Reaction rate of crosslinkings by using a metallated polymer. II. Intermolecular and intramolecular crosslinkings at the second state

Lithium-metallated styrene–p-benzylstyrene copolymer was reacted with the branched polymer with chlorine groups at the pendant chain ends (multifunctional branched polymer) in tetrahydrofuran (THF) at 25°C. The rate constant was estimated from the changes in the concentration of metallated polymer by using photometrical measurements. The various reaction conditions were chosen and it became clear that the rate constants of intermolecular (k₂₀) and intramolecular (k_3intra) crosslinkings were derived separately at the second stage. k₂₀ showed a constant value in spite of the molecular weight of crosslinker chains and was about equal to the rate constant of the grafting. The rate of intramolecular crosslinking at the second stage increased with decreasing the molecular weight of pendant chains of multifunctional branched polymer.     

Reaction rate of crosslinkings by using metallated polymer. I. Grafting and intramolecular crosslinkings at the first stage

Lithium-metallated styrene–p-benzylstyrene copolymer was reacted with chlorine-terminated polystyrene as a crosslinker polymer in tetrahydrofuran (THF) at 25°C. The rate constant was estimated from the changes in the concentration of metallated polymer by using photometrical measurements. The various reaction conditions were chosen and it became clear that the rate constants of grafting (k₁) and intramolecular crosslinkings (k_2intra) were gotten separately at the first stage. As a result, k_2intra showed larger values than k₁ and decreased with increasing degree of polymerization of crosslinker polymers.     

Studies on propagating species in cationic polymerization of styrene derivatives by acetyl perchlorate or iodine. IV. Common-ion salt effect on the polymerization rate and the steric structure of the polymer obtained by acetyl perchlorate

Effects of a common-ion salt, n-Bu₄NClO₄, on the cationic polymerization of styrene and p-chlorostyrene by acetyl perchlorate were studied in a variety of solvents at 0°C. In polymerization (in CH₂Cl₂) which yielded polymers with a bimodal molecular weight distribution (MWD), addition of the salt suppressed the formation of higher polymers, but affected neither the molecular weight nor the steric structure of the lower polymers. The polymerization rate decreased with increasing salt concentration and became constant at or above a certain concentration. In nitrobenzene, on the other hand, the MWD of the polymers was unimodal and steric structure was unchanged even in the presence of salt at a concentration 50 times that of the catalyst. However, the polymerization rate and the polymer molecular weight decreased monotonically as salt concentration increased. On the basis of these results, it was concluded that the ion pair in methylene chloride differs from that in nitrobenzene, and that the species in the latter solvent is similar in nature to free ions. The fractional contribution of the dissociated and nondissociated propagating species to polymer formation was determined from the rate depression caused by addition of the salt.     

Polymerization and reaction rate studies on substituted phenylmethylbis(dimethylamino)silanes

The synthesis of seven para- or meta-substituted phenylmethylbis(dimethylamino)-silane monomers has been carried out. These silanes were polymerized with 1,4-bis(hydroxydimethylsilyl)benzene in tetrahydrofuran at 30°C, and the polymerization kinetics were followed by monitoring dimethylamine evolution for 200 min. The polymers were quenched by precipitation in methanol and molecular weight data were obtained. The polymerizations followed second-order kinetics in every case as evidenced by the linear plots of 1/(a ? x) versus time. The molecular weight data generally correlated with the specific reaction rate constant k₂ to show an increasing polymer molecular weight with increasing polymerization rate, although the range of k₂ values obtained for the substituted aminosilanes was relatively small (2.50 × 10^?5–6.67 × 10^?5 l./mole-sec). The value of k₂ increased in the following order: p-OCH₃, p-F, m-CH₃, H, m-OCH₃, p-CF₃, 3,5-di(CF₃). The logarithms of the rate constants correlated with the σ constants for the substituents, with a reaction constant, ρ of 0.391. The displacement at silicon in these reactions is discussed in terms of bimolecular mechanisms in which a four-center transition state may participate.     

Poly(alkylene oxide) ionomers IX. Polymerization of methyl ω-epoxyalkanoates and characterization of the polymers

Polymerization of linear methyl ω-epoxyalkanoates of C-3 to C-10 carboxylic acids (0 to 7 methylene groups between oxirane ring and carbomethoxy group) was accomplished with a triethylaluminum/water/acetylacetone (1.0/0.5/1.0) initiator system to yield polymers of high molecular weight, apparently via a coordinative anionic mechanism. The rate of polymerization increased as the number of methylene groups between the oxirane ring and the carbomethoxy group increased, up to three methylene groups. When more than three methylene groups separate the polymerizable oxirane group and the carbomethoxy group, the rate of polymerization becomes essentially constant. The polymers were characterized by their infrared and ¹³C-NMR spectra, DSC, GPC, and inherent viscosity. The lower members of the series (ω-epoxyalkanoates of n < 3) gave polymers of lower molecular weight and wider-molecular-weight distribution (M _w/M _n > 2), while the higher members had molecular weight distributions between 1.5 and 2. The glass transition temperatures of the polymers also decreased from ?26°C for n = 1 to around ?50 to ?55°C for n ≥ 3.     

Synthesis and kinetic analysis of DPE controlled radical polymerization of MMA

The 1,1‐diphenylethene (DPE) controlled radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate was performed at 80 °C by using AIBN as an initiator and DPE as a control agent. It was found that the molecular weight of polymer remained constant with monomer conversion throughout the polymerization regardless of the amounts of DPE and initiator in formulation. To understand the result of constant molecular weight of living polymers in DPE controlled radical polymerization, a living kinetic model was established in this research to evaluate all the rate constants involved in the DPE mechanism. The rate constant k₂, corresponding to the reactivation reaction of the DPE capped dormant chains, was found to be very small at 80 °C (1 × 10^?5 s^?1), that accounted for the result of constant molecular weight of polymers throughout the polymerization, analogous to a traditional free radical polymerization system that polymer chains were terminated by chain transfer. The polydispersity index (PDI) of living polymers was well controlled <1.5. The low PDI of obtained living polymers was due to the fact that the rate of growing chains capped by DPE was comparable with the rate of propagation. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2009     

Polymerization and crosslinking of epoxides: Base-catalyzed polymerization of phenyl glycidyl ether

The anionic polymerization of 2,3-epoxypropyl phenyl ether initiated by sodium methoxide and dimsyl sodium in dioxane and in dimethyl sulfoxide has been studied. Kinetic and dielectric constant measurements have been recorded, and a mechanism for the initiation reaction with dimsyl sodium has been put forward. Polymerization initiated with dimsyl sodium revealed almost total absence of sulfur in the polymer by endgroup analysis. The reaction was shown to be inhibited by oxygen. Molecular weight determinations have indicated a reaction involving transfer to give polymers of lower than calculated M?_n and a ratio of k_p/k_tr ratio of approximately 73. Gel-permeation chromatography suggests a narrow molecular weight distribution in the polymers prepared.     

Stereospecific and molecular weight‐controlled polymerization of 1,3‐butadiene with Co(acac)3‐MAO catalyst

The polymerization of butadiene (Bd) with Co(acac)₃ in combination with methylaluminoxane (MAO) was investigated. The polymerization of Bd with Co(acac)₃‐MAO catalysts proceeded to give cis‐1,4 polymers (94 – 97%) bearing high molecular weights (40 × 10⁴) with relatively narrow molecular weight distributions (M_w's/M_n's). The molecular weight of the polymers increased linearly with the polymer yield, and the line passed through an original point. The polydispersities of the polymers kept almost constant during reaction time. This indicates that the microstructure and molecular weight of the polymers can be controlled in the polymerization of Bd with the Co(acac)₃‐MAO catalyst. The effects of reaction temperature, Bd concentration, and the MAO/Co molar ratio on the cis‐1,4 microstructure and high molecular weight polymer in the polymerization of Bd with Co(acac)₃‐MAO catalyst were observed. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 39: 2793–2798, 2001     

Organometallic polymers. XXV. Preparation of polyvinylferrocene

The synthetic details of solution polymerization in benzene and bulk polymerization of vinylferrocene are reported. In benzene solutions, with azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) as the initiator, small yields of low-polydispersity low molecular weight (M?_n ? 5000) polyvinylferrocene is obtained. However, high yields can be obtained by continuous or multiple AIBN addition. Higher molecular weight polymers and binodal polymers can be obtained as the monomer concentration is increased. In bulk polymerizations, yields of 80% can be obtained. The molecular weight increases as temperature decreases from 80 to 60°C in bulk polymerizations, and an increasing amount of insoluble polymer results. The soluble portion is often binodal, the higher molecular weight node consisting of an increasingly branched structure. Lower molecular weight polymer was readily fractionated into narrow fractions from benzene–methanol systems, but higher molecular weight polymer proved impossible to fractionate into narrow fractions due to branching.     

Polymer drying. II. Replicated time-studies of molecular desorption from liquid swollen poly(styrene-co-divinylbenzene) before and after transition from the gel-state to the glass-state

A total of 90 time-studies were monitored gravimetrically in order to establish the parameters that affect the reproducibility of the kinetic changes that occur sequentially when liquid-saturated poly(styrene-co-divinylbenzene) [poly(Sty-co-DVB)] particles, enmeshed in a matrix of polytetrafluroethylene (PTFE) microfibers, are allowed to evaporate to apparent dryness at constant temperature. The test liquids were toluene, chloroform, and acetone. The absorbent samples were made from six different compositions of polymer particles, the DVB mode fractions, x, of which increased from 0.01 to 0.11. The weight, W_g, of residual sorbed molecules per gram of polymer at the glass-transition composition was constant despite the large differences in x. Thereafter the weight of residual sorbed molecules was given by a linear combination of up to six exponential decay functions, which indicated that these molecules were “locked” into six different types of molecular environments (i.e., populations) created by the change from the gel-state to the glass-state. The fractions of W_g in the populations with the fastest (k₁) and the slowest (k_n) decay rates were usually less than those with intermediate decay rates. The logarithm of k_i in a given time study was a linear function of i, the numerical sequence of decreasing k.     

Living cationic polymerization of isobutyl propenyl ether as β-substituted vinyl ether

Isobutyl propenyl ether [IBPE; CH₃CH=CH? OCH₂CH(CH₃)₂] was polymerized with a mixture of hydrogen iodide and iodine (HI/I₂ initiator) in n-hexane at ?40°C to yield living polymers with a nearly monodisperse molecular weight distribution (MWD) (M?_w/M?_n ≈ 1.1). The number-average molecular weight (M?_n) of the polymers increased proportionally to IBPE conversion and further increased when a new monomer feed was added to a completely polymerized solution. The M?_n was controlled by the initial concentration of hydrogen iodide if the acid was charged in excess over iodine. In polymerization by iodine alone the M?_n of the polymers obtained in nonpolar solvents (n-hexane and toluene) also increased with conversion, but their MWD was broader (M?_w/M?_n = 1.3–1.4) than in the HI/I₂-initiated systems under similar conditions. The iodine-initiated polymerization in polar CH₂Cl₂ solvent, in contrast, led to nonliving polymers with a broad MWD (M?_n/M?_n = 1.6–1.8) and M?_n, independent of conversion. The living polymerization of IBPE was also compared with that of the corresponding isobutyl vinyl ether, to determine the effect of the β-methyl group in IBPE.     

Gamma radiation-initiated polymerization of styrene at high pressure. II. Chain termination

The pressure dependence of the termination rate constant k_t for the free radical polymerization of monomers such as styrene is a function of polymer chain length, chain stiffness, and monomer viscosity, all of which influence the rate of segmental diffusion of an active radical chain end out of the coiled polymer chain to a position in which it can react with a proximate radical. Although k_t is not sensitive to changes in chain length, the large increase in molecular weight is responsible for a significant reduction in k_t at high pressures. For most of the common vinyl polymers, which exhibit some degree of chain stiffness, k_t is inversely proportional to a fractional power of the monomer viscosity because it depends in part on the resistance of chain segments to movement and in part on the influence of viscosity in controlling diffusion of the chain ends. The fractional exponent appears to increase with pressure and this is interpreted as evidence that the polymer chains become more flexible in a more viscous solvent. Because the fractional exponent is higher for more flexible chains, the value of the activation volume for chain termination is an indication of the degree of flexibility of the polymer chains, provided that the monomer is a good solvent for the polymer and that chain transfer is negligible.     

Radiation-induced polymerization at high dose rate. VI. Butadiene in n-hexane solution

Polymerization of butadiene by electron-beam irradiation was studied in n-hexane solution. Kinetic features of the polymerization and microstructure of the product were similar to those in bulk polymerization, which indicated a cationic mechanism. Both the rate of polymerization and average molecular weight of the product decreased by about 20% in the solution system. Soluble polymer was obtained up to ca. 40% conversion at the monomer concentration of 50 mol%, whereas in the bulk system the gel formed in polymer conversion exceeded 10%. A kinetic equation was proposed to explain the change in rate of polymerization with the monomer concentration.     

Synthesis and characterization of ring polybutadienes

It has been shown that butadiene initiated with potassium naphthalene in the mixture THF-n-hexane polymerizes conveniently rapidly. The active center is sufficiently stable below 0°C to produce narrow molecular weight linear polybutadiene. The two-ended living polymer has also served to prepare ring polybutadienes. The analysis of the ring polymers by a high-resolution set of SEC columns proved superior to the conventional method for the determination of the linear content in rings and in synthetic mixtures of rings and linear polymers. Dilute solution characterization of the linear and ring polymers shows that g_r′ = [η]/_r[η]_l is less than 0.66 in a good solvent.     

Modelling free-radical copolymerization kinetics—evaluation of the pseudo-kinetic rate constant method, 1. Molecular weight calculations for linear copolymers

The moment equations for binary copolymerization in the context of the terminal model have been solved numerically for a batch reactor operating over a wide range of conditions. Calculated number- and weight-average molecular weights were compared with those found using pseudo-kinetic rate constants with the method of moments and with the instantaneous property method for homopolymerization. With the pseudo-kinetic rate constant method under polymerization conditions where number-average molecular weights (M̄_n) are below about 10³ the error in calculating M̄_n exceeds 5%. The error increases rapidly with decrease in molecular weight for M̄_n < 10³. M̄_n measured experimentally for polymer chains (homo- and copolymers) have error limits of greater than ±5% at the 95% confidence level. Therefore, for all practical purposes, the pseudo-kinetic rate constant method is valid for M̄_n greater than 10³. Errors in calculating weight-average molecular weights (M̄_w) or higher averages are always smaller than those for M̄_n when applying the pseudo-kinetic rate constant method. The assumptions involved in molecular weight modelling using the pseudo-kinetic rate constant approach are thus proven to be valid, and therefore it is recommended that the pseudo-kinetic rate constant method be employed with the instantaneous property method to calculate the full molecular weight distribution and averages for linear chains synthesized by multicomponent chain growth polymerization.     

Effect of minor additives of arenes on chain termination in low-temperature cationic polymerization of isobutylene in aliphatic solvents

The influence of small concentrations (1—8 mmol L^–1) of arenes (viz., hexafluorobenzene, chlorobenzene, benzene, toluene, and mesitylene) on the molecular weight, molecular weight distribution, and degree of functionalization by terminal olefin groups was studied for polymers prepared by low-temperature (–78 °C) isobutylene polymerization in n-hexane initiated by the MeOH—AlBr₃ and Bu^tCl—AlBr₃ systems. The criteria extent of livingness k _el/k _p were calculated, where k _el and k _p are the rate constants of proton elimination and chain propagation, respectively. It was established that arenes can be involved in proton elimination from the growing carbocation, and their activity in this process increases with an increase in the basicity. Arenonium ions formed by the interaction of arenes with the components of the initiating system or with the growing ionic active centers can form complexes with counteranions, thus retarding proton elimination with the transfer to the counterion.     

Oxygen‐binding Protein Fiber and Microgel: Supramolecular Myoglobin–Poly(acrylate) Conjugates

A supramolecular conjugate of myoglobin (Mb) and water‐soluble poly(acrylate), (PA_5k and PA_25k, where 5k and 25k represent the molecular weight of the polymers, respectively), is constructed on the basis of a noncovalent heme‐heme pocket interaction. The modified heme with an amino group linked to the terminus of one of the heme‐propionates is coupled to the side‐chain carboxyl groups of poly(acrylate) activated by N‐hydroxysuccinimide. The ratios of the heme‐modified monomer unit and the unmodified monomer unit (m:n) in the polymer chains of Heme‐PA_5k and Heme‐PA_25k were determined to be 4.5:95.5 and 3.1:96.9, respectively. Subsequent addition of apoMb to the conjugated polymers provides Mb‐connected fibrous nanostructures confirmed by atomic force microscopy. A mixture of the heme‐modified polymer and dimeric apomyoglobin as a cross‐linker forms a microgel in which the reconstituted myoglobin retains its native exogenous ligand binding activity.     

Living cationic polymerization of ethyl 2-(vinyloxy)ethoxyacetate: A vinyl ether with an ether and an ester function in the pendant

Ethyl 2-(vinyloxy)ethoxyacetate ( 4 ; CH₂?CH? OCH₂CH₂OCH₂? COOC₂H₅), a vinyl ether having both carboxylic acid ester and oxyethylene unit in its pendant, afforded well-defined living polymers when polymerized by the hydrogen iodide/iodine (HI/I₂) initiating system in toluene at ?40°C. The polymers possessed a narrow molecular weight distribution (M _w/M _n ≤ 1.15), and their molecular weight (M _n) increased proportionally to monomer conversion or the molar ratio of the monomer to hydrogen iodide. The polymer molecular weight also increased upon addition of a fresh feed of the monomer to a completely polymerized reaction mixture. Polymers of high molecular weights (M _n > 5 × 10⁵) and broad molecular weight distributions were obtained by BF₃OEt₂ in toluene at ?40°C. Polymerization rate of 4 with HI/I₂ is ca. 100 times greater than that of the corresponding alkyl vinyl ether, and thus 4 was found to be one of the most reactive vinyl ethers thus far studied. Alkaline hydrolysis of the pendant ester groups of the polymers gave a vinyl ether-based polymeric carboxylic acid 6 with a narrow molecular weight distribution.     

Isothermal crystallization kinetics of poly(ethylene terephthalate)s of different molecular weights

The isothermal crystallization kinetics and morphology of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) polymers of different molecular weights have been studied by means of differential scanning calorimetry and transmission microscopy (TM). The kinetic parameters of Avrami exponent n, the rate constant k, half time t _1/2, rate at 50 % crystallinity, τ _1/2 for crystallization of different PETs were evaluated from double logarithmic plots of log {?ln[1 ? X(t)]} versus log t, where X(t) is extent of crystallinity at a given crystallization temperature. The crystallization rate of polymers with high molecular weight found to be lower than that of polymers with low molecular weight, at the same crystallization temperature. It was found that the nucleation mechanism and growth dimension of polymers with low molecular weight are different from those of polymers with high molecular weight. The results of TM and isothermal crystallization kinetics showed a consistent trend for the crystallization of all PET polymers studied, comprising a primary stage and a secondary stage. The activation energy in the PET polymers of low molecular weight was found to be lower than that of polymers with high molecular weight.     

Inorganic coordination polymers. X. Observations on the formation and nature of poly(di-μ-diphenylphosphinato-hydroxyaquochromium (III)),{Cr(H2O)(OH)-[OP(C6H5)2O]2}x

Under different conditions two products, one green and one brown, were obtained by the air oxidation of chromium(II) diphenylphosphinate. Air oxidation of an aqueous suspension of the phosphinate apparently yields a mixture in which the green form predominates. As initially isolated, the green form is a low molecular weight polymer corresponding to {Cr(H₂O)(OH)[OP(C₆H₅)₂O]₂}_n, with n approximately 11. It spontaneously polymerizes further in organic solvents to high molecular weight polymers of the same composition, with n in the range 150–200. This polymerization reaction in volves the elimination of water and is probably a reaction between endgroups resulting in a basically linear polymer. The brown product, corresponding to low molecular weight {Cr₂(H₂O)(OH)₂[OP(C₆H₅)₂O]₄}_p, also polymerizes spontaneously but at a faster rate and to a gel. The polymer so produced is less soluble than that produced from the low molecular weight green product and is probably crosslinked.