Cationic polymerization of cyclic dienes. X. Cationic polymerization of 1-vinylcyclohexene and 3-methyl-1,3-pentadiene

1-Vinylcyclohexene (VCH), which has one of the double bonds in the ring and the other outside the ring, was synthesized and polymerized by cationic catalysts. The reactivity of VCH was very large in the polymerizations catalyzed by boron trifluoride etherate (BF₃OEt₂) and stannic chloride–trichloroacetic acid complex. Similar to other cyclic dienes, the polymerization of VCH was a nonstationary reaction having a very fast initiation step. The polymerization proceeded by either a 1,2- or a 1,4-propagation mode in which vinyl group was always involved. Particularly when BF₃OEt₂ was used as a catalyst, an intramolecular proton or an intramolecular hydride ion transfer reaction took place, resulting in the formation of methyl groups in the polymer. The degree of polymerization of polymer formed was about 10. This indicates the preponderance of monomer transfer reaction. To investigate the reason for the high reactivity of cyclic dienes, cationic copolymerizations of VCH and 3-methyl-cis/trans-1,3-pentadiene (cis/trans-MPD) was carried out. The relative reactivity of monomers decreased in the order VCH > trans-MPD > cis-MPD. On the other hand, the resonance stabilization of monomers decreased in the order VCH > trans-MPD > cis-MPD. Therefore, it could be considered that the monomer reactivity is mainly determined by the stability of carbonium ion intermediate. The relative stability of carbonium ion must be VCH > trans-MPD > cis-MPD. Thus the influence of the conformation of ion on its stability was clearly demonstrated.     

Free-radical copolymerizations of 1,2-dichloroethylenes. Evidence for chain transfer by chlorine atom elimination

Trialkylboron–oxygen, an active, low-temperature free-radical initiator, has been employed to investigate the effects of very low temperatures on the copolymerizations of vinyl acetate with cis and trans-1,2-dichloroethylenes. The low temperatures favor the propagation rate relative to the transfer rate, such that high molecular weight copolymers containing substantial quantities of 1,2-dichloroethylene can be prepared. The molecular weights of the copolymers depend only on the amounts of 1,2-dichloroethylene in the copolymers, regardless of the isomer which takes part in the copolymerization. Since the double bond of the trans isomer is about six times as reactive as that of the cis isomer, this indicates that the dominating chain transfer reaction occurs by chlorine atom elimination subsequent to the addition of the dichloroethylene unit to the growing free radical chain. It is suggested that a similar chain-transfer mechanism occurs in the polymerization of vinyl chloride, wherein an infrequent head-to-head placement of monomer unit is followed by ejection of a chlorine atom to form an olefinic bond and termination of that growing chain. The presence of the 1,2-dichloroethylene unit in the copolymer increases the glass transition temperature approximately 1°C per weight per cent copolymerized with the vinyl acetate.     

Cationic polymerization of 1-ethoxy-1,3-butadiene

cis- and trans-1-Ethoxy-1,3-butadienes were polymerized by a variety of cationic agents in various solvents at ?78°C. The trans ether, which is the more stable isomer, was found to have greater polymerizability than the cis ether. The trans monomer gave polymers predominantly of the trans-1,4 type, whereas the cis monomer showed a tendency toward the formation of polymers having the microstructure of the 1,2 type. It was concluded that, in the cis ether, the carbon atom which is the most vulnerable to the attack of carbonium ions is the one at the 2-position, whereas, in the case of the trans isomer, the terminal 4-carbon is the most reactive center. The conclusion was confirmed from the results of acetal addition reaction catalyzed by boron trifluoride etherate. The marked contrast in the mode of reaction of the two isomeric ethers toward carbonium ions was interpreted in terms of the difference in the degree of bonding in the transition state.     

Donor-acceptor complexes in copolymerization. L. Preparation and microstructure of chlorine-containing alternating conjugated diene–acceptor monomer copolymers

Neighboring monomer units cause significant shifts in the infrared absorption peaks attributed to cis- and trans-1,4 units in conjugated diene-acceptor monomer copolymers. Conjugated diene-maleic anhydride alternating copolymers apparently have a predominantly cis-1,4-structure, while alternating diene-SO₂ copolymers have a predominantly trans-1,4 structure. Alternating copolymers of butadiene, isoprene, and pentadiene-1,3 with α-chloroacrylonitrile and methyl α-chloroacrylate, prepared in the presence of Et_1.5AlCl_1.5(EASC), have trans-1,4 unsaturation. Alternating copolymers of chloroprene with acrylonitrile, methyl acrylate, methyl methacrylate, α-chloroacrylonitrile, and methyl α-chloroacrylate prepared in the presence of EASC-VOCl₃ have trans-1,4 configuration. The reaction between chloroprene and acrylonitrile in the presence of AlCl₃ yields the cyclic Diel-Alder adduct in the dark and the alternating copolymer under ultraviolet irradiation. The equimolar, presumably alternating, copolymers of chloroprene with methyl acrylate and methyl methacrylate undergo cyclization at 205°C to a far lesser extent than theoretically calculated, to yield five and seven-membered lactones. The polymerization of chloroprene in the presence of EASC and acetonitrile yields a radical homopolymer with trans-1,4 unsaturation.     

Stereoelective cationic polymerization of propenyl ether by asymmetric catalysts

In order to elucidate the possibility of stereoelective cationic polymerization (asymmetric selective polymerization) of olefinic monomers, racemic cis- and trans-1-methylpropyl propenyl ether and racemic 1-methylpropyl vinyl ether were polymerized by asymmetric alkoxyaluminum dichlorides. In the polymerization of racemic cis-1-methylpropyl propenyl ether with (?)-menthoxyaluminum dichloride in toluene at ?78°C, the polymer obtained showed a positive optical activity, and the residual monomers were converted by BF₃OEt₂ into a polymer having a negative optical activity. Thus, the stereoelective polymerization of racemic cis-1-methylpropyl propenyl ether was beyond any doubt attained in homogeneous cationic polymerization. In the polymerization of the trans isomer by the same catalyst, an optically active polymer was hardly formed. In the polymerization of racemic 1-methylpropyl vinyl ether which has no β-methyl group, stereoelectivity was not observed at all. The cis-1-methylpropyl propenyl ether did not produce an optical active polymer in the polymerization catalyzed by (S)-1-methylpropoxyaluminum dichloride or (S)-2-methylbutoxyaluminum dichloride under the same polymerization conditions.     

Cationic and free-radical polymerization of optically active 1-olefins

The AlCl₃-initiated cationic polymerization of optically active 1-olefins yields polymers of varying optical rotatory power. Polymers of (+)-3-methyl-1-pentene and (?)-4-methyl-1-hexene prepared between ?78 and ?55°C. in CH₂Cl₂ or n-heptane are almost completely optically inactive. Under identical reaction conditions (+)-5-methyl-1-heptene gives polymers of significant optical rotatory power. Alternating SO₂copolymers of the same olefins, formed in reactions which proceed through free-radical intermediates, yield optically active products with specific rotations similar to those of low molecular weight analogs. These results are consistent with a cationic polymerization mechanism in which the growing chain undergoes intramolecular hydride shift and the asymmetric carbon atoms are converted into carbonium ions. The data also provide evidence for the lack of rearrangement in free-radical polymerization. By comparing the specific rotations of the cationic and free-radical polymers, the extent of rearrangement during cationic polymerization can be estimated. The calculations show that the 1,2-polymer in cationic poly-3-methyl-1-pentene is less than 2%, the sum of 1,2- and 1,3-polymer in cationic poly-4-methyl-1-hexene is less than 4%, and the sum of 1,2-, 1,3-, and 1,4-polymer in cationic poly-5-methyl-1-heptene is 14–20%.     

Cationic polymerization of α,β-disubstituted olefins. XV. Stereospecific polymerization of butenyl ethers by cationic catalysts

Methyl, ethyl, and isopropyl butenyl ethers, CH₃CH₂CH?CHOR, were polymerized with homogeneous catalysts at ?78°C. Toluene, methylene chloride, and nitroethane were used as solvents, and BF₃O(C₂H₅)₂ and SnCl₄·CCl₃CO₂H were used as catalysts. The stereoregularity of the polymers were compared by x-ray diagrams and infrared absorption ratios. The stereoregularity of polymers increased with increasing content of the trans isomer in the monomer and with increasing polarity of the solvent. In the polymerization of methyl and ethyl butenyl ethers, crystalline polymers were obtained from both the trans and cis isomers. The crystalline polymer prepared from the trans isomer and that from the cis isomer had the same steric structure. This behavior is quite different from that observed in the polymerization of propenyl ethers. It is concluded that the bulkiness of the group on the olefinic β-carbon plays an important role in the stereospecific polymerization of α,β-disubstituted olefins.     

The SO2(3B1) photosensitized isomerization of cis- and trans-1,2-dichloroethylene

The photolysis of SO₂ at 3712 Å in the presence of the 1,2-dichloroethylenes has been investigated at 22deg;C. The data are consistent with the SO₂(³B₁) photosensitized isomerization of the 1,2-dichloroethylene isomer. A kinetic treatment of the initial quantum yield data was consistent with the formation of a polarized charge-transfer intermediate whenever SO₂(³B₁) molecules and one of the 1,2-dichloroethylene isomers collide which ultimately decays unimolecularly to the cis-isomer with a probability of 0.70 ± 0.26 and to the trans-isomer with a 0.37 ± 0.16 probability. Quenching rate constants for removal of SO₂(³B₁) molecules by cis- and trans-1,2-dichloroethylene have been estimated from quantum yield data and from laser excited phosphorescence lifetimes using an excitation wavelength of 3130 Å. Estimates of the quenching rate constant (units of 1./mole ± sec) are for the cis-isomer, (1.63 ± 0.71) × 10¹⁰, quantum yield data, and (2.44 ± 0.11) × 10¹⁰, lifetime data; and for the trans-isomer,(2.59 ± 0.09)×10¹⁰, lifetime data, and (2.35 ±0.89) × 10¹⁰, quantum yield data. An experimentally determined photostationary composition,[cis-C₂Cl₂H₂]/[trans-C₂Cl₂H₂] = 1.8 - 0.1, was in good agreement with a value of 2.00 - 1.15 which was predicted from rate constants derived in this study.     

The SO2(3B1) photosensitized isomerization of cis- and trans-1,2-difluoroethylene

Quantum yield measurements for the SO₂(³B₁) photosensitized isomerization of cis-1,2-difluoroethylene have been made at 3712 Å and 22°C. The [SO₂]/[cis-C₂F₂H₂] ratio was varied from 47.4 to 455 and the quantum yield measurements over this variation of concentration ratios were consistent with a mechanism in which SO₂(³B₁) molecules and the cis isomer form a collision intermediate which decomposes with a probability of 0.42 ± 0.17 and 0.58 ± 0.17 of producing trans- and cis-1,2-difluoroethylene, respectively. When SO₂ was subjected to prolonged irradiations in the presence of initially either pure cis- or pure trans-1,2-difluoroethylene, a photostationary composition, [cis]/[trans] = 1.0 ± 0.2, was obtained. The rate constant at 22°C for removal of SO₂(³B₁) molecules by cis-1,2-difluoroethylene was estimated to be (1.72 ± 0.72) × 10¹⁰ 1./mole · sec.     

Radiation-induced crosslinking and cyclization in 1,2-polybutadiene

In order to get information on the radiolytic changes in 1,2-polybutadiene (1,2-PB) the sol and gel fractions, the conversion of double bonds, the structure and concentration of radicals, the formation of dienes and the formation of gaseous products were measured. In addition, the dose rate dependence and temperature dependence for the conversion of double bonds were determined. G values for double bond conversion depend on molecular weight and range from 20 to 200. G values for crosslinking are about 10. A mechanism for the double bond conversion is proposed which involves initiation by a transformation of the primary radical ion in the vinyl group into a carbonium ion and a radical. This is supported by ESR measurement. Reaction of the carbonium ion with a vinyl group in the same chain gives rise to cyclization, whereas reaction with a vinyl group in a neighboring chain results in crosslinking. A comparison of the G values for conversion of double bonds with the G values for crosslinking shows that the formation of cyclic rings exceeds the formation of crosslinks by a factor of about 10. The corresponding values in 1,4-cis- and 1,4-trans-polybutadiene are much smaller [G(cl) ? 2; G(db) ? 7]. The pendent vinyl groups in 1,2-polybutadiene therefore are more reactive than the vinylidene groups in 1,4-polybutadienes.     

Synthesis and characterization of polymers of 1,4-hexadienes

The homopolymerization of trans-1,4-hexadiene, cis-1,4-hexadiene, and 5-methyl-1,4-hexadiene was investigated with a variety of catalysts. During polymerization, 1,4-hexadienes undergo concurrent isomerization reactions. The nature and extent of isomerization products are influenced by the monomer structure and polymerization conditions. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and infrared (IR) data show that poly(trans-1,4-hexadiene) and poly(cis-1,4-hexadiene) prepared with a Et₃Al/α-TiCl₃/hexamethylphosphoric triamide catalyst system consist mainly of 1,2-polymerization units arranged in a regular head-to-tail sequence. A 300-MHz proton NMR spectrum shows that the trans-hexadiene polymer is isotactic; it also may be the case for the cis-hexadiene polymer. These polymers are the first examples of uncrosslinked ozone-resistant rubbers containing pendant unsaturation on alternating carbon atoms of the saturated carbon-carbon backbone. Polymerization of the 1,4-hexadienes was also studied with VOCl₃- and β-TiCl₃-based catalysts. Microstructures of the resulting polymers are quite complicated due to significant loss of unsaturation, in contrast to those obtained with the α-TiCl₃-based catalyst. In agreement with the literature, there was no discernible monomer isomerization with the VOCl₃ catalyst system.     

Hydrogen-transfer polymerization of cis- and trans-crotonamides

cis- and trans-Crotonamides were polymerized in the presence of sodium tert-butoxide in pyridine. It was found that both monomers undergo concurrent geometrical isomerization as well as polymerization. Polymers resulting from these isomeric monomers had identical microstructures. The rates of both polymerization and isomerization were evaluated from kinetic measurements. Kinetic investigations have also shown that the specific first-order rate coefficient was independent of the isomer compositions and was identical for cis and trans monomers. The activation enthalpy was evaluated to be 15.0 kcal/mole.     

Methylene radical reaction with cis-butene-2

A study of the pressure dependence of the C₅ products from the reaction of cis-butene-2 and methylene is reported. Methylene was produced by the photolysis of diazomethane with 4358 Å light at 23° or 56°, and by photolysis of ketene with 3200 Å radiation at 23° or 100°. The change with increasing pressure of the relative amounts of the characteristically “triplet products” (trans-1,2-dimethylcyclopropane, trans-pentene-2 (TP2), and 3-methylbutene-1 (3MB1)) and “singlet products” (cis-1,2-dimethylcyclopropane (CDMC) and cis-pentene-2 (CP2)) are discussed. The behavior is reminiscent of that found in ³CH₂-cis-butene-2 systems and can be interpreted in terms of the rapid rate of rearrangement of an initial triplet diradical product component, due to ³CH₂, relative to the slower rate and readier collisional stabilization of an initial vibrationally-excited dimethyl cyclopropane product component, due to ¹CH₂. Relative rates of reactions of ¹CH₂ with allylic CH:vinyl CH:C?C in the neat liquid were, for diazomethane, 1:1.1:7.2 and, for ketene, 1:1.2:6.7.     

Compounds with bridgehead nitrogen. 44—the conformational analysis of perhydropyrido[1,2-c] [1,3]thiazine

The 270 MHz NMR data on trans- and cis-(H-4a, H-7)-7-ethylperhydropyrido[1,2-c][1,3]thiazine show heavy conformational bias to the trans- and S-inside cis-fused conformations, respectively. Comparison of the ¹³C NMR spectra of these anancomeric systems with the ¹³C NMR spectrum of perhydropyrido[1,2-c][1,3]thiazine indicates a trans-?S-inside cis-conformational equilibrium for the latter compound in CDCl₃ at 25°C, containing ca 75% trans-fused conformer. The ¹³C NMR spectrum of perhydropyrido[1,2-c][1,3]-thiazine at ?75°C showed 64% trans-fused conformer and 36% S-inside cis-conformer.     

The cycloaddition of ethylene to butene-2. I. Stereochemistry of the reaction

The rate of the thermal cycloaddition of ethylene to cis and trans butene-2 has been measured at 693°K and at pressures of about 12 atmospheres. The ratio of trans- to cis-1,2-dimethylcyclobutane from the reaction of trans-butene-2 with ethylene was 5.1, obtained from the initial rates of formation of the products. Similarly, the ratio of cis- to trans-1,2-dimethyl-cyclobutane from the reaction of cis-butene-2 with ethylene was 2.8. The results show that the cycloaddition reactions are the reverse of the decomposition reactions of the dimethyl-cyclobutanes and may be interpreted in terms of a biradical intermediate. Several ratios of rate constants have been measured as well as the rate constants for the reaction of the olefins to form the intermediate biradical.     

Cationic polymerization of α,β-disubstituted olefins. IV. Stereospecific polymerization of propenyl alkyl ethers catalyzed by BF3·O(C2H5)2 and Al2(SO4)3–H2SO4 complex

The cis- and trans-propenyl alkyl ethers were polymerized by a homogeneous catalyst [BF₃·O(C₂H₅)₂] and a heterogeneous catalyst [Al₂(SO₄)₃–H₂SO₄ complex]. Methyl, ethyl, isopropyl, n-butyl and tert-butyl propenyl ethers were used as monomers. The steric structure of the polymers formed depended on the geometric structures of monomer and the polymerization conditions. In polymerizations with BF₃·O(C₂H₅)₂ at ?78°C., trans isomers produced crystalline polymers, but cis isomers formed amorphous ones except for tert-butyl propenyl ether. On the other hand, highly crystalline polymers were formed from cis isomers, but not from the trans isomers in the polymerization by Al₂(SO₄)₃–H₂SO₄ complex at 0°C. The x-ray diffraction patterns of the crystalline polymers obtained from the trans isomers were different from those produced from the cis isomers, except for poly(methyl propenyl ether). The reaction mechanism was discussed briefly on these basis of these results.     

Formation of a trans-cycloadduct from the reaction of difluorocarbene with cis-difluorostilbene

The photochemical isomerization of trans and cis-difluorostilbenes has been studied. In the presence of a photosensitizer (biacetyl, 0.05 mol·^?1) about 75% of the trans form can be converted into the crystalline cis form. The reactions of difluorocarbene (CF₂) from the Seyferth reagent (PhHgCF₃) with cis- and trans-stilbene obey the Skell rule, i. e., stereospecific cycloaddition. However, although the reaction of CF₂ with trans-1,2-difluorostilbene yields trans-1,2-diphenyl-perfluorocyclopropane (9) as the only isolable product, the reaction of CF₂ with cis-difluorostilbene also gives the same trans-cycloadduct as the only isolable product. A possible mechanistic path involving the homolytic cleavage of the highly activated cyclopropane C—C bond facing the CF₂ group is discussed.     

Cationic polymerization of 1,3-pentadiene I. infrared, 1H-NMR and 13C-NMR investigations on the microstructure of poly(1,3-pentadiene) synthesized with cationic catalysts

This study deals with cationic polymerization of the cis- and trans-isomers of 1,3-pentadiene. The microstructure of the polymer chains is studied by ¹H-NMR, ¹³C-NMR and IR spectroscopies. It is shown that the trans-diene gives strictly trans-1,4 and trans-1,2 residual linear insaturations, whereas the cis-isomer yields also cis-1,4, cis-1,2 and 3,4-units whose overall content can reach 10 mol-%. According to the cyclization degree of the macromolecules, ranging from 30 to 70 mol-%, the number of trans-(1,2+1,4) units varies between 33 to 65 mol-% and that of trans-1,2 units between 4 and 20 mol-%. An analytical method is proposed to evaluate the average number of rings present in the polycyclic sequences. It is found that the cyclic fragments of the polymer chains consist of bi- or tri-cyclohexane fused rings containing α tetrasubstituted double bond.     

Stereospecific synthesis of dienone iron tricarbonyl complexes by friedelcrafts acylation

Acylation of diene Fe(CO)₃ complexes using the Perrier complexes RCOCl/AlCl₃ in methylene chloride at 0°C gives dienone complexes in high yield. Substitution occurs only at unsubstituted terminal carbons of the diene unit. Quenching the reaction mixtures in cold aqueous ammonia gives cis dienone complexes only. Trans dienone complexes are prepared by subsequent isomerization in methanolic sodium methoxide. Formylation of diene Fe(CO)₃ complexes proceeds in modest yield using dichloromethylmethyleter/AlCl₃ in methylene chloride to give trans-dienal complexes. Reduction of the dienone and dienal complexes as well as those of dienols and dienoic esters with 4 : 1 AlCl₃/LiAlH₄ results in complete removal of the oxygen function to give trans-diene complexes in good yield.     

Fluorocyclopropanes. IV. Copolymers of perfluorocyclopropene

Perfluorocyclopropene undergoes free-radical copolymerization with ethylene, isobutylene, cis- and trans-2-butene, vinyl acetate, methyl vinyl ether, vinyl chloride, styrene, acrylonitrile, tetrafluoroethylene, vinyl fluoride, and vinylidene fluoride. The copolymerization proceeds most readily with electron-rich olefins such as methyl vinyl ether (to yield a 1:1 copolymer), but conditions were found to give copolymers with electron-deficient olefins such as tetrafluoroethylene and vinylidene fluoride. Copolymers with methyl vinyl ether, tetrafluoroethylene, vinyl fluoride, and vinylidene fluoride were examined in detail. Evidence is presented that the perfluorocycloproply ring is incorporated intact into the copolymer and can be subsequently isomerized to a perfluoropropenyl unit by heating at 200–300°C.