Vinylation and polymerization with trivinylaluminum. I. Vinylation of organic halides as a model for termination in cationic polymerization leading to vinyl end groups

An improved synthesis of trivinylaluminum (V₃Al) is described. The proton magnetic resonance (PMR) spectrum of V₃Al was recorded and analyzed. A new vinylation method involving the use of V₃Al as the vinylating agent has been developed, and the vinylation of organic halides by V₃Al was studied at ?30, ?50 and ?70°C. Primary alkyl chlorides, such as methyl and methylene chloride, do not react with V₃Al and were used as solvents. Secondary chlorides such as 2-chloropropane also do not react. t-Butyl chloride gives rise to t-butylethylene (70–98%), depending on reaction conditions, and the allylic chlorides, 3-chloro-1-butene, and 3-chloro-3-methyl-1-butene, yield the expected vinylated products and their isomers (～90%). Allyl and benzyl chloride do not react under the conditions tried. The reaction between V₃Al and the ditertiary dichloride 2,6-dichloro-2,6-dimethylheptane yields several isomeric C₁₃H₂₄ and C₁₁H₂₀ hydrocarbons; however, surprisingly, C₉H₁₆ does not form. The C₁₃ hydrocarbons arise by divinylation at the termini of the dichloride, while the C₁₁ hydrocarbons are formed by vinylation at one and proton elimination at the other terminus of the dichloride. The presence of unsaturated C₁₃H₂₄ and C₁₁H₂₀ isomers is most likely due to proton induced isomerization. These results are explained by a proximity effect involving vinylation at one end of the dichloride by V₃Al followed by rapid reaction of the second chlorine (mostly) by V₂AlCl generated in situ during the first vinylation in the proximity of the chloride. At the other chlorine terminus V₂AlCl causes either a second vinylation (leading to C₁₃ hydrocarbons) or a proton elimination (leading to C₁₁ hydrocarbons). The absence of C₉H₁₆ among the reaction products indicates that V₃Al exclusively effects vinylation. The RCl + V₃Al ← RV + V₂AlCl reaction may be regarded as a model for initiation followed by immediate termination in cationic olefin polymerization, a process leading to vinyl-ended polymers.     

Cationic polymerization by aromatic initiating systems. IV. Synthesis and characterization of α-ω-diphenylpolyisobutylene

The polymerization of isobutylene using ø₃Al coinitiator and the tertiary chlorides tert.-butyl chloride (t-BuCl) and 2,6-dichloro-2,6-dimethylheptane (Cl^t-R-Cl^t) initiators has been studied. Polymerization rates with the t-BuCl/ø₃Al and Cl^t-R-Cl^t/ø₃Al initiating systems were high in the ?20 to ?70°C range. Yields and molecular weights increased with decreasing temperature. As predicted by model experiments the extent of phenylation increases with decreasing temperatures. According to spectroscopic evidence the polyisobutylenes carry phenyl end groups.     

Polymerization of vinyl chloride and copolymerization with carbon monoxide by a new initiator

The system comprising the ethoxydized product of triethylaluminum, cuprous chloride, and carbon tetrachloride was used as an initiator for polymerization of vinyl chloride, and the polymerization kinetics was studied. From plots of the molar number of number-average polymer chain Y/P? versus yield Y, the two parameters a ( = ∫ R_idt ? 1/2 ∫ R_tdt) and b ( = ∫ R_trdt/∫ R_pdt) were estimated to be 6 × 10^?3 mole/l. and 6.6 × 10^?4 respectively. Studies of the tacticity of the poly(vinyl chloride) showed isotactic = 49.3% and syndiotactic = 50.7%. The present initiator also permitted copolymerization of vinyl chloride with carbon monoxide; the monomer reactivity ratios were r₁ = 0.40 (vinyl chloride) and r₂ = 0.01 (carbon monoxide).     

Gamma radiation-initiated polymerization of styrene at high pressure. I. Kinetic parameters with intermittent irradiation

By adapting the rotating sector technique to provide an intermittent source of cobalt-60 radiation the activation volumes for all reaction steps of the bulk polymerization of styrene have been shown to be independent of pressure up to 208 MPa. The activation volumes determined for polymerization, initiation, propagation and termination were, respectively, ΔV^≠_pol = ?20.5 ± 0.22, ΔV^≠_i = +2.0 ± 0.18, ΔV^≠_p = ?18.6 ± 0.44, and ΔV^≠_t = +5.8 ± 0.55 cm³ mol^?. The values for the effect of pressure on the degree of polymerization ΔDP and the radical lifetime Δτ were, respectively, ?22.6 ± 0.16 and ?3.9 ± 0.29. The average radical lifetime increased from 4.5 s at atmospheric pressure to 6.3 s at 208 MPa. Because ΔV^≠_t is less than ΔV^≠_t and both are positive, the molecular weight increased with pressure at a faster rate than the polymerization rate. Although fewer radical chains were initiated per second under pressure the macroradical concentration increased with pressure because of the longer average lifetime of the radicals.     

Preparation and Characterization of Aluminum Alkoxides and their Application to Ring‐Opening Polymerization of ϵ‐Caprolactones

The reaction of 2‐methoxybenzyl alcohol with one molar equiv of R₂AIX in diethyl ether at 0°C gives [(2‐MeOC₆H₄CH₂‐μ‐O)AlRX]₂ ( 1 : R = Et, X = Cl, 2 : R = X = Et). In addition, 2,4‐di‐tert‐butylphenol reacts with ⁱBu₃Al affording a four‐coordinated aluminum compound [(μ‐2,4‐^tBu₂‐C₆H₄O)Al(ⁱBu)₂]₂ ( 4 ). Single crystal X‐ray structure analysis of 4 shows a C_2h‐symmetry with a planar Al₂O₂ core. Ring‐opening polymerization (ROP) of caprolactones initiated by 1, 4 and [(μ‐OCH₂C₆H₄OMe)Al(ⁱBu)₂]₂ ( 3 ) is performed and polyesters with narrow molecular weight distributions were obtained from the “living” ROP of caprolactones. ¹H NMR spectroscopic studies of PCL reveal that the initiator of 1 and 3 is through the Al‐OAr function, but the initiator of 4 is through the Al‐ ⁱBu group.     

Monomer-Isomerization polymerization. XXX. Influence of type of TiCl3 on monomer-isomerization polymerization of 2-butene with TiCl3 and alkylaluminum catalyst

Monomer-isomerization polymerization of cis-2-butene with four types of TiCl₃ in combination with alkylaluminum compounds was investigated. The catalytic activities for monomer-isomerization polymerization were found to be influenced by the type of TiCl₃ employed: systems containing hydrogen-activated-TiCl₃ and Solvay-TiCl₃ in combination with R₃Al (R = C₂H₅ and i-C₄H₉) showed high catalytic activity for both isomerization and polymerization, whereas (C₂H₅)₂AlCl in combination with any type of TiCl₃ did not induce the monomer-isomerization polymerization. The addition effect of NiCl₂ to the TiCl₃? (C₂H₅)₃Al catalyst was examined. Catalytic activities for both polymerization and isomerization reactions were found to depend on the amount of NiCl₂ added.     

Cationic polymerizations by aromatic initiating systems. III. Model reactions for initiation and termination using the t-BuCl/ϕ3Al and Clt-R-Clt/ϕ3Al systems

Preparatory for the synthesis of terminally functional polyisobutylenes carrying one or two phenyl end groups, model experiments have been carried out using novel tert-butyl chloride/triphenylaluminum and 2,6-dichloro-2,6-dimethylheptane/triphenylaluminum initiating systems. As anticipated, t-BuCl was phenylated by ø₃Al and the product is tert-butylbenzene. The reaction is extremely rapid and temperature has little effect on it in the 0 to ?60°C range. The interaction between the 2,6-dichloro-2,6-dimethylheptane and ø₃Al was found to be complicated by a proximity effect which leads to proton elimination in addition to phenylation. The formation of the desired diterminally phenylated product is not quanititative even at ?60°C.     

Stereospecific polymerization of isobutyl vinyl ether by AIR3–VCl3·LiCl catalyst. II. Effects of polymerization conditions on polymerization

The effect of polymerization conditions such as aging time of the catalyst, polymerization temperature, polymerization time, monomer concentration, and catalyst concentration on the polymerization of isobutyl vinyl ether was intensively studied by using the VCI₃·LiCl–Al(i-Bu)₃ system at an Al(i-Bu)/VCl₃·LiCl ratio of 6 at which the cationic polymerization by VCl₃·LiCl is sufficiently depressed. About 10 min aging of the catalyst in the presence of monomer yields a fairly stable catalytie system. The optimum polymerization temperature is around 30°C. The conversion increased with increasing monomer concentration, whereas the stereospecificity of polymerization decreased. Unexpectedly, the conversion decreased as total catalyst concentration increased. This phenomenon is explained by considering the deactivation of catalytic sites by the excess of Al(i-Bu)₃. A reasonable mechanism from kinetic considerations is that two molecules of Al(i-Bu)₃ deactivate the catalytic site in an equilibrium reaction. This deactivation is understandable by considering that the coordination of two molecules of Al(i-Bu)₃ will occupy all the coordination positions of vanadium, so that there is no room for coordination of monomer coming to the catalytic site.     

Radical and cationic polymerizations of 3‐ethyl‐3‐methacryloyloxymethyloxetane

3‐Ethyl‐3‐methacryloyloxymethyloxetane (EMO) was easily polymerized by dimethyl 2,2′‐azobisisobutyrate (MAIB) as the radical initiator through the opening of the vinyl group. The initial polymerization rate (R_p) at 50 °C in benzene was given by R_p = k[MAIB]^0.55 [EMO]^1.2. The overall activation energy of the polymerization was estimated to be 87 kJ/mol. The number‐average molecular weight (M?_n) of the resulting poly(EMO)s was in the range of 1–3.3 × 10⁵. The polymerization system was found to involve electron spin resonance (ESR) observable propagating poly(EMO) radicals under practical polymerization conditions. ESR‐determined rate constants of propagation (k_p) and termination (k_t) at 60 °C are 120 and 2.41 × 10⁵ L/mol s, respectively—much lower than those of the usual methacrylate esters such as methyl methacrylate and glycidyl methacrylate. The radical copolymerization of EMO (M₁) with styrene (M₂) at 60 °C gave the following copolymerization parameters: r₁ = 0.53, r₂ = 0.43, Q₁ = 0.87, and e₁ = +0.42. EMO was also observed to be polymerized by BF₃OEt₂ as the cationic initiator through the opening of the oxetane ring. The M?_n of the resulting polymer was in the range of 650–3100. The cationic polymerization of radically formed poly(EMO) provided a crosslinked polymer showing distinguishably different thermal behaviors from those of the radical and cationic poly(EMO)s. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 39: 1269–1279, 2001     

Polymerization of styrene with VOCl3–aluminum alkyls

The polymerization of styrene with VOCl₃ in combination with AlEt₃ and with Al(i-Bu)₃ in n-hexane at 40°C. has been investigated. The rate of polymerization was found to be second order with respect to monomer in both systems. With respect to catalyst the rate of polymerization was first order for VOCl₃–AlEt₃ and second order for VOCl₃-Al(i-Bu)₃ systems. The activation energies for VOCl₃–AlEt₃ and VOCl₃–Al(i-Bu)₃ systems were 7.37 and 11.25 kcal./mole, respectively. The molecular weight of polystyrene in the AlEt₃ system was considerably higher than that in the Al(i-Bu)₃ system. The valence of vanadium obtained by a potentiometric method showed that the catalyst sites in the AlEt₃ system are different in nature from those in the Al(i-Bu)₃ system. The effect of diethylzinc as a chain-transfer agent in the AlEt₃ system was also studied.     

Block and graft copolymers by selective cationic initiation. II. Synthesis and characterization of styrene-isobutylene block copolymers by use of chlorobrominated alkanes

The synthesis and characterization of a new block copolymer, poly(styrene-b-isobutylene) (PSt-b-PIB), is described. The synthesis involves the initiation of an isobutylene polymerization by a polystyrene molecule containing a terminal tertiary bromine (PSt-Br), in conjunction with diethylaluminum chloride coinitiator. The species PSt-Br is in turn synthesized by initiating the polymerization of styrene selectively by the tertiary chlorine of the 2-bromo-6-chloro-2,6-dimethylheptane/Et₃Al initiator system in the absence of chain transfer. The conditions conducive for selective initiation by tertiary chlorine have been worked out. The pure block copolymer, PSt-b-PIB, is obtained by selective extraction and some of its properties were determined, e.g., solubility and film behavior, T_g, and intrinsic viscosity versus temperature. The intrinsic viscosity (in toluene) exhibits a maximum and a minimum in the temperature range from 15 to 55°C.     

Stereospecific polymerization of isobutyl vinyl ether by AlR3–VCln catalysts. I. Influence of preparative conditions of the catalysts

The polymerization of isobutyl vinyl ether by the VCl_n–AIR₃ system was carefully studied. The vanadium components were prepared by the reaction between VCl₄ and AlEt₃ or n-BuLi as a reducing agent. VCl₃·LiCl and VCl₂·2LiCl are the effective catalysts for the stereospecific polymerization of isobutyl vinyl ether. When VCl₃·LiCl is combined with AlR₃, a new catalytic system is formed. The effect of the preparative conditions of the various vanadium component in the AlR₃–VCl_n system shows that the effective vanadium component is trivalent. In the polymerization by VCl₃·LiCl–Al (i-Bu)₃ system, a change of the polymerization mechanism may occur at Al(i-Bu)₃/VCl₃·LiCl ratio at around 5. When the ratio is lower than 5, a cationic polymerization by VCl₃·LiCl takes place predominantly, while at ratios higher than 5, it is suggested that the polymerization proceeds by means of a VCl₃·LiClA–Al(i-Bu)₃ complex by a coordinated anionic mechanism. The polymers obtained by these catalysts are highly crystalline. Styrene was also polymerized by using the same catalysts. VCl₃·LiCl and VCl₃·LiCl–THF complex yielded amorphous polymer by cationic polymerization. When VCl₃·LiCl was combined with 6 mole-eq of Al(i-Bu)₃, the resulting polystyrene was highly crystalline and had an isotactic structure, while the VCl₂·2LiCl–Al(i-Bu)₃ (1:6) system yielded traces of polymer of extremely low stereoregularity. The results indicate that the effective vanadium component at Al/V ≧ 6 is trivalent and that the mechanism is a coordinated anionic one.     

Polymerization of optically active β-substituted β-propiolactones. IV. β-1,1-dichloroalkyl β-propiolactones polymerized with aluminum triisopropoxide

The polymerization of three optically active β-1,1-dichloroalkyl β-propiolactones has been investigated in toluene, at 55°C, using aluminum triisopropoxide (Al(OiPr)₃) as initiator in a range of monomer/initiator molar ratios smaller than 150. β-1,1-dichloroethyl β-propiolactone polymerizes according to a living mechanism. However, the ability to polymerize decreases with an increase in the length of the alkyl substituent. For instance, β-1,1-dichloro-n-propyl β-propiolactone is obtained only in low yields, whereas β-1,1-dichloro-n-butyl β-propiolactone does not polymerize at all. Actually, each of the lactones investigated reacts with Al(OiPr)₃ in an initiation step that obeys a coordination-insertion mechanism. However, the size of the chloroalkyl substituent has a critical effect on the propagation: when the alkyl group contains more than two methylene units, the insertion of a second monomer becomes exceedingly slow.     

Polyethers. I. Polymerization of 2-methyl-2-butene oxide

2-Methyl-2-butene oxide (2,3-epoxy-2-methylbutane) was polymerized with modified alkylaluminum initiators a t low temperatures to a high-melting, crystalline, film-forming polymer. High yields and comparatively high molecular weights were obtained with Al(i-Bu)₃?xH₂O initiators in inert diluents. When such initiators were modified with acetylacetone they became ineffective. Ammonia could be substituted for water in formulating an active initiator. Attempts to prepare an active initiator in the presence of the monomer were unsuccessful indicsting competition with the water for Al(i-Bu)₃. Thermal decomposition of the polymer produced methyl isopropyl ketone with some pivaldehyde.     

Radical‐initiated polymerization of β‐methyl‐α‐methylene‐γ‐butyrolactone

β‐Methyl‐α‐methylene‐γ‐butyrolactone (MMBL) was synthesized and then was polymerized in an N,N‐dimethylformamide (DMF) solution with 2,2‐azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) initiation. The homopolymer of MMBL was soluble in DMF and acetonitrile. MMBL was homopolymerized without competing depolymerization from 50 to 70 °C. The rate of polymerization (R_p) for MMBL followed the kinetic expression R_p = [AIBN]^0.54[MMBL]^1.04. The overall activation energy was calculated to be 86.9 kJ/mol, k_p/k_t^1/2 was equal to 0.050 (where k_p is the rate constant for propagation and k_t is the rate constant for termination), and the rate of initiation was 2.17 × 10^?8 mol L^?1 s^?1. The free energy of activation, the activation enthalpy, and the activation entropy were 106.0, 84.1, and 0.0658 kJ mol^?1, respectively, for homopolymerization. The initiation efficiency was approximately 1. Styrene and MMBL were copolymerized in DMF solutions at 60 °C with AIBN as the initiator. The reactivity ratios (r₁ = 0.22 and r₂ = 0.73) for this copolymerization were calculated with the Kelen–Tudos method. The general reactivity parameter Q and the polarity parameter e for MMBL were calculated to be 1.54 and 0.55, respectively. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 1759–1777, 2003     

Cyclometalated 2‐phenylpyridine complex [RuII(o‐C6H4‐py)(MeCN)4]PF6 as a tunable catalyst for living radical polymerization

The cyclometalated complex [Ru^II(o‐C₆H₄‐py)(MeCN)₄]PF₆ ( 1 ) with a σ‐Ru? C bond and four substitutionally labile acetonitrile ligands mediates radical polymerization of different vinyl monomers, viz. n‐butyl acrylate, methyl methacrylate, and styrene, initiated by three alkyl bromides: ethyl 2‐bromoisobutyrate, methyl 2‐bromopropionate, and 1‐phenylethyl bromide. The polymerization requires the presence of Al(OiPr)₃ and occurs uncontrollably as a conventional radical process. The variation of the molar ratio of the components of the reaction mixture, such as initiator, Al(OiPr)₃ and catalyst, affected the polymerization rates and the molecular weights but did not improve the control. A certain level of control has been achieved by adding 0.5 eq of SnCl₂ as a reducing agent. Tin(II) chloride decreased the rate of polymerization and simultaneously the molecular weights became conversion‐dependent and the polydispersities were also narrowed. Remarkably, the level of control was radically improved in the presence of excess of the poorly soluble catalyst ( 1 ), when the added amount of ( 1 ) was not soluble any more, i.e., under heterogeneous conditions, the system became adjustable and the living polymerization of all three monomers was finally achieved. Possible mechanisms of the ( 1 )‐catalyzed polymerization are discussed. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 4193–4204, 2008     

Effect of a trifluoromethyl group on the polymerizability of α-olefins by transition metal catalysts

Several α-olefins containing the trifluoromethyl group were prepared and characterized. 4,4,4-Trifluoro-1-butene, 3-trifluoromethyl-1-butene, 5,5,5-trifluoro-1-pentene, and 4-trifluoromethyl-1-pentene were homopolymerized with VCl₃–Al(i-Bu)₃ catalyst. The trifluorobutenes gave low-melting polymers with low fluorine contents. Polymers obtained from the trifluoropentenes were soluble having moderately high intrinsic viscosities. Copolymerizations of these monomers with their nonfluorinated homologs by the same catalyst system indicated low reactivities of the fluoromonomers. Nuclear magnetic resonance spectra of the fluorinated and nonfluorinated monomers and their respective spectroscopic studies with the catalyst (C₅H₅)₂TiCl₂–Al(CH₃)₃ indicated an electron deficiency of the vinyl group of the fluorobutenes. This was related to the inductive effect of the trifluoromethyl group. The inductive effect of this group was absent in the fluoropentenes and the nonfluorinated monomers. The electron-deficient vinyl group of the fluorobutenes apparently did not allow these monomers to coordinate with the active sites of the catalyst. Polymerization studies of the nonfluorinated monomers, 1-butene, 3-methyl-1-butene, 1-pentane, and 4-methyl-1-pentene, with the catalyst VCl₃–Al(Bu)₃, were performed in the presence of compounds containing the trifluoromethyl group. Results indicated that this group did not retard the rate of polymerization of these monomers. Evidence is presented to show that a catalytic amount of benzotrifluoride enhanced the rate of polymerization of α-olefins, particularly that of sterically hindered monomers such as 3-methyl-1-butene.     

Bis(β‐enaminoketonato) vanadium (III or IV) complexes as catalysts for olefin polymerization

Bis(β‐enaminoketonato) vanadium(III) complexes ( 2a–c ) [O(R₁)C?C(H)_xC(R₂)?NC₆H₅]₂VCl(THF) and the corresponding vanadium(IV) complexes ( 3a–c ) [O(R₁)C?C(H)_xC(R₂)? NC₆H₅]₂VO (R₁ = ? (CH₂)₄? , R₂ = H, x = 0, a ; R₁ = ? C₆H₅, R₂ = H, x = 1, b ; R₁ = ? C₆H₅, R₂ = ? C₆H₅, x = 1, c ) have been synthesized from VCl₃(THF)₃ and VOCl₂(THF)₂, respectively, by treating with 2.0 equivalent β‐enaminoketonato ligands in tetrahydrofuran. Structures of 2b and 3a–c were further confirmed by X‐ray crystallographic analysis. The complexes were investigated as the catalysts for ethylene polymerization in the presence of Et₂AlCl. Complexes 2a–c and 3a–c exhibited high catalytic activities (up to 23.76 kg of PE/mmol_V h bar), and afforded polymers with unimodal molecular weight distributions at 70 °C indicating the good thermal stability. The catalytic behaviors were influenced not only by the oxidation state of the catalyst precursors but also by the ligand structures. Complexes 2a–c and 3a–c were also effective catalyst precursors for ethylene/1‐hexene copolymerization. The influence of polymerization parameters such as reaction temperature, Al/V molar ratio and hexene feed concentration on the ethylene/hexene copolymerization behaviors have bee also investigated in detail. In addition, the agents such as AlMe₃, AlⁱBu₃, MeMgBr, MgCl₂, and ZnEt₂ were applied to control the molecular weight and molecular weight distribution modal. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 3062–3072, 2010     

Elementary reaction analysis of the radical polymerization of α‐ethyl β‐N‐(α′‐methylbenzyl)itaconamates carrying (RS)‐ and (S)‐α‐methylbenzylaminocarbonyl groups

The polymerizations of α‐ethyl β‐N‐(α′‐methylbenzyl)itaconamates carrying (RS)‐ and (S)‐α‐methylbenzylaminocarbonyl groups (RS‐EMBI and S‐EMBI) with dimethyl 2,2′‐azobisisobutyrate (MAIB) were studied in methanol (MeOH) and in benzene kinetically and with electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy. The initial polymerization rate (R_p) at 60 °C was given by R_p = k[MAIB]^{0.58 ± 0.05}[RS‐EMBI]^{2.4 ± 0.l} and R_p = k[MAIB]^{0.61 ± 0.05}[S‐EMBI]^{2.3 ± 0.l} in MeOH and R_p = k[MAIB]^{0.54 ± 0.05}[RS‐EMBI]^{1.7 ± 0.l} in benzene. The rate constants of initiation (k_df), propagation (k_p), and termination (k_t) as elementary reactions were estimated by ESR, where k_d is the rate constant of MAIB decomposition and f is the initiator efficiency. The k_p values of RS‐EMBI (0.50–1.27 L/mol s) and S‐EMBI (0.42–1.32 L/mol s) in MeOH increased with increasing monomer concentrations, whereas the k_t values (0.20?7.78 × 10⁵ L/mol s for RS‐EMBI and 0.18?6.27 × 10⁵ L/mol s for S‐EMBI) decreased with increasing monomer concentrations. Such relations of R_p with k_p and k_t were responsible for the unusually high dependence of R_p on the monomer concentration. The activation energies of the elementary reactions were also determined from the values of k_df, k_p, and k_t at different temperatures. R_p and k_p of RS‐EMBI and S‐EMBI in benzene were considerably higher than those in MeOH. R_p of RS‐EMBI was somewhat higher than that of S‐EMBI in both MeOH and benzene. Such effects of the kinds of solvents and monomers on R_p were explicable in terms of the different monomer associations, as analyzed by ¹H NMR. The copolymerization of RS‐EMBI with styrene was examined at 60 °C in benzene. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 1819–1830, 2003     

Monomer-isomerization polymerization. XXVI. Formation of polyallylcyclohexane from propenylcyclohexane through monomer-isomerization polymerization with Ziegler–Natta catalysts

Monomer-isomerization polymerization of propenycyclohexane (PCH) with TiCl₃ and R_3-xAICI_x (R = C₂H₅ or i-C₄H₉, x = 1–3) catalysts was studied. It was found that PCH underwent monomer-isomerization polymerization to give a high molecular weight polymer consisting of an allylcyclohexane (ACH) repeat unit. Among the alkyaluminum cocatalysts examined, (C₂H₅)₃Al was the most effective cocatalyst for the monomer-isomerization polymerization of PCH, and a maximum for the polymerization was observed at a molar ratio of Al/Ti of about 2.0. The addition of isomerization catalysts such as nickel acetylacetonate [Ni(acac)₂] to the TiCl₃–(C₂H₅)₃Al catalyst accelerated the monomer-isomerization polymerization of PCH and gave a maximum for the polymerization at a Ni/Ti molar ratio of 0.5. PCH also undergoes monomer-isomerization copolymerization with 2-butene (2B).