Photorearrangements of hydrocarbon polymers with pendant double bonds

A study was made of the microstructural changes that occur in ultraviolet irradiation under vacuum of thin films of 1,2-poly(cis-1,4-hexadiene) (CHD), 1,2-poly(trans-1,4-hexadiene) (THD), 1,2-poly(trans-1,3-pentadiene) (TPD), equibinary (1,2,-1,4) polybutadiene (EB), and equibinary (3,4-1,4) polyisoprene (EI). These polymers—all containing pendant double bonds—undergo important photoinduced loss of unsaturation, presumably through cyclization of the double bonds, by analogy to the previously reported photocyclization of 1,2-polybutadiene (VB) and 3,4-polyisoprene (VI)films. For the equibinary polymers, which contain internal as well as external (or pendant) double bonds, the loss of unsaturation is considered to involve photocyclization of 1,2-1,4 and 1,2-1,2 dyads in EB and of 3,4-1,4 and 3,4-3,4 dyads in EI. Accompanying thecyclization process in CHD, THD, and TPD is a direct photochemical cis-trans isomerization of ? CH?CH? double bonds analogous to that originally noted for 1,4-polybutadiene. The photorearrangements in the above polymers with pendant double bonds were compared to the corresponding thermally induced rearrangements reported previoulsy;for VB and VI, in particular, the thermal, photo-and radiation-induced cycli-zations were found to be very similar, possibly having a common nonradical, nonionic mechanism involving excited double bonds.     

Photoinduced microstructural changes in 1,4-polyisoprene

An infrared and NMR study was made of the microstructural changes produced in thin films of purified cis- and trans-1,4-polyisoprene when irradiated with ultraviolet light in vacuo at room temperature. The major photochemical processes observed were cis–trans isomerization and loss of 1,4 double bonds, the latter process being accompanied by the formation of vinylidene and vinyl double bonds as well as some endlinking. Very surprisingly, the loss of original double bonds contributed also to a novel photocyclization which gave rise to cyclopropyl groups in the polyisoprene chain. The isomerization and the formation of cycloprophyl groups are presumed to proceed through triplet and biradical states of the 1,4 double bonds, while the vinylidene and vinyl double bonds must result from chain repture at the carbon–carbon bond joining successive isoprene units. Hydrogen abstraction and double-bond migration are of neglible importance in the overall photochemistry of polyisoprene.     

Synthesis and characterization of polymers of 1,4-hexadienes

The homopolymerization of trans-1,4-hexadiene, cis-1,4-hexadiene, and 5-methyl-1,4-hexadiene was investigated with a variety of catalysts. During polymerization, 1,4-hexadienes undergo concurrent isomerization reactions. The nature and extent of isomerization products are influenced by the monomer structure and polymerization conditions. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and infrared (IR) data show that poly(trans-1,4-hexadiene) and poly(cis-1,4-hexadiene) prepared with a Et₃Al/α-TiCl₃/hexamethylphosphoric triamide catalyst system consist mainly of 1,2-polymerization units arranged in a regular head-to-tail sequence. A 300-MHz proton NMR spectrum shows that the trans-hexadiene polymer is isotactic; it also may be the case for the cis-hexadiene polymer. These polymers are the first examples of uncrosslinked ozone-resistant rubbers containing pendant unsaturation on alternating carbon atoms of the saturated carbon-carbon backbone. Polymerization of the 1,4-hexadienes was also studied with VOCl₃- and β-TiCl₃-based catalysts. Microstructures of the resulting polymers are quite complicated due to significant loss of unsaturation, in contrast to those obtained with the α-TiCl₃-based catalyst. In agreement with the literature, there was no discernible monomer isomerization with the VOCl₃ catalyst system.     

Polymerization of Acetylenic Derivatives. XXVI. Polymerization of 9-Ethynylanthracene with Phosphinic,Arsinic, and Stibinic Initiators

9-Ethynylanthracene has been polymerized at 80°C by use of complex phosphinic, arsinic, and stibinic initiators, e. g., NiCl₂′2PPh₃, and the obtained products have been divided into benzene-soluble and benzene-insoluble fractions. It has been shown that the benzene-insoluble polymer has a conjugated polyenic structure while the soluble polymer, with M less than 1500 daltons, contains dihydroanthracene units in the backbone in addition to the conjugated double bonds. It has been found that by using the above initiators the polymers are mainly cis. The cis to trans isomerization has been shown by DTA and DSC measurements to occur between 260 and 290° C.     

Thermal rearrangements of polybutadienes with different vinyl contents

A study was made of the loss of double bonds in equibinary (1,4-1,2) polybutadiene (EB) and in polybutadienes with 30% 1,2, 70% 1,4 (FI), and 10% 1,2, 90% 1,4 (DI) double-bond content, when heated in vacuum under nonpyrolytic conditions (temperature range 220–280°C). These polymers were found to undergo second-order loss of 1,2 unsaturation with similar activation energies (E_a = 34.0 ± 3 kcal/mole), by analogy to the previously reported thermally induced loss of double bonds in 1,2-polybutadiene (VB) (E_a = 33.6 ± 3 kcal/mole). Moreover, EB and FI exhibited also second-order loss of 1,4 unsaturation, with E_a ca. 36 and 40 kcal/mole, respectively, while DI showed negligible loss of 1,4 unsaturation below 260°C, in common with cis-1,4-polybutadiene (CB) (with 2% 1,2 double bonds) examined earlier. The loss of 1,2 double bonds in the various polybutadienes with different vinyl contents is accompanied by substantial methyl production, ranging from about one methyl group formed for every 4–5 vinyl units lost in VB, to one methyl for every two vinyls lost in EB, and to almost one methyl for each vinyl lost in DI or CB. Mechanisms are proposed for the thermally induced loss of 1,2 and 1,4 unsaturation in various polybutadienes and for the accompanying methyl production.     

Photochemical and electrochemical Z–E isomerization of 1,4-dialkoxy-2,5-bis[2-(thien-2-yl)ethenyl]benzene stereoisomers

The group of 1,4-dialkoxy-2,5-bis[2-(thien-2-yl)ethenyl]benzene stereoisomers was synthesized in which methoxy- and ethoxy-groups were used as alkoxy-substituents. These isomers were characterized as solution species both electrochemically and spectroscopically. As expected, these compounds, having a stilben like structure, are the subject of photoisomerization, which is described and discussed. It is demonstrated how electrochemical process may cause isomerization of the double CC bonds in that group of compounds. An attempt of using electrochemical methods to monitor the process of photoisomerization of these compounds is presented. Mechanism of the oxidatively induced electrochemical isomerization has been proposed and discussed. The electrochemical isomerization mechanism is verified by digital simulation, which allowed estimating basic kinetic parameters of the processes.     

Double-bond isomerization and hydrogenation in polyethylene with soluble nickel catalysts

Polyethylene exhibits an increase in melt viscosity (melt index drop-off) when subjected to extreme thermal treatment. Although stabilizers and antioxidants do not prevent this change it has been possible to stabilize high-density polyethylene by isomerization or hydrogenation of the polymer unsaturation. A soluble nickel octoate–triethylauminum complex was an active catalyst system for these reactions. A triethyl-aluminum/nickel ratio of three appeared optimum for maximum activity. Of particular interest regarding this catalyst system was the fact that the terminal vinyl unsaturation of the polymer had to be isomerized to some internal position before hydrogenation commenced. However, when this catalyst system was impregnated on a predried silica or when butyllithium was substituted for triethylaluminum, both isomerization and hydrogenation occurred simultaneously. The addition of a light olefin such as ethylene to the reaction mixture slowed the overall reaction until most of the ethylene had been hydrogenated. At this point the isomerization–hydrogenation reaction path previously mentioned commenced.     

Synthesis,photophysics, structure‐tunable photoluminescence,and electrochemical properties of soluble poly(p‐phenylenevinylene)‐based polymers with adjacent 1,3,4‐oxadiazoles in the backbone

Three new poly(p‐phenylenevinylene)‐based polymers containing two 1,3,4‐oxadiazole moieties in the main chain per repeat unit were synthesized by Heck coupling. A single, double, or triple bond was introduced between the oxadiazoles to provide a means for modifying the polymer properties. The polymers were readily soluble in common organic solvents and showed T_g values lower than 50 °C. The color of the emissive light in both the solid state and the solution could be tuned by a change in the nature of the bond between the oxadiazole rings. The polymers emitted ultraviolet‐green light in solution with a photoluminescence (PL) emission maximum at 345–483 nm and blue‐green light at 458–542 nm in thin films. The PL quantum yields in solution were 0.36–0.43. The electrochemical properties are affected by the nature of the bond between the oxadiazoles as well. In polymers with a single bond between the oxadiazoles, a lower ionization potential was observed than in polymers with a double or triple bond. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 3079–3090, 2005     

Copolymers of 1,4-Dienes with Monoolefins via a Cyclocopolymerization Mechanism

The copolymerizations of divinyl ether, divinyl sulfone, and 1,4-pentadiene with certain monoolefinic monomers were studied. High molecular weight (inherent viscosity ≥ 1.0) copolymers of divinyl ether with maleic anhydride could be prepared using dichlorobenzoyl peroxide as the initiator. Derivatives of this copolymer were also prepared and studied. Divinyl sulfone and 1,4-pentadiene also gave soluble polymers with maleic anhydride but the inherent viscosities were much lower. Copolymerizations of these three dienes with dimethyl maleate, acrylonitrile, or vinyl acetate gave either low molecular weight materials at low conversions or cross-linked polymer at higher conversion. All of the soluble copolymers obtained showed little aliphatic unsaturation in the infrared, supporting the cyclocopolymerization theory.     

Initiator‐fragment incorporation radical copolymerization of vinyl acetate and 1,2‐polybutadiene as a multivinyl monomer

The copolymerization of vinyl acetate (VAc) with 1,2‐polybutadiene (1,2‐PB; 85.5% 1,2‐units and 14.5% 1,4‐units) as a multivinyl monomer was carried out at 80 °C in dioxane with dimethyl 2,2′‐azobisisobutyrate (MAIB) at high concentrations (0.10–0.50 mol/L) as an initiator. The copolymerization of 1,2‐PB [0.80 mol/L (monomer unit)] and VAc (1.20 mol/L) with MAIB (0.30 mol/L) for 4 h proceeded homogeneously without gelation to yield a soluble copolymer. The resulting copolymer was divided into methanol‐ and n‐hexane‐insoluble parts, of which the yields based on the total weight of the comonomers and initiator were 46 and 20%, respectively. The methanol‐insoluble part consisted of the fractions of the 1,2‐PB units with (9 mol %) and without (39 mol %) an intact double bond, the 1,4‐PB unit (8 mol %), the VAc unit (32 mol %), and the methoxycarbonylpropyl group (12 mol %) as the MAIB fragment, whereas the hexane‐insoluble one was composed of the fraction of the 1,2‐PB units with (4 mol %) and without (17 mol %) a double bond, the 1,4‐PB unit (4 mol %), the VAc unit (60 mol %), and the methoxycarbonylpropyl group (15 mol %). The use of higher concentrations of 1,2‐PB and VAc and lower concentrations of MAIB resulted in gelation. The cast film from a chloroform solution of the methanol‐insoluble part contained spherical pores organized in a hexagonal way with a monodisperse pore size of 3 μm. The copolymer molecules seemed to be arranged in an ordered way on the surface layer of the pores, as shown by an optical microscopy image under crossed polarizers. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 2328–2337, 2006     

Thiol–ene coupling reaction of fatty acid monomers

The reactivities and reaction rates of the thiol–ene coupling reaction of 2‐ethyl‐(hydroxymethyl)‐1,3‐propanediol trimercapto acetate and 2‐ethyl‐(hydroxymethyl)‐1,3‐propanediol trimercapto propionate with two common unsaturated fatty acid methyl esters (methyl oleate and methyl linoleate) were evaluated. The reactions were monitored with real‐time IR and ¹H NMR, which both showed that the mercapto acetate was more reactive than the mercapto propionate. Both thiols were more prone to add to the monounsaturated methyl oleate than to methyl linoleate, which contained two unconjugated double bonds. According to bond energy calculations, the thiol hydrogen of mercapto acetate was somewhat more difficult to abstract than the hydrogen of mercapto propionate. Consequently, the formed S? C bond in the acetate case was stronger than in the propionate case, and so the equilibrium was more shifted toward the addition products. The real‐time IR measurements also showed that the cis unsaturation in methyl oleate isomerized much more quickly than that in methyl linoleate, and this also had an impact on the overall addition rate of the thiols because a trans unsaturation was more reactive than a cis unsaturation. The higher isomerization rates in the oleate systems, compared with those of the linoleate systems, was suggested to be due to a more restricted rotation along the C? C bond of the reacted unsaturation in linoleate. This study showed the importance of trans unsaturations in obtaining reasonable reaction rates in thiol–ene reactions with fatty acid derivatives. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 6346–6352, 2004     

Polymerization of tert-alkylacetylenes by Mo- and W-based catalysts

Polymerization of three tert-alkylacetylenes (3,3-dimethyl-1-pentyne, 3,3-dimethyl-1-nonyne, 1-adamantylacetylene) by Mo- and W-based catalysts provided new polymers in virtually quantitative yields. In contrast, Ziegler catalysts did not polymerize these monomers. Every polymer had a form of white solid, and had alternating double bonds along the main chain. Though some of poly(3,3-dimethyl-1-pentyne)s contained a toluene-insoluble fraction, the polymer was totally soluble when proper polymerization conditions were chosen. The molecular weights of soluble fractions were as high as 3 × 10⁵. Poly(3,3-dimethyl-1-nonyne) was also partly insoluble in toluene, and the quantity of soluble fraction was less than that of poly(3,3-dimethyl-1-pentyne). The geometric structure of these two polymers could be controlled by the choice of suitable polymerization conditions. Poly(1-adamantylacetylene) was insoluble in any organic solvents. Copolymerization of 1-adamantylacetylene with suitable comonomers afforded soluble copolymers.     

Synthesis and properties of anthracene-containing polybenzyls

A number of alternating copolymers containing anthryl and aryl units in the polymer chain have been prepared by Friedel-Crafts arylation of the anthracene (polymer type B) or by condensation of 9,10-bis(chloromethyl) anthracene with opportune aromatic substrates (polymer type A). Polymers of type A were all found to contain 9,10-disubstituted anthracene units, but polymers of type B were found to contain 1,4-disubstituted anthracene units. Structure of the polymers were established through their NMR and ultraviolet spectra, and through analogy with appropriate model compounds. It has been found that the inclusion of anthracene units in the polymer chain yields higher melting and more soluble materials with respect to polybenzyls containing only aryl units. Anthracene units introduce, also, some interesting fluorescence characteristics in the polymers, which show intense emission at about 440 mμ.     

Radiochemical determination of low unsaturations in polyisobutene. Stoichiometry of the reaction between chlorine and branched double bonds

In a previous paper, the radiochemical determination of low unsaturation in polyisobutene was effected by reacting radiochlorine with the double bonds. The reaction is one of substitution rather than addition, and the derivation of true unsaturation values required an assumption to be made regarding the number of chlorine atoms (one or two) incorporated per double bond. In this paper the assumption is tested by examining the stoichiometry of the chlorination of suitable model compounds of known or measurable unsaturation under the experimental conditions used previously. It is found that reaction leads to a monochloro product rather than the dichloro product previously assumed. Conclusions regarding the chain termination process in isobutene polymerization are re-examined in the light of this result.     

Composition of vinylidene chloride/phenylacetylene (VDC/PA) copolymers and vinylidene chloride/methyl acrylate/phenylacetylene (VDC/MA/PA) terpolymers from analysis by 13C-NMR spectroscopy

¹³C-NMR spectroscopy has been utilized to characterize Saran polymers containing polyene segments generated by incorporating phenylacetylene (PA) units into either poly(vinylidene chloride) (PVDC) or a typical Saran copolymer of 91% vinylidene chloride (VDC) and 9% methyl acrylate (MA). The incorporation of PA could not be defined in the usual statistical way because the presence of the PA double bond in the polymer backbone appeared to cause the dehydrohalogenation of units next to it. Thus, sequences of PA next to VDC were not observed. Rather, sequences of olefinic units next to VDC units were present at a level equal to the level of PA incorporation. The level of unsaturation in the PA copolymers is approximately four times the level of PA incorporation. These observations are consistent with the random incorporation into the copolymer of PA which then initiates the dehydrohalogenation in adjacent VDC units. This dehydrohalogenation reaction appears to propagate from one unit to the next along the backbone of the polymer such that polyene segments containing the PA unit are formed.     

Cationic ring-opening polymerization of 2-isopropenyl-4-methylene-1,3-dioxolane

Preparation and cationic ring-opening polymerization of 2-isopropenyl-4-methylene-1,3-dioxolane ( VI ) was performed. Unsaturated cyclic acetal VI was prepared by dehydrochlorination of 2-isopropenyl-4-chloromethyl-1,3-dioxolane, which was easily obtained from methacrolein and epichlorohydrin, with sodium methoxide at ambient temperature. The cationic polymerization of VI with BF₃OEt₂ or CF₃SO₃H at ?78°C afforded only crosslinked polymers, whereas the polymerization by CH₃SO₃H gave soluble poly(keto-ether) which consisted of units VII containing an isopropenyl group in the side chain and units VIII containing a carbon-carbon double bond in the main chain. The reaction of VI with ethanethiol in the presence of protic acid was also carried out as a model reaction of the polymerization. The reaction initiated by the addition of proton to the 4-methylene group of VI , and quantitative ring-opening isomerization followed by the addition of ethanethiol afforded acyclic ketone IX and X . On the basis of the model reaction, the polymerization mechanism is also discussed. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Branching Regulation in Olefin Polymerization via Lewis Acid Triggered Isomerization of Monomers

We present a new strategy to regulate branching in chain‐walking olefin polymerization by triggering a rapid isomerization of 1‐alkene monomers into internal olefins by adding a Lewis acid. Polymerization of internal alkenes proceeds via chain‐walking to give polymers with much higher branching than 1‐alkene analogues. The utility of this approach is exemplified by synthesis of well‐defined block copolymers with distinct branching characteristics per block by addition of Lewis acid midway through a reaction. We propose a novel mechanism whereby Lewis acid undergoes a counterion swap with the complex which favors isomerization as well as forming adducts with ancillary ligands, freeing coordination sites for internal alkene coordination polymerization.     

Synthesis of a novel cyclic sulfone dihydropyridine: An investigation of the isomerization reaction converting an exocyclic double bond isomer into a 1,4-dihydropyridine

An eight membered cyclic sulfone 1,4-dihydropyridine, RWJ 22726, 1 , with remarkable cardiovascular activity was prepared by isomerization of an exocyclic double bond isomer using various reaction conditions. Under acidic and thermal isomerization conditions, an equilibrium mixture of products in an optimum ratio of 1:3.5 in favor of the desired 1,4-dihydropyridine was obtained. Equilibration using basic reaction conditions could not be effected. Complete conversion to the 1,4-dihydropyridine during the isomerization reaction was ultimately achieved by selective precipitation of the hydrochloride salt of the desired isomer.     

催化裂化油浆中烯烃分布研究

以某催化裂化油浆为原料,通过二烯值和溴价分析方法测定了其四组分和五个馏分中共轭烯烃(双键)和烯烃(双键)的含量;同时结合紫外光谱法、核磁共振氢谱法(~1H-NMR)对其四组分和五个馏分中的烯烃类型和含量进行了表征和测定。结果表明,催化裂化油浆中的确存在烯烃(双键)和共轭烯烃(双键),其烯烃(双键)和共轭烯烃(双键)的含量高达21%和6%,四组分中的共轭烯烃(双键)含量依次增多,五个馏分中共轭烯烃(双键)的含量在5%左右,且四组分和五个馏分中烯烃(双键)的含量均呈现先减小后增大的趋势。同时,不同组分和不同馏分之间正构α-烯烃和内烯烃的含量也存在差异。