Structure and reactivity of α,β-unsaturated ethers. III. Cationic copolymerizations of alkenyl alkyl ethers

The relative cationic polymerizabilities of the geometrical isomers of various alkenyl alkyl ethers were studied both in copolymerizations with each other and in their respective copolymerizations with vinyl isobutyl ether as standard. Copolymerizations were carried out in methylene dichloride at ?78°C. with boron trifluoride etherate as catalyst. The cis isomers have been found to be more reactive than the corresponding trans isomers. A primary alkyl substituent on the β-cis position of vinyl ethyl ether enhances the reactivity. Yet the steric effect is noticeable when the substituents are bulky. Compounds substituted with cis-β-isobutyl and with β-dimethyl showed little tendency to homopolymerization. It was proved that the polymer ends derived from cis and from trans monomers are respectively different in character because of the restricted rotation of the end unit around the terminal carbon–carbon bond. The alternation tendency, remarkable in the copolymerization of cis monomers with vinyl ether, was explained in terms of the cis-opening mechanism.     

Structure and reactivity of α,β-unsaturated ethers. VIII. Cationic copolymerizations and acetal additions of propenyl and isobutenyl ethyl ethers

Cationic copolymerizations of cis- and trans-propenyl ethyl ethers (PEE) with isobutenyl ethyl ether (IBEE) were carried out in methylene chloride at ?78°C with the use of boron trifluoride etherate as catalyst. Monomer reactivity ratios were r₁ = 24.0 ± 2.4 and r₂ = 0.02 ± 0.02 for the cis-PEE (M₁)–IBEE (M₂) system and r₁ = 19.1 ± 1.8 and r₂ = 0.04 ± 0.02 for the trans-PEE (M₁)–IBEE (M₂) system, indicative of the reactivity order: cis-PEE > trans-PEE ? IBEE. In separate experiments, these β-methyl-substituted vinyl ethers were allowed to react with various acetals in the presence of boron trifluoride etherate. The relative reactivities of these ethers were generally found to decrease in the order: cis-β-monomethylvinyl > vinyl > trans-β-monomethylvinyl > β,β-dimethylvinyl. Comparisons of these results with previously published copolymerization data have permitted the conclusion that, in both the copolymerizations and acetal additions, the single β-methyl substitution on vinyl ethers exerts little steric effect against their additions toward any alkoxycarbonium ion, whereas the β,β-dimethyl substitution results in a large adverse steric effect toward both β-monomethyl- and β,β-dimethyl-substituted alkoxycarbonium ions.     

Structure and reactivity of α,β-unsaturated ethers. XIII. Cationic copolymerization and acid-catalyzed hydrolysis of 1,2-dialkoxyethylenes

The cationic copolymerizations of geometrical isomers of 1,2-dimethoxy- and 1,2-diethoxyethylenes with vinyl isobutyl ether as a reference monomer have been carried out in methylene chloride at ?70° using boron trifluoride etherate as catalyst. The kinetics of the acid-catalyzed hydrolysis of these ethers has also been investigated in 80% aqueous dioxane, in order to compare the results with the polymerizabilities. It has been found that the cis ethers are ca. four times as reactive as their trans isomers in both reactions. On the other hand, it has been proved that a β-alkoxyl substitution reduces the hydrolysis reactivity of vinyl alkyl ethers by a factor of ca. 10^?3 while it even enchances the cationic polymerizability. These contrasting results are interpretable from the nature of the transition states which are different for the two reactions.     

Cationic polymerization of α,β-disubstituted olefins. Part 17. Effect of polymerization conditions on the reactivity of alkenyl ethers relative to vinyl ethers

In order to clarify the propagation reaction, vinyl ether was copolymerized with the corresponding alkenyl ether under various conditions. cis-Propenyl ether (cis-PE) was several times more reactive than trans-PE and the corresponding vinyl ether in the copolymerization catalyzed by BF₃ · O(C₂H₅)₂ in toluene. However, the reactivity of cis-PE relative to trans-PE and the vinyl ether was found to be greatly decreased with increasing polarity of the solvent and to be very close to unity in such polar solvents as nitroethane. On the other hand, the reactivity of trans-IBPE relative to IBVE was scarcely changed by polymerization conditions. Also, the nature of the initiator and polymerization temperature affect the reactivity of cis-PE relative to the vinyl ether. These phenomena were explained by the relative stability of the bridged and open car bonium ions based on the polarity of the solvent and steric hindrance due to substituents in the trans isomer.     

Cationic copolymerization of anethole: Reactivity of geometric isomers of α,β-disubstituted ethylenes

Cationic copolymerizations of anethole were carried out under various conditions in order to confirm the relative reactivities of its geometric isomers. trans-Anethole was more reactive than cis-anethole in copolymerizations with p-methoxystyrene or styrene, but less reactive in the mutual copolymerization of cis- and trans-anethole; i.e., the trans isomer was more reactive to a growing chain end with little steric hindrance. Thus the intrinsic reactivity of an olefinic double bond to carbonium ion is greater for the trans isomer than for the cis isomer. This idea is supported by ¹³C NMR spectra, since the signal of the olefinic β-carbon of the trans isomer is at higher field than that of the cis isomer. The behavior of anethole was compared with the results observed in vinyl ethers, where the cis isomer was always more reactive irrrspective of the structure of the growing chain end. In addition, the dependence of monomer reactivity ratios on polymerization conditions is discussed.     

Cationic polymerization of α,β-disubstituted olefins. V. Reactivity of propenyl alkyl ethers in cationic polymerization

To elucidate the effect of the introduction of a methyl group in the β-position of a vinyl monomer, propenyl alkyl ethers were copolymerized with vinyl ethers having the same alkoxy group. Propenyl alkyl ethers with an unbranched alkoxy group (ethyl or n-butyl propenyl ether) were more reactive than the corresponding vinyl ethers. This behavior is quite different from that of β-methylstyrene derivatives. However, propenyl alkyl ethers with branched alkoxy groups at the α carbon atom (isopropyl or tert-butyl propenyl ether) were less reactive than the corresponding vinyl ethers. Also, cis- isomers were more reactive than the trans isomers, regardless of the kind of alkoxy group and the polarity of the solvent.     

Cationic copolymerization of phenyl propenyl ethers

Ring-substituted phenyl propenyl ethers were found to form homopolymers without any rearrangement by metal halides. Phenyl propenyl ethers were less reactive than the corresponding phenyl vinyl ethers in cationic polymerization. In order to study the electronic effect of a substituent on the reactivity, cis-p-Cl,p-CH₃, and p-CH₃O-phenyl propenyl ethers were copolymerized with phenyl propenyl ether in methylene chloride at ?78°C with stannic chloride–trichloroacetic acid, and their ¹H- and ¹³C-NMR spectra were measured. The reaction constant ρ against Hammett σ_p was ?2.1. The cis-phenyl propenyl ethers were slightly more reactive than the corresponding trans isomers. On the other hand, an o-methyl group decreased the reactivity of phenyl propenyl ether. The low reactivity of o-methyl phenyl propenyl ether was attributed to the steric hindrance between the propagating carbocation and the monomer.     

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 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.     

Solvolysis and Isomerization of cis- and trans-1-Bromo-1-(p-anisyl)-propene (α-Bromoanethole) Mesomeric Vinyl Cations,Part V

The influence of a β-methyl group on the reactivity of two stereoisomeric vinyl bromides has been studied. In 80% ethanol cis-( 8 ) and trans-α-bromoanethole ( 9 ) undergo first order reactions leading to p-methoxypropiophenone ( 15 ), 1-ethoxy-1-(p-anisyl)-propene ( 16 ) and p-anisylpropyne ( 12 ). Solvolysis of the cis isomer 8 is accompanied by isomerization to the more stable trans isomer 9 which is approx. eight times less reactive than 8 . Cis-trans isomerization is also observed in nitrobenzene at 150°. These results are in agreement with the unimolecular substitution-elimination (S_N1?E1) mechanism which competes with cis-trans isomerization at the ion pair stage. The solvolysis rate of 9 is slightly lower and that of 8 somewhat higher than the rate of α-bromo-p-methoxystyrene ( 3c ). In the absence of other effects a β-methyl group therefore slightly depresses the ionization rate, presumably by steric hindrance of solvation. These results confirm the negligible polar influence of a β-methyl substituent on the stability of vinyl cations.     

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.     

Cationic polymerization of α,β-disubstituted olefins. VI. Steric structure of poly(methyl propenyl ether) obtained by cationic catalysts

The steric structure of poly(methyl propenyl ether) obtained by cationic polymerization was studied by NMR spectra. From the analysis of β-methyl and α-methoxyal spectra, it was found that the tacticities of the α-carbon were different from those of the β-carbon in all polymers obtained. In the crystalline polymers obtained from the trans isomer by homogeneous catalysts, BF₃·O(C₂H₅)₂ or Al(C₂H₅)Cl₂, and from the cis isomer by a heterogeneous catalyst, Al₂(SO₄)₃–H₂SO₄ complex, the structure of polymers was threo-di-isotactic. Though the configurations of all α-carbons were isotactic, a small amount of syndiotactic structure was observed in the β-carbon. On the other hand, in the amorphous polymer obtained from cis isomer by the homogeneous catalyst, the configuration of the α-carbon was isotactic, but that of the β-carbon was atactic. These facts suggest that the type of opening of a monomeric double bond is complicated, or that carbon–carbon double bond in an incoming monomer rotates in the transition state. From these experimental results, a probability treatment was proposed from the diad tacticity of α,β-disubstituted polymers. It shows that the tacticity is decided by a polymerization mechanism different from that proposed by Bovey.     

Stereochemistry in cationic polymerization of alkenyl ethers. V. Stereochemistry of acetal additions as model reactions for the polymerization of alkenyl ethers

Acetal additions to β-substituted vinyl ethers having a variety of substituents (alkenyl ethers) were stereochemically investigated as model reactions for their cationic polymerization. The reactions catalyzed by BF₃O(C₂H₅)₂ in CH₂Cl₂ at O°C gave 1:1 adducts, the steric structure of which was determined by means of ¹³C-NMR spectroscopy. trans-Alkenyl ethers always gave adducts with a single structure stereospecifically, indicating that the intermediate carbocation attacks a trans-alkenyl ether from a definite direction independent of the bulkiness of substituents. On the other hand, cis-alkenyl ethers formed adducts with two steric structures, and the direction of cation addition was found to depend on the bulkiness of the alkoxy group involved. The above trends were in agreement with the results for poly(alkenyl ether)s and allowed detailed discussion of the stereochemistry of the propagation processes in alkenyl ether polymerizations.     

Effect of temperature and solvents on stereospecific polymerization of vinyl alkyl ethers catalyzed by aluminum sulfate–sulfuric acid complex

The effect of polymerization temperature and solvents was determined on the crystallinity of polymers of vinyl isobutyl ether and of vinyl n-butyl ether prepared with aluminum sulfate–sulfuric acid complex catalyst. Principally, the methyl ethyl ketone (MEK)-insoluble fractions of these polymers were used for characterization. Density, per cent crystallinity by x-ray diffraction, infrared ratio, and dilatometric volume contraction of these polymer fractions were used as criteria of crystallinity. The MEK-insoluble fractions of poly(vinyl n-butyl ethers) prepared in carbon disulfide in the temperature range of ?30 to +25°C did not show any significant difference in the values of the above crystallinity parameters. The polymer obtained at 50°C. was less crystalline than the rest of the polymers. The MEK-insoluble fractions of poly(vinyl isobutyl ethers) prepared at 0–50°C. in carbon disulfide and n-heptane solvents also did not significantly differ in their degree of crystallinity. They were, however, decidedly less crystalline than the MEK-insoluble fractions of the corresponding polymers obtained at ?20°C. These data a indicate that on increasing the temperature of polymerization the crystallinity of the polymers was either unchanged or decreased slightly. The polymerizations of vinyl n-butyl ether and vinyl isobutyl ethers were also carried out in binary mixtures of carbon disulfide with n-heptane, chlorobenzene, and MEK. Generally, increasing the concentration of carbon disulfide increased the inherent viscosities of polymers as well as the weight percentage of their MEK-insoluble fractions. The MEK-insoluble fraction of poly(vinyl isobutyl ether) prepared in carbon disulfide-MEK mixture (volume ratio 2:1) was isotactic and highly crystalline. Likewise, the MEK-insoluble fractions of two polymers of vinyl n-butyl ether prepared in MEK itself were also isotactic and highly crystalline. Compared to poly(tetramethylene oxide), these latter fractions exhibited less dependence of rate of crystallization upon temperature. Consequently, at low degrees of supercooling they crystallize much more rapidly than does poly(tetramethylene oxide).     

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.     

The α-halogeno ether function: formation and use in the design of tailor-made polymers

α-Halogeno ether species, in appropriate conditions, can induce the “living” cationic polymerization of vinyl ethers. They can also be used as initiators for the “living” polymerization of styrene derivatives. Therefore, their use as intermediates in the preparation of tailor-made polymers and copolymers offers interesting opportunities in macromolecular synthesis. The main parameters which determine and control their reactivity are reviewed and discussed. The possibility to generate quantitatively these derivatives by various routes and from different organic functions such as aldehyde, ketone, acetal and hydroxyl is examined. Some of these routes have been used to generate the α-halogeno ether function directly at the end of acetal and hydroxy-terminated polymers. The latter have then been used as macroinitiators to prepare new block copolymers. The synthesis of poly(isobutyl vinyl ether-β-ethyl vinyl ether), poly(styrene-β-chloroethyl vinyl ether) and poly(chloroethyl vinyl ether-β-butadiene-β-chloroethyl vinyl ether) by this technique is described.     

Alternating copolymerization of benzofuran with crotononitrile and α-chloroacrylonitrile

The copolymerizations of benzofuran with α,α- or α,β-disubstituted acrylic monomers were studied. The alternating copolymer of benzofuran and crotononitrile was prepared in the presence of an excess amount of crotononitrile with respect to benzofuran, ethylaluminum dichloride, and azobisisobutyronitrile. The intrinsic viscosity of copolymers was 0.1–0.2 dl/g. Crotononitrile is known to possess a polar carbon–carbon double bond from ¹³C-NMR spectroscopy but the alternating copolymerizability with benzofuran is low. It was found that the order of alternating copolymerizability of acrylic monomers is as follows: This fact may be attributed to the steric hindrance of the β-methyl of crotononitrile. The induced shifts by complexation with ethylaluminum dichloride on ¹³C-NMR spectra of the two isomers of crotononitrile are almost same but the copolymerizability of cis isomer is higher than that of trans isomer. α-Chloroacrylonitrile shows the highest alternating copolymerizability with benzofuran in the presence of weak Lewis acid such as ethoxyaluminum chloride. Alternating copolymerizability of acrylic monomers seems to be in proportion to their e value. The reactivity of cis- and trans-crotononitrile may depend on the nature of a ternary complex composed of aluminum compound, crotononitrile, and benzofuran.     

Total Synthesis and Stereochemical Revision of Phacelocarpus 2‐Pyrone A

The first total synthesis of phacelocarpus 2‐pyrone A is reported. The original natural compound was tentatively assigned (by NMR spectroscopy) as containing two cis‐alkenes and a trans‐vinyl ether connected to a 2‐pyrone ring motif. Our computational predictions indicated that a cis‐vinyl ether motif was equally feasible. Attempts to prepare the trans‐vinyl ether were met with no success. The all cis‐target compound was synthesised in nine steps, employing key regio‐ and stereoselective reactions including Au^I‐catalysed vinyl etherification, Wittig alkenylation and end‐game Stille macrocyclisation. Analysis of the NMR data enabled identification and confirmation of the correct structure of phacelocarpus 2‐pyrone A, containing a cis‐vinyl ether. Our studies pave the way for future development of methodologies to these structurally distinct pyrone skipped‐polyenyne natural products.     

Stereoregulation in cationic polymerization by designed Lewis acids. II. Effects of alkyl vinyl ether structure

Stereoregulation in the cationic polymerization of various alkyl vinyl ethers was investigated with bis[(2,6‐diisopropyl)phenoxy]titanium dichloride ( 1 ; catalyst) in conjunction with the HCl adduct of isobutyl vinyl ether as an initiator in n‐hexane at −78 °C. The tacticities depended on the substituents of the monomers. Isobutyl and isopropyl vinyl ethers gave highly isotactic polymers (mm = 83%), whereas tert‐butyl and n‐butyl vinyl ethers resulted in lower isotactic contents (mm ∼ 50%) similar to those for TiCl₄, a conventional Lewis acid, thus indicating that the steric bulkiness of the substituents was not the critical factor in stereoregulation. A statistical analysis revealed that the high isospecificity was achieved not by the chain end but by the catalyst 1 or the counteranion derived therefrom. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 39: 1060–1066, 2001     

Bemerkung zur vorstehenden Notiz [1] von H. REMBOLD

The possible transition state conformations (chair (S), boat (W), and twist (T), respectively cross (K) forms) and methods for their determination in the thermal ortho-CLAISEN rearrangement of allyl aryl ethers are discussed. Crotyl 3,5-dimethylphenyl ether ( 11 ) gives a mixture of 2-(α-methylallyl)-3,5-dimethyl-phenol ( 12 ) and 4-crotyl-3,5-dimethyl-phenol ( 13 ) on heating in N, N-diethylaniline. Values of 3 and 31 were obtained for the ratio of 12 / 13 for trans- 11 and cis- 11 , respectively. It therefore follows that both ethers rearrange steroselectively ( > 90%) by the S or W forms of the activated complex. αMethylallyl 6-alkylphenyl ethers rearrange on heating in various solvents to a mixture of trans-and cis-2-crotyl-6-alkyl-phenols. The amount of the cis-phenols in the rearrangement products decreases with the increasing bulk of the 6-alkyl substituent. This result is only obvious if the chair form of the transition state during the rearrangement of these ethers is highly favoured. trans-Crotyl 2,6-dimethylphenyl ether (trans- 33 ) rearranges highly steroselectively (94%) on heating to trans-4-crotyl-2,6-dimethyl-phenol (trans- 34 ). In the case of the corresponding cis ether 33 , the rapid cis → trans isomerisation of this ether and the cis/trans ratio of the phenol 34 indicate that the reverse rearrangement of the intermediate ortho-dienone to the ether 33 and the further rearrangement to 4-crotyl-2,6-dimethyl-phenol ( 34 ) has little stereoselective character.