Rate Constant of Initiation Reaction in Cationic Polymerization of Vinyl Monomers. I. Polymerization of Styrene Derivatives Catalyzed by Triphenylmethyl Stannic Pentachloride

Abstract

To investigate the method of measurement of the initiation rate constant in cationic polymerization, styrene and α-methylstyrene are polymerized by triphenylmethyl stannic pentachloride (Ph₃CSnCl₅). Adding these monomers to a solution of Ph₃CSnCl₅, the strong absorption of triphenylmethyl cation at 400 to 450 mμ disappears. The rate of disappearance of the absorption at 430 mμ is proportional to the concentration of Ph₃CSnCl₅ and monomer. It is confirmed that this disappearance of the absorption is due to the conversion of triphenyl cation to styryl or α-methylstyryl cation. Therefore, the rate of consumption of triphenylmethyl cation corresponds to that of the addition of triphenylmethyl cation to the olefinic double bond in a monomer, that is, the rate of the initiation reaction. Considering the dissociation constant of Ph₃CSnCl₅, the initiation rate constants of styrene and α-methylstyrene in ethylene chloride solution at 30°C are 11.6 × 10^?2 and 2.85 liters/mole-min, respectively. These values seem to be much smaller than the propagation rate constant of each monomer. However, the effect of polymerization conditions, for example, the kind of a monomer and the polarity of a solvent, on the initiation rate constant is the same as in the propagation reaction. This fact suggests the similarity of a reaction mechanism in both elementary reactions.     

Effect of fluorine substitution on the OH-radical-induced electron-transfer reaction in aqueous solutions of fluorinated alkyl iodides

The transient optical absorption bands formed at λ_max=340 and 435 nm, on reaction of ^√OH radicals in aerated acidic aqueous solutions of 1,1,1-trifluoro-2-iodoethane at low and high solute concentration, have been assigned to monomer and dimer radical cations, respectively. The deprotonation of the solute radical cations is the rate-determining step for the decay of the dimer radical cations. The stability constant for the dimer radical cation is determined to be 50 dm³ mol⁻¹ at 25°C. The dimer radical cation is a strong one-electron oxidant. Quantum chemical calculations and experimental results confirm that fluorine reduces the electron density at iodine and the ^√OH-radical-induced oxidation of fluoroiodoalkanes becomes a difficult process compared to iodoalkanes.     

Resonance raman spectra of würster's cation dimers: p-phenylenediamine and 2,3,5,6-tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine

Resonance Raman spectra have been observed for the dimers of p-phenylenediamine cation (PPD⁺) and of 2,3,5,6-tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine cation (TMPD⁺). When the exciting light frequency approached the absorption bands characteristic of the dimers, new polarized Raman lines appeared at 161 cm^?1 for (PPD⁺)₂ and at 117 cm^?1 for (TMPD⁺)₂ with a striking resonance enhancement. The resonant behaviour as well as the frequency values indicate that they are reasonably assigned to the interradical stretching vibrations of the parallel D_2h dimer molecules.     

Photoelectron spectroscopic study of simple hydrogen-bonded dimers. I. Supersonic nozzle beam photoelectron spectrometer and the formic-acid dimer

In this paper we describe several characteristics of our supersonic nozzle beam photoelectron spectrometer recently constructed for studying hydrogen-bonded dimers in the gas phase by HeI (58.4 nm) radiation. Using this photoelectron apparatus, we have reinvestigated the HeI photoelectron spectrum of the formic-acid dimer (HCOOH)₂ which is well known as a fairly strong doubly hydrogen-bonded dimer. It was found that the (HCOOH)₂ spectrum deduced here from the spectrum of the monomer—dimer mixture considerably differs from that reported by Carnovale et al. in the region beyond 16.5 eV. New spectral assignments are given for four ionization bands beyond 16.5 eV. It is also indicated that the lower bound of the dissociation energy of (HCOOH)₂⁺ is estimated to be 1.0 ± 0.1 eV from the threshold of the dimer band (11.0 eV) obtained in this experiment. This value is considerably smaller than the value of 1.7 ± 0.2 eV recently reported for the water dimer cation (H₂O)₂⁺.     

From Monomers to π Stacks,from Nonconductive to Conductive: Syntheses,Characterization, and Crystal Structures of Benzidine Radical Cations

Salts that contain radical cations of benzidine (BZ), 3,3′,5,5′‐tetramethylbenzidine (TMB), 2,2′,6,6′‐tetraisopropylbenzidine (TPB), and 4,4′‐terphenyldiamine (DATP) have been isolated with weakly coordinating anions [Al(OR_F)₄]^? (OR_F=OC(CF₃)₃) or SbF₆^?. They were prepared by reaction of the respective silver(I) salts with stoichiometric amounts of benzidine or its alkyl‐substituted derivatives in CH₂Cl₂. The salts were characterized by UV absorption and EPR spectroscopy as well as by their single‐crystal X‐ray structures. Variable‐temperature UV/Vis absorption spectra of BZ ^{. +}[Al(OR_F)₄]^? and TMB ^{. +}[Al(OR_F)₄]^? in acetonitrile indicate an equilibrium between monomeric free radical cations and a radical‐cation dimer. In contrast, the absorption spectrum of TPB ^{. +}SbF₆^? in acetonitrile indicates that the oxidation of TPB only resulted in a monomeric radical cation. Single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction studies show that in the solid state BZ and its methylation derivative (TMB) form radical‐cation π dimers upon oxidation, whereas that modified with isopropyl groups (TPB) becomes a monomeric free radical cation. By increasing the chain length, π stacks of π dimers are obtained for the radical cation of DATP. The single‐crystal conductivity measurements show that monomerized or π‐dimerized radicals (BZ ^{. +}, TMB ^{. +}, and TPB ^{. +}) are nonconductive, whereas the π‐stacked radical (DATP ^{. +}) is conductive. A conduction mechanism between chains through π stacks is proposed.     

Excited states of pyrene excimer observed by photodissociation spectroscopy in a supersonic jet

The absorption spectrum of jet-cooled pyrene excimer was measured using photodissociation spectroscopy. Broad absorption bands were observed in the near-IR and visible regions, which were assigned to the B_2u^? ← B_3g^? and B_2u⁺ ← B_3g^? transitions of the excimer, respectively. Excitation of these bands results in rapid dissociation of the excimer into monomer fragments, one of which is an electronically excited monomer in the S₂ state. The formation mechanism of the pyrene excimer from the vdW dimer is also discussed.     

Time resolved absorption and resonance Raman spectroscopic studies of the oxidation of benzidine in aqueous solution

We report a time resolved resonance Raman study of transient radicals produced in the pulse radiolytic oxidation of benzidine in aqueous solution. The intense and structured transient absorption in the 400–470 nm region, observed at microsecond times in the acidic medium, is attributed to the benzidine radical cation. The Raman spectrum, observed by excitation in resonance with this absorption, exhibits eight prominent bands which are assigned to planar phenyl vibrations. The ring breathing mode (v₁) at 844 cm^-1 is most highly resonance enhanced, indicating an overall expansion of the ring CC bonds in the excited state. The interring CC bond, with partial double bond character, is characterized by an intense (v₁₃) Raman band at 1335 cm^-1. The frequency of the in-phase v_7a CN stretching vibration is 1540 cm^-1. These frequencies and the presence of weak bands attributable to non-planar phenyl vibrations indicate the radical to be slightly non-planar. The pK_a for the proton loss from the radical cation is 10.87, four units higher than for the aniline radical cation. At high pH the observed transient has a broad and structureless absorption at ∽ 380 nm. It is identified from its resonance Raman features as the 4(4′aminophenyl)anilino radical formed by proton loss from the radical cation. The interring CC bond is characterized by a Raman band at 1292 cm^-1, indicating it to be a single bond. The structure of this neutral radical is highly nonplanar, with little conjugation between the two ring systems so that electronic excitation is primarily confined to the anilino moiety. The acidic and basic forms of the radical react rapidly in second order processes to produce products which absorb strongly at, respectively, 360 and 410 nm.     

Photodissociation of CH2I2 and Subsequent Electron Transfer in Solution

We studied photoinduced reactions of diiodomethane (CH₂I₂) upon excitation at 268 nm in acetonitrile and hexane by subpicosecond–nanosecond transient absorption spectroscopy. The transient spectra involve two absorption bands centered at around 400 (intense) and 540 nm (weak). The transients probed over the range 340–740 nm show common time profiles consisting of a fast rise (<200 fs), a fast decay (≈500 fs), and a slow rise. The two fast components were independent of solute concentration, whereas the slow rise became faster (7–50 ps) when the concentration in both solutions was increased. We assigned the fast components to the generation of a CH₂I radical by direct dissociation of the photoexcited CH₂I₂ and its disappearance by subsequent primary geminate recombination. The concentration‐dependent slow rise produced the absorption bands centered at 400 and 540 nm. The former consists of different time‐dependent bands at 385 and 430 nm. The band near 430 nm grew first and was assigned to a charge‐transfer (CT) complex, CH₂I₂^δ+???I^δ?, formed by a photofragment I atom and the solute CH₂I₂ molecule. The CT complex is followed by full electron transfer, which then develops the band of the ion pair CH₂I₂⁺???I^? at 385 nm on the picosecond timescale. On the nanosecond scale, I₃^? was generated after decay of the ion pair. The reaction scheme and kinetics were elucidated by the time‐resolved absorption spectra and the reaction rate equations. We ascribed concentration‐dependent dynamics to the CT‐complex formation in pre‐existing aggregates of CH₂I₂ and analyzed how solutes are aggregated at a given bulk concentration by evaluating a relative local concentration. Whereas the local concentration in hexane monotonically increased as a function of the bulk concentration, that in acetonitrile gradually became saturated. The number of CH₂I₂ molecules that can participate in CT‐complex formation has an upper limit that depends on the size of aggregation or spatial restriction in the neighboring region of the initially photoexcited CH₂I₂. Such conditions were achieved at lower concentrations in acetonitrile than in hexane.     

Observation and interpretation of the Li2 diffuse band in the region of 420 nm

We report the first observation of the Li₂ diffuse band in the region of 420 nm which is the analog of the diffuse bands in other alkali dimer spectra, for example, at 436.5 and 575 nm for the sodium and potassium cases, respectively. The observed diffuse band appears to arise from the 2³Π_g-1³Σ_u⁺ transition where the upper state corresponds to the 2p + 2p asymptote, and is subjected to the interesting configuration interaction with the potential curve of the ionic molecule Li^?(³P) + Li⁺(¹S) with the same symmetry. The origin of the 420 nm band is interpreted in terms of theoretical calculations of various Li₂ potential difference curves.     

Highly Stable Radical Cations of N,N’-Diarylated Tetrabenzotetraaza[8]circulene

N,N’-Diarylated tetrabenzotetraaza[8]circulenes 3 a and 3 b were synthesized in good yields by a reaction sequence involving oxidation of tetrabenzodiazadithia[8]circulene 5-Oct and S_NAr reaction with aniline derivatives. The obtained aza[8]circulenes 3 a and 3 b were easily oxidized to give their radical cations 3 a⁺ and 3 b⁺ , which are highly stable under ambient conditions. X-ray diffraction analysis of radical cation 3 a⁺ showed a face-to-face dimer arrangement with an interplanar separation of 3.320 Å. The spin density of 3 a⁺ was calculated to be delocalized over the whole circulene π-systems with spin–spin exchange integral (J=−144 cm⁻¹) in the dimeric part. These radical cations displayed far red-shifted absorption bands reaching to 2000 nm. Thus this study has proved the hetero[8]circulene scaffold to be a new entry of promising electronics and spin materials.     

Infrared molecular beam depletion spectroscopy of size-selected methanol clusters

Molecular beam depletion spectroscopy has been employed to study the dissociation of small methanol clusters in the spectral region between 1000 and 1100 cm^?1 which covers thev ₈ CO stretch (1033.5 cm^?1) and thev ₇ CH₃ rock (1074.5 cm^?1) monomer vibrations. Size selection has been achieved by dispersing the (CH₃OH) _n cluster beam by a secondary He beam. Aside from the recently published CH₃OH dimer absorption bands at 1026.5 and 1051.6 cm^?1 which are assigned to the excitation of the CO stretching vibrations in the non-equivalent subunits of the hydrogen-bonded complex, a previously unobserved band was found at 1071.3 cm^?1. This absorption band is attributed to the excitation of the CH₃ rocking vibration in the dimer. It appears that this transition which is very weak in the free methanol monomer receives substantial oscillator strength due to the intermolecular interaction in the complex. A splitting of this band could not be observed. The trimer and tetramer spectra feature single peaks for the CO stretching vibration being centered at 1042.2 cm^?1 and 1044.0 cm^?1, respectively. This observation is consistent with the cyclic structures of these species. The trimer and tetramer rocking vibrations are observed near 1060.5 cm^?1 but cannot be localized exactly, due to a gap in the CO₂ laser tuning range.     

Formation of an intermediate radical cation in the nanosecond pulse radiolysis of Malachite Green Leucocyanide in organic solvents

The malachite green leucocyanide (MGCN) was irradiated in argon or oxygen saturated solutions of n-butyl chloride, 1.2-DCE, CCl₄ and acetone with 13 ns electron pulses. Two species with absorption maxima at 620 and 480 nm were observed. The latter was attributed to the malachite green leucocyanide radical cation (MGCN^+.) and the former to the known carbonium ion of malachite green dye (MG⁺). Observation of the consecutive charge transfer via the schemes: DCE^+. → BPh^+. → MGCN^+. and DCE^+. → MGCN^+. → TMPD^+., allowed to estimate the ionization potential of MGCN molecule in the range 6.9 eV < Ip_MGCN < 8.27 eV. Presented results and literature data suggest that positive charge in MGCN^+. radical cation is located in the “aniline” part of the molecule.     

Esr studies on the γ-irradiated acetone-CCl3F system

γ-irradiated acetone in polycrystalline CCl₃F at 77 K has been studied by ESR to reveal that the acetone molecules tend to be oriented in CCl₃F Matrix upon freezing the solution in ESR tubings. At higher concentrations both monomer and dimer radical cations of acetone are produced. The dimer cation is responsible for the optical absorption with λ_max ≈ 740 nm.     

Cationic polymerization of N-ethyl-3-vinylcarbazole

Highly purified samples of N-ethyl-3-vinylcarbazole are readily polymerized in CH₂Cl₂ by conventional initiators of cationic polymerization, including boron trifluoride etherate and tropylium hexachloroantimonate. Reaction rates measured calorimetrically yield an estimate for the free-cation propagation rate coefficient (k_p⁺ = 2 x 10⁺⁴ liter/mole-sec) at 0°C, which is some 20 times smaller than that for the closely related monomer N-vinylcarbazole. Distinguishing aspects of the cationic polymerization of N-ethyl-3-vinylcarbazole are the very high molecular weights obtained and the linear dependence of M?_n of the monomer/catalyst mole ratio, indicating that transfer and termination are comparatively unimportant. Polymerizations initiated by tropylium hexachloroantimonate exhibit a characteristic absorption band at 468 nm, tentatively assigned to the propagating cation, which undergoes rapid changes after all monomer has been consumed. The stability of the species responsible for the absorption band at 468 nm appears to be least in conditions where ion pairs are important.     

Photodissociation spectrum of cyanobenzene dimer cation. Absence of intermolecular resonance interaction

Electronic spectra of a homo-molecular dimer cation, (C₆H₅CN)₂ ⁺, are measured by photodissociation spectroscopy in the gas phase. Broad features appeared in the 450–650 nm region are characteristic of π₃ → π_CN transitions of the C₆H₅CN⁺ chromophore. No intense band is observed in the 650–1300 nm region, where other aromatic dimer cations usually show charge resonance bands. Two component molecules of (C₆H₅CN)₂ ⁺ cannot take a parallel sandwich configuration suitable for the resonance interaction, because of geometrical constraints due to other stronger interactions.     

Reduction of Cu2+ to Cu+ in Xerogels Prepared from (3-Aminopropyl)Trimethoxysilane

Silica gels doped with Cu²⁺ ions were prepared from the (3-aminopropyl) trimethoxysilane (APTMOS)/tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) systems. Sols showed a broad absorption peak at 640 nm, suggesting 3–5 coordination of the aminopropyl groups to Cu²⁺. For gels prepared from APTMOS and dried at room temperature, the 640 nm peak decreased and a red-shifted absorption appeared below 400 nm within a few months. The luminescence spectra of the xerogels showed emission bands at 430–470 and 510 nm. The former and latter bands are ascribed to Cu⁺ monomer and dimer emissions, respectively. These results indicate that Cu²⁺ ions are reduced to Cu⁺. When xerogels were prepared from APTMOS/TEOS = 1 (vol/vol), the color of xerogels was blue with an absorption peak at around 670 nm, indicating no reduction of Cu²⁺ ions.     

Spectral properties of the C60 complex with dibenzenechromium

The product of the interaction of fullerene C₆₀ with dibenzenechromium (DBC) was studied by ESR and IR spectroscopy. The ESR spectrum contains a signal of the radical cation DBC⁺. A signal of the C₆₀ ^? anion is virtually absent, which is most likely related to its broadening. The IR spectrum contains bands characteristic of the DBC⁺ cation in the (DBC)I molecule and four bands characteristic of C₆₀ ^?. The data obtained indicate the interaction of C₆₀ molecules with the environment in the crystal structure of the complex.     

Cationic metal nitrosyl complexes. IV. Polymerization of olefins with dinitrosyl iron complexes

The polymerization of styrene was performed with new cationic iron complexes, (Fe(N-O)₂S_n)⁺PF₆^?(BF₄^?, CIO₄^?), where S_n represents solvent molecules such as CH₂Cl₂, THF, and MeCN. Kinetic experiments showed a first-order dependence of (R_p)₀ on the monomer and iron complex concentrations. The molecular weight determinations suggested that the termination process is fast and occurs by chain transfer to monomer. An extension of this polymerization to α-methylstyrene, isobutene, tetrahydrofuran, and styrene-methylmethacrylmate system emphasized the cationic nature of the reaction.     

A spectroelectrochemical study on perylene cation radical in polymer microchannel-microelectrode chips

Polymer microchannel chips (depth 20 microm and width 100 microm) integrated with band electrodes were fabricated by photolithography and imprinting methods, and applied to a spectroelectrochemical study on the cation radical of perylene (Pe). A propylene carbonate solution of Pe was brought into the channel chip by pressure driven flow and Pe was oxidized at the working band electrode (WE) in the channel. Simultaneously, absorption measurements of the solution phase in the downstream side of the electrode (30 microm from WE) were conducted on the basis of space resolved spectroscopy. The decrease in the absorbance of Pe at 438 nm upon electrolysis accompanied an appearance of the absorption band around 538 nm, which was assigned to that of the Pe cation radical. When the perylene solution was introduced to the microchip at a slow flow velocity, the dimer cation radical of Pe was shown to be produced in the channel chip. The formation and disappearance processes of the monomer and dimer cation radicals of Pe in the channel were followed by flow velocity and position dependencies of the absorption spectra.     

Free-Radical-Initiated Polymerization of N(p-Phenoxy-phenyl)maleimide and Copolymerization with Styrene, α-Methylstyrene and β–Methylstyrene

Abstract

Synthesis and free-radical-initiated homopolymerization of phenoxy-phenylmaleimide (PhOPhMI) and copolymerization with styrene (St), (α-methylstyrene (αMeSt) and β–methylstyrene (β-MeSt) are described. It was found that alternating copolymers are formed under different monomer-to-monomer ratios in the feed and that the mechanism based on the participation of CT-complex best explains the formation of alternating copolymers. Equilibrium constants of CT-complexes are: K _PhOPhMI/St = 0.20 Lmol^?1; K_{PhOPhMI/αMeSt} = 0.05 Lmol^?1; K_{PhOPhMI/βMeSt} = 0.02 Lmol^?1. Homopolymer and co-polymers are film-forming materials, stable up to 350°C under TGA conditions. T_g s and higher transition temperatures are within the thermally stable region.