Effect of ring-size in cationic polymerization of cyclosiloxanes. D6-polymerization initiated by trifluoromethanesulfonic acid

Cationic polymerization of dodecamethylcyclohexasiloxane (D₆) initiated with triflic acid at 20°C in CH₂Cl₂ shows a stationary concentration of active centres. This has permitted the measurement of k_px [P_n^*] for the various D_x cyclics, and of the ratios of propagation rate constants k_p5/k_p4 ∼ 2,2 ± 0,4 and k_p6/k_p4 ∼ 5,8 ± 1,2. On the other hand, the back-biting rate constants were not significantly different for various cyclics formation (k₄ ∼ k₅ ∼ k₆). These values have been compared with those obtained from D₄ and D₅ polymerizations.     

Cationic Polymerization of Hexamethylcyclosiloxane (D3): Kinetics and Mechanism of Cyclics Formation

In cationic polymerization of hexamethylcyclotrisiloxane (D₃) in methylene chloride, a control of the mol wts could be observed with various initiators such as RCOCl/ SbCl₅ or trifluoromethanesulfonic acid (TfOH) and its derivatives. But an important difference with usual living polymerizations is the simultaneous formation of large amounts of cyclic oligomers D_3x, their weights increasing linearly from the origin. A second population of much larger DPn has been shown to consist of macrocycles (MC). It was concluded that while MC result from end-to-end ring closure of a fraction of linear macromolecules, the small D_3x cycles (essentially D₆) are formed independently by a selective back-biting reaction involving oxonium end-groups. However, it has been proposed again in recent publications in which various initiators were used (including TfOH) that D_3x cyclics of all sizes result from end-to-end ring closure reactions between the (electrophilic) active site for propagation and a silanol end group. In the present paper, the initiator used was the mixed anhydride of trifluoroacetic and trifluoromethanesulfonic acid, which give non-nucleophilic CF₃CO₂(CH₃)₂Si end-groups. The residual acid present in the anhydride was neutralized by varying amounts of 4-methyl,2,6-di-t-butylpyridine (MDTBP). The linear increase of the HP molecular weight and the formation of large amounts of D_3x oligomers were observed again. The weight ratio of D₆ was larger than for TfOH initiation (1 < D₆/HP < 1,5) and when a large excess of MDTBP on the acid was used, D₆/HP was even higher but MC formation was completely suppressed. This confirms the difference in the mechanisms giving MC and D₆ and agrees with small D_3x cyclics formation involving the silyltriflate end-groups alone (and probably the derived oxonium sites).     

Cationic photopolymerization of cis‐2,3‐tetramethylene‐1,4,6‐trioxaspiro[4,4]nonane

The spiro‐orthoester, cis‐2,3‐tetramethylene‐1,4,6‐trioxaspiro[4,4]nonane (cis‐TTN) ( I ), underwent rapid cationic photopolymerization when exposed to UV light using diphenyliodonium salts as a photoinitiator. The polymer, poly[(trans‐OCB)_x′‐(cis‐OCB)_x″‐(CHO)_y] thus formed consisted of poly(trans‐2‐oxycyclohexyl butanoate) (trans‐OCB)_x′ ( II ), poly(cis‐2‐oxycyclohexyl butanoate) (cis‐OCB)_x″ ( III ), and poly‐ (1,2‐cyclohexene oxide) (CHO)_y segments, and no expected pure poly(ether‐ester), that is, poly(2‐oxycyclohexyl butanoate), was isolated. The structure of the polymer was identified, and the mechanism of the reaction was deduced. The polymer thus formed exhibited expansion in volume during cationic photopolymerization when compared to that obtained by conventional cationic polymerization using a Lewis acid (e.g., BF₃OEt₂, CH₃OSO₂CF₃, or SnCl₄) as an initiator, which demonstrated volume shrinkage during polymerization. The volume expansion of the polymer during polymerization was due to (1) the lower content of the higher density (CHO)_y segment in the polymer chain and, more importantly, (2) the higher and optimal mole ratio of (trans‐OCB)_x′ and (cis‐OCB)_x″ segments that led the polymer in a more disordered, less dense, and higher volumetric state. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 3680–3690, 2009     

Polymerization of Methacrylamide Initiated by Ceric Ion-Citric Acid Redox System

Homogeneous polymerization of methacrylamide initiated by the ceric ammonium sulfate-citric acid (CA) redox pair has been investigated and reported at 35 ± 0.2°C under nitrogen atmosphere. The initiation was caused by the free radical generated by the decomposition of the complex formed between ceric ion and citric acid. The rate of monomer disappearance was found to be proportional to [CA]^0.4, [Ce^0.4+]^0.65, and [Monomer]¹ The rate of ceric ion disappearance was directly proportional to the ceric ion concentration but independent of the monomer concentration. The initial rate was independent of [H₂SO₄]. The activation energy of the system was found to be 21.4 kJ/mol.     

Polymerization of acrylamide and methacrylamide photoinitiated by azidopentamminecobalt(III) chloride

The kinetics of polymerization of acrylamide and methacrylamide, photoinitiated by azidopentamminecobalt(III) chloride in homogeneous aqueous acid medium was studied systematically. Monochromatic wavelengths 365, 405, and 435 mμ were employed for irradiation. Polymerization proceeded without any induction period, and the reaction was followed by measurements of rate of monomer disappearance (bromometrically), rate of complex disappearance (spectrophotometrically), and the chain lengths of the polymer formed (viscometrically). The dependences of the rate of polymerization on variables like light intensity, light absorption fraction by the complex, wavelength, monomer concentration, hydrogen ion concentration, nature of the acid used (HClO₄, HNO₃, and H₂SO₄), etc., were studied. The rate of polymerization of acrylamide depended on the unit power of monomer concentration and on the square root of light absorption fraction k_ε and light intensity I. The rate of methacrylamide polymerization was proportional to the unit power of monomer concentration and fractional powers of 0.25 and 0.30 of k_ε and I, respectively. A kinetic reaction scheme is proposed and discussed in the light of the experimental results, and it has been concluded that (1) the primary photochemical act is an electron transfer reaction from the azide ion to Co(III) in the complex, (2) initiation of polymerization is by azide radical, (3) termination is by mutual destruction of polymer radicals.     

Polymerization of β-cyanopropionaldehyde. III. Polymerization by organoaluminum and by organoaluminum–titanium chloride complexes

The mechanism of formation and stereoregularity of poly(cyanoethyl)oxymethylene have been studied. The polymerization was carried out at ?78°C with use of aluminum compounds [Al(C₂H₅)₃, Al(C₂H₅)₂Cl, Al(C₂H₅)Cl₂, and AlCl₃] and complex catalysts [Al(C₂H₅)₃–TiCl₄, Al(C₂H₅)₃–TiCl₃, and Al(C₂H₅)₂Cl–TiCl₃] as initiators. The stereoregularity of poly(cyanoethyl)oxymethylene was estimated from the optical density ratio, D₁₂₅₈/D₁₂₇₀, in the infrared absorption spectrum. Polymer yields were observed to depend upon the aluminum compound used as initiators, while the stereoregularity of the polymer was nearly independent of the particular aluminum compound used. As the catalyst ratio of titanium chloride to aluminum compound increased, the polymer yield was found to increase to a maximum and then to decrease with further increase of the ratio. It is supposed that titanium chlorides themselves increase the acid strength of aluminum compounds through chlorination, resulting in the change of the polymer yield. The highest stereoregularity of poly(cyanoethyl)oxymethylene was attained by increasing the molar ratio of titanium trichloride to aluminum and by treating β-cyanopropionaldehyde (CPA) with titanium trichloride prior to the polymerization. Complex formation of the nitrile group of CPA with titanium is considered responsible for the increase in stereoregularity. A propagation mechanism is also proposed.     

On the nature of active species in cationic ring-opening polymerization of cyclodimethylsiloxanes

Contrarily to cationic ring-opening polymerization of cyclic ethers and of some other cyclic monomers, for which direct identification of the various types of active centres has been made in a few cases, the nature of the species active in the polymerization of cyclo-dimethylsiloxanes is not yet known. However, some provisional conclusions about the possible mechanisms may be deduced from the wide variation in the types of products and in the kinetics observed according to either the size of the cyclic monomer (D₃, D₄, D₅, D₆) and to the type of initiation (chemically, or radiation induced). For polymerizations with either protonic or non-protonic initiators, made in CH₂Cl₂ near room temperature, the smaller cycle D₃ behaves quite differently from D₄, D₅ and D₆. D₃ is more reactive in both homo- and copolymerizations. It gives small cycles of other types and the effect of water on the reaction may be quite different. A discussion of the data leads to the conclusion that polymer growth for most cyclosiloxanes involves activated esters, while it may occur for D₃ on different sites such as oxonium or silanol groups. Polymerization of D₃, D₄ and D₅ initiated in bulk at 90°C by high energy radiation, in high purity conditions, has also been shown to be cationic but the active centres concentration is much lower, and the propagation rate constants much higher, than in chemically initiated polymerizations. The global rates, the monomer reactivities in copolymerization and the types of cycles are similar for D₃, D₄ and D₅, which is attributed to propagation occurring on very reactive silicenium ions, either free or in the same solvation state.     

八甲基环四硅氧烷阴离子乳液聚合反应的研究

研究了八甲基环四硅氧烷(D_4)在十二烷基本磺酸(DBSA)及其钠盐(Na-DBSA)作用下的阴离子乳液聚合反应,讨论了温度、乳化剂和催化剂用量对反应速度及聚合物分子量的影响。认为该聚合反应包括D_4的水解开环、D_4和羟基硅氧烷的加成及羟基硅氧烷之间的缩合三类基本反应,乳液颗粒表面是主要反应区。     

Preparation of polyacrylate–polysiloxane core–shell latex particles

Crosslinked polymer seed latexes of butyl acrylate, methyl methacrylate and methacrylic acid were synthesized with ethylene glycol dimethacrylate as a crosslinking agent in a first step. Three different processes of seeded emulsion polymerization were used to prepare an outlayer of polysiloxane on the above seed latex particles: (A) direct anionic polymerization of D₄ (octamethyl tetracyclosiloxane) catalyzed by potassium hydroxide; (B) direct cationic polymerization of D₄ onto the seed catalyzed by dodecylbenzene sulfonic acid; (C) a vinyl-containing polysiloxane prepared by copolymerization of D₄ and vinyl septamethyl tetracyclosiloxane was added before the D₄ cationic polymerization. Characterization by transmission electron microscopy showed that only process C provided satisfactory results. Film hardness was measured, and the latex film from process C demonstrated the lowest hardness of all the films. The mechanism of polymerization is discussed.     

The crystal structure of Solid Perrhenic Acid Monohydrate

Solid perrhenic acid monohydrate has been characterized by X-ray single crystal structure analysis (300 K). HReO₄ · H₂O, M_r = 269.23, tetragonal, I4₁/a, Scheelite-type (CaWO₄), a = 5.8320(2) Å, c = 12.9384(6) Å, V = 440.06(5) ų, Z = 4, D_x = 4.063 g cm^?3, X-ray wavelength λ (MoKα) = 0.71069 Å The structure consists of [ReO₄]^?-tetrahedra and oxonium ions linked by hydrogen bridges to form a three-dimensional network.     

Kinetics of polymerization of N,N-methylenebisacrylamide initiated by KMnO4-H2C2O4 redox system

A kinetic study of the gel free polymerization of the divinyl monomer N,N′-methylenebisacrylamide has been made using permanganate-oxalic acid system as redox initiator; R_p is proportional to [monomer]², [KMnO₄] and [H₂C₂O₄]⁰. A cyclopolymerization mechanism is proposed. A complex between monomer and Mn³⁺ participates, in addition to the complex [Mn(HC₂O₄)₂]⁺.     

Synthesis and thermal properties of crosslinkable phosphazene copolymers

Polyphosphazenes of formula [NP(OC₆H₄CN)_x(OCH₂CF₃)_2?x] (x = 0.04–2) were prepared. The copolymers were crosslinked via cyclotrimerization of the nitrilic function, using acid catalysts (chlorosulfonic acid, aluminum chloride) at elevated temperatures. The thermal properties of the crosslinked cyclomatrix polymer were compared to the linear polymer by thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry. When the 4-cyanophenoxy-2,2,2-trifluoroethoxy ratios were less than 0.2, the crosslinked polymers were soluble in polar organic solvents.     

[PtIn6][GaO4]2 – das erste Oxid mit [PtIn6]‐Oktaedern. Darstellung,Charakterisierung und Rietveldverfeinerung – mit einer Bemerkung zur Mischkristallreihe [PtIn6][GaO4]2–x[InO4]x (0 < x ≤ 1)

[PtIn₆][GaO₄]₂ – The First Oxide Containing [PtIn₆] Octahedra. Preparation, Characterisation, and Rietveld Refinement – With a Remark to the Solid Solution Series [PtIn₆][GaO₄]_2‐x[InO₄]_x (0 < x ≤ 1) The novel oxides [PtIn₆][GaO₄]_2–x[InO₄]_x (0 < x ≤ 1) are formed by heating intimate mixtures of Pt, In, In₂O₃, and Ga₂O₃ in the corresponding stoichiometric ratio in corundum crucibles under an atmosphere of argon (1220 K, 70 h). The compounds are black, stable in air at room temperature, reveal a semiconducting behaviour, and decompose only in oxidizing acids. X‐ray powder diffraction patterns can be indexed by assuming a face centered cubic unit cell with lattice parameters ranging from a = 1001.3(1) pm (x = 0) to a = 1009.3(1) pm (x = 1). According to a Rietveld refinement [PtIn₆][GaO₄]₂ crystallizes isotypic to the mineral Pentlandite (Fm3m, Z = 4, R(profile) = 6.11%, R(intensity) = 3.95%). The characteristic building units are isolated [PtIn₆]¹⁰⁺ octahedra which are linked via [GaO₄]^5– tetrahedra to a three dimensional framework. Starting from [PtIn₆][GaO₄]₂ the substitution of Ga³⁺ ions by larger In³⁺ ions leads to the formation of a solid solution series according to the general formula [PtIn₆][GaO₄]_2–x[InO₄]_x and becomes apparent in an increase of the lattice parameter.     

POLYMERIZATION OF OCTAMETHYLCYCLOTETRASILOXANE WITH HEXAMETHYLDISILAZYL-LITHIUM AS INITIATOR*

 This work focused on the anionic polymerization of octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane (D₄, D = Me₂SiO_2/2) initiated by a new kind of initiator hexamethyldisilazyl-lithium (MM^NLi). ²⁹Si-NMR spectroscopy and gas chromatography (GC) were used to characterize the polymerization products. The process was accelerated by adding a small amount of high activity monomer D₃ and by raising the polymerization temperature. At the end of polymerization more than 95% of the monomer was converted to polymer and only a very small amount ofD₄ and D₅ remained in the polymers.     

Asymmetric radiation-induced inclusion polymerization of 3-methyl-1,4-pentadiene in deoxycholic acid

The radiation-induced polymerization of 3-methyl-1,3-pentadiene (3MPD) as an inclusion complex in deoxycholic acid (DOCA) has produced in good yield the optically active polymer poly(3-methyl-1,4-pentadiene) (P3MPD) whose structure and properties were studied by FT-IR spectroscopy and thermal analysis (TGA, DTG and DTA). The data show that the polymer is essentially trans-1,4-P3MPD as expected for the polymerization in constrained media. Trans-1,4-P3MPD is optically active with [α]_D values comprised between +4.3 and +5.6. The optical rotatory dispersion curve of the P3MPD is completely different from that of DOCA as expected.     

Cationic polymerization of cyclocarbonates

Trimethylenecarbonate (TMC) and neopentane diol carbonate (NPC) were polymerized with two groups of initiators, proton and carbenium ion donors or Lewis acids. Initiation with methyltriflate, triflic acid or triethyloxonium tetrafluoroborate in solution gave satisfactory yields (up to 90%) but only low molecular weights (M_n < 5000), due to rapid back-biting degradation. IR- and NMR-spectroscopy demonstrate that the propagation steps involve alkylation of the carbonyl oxygen and cleavage of the alkyl-0 bond by analogy with lactones. Whereas borontribromide and trichloride form solid complexes with NPC or TMC, but do not initiate a polymerization, boron trifluoride is a good initiator. High yields (up to 99,5%) and high molecular weights (M_w > 10⁵) were obtained. However, in analogy to triflic acid initiated polymerizations all polycarbonates contain ether groups. The molar fraction of the ether groups increases with the reaction temperature. High molecular-weight polycarbonates containing ether groups were also obtained with other strong Lewis acids such as SnCl₄, SnBr₄ and TiCl₄. In contrast, weak Lewis acids such as Bu₂SnBr₂ Bu₃SnOMe and Sn(II)2-ethylhexanoate yield polycarbonates free of ether groups. This finding and the NMR-spectroscopically identified endgroups suggest that these weak Lewis acids initiate an insertion mechanism.     

Stereospecific polymerization of methacrylonitrile. III. Some new catalysts for isotactic polymethacrylonitrile

Some classes of organometallic catalysts what induce stereospecific polymerization of methacrylonitrile have been found. They include organolithium aluminum compounds of the type LiAlR₄, Li[R₃AlOAlR₂], and Li[R₃AlN(R)AlR₂], organosodium aluminum compounds of the type NaAlR₄, organolithium zinc compounds of the type LiZnR₃ and Li₂ZnR₄, organomagnesium aluminum compounds of the type RMg[AlR₄] and Mg[AlR₄]₂, and organomagnesium compounds containing an Mg? N bond, such as and their related compounds. One of the features of the polymerization with these catalysts was that the crystalline polymers were formed at moderately high temperatures. Total conversion, solubility index, and molecular weight of the polymer increased with increasing polymerization temperature, as observed in the case of polymerization with diethylmagnesium catalyst. Catalysts with an Mg? N bond were found to be highly effective for the stereospecific polymerization. The acetone-insoluble fractions of the polymers gave x-ray diagrams identical to the crystalline polymer produced with diethylmagnesium. This indicates that the acetone-insoluble crystalline polymers produced with these catalysts have an isotactic structure. The viscosity–molecular weight relationship for crystalline polymer was conveniently determined in Cl₂CHCOOH at 30°C.; [η] = 2.27 × 10^?4 M^0.754.     

Attachment of a Hydrogen‐Bonding Carboxylate Side Chain to an [FeFe]‐Hydrogenase Model Complex: Influence on the Catalytic Mechanism

Azapropanedithiolate (adt)‐bridged model complexes of [FeFe]‐hydrogenase bearing a carboxylic acid functionality have been designed with the aim of decreasing the potential for reduction of protons to hydrogen. Protonation of the bisphosphine complexes 4 – 6 has been studied by in situ IR and NMR spectroscopy, which revealed that protonation with triflic acid most likely takes place first at the N‐bridge for complex 4 but at the Fe? Fe bond for complexes 5 and 6 . Using an excess of acid, the diprotonated species could also be observed, but none of the protonated species was sufficiently stable to be isolated in a pure state. Electrochemical studies have provided an insight into the catalytic mechanisms under strongly acidic conditions, and have also shown that complexes 3 and 6 are electro‐active in aqueous solution even in the absence of acid, presumably due to hydrogen bonding. Hydrogen evolution, driven by visible light, has been observed for three‐component systems consisting of [Ru(bpy)₃]²⁺, complex 1 , 2 , or 3 , and ascorbic acid in CH₃CN/D₂O solution by on‐line mass spectrometry.     

Isomerism and symmetry of stacked polymeric phthalocyaninnes and related polymers

The number of isomers i_r,t for stacked polymeric phthalocyanines in which each phthalocyanine ring is tetrasubstituted or octasubstituted with two different substituents (each benzene moiety substituted with both substitutents) is determined to be where m is the number of substituted phthalonitrile molecules incorporated into the polymer and x is the number of phthalocyanine macrocycles (degree of polymerization; m = 4x). Specifically, for a stacked polymeric phthalocyanine with x = 2; there exist 298 isomers. The stacked polymeric phthalocyanines with substituted phthalocyanine rings possess different symmetry groups (D_2h, D_2d, C₄, C_2V or C_S E as sole symmetry operation). The results are valid for stacking of other macrocycles similar to phthalocyanine such as prophyrins.