Microstructural study of poly(methyl methacrylate-co-n-propyl acrylate) by 13C NMR

Analysis of carbonyl and β-CH₂ signals in the 100?MHz ¹³C NMR spectra of poly(methyl methacrylate-co-n-propyl acrylate) (PMMA/nPrA), provided distribution of configurational-compositional sequences for a series of the copolymer samples of different composition at pentad level for carbonyl signal and hexad level for the backbone methylene carbons. Computer simulation of the spectra based on incremental calculation of the chemical shifts for individual sequences provided very good agreement with the experimental spectra.     

Microstructure of poly(methyl methacrylate-co-isopropyl acrylate) studied by 13C NMR

The distribution of configurational–compositional sequences of poly(methyl methacrylate-co-isopropyl acrylate) (PMMA/iPrA) has been determined from the carbonyl and β-CH₂ signals in the 100?MHz ¹³C NMR spectra of the copolymer. The carbonyl signal provided information on configurational–compositional sequences up to heptads, whereas β-CH₂ signals offered complementary information on even sequences up to hexads. The assignment of the sequences to the respective signals was based on a comparison with the spectra of respective homopolymers, that is, PMMA and PiPrA followed by a computer simulation applying an incremental calculation of chemical shifts of the individual sequences.     

Sequence Distribution of Poly(methyl acrylate) by Incremental Calculation

The carbonyl signal in the 100 MHz ¹³C NMR spectra of poly(methyl acrylate) (PMA) recorded in benzene-d₆ exhibits configurational sensitivity up to pentads, and the signal of backbone β-CH₂ carbons shows splitting up to configurational hexads with traces of octads. Assignment of the sequences to respective signals was confirmed by computer simulation of both carbonyl and methylene signals applying a method of incremental calculation of chemical shifts of individual sequences and second-order Markov statistics for sequence probabilities.     

The Microstructure of Poly(Isobutylene-co-p-Methylstyrene) by NMR Spectroscopy

Abstract

The microstructure of isobutylene-para-methylstyrene (IB-pMeSt) copolymers was studied by NMR spectroscopy. ¹H- and ¹³C-NMR spectra were used to obtain overall copolymer compositions. ¹³C-NMR signals were assigned in terms of triad monomer sequences, and triad distributions were obtained over a wide copolymer composition range. According to statistical tests, the IB-pMeSt copolymerization cannot be described by zero- (Bernoullian) or first-order Markov models because reactivity ratios r _IB and r _pMeSt were found to change with the monomer feed composition. Additional insight into the microstructure of IB-pMeSt copolymers was gained by calculating sequence numbers, run numbers, and sequence lengths from triad distributions. Further, the Kelen-Tüdös plot showed a distinct curvature indicating that the Kelen-Tüdös method, applied over the entire monomer feed composition range, cannot give meaningful reactivity ratios for this monomer pair. Evidently the simple two-parameter Mayo-Lewis model is inadequate to describe the IB-pMeSt copolymerization system.     

Observation of pentads in deuterated polyacrylonitrile by NMR spectroscopy

The deuterium-decoupled methine proton spectra of polyacrylonitrile-β,β-d₂ were measured at 156°C in dimethylsulfoxide-d₆ solution. Splittings of triad peaks caused by pentad sequences were observed. The isotactic triad resonance was resolved into three peaks and the heterotactic resonance into two peaks, while the syndiotactic resonance was unresolved or resolved into three peaks. The splittings were assigned by comparing the probability of each pentad sequence with observed intensities. The pentad signal shifted to the higher magnetic field with increasing number of meso configurations as neighbors of the central triad. It was observed that the pentad of atactic polyacrylonitrile-β,β-d₂ obeyed Bernoullian statistics but that of isotactic polymer obtained by γ-ray irradiation of the canal complex seemingly obeyed first-order Markov statistics.     

Stereochemical and compositional assignment of acrylonitrile/methyl methacrylate copolymers by DEPT and inverse HECTOR NMR spectroscopy

The acrylonitrile/methyl methacrylate copolymers of different monomer concentration were prepared by photo polymerization using uranyl ion as initiator. The carbon 13 and proton spectra of these copolymers are overlapping and complex. The complete spectral assignment of the ¹³C- and ¹H-NMR spectra were done with the help of Distortionless Enhancement by Polarization Transfer (DEPT) and two dimensional ¹³C–¹H Heteronuclear Single Quantum Correlation (HSQC) experiments. The methylene, methine and the methyl carbon resonances show both stereochemical (triad level) and compositional (dyad, triad, tetrad, pentad and hexad level) sensitivity. 2D Double Quantum Filtered Correlated Spectroscopy (DQFCOSY) experiment was used to ascertain the various geminal couplings between the methylene protons. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 36: 1081–1092, 1998     

Effect of temperature and solvent on polymer tacticity in the free‐radical polymerization of styrene and methyl methacrylate

The effect of temperature and solvent on polymer tacticity in free‐radical polymerization of styrene and methyl methacrylate was studied by ¹³C and ¹H NMR, respectively. Polystyrene shows a mild syndiotactic tendency (P_m = 0.36 ± 0.02) that is independent of temperature over a wide range (?10 to 120 °C), while poly(methyl methacrylate) shows a stronger syndiotactic tendency (P_m = 0.17 ± 0.01 at 30 °C) that decreases as temperature is increased (P_m = 0.22 ± 0.02 at 80 °C). None of the polymerization solvents studied (bulk, THF, DMF, DMSO, acetonitrile, and acetone) had a significant effect on polymer tacticity in either system. The triad fractions of both polymers showed deviations from the Bernoulli model, implying that the antepenultimate unit affects the propagation reaction. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2013 , 51, 3351–3358     

Characterization of azo-containing polydimethylsiloxanes and their copolymers with methyl methacrylate

Azo group-containing polydimethylsiloxanes (PDMS–ACP), macroazoinitiators, were prepared by polycondensation reaction of 4,4′-azobis-4-cyanopentanoyl chloride (ACPC) with hydroxybutyl-terminated polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) of varying molecular weights. The activation energy (E_a), activation enthalpy (ΔH^‡), and activation entropy (ΔS^‡) of the thermodecomposition of PDMS-ACP in toluene increased with increase in poly-dimethyl-siloxane chain length (SCL) in PDMS moieties, while the activation free energy (ΔG^‡) was independent on the SCL. The polydimethylsiloxane-poly(methyl methacrylate) block copolymers (PDMS-b-PMMA) were prepared by the use of PDMS-ACP macroazoinitiators, and they were characterized by ¹H-, ²⁹Si-, and ¹³C-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopies. The microstructure and morphology of copolymers were investigated by proton spin–spin relaxation measurements and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Characterization of Poly(ethyleneoxyethylene terephthalate‐co‐adipate) using NMR Spectroscopy

Comonomer sequence distribution and ¹H‐NMR chemical shifts were determined for poly(ethyleneoxyethylene terephthalate‐co‐adipate) (PEOETA) copolyester. The sequence distribution of terephthalate (T) and adipate (A) residues was found to be random, which is typical for copolyesters synthesized via bulk polycondensation. The inner methylene protons of EOE residues appeared as a pair of doublets due to chemical shift differences among the EOE‐centered dyad sequences TT, TA, AT, and AA. The four equivalent phenylene protons of T residues appeared as a triplet due to chemical shift differences among the T‐centered triad sequences TTT, TTA (?ATA), and ATA. Higher‐order tetrad and pentad sensitivity were also observed for the inner methylene and phenylene protons, respectively, especially for TT‐ and TTT‐centered sequences. The sequence sensitivity of the phenylene protons was attributed to unique spatial interactions between themselves and protons within adjacent adipate and EOE units. These spatial interactions were confirmed using Nuclear Overhauser Enhancement Spectroscopy (NOESY).     

Investigation at the chain segmental level of the miscibility of poly(vinyl chloride)/atactic poly(methyl methacrylate) blends

We employed high‐resolution ¹³C cross‐polarization/magic‐angle‐spinning/dipolar‐decoupling NMR spectroscopy to investigate the miscibility and phase behavior of poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC)/poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) blends. The spin–lattice relaxation times of protons in both the laboratory and rotating frames [T₁(H) and T_1ρ(H), respectively] were indirectly measured through ¹³C resonances. The T₁(H) results indicate that the blends are homogeneous, at least on a scale of 200–300 Å, confirming the miscibility of the system from a differential scanning calorimetry study in terms of the replacement of the glass‐transition‐temperature feature. The single decay and composition‐dependent T_1ρ(H) values for each blend further demonstrate that the spin diffusion among all protons in the blends averages out the whole relaxation process; therefore, the blends are homogeneous on a scale of 18–20 Å. The microcrystallinity of PVC disappears upon blending with PMMA, indicating intimate mixing of the two polymers. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 39: 2390–2396, 2001     

Local chain configuration dependence of the mechanisms of analogous reactions of PVC. I. A conclusive study of the microstructure evolution in SN2 nucleophilic substitution

The nucleophilic substitution in poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) with sodium benzenethiolate has been studied in two kinds of solvent differing in the molecular structure in the vicinity of the carbonyl group. From the evolution of the content of isotactic ( mm ), heterotactic ( mr ), and syndiotactic ( rr ) triads; and of mmmm, mmmr and rmmr isotactic pentads, in the unmodified parts of the polymer, as followed by ¹³C-NMR, it is unambiguously inferred that any chlorine but the central one of either the isotactic triad at mmr tetrads or the heterotactic triad at rmrr pentads is unreactive. Only a small fraction of mmr tetrads reacts occasionally by the central chlorine of its mr triad instead of the mm . Of those structures, the mmr , especially when located at the end of long isotactic sequences, proves to be highly reactive compared to the rmrr structure. By comparing quantitatively the microstructural changes with degree of substitution and taking into account that the reaction is of S_N2 type, the mechanisms of substitution through the three foregoing reactive chlorines have been stated. They are found to be independent of the type of solvent and to account for all the changes in triad and pentad content as experimentally found. Instead, the solvent dependence of the ratio between the mmr - and rmrr -based processes of substitution is such that the depletion of mmr compared to that of rmrr structure may be controlled. The conformational sensitivity of this behavior is discussed on the basis of side work in our laboratory. As a whole, the results of the present work provide some original concepts as to the role of the tacticity dependent microstructure and the related local conformations in the chemical reactions of PVC. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

NMR analysis of the microstructure of poly(methyl acrylate-co-N-vinylcarbazole)

The microstructure of a series of high conversion copolymers of methyl acrylate (MA) and N-vinylcarbazole (NVC) was characterized by NMR. ¹H- and ¹³C-NMR spectra were assigned by comparison to the homopolymers and by using heteronuclear shift correlation spectroscopy. MA-centered triad distributions were obtained from the carbonyl carbon. Distributions of NVC sequences were determined from aromatic carbons 1 and 8a, and aromatic proton 1 These experimentally determined sequence distributions were compared to those calculated from reactivity ratios approximated from the copolymer compositions. Agreement was very good for low NVC content copolymers. Three signals were particularly useful in providing rapid assessment of the distribution of NVC units within low NVC content copolymers: proton 1 and carbon 1 of NVC and the carbonyl carbon of MA. © 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

1H-NMR of the esterification of syndiotactic poly(methacrylic acid) with carbodiimides—II. Esterification with benzylalcohol and trifluoroethanol

The partial esterification of syndiotactic poly(methacrylic acid) with benzyl alcohol or trifluoroethanol and dicyclohexylcarbodiimide as a condensing agent has been studied, evaluating triad and pentad probabilities by ¹H-NMR. The mechanism of this esterification leads to a tendency toward alternation for esterified and unesterified monomer units along the chain and to a limiting conversion. Only a moderate approximation of triad and pentad probabilities by conditional probabilities of first and second order was possible. The esterification of poly(methacrylic acid) with trifluoroethanol has been carried out also in conc H₂SO₄ and leads to a random distribution of monomer units.     

Peroxide initiated maleic anhydride grafting: Structural studies on an ester‐containing copolymer and related substrates

Maleic anhydride (MAn) was grafted onto the low molecular weight esters methyl decanoate (MD) and methyl 2‐ethylhexanoate (MEH) using the free‐radical initiators Lupersol‐101 and ‐130; the esters were used as model compounds for the copolymer poly(ethylene‐co‐methyl acrylate). The grafted products in both cases were isolated from the unreacted ester and were subjected to extensive analysis using spectroscopic and chromatographic techniques. Analysis of the grafted material indicated the presence of one or more succinic anhydride (SAn) residues grafted to the ester. In the case of the multiply grafted material it has been established conclusively by ¹³C‐NMR using 2,3‐¹³C₂ labeled MAn that the multiple grafts exist as single units. A limited number of grafting experiments was performed on the copolymer in the melt and the graft‐modified copolymer was characterized spectroscopically. Single graft units were observed. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 1609–1618, 1999     

High-pressure calorimetric study of plasticization of poly(methyl methacrylate) by methane,ethylene, and carbon dioxide

Glass transition in the system poly(methyl methacrylate)/compressed gas was studied as a function of the gas pressure p using a high-pressure Tian-Calvet heat flow calorimeter. Measurements were made on PMMA-CH₄-C₂H₄, and ;-CO₂ at pressures to 200 atm. All three gases plasticize the polymer leading to depression of the glass transition temperature T_g. Trends in the T_g depression were the same as those reported for the solubility of these gases in PMMA; the higher the solubility the larger the depression in T_g. CO₂ was found to be the most effective plasticizer producing a depression of about 40°C at a pressure of about 37 atm. In the low-pressure limit, the pressure coefficient of the glass transition temperature (dT_g/dp) was found to be about −0.2°C atm^-1 for PMMA-CH₄, the same as that observed for polystyrene-CH₄. For PMMA-C₂H₄, the pressure coefficient was −0.7°C atm^-1, which is lower than the value of −0.9°C atm^-1 observed for PS-C₂H₄. The pressure coefficient for PMMA-CO₂ was found to be about −1.2°C atm^-1, which is larger than the value of −0.9°C atm^-1 observed for PS-CO₂. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Structural Study of Methyl Acrylate in a Nematic Liquid Crystal by 1H NMR with 13C Satellites

The molecular structure and conformation of methyl acrylate have been determined by analyzing the ¹H NMR spectrum with ¹³C satellites of the molecules dissolved in the liquid crystal ZLI 1132. In the structural analysis, direct coupling constants have been corrected for molecular vibrations and converted to those in the r structure. The correlation between reorientational motion and internal rotation has been taken into account by using the mean external potential described in terms of bond interaction tensors. The potential for the internal rotation about the bond has been represented as V() = (V ₁/2) (1 – cos ) + (V ₂/2)(1 – cos 2), where is zero for the s-cis configuration, and the determined values of V ₁ and V ₂ are 2.7(1) and 8.4(13) kJ mol^–1, respectively. The relative abundance of the s-cis conformer, 76(1)%, agrees with a gas-phase value, 67(11)%, determined by electron diffraction within experimental errors.     

Organic–inorganic hybrid materials. V. Dynamics and degradation of poly(methyl methacrylate) silica hybrids

Poly(methyl methacrylate)–silica hybrid materials (PMMA–SiO₂) were prepared by in situ polycondensation of alkoxysilane in the presence of trialkoxysilane‐functional PMMA. Infrared, differential scanning calorimetry, ²⁹Si and ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis were used to study the PMMA–SiO₂ hybrids. The effects of the content and kind of the alkoxysilane on the dynamics and stability of the PMMA–SiO₂ hybrids were investigated in this study.The dynamics of SiO₂within hybrids were investigated with ²⁹Si–¹H cross‐polarization. The spin‐diffusion path length was on a nanometer scale estimated with the spin–lattice relaxation time in the rotating frame (T). The apparent activation energies for the degradation of the hybrids under air and nitrogen were evaluated by the van Krevelen method. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 1972–1980, 2000     

Poly(isobornyl methacrylate‐co‐methyl acrylate): Synthesis and stereosequence distribution analysis by NMR spectroscopy

Copolymerization of isobornyl methacrylate and methyl acrylate ( I/M ) is performed by atom transfer radical polymerization using methyl‐2‐bromopropionate as an initiator and PMDETA/CuBr as catalyst under nitrogen atmosphere at 70 °C. The copolymer compositions determined from ¹H NMR spectra are used to determine reactivity ratios of the monomers. The reactivity ratio determined from linear Kelen–Tudos method and non‐linear error‐in‐variable method, are r_I = 1.25 ± 0.10, r_M = 0.84 ± 0.08 and r_I = 1.20, r_M = 0.82, respectively. 1D, distortion less enhancement by polarization transfer and 2D, heteronuclear single quantum coherence, and total correlation spectroscopy NMR experiments are employed to resolve highly overlapped and complex ¹H and ¹³C{¹H} NMR spectra of the copolymers. The carbonyl carbon of I and M units and methyl carbon of I unit are assigned up to triad compositional and configurational sequences, whereas β‐methylene carbons are assigned up to tetrad compositional and configurational sequences. Similarly, methine carbon of I unit is assigned up to triad level. The couplings of carbonyl carbon and quaternary carbon resonances are studied in detail using 2D hetero nuclear multiple bond correlation spectra. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012     

Nuclear magnetic resonance studies on microstructure of ethylene copolymers. VI. Carbon-13 spectra of ethylene–vinyl acetate copolymers

The 22.6-MHz Fourier-transform noise-decoupled ¹³C (carbon-13) NMR spectra of several ethylene–vinyl acetate (E–VA) copolymers were obtained. We found that triad information on monomer placement can be deduced from carbonyl resonances, triad and pentad information can be deduced from methine carbon resonances, and triad information is available from the methylene carbon resonances. The random comonomer distributions in E–VA polymerizations were demonstrated up to pentad placements. In addition, the use of model-compound data in the analysis of copolymer spectra was shown.     

Determination of microstructure and glass-transition temperature of acrylonitrile-methyl acrylate copolymers by 13C-NMR spectroscopy

Acrylonitrile-methyl acrylate (A/M) copolymers of different monomer compositions were prepared by bulk polymerization using free radical initiator (benzoyl peroxide). Copolymer compositions were determined by elemental analyses and comonomer reactivity ratios were determined by the nonlinear least squares errors-in-variables methods (EVM). Terminal and penultimate reactivity ratios have been calculated using the observed monomer triad sequence distribution determined from ¹³C{¹H}-NMR spectra. The triad sequence distribution was used to calculate diad concentrations, conditional probability parameters, number-average sequence lengths, and run number in the copolymers. The observed triad sequence concentrations determined from ¹³C{¹H}-NMR spectrum agreed well with those calculated from reactivity ratios. Glass transition temperatures (T_g) of various copolymers determined from DSC gave good agreement with those obtained from NMR. © 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.