Synthesis of azidourethane block copolymers

Methods of structuring thermoreversible urethane block copolymers on the basis 3,3-bis-(azidomethyl)oxetane (BAMO) and 3-(azidomethyl)-3-methyloxetane (AMMO) were developed for the first time. Type (AB)_n copolymers of BAMO and AMMO have an amorphous crystalline structure but differ from the type B(AB)_n copolymers in that they contain less crystal phase and have a higher glass transition temperature and better physicomechanical properties.     

Studies on the polymerization mechanism of 3-nitratomethyl-3′-methyloxetane and 3-azidomethyl-3′-methyloxetane and the synthesis of their respective triblock copolymers with tetrahydrofuran

Novel energetic oxetane derivatives, 3-nitratomethyl-3′-methyloxetane (NMMO) and 3-azidomethyl-3′-methyloxetane (AMMO), were used as monomers in a triflic anhydride [(CF₃SO₂)₂O] initiating polymerization system. The “living cationic” characteristics of the polymerization were investigated and confirmed via a ¹⁹F NMR technique. This living polymerization system was, thus, utilized in the synthesis of well-defined block copolymers. Novel polymers of the A—B—A— type with various molecular weights (M?_w = 14320–40660) and low polydispersity indexes (PDI = 1.11–1.29) were obtained. Two glass transition temperatures (T_g) near the respective T_gs of the homopolymers were found in the DSC thermograms of the block copolymers. The THF/AMMO copolymers were shown to possess higher thermal stability compared to THF/NMMO copolymers from thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Synthesis of azidooxetane statistical polymers and copolymers

Statistical polymers and copolymers were firstly synthesized by polymerization of 3,3-bis(azidomethyl) oxetane (BAMO) and 3-azidomethyl-3-methyloxetane (AMMO) in a triisobutylaluminum–water catalytic system, and their physicochemical, physicomechanical, and themochemical properties were studied. It was found that with increasing fraction of poly-AMMO in the BAMO/AMMO copolymers the strength properties of the copolymers enhance and the degree of crystallinity decreases.     

Chain transfer constants for vinyl monomers polymerized in methyl oleate and methyl stearate

Chain transfer constants were obtained for styrene, methyl methacrylate, methyl acrylate and vinyl acetate, polymerized in methyl oleate and methyl stearate at 60°C. Transfer constants increased in the order: methyl methacrylate < styrene < methyl acrylate ? vinyl acetate in both solvents. Average values of the transfer parameters were: for methyl oleate, Q_tr = 2.04 × 10^?4, e_tr = 1.08; for methyl stearate, Q_tr = 0.373 × 10^?4, e_tr = 1.01. Indication that polar species predominate in the transition state is supported by the observed order of reactivity. The usual rate dependence appeared to be followed by all of the monomers except vinyl acetate, which was retarded, severely in methyl oleate. Transfer in methyl oleate was about 5.8 times greater than that found in methyl stearate for these four monomers. The internal allylic double bond of methyl oleate had about the same reactivity in transfer as had the terminal unsaturation in N-allylstearamide at 90°C. Rough estimates were obtained of the monomer transfer constants for the long side-chain homologs of these four monomers from the respective monomer transfer constants and the experimental transfer constants, corrected for transfer to the labile groups of the solvent. It was concluded that the rate of polymerization would determine in large measure the degree of polymerization for the reactive 18-carbon homologs but that the molecular weight of poly(vinyl stearate) and (oleate) will be regulated primarily by transfer to monomer.     

Chain transfer by addition–substitution–fragmentation mechanism. I. End–functional polymers by a single-step free radical transfer reaction: Use of a new allylic linear peroxyketal

A new chain transfer agent, ethyl 2-[1-(1-n-butoxyethylperoxy) ethyl] propenoate (EBEPEP) was used in the free radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA), styrene (St), and butyl acrylate (BA) to produce end-functional polymers by a radical addition–substitution–fragmentation mechanism. The chain transfer constants (C_tr) for EBEPEP in the three monomers polymerization at 60°C were determined from measurements of the degrees of polymerization. The C_tr were determined to be 0.086, 0.91, and 0.63 in MMA, St, and BA, respectively. EBEPEP behaves nearly as an “azeotropic” transfer agent for styrene at 60°C. The activation energy, E_atr, for the chain transfer reaction of EBEPEP with PMMA radicals was determined to be 29.5 kJ/mol. Thermal stability of peroxyketal EBEPEP in the polymerization medium was estimated from the DSC measurements of the activation energy, E_ath = 133.5 kJ/mol, and the rate constants, k_th, of the thermolysis to various temperature. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Criteria for living systems with a special emphasis on living cationic polymerization of alkenes

A number of new living systems have been reported in recent years. Classic anionic polymerization of nonpolar monomers allows the synthesis of well-defined high molecular weight polymers (DP > 1000), block copolymers, chains with perfect terminal functionalities and behaves as a true living system. Some new systems abuse the term “living polymerization.” A relatively modest criterion for living systems is proposed “3 X 10,000,” i.e., k_p/k_t > 10⁴ mol^-1 L, k_p/k_tr > 10⁴, 1/k_t/tr > 10⁴ s (translated to < 10% of chains deactivated at t ≈ 1000 s), which is related to a typical limit of the polymeric chain dimensions (DP ≈ 100) and standard synthetic manipulations (≈ 15 min). New living cationic systems are discussed in detail with special emphasis on exchange phenomena. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Crystallization behavior of poly(3,3-bisethoxymethyl oxetane) and poly(3,3-bisazidomethyl oxetane)

Two crystal modifications have been found for poly(3,3-bisethoxymethyl oxetane) [poly- (BEMO)] by wide-angle x-ray powder diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry, while only one modification has been found for poly(3,3-bisazidomethyl oxetane) [poly(BAMO)]. Melting temperatures for the two polymers were nearly the same, varying from about 70 to about 90°C depending on the thermal treatment; higher crystallization temperatures resulted in higher melting temperatures. The equilibrium melting temperature T was found to be 125 and 128°C for poly(BEMO) and poly(BAMO), respectively, by using the Hoffman-Weeks extrapolation procedure. Measurement of the melting-point depression of Poly(BEMO) and poly(BAMO) in dibutyl phthalate yielded enthalpy of fusion values of 2.25 and 12.8 kcal/mol, respectively. The percent crystallinity for poly(BEMO) and poly(BAMO), respectively, was calculated to be 55-60 and 13-30% based on DSC and x-ray analysis.     

Energy distribution among reaction products. XIV. F + CH4, F + CH3X(X  Cl,Br, I), F + CHnCl4−n(n = 1−3)

The infrared chemiluminescence technique has been used to obtain relative rate constants k(ν′) for HF(ν′) formed in the following reaction:

For reaction (1) the detailed rate constants [k(ν′ = 1) = 0.30;k(ν′ = 2) = 1.00; k(ν′ = 3) = 0.15; mean fraction of the available energy entering vibration <?^′_ν> = 0.56] confirmed, at much lower reagent pressures, results obtained by previous workers. In series I there was a slight increase in fraction of the energy entering vibration as the molecular reagent altered from CH₃Cl to CH₃Br to CH₃I, viz <?^′_ν> = 0.50 (1a), <?^′_ν> = 0.58 (1b), <?^′_ν> = 0.60 (1c). In series 2, by contrast, there was a marked decrease in fractional conversion of the available energy into vibration with increasing chlorination of the molecular reagent; <?^′_ν> = 0.50 (1a), <?^′_ν> = 0.23 (2a), <?^′_ν> = 0.13 (2b). The rate constants into ν′ = 0, k(ν′ = 0), were obtained by extrapolation of surprisal plots; the trends for both series were, however, also evident from k(ν′ > 0). No separate initial rotational distribution was observed for any of these reactions, indicating that the peak of the initial distribution is not far removed from a 300 K thermal distribution. The decrease in <?^′_ν> for the HF products along series 2 was tentatively ascribed to increasing internal excitation in the ejected radicals CH₂Cl, CHCl₂, CCl₃, due to increase in the number of secondary encounters between HF and the departing radical.     

Monte Carlo simulation of chain length distribution in radical polymerization with transfer reaction

In this paper, the basic principle and a Monte Carlo method are described for numerically simulating the chain-length distribution in radical polymerization with transfer reaction to monomer. The agreement between the simulated and analytical results shows that our algorithm is suitable for systems with transfer reaction. With the simulation algorithm, we confirm that transfer reaction has a similar effect as disproportionation on the molecular weight distribution in radical polymerization with continuous initiation. In the pulsed laser (PL) initiated radical polymerization with transfer reaction, the ‘waves’ on the chain-length distribution profile become weaker as the ratio of transfer reaction rate constant, k_tr, to the propagation rate constant, k_p, is increased in the case with either combination-type or disproportionation-type termination. Moreover, it seems that the combination termination has a broadening effect on the waves. Therefore, k_p can also be determined by precisely locating the inflection point L_o on the chain-length distribution profile for radical polymerization with transfer reaction, unless k_tr is large enough to smear out the waves on the chain-length distribution.     

The role of solvent polarity and cocatalyst structure in the cationic polymerization of 3,3-bis(chloromethyl) oxetane

In the cationic polymerization of 3,3-bis(chloromethyl)oxetane induced by BF₃ the solvent polarity (toluene, methylene chloride, ethylene chloride, nitrobenzene, and nitromethane) does not influence the k_tr/k_p ratio, where k_tr stands for the rate constant of chain transfer to polymer. Increase of the overall polymerization rate is due mainly to the increase of k_i. The application of the steady-state conditions in which the slow formation of the active centers is compensated by the unimolecular chain transfer to polymer allowed the determination of k_tr/k_p ratios for several chain-transfer agents of low molecular weight. Alcohols and ethers of different basicities were used. It was established that the k_tr/k_p ratio is a linear function of ?pK_a of the chain-transfer agents.     

Intermolecular chain transfer to polymer with chain scission: general treatment and determination of kp/ktr in L,L-lactide polymerization

A general kinetic treatment of the system with intermolecular chain transfer followed by fast reinitiation is given. It leads to the broadening of the molecular weight distribution (MWD), the number of growing chains being invariable. Thus, this system can be considered as a special case of living polymerization. A general method has been elaborated allowing the determination of the ratio of the rate constant of propagation (k_p) to the rate constant of the bimolecular transfer (k⁽²⁾_tr) from the dependence of the MWD on monomer conversion. Numerical values of k_p/k⁽²⁾_tr equal to ≈ 10² and 25 were thus determined for the polymerization of L , L -lactide (L , L -dilactide) initiated with aluminium tris(isopropoxide) trimer ({Al(OⁱPr)₃}₃) and tributyltin ethoxide (ⁿBu₃SnOEt), respectively.     

New Insights into Buffer-Ionic Salt Interactions: Solubilities,Transfer Gibbs Energies,and Transfer Molar Volumes of TAPS and TAPSO from Water to Aqueous Electrolyte Solutions

The solubilities of N-[tris(hydroxymethyl)methyl]-3-aminopropanesulfonic acid (TAPS) or N-[tris(hydroxymethyl)methyl]-3-amino-2-hydroxypropanesulfonic acid (TAPSO) in water and in aqueous solutions of CH₃COOK (KAc), KBr, KCl, or NaCl were determined from density measurements at 298.15 K. The solubilities of TAPS in aqueous solution decrease with increasing concentration of the salts (salting-out effect), whereas those of TAPSO increase with increasing concentration of the salts (salting-in effect). The solubility and density data were further used to calculate the apparent transfer Gibbs energies, Δ_tr G, and transfer molar volumes, D_trV_f^o\Delta_{\mathrm{tr}}V_{\phi}^{\mathrm{o}}, of these buffers from water to aqueous electrolyte solutions at 298.15 K. The contributions of various functional groups of TAPS, TAPSO, and the related buffers (tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane, TRIS, and N-tris[hydroxymethyl]-4-amino-butanesulfonic acid, TABS) to the transfer properties were systematically estimated from the calculated Δ_tr G and D_trV_f^o\Delta_{\mathrm{tr}}V_{\phi}^{\mathrm{o}}.     

Tying up loose ends: some mechanistic aspects of catalytic chain transfer

Polymerisation of methyl methacrylate in the presence of two catalytic chain transfer agents has been investigated. Several factors were examined to see how they would affect the chain transfer process. Oxygen and initiator impurities added to the system were found to be detrimental. The transfer process was highly intolerant of initiator impurities, but was able to endure a large excess of oxygen. The temperature dependencies of the chain transfer process were determined for cobaloxime boron fluoride (COBF) and cobalt(meso‐Ph₄‐porphyrin) (CoP). The results showed that a study of MW, or k_tr would be a better gauge of the catalyst activity. Activation energies were determined at two concentrations of initiator and it was discovered that the transfer process has a dependence on the initiator concentration. A mechanism for this dependency is proposed that involves a reduction in the active catalyst concentration. As a result, the measured values for C_tr, and k_tr, must be apparent values. An additional consequence of the initiator dependence is that the MW of the polymer products will be directly dependent on the concentration of the initiator.     

Thermal degradation of aged polytetrahydrofuran and its copolymers with 3-azidomethyl-3′-methyloxetane and 3-nitratomethyl-3′-methyloxetane by thermogravimetry

The thermal decomposition behavior of the aged tetrahydrofuran copolymers with 3-azidomethyl-3′-methyloxetane (AMMO) or 3-nitratomethyl-3′-methyloxetane (NMMO) were studied by thermogravimetry and evolved gas analysis, and compared with aged polytetrahydrofuran (poly-THF) The thermal stability decreased in the order poly-THF > poly-AMMO-THF-AMMO > poly-NMMO-THF-NMMO, whereas the range of temperature for decomposition increased in the order poly-THF < poly-AMMO-THF-AMMO < poly-NMMO-THF-NMMO. The apparent activation energies of the degradation for polymers with ageing, calculated by the Ozawa method, were smaller than that without ageing. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Intra- and intermolecular chain transfer to macromolecules with chain scission. The case of cyclic esters

Chain transfer to macromolecules with chain scission is the most often observed “side” reaction in the polymerization of heterocyclics. In our previous works we analysed quantitatively the intramolecular chain transfer to the own macromolecule (back-biting). This paper gives a general treatment of the kinetics of polymerization with propagation and intermolecular chain transfer to macromolecules, accompanied with chain scission. The numerical solution developed allows determining the k_p/k_tr ratio from the dependence of m̄_w/m̄_n on monomer conversion. This treatment was applied to the polymerization of L,L-lactide and k_p/k_tr ratios were measured for covalent alcoholate active species bearing Al, Fe, Ti, Sm, and La. In this way selectivities of active species (expressed with k_p/k_tr) were for the first time measured and finally correlated with the atomic number of the corresponding metal atoms, related to the strength of the bond involved in the monomer addition.     

Degradation processes in the cellulose/<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-methylmorpholine-<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-oxide system studied by HPLC and ESR. Radical formation/recombination kinetics under UV photolysis at 77 K

Degradation processes of N-methylmorpholine-N-oxide monohydrate (NMMO), cellulose and cellulose/NMMO solutions were studied by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy. Kinetics of radical accumulation processes under UV (λ = 248 nm) excimer laser flash photolysis was investigated by ESR at 77 K. Beside radical products of cellulose generated and stabilized at low temperature, radicals in NMMO and cellulose/NMMO solutions were studied for the first time in those systems and attributed to nitroxide type radicals ∼CH₂–NO^•–CH₂∼ and/or ∼CH₂–NO^•–CH₃∼ at the first and methyl ^•CH₃ and formyl ^•CHO radicals at the second step of the photo-induced reaction. Kinetic study of radicals revealed that formation and recombination rates of radical reaction depend on cellulose concentration in cellulose/NMMO solutions and additional ingredients, e.g., Fe(II) and propyl gallate. HPLC measurements showed that the concentrations of ring degradation products, e.g., aminoethanol and acetaldehyde, are determined by the composition of the cellulose/NMMO solution. Results based on HPLC are mainly maintained by ESR that supports the assumption concerning a radical initiated ring-opening of NMMO.     

3,3-双(叠氮甲基)环氧丁烷与3-硝酸甲酯基-3-甲基环氧丁烷共聚醚的合成及性能研究

新一代高能固体推进剂粘合剂除自身必须具有能量外，同时还要求具备与硝酸酯的混溶能力要强（Ｐｌ／Ｐｏ＞２），玻璃化温度要低（Ｔｇ＜－５４℃）等特点．本文作者曾将叠氮基引入聚合物侧链而赋予其能量特征［１］，观察到３，３ 双（叠氮甲基）环氧丁烷（ＢＡＭＯ）与...     

Chain transfer by addition-fragmentation mechanism. VII. Radical polymerization of vinyl monomers in the presence of ethyl 2-[1-(trimethylsilylperoxy)ethyl]propenoate and related compounds

Ethyl 2-[1-(trimethylsilylperoxy)ethyl]propenoate 1 , ethyl 2-[1-(dimethylvinylsilylperoxy)-ethyl]propenoate 2 , ethyl 2-[1-(1-(2-ethoxycarbonyl-1-methyl-2-propenylperoxysilyl)-1-methylethylperoxy)ethyl]propenoate 3 , and 2-phenyl-2-trimethylsilylperoxypropane 4 were synthesized and added to the free radical polymerization of vinylic monomers. 1 and 2 were found to show no homopolymerizability but act as effective chain transfer reagents in radical polymerizations of methyl methacrylate (MMA), styrene (St), and n-butyl acrylate (BA). The estimated chain transfer constants (C_tr) are as follows: C_tr ( 1 ) = 0.15 for MMA, 0.90 for St, and 2.03 for BA at 60°C; C_tr ( 2 ) = 0.12 for MMA, 1.16 for St, and 1.9 for BA at 60°C. ¹H–NMR spectra of poly(St) formed in the presence of 1 is consistent with the view that the polymers bear an oxirane at one terminal and an trimethylsilyloxy fragment at the other end. Moreover, peroxysilane 4 showed very low transfer properties by direct homolytic substitution (SH₂). These findings indicate that the ethyl 2-[1-(substituted dimethylsilylperoxy)ethyl]-propenoates 1–3 undergo chain transfer reaction via a intramolecular homolytic substitution (SHi) following an addition process. Preparation of poly(styrene) up to high conversion in the presence of 3 yielded to the formation of the corresponding polymeric structures bearing hydrolysable C(SINGLE BOND)O(SINGLE BOND)Si(SINGLE BOND)O(SINGLE BOND)C bonds. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Triisobutylaluminum as cocatalyst for zirconocenes. I. Sterically opened zirconocene/triisobutylaluminum/perfluorophenylborate as highly effective ternary catalytic system for synthesis of low molecular weight polyethylenes

Ethylene polymerizations with catalytic systems Me₂SiCp*N^tBuZrX₂ ( 1 ) [Cp* = C₅(CH₃)₄; X = Cl ( 1Cl ), Me ( 1Me )], triisobutylaluminum (TIBA), perfluorophenylborate CatB(C₆F₅)₄ [Cat = CPh₃ ( 3 ), Me₂NHPh ( 4 )], or Me₂SiCp₂ZrX₂ [X = Cl ( 2Cl ), Me ( 2Me )]/TIBA/ 3 ( 4 ) were performed within a wide range of ethylene pressures of different Al/Zr ratios, and Zr/B = 1. Catalytic systems 1Cl ( 2Cl )/TIBA/ 3 led to the formation of very high linear molecular weight polyethylene (PE) of M_η ∼2,000,000 with low activity. The replacement of both chlorine ligands in the precatalyst for the methyl ones led to the formation of active species producing low molecular weight PE with high activity. Chain transfer to ethylene was shown to be the main reaction controlling PE chain propagation: k_p/k_tr ∼20–30 for 1Me /TIBA/ 3 and k_p/k_tr ∼350–500 for 2Me /TIBA/ 3 . It was suggested that TIBA was present in the active center first in the form of a neutral heterobimetallic Zr–Al bridged complex followed by the formation of a partially polarized Zr–Al(Cl)R₂ (R = ⁱBu) or an unreactive Zr–AlR₃ cationic complex by abstraction of the alkyl ligand under the action of borate. It was concluded that AlR₃ from the latter cationic complex may be easily reversibly replaced under the specific coordination of ethylene or accumulated α-olefin, giving rise to highly labile and sterically accessible cationic species. Experiments on ethylene polymerization with the catalytic systems 1Cl ( 1Me )/TIBA/ 3 /Ph₂NH, 1Cl ( 1Me )/TIBA/ 4, 2Cl ( 2Me )/TIBA/ 3 /Ph₂NH, and 2Cl ( 2Me )/TIBA/ 4 were performed to confirm the suggestion. Catalytic systems derived from dichloride complexes in the presence of a σ-donor substrate also produced low molecular weight PEs with molecular weight characteristics similar to those of products obtained with the dimethylated precatalysts. The specific feature of active species derived from 2Me complexes to isomerize coordinated α-olefin into trans-vinylene polymer chains was also revealed. The catalytic behavior of the ternary catalytic system based on 2Me relative to 2Me or 2Cl precatalysts activated with polymethylaluminoxane at different Al/Zr ratios was compared. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 39: 1901–1914, 2001     

Study of the influence of physical aging on macroradical decay in poly(methyl methacrylate)

The macroradical decay in poly(methyl methacrylate) samples with different thermal histories was investigated in the temperature interval 20–100 °C using ESR spectroscopy and the second order kinetic model. The rate constants exhibit two different regimes with the transitions atT _tr=68±1°C which are independent of thermal treatment. ForT<T _tr andT>T _tr the rate constants as well as the corresponding activation parameters are sensitive to history because of different physical microstructures. The compensation law, i.e., the linear relation between lnk _{o, eff} andE _eff, was analyzed in terms of the so-called compensation quantitiesk _c andT _c and a proximity betweenT _c=T _tr andT _o=53±3 °C — Vogel temperature for -segmental dynamics was found. A comparison of kinetic and dynamic data suggests that the decay of terminal macroradicals in the low-temperature region is controlled by secondary relaxations and that the -mobility contributes to a more rapid decay at higher temperatures belowT _g.