Poly(vinyl ethers) as building blocks for new materials

The living cationic polymerization of vinyl ethers has been used to prepare a number of new polymers with special properties. Sequential polymerization of the hydrophilic methyl vinyl ether (MVE) and the hydrophobic octadecyl vinyl ether (ODVE) has lead to amphiphilic block-copolymers with emulsifying properties for water/decane mixtures. Poly(vinyl-ether) macromonomers were obtained by end-capping of living polymers with hydroxyethyl acrylate. Copolymerization of polyODVE-macromonomer with usual acrylates lead to highly branched hydrophobic polymers. When the end-capping was performed with bifunctionally living polymers, the corresponding “bis-macromonomers” were obtained. Copolymerization of such bis-macromonomers with styrene or butyl acrylate, leads to the formation of segmented polymer networks. In the case of polyODVE-poly(butyl acrylate), these networks showed a pronounced phase separation. Due to the crystallinity of the polyODVE domains, these materials showed shape memory properties.     

Coordinate anionic ring-opening polymerization of oxetanes with aluminum benzyl alcoholate bis(2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methylphenolate)

Aluminum benzyl alcoholate bis(2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methylphenolate) (BnOAD), which was prepared through the mixing of equimolar amounts of benzyl alcohol and methylaluminum bis(2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methylphenolate) (MAD), successfully polymerized four-membered cyclic ethers in a coordinate anionic ring-opening manner. The polymerization of 3-(4-bromobutoxymethyl)-3-methyloxetane (OxBr) with 5 mol % BnOAD proceeded slowly in toluene at 25 °C and produced sufficiently high-molecular-weight poly(OxBr) in a moderate yield in 24 h. The polymerization was greatly accelerated by the addition of a sterically hindered Lewis acid such as MAD, and this resulted in a nearly quantitative polymer yield within 24 h. In sharp contrast, conventional cationic polymerization with boron trifluoride etherate as a typical Lewis acid initiator produced low-molecular-weight poly(OxBr) along with a substantial amount of the cyclic tetramer. The polymerization of the simplest unsubstituted oxetane with BnOAD resulted in failure. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 4570–4579, 2004     

Living cationic polymerization of vinyl monomers: Mechanism and synthesis of new polymers

This paper reviews the recent progress in our research on the living cationic polymerization of vinyl compounds by the hydrogen iodide/iodine (HI/I₂) initiating system, with emphasis on its scope, mechanism, and applications to new polymer synthesis. The scope of the living cationic polymerization has been expanded to include vinyl ethers, propenyl ethers, unsaturated cyclic ethers, and styrene derivatives as monomers. The initiation/propagation mechanism was discussed on the basis of recent direct analysis on the living system by NMR and UV/visible spectroscopy. The proposed mechanism involves a quantitative formation of Hl-vinyl ether adduct [CH₃-CH(OR)-I; l] that is by itself incapable of initiating polymerization. In the presence of iodine, however, the CH-I bond of l is electrophilically activated by iodine and living propagation occurs via the insertion of vinyl ether to the activated CH-I bond. Such living polymerizations were found to proceed in not only nonpolar but polar solvents (CH₂Cl₂) as well. Quenching the living end with amines gave polymers capped with an amino group that in turn enabled us to determine the living end concentration. Applications of the HI/I₂-initiated living process to the synthesis of new bifunctional and block polymers were also described.     

超临界CO2中的高分子合成研究进展

本文介绍以超临界CO₂流体为介质的高分子合成的研究进展。说明可在超临界二氧化碳中实施氟代单体的自由基溶液聚合、甲基丙烯酸甲酯和苯乙烯的分散聚合、丙烯酸的沉淀聚合、丙烯酰胺的反相乳液聚合以及异丁基乙烯基醚的阳离子聚合等多种聚合反应。这显示出超临界CO₂是一种对环境无污染且价廉的替代溶剂。     

Polymerization of lactam ethers

Preparation and polymerization of lactam ethers which contain an amide and an ether group in the same ring are described. Seven-membered lactam ethers give relatively low molecular weight polymers with an anionic or cationic catalyst, while with diethylzinc as catalyst, the 2,7-dimethyl lactam ether of a seven-membered ring gives a crystalline polymer having a melting point of 220°C. A polymerization mechanism is discussed.     

Anionic polymerization initiated by diethylamide in organic solvents. I. The use of lithium diethylamide as a polymerization catalyst and the effect of solvent type on the polymerization of isoprene and styrene

Lithium diethylamide has been found to be an active initiator for the polymerization of isoprene both in hydrocarbon media and in a variety of polar solvents, such as diethyl ether and tetrahydrofuran. The successful initiation of styrene polymerization is, however, strongly dependent upon the type of solvent employed. Thus no polymerization is observed in hydrocarbon media or in diethyl ether solution, but polymerization occurs rapidly in either tetrahydrofuran or 1,2-dimethoxyethane solution. These polymerization processes are anionic in nature and are characterized by sigmoidal conversion–time plots, indicating that the initiation reactions are relatively slow compared to chain propagation.     

Oxidations of alkenes catalyzed by a Mn(III) porphyrin and cationic polymer latexes

Three types of cationic polymer latexes were prepared by emulsion copolymerization of vinylbenzyl chloride, divinylbenzene and a third monomer, vinyl octadecyl ether, styrene, or n-decyl methacrylate, followed by quaternization with trimethylamine. The latexes had 44–71 nm diam and polydispersity indices of 1.06–1.10. Vinyl octadecyl ether did not copolymerize but hydrolyzed under the polymerization conditions to produce 1-octadecanol, which as a coemulsifier gave highly viscous latexes. The tetraanion 5,10,15,20-tetrakis-(2,6-dichloro-3-sulfonatophenyl) porphinatomanganese (III) chloride bound irreversibly to the cationic latexes and was an active catalyst for oxidations of alkenes by sodium hypochlorite and potassium peroxymonosulfate in the absence of added organic solvent. The porphyrin catalyst in the latexes was more active than in solution. Porphyrin catalysis gave epoxides concurrently with competing uncatalyzed hypochlorous acid oxidations to complex mixtures of allylic chlorides, allylic alcohols, α,β-unsaturated ketones, and chlorohydrins.     

Polymerization chemistry of the family of cyclic imino ethers

Characteristics of the polymerization mechanisms of the family of cyclic imino ethers are described. The variety of the mechanism of propagation has been systematized on the basis of the nature of propagating species, i.e., cationic or electrophilic covalent (dipole) species. In the polymerizations of 2-alkyl cyclic imino ethers (5- and 6-membered), propagation mechanism via one of these two different species has been established, which is dependent upon the relative nucleophilic reactivities of the monomer and the counter anion derived from initiator. The polymerization of cyclic pseudoureas having a cyclic amine substituent at 2-position proceeds in two different ways. Ionic propagation leads to the single isomerization/ring-opening polymerization involving only the cyclic imino ether ring. On the other hand, covalent propagation gives rise to the double isomerization ring-opening polymerization involving the two rings of cyclic imino ether and cyclic amine. Polymerization of 5-membered cyclic iminocarbonate with a sulfonate initiator proceeds through the isomerization/ring-opening of 2-oxazoline ring. The same monomer was isomerized to the corresponding cyclic urethane when it was treated with benzyl bromide.     

Stereocontrol in radical polymerization of acrylic monomers

A clear effect of Lewis acids, such. as scandium trifluoromethanesulfonate [Sc(OTf)₃], on stereocontrol during the radical polymerization of a designed monomer, benzyl α-(methoxymethyl)acrylate was found. This Lewis acid also influenced the stereochemistry in the radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate giving a less syndiotactic and more isotactic polymer, although many Lewis acids were not effective. A catalytic amount of Lewis acids, such as Y(OTf)₃ and Yb(OTf)₃, also significantly enhanced isotactic-specificity during the radical polymerization of acrylamide and its derivatives, N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM) and N,N-dimethylacrylamide. Obvious solvent and temperature effects on tacticity were observed in these polymerizations, and poly(NIPAM) with >80% triad isotactic content has been obtained in the presence of Lewis acids.     

可控／活性正离子聚合的研究与发展

综述了近二十年来乙烯基单体正离子聚合领域的研究和进展,详细介绍了活性/控制正离子聚合体系的机理研究和新引发体系和水相正离子聚合体系的研究新进展,以及采用活性/控制正离子聚合方法设计合成基于聚异丁烯链段的弹性体材料及其在生物材料领域的应用。     

Living cationic polymerization of vinyl monomers: New initiators and functional polymer synthesis

This paper focuses on two recent topics in living cationic polymerization of vinyl monomers, i.e., (a) Development of new initiating systems: RCOOH/Lewis acid for vinyl ethers; CH₃CH(C₆H₅)Cl/SnCl₄/nBu₄NCl for styrene. (b) Synthesis of shape-controlled poly(vinyl ethers): Tri-armed star polymers; Multi-armed spherical polymers. For the RCOOH-based systems, a generalized concept of living cationic polymerization was discussed on the basis of the effects of the counteranions (or R) and Lewis acids (ZnCl₂ and EtAlCl₂). The CH₃CH(C₆H₅)Cl-based system permitted a truly living cationic polymerization of styrene. The tri- and multi-armed poly(vinyl ethers) included new amphiphilic polymers of unique topology, solubility, etc., all of which were prepared by living cationic polymerization.     

烯烃可控/活性正离子聚合新方法与新工艺及其应用

<正>离子聚合是高分子科学中重要的聚合方法之一,也是制备聚异丁烯或丁基橡胶等关键材料不可或缺的聚合方法.本文总结了异丁烯、苯乙烯及其衍生物等单体可控/活性正离子聚合的新引发体系、聚合反应特征的调节与转化、水相介质中正离子聚合新方法与新工艺、微观分子混合与正离子聚合新工艺及其用于设计合成异丁烯基聚合物.这些方法与技术是发展高效节能与绿色减排先进聚合物生产技术的重要途径,部分研究成果已在产业化中得到应用与验证.发展可控/活性正离子聚合新体系、新方法与新工艺,为实现绿色低碳高分子化工过程及相关产品工程(新结构、新功能、高性能与高品质)提供了新思路与新技术.     

EFFECTS OF VINYL ETHERS UPON RADICAL POLYMERIZATIONS

Various vinyl ethers have been examined as additives during radical polymerizations initiated by azobisisobutyronitrile at 60°C; the monomers were methyl methacrylate (MMA), styrene (STY) and acrylonitrile (AN). For MMA and STY, the vinyl ethers were incorporated to only small extents but they caused reductions in rate of polymerization and chain length of the resulting polymer; the effects can be attributed to the low reactivities in growth reactions of radicals to which a vinyl ether unit was last added. Copolymerization of the vinyl ethers with AN was more evident but, in many cases, it was accompanied by increased rate of consumption of AN and increased chain length of the polymer. These changes can be explained in terms of a physical effect which can be likened to that believed to be responsible for the gel effect. It is considered that polymer radicals are rather tightly coiled in an indifferent solvent so that the normal bimolecular termination is impeded.     

Surfactant Mediated Cationic and Anionic Suspension Polymerization of PEG-Based Resins in Silicon Oil: Beaded SPOCC 1500 and POEPOP 1500

A novel surfactant has been synthesized for use in cationic and anionic ring-opening suspension polymerization of PEG-based macromonomers in silicon oil. A polymer of acrylate esters containing pentamethyldisiloxane and PEG was prepared by radical polymerization. The surfactant can stabilize an emulsion of PEG-based macromonomers, initiator, and solvent in silicon oil such that polymer beads are obtained by ring-opening polymerization, initiated either by a Lewis acid (cationic ring opening) or potassium tert-butoxide (anionic ring opening). The average bead size could be controlled by varying the stirring rate and the amount of surfactant and solvent. The surfactant does not interfere with the polymerization and can be removed together with residual silicon oil by a simple washing procedure.     

Stereochemistry in cationic polymerization of alkenyl ethers. III. Effect of the alkoxy group on the steric structure of polymers

Propagation mechanism in the cationic polymerization of alkenyl ethers was investigated through the effect of the bulkiness of alkoxy groups on the steric structure of a polymer. In polymerization with BF₃O(C₂H₅)₂ in toluene at ?78°C, trans-propenyl ethers having less bulky alkoxy groups–methyl, ethyl, and benzyl propenyl ethers–produced a stereoregular polymer having a threo-meso structure, and the cis isomer a nonstereoregular one having threo-meso and racemic structures. On the other hand, in the polymerization of propenyl ethers having bulky alkoxy groups–isopropyl and 1-methylpropyl propenyl ethers–the trans isomer yielded a nonstereoregular polymer with threo-meso and racemic structures, and the cis isomer a stereoregular one with a erythro-meso structure. This result suggests that a bulky alkoxy group plays an important role in determining the steric structure of the polymer by repulsion between the alkoxy groups of a growing chain end and of a monomer. The effect of solvent polarity on the steric structure of a polymer was also studied.     

Polymerization of Methyl Methacrylate: Kinetics of the Reaction Initiated by the Mn(III)-1,2-Propanediol Redox System

Kinetics of polymerization of methyl methacrylate initiated by Mn³⁺/1,2-propanedlol has been investigated in aqueous sulfuric acid at the temperature range of 25–35°C. The rate of polymerization (R_p) and the rate of manganic ion disappearance (-R_Mn) have been computed. The effects of organic solvents, certain cationic and anionic detergents, added electrolytes on the initial rate of polymerization, and maximum conversion have been examined. Depending on the kinetic results, a reaction scheme has been suggested involving the formation of a complex between Mn³⁺ and the alcohol, which subsequently decomposed in an unimolecular step to generate the initiating free-radical which initiates polymerization and termination of the growing polymer chain by metal ion.     

Cationic Polymerization Behavior of Some Vinyl Ketone Cyclodimers

Cationic polymerizations of 2,3-dihydropyran derivatives, methyl isopropenyl ketone cyclodimer (MIPKD), chloromethyl vinyl ketone cyclodimer (CMVKD), and methyl isopropenyl ketone-chloromethyl vinyl ketone cyclocodimer, D(MIPK-CMVK), were investigated in the presence of various Lewis acids at 0°C. These monomers were found to undergo cationic polymerization to give low molecular weight polymer which consisted mainly of a vinylene structure. However, the ring-opening polymerization was found to occur to a minor extent in cationic polymerizations of MIPKD and D(MIPK-CMVK) cyclodimer.     

Polymerization of N-substituted lactams

This study deals with a comparison of the rates and activation parameters of the polymerizations of N-methyl and N-benzoyl derivatives of lactams containing 4, 9 or 13 ring atoms initiated by carboxylic acids, amino acids, strong protonic acids or Lewis acids. The respective polymerization mechanisms of substituted and unsubstituted lactams are discussed. The initiators mentioned above lead to the polymerization mechanisms with activated monomer in most cases. The use of stable carbenium cations results in a new type of polymerization of N-benzoyl lactams with a cationic propagation centre on the chain.     

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.     

The Role of Donor-Acceptor Complexes in the Initiation of Ionic Polymerization

Work carried out in the past few years aimed at elucidating the mechanism of initiation of vinyl polymerization when a donor and an acceptor molecule, one or both of which may be vinyl monomers, is summarized. The emphasis of our investigation has been on polymerizable ether donors and strong electron acceptors which do not undergo polymerization, or the acceptor vinylidene cyanide. Alkyl vinyl ethers were polymerized in the presence of tetracyanoquinodimethane (TCNQ) and 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyano-p-benzoquinone (DDQ) in polar solvents. Observation of the ESR spectrum of the DDQ radical anion and the isolation of a 1:1 addition product of DDQ and alkyl vinyl ether when the two are mixed in a 1:1 ratio and quenched in alcohol support an initiation mechanism involving a coupling reaction of the donor monomer (radical cation) and the acceptor initiator (radical anion). The reaction of vinylidene cyanide (VC) with the vinyl ethers p-dioxene, dihydropyran, ethyl vinyl ether, isopropyl vinyl ether, and ketene diethylacetal in a variety of solvents at 25°C spontaneously afforded poly(vinylidene cyanide), the cycloaddition products 7,7-dicyano-2,5-dioxo-bicyclo[4.2.0] octane, 8,8-dicyano-2-oxo-bicyclo[4.2.0] octane, the 1,1-dicyano-2-alkoxycyclo-butanes, and 1,1-diethoxy-2,2,4,4-tetracyanohexane, respectively, and with the exception of p-dioxene, homopolymers of the vinyl ethers. In the presence of AIBN at 80°C, alternating copolymers were obtained in addition to the homopolymers and cycloaddition products, supporting the involvement of donor-acceptor complexes. The reaction of styrene with VC spontaneously formed an alternating copolymer in addition to the 1:2 head-to-head cycloaddition product, 1,1,3,3-tetracyano-4-phenylcyclohexane. Mixing VC with any one of the cyclic ethers tetrahydrofuran, oxetane, 2,2-dimethyloxirane, 2-chloromethyloxirane, and phenyloxirane resulted in the polymerization of both the VC and the cyclic ether to afford homopolymers of both. The cyclic ethers trioxane, 3,3-bis(chloromethyl)oxetane, and oxirane initiated the polymerization of VC, but did not undergo ring-opening polymerizations themselves. Other ethers such as 1,3-dioxolane, tetrahydropyran, and diethyl ether did not initiate the polymerization of VC. In these polymerizations, VC and the cyclic ethers polymerize via anionic and cationic propagation reactions, respectively.