Specific features of radical copolymerization of methyl methacrylate and <Emphasis Type="Italic">n</Emphasis>-butyl acrylate in the presence of the tributylborane–<Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-quinone system

Copolymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) and n-butyl acrylate (n-BA) in the presence of the tributylborane–p-quinone system has been investigated. Reactivity ratios of the monomers differ from the values known for conventional radical polymerization. The copolymerization proceeds in a controlled manner according to the reversible inhibition mechanism. The nature of p-quinone and the composition of the monomer mixture affect the realization of this mechanism. The microstructure of the copolymers obtained in the presence of borane and p-quinones depends on the nature of the latter.     

Radiation-Induced Polymerization of Styrene Oxide

Radiation-induced polymerization of styrene oxide in the liquid and solid states was carried out by initiating with γ-rays from ⁶⁰Co and electrons from a Van de Graaff accelerator.

Effects of dose rate, a radical inhibitor, and temperature on the polymerization were examined. Infrared spectra and viscosities of polymers obtained were measured.

From these experiments, the following results were obtained:

1. Apparent activation energies are 6.2 kcal/mole for the liquid-state polymerization and 0.17 kcal/mole for the solid-state polymerization, respectively.

2. The polymerization in liquid state is inhibited and retarded by p-ben-zoquinone.

3. The rate of polymerization is approximately proportional to the dose rate.

4. The viscosity of polymers obtained increases with irradiation dose.

5. Infrared spectrum of polymers obtained varies with the polymerization temperature.

It is emphasized in this paper that the chain-transfer and isomerization reactions are rapid and play an important role in the polymerization of styrene oxide, and that the polymer-forming process is not so rapid, owing to a step-by-step type of growing.     

Inhibited Oxidation of Cumene and Polymerization of Styrene Investigated by Solution Microcalorimetry

The application of solution microcalorimetry was demonstrated on two model examples – inhibited oxidation of cumene and radical polymerization of styrene.From the experimental dependences of the rate of heat release on time, the rate constants k ₇ of the interaction of an inhibitor with radicals of substrate (RO ₂ ^. or R^.) in oxidation or in polymerization were determined for the set of inhibitors of N-aryl N-(2-quinone) amine series. It was shown that these compounds are weak inhibitors of oxidation of cumene and rather efficient inhibitor of polymerization of styrene.This revised version was published online in November 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Barbiturates of Aromatic Hydroxy Aldehydes as Components of Inhibiting Systems for Thermal Polymerization of Styrene

Products of condensation of aromatic hydroxy aldehydes with barbituric acid were tested as coinhibitors in inhibiting systems for thermal polymerization of styrene, based on p-quinone dioxime.     

Electrochemical Investigation of some Flavonoids in Aprotic Media

Cyclic voltammerty data for the oxidation of 15 flavonoids in acetonitrile have been presented. Up to three peaks in different potential regions appear in the CV curves, depending on the structure of a flavonoid. The peak in the first potential region (+0.79÷+1.03 V vs SCE) occurs when a flavonoid molecule has an o-dihydroxy moiety in the ring A or B. From the data in the literature, the formation of o-quinone is responsible for the occurrence of the peak. When the o-dihydroxy moiety is in ring B and the hydroxyl group is at position 3, the second peak in the potential region+1.08÷+1.32 V, is present. It is an agreement that the peak is due to oxidation of benzofuranone derivative formed in reaction of o-quinone with water. Molecules with an o-quinone moiety located in ring A seem to be less reactive, and the peak in the second potential region does not occur. However, the existence of an o-quinone in the ring B is not necessary for the peak in the second potential region to be present. The oxidation of kaempferol and morin, which have hydroxyl groups at positions 3 and 4’, takes place at 0.98 V and 0.97 V, respectively, and leads to the formation of p-quinone methide. We have shown that the peak in the second potential region also appears when the hydroxyl group in the flavonoid molecule is only at position 3 or at position 4’. For 3-hydroxyflavone and apigenin, which are oxidized at +1.10 V and 1.49 V respectively, p-quinone methide was detected after controlled potential bulk electrolysis. A mechanism which includes the reaction of the carbon radical with a trace of water has been proposed. For flavonoids that have an o-dihydroxy moiety in ring B and the hydroxyl group at position 3, two oxidation peaks are observed in the CV curves in the second potential region for low scan rates (below 0.1 V s⁻¹). An explanation of this behavior has been proposed.     

Polymerization initiated by ylide: Polymerization of ethyl methacrylate with the use of 4-picolinium p-chloro phenacylide as initiator

The ylide 4-picolinium, p-chloro phenacylide-initiated thermal polymerization of ethyl methacrylate (EMA) was studied. 4-Picolinium p-chloro phenacylide induces the thermal polymerization of ethyl methacrylate at 65°C. The rate of polymerization (R_p) rose as the initiator concentration increased from 2 × 10^?3 to 4 × 10^?3 M and the initiating exponent was computed as 1.9. The R_p decreased as the concentration of ylide increased from 6 × 10^?2 to 1M. The greater initiator concentration also affected the molecular weight inversely. The polymerization was carried out at different temperatures and the overall activation energy was computed as 4.08 Kcal/mol. Polymerization was inhibited in the presence of hydroquinone as a radical scavenger. Kinetic studies and other data show that the overall polymerization takes place in a radical mechanism. The various kinetic parameters, such as the rate and average degree of polymerization, molecular weight, and energy of activation of the present system, were evaluated.     

Study of radiation-induced polymerization of vinyl monomers adsorbed on inorganic substances. V. Effects of p-benzoquinone and dose rate on methyl methacrylate–silica gel system

In order to elucidate the mechanism of radiation-induced polymerization of methyl methacrylate adsorbed on silica gel, the effects of p-benzoquinone addition and dose rate were studied in detail. Most of the polymerization is inhibited by p-benzoquinone at levels above 10^-2 mole/l. The GPC spectra of both graft polymers and homopolymers show two peaks. The high molecular weight material appears to have been formed by polymerization by a radical mechanism, because these peaks decrease as p-benzoquinone concentration increases; on the other hand, their low molecular weight polymers seem to be products of an ionic polymerization mechanism because those peaks are almost not affected by p-benzoquinone. The four GPC peaks differ in dose rate dependences of their polymerization rate. The dose-rate exponents of polymerization rate were obtained for the four GPC peaks. The behavior of the low molecular weight peaks of graft polymers and homopolymers were quite different, suggesting that the polymers differ considerably in formation mechanism.     

The use of ylide (4-picolinium 4-chloro phenacyl methylide) as an initiator for the polymerization of methyl methacrylate

The thermal polymerization of methyl methacrylate [MMA] was carried out using ylide (4-picolinium 4-chloro phenacyl methylide) as an initiator. The rate of polymerization (R_p) increases with increasing monomer and initiator concentrations; The exponent value has been computed to be 1 ± 0.02 and 0.5, respectively. The reaction was carried out at four different temperatures and the overall activation energy has been computed to be 16.01 kcal/mol. The polymerization was inhibited in the presence of hydroquinone as a radical scavanger. Kinetic studies indicates that the overall polymerization takes place by a radical mechanism.     

Photopolymerization of Methyl Methacrylate and other Acrylates with the Use of [Hydroxy(tosyloxy)iodo]benzene as Photoinitiator

Abstract

[Hydroxy(tosyloxy)iodo]benzene (HTIB) was found to be an effective photoinitiator for the solution polymerization of methyl methacrylate. The polymerization is strongly inhibited in the presence of hydroquinone, it is not affected by air, and it is favored in the presence of nucleophilic solvents. A kinetic study of solution polymerization in N,N-dimethylformamide indicated a free radical polymerization mechanism involving complexation of initiator molecules with the solvent prior to radical generation, and bimolecular termination of chain radicals. Methyl acrylate and 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate were also polymerized with HTIB as photoinitiator, but styrene could not be polymerized under similar conditions.     

Photopolymerisation of styrene initiated by triphenyl bismuthonium ylide

Photopolymerization of styrene initiated by tetraphenyl cyclopentadiene triphenyl bismuthonium ylide in dioxane was carried out in the presence of visible light (440 nm) at 30 ± 0.2°C for 55 h. The polymerization was inhibited by the presence of hydroquinone which is an evidence of the fact that polymerization takes place by radical mechanism. The system follows ideal radical kinetics (R_p ∝︁ [I]^0.5 [M]). The values of average degree of polymerization (P_n) decreases with the ylide. The mechanism of the reaction was elucidated by GPC and ESR techniques.     

2,4,5,6-Substituted 4,5-dihydro-1,2,4,5-tetrazin-3(2H)-ones as non-classical initiators of controlled radical polymerization of styrene

A series of 2,4,5,6-substituted 4,5-dihydro-1,2,4,5-terazin-3(2H)-ones are studied as initiators of controlled radical polymerization of styrene at 100 and 120 °C. It has been established that not only electronic effects of substituents, but also other factors have a significant effect on the process, including the probability of side reactions of the verdazyl radical with the monomer, but not with the growing chain. In the course of experiments, high molecular weight polystyrene was obtained in a short time at moderate temperatures, which indicates high prospects for the use of verdazyl-based initiators in the controlled polymerization of olefins.

     

Preparations and Polymerizations of p-Substituted Phenyl Vinyl Sulfides. Vinyl Polymerization 168

Abstract

p-Substituted phenyl vinyl sulfides (PVS) were prepared and their radical polymerizations were investigated dilatometrically to determine some kinetic constants and to deduce the influences of the sulfur atom and p-substituents of PVS. It was found that PVS could be easily homopolymerized by ordinary radical polymerization mechanisms in the presence of 2,2′-azobisisobutyronitrile, contrary to the case of phenyl vinyl ethers, which do not homopolymerize.

From the rates of polymerization (R_p H) of PVS and those of p-substituted PVS (R_p X) under the same conditions, the plot of log (R_p H/R_p X) against the Hammett's equation was found to give a parabola curve. When these results were plotted by the modified Hammett's equation [log (k_p X/k_p H) = ρσ + γE_R ], however, a straight line with γ = ?4.5 and ρ = 0.35 was obtained. From these results it was concluded that the 3d orbital resonance was important in the transition state of the polymerization of these monomers.     

Reverse atom transfer radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate initiated by p‐chlorobenzenediazonium tetrafluoroborate

The controlled polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) in bulk was initiated with p‐chlorobenzenediazonium tetrafluoroborate ( 1 ) and Cu(II) or Cu(I)/Cu(II)/N,N,N′,N″,N″‐pentamethyldietylene triamine (PMDETA) complex system at various temperatures (20, 60, and 90 °C). The proposed polymerization mechanism is based on the Meerwein‐type arylation reaction followed by a reverse atom transfer radical polymerization. In this mechanism, aryl radicals formed by the reaction with 1 and Cu(I) and/or PMDETA initiated the polymerization of MMA. The polymerization is controlled up to a molecular weight of 46,000 at 90 °C. Chain extension was carried out to confirm the controlled manner of the polymerization system. In all polymerization systems, the polydispersity index and initiator efficiency ranged from 1.10–1.57 to 0.10–0.21, respectively. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 2019–2025, 2003     

The catalytic system tri-n-butyl boron-p-quinone in the free-radical polymerization of styrene

The AIBN-initiated polymerization of styrene is conducted at 60 and 80°C in the presence of tri-n-butyl boron and several p-quinones. The rate of polymerization and the molecular-mass characteristics of the polymers depend on the structure of the used p-quinone and the temperature of the process.     

Tailoring macromolecular architecture with imidazole functionality: A perspective for controlled polymerization processes

Controlled radical polymerization (CRP) allows for the design and synthesis of functional polymers with tailored composition and unique macromolecular architectures. Synthetic methods that are readily available for controlled radical polymerization include nitroxide-mediated polymerization, reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer polymerization, and atom transfer radical polymerization. N-Vinyl monomers that are typically amenable to free radical methods are often difficult to synthesize in a controlled manner to high molecular weight due to the lack of resonance stabilization of the propagating radical. However, recent advances in the field of CRP have resulted in successful controlled polymerization of various N-vinyl heterocyclic monomers including N-vinylcarbazole, N-vinylpyrrolidone, N-vinylphthalimide, and N-vinylindole. The incorporation of the imidazole ring into homopolymers and copolymers using conventional free radical polymerization of N-vinylimidazole monomer is particularly widespread and advantageous due to facile functionalization, high thermal stability, and the relevance of the imidazole ring to many biomacromolecules. Copolymers prepared with methyl methacrylate displayed random incorporation according to differential scanning calorimetry and amorphous morphologies according to X-ray scattering. Imidazole- and imidazolium-containing monomers have shown recent success for CRP; however, the controlled polymerization of N-vinylimidazole has remained relatively unexplored. Future efforts focus on the development of tailored imidazole-containing copolymers with well-defined architectures for emerging biomedical, electronic and membrane applications.     

The biochemistry of lower fungi. VIII. Chemical synthesis of diquinonic pigments

New simplified syntheses of two natural p-diquinonic pigments, phoenicine and oosporeine, have been described. By similar procedures, the syntheses of two other related diquinones have been carried out: 3,3′,6,6′-tetrahydroxy-biphenyl-di-p,p′-quinone and 3,3′,6,6′-tetrahydroxy-4-methyl-biphenyl-di-p,p′-quinone. The latter structure had been assigned to pyxiferine, which had been reported to be contained in the lichen Pyxine coccifera.     

Synthesis by ATRP of triblock copolymers with densely grafted styrenic end blocks from a polyisobutylene macroinitiator

A macroinitiator was prepared from a triblock copolymer of polyisobutylene (PIB) with end blocks of poly(p‐methylstyrene) (P(p‐MeS)) by bromination to obtain initiating bromomethyl groups for atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). Controlled polymerization of styrene and p‐acetoxystyrene yields new triblock copolymer structures with densely grafted end blocks. Simultaneously, however, thermally initiated polymerizations can be observed by size exclusion chromatography (SEC) which were also controlled yielding low molecular weight polymers with narrow distributions. A tendency to crosslinking can be suppressed by selection of the polymerization conditions.     

Chemical trapping experiments support a cation-radical mechanism for the oxidative polymerization of aniline

The oxidative polymerization of aniline in aqueous acidic solution was carried out in the presence of a variety of organic compounds as potential traps for postulated intermediates. The polymerization was inhibited by hindered phenols and electron-rich alkenes, traps for cation-radicals. However, polyaniline was still obtained in the presence of electron-rich arenes, such as 1,3-dimethoxybenzene and 1,4-dimethoxybenzene, known as excellent receptors of nitrenium ions. Polymerization of N-phenyl-1,4-phenylenediamine was similarly carried out in the presence of potential traps. Polyaniline containing an N-phenyl group was obtained in the presence of 1,3-dimethoxybenzene and 1,4-dimethoxybenzene. Hindered phenols and 4-methoxystyrene only slightly inhibited polymerization of N-phenyl-1,4-phenylenediamine which most probably proceeded by way of the stable diarylamino radical. Copolymerization of aniline with 10 wt % of N-phenyl-1,4-phenylenediamine in the presence of these traps gave similar results to the polymerization of pure aniline. These results have led to the proposed cation-radical polymerization mechanism of aniline, in which the polymerization is a chain growth reaction through the combination of a polymeric cation-radical and an anilinium cation-radical. Step growth character is also present when a polymeric aminium cation-radical end combines with a diarylaminoended polymer. The copolymerization of N-phenyl-p-phenylenediamine can also occur by reaction of aniline cation-radical with a polyarylamine radical. The nitrenium mechanism was further rejected by the fact that attempted polymerization of N-phenylhydroxylamine, which forms authentic nitrenium ions in acid, failed to give polymer. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 2569–2579, 1999     

Polymerization of Methyl Methacrylate with Bis(Cyclopentadienyl)Titanium Dichloride in a Water-Methanol Mixture: Formation of Tetrahydrofuran-Insoluble Polymer

Abstract

Methyl methacrylate (MMA) was found to be effectively polymerized with bis(cyclopentadienyl)titanium dichloride (CP₂TiCl₂) in a water-methanol mixture (1:1, v/v). The polymerization proceeded heterogeneously because the resulting poly(MMA) was insoluble in the system. The rate (R _p) of the heterogenous polymerization was apparently expressed by R _p = k[Cp₂TiCl₂]²[MMA]^2˙5 (at 40°C). The resulting poly(MMA) was observed to consist of tetrahydrofuran (THF)-soluble and insoluble parts. In contrast with the usual radical poly(MMA), the THF-insoluble part was soluble in benzene, toluene, and chloroform but insoluble in polar solvents such as ethyl acetate, acetone, acetonitrile, dimethylformamide, and dimethylsulfoxide. The polymerization was found to be profoundly accelerated by irradiation with a fluorescent room lamp (15 W). The results of copolymerization of MMA and acrylonitrile indicated that the present polymerization proceeds through a radical mechanism.     

Photopolymerization of methyl methacrylate in the presence of the tri-n-butyl boron—p-quinone system

The photopolymerization of methyl methacrylate in the presence of tri-n-butyl boron and a number of p-quinones is studied in a wide concentration range. It is shown that the rate of polymerization and the molecular-mass characteristics of the polymers depend on the structure and concentration of p-quinone. PMMA isolated at various conversions initiates the secondary polymerization of methyl methacrylate. The activity of the macroinitator depends on the structure of p-quinone.