Macroporous polystyrene-supported quaternary ammonium salt catalysts for the addition of carbon dioxide to glycidyl methacrylate

In the present study, the synthesis of (2-oxo-1,3-dioxolan-4-yl)methyl methacrylate (DOMA) from carbon dioxide and glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) was investigated in a semi-batch reactor using macroporous polystyrene beads containing pendant quaternary ammonium salt catalysts. The catalysts were prepared by partial copolymerization of styrene (ST) and divinylbenzene (DVB) with isooctyl alcohol, and then by copolymerization with vinylbenzyl chloride (VBC). Quaternization of the pendant chloromethyl groups was carried out by using trialkylamines. The catalytic activity of the macroporous polymer was influenced by VBC and isooctyl alcohol concentration, and by the structure of trialkylamine. A kinetic study was also carried out to better understand the reaction steps. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Production of poly(methyl methacrylate) particles by dispersion polymerization with mercaptopropyl terminated poly(dimethylsiloxane) stabilizer in supercritical carbon dioxide

Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) particles were produced by dispersion polymerization of methyl methacrylate in the presence of mercaptopropyl terminated poly(dimethylsiloxane) (MP-PDMS) in supercritical carbon dioxide at about 30 MPa for 24 h at 65 °C. The particle diameter could be controlled in a size range of submicron to micron by varying MP-PDMS concentration. The MP-PDMS worked as not only a chain transfer agent but also a colloidal stabilizer, which was named tran stab.Part CCLI of the series Studies on suspension and emulsion     

Grafting of glycidyl methacrylate onto polypropylene using supercritical carbon dioxide

Free-radical grafting of glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) onto polypropylene (PP) films has been studied using supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO₂) as a solvent and a swelling agent. As the reaction temperature was below the melting point, PP was modified in the solid phase. The PP film was first soaked with the monomer GMA and benzoyl peroxide (BPO) as an initiator using SC-CO₂ at different experimental conditions of pressure, temperature, and thermal treatment time. After releasing CO₂, film GMA molecules were grafted onto PP in different times. Using this method, the degree of grafting and the morphology could be controlled through the combination of pressure, temperature, and soaking time. FTIR spectra confirmed that GMA had been grafted onto PP and that polypropylene-graft-glycidyl methacrylate (PP-g-GMA) presented a high surface reactivity for conductive polyaniline anchoring. DSC measurements and TG analyses showed that the thermal profiles of the graft copolymer and virgin PP are quite similar and that the graft PP does not exhibit changes in terms of thermal degradation profile and melting temperature, respectively. X-ray data showed that a high degree of grafting leads to a lower degree of crystallinity of polypropylene.     

Dielectric relaxation behavior of poly(methyl methacrylate) under high‐pressure carbon dioxide

An in situ dielectric measurement for atactic poly(methyl methacrylate) (at‐PMMA) was performed under high‐pressure CO₂ under various pressures and temperatures. The at‐PMMA has the acetate side group with a large dipole moment. In the glassy state, a local relaxation process (β‐process) can be observed using dielectric measurement. In the rubbery state, the micro‐Brownian motion of main chain (α‐process) occurs, and the β‐process changes into αβ‐process coordinated with the α‐process. The dielectric loss (ε″) spectrum of at‐PMMA in the glassy state is asymmetric because of the density fluctuation for the amorphous structure. The loss peak frequency shifted to higher frequencies, and the relaxation strength increased with increasing CO₂ pressure. In the glassy state, the shape of ε″ spectrum became more symmetric with increasing CO₂ pressure. These show that the molecular mobility enhanced by the plasticization effect of CO₂ allows the dipolar side groups in the high‐density region to contribute to the relaxation process. We also found that the apparent activation energy decreased under high‐pressure CO₂. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 43: 2951–2962, 2005     

Synthesis of poly[(2‐oxo‐1,3‐dioxolane‐ 4‐yl)methyl methacrylate‐co‐styrene] by addition reaction of carbon dioxide and its compatibility with poly(methyl methacrylate) or poly(vinyl chloride)

We investigated the chemical fixation of carbon dioxide (CO ₂) to a copolymer bearing epoxide and the application of the cyclic carbonate group containing copolymer to polymer blends. In the synthesis of poly[(2‐oxo‐1,3‐dioxolane‐4‐yl)methyl methacrylate‐co‐styrene] [poly(DOMA‐co‐St)] from the addition of CO ₂ to poly(glycidyl methacrylate‐co‐styrene) [poly(GMA‐co‐St)], quaternary ammonium salts showed good catalytic activity at mild reaction conditions. The CO ₂ addition reaction followed pseudo first‐order kinetics with the concentration of poly(GMA‐co‐St). In order to expand the applications of the CO ₂ fixed copolymer, polymer blends of this copolymer with poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) or poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) were cast from N,N′‐dimethylformamide (DMF) solution. Miscibility of blends of poly(DOMA‐co‐St) with PMMA or PVC have been investigated both by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and visual inspection of the blends, and the blends were miscible over the whole composition ranges. The miscibility behaviors were also discussed in terms of FT‐IR spectra. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A kinetic study on the reaction between glycidyl vinyl ether and carbon dioxide with quaternary ammonium salts as catalyst

The kinetics of the reaction between glycidyl vinyl ether (GVE) and carbon dioxide has been studied by using quaternary ammonium salts as catalyst. The catalysts having larger cations and more nucleophilic counter-anions showed higher activity. In a semi-batch reactor where CO₂ is continuously supplied, the reaction is first order with respect to the concentration of GVE. In a high pressure batch reactor, the reaction is first order with respect to both GVE and CO₂ and second order overall. In the latter case, a simple method to evaluate the rate constant and Henry's constant is also proposed.     

Sorption and diffusion of carbon dioxide in single-phase polystyrene/poly(vinylmethylether) blends

The sorption and transport properties of CO₂ in miscible PS/PVME blends at 20°C are reported as a function of pressure from 1 to 15 atm. The complex shape of isotherms for glassy blends and the concentration-dependent diffusion coefficient for rubbery blends reveal a plasticization by sorbed CO₂. The significant depression in T_g has to be taken into account in the analysis of the sorption data. Diffusion coefficient for CO₂ passes through a minimum when plotted against the blend composition. Such a behavior can be quantitatively related to the negative volume mixing of the PS/PVME system in the framework of the theories based on unoccupied volume. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

High yield synthesis of biodegradable poly(propylene carbonate) from carbon dioxide and propylene oxide

A novel SalenCo^III (2,4‐dinitrophenoxy) (Salen = N,N'‐bis(3,5‐di‐tert‐butylsalicylidene)‐1,2‐cyclohexanediamino) and 1,10‐phenanthroline monohydrate catalyst system was designed and employed for the copolymerization of CO₂ and propylene oxide (PO). The perfectly alternating copolymerization of CO₂ and PO proceeds effectively under middle temperature and pressure to yield poly(propylene carbonate) with a high yield and a high number average molecular weight of polymer. The structure of polymer was characterized by the IR and NMR measurements. The perfectly alternating copolymer was confirmed. The MALDI‐TOF spectrum insinuates that the copolymerization of CO₂ and PO was initiated by H₂O. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Reaction kinetics of carbon dioxide with glycidyl methacrylate using immobilized trioctylamine supported on poly(styrene-CO-vinylbenzyl chloride) as a catalyst

A soluble polymer-supprted catalyst containing pendant trioctylammonium chloride was synthesized by the radical copolymerization of p-chloromethylated styrene with styrene followed by the addition reaction of the resulting copolymer with trioctylamine. Absorption rate of carbon dioxide into glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) solutions containing the catalyst was measured using a semi-batch stirred tank with a plane gas-liquid interface at 101.3 kPa. The reaction kinetics of the reaction between carbon dioxide and GMA was evaluated using the absorption rate and the mass transfer mechanism of carbon dioxide. Solvents such as toluene, N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone, and dimethyl sulfoxide influenced the reaction rate constants. Furthermore, this catalyst was compared to the monomeric tetraoctylammonium chloride under the same reaction conditions.     

Synthesis and curing of poly(glycidyl methacrylate) nanoparticles

Glycidyl‐functional polymer nanoparticles [poly(glycidyl methacrylate) (PGMA)] were fabricated with microemulsion polymerization. The successful fabrication of PGMA nanoparticles was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). A TEM image showed that the average diameter of the PGMA nanoparticles was approximately 10–28 nm and was fairly monodisperse. As the surfactant concentration increased, the average size of the nanoparticles decreased and approached an asymptotic value. A significant reduction of the nanoparticle size to the nanometer scale led to an enhanced number of surface functionalities, which played an important role in the curing reaction. The PGMA nanoparticles were cured with a low‐temperature curing agent, diethylene triamine, to produce ultrafine thermoset nanoparticles. The low‐temperature curing process was performed below the glass‐transition temperature of PGMA to prevent the coagulation and deformation of the nanoparticles. A TEM image indicated that the cured PGMA nanoparticles did not exhibit interparticle aggregation and morphological transformation during curing. The average size of the cured PGMA nanoparticles was consistent with that of the pristine PGMA nanoparticles © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 2258–2265, 2005     

Compatibility and thermal properties of poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate)/poly(glycidyl methacrylate) blends

Poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate) (PHB)/poly(glycidyl methacrylate) (PGMA) blends were prepared by a solution‐precipitation procedure. The compatibility and thermal decomposition behavior of the PHB/PGMA blends was studied with differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, and differential thermal analysis (DTA). The blends were immiscible in the as‐blended state, but for the blends with PGMA contents of 50 wt % or more, the compatibility was dramatically changed after 1 min of annealing at 200 °C. In addition, PHB/PGMA blends showed higher thermal stability, as measured by maximum decomposition temperatures and residual weight during thermal degradation. This was probably due to crosslinking reactions of the epoxide groups in the PGMA component with the carboxyl chain ends of PHB fragments during the degradation process, and the occurrence of such reactions can be assigned to the exothermic peaks in the DTA thermograms. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 351–358, 2002     

Synthesis of poly[(2‐oxo‐1,3‐dioxolane‐4‐yl) methyl methacrylate‐co‐ethyl acrylate] by incorporation of carbon dioxide into epoxide polymer and the miscibility behavior of its blends with poly(methyl methacrylate) or poly(vinyl chloride)

This study was related to the investigation of the chemical fixation of carbon dioxide to a copolymer bearing epoxide and the application of the cyclic carbonate group containing copolymer‐to‐polymer blends. In the synthesis of poly[(2‐oxo‐1,3‐dioxolane‐4‐yl) methyl methacrylate‐co‐ethyl acrylate] [poly(DOMA‐co‐EA)] from poly(glycidyl methacrylate‐co‐ethyl acrylate) [poly(GMA‐co‐EA)] and CO₂, quaternary ammonium salts showed good catalytic activity. The films of poly(DOMA‐co‐EA) with poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) or poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) blends were cast from N,N′‐dimethylformamide solution. The miscibility of the blends of poly(DOMA‐co‐EA) with PMMA or PVC have been investigated both by DSC and visual inspection of the blends. The optical clarity test and DSC analysis showed that poly(DOMA‐co‐EA) containing blends were miscible over the whole composition range. The miscibility behaviors were discussed in terms of Fourier transform infrared spectra and interaction parameters based on the binary interaction model. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 39: 1472–1480, 2001     

Thermal degradation of poly(ethyl methacrylate) and its copolymer with poly(ethyl acrylate)

The thermal degradation behaviour of poly(ethyl methacrylate) homopolymers and poly(ethyl methacrylate) and poly(ethyl acrylate) copolymers synthesized by using the benzoyl peroxide-di-methyl aniline redox pair at different temperatures (18–35C) was investigated. Contrary to some reports in the literature, the thermal degradation of PEMA was observed to take place in multi steps. These are assigned to be loss of labile end groups, side chain scission, anhydride formation and main chain degradation steps. Dominating chemical formations at the end of these steps were characterized by FTIR spectroscopy.The homopolymer samples synthesized at 18C showed a greater thermal stability against degradation. Copolymerization with small amounts of ethyl acrylate was observed to impart thermal stability to PEMA by stabilizing mainly the end groups against degradations.     

Dispersion polymerization of styrene in carbon dioxide stabilized by copolymers of poly(propylene glycol) methacrylate and 2‐(perfluorooctyl)ethyl methacrylate

The dispersion polymerization of styrene in carbon dioxide with a series of copolymers of poly(propylene glycol) methacrylate (PPGMA) and 2‐(perfluorooctyl)ethyl methacrylate (FOEMA) as the polymerization dispersants was examined. It was demonstrated that PPGMA and FOEMA copolymers and polymers containing 52–100% FOEMA could be used as effective dispersants for the polymerization, and the composition of the copolymeric dispersant had a dramatic effect on both the polymerization yield and the morphology of the resulting polystyrene. The effects of the concentrations of the copolymeric dispersants, the concentrations of the monomer, and the reaction pressure were also investigated. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 3804–3815, 2003     

Supercritical carbon dioxide assisted synthesis of amphiphilic graft copolymers based on poly(styrene-co-maleic anhydride) with methoxyl poly(ethylene glycol) side chains

Supercritical carbon dioxide（scCO₂） was used as a reaction medium in synthesizing amphiphilic graft copolymers composed of poly（styrene-co-maleic anhydride）（SMA） backbones and methoxyl poly（ethylene glycol）（MPEG） side chains via esterification.The synthesized copolymers were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy（FTIR）,gel permeation chromatography（GPC）,¹H-NMR,thermo-gravimetric analysis（TGA） and differential scanning calorimetric analysis（DSC）.The gelation phenomenon was suppressed effectively by tuning reaction conditions.The influences of scCO₂ temperature and pressure on the conversion of anhydride were investigated.It was found that the highest conversion ratio occurred at 80℃under a constant pressure of 14 MPa or 26 MPa.With the increase of scCO₂ pressure,the conversion ratio increased first,and then leveled off.The conversion ratio of anhydride could be controlled by regulating the reaction conditions.It was also revealed that using low molecular weight MPEG brought a high conversion ratio of anhydride.     

Compatibilization of blends of polybutadiene and poly(methyl methacrylate) with poly(butadiene-block-methyl methacrylate)

Compatibilization of blends of polybutadiene and poly(methyl methacrylate) with butadiene-methyl methacrylate diblock copolymers has been investigated by transmission electron microscopy. When the diblock copolymers are added to the blends, the size of PB particles decreases and their size distribution gets narrower. In PB/PMMA7.6K blends with P(B-b-MMA)25.2K as a compatibilizer, most of micelles exist in the PMMA phase. However, using P(B-b-MMA)38K as a compatibilizer, the micellar aggregation exists in PB particles besides that existing in the PMMA phase. The core of a micelle in the PMMA phase is about 10 nm. In this article the influences of temperature and homo-PMMA molecular weight on compatibilization were also examined. At a high temperature PB particles in blends tend to agglomerate into bigger particles. When the molecular weight of PMMA is close to that of the corresponding block of the copolymer, the best compatibilization result would be achieved. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 36 : 85–93, 1998     

Reactive poly(glycidyl methacrylate) microspheres prepared by dispersion polymerization

Poly(glycidyl methacrylate) [poly(GMA)] microspheres of narrow size distribution were prepared in a simple one‐step procedure by dispersion radical polymerization. Depending on the solvent used, poly(GMA) particle size could be controlled in the range of 0.5–4 μm by changing the solubility parameter of the reaction mixture. In N,N′‐dimethylformamide (DMF)/methanol mixture, the particle size increased and the size distribution broadened with decreasing initial solubility parameter. While in the DMF/methanol solvent system, hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC) or cellulose acetate butyrate (CAB) were taken as steric stabilizers of the dispersion polymerization, poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP) was used in alcoholic media. Contrary to the DMF/methanol system, narrow particle size distributions were obtained with PVP‐stabilized polymerizations in ethanolic, methanolic, propan‐1‐olic or butan‐1‐olic medium. Both the particle size and polydispersity were reduced with increasing stabilizer concentration. If lower molecular‐weight PVP was used, larger microspheres were obtained. Poly(GMA) samples prepared in a neat alcoholic medium virtually quantitatively retained oxirane group content after the polymerization. Reactivity of the poly(GMA) microspheres was confirmed by their hydrolysis and aminolysis. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 3855–3863, 2000     

Synthesis of ferrocene‐modified poly(glycidyl methacrylate) and its burning rate catalytic property

A series of ferrocene‐modified poly(glycidyl methacrylate) (PGMA‐Fc) compounds were synthesized and applied as burning rate catalysts in simulative solid propellant to overcome migration problems. ¹H NMR and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopies and gel permeation chromatography were used to characterize the synthesized polymers. Their electrochemical behavior was evaluated using cyclic voltammetry. Their catalytic performance for the decomposition of ammonium perchlorate (AP) was investigated using thermogravimetric analysis. Anti‐migration studies were conducted in migration tubes under 50°C. The results show that PGMA‐Fc has a good catalytic effect on lowering the thermal decomposition temperature of AP. Anti‐migration studies show that PGMA‐Fc has better anti‐migration performance than ferrocene and catocene.     

Siloxane/silane‐crosslinked systems from supercritical carbon dioxide: II. Pendant phenyl poly(carbosilane/siloxane)s

New silicone‐containing polymers with crosslinkable units have been synthesized by hydrosilation polymerization in both toluene and supercritical carbon dioxide (70°C, 3000 psi) catalyzed by platinum‐divinyltetramethyldisiloxane (Pt‐DVTMS). It was found that high molecular polymers were obtained in both toluene and supercritical carbon dioxide. The polymers were characterized by FTIR, NMR, GPC, TGA, and DSC. The molecular weights of these polymers ranged from 9000 to 39,000. With further hydrolysis and thermal curing, the molecular weight can be increased significantly. Comparison of the properties between reactions in toluene versus supercritical carbon dioxide indicated that the green solvent is a usable alternative for hydrosilation polymerization. The new polymers synthesized in either toluene or supercritical carbon dioxide are thermally stable, ranged from 350 to 488°C. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis and properties of poly(hydroxyurethane)s

Bis(cyclic Carbonate)s 1 were prepared by the reaction of bis(epoxide)s and atmospheric pressure of CO₂ in the presence of sodium iodide and triphenylphosphine as catalysts at 100°C in high yield. Polyaddition of 1 and hexamethylenediamine ( 2a ) or dodecamethylenediamine ( 2b ) in dimethylsulfoxide or N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMAc) at 70 or 100°C for 24 h afforded corresponding poly(hydroxyurethane)s with M?_n 20,000–30,000. When ethylenediamine ( 2c ) or 1,3-propanediamine ( 2d ) was used as a diamine, poly(hydroxyurethane)s with lower molecular weight were obtained. The presence of water, methanol, or ethyl acetate in the solvent had little effect on the M?_n of the polymer obtained, because of the high chemoselectivity of the reaction of the five-membered cyclic carbonate and amine. Polyaddition of bis(cyclic carbonate) bearing ester groups and 2a also afforded the corresponding poly(hydroxyurethane) without aminolysis of the ester groups. Poly(hydroxyurethane) 3 obtained from the bis(cyclic carbonate) derived from bisphenol A was less soluble in organic solvents than model polyurethane 8 having no hydroxy groups obtained from 4,4′-isopropylidenebis(2-hydroxyethoxybenzene) and hexamethylene diisocyanate, and was thermally stable as well as 8.3 easily undertook crosslinking at room temperature by the treatment with hexamethylene diisocyanate or aluminium triisopropoxide in DMAc or tetrahydrofuran. The gel crosslinked by aluminium triisopropoxide regenerated the original polymer at room temperature by treatment with 1.5 equiv of 1.2M HCl in N-methylpyrollidinone for 1 h. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.