Cationic Complexes of Boron and Aluminum: An Early 21st Century Viewpoint

Boron and aluminum are lighter Group 13 elements, found in daily life commodities, and considered environmentally benign. Nevertheless, they markedly differ in their elemental properties (e.g., metal character, atomic radius). The use of Lewis acidic complexes of boron and aluminum for methods of bond activation and catalysis (e.g., hydrogenation of unsaturated substrates, polymerization of olefins and epoxides) is quickly expanding. The introduction of cationic charge may boost the metalloid-centered Lewis acidity and allow for its fine-tuning particularly with regard to preference for “hard” or “soft” Lewis bases (i.e., substrates). Especially the isolation of low-coordinate cations (number of ligand atoms smaller than four) demands elaborate techniques of thermodynamic and kinetic stabilization (i.e., electronic saturation and steric shielding) by a ligand system. Furthermore, the properties of the solvent and the counteranion must be considered with care. Here, selected examples of boron and aluminum cations are described.     

Quasiliving Carbocationic Polymerization. XI. An Interpretation of Solvent Effects by Donor and Acceptor Numbers

Counteranion/solvent interactions (counteranion solvation) profoundly influence each and every elementary step of carbocationic polymerizations and are just as important as the commonly emphasized cation/solvent interactions (cation solvation). Counteranion solvation and carbocation solvation have been characterized by Gutmann' s acceptor number AN and donor number DN, respectively. Analysis of earlier data leads to the conclusion that the effect of monomer concentration on the rate, molecular weight, and molecular weight distribution obtained in cationic olefin polymerizations in “polar” solvents are in fact due to subtle changes in solvent concentration. Indeed, olefin monomers behave as “nonpolar” solvents and by changing the monomer concentration the character of the medium may profoundly change. It is further concluded that quasiliving polymerizations cannot be achieved in batch operations because the conditions that prevail in the initial charge, although possibly suitable for quasiliving polymerizations, must continuously change with the diminishing monomer concentration, i.e., by continuously changing the solvent character of the system. In contrast, in continuous systems initial conditions in the charge suitable for the attainment of living or quasiliving conditions can be maintained even for long periods of time by continuously replenishing the consumed monomer. By the use of these concepts, heretofore unexplained observations made in the course of quasiliving polymerization studies have been accounted for and, beyond this, new insight into solvation phenomena in cationic polymerizations is generated.     

Ionic Polymerization of Vinyl Aromatic Monomers

The ionic polymerization of vinyl monomers possessing aromatic and heterocyclic functional groups has not been studied in any systematic fashion. Only in a few isolated cases have detailed mechanistic and structural studies been reported. The anionic polymerization of a number of vinylanthracene monomers has recently been investigated and some rationalization of this system is presented. The cationic and anionic polymerization of the N-, 3-, and 2-vinylcarbazole series of monomers is discussed in some detail. The important role of vinyl aromatic/vinyl heterocyclic monomers, i.e., diphenylethylene and the vinylcarbazoles, in elucidating the mechanistic aspects of cationic polymerization, “change transfer” polymerization, and photoionic polymerization is considered.     

POLYMERIZATION MECHANISM OF N-VINYLCARBAZOLE WITH CHIRALLY ORGANIC SALT AS CATALYST

The polymerization mechanism is described by the conductance changewith the time during the polymerization. The mechanism can be explained by the equi-librium feature (i.e. main ion-pairs) between the free ions and the ion-pairs dissociated bythe organic salt (-) Sp~/(*~+) (+) CSA~(*~-) (An asterisk represents the chirality) and the schemeof the polymerization process is described mainly by the charge transfer complexes havingchiral induction power.     

梯度引发自由基聚合体系(Ⅰ)——基原法合成超高分子量聚合物

90年代在自由基聚合基础研究领域的一个重要成是“长 短终止”理论被进一步确认和接受[1 ,2 ] .按照该模型 ,聚合反应中的终止反应主要发生在长链自由基与短链自由基或初级自由基之间 ,即长链自由基之间很难进行终止反应 ,链终止常数随链长增加而急剧下降 .80年代初 ,Ｓｉｍｉｏｎｅｓｃｕ等[3] 曾报道了用等离子体照射封有单体的玻璃管 ,尔后放入暗处聚合的工作 ,发现不仅可得到分子量上千万的聚丙烯酸或聚丙烯酰胺 ,而且聚合活性可保持几十个小时 ;国内学者[4] 利用该法也得到了分子量接近千万的聚丙烯酰胺 .基于这种终止模型和实验结果 ,…     

Radiation-induced solid-state polymerization of derivatives of methacrylic acid. II. Postirradiation polymerization of octadecyl methacrylate

Octadecyl methacrylate (mpc ≈ 12°C.) polymerized readily in the solid state in the temperature range ?30 to +12°C. after gamma irradiation at ?196°C. The initial rate of polymerization and the “limiting” conversion increased with radiation dose and temperature. The temperature dependence of the rate corresponded to an “apparent” activation energy of 20 kcal./mole. Difficulties were experienced with polymerization during separation of the polymer from residual monomer, but these were minimized by using low radiation doses and a hot, selective solvent. The maximum conversion achieved was 70%. The polymer was crosslinked, even at low conversions.     

An Attempt to Adapt Superacid Chemistry for “Living” Carbenium Ion Polymerizations

The discovery that carbocations can be stabilized in super acid media, e.g., SbF₅-SO₂, etc., raises the possibility of “living” carbenium ion polymerization. Polymerization experiments with isobutylene and styrene carried out at high acid concentrations and in the virtual absence of nucleophile, i.e., under conditions conducive for living polymerization, failed to indicate a linear conversion vs molecular weight relationship and/or block copolymer formation. Additional model experiments with 2,4,4-trimethyl-1-pentene substantiate our conclusions that “living” carbocation polymerizations are unlikely to be produced by superacid chemistry.     

Ion-Pairs Feature of Polymerization Process of N-Vinylcarbazole with Chirally Organic Salt as Catalyst

Abstract

The influence of the N-vinylcarbazole (VCZ) concentration and the ratios of VCZ to catalyst (-)Sp^*+(+)CSA^*? on the polymerization process has been investigated and the polymerization mechanism is described by the conductance change with the time during the polymerization. The mechanism would be explained by the equilibrium feature (i.e. main ion-pairs) between the free ions and the ion-pairs dissociated by the organic salt (?)Sp^*+(+)CSA^*? and the scheme of the polymerization process is described mainly by the charge transfer complexes having chiral induction power.     

Dependence of the conformation of nascent poly(oxymethylene) on the conditions of cationic polymerization of trioxane in solution

The conformational structure of nascent poly(oxymethylene) (POM) obtained by cationic polymerization of trioxane in nitrobenzene was investigated by i.r. spectroscopy. It was found that the conformational order of this POM depends considerably on the conditions of preparation. Under conditions of simultaneous polymerization and crystallization, “A” polymer, with long sequences of monomer units in regular G conformation, is obtained. Under conditions of successive polymerization and crystallization, the formation of conformational defects in the helical POM chains is favoured. Then, depending on the supersaturation, we obtained either (a) POM of “B” form with short sequences of monomer units in G conformation, or (b) POM of a mixed type, the i.r. spectrum being describable as a superposition of “A” and “B” spectra. The results indicate that, at comparatively high catalyst concentration, the thermodynamical approach for regulation of supermolecular structure of polymers can be applied successfully for regulation of the conformational order of nascent POM also. At lower concentration of active centres in the polymerizing system, kinetic factors affect considerably the conformational structure of nascent POM.     

p-Chlorophenyldiazonium hexafluorophosphate as a catalyst in the polymerization of tetrahydrofuran and other cyclic ethers

p-Chlorophenyldiazonium hexafluorophosphate is shown to be a convenient and effective catalyst for initiating the polymerization of tetrahydrofuran (TH) and other cyclic ethers. The polymerizations apparently proceed without any significant termination or transfer reactions (i.e., “living” polymers result), and materials of very high molecular weight can be obtained. A mobile monomer-polymer equilibrium for THF was obtained during polymerization and equilibrium conversions were determined at a number of temperatures. The ceiling temperature derived from these data was 84°C., the heat of polymerization was ?4.58 kcal./mole and the corresponding entropy change was ? 17.7 cal./°C.-mole. Hydrocarbons are suitable inert solvents for these polymerizations, but concentrated solutions must be used at ambient temperatures in order to stay above the required equilibrium monomer conceiitration and also to dissolve the catalyst which is insoluble in hydrocarbons. It was shown that acyclic ethers act as transfer agents in these polymerizations and that transfer with consequent reduction of molecular weight continues even after monomer-polymer equilibrium is reached. Cyclic ethers do not act as transfer agents but only copolymerize. Trimethyl orthoformate was shown to be a particularly effective transfer agent; it resulted in a polymer with methoxy endgroups and produced methyl formate as a by-product. The data obtained are consistent with a mechanism involving initiation by hydrogen abstraction and polymerization via tertiary oxonium ions associated with PF^?₆ gegenions. This gegenion is thought to be responsible for the “living” nature of the system.     

铁-芳烃配合物引发环氧化合物的光引发阳离子聚合

以环戊二烯基异丙苯铁六氟磷酸盐为光引发剂,用等温差示扫描量热法(DSC)研究了对甲苯基缩水甘油醚(CGE)的光引发阳离子聚合的温度效应及聚合反应动力学。研究表明CGE聚合时,反应速率及最终转化率随温度变化在550℃及450℃左右有一个峰值。CGE光聚合反应速率与单体浓度的一次方成比例,其反应机理包括两个基本反应,即:引发剂光解产物与单体的配合反应以及在该配合物中单体的开环反应,而这两个反应具有相反的温度效应,升高温度有利于后者而不利于前者。     

Anionic polymerization of propylene oxide

The anionic polymerization of propylene oxide with the use of potassium tert-butoxide and naphthalene sodium as initiator and dimethylsulfoxide, tetrahydrofuran and mixtures of both as solvent was investigated. The reactions were carried out in vacuum-sealed dilatometers over the temperature range 20?60°C. The products were analyzed by gelpermeation chromatography and infrared spectroscopy. The object of the investigation was to obtain information on the mechanism of the reaction and elucidate some of its kinetic aspects. It is shown that the polymerization occurs by two different processes depending on the experimental conditions: one involving free ions and ion-pairs, the other, ion-pairs alone. In the first case, where DMSO was used as solvent, the order of the reaction with respect to the initiator is greater than unity (～1.7), while in the second case, involving the mixture of DMSO and THF and ion-pairs alone, the reaction order is only one. Transfer to monomer is believed to take place only in the strongly dissociating DMSO medium, where free ions are present.     

Photocontrolled Iodine-Mediated Reversible-Deactivation Radical Polymerization: Solution Polymerization of Methacrylates by Irradiation with NIR LED Light

Herein, near-infrared (NIR) photocontrolled iodide-mediated reversible-deactivation radical polymerization (RDRP) of methacrylates, without an external photocatalyst, was developed using an alkyl iodide (e.g., 2-iodo-2-methylpropionitrile) as the initiator at room temperature. This example is the first use of a series of special solvents containing carbonyl groups (e.g., 1,3-dimethyl-2-imidazolidinone) as both solvent and catalyst for photocontrolled RDRP using long-wavelength (λ_max=730 nm) irradiation. The polymerization system comprises monomer, alkyl iodide initiator, and solvent. Well-defined polymers were synthesized with excellent control over the molecular weights and molecular weight distributions (M_w/M_n<1.21). The living features of this system were confirmed by polymerization kinetics, multiple controlled “on-off” light switching cycles, and chain extension experiments. Importantly, the polymerizations proceeded successfully with various barriers (pork skin and A4 paper), demonstrating the advantage of high-penetration NIR light.     

The kinetics of styrene emulsion polymerization

A study has been carried out on the kinetics of persulfate-initiated emulsion polymerization of styrene in the presence of an anionic (oleate) or mixed anionic-nonionic emulsifier. In both cases it appears that Smith-Ewart kinetics are obeyed, i.e., there is a constant-rate period up to 40–50% conversion, during which there is a concomitant constant molecular weight development. The sharp increases in molecular weight with conversion reported by Grancio and Williams appear to be an artifact resulting from the use of an impure emulsifier (Triton X-100), which acts as a chain transfer agent to reduce the molecular weight by approximately an order of magnitude. Hence there does not appear to be any kinetic justification for assuming an inhomogeneous swollen latex particle (“core-shell” morphology), and normal thermodynamic considerations should still apply to this swelling phenomemon.     

Evaluation of syringe handling techniques for injections into vaporizing GC injectors

Unequal elution of sample components of different volatility out of the syringe needle is one of the major causes for discrimination occuring during the injection, i.e. the phenomena which results in peak areas for the high boiling compounds which are too small compared with the volatiles. This problem, associated with all vaporizing injectors that are used with syringes, can be minimized by careful choice of the needle handling technique. Various methods are compared experimentally. The “solvent flush” method is discussed in detail and demonstrated to be ineffective for reducing losses in the syringe needle. The “hot needle” technique, where the empty needle is preheated in the injector before pushing the plunger, was found to be superior or equal to an improved “solvent flush” method (which included preheating the needle and omitting the air plug between sample and flushing solvent. Generally it was found that the discrimination due to the syringe needle was reduced for larger sample volumes, although no further changes were noticed when these exceeded 2.5 to 3μl.     

Characterization of Poly(N-Vinylcarbazole) Obtained via Asymmetrical Polymerization

Abstract

The characterizations of poly(N-vinylcarbazole) (PVCZ) obtained via asymmetrical polymerization have been studied by using ¹H-NMR spectrum, UV spectrum, DSC, and GPC analysis. The tacticities, i.e., the isotactic diad mole fractions, were found to increase when using the initiator AIBN to the catalyst (?)Sp?⁺(+)CSA?^?, and the extinction coefficients to decrease. Bimodal molecular weight distribution (MWD)s were caused by two propagating species of the free ions and the ion-pairs during the polymerization process.     

Radiation-induced solid-state polymerization of trioxane under high pressure

The in-source polymerization of trioxane in the solid state was investigated over a wide range of temperature and pressure, i.e., from 30 to 140°C and up to 7000 kg/cm², respectively. In the polymerization that was carried out slightly below the melting point under pressure, the higher the pressure, the higher the rate of polymerization. It was confirmed that the maximum rate of solid-state polymerization of trioxane occurs near the melting points, even under elevated pressure. The rate of polymerization decreased with increasing pressure at constant temperature. The shape of the time–conversion curves may be classified into two types, i.e., one which is typical of high pressure and low temperature, and the other which is typical of low pressure and high temperature. Changes in the shape of the conversion—intrinsic viscosity curves occurred coincidentally. Thus, three regions for the different “polymerization characteristic” were determined as functions of polymerization temperature and pressure. Explanations are given for the above-mentioned polymerization characteristic.     

Selective extraction of organic compounds as ion-pairs and adducts

Selective and easily regulated systems for extraction of organic compounds as ion-pairs and/or adducts are presented. The effect of different kinds of hydrophobic agents that give adducts in the organic phase are demonstrated: mesitylene for nitrophenols, ethyl acetate and diethyl ether for hexestrol (diphenol), lipophilic alcohols for organic ammonium ion-pairs, dibenzo-18-crown-6 for ion-pairs of primary ammonium ions, HDEHP for hydrophilic aminophenols (adrenaline, isoproterenol, synephrine). It is shown that the extraction selectivity decreases with increasing content of the complexing agent in the adduct. The influence of the hydrogen-bonding character of the counter-ion and the organic solvent on the selectivity of ion-pair extractions is demonstrated with ammonium compounds (nortriptyline, amitriptyline and N-methylainitriptyline) and inorganic anions. Highly hydrophilic anionic compounds (e.g., glucuronides, cholic acid derivatives) can be extracted into chloroform as ion-pairs with large quaternary alkylammonium ions. The extraction efficiency of the cation increases with the number of methylene groups to a limit which is due to co-extraction of other sample components (e.g., buffer anions).     

Photocontrolled Iodine‐Mediated Reversible‐Deactivation Radical Polymerization: Solution Polymerization of Methacrylates by Irradiation with NIR LED Light

Herein, near‐infrared (NIR) photocontrolled iodide‐mediated reversible‐deactivation radical polymerization (RDRP) of methacrylates, without an external photocatalyst, was developed using an alkyl iodide (e.g., 2‐iodo‐2‐methylpropionitrile) as the initiator at room temperature. This example is the first use of a series of special solvents containing carbonyl groups (e.g., 1,3‐dimethyl‐2‐imidazolidinone) as both solvent and catalyst for photocontrolled RDRP using long‐wavelength (λ_max=730 nm) irradiation. The polymerization system comprises monomer, alkyl iodide initiator, and solvent. Well‐defined polymers were synthesized with excellent control over the molecular weights and molecular weight distributions (M_w/M_n<1.21). The living features of this system were confirmed by polymerization kinetics, multiple controlled “on‐off” light switching cycles, and chain extension experiments. Importantly, the polymerizations proceeded successfully with various barriers (pork skin and A4 paper), demonstrating the advantage of high‐penetration NIR light.     

Strongly stretched polymer brushes

Polymer “brushes” are formed when long-chain molecules are somehow attached by one end at an interface with a relatively small area per chain. Such adsorbed brushes in the presence of solvent may be used to modify surface properties, stabilize colloidal particles, etc. Strongly segregated block copolymer phases, or interfacial layers of such “polymeric surfactants” may also be modeled in terms of “melt brushes,” (i.e., brushes without solvent). In both cases, when chain attachments are crowded on the interface, the chains stretch out to avoid neighboring chains. The resulting physical state has properties markedly different from polymer solutions, gels, or weakly adsorbed polymer layers. When the chains are strongly stretched, their statistical mechanics become simpler, as fluctuations around the set of most probable conformations are suppressed. This makes possible many pencil-and-paper calculations of brush properties, including bending and compressional moduli, and detailed knowledge of the chain conformations. As a recent example, I will describe calculations of phase diagrams of strongly segregated block copolymers including bicontinuous double-diamond phases. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.