Vapor phase composition and radical polymerization—how the gas phase influences the kinetics of heterophase polymerization

The outcome of radical styrene heterophase polymerization depends strongly on the composition of the gas phase. Data of a comprehensive experimental study show that the effect of the gas phase is quite a complex one and strongly influenced by the nature of the gas, the homogeneity or heterogeneity of the polymerization system, and the kind of initiator. Evidence is presented that the influence of air goes beyond the simple action of oxygen which can cause deceleration or acceleration of the reaction. The experimental results show that the optimum polymerization conditions are obtained in the absence of any foreign gas.     

Anionic polymerization of ɛ-caprolactam in the presence of piperidine N-carboxamides

Piperidine N-carboxamides were shown to activate the anionic polymerization of ?-caprolactam. The activator structure affects properties of the resulting polycaproamide.     

Cationic polymerization of 1,3-pent adiene in the presence of arenes

The cationic polymerizations of 1,3-pentadiene initiated by AlCl3 in n-hexane at 30℃ have been carried out in the presence of various arenes,i.e.,benzene,toluene,p-xylene,o-xylene,m-xylene and mesitylene.The presence of all these arenes have reduced in different degrees the formation of crossliuked products.Namely,the crosslinking reaction,a major side-reaction during the cationic polymerization of 1,3-pentadiene,has been suppressed by adding the aromatic compounds.The results showed that a chain transfer to arene took place and this transfer process hindered the generation of the crosslinked polymer.IR and 1H NMR spectra have confirmed the existence of the corresponding aryl groups in the resulting polymers.     

Anionic polymerization of ϵ-caprolactam—LX. Ionization and solvation changes in the initial stage of the anionic polymerization of lactams in tetrahydrofuran

Interactions between potassium salts of lactams and N-acyllactam propagation centres in the initial stage of the anionic polymerization of lactams were studied by measuring changes in the electric conductivity and in the i.r. spectrum in the range of carbonyl vibration bands of these compounds and of the corresponding derivatives of open-chain alkylamides in tetrahydrofuran. The gradual rise in conductivity and u.v. absorption around 300 nm observed with these systems can be attributed to the formation of 3-oxoimide and 3-oxoamide structures by the condensation of imides.     

Electrochemical polymerization of dicarboxylic acids—VI. Mechanism of polymerization

The mechanism of the electrochemical polymerization of dicarboxylic acids in various solvents, which also leads to the formation of various side products, is discussed. The formation of hydrocarbons was rationalized through the formation of α,ω-biradicals which suffer coupling or disproportionation reactions. Carboxylic acids are shown to originate from reactions of ^•(CH₂)_k COOH radicals which couple radicals which couple or disproportionate among themselves or other radicals to give saturated and unsaturated acids. Cations formed from anodic oxidation of the radicals are the precursors of lactones and some olefins. The conformations of the dicarboxylate anions at the anode surface are discussed with a view of rationalizing the formation of the various products. Polymer formation was explained as occurring through α,ω-biradicals having a definite conformation. Pyridine affected to a large extent these conformations, and higher concentrations of pyridine led to an increase in the conformations which lead to polymer formation.     

Ring-opening polymerization of l-lactide in the presence of α-hydroxy-γ-butyrolactone

Among the polymer families, aliphatic polyesters stand out from this category thanks to their degradable and biocompatible properties. In particular, the γ-lactones differ from other lactones by yielding polyesters that can be depolymerized back to the monomer and offer the advantage of counting various biobased monomers. As an example, α-hydroxy-γ-butyrolactone (HBL) is a hydroxy-functionalized monomer that can be obtained by a biological synthetic route from glucose. In this article, the ring-opening copolymerization (ROCP) of HBL and l -lactide (LLA) using t-BuP₄ as catalyst is investigated. The copolymerizations were conducted within a temperature range of 5–100°C, affording monomer conversions exceeding 80%. The characterization of the copolyesters revealed a branched structure consisting of different HBL patterns, including cyclic, linear, and branched motives. Performing a kinetic study of the copolymerization at room temperature provided a deeper understanding of the mechanism. By modulating the reaction parameters, copolymers of low molar masses with an HBL content of up to 33% were synthesized. High molar mass LLA/HBL-based copolyesters, with $$ up to 290,000 g/mol, were synthesized by a straightforward chain coupling reaction with a diisocyanate.     

Emulsion polymerization of styrene using irreversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer agents: effect on the course of the polymerization and molecular weight

The emulsion polymerization of styrene with three different chain transfer agents (CTAs) based on irreversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer (AFCT) mechanism was first reported in this work. The influences of these irreversible AFCT agents on the rate of polymerization, particle size, and molecular weight were investigated. It was found that the intrinsic activity and desorption behaviors of the CTAs determined the efficiency for molecular weight control, rate of polymerization, and particle size in the emulsion polymerization. It has been demonstrated that the rate of polymerization and particle size decreased dramatically in the presence of the irreversible AFCT agents with high chain transfer constant (ethyl α-p-toluenesulfonyl-methacrylate), meanwhile, the molecular weight of the polystyrene could not be controlled well, whereas the irreversible AFCT agents with low chain transfer constant (butyl(2-phenylallyl)sulfane and 2,3-dichloropropene) had a slight effect on the polymerization rate, particle size, and were fairly well for molecular weight control over the whole conversion range in the emulsion polymerization of styrene. The average number of radicals per particle and the number-average molecular weight were calculated by classical radical emulsion polymerization theory, and the experimental results were in good agreement with the results of model calculations, when the irreversible AFCT agents were used as CTAs. The effect of chain transfer agents on the kinetics and nucleation in the emulsion polymerization of styrene can be attributed to desorption of chain-transferred radicals from the polymer particles. The results of this work show that butyl(2-phenylallyl)sulfane as CTA in emulsion polymerization of styrene provides the best balance between the rate of polymerization and the efficiency for molecular weight control conflicting tendencies.     

On the electro-initiated polymerization of β-N-carbazolyl ethyl vinyl ether

β-N-carbazolyl ethyl vinyl ether, a monomer having the carbazolyl substituent at a distance from the vinyl group, was submitted to electro-initiated polymerization. Polymers with η_red = 0.015–0.07 dlg⁻¹ were obtained in the anodic compartment of a two compartment cell. The i.r., NMR and u.v. spectra show structural characteristics similar to those obtained by conventional cationic polymerization of the monomer but also some peculiarities associated with the conditions of electrochemical synthesis.     

Electrochemistry of bis(indenyl)dimethylzirconium complex—the precursor of the olefin polymerization catalyst

The reduction in THF and oxidation in CH₂Cl₂ of the bent-sandwich complex (η⁵-lnd)₂ZrMe₂ (1) (Ind=C₉H₇, indenyl) were studied by cyclic voltammetry. Complex1 in THF undergoes one-electron reduction to radical anion1 ⁻, which partially decomposes with the liberation of the Ind⁻ anion. Even at −45°C the one-electron oxidation leads to the formation of an unstable 15-electron radical cation undergoing fast heterolytic decomposition to the Me^• radical and (η⁵-lnd)₂ZrMe² cation, which is the key reaction center in the catalytic polymerization of olefins. Comparative analysis of electron-transfer-induced transformations of bent-sandwich dimethyl and dichloride zirconocenes of the general formula L₂ZrX₂ (L=η⁵-lnd, η⁵-Cp: X=Xl, Me) was performed. The material of the paper was first reported at the 195th Meeting of the Electrochemical Society (see Ref. 1). Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 1, pp. 59–62, January, 2000.     

Model of “living” active centers in kinetics of the solid-phase polymerization

A model of “living” active centers in the solid phase has been developed, which are the complexes of a traditional active center (radical or ion) with a carrier of excessive free volume in solids, the structural defect (vacancy, polyvacancy, dislocation, crack). This model for the first time successfully explained the most nontrivial kinetic peculiarities of the solid-phase polymerization.     

Crosslinking reaction in the cationic polymerization of 1, 3-pentadiene

The cationic polymerization of 1,3-pentadiene (PD) initiated by AlCl_3 in n-hexane was carried out. Effects of arenes, alkyl halides and ethers on the gel formation resulting from crosslinking reaction were investigated. The erosslinking was reduced by various arenes through a chain transfer mechanism. Alkyl halides such as tert-butyl chloride and allyl chloride could complex with AlCl_3 to generate an initiating system giving rise to a gel-free polymerization, while benzyl chloride reduced the formation of gel by chain transfer. Ethers exerted two effects on the polymerization system: giving a complex initiating system with AlCl_3 to produce a relatively high molecular weight polymer, or reducing crosslinking by lowering activity of carbocations.     

Does equilibrium polymerization describe the dynamic heterogeneity of glass-forming liquids?

A significant body of evidence indicates that particles with excessively high or low mobility relative to Brownian particles form in dynamic equilibrium in glass-forming liquids. We examine whether these "dynamic heterogeneities" can be identified with a kind of equilibrium polymerization. This correspondence is first checked by demonstrating the presence of a striking resemblance between the temperature dependences of the configurational entropy s(c) in both the theory of equilibrium polymerization and the generalized entropy theory of glass formation in polymer melts. Moreover, the multiple characteristic temperatures of glass formation are also shown to have analogs in the thermodynamics of equilibrium polymerization, supporting the contention that both processes are varieties of rounded thermodynamic transitions. We also find that the average cluster mass (or degree of polymerization) varies in nearly inverse proportionality to s(c). This inverse relation accords with the basic hypothesis of Adam-Gibbs that the number of particles in the cooperatively rearranging regions (CRR) of glass-forming liquids scales inversely to s(c) of the fluid. Our identification of the CRR with equilibrium polymers is further supported by simulations for a variety of glass-forming liquids that verify the existence of stringlike or polymeric clusters exhibiting collective particle motion. Moreover, these dynamical clusters have an exponential length distribution, and the average "string" length grows upon cooling according to the predictions of equilibrium polymerization theory. The observed scale of dynamic heterogeneity in glass-forming liquids is found to be consistent with this type of self-assembly process. Both experiments and simulations have revealed remarkable similarities between the dynamical properties of self-assembling and glass-forming liquids, suggesting that the development of a theory for the dynamics of self-assembling fluids will also enhance our understanding of relaxation in glass-forming liquids.     

Kinetic features of short-time polymerization of isoprene in the presence of supported titanium–magnesium catalyst

Short-time polymerization of isoprene under the action of supported titanium–magnesium catalyst is carried out. The pulsation mixing of the reagent flows and the unit design features allow one to reduce the average residence time of reagents in the reaction zone and to study the first 0.7 s of the isoprene polymerization. It is found that, very early in polymerization, the propagation of polyisoprene macromolecules proceeds on the surface of the primary aggregates of catalyst particles characteristic of a high trans-1,4 specificity via the “living” mechanism with a high rate. Furthermore, the fragmentation of the initial aggregates of the catalyst particles occurs, which results in formation of new polymerization centers, a decrease in the average molecular masses of polyisoprene, and a broadening of the polymer MMD. The results are explained by the existence of a range of the kinetic continuity of the rapid initiation stage and several subsequent stages of macromolecule propagation, followed by a significant decrease in the chain propagation rate constant compared to the initiation constant.     

Short-time isoprene polymerization under the action of a titanium–magnesium catalyst

The short-time polymerization of isoprene under the action of a TiCl₄/MgCl2?i-Bu₃Al heterogeneous catalyst has been investigated. Pulse mixing of the catalyst and monomer in a cylindrical tubular reactor with a certain length followed by ethanol injection has made it possible to carry out polymerization for 0.1?0.7 s. In the first 0.3 s, when there is a considerable rise in the activity of the catalyst, living polymerization of isoprene takes place. In this period, polyisoprene has up to 95% trans-1,4 units. Extending the polymerization time to 0.7 s diminishes the average molar mass of polyisoprene, broadens its molar mass distribution, and decreases the concentration of trans-1,4 units to 83%. The data of this study have been analyzed on the basis of the kinetic continuity of the polymer chain initiation and growth.     

DFT study of the ring opening polymerization of ε-caprolactone by grafted lanthanide complexes: 2--Effect of the initiator ligand

The influence of the initiator ligand on the Ring Opening Polymerization (ROP) of ε-caprolactone by lanthanide complexes grafted on silica have been investigated by means of density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Three different initiator ligands (alkyl, dialkylamido and borohydride) and three grating modes (mono-grafted, bi-grafted or bi-grafted after breaking of a Si-O-Si bridge) have been considered. This study highlights that lanthanum grafted complexes (alkyl, amide or borohydride) are active in lactone polymerization. In any case the reaction process is demonstrated to be similar to the one found for homogeneous catalysts. However, even if the different grafting modes are energetically equivalent for the ε-caprolactone ROP initiation reaction, some differences are observed according to the ligand involved in the initiation reaction. In agreement with experimental data, grafted lanthanide amides rapidly polymerise the ε-caprolactone. The grafted alkyl lanthanum complexes are also predicted to be very efficient catalysts. The borohydride is thus predicted to be the least efficient due to the difficulties in the ring opening. Indeed, the rate-determining step is the nucleophilic attack for the methyl and dialkylamido ligands (occuring with a low barrier) whereas it is the ring opening for the borohydride ligands (highest barrier) and the formation of -CH(2)C(=O)(X) (X = CH(3) or NMe(2)) terminal group is more favorable than that of a -CH(2)OBH(2) end group.     

Influence of o-benzoquinone nature on initiation of radical polymerization by the o-benzoquinone—tert-amine system

o-Benzoquinones initiate radical polymerization of methacrylates under visible light irradiation in the presence of tertiary amines. Spectral sensitivity of the initiating system coincides with absorption bands of o-benzoquinone attributed to the S(*) (_max 400 nm) and S(n*) (_max 600 nm) transitions. The amine radicals (Am^·) initiating polymerization are generated by the photoreduction of Q in the presence of AmH from the triplet radical pair ³(QH^·, Am^·). The yield of Am^· depends on the difference between the volumes of substituents in the 3 and 6 positions of the quinoid ring and is maximal for symmetrically substituted o-benzoquinones. For a series of derivatives of symmetrical 3,6-di-tert-butyl-o-benzoquinone, the rate of photopolymerization of ,-bis(methacryloyloxyethyleneoxycarbonyloxy)ethyleneoxyethylene (OCM-2) in the presence of N,N-dimethylaniline is determined by the free energy (G _e) of electron transfer from the amine to photoexcited o-benzoquinone. The G _e value includes the energies of oxidation of the amines and reduction of the o-quinones and the energy of the 00 transition of the triplet excited state of o-benzoquinones, which are equal to their redox potentials. The photopolymerization rate is maximal for G _e 0.