Mechanism of vinyl chloride polymerization

An overall mechanistic scheme for the suspension polymerization of vinyl chloride is presented. The process can be resolved into five discrete stages, each of which presents a unique environment for the interaction of the systems parameters. It is shown that the surface area of the polymer formed during the reaction is not a major factor in autoacceleration and that the increase of kinetic chain length with conversion is due to a radical dilution effect. The latter is a direct result of the difference in rates between polymerization and radical formation, the former being greater. The increase of the initial polymerization rate and the reduction of autoacceleration brought about by chain transfer agents can be explained by the lower diffusion rate and greater bulkiness of the chain transfer agent radical relative to that of the monomer radical. The chaintransfer agent CBr₄ is preferentially absorbed by PVC from solution in vinyl chloride. With lauryl peroxide as initiator it is shown that the “hot spot” is the result of a build-up of initiator in the monomer caused by its exclusion from the polymer phase. Vinyl chloride was found to dissolve 0.03% PVC at ambient temperature and to have no effect on the decomposition rate of lauryl peroxide.     

The role of amine in vinyl radical polymerization

Advances of radical initiation systems and their initiation mechanisms in vinyl polymerization through peroxycompound and amine systems as well as photo-induced charge transfer initiation in the presence of amine are briefly reviewed which is concerned with some generalization regarding to the role of amine in the form of aminium radical in such vinyl radical polymerization.     

Emulsion polymerization of vinyl acetate. II

The emulsion polymerization of vinyl acetate was investigated at low ionic strengths and has quite unusual kinetics. The rate of polymerization is dependent on the initiator concentration to the first power and independent of soap concentration. In seeded polymerizations, the rate of polymerization depends on initiator to the 0.8 power, particle concentration to the 0.2 power, and monomer volume to 0.35 power. In all cases the rate of polymerization is almost independent of monomer concentration in the particles until 85–90% conversion. These results were rationalized by the following mechanism: (a) polymerization initiates in the aqueous phase because of the solubility of the monomer and is stabilized there by adsorption of ionic soap on the growing polymer molecule; (b) the growing polymer is swept up by a particle at a degree of polymerization (under our conditions) of about 50–200. Growth continues in the particle. This sweep-up is activation-controlled as both particle and polymer are charged. (c) Chain transfer to the acetyl group of monomer gives a new small radical which cyclizes to the water-soluble butyrolactonyl radical, and reinitiates polymerization in the aqueous phase; (d) the main termination step is reaction of an uncharged butyrolactonyl radical with a growing aqueous polymer radical. A secondary reaction at low ionic strength is sweep-up of an aqueous radical by a particle containing a radical. At high ionic strength, this is the major termination step. The unusual kinetic steps are justified by data from the literature. They are combined with the usual mechanisms operating for vinyl acetate polymerization and kinetic equations are derived and integrated. The integral equations were compared with the experimental data and shown to match it almost completely over the whole range of experimental variables.     

Computational study on the 1,2-rearrangement in beta-(nitroxy)vinyl and beta-(acetoxy)vinyl radicals

The 1,2-nitroxyl and 1,2-acetoxyl rearrangement in beta-(nitroxy)vinyl and beta-(acetoxy)vinyl radicals 13a and 13b, respectively, has been studied for the gas phase with various ab initio and density functional methods. The energetically most favorable pathway for 13a is calculated to proceed via reversible fragmentation/radical addition through transition state I-19a. In the case of 13b, rearrangement through a five-membered ring transition state III-16b and the fragmentation/radical addition pathway via transition state I-19b are competing processes. Mulliken and natural population analysis reveal a certain degree of charge separation in III-16a/b that may indicate a potential solvent effect on the rearrangement rate. A stepwise group migration through a cyclic radical intermediate V-18a/b or rearrangement through a three-membered ring transition state II-15a/b can be ruled out for both vinyl radicals. A comparison of the results of the calculations with experimental findings provides important insights into the kinetics of "self-terminating radical oxygenations". A significant method dependence on the outcome of the calculations was observed, which revealed the unsuitability of the UHF, MP2, B3LYP, and mPW1PW91 methods for computing these radical rearrangement processes. The results from BHandHLYP/cc-pVDZ calculations showed the best agreement with single-point energy calculations performed at the QCISD and CCSD(T) levels of theory.     

Radical polymerization of vinyl acetate with primary radical termination

Vinyl acetate was polymerized at high initiation rate with 2,2′-azobis(2,4-dimethyl valeronitrile) as initiator at 50°C. In this polymerization, the power dependence of polymerization rate on the initiation rate is smaller than at lower concentration of monomer. This dependence was kinetically analyzed at each given concentration of monomer. Average degree of polymerization of polymer formed depends on the concentration of initiator. This dependence was explained by considering chain and primary radical terminations and transfer to monomer of polymer radical, and the initiator efficiency (=0.503) was deduced. It was found that the chain termination is inversely proportional to solvent viscosity, but the primary radical termination is not inversely proportional to solvent viscosity. Further, the value of the primary radical termination rate constant (=1.4 × 10⁹l./mole-sec) was estimated.     

Radiolysis of poly(vinyl chloride)

Allyl free-radical intermediates are detected by ultraviolet absorption at 255 mu in poly(vinyl chloride) irradiated at ?196°C and stored at 25°C. In vacuum at 25°C, allyl radicals are converted into polyenyl free radicals and polyenes. From the nature of allyl radical decay in vacuum, radical chain transfer between polyenyl radicals and poly(vinyl chloride) is inferred. Allyl and polyenyl free radicals are scavenged by oxygen on post-irradiation storage in air.     

Mechanochemical reactions on poly (vinyl chloride)

This paper is concerned with molecular phenomena appearing during deformation of poly(vinyl chloride) under tensile stress conditions. By using indirect techniques (reactions with radical acceptors, with vinylic monomers, electron microscopy) the formation of free radicals, appearing as a consequence of splitting of chemical bonds, is evidenced. The amount of reacted radical acceptor or monomer was proved to be related to solution concentration and to the duration of mechanical stress.     

Relative reactivities in vinyl copolymerization

From data in the literature on relative rates of copolymerization it has been possible to evaluate two constants, Q and e, characteristic of an individual monomer, which appear to account satisfactorily for its behavior in copolymerization. The constant Q describes the “general monomer reactivity” and is apparently related to possibilities for stabilization in a radical adduct. The constant e takes account of polar factors influencing copolymerization.     

Complexed copolymerization of vinyl compounds with alkylaluminum halides

The monomer reactivity in the complexed copolymerization of vinyl compounds with alkylaluminum halides has been extensively surveyed. Equimolar copolymers were obtained in various combinations of monomers which are classified into two monomer groups, A and B. The group B monomers are conjugated vinyl compounds having nitrile or carbonyl groups in the conjugated position and form complexes with alkylaluminum halides. The group A monomers are donor monomers having low values, such as olefins, haloolefins, dienes, and unsaturated esters. These A monomers belong to the same group of monomers which give alternating copolymers in conventional radical copolymerization with maleic anhydride, SO₂, and so on. In addition the complexed copolymerization has the same specific characteristics as the conventional alternating copolymerization, i.e., high reactivities of allyl-resonance monomers and inner olefins and no transfer of halogen atom to the copolymers in CCl₄. These features suggest little or no participation of the A monomer radical. The Q-e scheme is also discussed in terms of the monomer reactivity. More than two monomers selected from groups A and B give multicomponent copolymers in which alternating sequential structures hold with respect to A and B. Anomalous mutual reactivities between two B monomers in the terpolymerization were observed and indicate that the nature of radical in the complexed copolymerization may be different from that expected by the Lewis-Mayo equation. The complexed radical mechanism previously proposed is discussed in connection with the specific behavior mentioned above.     

Radical desorption in the emulsion polymerisation of vinyl monomers

The dependence of emulsion polymerisation rates on a number of important parameters is considered. Attention is paid to the use of seeded emulsion systems for the evaluation of radical desorption coefficients (k _o). Experimental conditions are shown to be important. When the average number of radicals per particle is low, large changes in the rate coefficient for chain termination do not have a large effect on the kinetics. With styrene and methylmethacrylate, radical re-absorption by the polymer particles is shown to be important and radical capture efficiences can be high. Consistency is established between the results of a number of workers and values fork _o are shown to be lower than those calculated from chain transfer rates.     

A convergent approach to gamma-carbonyl vinyl boronates

Gamma-carbonyl vinyl boronates can be prepared by a visible light induced radical chain addition of an S-acyl dithiocarbonate (xanthate) to the pinacol ester of vinyl boronic acid, followed by treatment with base.     

Intra- and intermolecular Fe-catalyzed dicarbofunctionalization of vinyl cyclopropanes

Design and implementation of the first (asymmetric) Fe-catalyzed intra- and intermolecular difunctionalization of vinyl cyclopropanes (VCPs) with alkyl halides and aryl Grignard reagents has been realized via a mechanistically driven approach. Mechanistic studies support the diffusion of alkyl radical intermediates out of the solvent cage to participate in an intra- or intermolecular radical cascade with a range of VCPs followed by re-entering the Fe radical cross-coupling cycle to undergo (stereo)selective C(sp²)–C(sp³) bond formation. This work provides a proof-of-concept of the use of vinyl cyclopropanes as synthetically useful 1,5-synthons in Fe-catalyzed conjunctive cross-couplings with alkyl halides and aryl/vinyl Grignard reagents. Overall, we provide new design principles for Fe-mediated radical processes and underscore the potential of using combined computations and experiments to accelerate the development of challenging transformations.

Design and implementation of the first (asymmetric) Fe-catalyzed intra- and intermolecular difunctionalization of vinyl cyclopropanes (VCPs) with alkyl halides and aryl Grignard reagents has been realized via a mechanistically driven approach.     

ESR studies on radical polymerization of vinyl ethers

ESR studies on the radical polymerization of vinyl ethers were performed from ?50°C to room temperature using di-tert-butylperoxide as a photoinitiator. Well resolved ESR spectra were assigned to propagating radicals of vinyl ethers. Their hyperfine splitting constants due to α-proton were about 16 G, being smaller than those of ethyl acrylate and vinyl acetate. The smaller constants is ascribed to a deviation of the propagating radicals from sp² hybrid structure. The reason why high polymers are not obtained from vinyl ethers by radical polymerization is discussed on the basis of information from the ESR studies.     

Pulse radiolysis of vinyl monomers, in the pure state and with added pyrene

Pulse radiolysis studies have been used to investigate the early phenomena in the radiolysis of acrylic acid, methyl acrylate, butyl vinyl ether, propionic acid, methyl acetate and butyl ether; the latter three solvents were used as model compounds for these vinyl monomers. The triplet state, radical cation, radical anion, and free radical of pyrene (cyclohexadienyl type) were observed to various degrees in the radiolysis of pyrene in these monomers. In acrylic acid, where the free radical and the cation dominate, the monomer polymerizes efficiently, whereas in butyl vinyl ether, where the anion dominates, polymerization does not occur. The behavior of methyl acrylate lies between that of acrylic acid and butyl vinyl ether. However, the high intensity of the electron pulses creates a high concentration of radicals leading to a short lifetime of the radical which in turn leads to a much smaller yield of polymerization. The mechanism of polymerization under high energy radiation is found to be free radical in nature.     

Copolymerization of vinyl acetate with benzylidenemalononitrile

Vinyl acetate was copolymerized with benzylidenemalononitrile in bulk by radical initiation at 80°C up to low conversions. Alternating copolymers were formed over a wide range of monomer feed ratios. The copolymerization parameters were determined by the conventional scheme. The copolymers were characterized by IR, proton, and ¹³C spectroscopy and their basic properties, solubility, viscosity, and thermal behavior were determined.     

Non-ideality in vinyl polymerization—VII: Detailed mathematical analysis of retarded polymerizations

Mathematical formulations that have previously been developed for treatment of retarded polymerization do not take into account the effect of primary radical transfer whereby a primary radical generated by spontaneous decomposition of initiator reacts with a retarder molecule. It is tacitly assumed that, because of low concentration of primary radicals, such reactions are of little significance. There are however published data showing that the transfer constant of a conventional retarder/inhibitor with respect to primary radical may be much higher than that with respect to a macro-radical. The neglect of primary radical transfer is thus open to question. This communication presents mathematical analysis of retarded polymerization considering both primary and macro-radical transfer. It is found that one can obtain all the relevant constants from kinetic data alone without recourse to tracer techniques or molecular weight measurements.     

Influence of additives on model emulsion polymerization of vinyl acetate (VAc) using poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) as a protective colloid

To clarify the influence of additives on the grafting phenomenon as well as the particle behavior more precisely, we carried out a model emulsion polymerization of vinyl acetate (VAc) in a 1% aqueous solution with ammonium persulfate (APS) using poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) as a protective colloid in the presence of additives. The addition of alcohol to the system remarkably affected the particle formation, especially grafting. This is thought to be attributed to competition between hydrogen abstraction from PVA and alcohol with a sulfate radical. Especially, the addition of acetone to the system decreased grafting to a great extent, resulting in an increase in the particle size together with an increase in the number of polymer molecules in a polymer particle. This result is thought to arise from a combination of electron abstraction from acetone with a sulfate radical and the chain-transfer reaction of the propagation radical with acetone.     

Non-ideality in vinyl polymerization—VI: Polymerization of methyl methacrylate initiated by benzoyl peroxide

The polymerization of methyl methacrylate in benzene was initiated by benzoyl peroxide and examined by kinetic analysis particularly from the point of view of primary radical termination. It is concluded that the velocity constant for dissociation of the benzoyloxy radical to give the phenyl radical is affected by the nature of the medium.     

Cyclopropyl alkynes as mechanistic probes to distinguish between vinyl radical and ionic intermediates

[reaction: see text] The reactions of (trans-2-phenylcyclopropyl)ethyne, 1a, (trans,trans-2-methoxy-3-phenylcyclopropyl)ethyne, 1b, and (trans,trans-2-methoxy-1-methyl-3-phenylcyclopropyl)ethyne, 1c, with either aqueous sulfuric acid or tris(trimethylsilyl)silane (or tributyltin hydride) and AIBN have been investigated. Protonation and addition of the silyl (or stannyl) radical occurred at the terminal position of the alkyne giving an alpha-cyclopropyl-substituted vinyl cation or radical, respectively. Under both reaction conditions, 1a yielded products derived from ring opening toward the phenyl substituent. Alkynes 1b and 1c, however, gave different products depending on whether radical or cationic conditions were used. When radical conditions were employed, products derived from regioselective ring opening toward the phenyl substituent were obtained. In contrast, when cationic conditions were employed, products derived from selective ring opening toward the methoxy substituent were isolated. The corresponding alpha-cyclopropyl-substituted vinyllithium derivatives were also synthesized and were found to be stable toward rearrangement. An estimate of the rate constants for ring opening of the alpha-cyclopropylvinyl cations was also made: values of 10(10)-10(12) s(-1) were found for the vinyl cations derived from protonation of the terminal carbon of alkynes 1a-c. Based on these results, cyclopropyl alkynes 1a-c can be classified as hypersensitive mechanistic probes for the detection of vinyl radical or cationic intermediates generated adjacent to the cyclopropyl ring and, in the case of 1b and 1c, the distinction between a radical or cationic intermediate is possible.