Stereochemistry in cationic polymerization of alkenyl ethers. II. Formation of poly(ß-substituted vinyl ether)s with erythro-meso structures

The formation of polymers with erythro-meso structures, which could not be obtained from propenyl ethers with BF₃O(C₂H₅)₂, was studied by ¹³C-NMR spectroscopy on poly(ß-substituted vinyl ether)s obtained under a variety of conditions of polymerization. It was established that poly(cis-ethyl propenyl ether) obtained with Al₂(SO₄)₃–H₂SO₄ complex in toluene at 0°C was a highly stereoregular polymer with an erythro-meso structure. Cis-2-chlorovinyl ethyl ether and cis-methyl and ethyl butenyl ethers also yielded polymers with erythro-meso structures under the same conditions. In addition, with BF₃O(C₂H₅)₂ at ?78°C these three cis isomers produced amorphous polymers with threo-meso, racemic, and, in a few cases, erythro-meso structures, whereas cis-ethyl propenyl ether produced polymers with only threo-meso and racemic structures by the same catalyst. On the other hand, all trans isomers produced stereoregular polymers with threo-meso structures with BF₃O(C₂H₅)₂ at ?78°C, regardless of their ß-substituents; no erythro-meso structures were found in the polymers obtained.     

Polymerization of Si-containing acetylenes. XIV. Polymerization of diphenylacetylenes with bulky silyl groups and polymer properties

Polymerization and polymer properties of diphenylacetylenes with bulky silyl groups (SiMe₂–i-Pr, SiMe₂–t-Bu, SiMe₂Ph, SiEt₃) at para or meta position were studied under comparison with those of the SiMe₃ derivatives. The present monomers polymerized in good yields with TaCl₅-cocatalysts to form high molecular-weight polymers (M _w > 4 × 10⁵). The polymer yields of para-substituted monomers were similar to that of the SiMe₃ derivative, while those of meta substituted monomers were lower than that of m-SiMe₃ derivative. Most of the polymers were totally soluble in common solvents such as toluene and CHCl₃, although the polymers with p-SiMe₂–t-Bu and p-SiMe₂Ph groups were partly insoluble in all solvents. These polymers resembled SiMe₃-containing homologues in the UV-visible absorption and thermal stability. The oxygen permeability coefficients of these polymers were in the range of 10^?9?10^?8 cm³ (STP) cm/(cm²·s cm Hg)—lower than those of the corresponding SiMe₃-containing polymers. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Inorganic coordination polymers. XIV. Chromium(III) phosphinate perfluorocarboxylate polymers

A series of polymers, {Cr(OH)(OPRR′O)[OOC(CF₂)_nCF(CF₃)₂]}_x has been prepared and studied. The polymers with R = R′ = C₆H₅ are soluble in CCl₂FCClF₂, whereas those with R = CH₃ and R′ = C₆H₅ and with R = R′ = C₈H₁₇ are insoluble in all solvents. Attempts to prepare similar materials without hydroxyl groups gave the polymers {Cr(OH)_r(OPRR′O)_p[OOC(CF₂)_nCF(CF₃)₂]_q}_x with 0 < r < 1. The latter polymers are much more tractable than the former; however they are also less thermally stable. The perfluoro-carboxylate groups in these materials can either be chelating or bridging, depending on the other ligands present.     

Spin-probe studies. II. Applications to polymer characterization

The spin-probe technique has been employed to study interactions between several small organic nitroxides and host polymers in which they are dissolved. By this method one is able to study the mobility of the dissolved molecule in its microscopic environment using electron spin resonance spectroscopy. The behavior of one nitroxide has been examined in twelve different polymers and copolymers. An ESR line shape parameter has been correlated with T_m and T_g. In addition, energy barriers for the rotation of the dissolved nitroxides in the polymers have been calculated. They range from 7.8 to 18 kcal/mole, depending on the structure of the nitroxide and the polymer. Similar experiments in a hydrocarbon solvent afford a rotational energy barrier of 3.8 kcal/mole.     

Light scattering characterization of thermodynamic interaction of polymers in dilute solution. Effect of solvent and molecular weight

Interaction of nonidentical polymer molecules in a dilute solution of a mixture of two polymers is quantitatively characterized by A₂₄, the second virial coefficient for interaction of unlike species. This parameter is related to the compatibility of the two polymers in solution and is obtainable experimentally, e.g., by light scattering. With chemically markedly different polymers, A₂₄ depends neither on the molecular weight of the polymers nor on the solvent and becomes characteristic of the polymer pair. For a mixture of two copolymers or of a homopolymer and a copolymer with similar compositions, A₂₄ depends both on the solvent and on the molecular weight of polymers. Under such circumstances A₂₄ ceases to be a quantity given only by the chemical structure of the two polymers; however, under suitable conditions it remains a sensitive function of the difference between the chemical nature of polymer components.     

Anionic graft polymerization of ethylene oxide on starch. II. Structure of the graft polymers

Starch–poly(ethylene oxide) graft polymers were prepared in DMSO at various monomer and starch alkoxide concentrations. Complimentary and varied information on the structure of the graft polymers was obtained from NMR and periodic acid oxidation of the polymers. From the NMR spectra of the graft polymers in pyridine containing a trace of HCl, which causes shifting of the resonance of the internal ? CH₂O? protons from the terminal ? CH₂OH protons, the polyethylene oxide content, the DP _n of the grafted side chains, and the efficiency of the alkoxides were calculated. With increase of the alkoxide concentration there was a small decrease in ? DP _n, and in the efficiency of the alkoxides in initiating graft polymerization. With increase of monomer concentration, there was only a small increase in ? DP _n but a large increase in the efficiency, indicating the existence of transfer reactions between the growing anions and the free hydroxyl groups on the starch. The results of he periodic acid oxidation showed that with increase of alkoxide concentration there was no significant change in the per cent oxidation of the graft polymers, but with increase of monomer, there was an increase in the participation of the secondary hydroxyl groups in initiation. This supports the NMR evidence for the existence of transfer reactions leading to ? DP _n values much lower than those calculated from [monomer]/[catalyst] ratios.     

15N-NMR spectroscopy. III. Neighboring residue effects in sequence polymers containing glycylglycine units

The tripeptides Phe-Gly-Gly, β-Ala-Gly-Gly, and ?-Aca-Gly-Gly as well as the peptide derivatives δ-isothiocyanatovaleroyl-Gly-Gly and ?-isothiocyanatocaproyl-Gly-Gly were synthesized by using known methods so that the peptide nitrogen between the two glycyl residues was isotopically enriched in ¹⁵N to a level of 0.8–0.9%. These monomer units were then used to produce the sequence polymers (Phe-Gly-Gly)_n, (β-Ala-Gly-Gly)_n, (δ-Ava-Gly-Gly)_n, and (?-Aca-Gly-Gly)_n. The 18.24 MHz ¹⁵N-NMR spectra of the oligo- and polypeptides were obtained by using trifluoroacetic acid as solvent, since the solutions have relatively low viscosity and exhibit a strong negative nuclear Overhauser enhancement of the ¹⁵N signals. For comparison, ¹⁵N-NMR spectra of the homopolymers (Gly)_n, (β-Ala)_n, (γ-Abu)_n, (δ-Ava)_n, and (?-Aca)_n were also recorded. The ¹⁵N signals from the ω-aminoacyl residues in the sequence polymers appear up to 11 ppm upfield of the signals observed for the homopolyamides. The ¹⁵N signals from the two glycyl residues are separated by 3–7 ppm. Comparison with the ¹³C-NMR spectra of the same polymers indicates that ¹⁵N-NMR is better suited for the characterization and sequence analysis of these types of polymers.     

Multifunctional coupling agents for living cationic polymerization. I. Sodiomalonate anions for vinyl ethers

A series of multifunctional malonate anions, [Na^⊕?C(COOEt)₂CH₂]_mC₆H_6?m(I; m = 2–4), were examined as polymer coupling agents for the living cationic polymerization of vinyl ethers initiated with the hydrogen iodide/zinc iodide (HI/ZnI₂) initiating system. The bifunctional anion ( 2 ;I, m = 2), 1,4-[Na^⊕?C(COOEt)₂CH₂]₂C₆H₄, terminated living polymers of isobutyl vinyl ether (IBVE) (DP _n = 10) almost quantitatively in toluene at ?15°C to give coupled living polymers with doubled molecular weights in 96% yield; the dianion 2 was dissolved in tetrahydrofuran containing 18-crown-6 for maintaining the solution homogeneous. The yield of the coupled polymers was increased with shorter living chains or in less polar solvents. Also by coupling via 2 , ABA block copolymers were obtained from living AB block polymers of IBVE and an ester-functionalized vinyl ether (CH₂?CHOCH₂CH₂OCOCH₃). Coupling of living poly(IBVE) with the trifunctional anion ( 3 ; I, m = 3) led to tri-armed polymers in 56% yield, whereas with the tetrafunctional version ( 4 ; I, m = 4), only three out of the four anions reacted to give another tri-armed polymer in 85% yield. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Polymerization of surface-active monomers. II. Polymerization of quarternary alkyl salts of dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate with a different alkyl chain length

The cationic monomers (C_NBr), obtained by quarternization of dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate with n-alkyl bromide containing varying carbon number (N = 4, 8, 12, 14, and 16) were polymerized with radical initiators in water and various organic solvents. The degree of polymerization of the resulting polymers was determined by GPC measurements on poly(methyl methacrylate) samples derived from them. The rate of polymerization of the micelle-forming monomers (N = 8, 12, 14, and 16) in water increases with increasing a chain length of alkyl group, whereas it is little dependent on N in isotropic solution in dimethylformamide. The data on the degree of polymerization for the polymers of C₄Br, C₈Br, and C₁₂Br show that the polymerization of C₁₂Br with azo initiators in water and benzene gives polymers with a very high degree of polymerization. The results obtained here suggest that highly developed or relatively rigid, aggregated structures of monomers in solution are responsible for the formation of the polymers with a very high degree of polymerization, in addition to an enhanced rate of polymerization. Also considered are the relation of the molecular weight of poly(C₁₂Br) to the viscosity data in chloroform and methanol.     

Determination of polymer branching with gel-permeation chromatography. II. Experimental results for polyethylene

The recently developed methods of characterizing branching in polymers from gelpermeation chromatography and intrinsic viscosity data are verified experimentally. An iterative computer program was written to calculate the degree of branching in whole polymers. Long-chain branching in several low-density polyethylene samples was determined by both the fraction and whole polymer methods. The two methods gave consistent ranking of the branching in the samples although absolute branching indices differed. Effects of various experimental errors and the particular model used for branching were investigated. For polyethylene, the data show that the effect of branching on intrinsic viscosity is best described by the relation 〈g₃〉_W^1/2 = [η]_br/[η]₁ where 〈g₃〉_w is the weight-average ratio of mean-square molecular radii of gyration of linear and trifunctionally branched polymers of the same weight-average molecular weight.     

Aminimides. V. Preparation and polymerization studies of trimethylamine-4-vinylbenzimide

Trimethylamine-4-vinylbenzimide (TAVBI) has been homo- and copolymerized with styrene, methyl methacrylate, and hydroxypropyl methacrylate by free-radical initiators to soluble, low molecular weight polymers containing pendant aminimide groups along the backbone of the polymer molecules. The reactivity ratios in the copolymerization of TAVBI (M₁) with styrene (M₂) were determined: r₁ = 0.63 ± 0.07, r₂ = 0.47 ± 0.05. The Alfrey-Price Q and e values for TAVBI were also calculated: Q = 0.88, e = 0.31. This introductory work indicates that TAVBI has potential for the preparation of a wide variety of reactive polymers.     

Oxidative carbon–carbon coupling. III. Oxidative polymerization of bifunctional arylcyanoacetic esters

Bifunctional arylcyanoacetic esters were oxidatively coupled to high molecular weight, colorless, amorphous polymers, soluble in common organic solvents. Brittle films were obtained by casting or compression molding. Thermal stability of the polymers is poor due to the weak C? C bond formed by oxidative coupling. Radical dissociation-recombination of this bond (evidenced by ESR) results in meso-dl equilibration, lowering the T_g of the polymers.     

Low surface energy polymers and surface-active block polymers. III. Adamantyl-containing polymers

Two adamantyl-containing oxazoline monomers. 2-(1-adamantyl)-2-oxazoline, A , and 2-(1-adamantylmethyl)-2-oxazoline, B , were synthesized, and polymerized in 1,2-dichlorobenzene to give polymers PA and PB respectively. Both polymers are highly crystalline and showed very high T_m's (269°C for PA and 320°C for PB ) and little solubility in common organic solvents. Annealed PA showed a critical surface tension of 23.6 dyne/cm. PB was not soluble in the many organic solvents tested at room temperature. Due to its high T_m and insolubility, contact angle measurements on PB were impossible. Diblock copolymers based on different weight ratios of A and 2-ethyl-2-oxazoline, E , showed relatively narrow molecular weight distribution (MWD) when methyl p-nitrobenzenesulfonate, I , was used as initiator. After annealing, diblock polymers with B/I = 7, 10, or 12 showed T_m's (200–281°C); after quenching the same samples showed T_c's (160–171°C), which were lower than that of pure PB , 215°C. The quenched diblocks showed single T_g's (63–82°C) which implies that these short blocks are compatible. Diblock polymer with B/I = 5 and E/I = 20 was amorphous and displayed inverse emulsifying ability in styrene + water emulsion polymerization. BEB type triblock polymers prepared using ethylene glycol dinosylate as initiator had broader MWD and higher T_m's compared to their diblock counterparts with the same B/E wt% and B/I ratios. These triblock polymers were not completely soluble in styrene and/or water and therefore could not be used as emulsifying agents.     

Applications of ESCA to polymer chemistry. XVII. Systematic investigation of the core levels of simple homopolymers

The core levels of a series of 83 homopolymers have been studied by electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis (ESCA). Comparisons of the experimentally determined core-level binding energies with theoretical calculations using the ground-state potential model in the complete neglect of differential overlap (CNDO/2) self-consistent field molecular orbital (SCF MO) formalism have been made on the C_1s and O_1s core levels for the oxygen-containing polymers in the series. A comparison of the ground-state potential model (GPM) and relaxation potential model (RPM) on a series of six model compounds representative on the series of polymers is given. Compilations are given of binding energies of C_1s, O_1s, N_1s, Cl_2p, S_2p, Si_2p, and Br_3d levels for typical structural features of common occurrence in polymer systems. These data, taken in conjunction with that previously published on fluoropolymers, provide a sound basis for the development of ESCA as a fingerprint tool in the elaboration of features of structure and bonding in polymers in general.     

Aminimides. IV. Homo- and copolymerization studies on trimethylamine methacrylimide

Trimethylamine methacrylimide (TAMI) has been homo- and copolymerized with methyl methacrylate, vinyl acetate, vinyl chloride, hydroxypropyl methacrylate, and acrylonitrile by free-radical initiators to soluble, low molecular weight polymers containing pendant aminimide groups along the backbone of the polymer chains. The reactivity ratios in the copolymerization of TAMI (M₁) with acrylonitrile (M₂) were determined: r₁ = 0.10 ± 0.01, r₂ = 0.37 ± 0.04. The Alfrey-Price Q and e values for TAMI were also calculated: Q = 0.18, e = ?0.60. This preliminary work indicates that TAMI has potential for the preparation of reactive polymers.     

Characterization of poly(silylenemethylene)s by positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy. I.

Amorphous and crystalline poly(silylenemethylene)s with the repeating PhRSiCH₂ (R : Me or Ph) units were characterized by positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy (PALS) to gain insights into the molecular motions of these polymers. The temperature dependence of the ortho-positronium lifetime (τ₃) and intensity (I₃) was examined from 50 to 470 K for each sample. The glass transition temperature of each polymer was easily distinguished by a change in the slope of τ₃ spectrum. Both polymers exhibited a steep drop of I₃ at 130–140 K being probably assignable to the transition arising from the motions of phenyl groups, which was almost undetectable by means of differential scanning calorimetry or dynamic mechanical analysis. Several other transitions of these polymers detected by PALS are also discussed. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 36: 755–761, 1998     

Hydrophobically modified polyelectrolytes I. Dilute solution properties of fluorocarbon-containing poly (acrylic acid)

Dilute solution viscosity of fluorocarbon‐containing hydrophobically modified poly (acrylic add) was measured in aqueous solutions of various NaCl concentrations. The intrinsic viscosity ([η]) and Huggins coefficient (k_H) were evaluated using Huggins equations. It is found that, at low Nacl concentration, the modified polymers exhibit values of intrinsic viscosity ([η]) and Huggins coefficient (k_H) similar to those of unmodified polymers. For both of the modified and unmodified polymers, the intrinsic viscosity decreases with increase of NaCl concentration, while the Huggins coefficient increases upon addition of NaCl. But the variation of [η] and k_H is more significant for the modified polymers, which reflects the enhanced intra‐ and intermolecular hydrophobic association at higher Nacl concentration.     

A new class of aromatic polyetheraroylhydrazides. I. Synthesis and chemical–physical characterization

A series of new aromatic polyetheraroylhydrazides incorporating 4-oxybenzoyl units has been synthesized, whose general formula was [CONHNHCO? O? O–(CH₂)_x? O? phenyl O-CONHNHCOO]_n with x values in the range of 2 to 12. The increasing number of methylene units in the backbone gave rise to polymers which melted before the hydrazidic linkage underwent thermal cyclation to oxadiazole. Moreover, many polymers showed multiple endotherms on melting. X-ray diffraction studies confirmed a crystalline organization of polyhydrazides for methylene units above 4. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Polyimide structure–property relationships. II. Polymers from isomeric diamines

An extensive study of the effects of stereoisomeric variations in aromatic polyimide structures on polyimide properties was conducted. The structural variations were incorporated into the polyimides through the use of two complete series of isomeric aromatic diamine monomers, the diaminodiphenylmethanes and the diaminobenzophenones, as well as several pairs of diamine isomers. The ability of the diamines to polymerize was related to the basicities, and thus reactivities, of the amino groups. Diamines with an amino group located ortho to the group connecting the two aromatic rings were successfully polymerized with dianhydrides for the first time to high molecular weight poly(amic acids). The stereoisomeric polyimides were characterized by determining the glass transition temperatures T_g, mechanical properties, and thermooxidative stabilities of thin films of the polymers. The polymers prepared from p-diamines were shown to have the highest softening points and thus, the most rigid molecular structures. Those synthesized from m-diamines had the lowest T_g values, inferring the most flexible molecular backbone. With limited exceptions, the use of diamines with ortho-oriented amine groups failed to improve the flexibility of the polyimides since their T_g values were usually as high as those of polymers made from p-diamines. Only slight differences in mechanical properties of the isomeric polyimide films were attributable to the variations in isomeric structure, except for those properties dependent upon T_g changes, such as elevated temperature mechanical properties. A study of the thermooxidative stability of the polyimides showed little difference between the polymers prepared from the diaminobenzophenones, but marked differences were observed between the individual members of the diaminodiphenylmethane-derived polyimides.     

Selective vinyl cationic polymerization of monomers with two cationically polymerizable groups. II. p-vinylphenyl glycidyl ether: An epoxy-functionalized styrene

p-Vinylphenyl glycidyl ether (VPGE), a styrene derivative with an epoxy pendant, was polymerized by various cationic initiators, and its selective vinyl polymerization was investigated at low temperatures below ?15°C. BF₃OEt₂ (a metal halide) and CF₃SO₃H (a strong protonic acid) polymerized both vinyl and epoxy groups of VPGE, and produced cross-linked insoluble polymers. The HI/I₂ initiating system and iodine, in contrast, polymerized its vinyl group in polar solvents (CH₂Cl₂ and nitroethane) highly selectively in the temperature range of ?15 to ?40°C to give soluble polymers with a polystyrene backbone and epoxy pendants; however, under these conditions, 10–15% of the epoxy groups of the polymers were consumed during the polymerization by the reaction with the growing species. The polymerization by HI/I₂ in CH₂CI₂ involved a long-lived propagating species, as indicated by a progressive increase in the molecular weight (M?_n) of the polymers with monomer conversion and their fairly narrow molecular weight distributions (M?_w/M?_n ～ 1.6). The differences between the polymerizations of VPGE and p-isopropenylphenyl glycidyl ether, an α-methylstyrene-type counterpart of VPGE, were also discussed with an emphasis on the effects of the α-methyl group in the latter monomer.