Initiation of complex-radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate in the presence of metallocenes

The initiation of radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate in the presence of benzoyl peroxide-metallocene (Cp₂Fe, Cp₂ZrCl₂, and Cp₂TiCl₂; (C₅Me₅)₂Fe, (C₅Me₅)₂ZrC_l2, and (AcC₅H₄)(C₅H₅)Fe) systems is studied. It is shown that a metallocene affects the rate of initiation and the initial rate of polymerization. On the basis of quantum-chemical calculations, a new mechanism of the initiation reaction may be advanced: Namely, the decomposition of benzoyl peroxide proceeds via the stage of complexation with a metallocene, while the nature of a metallocene determines the probability of complexation and decomposition.     

Metallocene catalysis in the complex-radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate

The initiation stage of methyl methacrylate polymerization in the presence of benzoyl peroxide-metallocene (MC) systems is considered, with MC = Cp₂Fe, (C₅Me₅)₂Fe, (AcC₅H₄)(C₅H₅)Fe, Cp₂TiCl₂, Cp₂ZrCl₂, and (C₅Me₅)₂ZrCl₂. The decomposition of benzoyl peroxide in the presence of a metallocene proceeds via the formation of its complex with the metallocene. The catalytic effect of the metallocenes on the initiation of methyl methacrylate polymerization is due to the formation of a metallocene-benzoyl peroxide complex and its decomposition yielding primary radicals. The chain propagation stage is metallocene-dependent, which is explained by the formation of complex sites. Their formation pathway and structures are analyzed using quantum-chemical calculations.     

Kinetics of copolymerization of methyl methacrylate and divinyl sulfide in the presence of initiating systems

The kinetics of three-dimensional radical copolymerization of methyl methacrylate and divinyl sulfide in the presence of the iniferter N,N′-bis(vinyloxyethyl)thiuram disulfide has been studied. The living chain mechanism of the process performed in the presence of the iniferter is verified by precision isothermal calorimetry. Conditions are found for more efficient kinetic parameters of the pseudoliving three-dimensional radical copolymerization of methyl methacrylate and divinyl sulfide carried out in the presence of the iniferter-AIBN initiating system. General kinetic features and differences in the pseudoliving polymerization of methyl methacrylate and its copolymerization with divinyl sulfide are ascertained.     

Controlling the polymerization of methyl methacrylate with ternary initiating systems

The effect of ternary initiating systems benzoyl peroxide-ferrocene-3,6-bis(o-carboxybenzoyl)-N-isopropylcarbazole and benzoyl peroxide-di-η⁵-indenylzirconium dichloride-3,6-bis(o-carboxybenzoyl)-N-isopropylcarbazole on the radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate and on the heat resistance and microstructure of the resulting polymers was examined.     

Cyclic peroxides and related initiating systems for radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate

Cyclic peroxides as initiators for the radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate were proposed. The initial rates, initiation rates, and effective activation energies of polymerization initiated by cyclic peroxides and cyclic peroxide-1-pyridyl-2-ferrocene systems were determined. The radical yields to the volume upon the thermal decomposition of cyclic peroxides and their catalytic decomposition in the presence of 1-pyridyl-2-ferrocene were determined. In combination with 1-pyridyl-2-ferrocene cyclic peroxides form efficient initiating systems favoring an increase in the polymerization rate, a decrease in the molecular weights, and an increase in syndiotacticity of the synthesized poly(methyl methacrylate).     

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.     

Kinetics of emulsion polymerization of methyl methacrylate

The kinetics of the emulsion polymerization of methyl methacrylate at 50°C have been studied in seeded systems using both chemical initiation and γ-radiolysis initiation. Both steady-state rates and (for γ-radiolysis) the relaxation from the steady state were observed. The average number of free radicals per particle was quite high (e.g., ～0.7 for 10^?3 mol dm^?3 S₂O²₈ initiator). The data are quantitatively interpreted using a generalized Smith–Ewart–Harkins model, allowing for free radical entry, exit, biomolecular termination within the latex particles, and aqueous phase hetero-termination and re-entry. From this treatment, there results (i) the dependence of the termination rate coefficient (k_t) on the weight fraction of polymer (w_p), (ii) lower bounds for the dependence of the entry rate coefficient on initiator concentration, and (iii) the conclusion that most exited free radicals undergo subsequent re-entry into particles rather than hetero-termination. The results for k_t(w_p) are consistent with diffusion control at temperatures below the glass transition point. Comparisons are presented of the behavior of methyl methacrylate, butyl methacrylate, and styrene in emulsion polymerization systems.     

A ternary initiating system for free-radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate

The effect of a benzoyl peroxide-ferrocene-3,6-bis(o-carboxybenzoyl)-N-isopropylcarbazole three-component initiating system on the free-radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate has been investigated. For this process, concentration and temperature dependences of the initial rate of reaction and the average degree of polymerization have been measured. It has been established that, when the process is carried out in the presence of both ferrocene and a carbazole derivative, the former compound predominantly affects the kinetic parameters and the average degree of polymerization. The effect of the nitrogen-containing compound comes into play as the temperature of polymerization is lowered. Poly(methyl methacrylate) prepared in the presence of the ternary system is distinguished by an increased content of syndiotactic units and by the presence of isotactic structures, thus suggesting the complex-radical mechanism of polymerization.     

Radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate in the presence of isotactic poly(methyl methacrylate)

Methyl methacrylate (MMA) was polymerized by radical initiation at 25°C in DMF in the presence of preformed isotactic PMMA (iMA) with about 90% isotactic triads and different M?_v's, viz., iMA-1: 7.2 × 10⁵; iMA-2, 5.0 × 10⁵; iMA-3, 3.5 × 10⁵; iMA-4, 1.25 × 10⁵; and iMA-5, 1.15 × 10⁵. The MMA:iMA ratio was 6:1. The collected polymers were separated into two fractions by extraction with boiling acetone and characterized by 60 MHz NMR. It is found that the M?_v of the polymer formed ran parallel to the M?_v of iMA. In all cases syndiotactic PMMA (s-PMMA) was produced which associated with the isotactic substrate to form acetone-insoluble stereocomplexes. The syndiotactic polymers probably consist of long syndiotactic and heterotactic sequences. The syndiotacticity decreased with conversion and was generally highest in the presence of iMA-1. With iMA-1 even the formation of some additional i-PMMA (in the acetone-insolubles) was indicated, especially in the later stages of the polymerization. Characterization of the acetone-soluble fractions indicated that i,s-stereoblock polymers were also produced, of which the persistence ratios ρ increased with the M?_v of iMA. From these results it is concluded that this reaction differs from the conventional radical polymerization and can be considered a stereospecific replica polymerization, the driving force being the strong tendency of i- and s-PMMA to associate. The formation of i,s-stereoblock polymers and additional i-PMMA indicates that s-PMMA in its turn can also act as a polymer matrix.     

Radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate in the presence of low-molecular-weight poly(methyl methacrylate)

The kinetics of the bulk radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate and the structure and properties (physicomechanical and thermomechanical, as well as diffusion and sorption) of the polymers were examined in relation to the amount of low-molecular-weight poly(methyl methacrylate) added.     

Complex-radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate in the presence of metallocenes

The effects of the nature of metallocene (ferrocene, titanocene dichloride, and zirconocene dichloride) and its content in benzoyl peroxide-metallocene initiating systems on the kinetics of polymerization of methyl methacrylate have been studied. The kinetic features of polymerization and changes in the molecular characteristics of poly(methyl methacrylate) indicate that the process occurs via the complex-radical mechanism. On the basis of quantum-chemical calculations, a scheme describing the formation of complex-radical centers of chain propagation for the benzoyl peroxide-ferrocene system is proposed.     

Anionic polymerization of methyl methacrylate by initiating systems based on lithium amides of various secondary amines

The anionic polymerization of methyl methacrylate in toluene at −78 °C with lithium amides of various secondary amines (diisopropylamine, N‐isopropylaniline, N‐n‐butylaniline, indoline, and N‐ethyl‐o‐toluidine) as initiators was studied. The tacticity of the resulting poly(methyl methacrylate)s (PMMAs) was dependent on the kind of secondary amine, and highly isotactic PMMAs (91–93% mm) were obtained when lithium amides of N‐isopropylaniline and N‐n‐butylaniline were employed. The isotacticity of the PMMAs further increased up to 98% mm with initiating systems composed of the lithium amides, n‐butyllithium, and transition‐metal halides (WCl₆, MoCl₅, and NbCl₅). © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 4405–4411, 2005     

Kinetics of PdII‐catalyzed polymerization of methyl methacrylate by triethanolamine in the presence of CCl4

Polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) with triethanolamine (TEA) and carbon tetrachloride has been investigated in the presence of PdCl₂ and in a dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) medium by employing a dilatometric technique at 60°C. The rate of polymerization has been obtained under the conditions [CCl₄]/[TEA] ≤ 1. The kinetic date indicate the possible participation of the charge‐transfer complex formed between the {amine–Pd^II} complex and CCl₄ in the polymerization of MMA. In the absence of either CCl₄ or amine, no polymerization of MMA was observed under the present experimental conditions. The rate of polymerization was inhibited by hydroquinone, suggesting a free‐radical initiation. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 32: 171–177, 2000     

Kinetics and stereoregulation in the isotactic-specific and living polymerization of methyl methacrylate

Kinetic studies on the isotactic-specific living polymerization of methyl methacrylate with t-C₄H₉MgBr were carried out in toluene at −78°C and the kinetic orders with respect to the monomer and initiator were found to be unity. Propagation rate in the early stage of polymerization and the initiation rate were studied by kinetic measurement and analysis of oligomer distribution. The rate constants for the propagation of the unimer (k₁), dimer (k₂), and trimer anions (k₃) were found to be in the following order; k₁ >> k₂ > k₃. ¹³C NMR spectra of the oligomer anions indicated the coordination of penultimate and antepenultimate ester groups to Mg counterion. Possible mechanism for stereoregulation in the early stage of polymerization was discussed.