Polymerization of methyl methacrylate with cupric laurate-N,N-dimethyl formamide as initiator system

The polymerization of methyl methacrylate with cupric laurate in combination with N,N-dimethyl formamide as initiator was studied in carbon tetrachloride medium at 60°C. The rate of polymerization was found to be proportional to the 3/2th power of the monomer concentrations and to the square root of both cupric laurate and DMF concentrations. Spectroscopic investigations indicated a ternary complex formation involving cupric ion, methyl methacrylate, and DMF. A reaction scheme is suggested on the basis of these results and various kinetic constants have been evaluated.     

Kinetic studies of nonaqueous polymerization of methyl methacrylate initiated by ferric laurate–n-hexyl amine system

The polymerization of methyl methacrylate was studied in carbon tetrachloride medium with ferric laurate, a metal soap, in combination with n-hexyl amine as the initiator system at 60°C. The rate of polymerization was found to be linear with the monomer concentration and proportional to the square root of both ferric ion and amine concentration. A reaction scheme involving initial complex formation between ferric ion and amine and subsequent reaction of the complex with the solvent molecule to produce free radicals responsible for initiation of polymerization has been postulated to account for the observed results.     

Polymerization of methyl methacrylate with butyllithium–diethylzinc complex

The low-temperature polymerization of methyl methacrylate initiated with butyllithium–diethylzinc has been studied in toluene and in toluene–tetrahydrofuran and toluene–dioxane mixtures in various proportions. The polymerization process is typically anionic; it is characterized by a very rapid initiation reaction, and the absence of termination and chain transfer reactions, the molecular weight increasing proportionally with the degree of conversion. With toluene as a solvent, the polymer chains are associated, as is shown by viscometric measurements; moreover the polymers produced are highly polydisperse (M_v/M_n = 5.4). The kinetics are very complicated and vary with the range of the catalyst and monomer concentrations. In pure toluene in the presence of the organometallic complex, butyllithium–diethylzinc, the monomer addition is more stereospecific than when butyllithium alone is used as catalyst. By adding tetrahydrofuran to the reaction mixture, the polymer chain association disappears; concomitantly the stereochemical structure of the polymer changes from an isotactic to a mainly syndiotactic configuration. In toluene–tetrahydrofuran mixtures containing from 1 to 10 vol.-% tetrahydrofuran, the kinetics of polymerization can easily be interpreted by assuming the presence of two propagating reactive species which are in equilibrium with each other: the ion pair and the THF-solvated ion pair. The energy of activation of propagation for the free ion pair is equal to 7.5 kcal./mole; for the solvated ion pair a value of 5.5 kcal./mole was found, including the solvation enthalpy of the organometal with tetrahydrofuran. The existence of any relation between the reactivity of the propagating species and the tactic incorporation of the monomeric units has been discussed. The polymerization in mixtures of toluene–dioxane is intermediate between that in pure toluene and that in toluene–HF mixtures; the reaction mechanism however cannot be interpreted with the usual kinetic scheme. The experimental data concerning the rate dependence on catalyst and monomer concentrations are briefly summarized.     

Polymerization of methyl methacrylate by resin containing polyethylenepolyamine side chain–peroxide system

Macroreticular resins (RST) bearing polyethylenepolyamine side chain were prepared by the amination of the chloromethylated macroreticular styrene—divinylbenzene copolymer beads. The polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) was carried out in a water—organic solvent mixture containing hydroperoxide and RST. The polymerization of MMA proceeded smoothly in the presence of both hydroperoxide and RST. The presence of water was indispensable for this polymerization. 1,4-Dioxane hydroperoxide showed a high activity for the polymerization of MMA. The polymerization of MMA by this system was greatly affected by the structure of the resins. It was especially accelerated by using macroreticular resins with appropriate porosities.     

The cupric sulfate–hydrazine system as an initiator of vinyl polymerization. I. The polymerization of methyl methacrylate in aqueous solution in the presence of oxygen

The cupric sulfate–hydrazine system has been used to initiate the aqueous solution polymerization of methyl methacrylate at pH 9.25 in the presence of oxygen. At cupric sulfate concentrations greater than the saturation solubility of cupric hydroxide, hydrazine is adsorbed on, and decomposes on, the surface of the hydroxide. The kinetics of the decomposition are zero-order both in the absence and the presence of monomer. The initiation of the polymerization occurs both at the surface of the cupric hydroxide on to which some monomer is adsorbed and also in solution. Below the saturation solubility of cupric hydroxide, the initiation reaction between cupric ions and hydrazine occurs in solution.     

Cupric sulfate–hydrazine system as an initiator of vinyl polymerization. II. Polymerization of methyl methacrylate in aqueous solution in the absence of oxygen

The cupric sulfate–hydrazine system has been used to initiate the aqueous solution polymerization of methyl methacrylate at pH 9.25 in the absence of oxygen. There is no decomposition of hydrazine on the surface of the reduced cupric hydroxide until a flocculant precipitate is formed (cupric sulfate concentration of about 10^?3 mole/1). Below this concentration, the initiating reaction occurs solely in solution, the rate of polymerization decreasing when the reaction mixture becomes depleted in cupric ions. When a suitable surface area of the precipitated polymer is attained, adsorption and decomposition of hydrazine occurs on its surface, causing further initiation of polymerization.     

Polymerization of methyl methacrylate using isatoic anhydride–bromine donor–acceptor complex as the photoinitiator

Isatoic anhydride (IA) alone did not initiate photopolymerization of methyl metacrylate (MMA) at 40°C when exposed to visible light for about 180 min. But IA, when used in combination with bromine (Br₂) as the initiator, initiated the photopolymerization of MMA readily under the same conditions. This behavior was explained by the formation of a donor-acceptor type of complex between IA and Br₂ in the presence of MMA. The polymerization was found to proceed via a free radical mechanism and the radical generation process was considered to follow an initial complexation reaction between the initiator components and monomer. The complex initiator showed nonideal kinetics for the present system (initiator exponent < 0.5) and was analyzed. The monomer exponents varied from 0.83 to 1.15 normally depending on the nature of solvent used. Initiator-dependent chain termination was significant as well as the bimolecular mode of chain termination. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Polymerization of methyl methacrylate with ceric ion-methanol redox system

The polymerization of methyl methacrylate initiated by Ce⁴⁺ methanol redox system was studied in aqueous solution of nitric acid at 15°C. The polymerization was initiated by primary radicals formed from Ce⁴⁺/alcohol complex. Poly(methyl methacrylate) chains containing the alcohol residue were obtained. Variations in the temperatuare and concentration of the components of the redox system allowed the control of the rate of polymerization and molecular weight of the polymer. The concentration of the hydroxyl end groups in the poly(methyl methacrylate) of low molecular weight was determined by titration and by spectrometric method.     

Polymerization of methyl methacrylate in a tetrahydrofuran–maleic anhydride system. Part II

A donor–acceptor complex consisting of tetrahydrofuran and maleic anhydride initiates photochemical and thermal polymerization of methyl methacrylate. The mechanism of the transformation of this complex was investigated by studying changes in its electrical conductivity, its chemiluminescence, and various influences on its initiating capability (water, air, DPPH, substitution of styrene for methyl methacrylate and of 1,4-dioxane for tetrahydrofuran). It has been shown that initiation by radicals cannot be clearly excluded and that ionic radicals form in the system and can initiate the anionic growth of the chain.     

Polymerization of methyl methacrylate initiated by tri-n-butylborane–organic halide systems

The polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) initiated by tri-n-butylborane (TBB) was studied in the presence of various organic halides (R′X). It was found that R′X accelerated the polymerization of MMA. Aliphatic halides were more effective than aromatic halides. Cocatalytic effects of butyl halides decreased in the order: n -BuI > n -BuBr > n -BuCl; n -BuBr ? sec-BuBr > i-BuBr > tert-BuBr. In the polymerization of MMA by TBB- n -BuI, the initial rate of polymerization was found to be proportional to the concentration of MMA and to the square root of the concentration of TBB-n-BuI. The apparent activation energy was 5.3 kcal/mole. From this and other results, it was assumed that the polymerization of MMA by this initiator system proceeds by a radical mechanism via a weak complex between TBB and R′X; alkyl radicals are formed by the interaction of R′X with TBB. The TBB–R′X system can initiate the polymerization of MMA and AN, but is ineffective in the polymerization of styrene.     

Polymerization of methyl methacrylate initiated by Mn(III)–glycerol redox system

The kinetics of thermal polymerization of methyl methacrylate initiated by the redox system Mn(III)–glycerol was studied in aqueous sulfuric acid in the temperature range of 30–40°C, and the rates of polymerization, R_p, and Mn³⁺ disappearance, etc., were measured. The effect of certain water-miscible organic solvents and certain cationic and anionic surfactants on the rates of polymerization has been investigated. A mechanism involving the formation of a complex between Mn³⁺ and glycerol whose decomposition yields the initiating free radical with the polymerization being terminated by the metal ion has been suggested.     

Photoinitiated polymerization of methyl methacrylate and methyl acrylate with 14C-labeled benzoin methyl ethers

Three ¹⁴C-labeled benzoin methyl ether (α-methoxy-α-phenylacetophenone) derivatives were utilized as photoinitiators in the polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) and methyl acrylate (MA). The results of polymer end-group analysis are in accord with a mechanism of benzoin ether photocleavage into initiator radicals and dispute earlier labeling studies which were interpreted as evidence for copolymerization of excited-state benzoin ethers with reactive monomers. In MMA polymerization, the results indicate a preference for termination by disproportionation (～60%) and provide evidence for primary radical termination at 0.041M photoinitiator (optically dense solutions) in neat MMA. Evidence for chain branching by initiator radical hydrogen abstraction from poly(methyl acrylate) (PMA) is also presented. The benzoyl and α-methoxybenzyl radicals, produced on photolysis of benzoin methyl ether, appear to be equally effective in both initiation and hydrogen-abstraction processes. Quantum yields at 366 and 313 nm indicate the absence of a wavelength effect.     

Polymerization of methyl methacrylate with cobalt acetylacetonate-diethyl zinc catalyst system

Polymerization of methyl methacrylate was studied with a cobalt acetylacetonate-diethyl zinc catalyst initiator system in benzene medium at 40°C. When the stoichiometric ratio of Zn/Co is 2, the activity for polymerization is found to be maximum. The structure of the obtained polymethyl methacrylate is compared with that obtained using a free-radical initiator such as benzoyl peroxide. The structure of polymer and the M?_w/M?_n values indicate that cobalt acetylacetonate-zinc diethyl system has pronounced free-radical characteristics. A suitable mechanism is proposed from the kinetic studies. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate with 2,2,3-triphenylpropanoic acid as an initiator

An unsymmetrical compound, 2,2,3-triphenylpropanoic acid (TPPA), was successfully prepared from phenyllithium, 1,1-diphenylethylene (DPE), gas carbon dioxide (CO₂), and aqueous standard solution of hydrochloric acid with LiCl deprivation. Characterization of the compound was performed by ¹H and ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) was performed in the presence of TPPA at 95 °C. The free radicals obtained were characterized by ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC/Q-TOF MS). Gel permeation chromatography (GPC) traces of the average molecular weight of poly(MMA) (PMMA) showed a series of translations with increasing time. The average molecular weight of PMMA indicated narrow polydispersity, and an approximately linear relationship was found between ln ([M]₀/[M]) and polymerization time.

Polymerization of acrylamide with persulfate–thiomalic acid initiator

The redox system of potassium persulfate–thiomalic acid (I₁–I₂) was used to initiate the polymerization of acrylamide (M) in aqueous medium. For 20–30% conversion the rate equation is where R_p is the rate of polymerization. Activation energy is 8.34 kcal deg^?1 mole^?1 in the investigated range of temperature 25–45°C. M_n is directly proportional to [M] and inversely to [I₁]. The range of concentrations for which these observations hold at 35°C and pH 4.2 are [I₁] = (1.0–3.0) × 10^?3, [I₂] = (3.0–7.5) × 10^?3, and [M] = 5.0 × 10^?2–3.0 × 10^?1 mole/liter.     

Polymerization of methyl methacrylate with nickelocene‐methylaluminoxane catalyst

The polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) catalyzed with cyclopentadienylnickel‐methylaluminoxane (Cp₂Ni‐MAO) was investigated. Polymerization readily proceeds with this catalyst, and the resulting polymer is rich in syndiotactic content. The effects of the MAO/Ni system on the polymerization activity of MMA were observed, and it was found that only small amounts of MAO are required to reach high polymerization activity.