 7-dimethyl-2-methylene-1, 3-dioxepane(DMMDO) were carried out in the presence ofethyl α-bromobutyrate/CuBr/2, 2'-bipyridine respectively. The structures of poly(BMDO), poly(MPDO) and poly(DMMDO)were characterized by ~1H and ~(13)C-NMR spectra. The effects of monomer structure on the behavior of atom transfer freeradical ring-opening polymerization were investigated and the mechanism of controlled free radical ring-openingpolymerization was discussed.     

Transformations of 4,5-Substituted (4S,5S)-2,2-Dimethyl-1,3-dioxolanes

(4S,5S)-4,5-Bis(hydroxymethyl)-2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxolane treated with trifluoromethanesulfonyl chloride in pyridine undergoes tandem substitution of one hydroxy group by a triflate group, and the other by pyridinium moiety. In neutral solvents the (4S,5S)-4,5-bis(hydroxymethyl)-2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxolane dilithium salt reacts with trifluoromethanesulfonyl chloride affording both triflates and chlorides and also suffers a cleavage of the dioxolane ring followed by transformations of acyclic products. A triflate cationic complex rhodium cyclooctadiene (4S,5S)-2,3-dihydroxy-1,4-bis(dimethylamino)-2,3-O-isopropylidenebutane was prepared and used as catalyst for hydrogenation of -acetamidocinnamic and itaconic acids.     

Effect of structure on the thermal degradation and flame retardancy of hexolic anhydride based polyesters

Based on the anhydrides like hexolic (5,6,7,8,10,10-hexachloro -3a,4,4a,5,8,8a,9,9a-octahydro-5,8-methanonaphtho-[2,3-c]-furan-1,3-dione), maleic and phthalic and diols like 1,4-butanediol, cis-2-butene-1,4-diol and 2,3-dichloro-2-butene-1,4-diol, a family of polyesters has been synthesized using azeotropic condensation technique. The structural characterizations of the polyesters have been carried out using infra-red, 1^H - and ¹³C- nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopic methods. The thermal properties of the polyesters have been studied using thermogravimetric technique. The off-line pyrolysis of these materials was done. The qualitative and semi-quantitative analyses of the volatiles as well as the heavy mass fractions of the degradation products were carried out using a gas chromatograph coupled to a mass selective detector (GC-MSD). Thermogravimetric data indicate that the thermal stability and the char residue of the polyester resins decrease in the order 1,4-butanediol based>cis-2-butene-1,4-diol based>2,3-dichloro-2-butene-1,4-diol based polyesters. The GC-MSD data indicate that the amount of flame cooling agents (hexa-, isomeric penta-, tetra- and isomeric tri-chlorocyclopentadienes) produced during the pyrolysis of the polyesters increases in the order 2,3-dichloro-2-butene-1,4-diol based<cis-2-butene-1,4-diol based<1,4-butanediol based polyesters. The trends observed in these two parameters which are contributing factors to the flame retardancy of the polyester materials were suitably explained on the basis of the effect of the structural changes in the diol part of the polyesters on the primary degradation mechanism, the β-chain scission process.     

BF3·OEt2-initiated polymerization of 2-methylene-1,3-dioxepanes

BF₃·OEt₂-initiated polymerizations of 2-methylene-1,3-dioxepane gave polymers composed of both ring-retained and ring-opened structures. The ring-opening content increased with an increase in polymerization temperature. Poly(4,7-dimethyl-2-methylene-1,3-dioxepane) propagated slower during BF₃·OEt₂-initiated polymerization and had a lower ring-opened content than poly(2-methylene-1,3-dioxepane). The type of acid initiator used also affected the amount of ring opening observed. Stronger acids gave less ring opening. Attempted BF₃·OEt₂-initiated copolymerizations of these seven-membered ring cyclic ketene acetals with isobutyl vinyl ether at room temperature resulted in formation of the two homopolymers. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 36: 873–881, 1998     

Reactions of Bisazomethines of the Naphtalene Series with 1,3-Diketones

Bisazomethines prepared from aromatic dialdehydes and 2-naphthylamine were for the first time reacted with the following diketones: 1,3-cyclohexanedione, 5,5-dimethyl-1,3-cyclohexanedione, 5-phenyl-1,3-cyclohexanedione, indandione, and 2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxane-4,6-dione was studied. The reactions with 1,3-diketones of the cyclohexane series yield benzophenanthridine derivatives. The reactions with indandione, depending on conditions, give either bisarylideneindandiones or bisdihydrobenzo[f]indenoquinoline. As evidenced by the ^13C NMR and IR spectra, in the case of biphenyl-4,4'-dicarbaldehyde bis[N-(2-naphthyl)imine] and 2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxane-4,6-dione, 4,4'-bis(3-oxo-1,2,3,4-tetrahydrobenzo[f]quinolin-1-yl)biphenyl is formed.