Lifetime of living polymers in cationic polymerization. II. Living polymerization of isobutyl vinyl ether initiated by the hydrogen iodide/zinc halide systems

In the living cationic polymerization of isobutyl vinyl ether (IBVE) initiated by the hydrogen iodide/zinc halide (HI/ZnX₂; X = I, Br, Cl) systems, the concentration ([P^*]) of the living propagating species was determined by quenching with sodiomalonic ester ( 1 ). The quenching reaction was shown to be clean, instantaneous, and quantitative to give poly (IBVE) with a terminal malonate group from which [P^*] was obtained by ¹H-NMR spectroscopy. In the polymerizations in toluene below +25°C, [P^*] was constant and equal to the initial concentration ([HI]₀) of hydrogen iodide, independent of the type and concentrations of ZnX₂ as well as monomer conversion. At 0 and +25°C, however, the living species started decaying immediately after the complete consumption of monomer. In contrast, such a decay process was absent at ?15°C even in the absence of monomer until about an hour (depending on the conditions) after the end of polymerization. The deactivation reaction was first order in [P^*], and the lifetime (half-life) of the living species was longer at lower temperature and at lower ZnX₂ concentration. On the basis of these [P^*] and lifetime measurements, the HI/ZnX₂ systems were also compared with the HI/I₂ counterpart.     

Metallocene–methylaluminoxane catalysts for olefin polymerizations. IV. Active site determinations and limitation of the 14CO radiolabeling technique

The initial active site concentrations, [C^*]₀, have been determined with CH₃OT radiolabeling for the Cp₂ZrCl₂/MAO and CpZrCl₃/MAO catalysts (Cp = η⁵ : cyclopentadienyl, MAO = methyl aluminoxane). Almost all the Zr are found to be catalytically active in 70°C ethylene polymerizations; [C^*]₀ = [Zr] and [C^*]₀ = 0.8[Zr] at Al/Zr ratios of 10⁴ and 10³, respectively. Lowering the temperature to 50°C and Al/Zr to 5.5 × 10² reduces [C^*]₀ to 0.2[Zr]. The rate constant of propagation at 70°C was calculated to be 1.6 × 10³(M s)^?1 for both catalysts at Al/Zr = 1.1 × 10⁴; the values are decreased fivefold and tenfold, respectively, for the CpZrCl₃ and Cp₂ZrCl₂ systems. The usage of ¹⁴CO to determine the propagating Zr–P species was investigated. With regard to the time of reaction of ¹⁴CO with the polymerization mixture, the initial phase is attributed to reversible CO complexation and reversible migratory insertion. The second slower phase may be due to the formation of enediolate. During the course of a batch polymerization the ¹⁴C radioactivity incorporated is small compared to the number of active sites found by CH₃OT determination; it is only ca. 10% of [C^*]₀ at maximum rate of polymerization. Therefore, ¹⁴CO radiolabeling cannot be used to count C^*.     

Lifetime of living polymers in cationic polymerization. III. Living polymerization of isobutyl vinyl ether initiated by a cationogen/etalcl2 system in the presence of 1,4-dioxane as an added base

The concentration ([P^*]) and lifetime (half-life) of the propagating species were measured in the living cationic polymerization of isobutyl vinyl either initiated by the 1-(isobutoxy) ethyl acetate [CH₃COOCH (OiBu) CH₃]/ethylaluminum dichloride (EtAlCl₂) system in the presence of excess 1,4-dioxane in n-hexane at 0 to +70°C; the acetate serves as a cationogen that forms an initiating vinyl ether-type carbocation. The measurements were based on the end-capping reaction with sodiomalonic ester [Na^⊕?CH (COOEt)₂], which was shown to react rapidly and quantitatively with the living growing end. From the terminal malonate group of the quenched polymers, [P^*] was determined by ¹H-NMR spectroscopy. In contrast to its constancy during the polymerization, [P^*] progressively decreased with time after the complete consumption of monomer. The postpolymerization decay was first order in [P^*], and the lifetime (half-life) of the living end was determined from the decay rate constant. The lifetime increased on lowering polymerization temperature, decreasing EtAlCl₂ concentration, and increasing dioxane concentration. In particular, the “base-stabilized” living ends, generated by the CH₃COOCH (OiBu) CH₃/EtAlCl₂/dioxane system, turned out extremely stable at 0°C (half-life > 5 days in the absence of monomer).     

Kinetics and mechanism of acetylene polymerization

The kinetics of acetylene polymerization initiated by Ti(OBu)₄/4AlEt₃ catalyst was studied by radioquenching with C^*O to count the number of active sites [C] and by CH₃OT^* to determine the total metal polymer bonds [MPB] and M?_n of the polymer. The amount of quenching agent and time of reaction required and the kinetic isotope effect for CH₃OT^* were determined. The effects of Al/Ti ratio, catalyst aging, catalyst concentration, temperature, and monomer pressure on the polymerization were investigated. Detailed kinetic data on the variation of rate of polymerization, R_p, [C] [MPB], and M?_n with time were obtained at 298 and 195°K. The results required the assumption that the catalytic species C, is initially active and within less than 30 min all are converted by bimolecular kinetics to a far less active species. Analysis of the data yielded rate constants of propagation and termination and their energies of activation. Estimates of chain transfer efficiency were obtained. The mechanisms for the propagation, termination, and transfer processes were discussed. By drawing on our earlier EPR results we propose probable structures for the catalytically active species.     

Polymerization of tetrahydrofuran by AlEt3–H2O promoter system: Rate of propagation reaction

Kinetic studies were carried out on the polymerization of tetrahydrofuran with catalyst systems of aluminum alkyl–epichlorohydrin. As aluminium alkyl species AlEt₃, AlEt₃–H₂O (1:0.1 to 1:1.0), and “oxyaluminum ethyl” were employed. The polymerizations with these catalysts are characterized by a mechanism of stepwise addition without chain transfer or termination, which is expressed by the kinetic relation R_p = K_p[P*] ([M]–[M]_e), where [M] and [M]_e are the instantaneous and equilibrium concentrations of monomer and [P*] is the concentration of propagating species calculated from the amount and molecular weight of the product polymer. The determination of the rate constant k_p for these catalysts has shown that the polymerization rate varied considerably with the change of aluminum alkyl species, i.e., with the water-to-aluminum ratio, but the propagation rate constant itself varied very little. The variation of polymerization rate was, therefore, attributed primarily to the differences in concentration of the propagating species, i.e. the efficiency of the catalyst in forming propagating species. The catalyst efficiency was closely related to the acid strength of the aluminum alkyl species, which was estimated from the magnitude of shift of the xanthone carbonyl band in the infrared spectrum of its coordination complex with aluminum alkyl. The maximal catalyst efficiency was attained at about [H₂O]/[AlEt₃] = 0.75.     

Selective reagents in chemical ionization mass spectrometry: Tetramethylsilane with ethers

Chemical ionization mass spectra of several ethers obtained with He/(CH₃)₄Si mixtures as the reagent gases contain abundant [M + 73]⁺ adduct ions which identify the relative molecular mass. For the di-n-alkyl ethers, these [M + 73]⁺ ions are formed by sample ion/sample molecule reactions of the fragment ions, [M + 73 ? C_nH_2n]⁺ and [M + 73 ? 2CnH_2n]⁺. Small amounts of [M + H]⁺ ions are also formed, predominantly by proton transfer reactions of the [M + 73 ? 2CnH_2n]⁺ or [(CH₃)₃SiOH₂]⁺ ions with the ethers. The di-s-alkyl ethers give no [M + 73] ⁺ ions, but do give [M + H]⁺ ions, which allow the determination of the relative molecular mass. These [M + H]⁺ ions result primarily from proton transfer reactions from the dominant fragment ion, [(CH₃)₃SiOH₂]⁺ with the ether. Methyl phenyl ether gives only [M + 73]⁺ adduct ions, by a bimolecular addition of the trimethylsilyl ion to the ether, not by the two-step process found for the di-n-alkyl ethers. Ethyl phenyl ether gives [M + 73]⁺ by both the two-step process and the bimolecular addition. Although the mass spectra of the alkyl etherr are temperature-dependent, the sensitivities of the di-alkyl ethers and ethyl phenyl ether are independent of temperature. However, the sensitivity for methyl phenyl ether decreases significantly with increasing temperature.     

Synthesis of poly(naphthalenecarboxamide)s with low polydispersity by chain‐growth condensation polymerization

Condensation polymerization of 6‐(N‐substituted‐amino)‐2‐naphthoic acid esters ( 1 ) was investigated as an extension of chain‐growth condensation polymerization (CGCP). Methyl 6‐(3,7‐dimethyloctylamino)‐2‐naphthoate ( 1b ) was polymerized at ?10 °C in the presence of phenyl 4‐methylbenzoate ( 2 ) as an initiator and lithium 1,1,1,3,3,3‐hexamethyldisilazide (LiHMDS) as a base. When the feed ratio [ 1a ]₀/[ 2 ]₀ was 10 or 20, poly(naphthalenecarboxamide) with defined molecular weight and low polydispersity was obtained, together with a small amount of cyclic trimer. However, polymer was precipitated during polymerization under similar conditions in [ 1a ]₀/[ 2 ]₀ = 34. To increase the solubility of the polymer, monomers 1c and 1d with a tri(ethylene glycol) (TEG) monomethyl ether side chain instead of the 3,7‐dimethyloctyl side chain were synthesized. Polymerization of the methyl ester monomer 1c did not proceed well, affording only oligomer and unreacted 1c , whereas polymerization of the phenyl ester monomer 1d afforded well‐defined poly(naphthalenecarboxamide) together with small amounts of cyclic oligomers in [ 1d ]₀/[ 2 ]₀ = 10 and 29. The polymerization at high feed ratio ([ 1d ]₀/[ 2 ]₀ = 32.6) was accompanied with self‐condensation to give polyamide with a lower molecular weight than the calculated value. Such undesirable self‐condensation would result from insufficient deactivation of the electrophilic ester moiety by the electron‐donating resonance effect of the amide anion. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011     

Synthesis of aromatic polyethers by Scholl reaction. VII. Oxidative polymerization of 2,2-bis[4-(1-naphthoxy)phenyl]propane and 2,2-bis [4-(1-naphthyl)phenyl]propane

The synthesis and the mechanism of oxidative polymerization of 2,2-bis[4-(1-naphthoxy)phenyl]propane ( 4 ) and 2,2-bis[4-(1-naphthyl)phenyl]propane ( 9 ) are presented. Both monomers polymerize by two different propagation steps. The first one represents a cation-radical dimerization of the naphthyl groups to dinaphthyl structure. H⁺[FeCl₄]^? generated from the first propagation step initiates a transalkylation reaction which provides structural units containing isopropylidenic groups inserted between phenyl and naphthyl, and between two naphthyl groups, respectively. Since the phenyl groups resulted from the second propagation reaction are unreactive in both the oxidative coupling and the transalkylation steps this polymerization reaction leads to polymers with low molecular weights containing phenyl chain ends.     

Gas phase anionic ipso substitution reactions of some alkyl phenyl ethers

It is shown by ¹⁸O labelling that phenoxide anions are formed both by an S_N2 and a nucleophilic aromatic substitution mechanism in the reaction of OH^? with methyl phenyl ether. These mechanisms are of minor importance in the ethyl phenyl ether system where phenoxide anions are generated almost exclusively by an E₂ mechanism.     

Controlled polymerization of epoxides: Metal‐free ring‐opening polymerization of glycidyl phenyl ether initiated by tetra‐n‐butylammonium fluoride in the presence of protic compounds

Metal‐free controlled ring‐opening polymerization of glycidyl phenyl ether (GPE) was achieved using tetra‐n‐butylammonium fluoride (Bu₄NF) as an initiator in the presence of water and ethanol as chain transfer agents (CTAs). Number‐averaged molecular weight of poly(GPE) increased with an increase of [GPE]₀/([Bu₄NF]₀ + [CTA]₀) values, showing relatively narrow molecular weight distributions. NMR spectroscopic analysis exhibited a formation of ethoxy groups as well as FCH₂ at the initiating polymer chain‐end when ethanol was used as the CTA in the polymerization. These results indicate that Bu₄NF acts as a catalyst as well as the initiator for this polymerization system. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011     

Synthesis of amphiphilic copolymer brushes: Poly(ethylene oxide)‐graft‐polystyrene

A well‐defined amphiphilic copolymer brush with poly(ethylene oxide) as the main chain and polystyrene as the side chain was successfully prepared by a combination of anionic polymerization and atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). The glycidol was first protected by ethyl vinyl ether to form 2,3‐epoxypropyl‐1‐ethoxyethyl ether and then copolymerized with ethylene oxide by the initiation of a mixture of diphenylmethylpotassium and triethylene glycol to give the well‐defined polymer poly(ethylene oxide‐co‐2,3‐epoxypropyl‐1‐ethoxyethyl ether); the latter was hydrolyzed under acidic conditions, and then the recovered copolymer of ethylene oxide and glycidol {poly(ethylene oxide‐co‐glycidol) [poly(EO‐co‐Gly)]} with multiple pending hydroxymethyl groups was esterified with 2‐bromoisobutyryl bromide to produce the macro‐ATRP initiator [poly(EO‐co‐Gly)_(ATRP). The latter was used to initiate the polymerization of styrene to form the amphiphilic copolymer brushes. The object products and intermediates were characterized with ¹H NMR, matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry, Fourier transform infrared, and size exclusion chromatography in detail. In all cases, the molecular weight distribution of the copolymer brushes was rather narrow (weight‐average molecular weight/number‐average molecular weight < 1.2), and the linear dependence of ln[M₀]/[M] (where [M₀] is the initial monomer concentration and [M] is the monomer concentration at a certain time) on time demonstrated that the styrene polymerization was well controlled. This method has universal significance for the preparation of copolymer brushes with hydrophilic poly(ethylene oxide) as the main chain. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 4361–4371, 2006     

SYNTHESIS AND POLYMERIZATION OF BISPHENYLENE ORTHOCARBONATE

Bisphenylene orthocarbonate (Ⅱ) was synthesized by the reaction of dicopper catecholate with carbon tetrachloride, and underwent cationic ring-opening polymerization with the introduction of phenyl group into the main chain. The obtained polymer with ester and ether group was verified by IR and ~1H NMR spectra. Based on the analysis of the polymer structures, the polymerization mechanism was proposed. Its T_m and T_(?) are 254℃and 160℃respectively. No decomposition of the polymer was observed below 320℃. The volume expansion property of the monomer during polymerization was studied by measuring the density difference between Ⅰand its polymer at various temperatures.     

Kinetics and mechanism of metallocene‐catalyzed olefin polymerization: Comparison of ethylene,propylene homopolymerizations,and their copolymerization

A series of ethylene, propylene homopolymerizations, and ethylene/propylene copolymerization catalyzed with rac‐Et(Ind)₂ZrCl₂/modified methylaluminoxane (MMAO) were conducted under the same conditions for different duration ranging from 2.5 to 30 min, and quenched with 2‐thiophenecarbonyl chloride to label a 2‐thiophenecarbonyl on each propagation chain end. The change of active center ratio ([C^*]/[Zr]) with polymerization time in each polymerization system was determined. Changes of polymerization rate, molecular weight, isotacticity (for propylene homopolymerization) and copolymer composition with time were also studied. [C^*]/[Zr] strongly depended on type of monomer, with the propylene homopolymerization system presented much lower [C^*]/[Zr] (ca. 25%) than the ethylene homopolymerization and ethylene–propylene copolymerization systems. In the copolymerization system, [C^*]/[Zr] increased continuously in the reaction process until a maximum value of 98.7% was reached, which was much higher than the maximum [C^*]/[Zr] of ethylene homopolymerization (ca. 70%). The chain propagation rate constant (k_p) of propylene polymerization is very close to that of ethylene polymerization, but the propylene insertion rate constant is much smaller than the ethylene insertion rate constant in the copolymerization system, meaning that the active centers in the homopolymerization system are different from those in the copolymerization system. Ethylene insertion rate constant in the copolymerization system was much higher than that in the ethylene homopolymerization in the first 10 min of reaction. A mechanistic model was proposed to explain the observed activation of ethylene polymerization by propylene addition. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2017 , 55, 867–875     

Synthesis and Properties of Poly(Phenyl Propargyl Ether) and Its Homologues

Abstract

Various para-substituted phenyl propargyl ethers (substitutent = H, OMe, and CN) were synthesized and polymerized by transition metal catalyst systems including MoCl₅, WC1₆, and PdCl₂. The catalytic activity of MoCl₅-based catalysts was greater than that of WCl₆-based catalysts for the present polymerization. The polymer yield increased in the following order: H > OMe > CN, according to substitutents. The [poly-(pheny] propargyl ether) [poly(PPE)] and poly(methoxy phenyl propargyl ether) [poly(OMe-PPE)] obtained are completely soluble in various organic solvents such as chloroform, methylene chloride, THF, and 1,4-dioxane. However, poly(cyanophenyl propargyl ether) [poly(CN-PPE)] is partially soluble in various organic solvents such as those mentioned above. The electrical conductivities of the undoped and iodine-doped polymers and found to be about 10^?13 and 10^?4-10^?5 S/cm, respectively. The solubilities, thermal properties, and morphologies of the resulting polymers were also studied.     

EPR studies of copper(II) complexes with poly-2-methyl-5-vinyl-pyridine and poly-2-vinylpyridine

Cu(II) complexes of poly-2-vinylpyridine (P2VP) and poly-2-methyl-5-vinylpyridine (P2M5VP), partially quaternized by dimethylsulphate, and of the analogues (2-methyl-5-ethylpyridine, 2-ethylpyridine) were studied by EPR spectroscopy in a mixture of methanol and water. Peculiarities of the complex formation reaction were observed for the polymers compared to the analogues. At ratios of [Py]:[Cu²⁺] > 40, the predominant formation of tetrapyridinate-Cu(II) species [(CuL₄)]²⁺ was found for P2M5VP. However, differences were found between the parameters of EPR-spectra for the [CuL₄]²⁺ in the polymer from that of the [Cu(2M5EPy)₄]²⁺. It was suggested that, in the polymer, [CuL₄]²⁺ complexes with structure intermediate between square planar and tetrahedral are formed. Moreover, the maximum value of the pyridine fraction forming [CuL₄]²⁺ in P2M5VP was found to be about 10% and it is appreciably less the value of the fraction in P4VP (about 40%). For P2VP at [Py]:[Cu²⁺] > 40, an insignificant amount of [CuL₁]²⁺ and [CuL₂]²⁺ are formed in the solution. It follows that the main chain position relative to the ligand nitrogen atom in these polyvinylpyridines affects profoundly the complexation between the macromolecules and Cu(II) ions. The steric hindrances due to the chain are likely to change the [CuL₄]²⁺ structure and to prevent complex formation for P2VP.     

STUDY ON THE POLYMERIZATION OF ACRYLONITRILE INITIATED BY POLYPROPYLENE-BASED VANADYL POLYIMIDODIACETATE——THIOUREA REDOX SYSTEM

The present paper deals with the kinetics of polymerization of acrylonitrile (AN) initialed by the redox system of polypropylene-based vanadyi polyimidodiacetate (PV)-thiourea (TU)in aqueous sulfuric acid in the temperature range from 25 to 40℃. The polymerization rate was measured by varying the concentrations of monomer, vanadyl polyimidodiacetate, thiourea and sulfuric acid. The overall rate of polymerization was summarized asRp=2.2×10~5e~(-6.560/RT) [AN]~(1.0)[PV]~(0.50)[TU]~(1.5)[H_2SO_4]~(2.0)The molecular weight of polyacrylonitrile based on the experimental data was:(?)=k 1/T [pv]~(0.50)[TU]~(1.5)[H_2SO_4]~(2.0)These results indicated that the chain radicals are terminated by combination and/or disproportionation rather than chain transfer. The cooperation effect of carboxylic groups and the macromolecular field effect of polymer supporter are the characters of vanadyl polyimidodiacetate such as the case reported in early paper.     

Synthesis and Crystal Structures of Lithium,Sodium, and ­Potassium Derivatives of 2‐(Methylthio)aniline and 2‐(Phenylthio)aniline

2‐(Methylthio)aniline (H₂L¹) and 2‐(phenylthio)aniline (H₂L²) were treated with n‐butyllithium to yield the corresponding anilides [LiHL¹] and [LiHL²]. Recrystallization from diethyl ether and THF afforded the solvates [LiHL¹(Et₂O)] and [LiHL²(THF)₂]. The X‐ray crystal structure determination revealed dimeric molecules which exhibit a centrosymmetric Li₂N₂ ring. In the case of [LiHL¹(Et₂O)] the SMe group is involved in Li coordination and in the case of [LiHL²(THF)₂] the SPh group is part of an intramolecular N–H ··· S hydrogen bridge. The sodium anilides [NaHL¹(DME)] and [NaHL²(DME)] were obtained from the reaction of H₂L¹ and H₂L² with sodium amide in DME as solvent. Like in the case of the lithium amides the sodium derivatives [NaHL¹(DME)] and [NaHL²(DME)] display centrosymmetric Na₂N₂ cores. The coordination sphere of the sodium atoms is completed by DME molecules, which act as chelating ligands. In the case of [NaHL¹(DME)] the DME molecules enable additionally a linkage of the dimeric subunits to give a chain structure. The potassium derivatives [KNHL¹] and [KNHL²(DME)] were obtained from H₂L¹ and H₂L² and potassium hydride in DME as solvent. [KNHL¹] displays a distinct structure based on [(KNHL¹)₂] dimers, which are linked by additional [KNHL¹] units to give a 3D coordination polymer with {4.8.16(3)} topology. [KNHL²(DME)] forms dimers linked by bridging DME molecules to give a chain‐like coordination polymer.     

Cationic polymerization of vinyl ether with a benzoate pendant: The formation of long‐lived polymers and the identification of side reactions

The cationic polymerization of 2‐[4‐(methoxycarbonyl)phenoxy] ethyl vinyl ether, a vinyl ether with a benzoate pendant, was carried out with an HCl/ZnCl₂ initiating system in methylene chloride at −15 °C. The polymerization proceeded with living/long‐lived propagating species to produce polymers with controlled molecular weights and relatively narrow molecular weight distributions (weight‐average molecular weight/number‐average molecular weight ≤ ∼1.4), despite the formation of a small amount of oligomeric products during the polymerization. The structural analysis showed that the lowest molecular weight oligomer had the structure CH₃CH(OCH₂CH₂OC₆H₄COOCH₃)OCH₂CH₂OC₆H₄COOCH₃. The oligomer was formed by the reaction of the monomeric propagating species with the alcohol produced by the side reaction of the active species with water as an impurity during the early stage of polymerization. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 4362–4372, 2000     

Nitrochlorination of methyl tricyclo[4.1.0.02,7]heptane-1-carboxylate and phenyl tricyclo[4.1.0.02,7]hept-1-yl sulfone

Treatment of methyl tricyclo[4.1.0.0^2,7]heptane-1-carboxylate and phenyl tricyclo[4.1.0.0^2,7]hept-1-yl sulfone with a ～1:8 mixture of N₂O₄ and NOCl in diethyl ether at ?5 to 0°C gave products of formal anti-addition of NO₂Cl at the central C¹-C⁷ bond. In the reaction with phenyl tricyclo[4.1.0.0^2,7]hept-1-yl sulfone nitryl chloride acts as an effective chlorinating agent; as a result, a mixture of diastereoisomeric syn- and anti-6,7-dichlorobicyclo[3.1.1]hept-6-yl phenyl sulfones at a ratio of 7.5:1 is formed.