Polymerization of surface-active monomers. I. Micellization and polymerization of higher alkyl salts of dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate

Micellization of cationic salts of dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA) quaternized with n-alkyl bromides such as octyl, lauryl, myristyl, and stearyl bromide and their polymerizations were investigated. The critical micelle concentration (cmc) in water at 25°C was determined by electrical conductivity and dye(azobenzene) solubilization methods and the relation log(cmc) = 1.46–0.31N was obtained, where cmc is in mmol L^?1 and N corresponds to carbon number of alkyl bromides used for the monomer preparations. All of these monomeric salts exhibited a high radical polymerizability in water and benzene. The polymerizations in water appeared to proceed with a higher rate with increasing a chain length of the alkyl moiety of the monomers and those in benzene gave the polymers with a remarkably high viscosity. The rate of polymerization of lauryl bromide salt in anisotropic solutions (in water and benzene) was exceedingly fast as compared with that in isotropic solution(in acetonitrile). All of the polymers obtained here were insoluble in water. Solubility characteristics of these monomers and polymers in other solvents were also presented. The reduced viscosity, in dimethylformamide and methanol, of poly(lauryl bromide salt) prepared in water increased with dilution but that for the polymer obtained in benzene exhibited an inverse concentration dependence. Some discussions were made on the peculiarities of the polymerizations of these monomers and the resulting polymers.     

Polymerization of surface-active monomers. VIII. Tacticity of polymers prepared by radical polymerization of quaternary salts of dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate in micellar and isotropic media

The effect of monomer micellization on the polymerization was studied from the standpoint of stereochemistry in the polymerization. Quaternary salts (C_nBr) of dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate with n-alkyl bromide having N (=4, 8 and 12) carbon atoms were polymerized with radical initiators in isotropic and anisotropic media and the resulting polymers were converted to poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) to determine their tacticity. Tacticities of poly (C₁₂Br)s were little affected by initiators and solvents used for their preparations. There was little dependence of the tacticities on alkyl chain length (N) for poly (C_nBr)s prepared in water and dimethylformamide (DMF). Most of polymers produced here conformed to Bernoullian propagation statistics and a definite difference was not found in the tacticities between the polymers prepared in isotropic and anisotropic media. From the results obtained here it was deduced that the micellar aggregation has little influence upon the stereochemistry in the polymerization of the quaternary monomers. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Polymerization of surface-active monomers and applications

The results on radical polymerization and copolymerization of alkyl bromide salts of 2-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate having a different alkyl chain length in various solvents giving micellar and isotropic solutions are summarized to obtain an insight into micellar polymerization. The monomer micellization of the cationic surface-active monomers at concentrations far above their critical micelle concentration (cmc) leads to great increases in the rate of polymerization and the molecular weight of the resulting polymers for both aqueous and inverse micellar systems and the tendency toward alternation of the copolymerization for aqueous micellar systems, whereas it has little influence on the tacticity of the resulting polymers. Applications of the polimerization and the copolymerization of the surface-active monomer to the polymer encapsulation of silica particles are also reported.     

Copolymerization of glycidyl methacrylate with alkyl acrylate monomers

A newer approach to obtaining acrylic thermoset polymers with adequate hydrophilicity required for various specific end uses is reported. Glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) was copolymerized with n-butyl acrylate (n-BA), isobutyl acrylate (i-BA), and 2-ethylhexyl acrylate (2-EHA) in bulk at 60°C. with benzoyl peroxide as free radical initiator. The copolymer composition was determined from the estimation of epoxy group. Reactivity ratios were calculated by the Yezrielev, Brokhina, and Roskin method. For copolymerization of GMA (M₁) with n-BA (M₂) the reactivity ratios were r₁ = 2.15 ± 0.14, r₂ = 0.12 ± 0.03; with i-BA (M₂) they were r₁ = 1.27 ± 0.06, r₂ = 0.33 ± 0.031; and with 2-EHA (M₂) they were r₁ = 2.32 ± 0.14, r₂ = 0.13 ± 0.009. The reactivity ratios were the measure of distribution of monomer units in a copolymer chain; the values obtained are compared and discussed.     

Preparation of benzalkonium salts differing in the length of a side alkyl chain

Benzalkonium salts are widely used as disinfectants, biocides and detergents,among a variety of other applications. The cationic surface-activity of these salts determines their potential to act as a biocide on both target and non-target organisms. In this study, a quick synthesis of a complete set of the benzalkonium salts differing in the length of an alkylating chain (from C(2) to C(20)) is described. Moreover, their (1)H-NMR, HPLC-MS, TLC and HPLC analysis were recorded.     

Copolymerization of 2-hydroxypropyl methacrylate with alkyl acrylate monomers

2-Hydroxypropyl methacrylate has been copolymerized with methyl acrylate, ethyl acrylate, n-butyl acrylate, and methyl methacrylate in bulk at 60°C using benzoyl peroxide as initiator. The compositions of copolymers have been determined by the estimation of the hydroxyl group by acetylation process. The copolymerization parameters have been determined by conventional scheme of copolymerization.     

Polymerization of complexed monomers. II. Alternating copolymers of indene with methyl acrylate and methyl methacrylate

Indene has been copolymerized with polar monomers in the presence of ethylaluminum sesquichloride. The polymers have molecular weights in the 7,000–10,000 range and soften at temperatures above 150°C. The NMR spectra of the copolymers are discussed with reference to polymer structures and chain conformations. Indene is comparable to cyclopentene in reactivity in copolymerizations with methyl acrylate but is much more reactive than cyclopentene toward methyl methacrylate.     

Polymerization of vinyl monomers with salts of bronsted acids

The polymerization of vinyl monomers (N-phenylmaleimide, acrylamide, acrylonitrile, methyl vinyl ketone, methyl methacrylate, vinyl chloride, and styrene) with sodium salts of Brønsted acids (sodium cyanide, sodium nitrite, sodium hydroxide, etc.) were investigated at 0°C in dimethylformamide. N-Phenylmaleimide, acrylonitrile, and methyl vinyl ketone were found to undergo polymerization with sodium cyanide, however the other monomers were not polymerized with this salt. In the polymerizations of acrylonitrile and N-phenylmaleimide with sodium cyanide, the rates of the polymerizations were found to be proportinal to the initiator concentration and to the square of the monomer concentration. The activation energy of acrylonitrile polymerization was 3.7 kcal/mole, and that of N-phenylmaleimide ws 3.0 kcal/mole. The results of the copolymerization of acrylonitrile with methyl methacrylate at 0°C in dimethyl-formamide with sodium cyanide confirm that these polymerizations proceeded by an anionic mechanism initiated by the Michael addition reaction of the monomers with the salts. In these polymerizations, the monomer reactivity increased with increase in the e values. The initiation ability of sodium salts increased with increasing pK_a of the conjugate acids and with decreasing electronegativity of metal ion in the series of lithium, sodium, and potassium cyanide. The polymerizations took place only in aprotic polar solvents, and did not occur in weak polar solvents and in protonic solvents.     

Preparation of quinolinium salts differing in the length of the alkyl side chain

Quaternary quinolinium salts differing in alkyl chain length are members of a widespread group of cationic surfactants. These compounds have numerous applications in various branches of industry and research. In this work, the preparation of quinoline-derived cationic surface active agents differing in the length of the side alkyl chains (from C? to C??) is described. An HPLC method was successfully developed for distinction of all members of the series of prepared long-chain quinolinium derivatives. In conclusion, some possibilities of intended tests or usage have been summarized. In vitro testing using a microdilution broth method showed good activity of a substance with a C12 chain length against Gram-positive cocci and Candida species.     

Electroinitiated polymerization of vinylic monomers in polar systems. II. Polymerization of ethyl methacrylate in methanol solutions

Ethyl methacrylate is polymerized by electroinitiation in methanol–electrolyte mixtures in which the monomer is soluble whereas the polymer obtained is insoluble. A technique of changing the polarity of the electrodes is used. With this technique a polymer of high molecular weight can be obtained. The relationships between molecular weight and monomer concentration, current densities, and time of the reaction as well as the yield as a function of current density, time of the reaction and initial monomer concentration are given. A free-radical mechanism is proposed for the reaction.     

Polymerization of oriented monomers. VIII. Polymerization of allyl and diallyl vesicle-forming quaternary ammonium salts

The synthesis of two novel allyl and diallyl vesicle-forming quaternary ammonium salts is reported. The topochemical polymerization of these monomeric vesicles to their polymerized counterparts was performed by γ-ray irradiation and the observed differentiation in polymerization rates of allyl and diallyl monomers was attributed to different polymerization mechanisms. It was further established that only polymerized vesicles which result from diallyl monomer retain the structure of the monomeric vesicles and exhibit simultaneously higher stability.     

Multiple chain termination on inhibitor molecules during oxidation of dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate

Conclusions When dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate (DMAEM) is oxidized one inhibitor molecule repeatedly takes part in the acts of chain termination, which is due to the oxidation_reduction properties of the aminoperoxy radicals (RO₂). The rate constants of the reactions of ten inhibitors of different classes with RO₂ DMAEM at 50° were measured.Translated from Izvestiya Akademii Nauk SSSR, Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 6, pp. 1441–1443, June, 1977.     

Polymerization of coordinated monomers. XVII. Alternating copolymerization of methyl methacrylate with styrene by boron compounds

By the use of various boron compounds methyl methacrylate and styrene were copolymerized under photoirradiations at ?20°C. The alternately regulating activities of the boron compounds in the copolymerizations were in the following order: boron trichloride > ethylboron dichloride > boron trifluoride > diethylboron chloride ? triethylboron (?0). Boron trichloride and ethylboron dichloride exhibited such high regulating activities that their presence in 1 mol% in the charged methyl methacrylate was sufficient to complete equimolar alternating copolymerization. The alternating copolymerization proceeded in the steady state. The copolymerization rates decreased in the following order: boron trichloride ? ethylboron dichloride > diethylboron chloride ? triethylboron (?0). The cotacticities of methyl methacrylate-centered triads in the resulting copolymers were identical to those prepared with boron trichloride, ethylboron dichloride, and diethylboron chloride. The mechanism of the alternating copolymerization is discussed.     

Synthesis and surface activity of mono- and diphosphate ester mixture with different alkyl chain length

A series of alkyl phosphate esters were synthesized and each of them was a mixture of monophosphate and diphosphate esters in a high or low mono/dimole ratio. The structure of hexadecyl phosphate ester with a low mono/dimole ratio was confirmed by FTIR, ¹H NMR, and³¹P NMR. The surface tensions of these alkyl phosphate esters were analyzed using a surface tensionmeter. The results showed that the critical micelle concentration (CMC) and critical surface tension (γ_CMC) of phosphate esters with a high mono/di ratio decreased with the increase of alkyl chain length. However, for the phosphate esters with a low mono/di ratio, the CMC, and γ_CMC decreased initially and increased afterwards with the increase of alkyl chain length. Meanwhile, the butanol and octanol phosphate esters with a high mono/di ratio had higher CMC and γ_CMC than their low mono/di ones, while the dodecyl and hexadecyl phosphate esters presented an opposite result. The results indicated that the mono- and diphosphate esters in the mixture may have a synergistic effect on the arrangement of molecules.     

Polymerization of oriented monomers. II. Polymerization of 4-vinylpyridine perchlorate in micellar aggregates

Polymerization of 4-vinylpyridinium perchlorate (I) is studied under isotropic and anisotropic conditions. Anisotropy or orientation of I may be achieved by micelle formation in concentrated aqueous or acid solutions, i.e., above the monomer's critical micelle concentration (CMC). Some properties of the isotropically and anisotropically obtained polymers are comparatively studied with the emphasis placed on the elucidation of their structure by ¹³C-NMR spectroscopy. By the same spectroscopic technique the microstructure of 1,2-polymer is further investigated in conjunction with the proposed polymerization model. It is concluded that polymer structure is affected by the organization of the monomers into micelles whereas their microstructure is not.     

Polymerization of coordinated monomers. XV. 13C-NMR study on the alternating copolymers of methyl methacrylate with styrene

By the use of various metal halides methyl methacrylate and styrene were copolymerized to produce equimolar alternating sequences and different cotacticities. The ¹³C-NMR spectra of these copolymers were simple in comparison to those of random copolymers because of the fixed monomer sequence which yielded sharply split triplets for carbonyl, methoxy, and quaternary carbons. The relative intensities in these split peaks varied according to the metal halide used. A comparison of the intensities made it possible to obtain clear-cut and quantitative information on the methyl methacrylate-centered triad cotacticity of the copolymers. The spectral assignment with respect to the methoxy carbon was definitely justified by the combined use of partly relaxed Fourier transform and selective decoupling techniques. The spectrum of aromatic C₁ carbon in styrene units also split into three main peaks. From their relative intensities the splitting was attributed to styrene-centered triad cotacticity. The assignment of this carbon was compared with two other assignments made for random copolymers of methyl methacrylate with styrene; they were contradictory, however. Furthermore, an apparent discrepancy was observed between methyl methacrylate-and styrene-centered tactic triads of these alternating copolymers. The origin of this discrepancy suggests a close relationship with the copolymerization mechanism.     

Influence of alkyl chain length on phosphate self-assembled monolayers

A series of alkyl phosphates with alkyl chain lengths ranging from C10 to C18 have been synthesized. Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of these molecules were prepared on titanium oxide surfaces by immersion of the substrates in alkyl phosphate solutions of 0.5 mM concentration in n-heptane/isopropanol. The SAMs were characterized by means of dynamic water contact angle (dCA) measurements, variable-angle spectroscopic ellipsometry (VASE), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and polarization-modulated infrared reflection-absorption spectroscopy (PM-IRRAS). A higher degree of order and packing density within the monolayers was found for alkyl phosphates with alkyl chain lengths exceeding 15 carbon atoms. This is reflected in a lower dCA hysteresis, as well as a film thickness measured by VASE and XPS close to the expected values for SAMs with an average alkyl chain tilt angle of 30 degrees to the surface normal. Additionally a shift of the symmetric and antisymmetric C-H stretching modes in the PM-IRRAS spectra to lower wave numbers was observed. These findings imply a higher two-dimensional crystallinity of the films derived from alkyl phosphates with a longer alkyl chain length.     

Effects of metal salts on polymerization. Part II. Polymerization of vinylpyridine complexed with the group IIb metal salts

The following stoichiometric vinylpyridine complexes have been prepared: (4-VP)₂—Zn(SCN)₂, (2-VP)₂—Zn(SCN)₂, (MVP)₂—Zn(SCN)₂, (MVP)₂—ZnCl₂, (MVP)₂—ZnBr₂, (MVP)₂—ZnI₂, and (MVP)₂—HgCl₂, where 4-VP, 2-VP, and MVP denote 4-vinylpyridine, 2-vinylpyridine, and 2-methyl-5-vinylpyridine, respectively. Results of radical polymerization initiated by azobisisobutyronitrile indicate that the effect of complex formation between the monomers and the metal salts is to enhance the rate of polymerization with the exception of the 2-VP complex. The R_p for the solution polymerization in dimethylformamide increases in the following order: (1) (MVP)₂—Zn-(SCN)₂ > (MVP)₂-ZnCl₂ > (MVP)₂—ZnBr₂ > (MVP)₂—ZnI₂ > free MVP; (2) (4-VP)₂—Zn(SCN)₂ > (MVP)₂—Zn(SCN)₂ > free MVP > (2-VP)₂—Zn(SCN)₂; and (3) MVP + Zn(CH₃COO)₂ < MVP + Cd(CH₃COO)₂. When ethanol, acetone, or tetrahydrofuran is used as solvent, the change in R_p is more marked, partly due to insolubility of the PMVP complexed with the metal salts. The increase in R_p would be attributed to the change in k_p since the molecular weights of PMVP are nearly proportional to R_p when (MVP)₂—ZnX₂ where X is Cl^?, Br^?, I^?, or SCN^? is polymerized in DMF under fixed conditions. Copolymerizations of MVP—ZnX₂ complexes (where X is Cl^?, Br^?, I^?, or CH₃COO^?) with styrene indicate that the e values of complexed MVP are more positive than that of free vinylpyridine, and the amounts of the positive shift in e values increase with decreasing polarizability of the halide anions. These results are discussed in terms of the charge-transfer properties of anions, the nature of coordination bonds, and the structures of vinylpyridines. The complexed monomers are hardly polymerized by a cationic or an anionic mechanism. Radiation-induced solid-state polymerization gives polymers in low yields.     

Polymerization of coordinated monomers. XIX. Kinetic study of the alternating copolymerization of methyl methacrylate with styrene by boron trichloride

Alternating copolymerizations of methyl methacrylate with styrene in the presence of boron trichloride at 0°C in 1,2-dichloroethane were carried out by using benzoyl peroxide as an initiator. Conversion increased proportionally with polymerization time, whereas the degree of polymerization was constant irrespective of time. The rate depended linearly on the square root of the concentration of benzoyl peroxide. The equilibrium constants for the formation of the ternary molecular complex composed of methyl methacrylate, styrene, and boron trichloride in 1,2-dichloroethane at ?20, ?10, and +4°C were determined by ¹H-NMR spectroscopy. The concentrations of the ternary molecular complex in the polymerization mixtures were evaluated from the equilibrium constant of the formation. The rate of the alternating copolymerization was proportional to the first order of the concentration of the ternary molecular complex. The distribution of methyl methacrylate-centered triads in the alternating copolymer was different from that of styrene-centered triads. These results can be explained by a mechanism involving the homopolymerization of a ternary molecular complex.     

Polymerization of coordinated monomers. VI. Molecular complex formation of methyl methacrylate coordinated to stannic chloride with styrene or toluene

The equilibrium constants for the complex formation between stannic chloride and methyl methacrylate were determined in n-hexane–toluene solution at 0, ?20, and ?30°C by using the absorption band at 350 nm. Continuous variation plots at ?20°C in n-hexane based on the ¹H-chemical shifts definitely show a 1:1 interaction between the coordinated methyl methacrylate and styrene or toluene. The magnitudes of the shifts for the four groups of protons in methyl methacrylate are found to be in a specific ratio in common with the 1:2 complex–styrene or -toluene system. The equilibrium constants for the ternary molecular complex formation between the 1:2 complex and styrene or toluene were determined in n-hexane in the temperature range ?50 to +20°C by use of the chemical shifts. The concentrations of the complex species in the alternating copolymerization solutions were estimated by use of the equilibrium constants. There is a linear relationship between the enthalpy and the entropy changes for the ternary molecular complex formation, which is governed by the enthalpy factor. The specificity of the interactions indicates a specific time-averaged orientation of benzene ring to the coordinated methyl methacrylate. The effects of the coordination of methyl methacrylate to stannic chloride were discussed on the basis of results of ¹³C-NMR spectroscopy.