Anionic polymerization of lactones initiated by alkali graphitides. III. Polymerization of δ-valerolactone initiated by KC24

The anionic polymerization of δ-valerolactone initiated by KC₂₄ in xylene or tetrahydrofuran was investigated. The influence of the polymerization conditions on the amount and composition of the oligomers fraction and high polymers formed was tested. Experiments were done with a potassium mirror and benzophenone-potassium as initiators of the polymerization to check the influence of the layered structure of the initiator. It was found that the amount of the oligomers formed under comparable conditions increases in the order KC₂₄ (9%), potassium mirror (22%), benzophenone-potassium (56%). The highest yields of poly(δ-valerolactone) (over 90%) and highest intrinsic viscosities (1.0 dL/g and more) were achieved by the KC₂₄-initiated polymerizations in xylene.     

Anionic polymerization of lactones initiated by alkali graphitides. II. Changes in the KC24 structure during polymerization of lactones

The structural changes in the potassium graphitide KC₂₄ in its interaction with ?-caprolactone, γ-butyrolactone and pivalolactone are examined by profilometric measurement and electron scanning microscopy. The interaction of KC₂₄ with a nonpolymerizable lactone-γ-butyrolactone proceeds without delamination of the graphitide. The polymerization of ?-caprolactone and pivalactone in the interlayer spaces of KC₂₄ leads to destruction of the initiators structure. An increase in the temperature and monomer concentration enhances the delamination of the graphitide.     

Anionic polymerization of lactones initiated by alkali graphitides. IV. Copolymerization of ε-caprolactone initiated by KC24

The copolymerization of ε-caprolactone (ε-CL) with octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane (D₄) and styrene (St) under the action of the second-stage potassium graphitide KC₂₄ was investigated. The copolymerizations were carried out in bulk or in xylene at 20°C. The content of the block copolymer ε-CL/D₄ in the polymerization mixture was 60–95%, the molecular weight ranging between 150,000 and 300,000. The data for the copolymers' composition obtained by ¹H-NMR and GPC showed 14–20% of D₄-units in the copolymer. The amount of the block copolymer ε-CL/St in the polymerization products was 0–87%, and the molecular weights in the case of copolymer formation were between 100,000 and 500,000. The content of St-units in the copolymers was from 10 to 75% as shown by GPC and ¹H-NMR. The mechanism of action of the initiator is discussed.     

Polymerization of acrylonitrile initiated by samarium diiodide in the presence of hexamethylphosphoramide

The paper presents the polymerization of acrylonitrile (AN) initiated by samarium diiodide (SmI₂) combining with hexamethylphosphoramide (HMPA) for the first time. The effects of various parameters, such as reaction temperature, AN/Sm and HMPA/Sm molar ratios, reaction time on the polymer yield and its molecular weight were discussed. On the basis of both IR and NMR analysis of resulted polymers, a single-electron-transfer initiation mechanism of AN as radical anion was proposed for this polymerization, which was further sustained by the copolymerization of AN with ε-caprolactone and 2,2-dimethyltrimethylene carbonate, respectively.     

Polymerisation et copolymerisation de monophenyl et de diphenylethylenes amorcees par des graphitures de metaux alcalins

The bulk polymerization at -24° of α-methylstyrene initiated by the alkali metals and the graphitides LiC₁₂, KC₂₄ and KC₃₆ has been studied. The tacticities of polymers have been measured by [¹H] NMR. The alkali metals give polymers having the same tacticity and the propagation of the stereoconfiguration is bernouillian; LiC₁₂ yields more racemic diads while KC₂₄ and KC₃₆ yield more meso diads and show a penultimate effect. By measuring the growing of the thickness of KC₂₄ flakes, it appears that the more sterically hindered a monomer the more slowly it penetrates into the graphitide. The copolymerizations at 25° of styrene with 1-1 diphenylethylene or 1–2 diphenylethylene (trans stilbene) (comonomer ratio 1/1) initiated by KC₂₄ in tetrahydrofuran (THF), xylene (XL), decahydronaphthalene (decalin DL) and cyclohexane (CH) have been studied. The amount of styrene units in the copolymers depends on the nature of the solvent: it increases as the interaction solvent-graphitide decreases. All the results support the view that the polymerization proceeds between the graphite layers.     

Study of Radical Polymerization of Arylacetylenes. Composition,Structure, and Some Properties of the Generated Products

Radical polymerization of 2-methyl-5-ethynylpyridine (MEP) and the structure and some properties of phenylacetylene and pentafluorophenylacetylene polymers were investigated. As the first step in polymerization of MEP in the presence of azo-1-cyclohexylcarboxylic acid dinitrile at 94-115°C the monomer conversion is proportional to the quantity of decomposed initiator: 1 mole of initiator causes transformation of 5-7 mole of monomer. At a high degree of polymerization the yield of polymer is not proportional to the initial initiator concentration. The products generated in MEP polymerization initiated thermally or by azo compounds were investigated by means of gel-permeation chromatography, ozonation, ¹H-NMR, IR, and UV spectroscopy. Initiation with azo compounds afforded cyclic trimer (tripicolylbenzene) and a fraction with a number average molecular weight M_n of 1550. Thermal polymerization yielded the dimer (picolyl-substituted quinoline or isoquinoline), tripicolylbenzene, hexaraer, and fractions with M_n = 1500 and 1800. Composition and properties of the polymerization products enable one to assume the presence of poly-MEP hexadiene rings in the main chain. Formation of cyclodiene structures by facile aromatization in the course of arylacetylenes polymerization was confirmed by investigations of the structure and some properties of polyphenylacetylenes and polypentafluoro-phenylacetylenes. A mechanism of radical polymerization of arylacetylenes is proposed.     

Polymerization of styrene oxide by nitronium tetrafluoroborate

The polymerization of styrene oxide by nitronium tetrafluoroborate in nitromethane and methylene chloride at 5, 20, and 50°C is investigated. GPC analyses of the products combined with isocyanate method show that both cyclic and linear oligomers are formed. In CH₃NO₂ the cyclic dimer and trimer are 2-benzyl-4-phenyl-1,3-dioxolane and 1,3,5-tribenzyl-trioxane, respectively. In CH₂Cl₂ 2,5-diphenyldioxane is isolated. In nitromethane, mainly isomerized structures with acetal linkage are produced, while in methylene chloride isomerization does not proceed. By NMR and IR spectra the presence of C?O and OH end groups in the linear oligomers is shown. There are indications that oligomers are formed both directly from the monomer and by degradation of the polymer.     

Cationic polymerization of p-methylstyrene initiated by acetyl perchlorate: An approach to living polymerization

The cationic polymerization of p-methylstyrene initiated by acetyl perchlorate at ?78°C led to long-lived (living-like) polymers with a narrow molecular weight distribution (M?_w/M?_n = 1.1–1.4) in methylene chloride containing a common ion salt (n-Bu₄NClO₄) or in a less polar solvent (CH₂Cl₂/toluene, 1/4v/v). Under these conditions, the number-average molecular weight (M?_n) of the polymers increased in proportion to monomer conversion and was regulated by the monomer-to-initiator ratio. When fresh feeds of the monomer were repeatedly added to a completely polymerized solution, the polymerization ensued at the same rate as before and the linear increase in M?_n with monomer conversion continued. The effects of solvent polarity and the common ion salt on the polymerization showed the suppression of the ionic dissociation of the propagating species, resulting in a “nondissociated species,” to be the key factor for the formation of the long-lived polymers.     

Kinetics and mechanism of cyclic esters polymerization initiated with tin(II) octoate, 1. Polymerization of ε-caprolactone

Kinetics of polymerization of ε-caprolactone (CL) initiated with tin(II) octoate (Sn(Oct)₂) in THF as a solvent at 80°C was studied. The results strongly indicate that polymerization initiated with Sn(Oct)₂ proceeds on the tin(II)-alkoxide bond and are not compatible with a mechanism in which propagation was proposed to proceed by a nucleophilic attack of the … OH ended macromolecules on the monomer-Sn(Oct)₂ complex.     

Some aspects of the synthesis and characterization of special polymers and oligomers by olefin metathesis

Homopolymers of 2-norbornene and 2,3-bis(trifluoromethyl)-2,5-norbornadiene and copolymers of these bicyclic olefins with 1,5-cyclooctadiene and cyclopentene were prepared via ring opening metathesis polymerization. The molecular weight distributions of the polymers were estimated by gel permeation chromatography.The polymers were degraded in a cross metathesis reaction with E-4-octene; only poly[2,3-bis(trifluoromethyl)-2,5-norbornadiene] was not degradable.All reactions were carried out with WCl₆/(CH₃)₄Sn as the catalyst system. The low molecular cyclic oligomers in the polymerization mixtures and the degradation products were analyzed by gas chromatography and identified using a gas chromatography/mass spectrometry coupling.The degradation experiments show reactivity differences for the double bonds situated in the polymer backbone. On the basis of these differences and the fact that this is the first time that a metathesis degradation of such polymers has been reported, the consequences on the ring opening metathesis copolymerization of cycloolefins are discussed in general terms, leading to some new aspects in the planning of the synthesis of special copolymers and oligomers.With reference to a lecture presented at the 4th International Symposium on Olefin Metathesis (ISOM 4), Belfast, 1–4 Sept. 1981.     

Potassium-graphite intercalation compounds as initiators for ethylene oxide polymerization in benzene and tetrahydrofuran

The ability of alkali graphitides KC₂₄ and LiC₁₂ to initiate the polymerization of ethylene oxide in benzene and THF has been studied. Polymerization by LiC₁₂ leads to small quantities of oligomers; KC₂₄ causes quantitative polymerization. Initiation and chain growth take place in the interlayer space and the solvent nature does not affect the polymerization. The orders of the polymerization with respect to monomer and initiator have been determined. The polymerization rate is constant up to high conversion and initiator efficiency increases with the yield.     

Polymerization of Cyclooctene in Benzene Initiated with a Metathesis Catalyst

Cyclooctene was polymerized in benzene at temperatures ranging from 10 to 80°C. The polymerization was initiated with the metathesis catalyst WCl₆/C₂H₅)AlCl₂/C₂H₅OH for initial monomer concentrations varying from 0.11 to 4.0 mol/L. Polymerization products obtained from the metathesis reaction and the alkylation of benzene were found. The metathesis products consisted of a high molecular weight polymer and cyclic oligomers of cyclooctene. The double bond content was the same as in the monomer. The alkylation products were characterized by the presence of an aromatic nucleus and a low double bond content. Benzene was found to react with the double bond of cyclooctene and the cyclic dimer. It may also lead to the formation of saturated oligomer consisting of short chains of cyclooctyl units. Their presence is not temperature dependent and increases with decreasing initial monomer concentrations. For initial monomer concentrations above 1.0 mol/L, the alkylation reaction cannot be detected.     

Isolation and identification of cyclic oligomers of the poly(ethylene terephthalate)–poly(ethylene isophthalate) copolymer

New cyclic oligomers of the copolymer of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) and poly(ethylene isophthalate) (PEI) were isolated and identified. A condensation polymerization was carried out at a high temperature, and the solid‐state polymerization that followed yielded the high molecular weight polymer. The oligomers were extracted from the high molecular weight PET–PEI copolymer and separated with preparative high performance liquid chromatography techniques. Their chemical structures and properties were analyzed and determined by ¹H NMR, differential scanning calorimetry, and mass spectroscopy. The oligomers observed at early retention times were a cyclic dimer and cyclic trimers and consisted of [GT]₃, [GI]₂, [GI]₃, [GT]₂[GI]₁, and [GT]₁[GI]₂. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 881–889, 2003     

Anionic polymerization of 2-vinylpyridine initiated by symmetrical organomagnesium compounds in tetrahydrofuran

Anionic polymerization of 2-vinylpyridine has been studied, initiated either by dialkyl and diaryl magnesium or by living oligomers in tetrahydrofuran solution at 20°C. Spectrophotometric observations indicate the existence of stable active species with different structures. Kinetic data for propagation and viscosimetric measurements on two-ended polymers agree with a cyclic structure of living polymers and lead us to the conclusion of the existence of reactive negative “tripleions.”     

Vinyl polymerization. 416. Polymerization of vinyl monomer initiated by polyethyleneglycol

The polymerization of vinyl monomer initiated by polyethyleneglycol (PEG) in aqueous solution was carried out at 85°C with shaking. Acrylonitrile (AN), methyl methacrylate (MMA), and methacrylic acid were polymerized by PEG–300 (M?_n = 300), whereas styrene was not. The effects of the amounts of monomer and PEG, the molecular weight of PEG, and the hydrophobic group at the end of PEG molecule on the polymerization were studied. The selectivity of vinyl monomer and the effect of the hydrophobic group are discussed according to “the concept of hard and soft hydrophobic areas and monomers.” The kinetics of the polymerization was investigated. The overall activation energy in the polymerization of AN was estimated as 37.9 kJ mol^?1. The polymerization was effected by a radical mechanism.     

Ring-opening polymerization by N-heterocyclic carbenes as catalysts: Characteristics and kinetics

In this work catalytic ring-opening polymerization of cyclic esters in THF in the presence of benzyl alcohol is described. The polymerization is catalyzed by 1,3-bis(4-methoxyphenyl)imidazolium carbene, N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC). The ability of two different monomers, ?-caprolactone and L-lactide, to enter into the polymerization via ring-opening polymerization with NHCs as catalysts was evaluated. The plot of ln([M]₀/[M]_t) versus reaction time yielded a straight line indicating that the kinetics of polymerization of ?-caprolactone and L-lactide was first-order in monomer concentration. Moreover, a direct relation between the rate of ring-opening polymerization of ?-caprolactone and the catalyst concentration suggested a first-order dependence of the rate of polymerization on the catalyst concentration.     

Ring-opening polymerization of macrocyclic aryl ether ketone oligomers containing the 1,2-dibenzoylbenzene moiety

Facile ring-opening polymerization of cyclic aryl ether oligomers containing the 1,2-dibenzoylbenzene moiety to form high molecular weight linear polymers in the presence of a nucleophilic initiator is described. The polymerization can be initiated in the melt in the presence of a nucleophilic initiator such as potassium carbonate, cesium fluoride, and alkali phenoxides. Various alkali phenoxides were investigated as potential nucleophilic initiators. The polymerization reaction rate in the melt increases in the order of K⁺ > Na⁺ > Cs⁺, and in the order of ⁻OPhPhO⁻ > PhO⁻ > PhOPhO⁻ > PhPhO⁻. However, the polymerization in an aprotic dipolar solvent is faster in the presence of cesium phenoxide than in the presence of potassium phenoxide. Polymerization of the cyclic oligomers in solution demonstrates that the ring-opening polymerization proceeds via a chain-growth mechanism and involves a transetherification reaction between linear and cyclic aryl ether oligomers. The ring-chain equilibrium is much more favorable towards linear polymers. Since little or no ring strain exists in the cyclic system, the transetherification reactions are indiscriminate with regards to cyclic or linear chains and the interchain equilibration is also a facile process during polymerization. This intermolecular transetherification has been demonstrated by using low molecular weight aryl ethers to control the molecular weight of the polymer formed via ring-opening polymerization. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Anionic polymerization of acrylates. II. Polymerization of 2-ethylhexyl acrylate initiated by butyllithium/lithium-tert-butoxide system in tetrahydrofuran and its mixtures with toluene

The anionic polymerization of 2-ethylhexyl acrylate (EtHA) initiated with the complex butyllithium/lithium-tert-butoxide (BuLi/t-BuOLi) was investigated at ?60°C in a medium of various solvating power, i.e., in mixtures of toluene and tetrahydrofuran and in neat tetrahydrofuran. With increasing amount of THF in the mixture the attainable limiting conversion of polymerization decreases; the monomer can be polymerized quantitatively only in a toluene/THF mixture (9/1). Molecular weights of the polymers thus obtained, their distribution, and initiator efficiency are not appreciably affected by the polymerization medium. The molecular weight distribution of the products is medium-broad (M_w/M_n = 2–2.4), with a hint of bimodality. The ¹H-¹³C-NMR, and IR spectra suggest that during the polymerization there is neither any perceptible reesterification of the polymer with the alkoxide nor transmetalation of the monomer with the initiator. In a suitable medium, autotermination of propagation proceeds to a limited extent only, predominantly via intramolecular cyclization of propagating chains; in a medium with a higher content of polar THF, it prevails and terminates propagation before the polymerization of the monomer has been completed. © 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Polymerization of cyclic acetals. I. Polymerization of 1,3,6-trioxacyclooctane and copolymerization with p-methoxystyrene

The polymerization of 1,3,6-trioxacyclooctane initiated by trityl salts with various counterions in CH₂Cl₂ was investigated. The reaction mixtures and the isolated polymers were analyzed by GPC (double detection—IR and UV at 254 nm),¹H-, and¹³C-NMR spectroscopy. In the early stage of polymerization only oligomers (mainly cyclic) were formed. With longer reaction times, linear polymers (yield 86–94%, M = 70,000–80,000) were obtained. The concentration of each individual oligomer passed through a maximum and decreased, reaching its equilibrium concentration. The time interval necessary to reach the maximum concentration increased with n. The total concentration of the oligomers was 0.2 mol L^?1 regardless of the initiator used. Conditions for polymerization with virtually no termination were found. Addition of p-methoxystyrene to the “living” polyacetals resulted in block copolymers. GPC,¹H- and ¹³C-NMR and acidolytic degradation were used to prove the formation of AB block copolymers. The reactive alkoxycarbenium growing species are responsible for the formation of block polyacetal-polymethoxystyrene copolymer.     

Cationic ring-opening polymerizations of cyclic ketene acetals initiated by acids at high temperatures

Three unsubstituted cyclic ketene acetals (CKAs), 2-methylene-1,3-dioxolane, 1a , 2-methylene-1,3-dioxane, 2a , and 2-methylene-1,3-dioxepane, 3a , undergo exclusive 1,2-addition polymerization at low temperatures, and only poly(CKAs) are obtained. At higher temperatures, ring-opening polymerization (ROP) can be dominant, and polymers with a mixture of ester units and cyclic ketal units are obtained. When the temperature is raised closer to the ceiling temperature (T_c) of the 1,2-addition propagation reaction, 1,2-addition polymerization becomes reversible and ring-opened units are introduced to the polymer. The ceiling temperature of 1,2-addition polymerization varies with the ring size of the CKAs (lowest for 3a , highest for 2a ). At temperatures below 138°C, 2-methylene-1,3-dioxane, 2a , underwent 1,2-addition polymerization. Insoluble poly(2-methylene-1,3-dioxane) 100% 1,2-addition was obtained. At above 150°C, a soluble polymer was obtained containing a mixture of ring-opened ester units and 1,2-addition cyclic ketal units. 2-Methylene-1,3-dioxolane, 1a , polymerized only by the 1,2-addition route at temperatures below 30°C. At 67–80°C, an insoluble polymer was obtained, which contained mostly 1,2-addition units but small amounts of ester units were detected. At 133°C, a soluble polymer was obtained containing a substantial fraction of ring-opened ester units together with 1,2-addition cyclic ketal units. 2-Methylene-1,3-dioxepane, 3a , underwent partial ROP even at 20°C to give a soluble polymer containing ring-opened ester units and 1,2-addition cyclic ketal units. At −20°C, 3a gave an insoluble polymer with 1,2-addition units exclusively. Several catalysts were able to initiate the ROP of 1a, 2a , and 3a , including RuCl₂(PPh₃)₃, BF₃, TiCl₄, H₂SO₄, H₂SO₄ supported on carbon, (CH₃)₂CHCOOH, and CH₃COOH. The initiation by Lewis acids or protonic acids probably occurs through an initial protonation. The propagation step of the ROP proceeds via an S_N2 mechanism. The chain transfer and termination rates become faster at high temperatures, and this may be the primary reason for the low molecular weights (M_n ≤ 10³) observed for all ring-opening polymers. The effects of temperature, monomer and initiator concentration, water content, and polymerization time on the polymer structure have been investigated during the Ru(PPh₃)₃Cl₂-initiated polymerization of 2a . High monomer concentrations ([M]/[ln]) increase the molecular weight and decreased the amount of ring-opening. Higher initiator concentrations (Ru(PPh₃)₃Cl₂) and longer reaction times increase molecular weight in high temperature reactions. Successful copolymerization of 2a with hexamethylcyclotrisiloxane was initiated by BF₃OEt₂. The copolymer obtained displayed a broad molecular weight distribution; M̄_n = 6,490, M̄_w = 15,100, M̄_z = 44,900. This polymer had about 47 mol % of ( Me₂SiO ) units, 35 mol % of ring-opened units, and 18 mol % 1,2-addition units of 2a . © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 35: 3655–3671, 1997