Ionic polymerization in aqueous emulsion

A kinetic study of the anionic polymerization of octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane (D₄) in aqueous emulsion has been carried out in the presence of ionic additives. The rate of polymerization of several cyclosiloxanes has been compared, leading to additional evidence for an interfacial mechanism of polymerization. The emulsion process has been applied to the cationic polymerization of D₄ and of tetramethylcyclotetrasiloxane (D^H₄) initiated by dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid. Very efficient for the synthesis of linear polymethylhydrogenosiloxanes (PMHS), these conditions did not seem suitable for the polymerization of D₄. The extension of the process to other heterocyclic monomers is discussed through the anionic polymerization of phenylglycidylether.     

Relation between the reactivities of vinyl monomers in ionic polymerizations and their 1H NMR spectra

¹H NMR chemical shifts of the protons in the vinyl groups of monomers are correlated with their reactivities in anionic, coordinated anionic, and cationic polymerizations. The relative reactivities of styrenes in anionic addition reactions with living polystyrene increase linearly with the chemical shift of the proton trans to the substituent (δ_H1). Only the plot for 2,4,6-trimethylstyrene deviates very much from the linear relation because of the large steric hindrance. The relative reactivities of methacrylates in anionic copolymerizations increase with increasing chemical shifts of protons attached to the β-carbon of methacrylates. In cationic polymerizations of styrenes, the relative reactivities decrease with increasing δ_H1. The relative reactivities in coordinated anionic polymerizations with Ti-containing Ziegler initiators show a typical feature of cationic polymerization, and those with V-containing initiators show a typical feature of anionic polymerization, indicating the importance of the coordination process in the propagation reaction with Ti-containing initiator systems. From the results, it can be concluded that the chemical shifts of the protons attached to the β-carbon of vinyl monomers can be used as a practical measure of the reactivity of vinyl monomers in ionic polymerizations and also as a tool for understanding the mechanism of polymerization. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 2134–2147, 2002     

Characteristics and initiation ability of 9-anthranylmethyl hexafluorophosphate

9-Anthranylmethyl hexafluorophosphate–a stable primary carbenium salt–is prepared and characterized by UV, VIS, and NMR spectroscopy and by conductometric measurements in methylene chloride. 9-Anthranylmethyl hexafluorophosphate initiates the polymerization of vinyl and heterocyclic monomers. This initiator has higher reactivity than trityl and diphenylmethyl salts. The initiation mechanism of the polymerization of some monomers is investigated.     

Living Polymers in Ionic and Radical Polymerizations: Recent Developments

The discovery of living polymers, that is, assemblies of polymer molecules formed by anionic polymerization which may grow without chain-breaking reaction and may react subsequently with other monomers and various reagents through their end-groups, has led to great progress in the knowledge of the mechanism of anionic polymerization and to the synthesis of a large variety of well-defined block copolymers, graft co-polymers, and polymers with functionalized end-groups. Since only a limited number of the current monomers are polymerizable by an anionic mechanism, many attempts have been made to obtain similar results by polymerizing other monomers by cationic, radical, and Ziegler polymerization. Systems making it possible to work at temperatures higher than those used for many anionic and most cationic polymerizations would be particularly interesting.     

Expected and unexpected reactions in ring‐opening (co)polymerization

This review covers most of the authors' work on ring‐opening polymerization and copolymerization of heterocyclic monomers during the time of their cooperation since 1985. The mechanistic aspects of anionic ring opening polymerization of cyclic carbonates with a variety of functional groups are described first. By sequential polymerization of first styrene, methyl methacrylate or suitable heterocyclic monomers and then secondly a cyclic carbonate, the site transformation is highlighted. The influence of the chemical nature of macroinitiators with identical active sites on the course of polymerization of cyclic carbonates was studied for poly(ethylene oxide), poly(tetrahydrofuran), and poly(dimethylsiloxane) macroinitiators. For the copolymerization of cyclic carbonates with lactones and lactide the dependence of the polymer microstructure on the polymerization conditions is discussed on the basis of the copolymerization mechanism. The copolymerization of cyclic carbonates with ε‐caprolactam and with tetramethylene urea results in an alternating copolymer, i. e. a poly(ester urethane) and an [m, n]‐polyurethane, respectively, the key step being the insertion of the lactam or the cyclic urea into the carbonate chain. The cationic ring opening polymerization of cyclic six and seven membered carbamates leading to [4]‐ and [5]‐polyurethane with uniform microstructure is reported with respect to kinetic, mechanistic, and thermodynamic aspects. This new access to [n]‐polyurethanes by a chain growth reaction allows the synthesis of well defined polymer architectures with polyurethane sequences. Sequential polymerization of tetrahydrofuran and the cyclic carbamate with mono‐ and bifunctional initiators leads to the respective A–B and B–A–B block copolymers. Site transformation from the oxonium to the immonium active species is the key step in the polymerization mechanism. Finally, mechanistic aspects of the ring‐opening polymerization of cyclic ester‐amides are presented.     

New Perspectives in Living/Controlled Anionic Polymerization

Summary: Control of the reactivity and selectivity of active species remains a major challenge in the course of living/controlled polymerizations of vinyl and heterocyclic monomers. We have found that alkyl metal derivatives such as dialkylmagnesium or trialkylaluminum derivatives or the corresponding alkoxyakyl metal derivatives, when added to conventional anionic polymerization systems, are very effective mediators for the controlled anionic polymerization of both styrenic and oxirane monomers. When used as additives to alkali metal alkyl initiators (alkyl lithium, alkyl sodium) for the styrene anionic polymerizations, they strongly retard the reactivity of the propagating species and allow controlling the polymerization in very unusual conditions (bulk, very high temperature). On the contrary, when used in combination to the same alkali metal based initiators for the anionic polymerization of ethylene oxide or propylene oxide, these additives can drastically enhance the reactivity and the selectivity of the propagating species allowing a fast living-like polymerization to proceed already at low temperature in hydrocarbon media.     

Novel synthesis of photocrosslinkable polymers

A new preparative route to photocrosslinkable polymers in which the polymers are produced directly from the polymerization of vinyl monomers having photocrosslinkable groups has been investigated. The photosensitive resins thus produced have higher sensitivity and resolution than conventional photosensitive resins. The monomers were synthesized from the esterification of vinylphenols or vinyl β-chloroethyl ether with cinnamic acid, β-styrylacrylic acid, and their homologs, and from the etherification of vinyl β-chloroethyl ether with hydroxychalcones. Homopolymerizations of these monomers and their copolymerizations with other comonomers were investigated with the use of both radical and ionic initiators. It is shown that radical polymerization of the monomers gave soluble polymers only at low conversion. Anionic initiators did not initiate polymerization. Cationic polymerization imparted soluble polymers in high yield, except for the monomers bearing cyano groups, which generally gave insoluble polymers. Infrared and NMR spectroscopic investigation of the cationically obtained soluble polymers and comparative investigation by cationic polymerization of model compounds indicated that polymerization of the monomers proceeds through the vinyl double bond without affecting the photosensitive unsaturated bond. Thus, linear photocrosslinkable polymers with an intact photoreactive group may be produced by cationic polymerization. In general, these polymers have uniform structure and modifiable physical properties depending on the monomer used. The polymer thus obtained from β-vinyloxyethyl cinnamate has been shown to have excellent properties for use as a photo-resist.     

Stereoselective Polymerization of Aromatic Vinyl Polar Monomers

Polar vinyl polymers, a class of polymers with polar groups as side chains, have significant advantages over conventional nonpolar polyolefin materials in terms of viscosity, toughness, interfacial properties (dyeability and printability), and compatibility with solvents or other polymers. Among them, aromatic polar vinyl polymers are of interest because of their good heat resistance properties. In addition, stereoselective polymerization of aromatic polar vinyl monomers has been rapidly developed because the steric structure of the polymer has a significant impact on its physical properties. In this paper, we review the research progress of stereoselective polymerization catalysts for aromatic polar vinyl monomers in recent years, discuss in detail the influence of ligand structure, electronic effect of substituents, spatial site resistance effect, central rare earth metal species and polymerization solvents on the activity and stereoselectivity of polymerization reactions, and explore the possible mechanism of polymerization reaction.     

Redox initiated cationic polymerization

A novel catalytic method for carrying out the cationic polymerizations has been developed based on a redox initiator system in which the reducing component is delivered to the reaction mixture in the vapor state. The redox couple consists of a diaryliodonium salt that is dissolved in the monomer and a noble metal catalyst is added. The silane reducing agent is introduced to the reaction mixture in the vapor state using air as the carrier gas. Reduction of the diaryliodonium salt by the silane results in the liberation of a Brønsted superacid that initiates cationic polymerizations. A study of the effects of variations in the structures of the diaryliodonium salt, the silane, and the type of noble metal catalyst was carried out. In principle, the initiator system is applicable to all types of cationically polymerizable monomers and oligomers including: the ring‐opening polymerizations of such heterocyclic monomers as epoxides and oxetanes and, in addition, the polymerization of vinyl ether monomers such as vinyl ethers. The use of this initiator system for carrying out commercially attractive cross‐linking polymerizations for coatings, composites, and encapsulations is discussed. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 1825–1835, 2009     

Origin and Use of Hydroxyl Group Tolerance in Cationic Molybdenum Imido Alkylidene N‐Heterocyclic Carbene Catalysts

The origin of hydroxyl group tolerance in neutral and especially cationic molybdenum imido alkylidene N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC) complexes has been investigated. A wide range of catalysts was prepared and tested. Most cationic complexes can be handled in air without difficulty and display an unprecedented stability towards water and alcohols. NHC complexes were successfully used with substrates containing the hydroxyl functionality in acyclic diene metathesis polymerization, homo‐, cross and ring‐opening cross metathesis reactions. The catalysts remain active even in 2‐PrOH and are applicable in ring‐opening metathesis polymerization and alkene homometathesis using alcohols as solvent. The use of weakly basic bidentate, hemilabile anionic ligands such as triflate or pentafluorobenzoate and weakly basic aromatic imido ligands in combination with a sterically demanding 1,3‐dimesitylimidazol‐2‐ylidene NHC ligand was found essential for reactive and yet robust catalysts.     

Alkoxy-substituted diaryliodonium salt cationic photoinitiators

This paper describes the synthesis and characterization of a series of (4-alkoxyphenyl)phenyliodonium salts which are excellent photo- and thermal-initiators for the cationic polymerization of vinyl and heterocyclic monomers. These compounds are easily prepared by straightforward synthetic techniques and display very good solubility and photoresponse characteristics which make them especially attractive for use in UV curing applications. Those compounds with alkoxy chains of eight carbons and longer are essentially nontoxic.     

Synthesis,characterization, and polymerization of propenyl ether analogues

A series of aromatic monomers bearing cationically polymerizable propenyl groups were prepared and characterized using the readily available starting materials: isoeugenol and o-allyl phenol. Monomers with both propenyl and vinyl ether functional groups were also synthesized by the reaction of these starting materials with chloroethyl vinyl ether. The reactivity of the resulting monomers in photoinitiated cationic polymerization was studied using differential scanning photocalorimetry and photogel point measurements. Their thermal properties were determined using thermogravimetric analysis. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Bis(Isopropenylphenoxy)Alkanes and Bis(Vinylphenoxy)Alkanes: Two Classes of Highly Reactive,Photopolymerizable Monomers

Abstract

A novel and facile synthesis of difunctional, aromatic vinyl ether analogs is reported. These materials, which are conveniently prepared by the condensation of 4-acetoxystyrene or 4-isopropenylphenyl acetate with α, ω-dihaloalkanes in the presence of base, can be cationically polymerized using diaryliodonium or triarylsulfonium salts as photoinitiators to produce crosslinked polymers. Relative reactivities of the monomers toward cationic polymerization were studied using differential scanning photocalorimetry. The thermal stabilities of the polymers resulting from the photopolymerization of the difunctional, aromatic vinyl ether analogs were studied using thermogravimetric analysis.     

可控／活性正离子聚合的研究与发展

综述了近二十年来乙烯基单体正离子聚合领域的研究和进展,详细介绍了活性/控制正离子聚合体系的机理研究和新引发体系和水相正离子聚合体系的研究新进展,以及采用活性/控制正离子聚合方法设计合成基于聚异丁烯链段的弹性体材料及其在生物材料领域的应用。     

Absolute propagation constants in vinyl polymerization

The determination of the individual rate constants in a reaction involving more than a single step is part of the basic knowledge required to understand the process itself. The history of the chain mechanism of vinyl polymerization is presented briefly. The techniques needed to measure the chain propagation step are discussed for the three basic mechanisms: free-radical, cationic, and anionic polymerization. Illustrative examples of the rate constants obtained are given, with stress placed on the monomers styrene and methyl methacrylate, which have the advantage of being able to be polymerized by all three or two of the mechanisms, respectively. This allows a comparison of propagation constants between mechanisms. Some factors influencing the magnitudes of the constants are mentioned, and some problems involved in specific cases are discussed. © 1999 Government of Canada. Exclusive worldwide publication rights in the article have been transferred to John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 4467–4477, 1999     

Effect of reaction medium on ionic lactam polymerization

Ring-size and substitution greatly affect the permittivity and donor-acceptor properties of lactams and their derivatives as well as of the corresponding polymers. Permittivity changes occurring during bulk polymerization affect dissociation equilibria and the very high increase in permittivity during polymerization is responsible for the autoacceleration observed in the anionic polymerization of the seven-membered lactam. In diluted solution, pronounced effects of the nature of solvent or additive have been observed in anionic polymerization of substituted four-membered lactams. Whereas the initial rate of polymerization is independent of the monomer concentration, the apparent order in the monomer increases and the rate of polymerization in most solvents decreases during polymerization, except in solvents of very low polarity. Changes of permittivity and conductivity during and after polymerization indicate, that changes in the solvation and rearrangement of the growth center are responsible for its varying activity. These processes increase the reactivity during ageing of the living system. Similarly to other heterocyclic monomers, the cationic polymerization of N-acyllactams is rather insensitive to the permittivity of the reaction medium.     

Interaction of epoxy and vinyl ethers during photoinitiated cationic polymerization

A kinetic study of the independent and simultaneous photoinitiated cationic polymerization of a number of epoxide and vinyl (enol) ether monomer pairs was conducted. The results show that, although no appreciable copolymerization takes place, these monomers undergo complex interactions with one another. These interactions are highly dependent on the epoxide monomer employed. In all cases, the rate of epoxide ring-opening polymerization is accelerated, whereas that of the vinyl ether is depressed. When highly reactive cycloaliphatic epoxides are subjected to photoinitiated cationic polymerization in the presence of vinyl ethers, the two polymerizations proceed in a sequential fashion, with the vinyl ether polymerization taking place after the epoxide polymerization is essentially complete. A mechanism involving an equilibration between alkoxy-carbenium and oxonium ions has been proposed to explain the results. In addition, the free-radical-induced decomposition of the diaryliodonium salt photoinitiator also takes place, leading to a decrease in the induction period. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 4007–4018, 1999     

Recent developments in photoinitiated radical polymerization

This article presents the progress made in the development of high-speed photocurable resins and reports the performance of some novel radical-type photoinitiators, acrylate monomers and telechelic oligomers. The polymerization kinetics has been studied by real-time infrared spectroscopy, which records conversion versus time curves for reactions occurring in a fraction of a second. Phosphine oxides are among the most efficient photoinitiators and proved to be particularly well suited for the photocuring of pigmented systems and for solar-assisted polymerization. Acrylate monomers containing a heterocyclic oxygen in their structural unit exhibit an unexpectedly high reactivity. The introduction of an amino group in the chain of a telechelic acrylate-polyester causes a substantial acceleration of the polymerization process. In both cases, the increase in reactivity was attributed to the presence of labile hydrogen atoms which favor chain transfer reactions. The copolymerization of donor-acceptor monomer systems, like vinyl ether-maleate or vinyl ether maleimide, was shown to proceed readily upon UV irradiation, even in the absence of added photoinitiator. Light-induced polymerization was also used to crosslink rapidly polymers functionalized with acrylate or vinyl double bonds, namely acrylated polyisoprene and a styrene-butadiene block copolymer. The addition in small amounts (1 wt%) of a trifunctional thiol was found to speed up drastically the crosslinking polymerization, causing insolubilization of the thermoplastic elastomer to occur after a 0.1 s exposure.     

Electro‐Controlled Living Cationic Polymerization

Cationic polymerizations have long been industrialized; however, stimulus‐regulated cationic polymerization remains to be developed. An electrochemically controlled living cationic polymerization is presented for the first time. In the presence of external potential and organic‐based electrocatalyst, a series of monomers can be polymerized under a cationic chain‐transfer mechanism. The resulting polymers exhibit well‐defined molecular mass, narrow dispersity, and good chain‐end fidelity. By controlling the external potential to switch the electrocatalyst between its oxidized and reduced states, ON/OFF polymerization can be achieved. This method is a versatile way to a large range of monomers, including vinyl ether‐type and p‐substituted styrene‐type monomers. Given the sustainability feature and broad interest of electrochemical synthetic techniques, we envisaged that this method would lead a new direction of external regulated living ionic polymerization.     

Cationic RAFT Polymerization Using ppm Concentrations of Organic Acid

A metal‐free, cationic, reversible addition–fragmentation chain‐transfer (RAFT) polymerization was proposed and realized. A series of thiocarbonylthio compounds were used in the presence of a small amount of triflic acid for isobutyl vinyl ether to give polymers with controlled molecular weight of up to 1×10⁵ and narrow molecular‐weight distributions (M_w/M_n<1.1). This “living” or controlled cationic polymerization is applicable to various electron‐rich monomers including vinyl ethers, p‐methoxystyrene, and even p‐hydroxystyrene that possesses an unprotected phenol group. A transformation from cationic to radical RAFT polymerization enables the synthesis of block copolymers between cationically and radically polymerizable monomers, such as vinyl ether and vinyl acetate or methyl acrylate.