Cationic Polymerization of 1,5-Dioxepan-2-one with Lewis Acids in Bulk and Solution

Abstract

1,5-Dioxepane-2-one (DXO) was coordinatively ring-opening polymerized with different Lewis acids in bulk and solution. The reactivities of a series of initiators (SnCl₄, FeCl₃, AlCl₃, BCl₃, and BF₃OEt₂) at different temperatures and reaction times were analyzed. Polymerization of DXO in bulk with SnCl₄, FeCl₃, AlCl₃, and BCl₃ gave only oligomers or low molecular weight polymers irrespective of temperature and/or reaction time. Polymerization of DXO with BF₃OEt₂ at 70°C gave yields of nearly 100% and molecular weights up to M _w = 10,000. The polymerization temperature was increased to 100°C and the reaction time prolonged, which resulted in nearly equal molecular weights as at 70°C but with lower yields, higher polydispersity, and generally not full conversion. In addition, side reactions, such as backbiting, transesterification and thermal degradation, occurred to a larger extent at higher reaction temperatures. Solution polymerization using the same initiators and THF, dioxane, or nitrobenzene as the solvent gave polymers of low molecular weights and of low yields, except with FeCl₃ and BF₃OEt₂. The rates of polymerization were significantly higher in nitrobenzene than in dioxane and THF due to polarity and coordination of these solvents to the growing chain. Comparison of the initiators BF₃OEt₂ and SnCl₄ in solution polymerization showed equal reactivity in nitrobenzene for both of them. The BF₃OEt₂-initiated systems give polymers with lower molecular weights than SnCl₄-initiated systems, but with narrower polydispersity.     

Cationic polymerization of dimethyl-1,3-butadienes

The cationic polymerizations of dimethyl-1,3-butadienes with various catalysts in methylene chloride and toluene have been investigated. The activity of catalysts decreased in the order WCl₆ > AcClO₄ > SnCl₄·TCA > BF₃OEt₂. The homopolymerization rate of dimethyl-1,3-butadienes with WCl₆, AcClO₄, and SnCl₄·TCA decreased in the order 1,3-dimethyl-1,3-butadiene > 2,3-dimethyl-1,3-butadiene > 1,2-dimethyl-1,3-butadiene > 2,4-hexadiene. The polymers prepared with WCl₆, SnCl₄.TCA, and BF₃OEt₂ were rubberlike polymers or white powders, whereas those prepared with AcClO₄ were oily oligomers. The 1,4-propagation increased in the order 1,2-dimethyl-1,3-butadiene < 1,3-dimethyl-1,3-butadiene < 2,3-dimethyl-1,3-butadiene < 2,4-hexadiene. This order may indicate that the steric effect of methyl group determine primarily the microstructure of the polymer. The relative reactivity of dimethyl-1,3-butadienes toward a styryl cation decreased in the order 1,3-dimethyl-1,3-butadiene > 1,2-dimethyl-1,3-butadiene > 2,3-dimethyl-1,3-butadiene > 2,4-hexadiene. This order may be explained in terms of the stability of the resulting allylic cation.     

Formation and nature of catalysts based on nickel(0) phosphine complexes active in lower alkene dimerization and oligomerization

The catalytic properties and formation mechanism of alkene dimerization-active complexes in systems based on Ni(PPh₃)₄ and boron trifluoride etherate are considered. The nature of the modifying action of Brønsted acids on the properties of metal complex catalysts for propylene dimerization is reported. The interaction between Ni(PPh₃)₄ and BF₃ · OEt₂ is influenced by water. Depending on the water concentration, the reaction can proceed via formally one-electron oxidation to yield cationic Ni(I) complexes or via two-electron oxidation to yield Ni(II) hydrides. The catalytically active species in alkene dimerization and oligomerization in these systems are Ni(II) hydrido complexes.     

MALDI‐TOF‐MS analysis of living cationic polymerization of vinyl ethers. III. Polymerization with SnCl4 and TiCl4 in the absence of additives

Matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry analysis revealed that the precision control (or the living nature) of the cationic polymerization of vinyl ethers with SnCl₄ or TiCl₄ critically depends on the Lewis acid concentration and temperature. Specifically, at an extremely low Lewis acid concentration, for example, the polymerization with the HCl–vinyl ether adduct (an initiator) is living at ?78 °C in CH₂Cl₂ solvent, whereas side reactions occurred at a higher concentration of SnCl₄ or at a higher temperature, ?15 °C. This was more pronounced with SnCl₄ than with TiCl₄, which was due to a stronger Lewis acidity of SnCl₄ as suggested by NMR analysis of the model reactions. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 39: 1258–1267, 2001     

Stereoselective allylation reactions of acyclic and chiral α-amino-β-hydroxy aldehydes

Stereoselective allylation reactions of acyclic and chiral α-amino-β-hydroxy aldehydes affording chiral β-amino-α,γ-diols are described. Several Lewis acids (BF₃·OEt₂, SnCl₄, TiCl₄, ZnCl₂, and MgBr₂·OEt₂) were employed to mediate the allylation reactions. The reactions of anti-α-NHCbz-β-OTBS substrates mediated by SnCl₄ afforded syn-selective products. The same reaction conditions also gave satisfactory results for the reactions of syn-α-NHCbz-β-OTBS substrates. The mechanism involves α-chelation between the amido group and aldehyde oxygen.     

Gel formation in cationic polymerization of divinyl ethers. I. 1,4-Bis(2-vinyloxyethoxy)benzene

Polymerization of 1,4-bis(2-vinyloxyethoxy)benzene (CH₂C O CH₂ CH₂ O C₆H₄ O CH₂CH₂ O CCH₂; 1 ) was investigated in CH₂Cl₂ at 0°C with the use of a variety of cationic initiators. SnCl₄, SnBr₄, AlEtCl₂, and BF₃OEt₂ (strong Lewis acids) and CF₃SO₃H (a strong protonic acid) yielded crosslinked insoluble polymers immediately after the polymerizations were initiated. The binary initiating systems such as HCl/ZnCl₂ and (C₆H₅O)₂P(O)OH/ZnCl₂ also produced insoluble poly( 1 )s. At the low initial concentration of ZnCl₂, however, the (C₆H₅O)₂P(O)OH/ZnCl₂ system gave the soluble polymers quantitatively, and gelation occurred only when the reaction mixture was stored for a long time after complete consumption of the monomer. The content of the unreacted pendant vinyl ether groups of the soluble polymers decreased with monomer conversion, and almost all the pendant vinyl ether groups were consumed in the soluble polymer obtained at 100% monomer conversion; this may be ascribed to frequent occurrence of intramolecular crosslinking. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 36: 675–683, 1998     

Monomer-isomerization oligomerization of 2-ethyl-1,3-butadiene by acid catalysts

The cationic oligomerization of 2-ethyl-1,3-butadiene (2EBD) by a superacid (CF₃SO₃H) and a superacid derivative (CH₃COClO₄) accompanied monomer isomerization to 3-methyl-1,3-pentadiene (3MPD) before propagation to yield oligomers of the isomerized monomer as main products in benzene at 50°C. Detection of 3MPD in the reaction mixture and ¹H-NMR structural analysis of the produced oligomers confirmed the occurrence of this “monomer-isomerization oligomerization.” On the other hand, in the presence of a metal halide catalyst (BF₃OEt₂) 2EBD reacted without isomerization and yielded oligomers that were different from those produced by the foregoing superacid catalysts. Monomer isomerization was suppressed in a polar solvent [(CH₂Cl)₂] or at lower temperatures. The mechanism of the oligomerization with monomer isomerization was discussed.     

Synthesis of syn-vicinal diamines via the stereoselective allylation of acyclic chiral α-amino aldimines

The stereoselective allylation of acyclic chiral α-amino aldimines affording vicinal diamines, mediated by various Lewis acids (TiCl₄, SnCl₄, MgBr₂·OEt₂, BF₃·OEt₂, ZnCl₂), is described. The TiCl₄-mediated allylation of an α-N-Boc aldimine afforded the allylation product with syn-selectivity, which in turn was used for the synthesis of an intermediate of an oseltamivir derivative.     

Living cationic polymerization of vinyl ethers in the presence of a strong base: Poisonous or helpful?

A quite small dose of a poisonous species was found to induce living cationic polymerization of isobutyl vinyl ether (IBVE) in toluene at 0 °C. In the presence of a small amount of N,N‐dimethylacetamide, living cationic polymerization of IBVE was achieved using SnCl₄, producing a low polydispersity polymer (weight–average molecular weight/number–average molecular weight (M_w/M_n) ≤ 1.1), whereas the polymerization was terminated at its higher concentration. In addition, amine derivatives (common terminators) as stronger bases allow living polymerization when a catalytic quantity was used. On the other hand, EtAlCl₂ produced polymers with comparatively broad MWDs (M_w/M_n ～ 2), although the polymerization was slightly retarded. The systems with a strong base required much less quantity of bases than weak base systems such as ethers or esters for living polymerization. The strong base system exhibited Lewis acid preference: living polymerization proceeded only with SnCl₄, TiCl₄, or ZnCl₂, whereas a range of Lewis acids are effective for achieving living polymerization in the conventional weak base system such as an ester and an ether. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 6746–6753, 2008     

Stereoselective allylation of α-hydroxy aldimines and its application to the formal synthesis of (−)-β-conhydrine

Stereoselective allylation of N-p-methoxyphenyl (PMP)-substituted α-hydroxy aldimines is described. Several Lewis acids (BF₃·OEt₂, SnCl₄, TiCl₄, ZnCl₂, and MgBr₂·OEt₂) were employed to mediate the allylation reactions. The addition of the allyl group generates a new stereocenter and affords the syn vicinal amino alcohol. Formal synthesis of (?)-β-conhydrine (1) was accomplished via syn-selective allyl addition to N-PMP-substituted α-hydroxy aldimine.     

Catalysis of dimerization and oligomerization reactions of lower alkenes by systems based on Ni(PPh3)2(C2H4) and Ni(PPh3) n Cl (n = 2 or 3)

The catalytic characteristics of the individual complex Ni(PPh₃)₂(C₂H₄) and Ni(PPh₃) _n Cl (n = 2 or 3) and those of systems based on these complexes in combination with Brönsted and Lewis acids in ethylene and propylene oligomerization have been determined. A correlation between the BF₃ · OEt₂ solution storage time and the catalytic properties of the nickel systems has been established for the reactions of the lower alkenes. The observed increase in the turnover frequency and turnover number of the catalyst is due to the increase in the Brörsted acid concentration as a result of irreversible conversions of BF₃ · OEt₂ caused by its interaction with impurity water in the solvent. The formation of the Ni(PPh₃)₂(C₂H₄)-BF₃ · OEt₂ catalytic system in the presence of a substrate dramatically extends the system’s service life. The interaction of the nickel precursors with boron trifluoride etherate has been investigated using a complex of physical methods, and the main reactions yielding catalytically active species have been revealed.     

Living cationic polymerization of amide‐functional vinyl ethers: Specific properties of SnCl4‐based initiating system

Living cationic copolymerization of amide‐functional vinyl ethers with isobutyl vinyl ether (IBVE) was achieved using SnCl₄ in the presence of ethyl acetate at 0 °C: the number–average molecular weight of the obtained polymers increased in direct proportion to the monomer conversion with relatively low polydispersity, and the amide‐functional monomer units were introduced almost quantitatively. To optimize the reaction conditions, cationic polymerization of IBVE in the presence of amide compounds, as a model reaction, was also examined using various Lewis acids in dichloromethane. The combination of SnCl₄ and ethyl acetate induced living cationic polymerization of IBVE at 0 °C when an amide compound, whose nitrogen is adjacent to a phenyl group, was used. The versatile performance of SnCl₄ especially for achieving living cationic polymerization of various polar functional monomers was demonstrated in this study as well as in our previous studies. Thus, the specific properties of the SnCl₄ initiating system are discussed by comparing with the Et_xAlCl_3?x systems from viewpoints of hard and soft acids and bases principle and computational chemistry. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 6129–6141, 2008     

Chiral cobalt salen complexes containing Lewis acid: A highly reactive and enantioselective catalyst for the hydrolytic kinetic resolution of terminal epoxides

A type of chiral salen complexes bearing Lewis acid, including FeCl₃, AlCl₃, ZnCl₂, and SnCl₄ has been synthesized. The prepared complexes proved to be reactive and enantioselective in the hydrolytic kinetic resolution of terminal epoxides. The catalysts could be recovered and reused several times with simple treatment after reaction, without loss of activity and enantioselectivity. (salen)Co(II) and Lewis acid in mol ratios of 1: 1, 1: 2, and 1: 3 showed the same activity, enatioselectivity, and stability. The characterization of the complexes in-situ generated by the reaction of (salen)Co(II) and Lewis acid in mol ratios of 1: 1, 1: 2, and 1: 3 in CH₂Cl₂ was performed by UV-Vis, which showed an identical spectrum and did not display any change along with the time prolonged. Thus, the present catalysts can be applicable for large scale processes for HKR reaction of racemic epoxides.     

Influence of the order of introduction of protonic acids on the formation of active complexes in the Ni(PPh3)4/BF3 · OEt2 catalytic system

The influence of the order of introduction of promoters (complex protonic acids) on the formation of active complexes in the Ni(PPh₃)₄/BF₃ · OEt₂ catalytic system and the activity of these systems in ethylene oligomerization have been studied. The activity of the systems in which nickel exists mainly as cationic Ni(I) complexes is more than one order of magnitude higher than the activity of the systems where nickel exists mainly in the form of Ni(II) hydride complexes. The role of alcohols as promoters in the Ni(PPh₃)₄/BF₃ · OEt₂ catalytic system is elucidated. The alcohols are the source of Ni(II) hydrides and, more importantly, the source of strong Brønsted acids, which efficiently ensure the coordinative unsaturation of the cationic Ni(I) complexes.     

The Reaction of SnCl2 with Br2 and I2 in Weak Donor Solvents

The compounds SnCl₂Br₂(MeCN)₂, “Sn₃Cl₈Br₄(THF)₆”, and “Sn₃Cl₁₀Br₂(OEt₂)₆” were obtained by reaction between SnCl₂ and Br₂ in acetonitrile (MeCN), tetrahydrofuran (THF) and diethyl ether (OEt₂). The two last are solid solutions of SnCl₄L₂ and SnCl₂Br₂L₂ (L = THF, OEt₂) in the proportions 1:2 and 2:1, respectively. The compounds are characterized by IR, Raman, and Mössbauer spectroscopy, a C₁ symmetry being found for SnCl₂Br₂ (MeCN)₂ together with a C_2v symmetry, with the ligands in trans positions, for SnCl₂Br₂L₂ (L = THF, OEt₂). The Mössbauer spectrum of SnBr₄(THF)₂ was also obtained, which has not previously been reported. The reaction between SnCl₂ and I₂ has also been studied in the same solvents, and the formation of SnCl₄L₂ (L = MeCN, THF, OEt₂), SnI₄, and a small amount of SnI₃Cl was observed, which have been identified by Raman spectroscopy.     

The nature of the growing species in living cationic polymerization: Principles,stereochemistry, and in-situ NMR analysis

The objective of this paper is to discuss: (i) the general approaches to living cationic polymerizations; (ii) the nature of the growing species thus generated. For the first, it is concluded that three general methods are currently available which involve the nucleophilic stabilization of the growing carbocations by (a) a suitable counteranion, (b) an added Lewis base, or (c) an added neutral salt. According to this view, a variety of initiating systems are classified. For the second, findings are presented for the recently developed living cationic polymerization of vinyl ethers by the HCl/SnCl₄ initiating system in the presence of an added salt (nBu₄N⁺Cl⁻). The nature of the growing species therein is discussed on the basis of the steric structure of the living polymers, relative to nonliving counterparts, and the in-situ ¹³C NMR spectroscopic analysis of model reactions where the interaction of the growing end model [CH₃CH(OR)Cl] with SnCl₄ and the added salt is analyzed.     

Living cationic polymerization of vinyl monomers: New initiators and functional polymer synthesis

This paper focuses on two recent topics in living cationic polymerization of vinyl monomers, i.e., (a) Development of new initiating systems: RCOOH/Lewis acid for vinyl ethers; CH₃CH(C₆H₅)Cl/SnCl₄/nBu₄NCl for styrene. (b) Synthesis of shape-controlled poly(vinyl ethers): Tri-armed star polymers; Multi-armed spherical polymers. For the RCOOH-based systems, a generalized concept of living cationic polymerization was discussed on the basis of the effects of the counteranions (or R) and Lewis acids (ZnCl₂ and EtAlCl₂). The CH₃CH(C₆H₅)Cl-based system permitted a truly living cationic polymerization of styrene. The tri- and multi-armed poly(vinyl ethers) included new amphiphilic polymers of unique topology, solubility, etc., all of which were prepared by living cationic polymerization.     

Selective vinyl cationic polymerization of monomers with two cationically polymerizable groups. I. p-isopropenylphenyl glycidyl ether: An epoxy-functionalized α-methylstyrene

p-Isopropenylphenyl glycidyl ether (IPGE), a monomer of dual cationic functionality (isopropenyl and epoxy), was polymerized by a variety of initiators, and optimum conditions were established for its selective vinyl cationic polymerization. The hydrogen iodide/iodine (HI/I₂) initiating system or iodine polymerized selectively the isopropenyl group in CH₂Cl₂ at a low temperature (?78°C), to produce soluble poly(IPGE) with epoxy pendants. Under these conditions, the number-average molecular weight of the polymers was inversely proportional to the initial initiator concentration, indicating the formation of long-lived propagating species. Soluble poly(IPGE) was also obtained at ?15 and ?40°C by HI/I₂ or iodine. However, at these higher temperatures, transfer and/or termination reactions took place to give olefin-terminated polymers, in which some of the pendant epoxy groups were consumed. BF₃OEt₂ (a metal halide) and CF₃SO₃H (a strong protonic acid) polymerized both epoxy and isopropenyl groups of IPGE and yielded crosslinked insoluble polymers.     

Polymerization of coordinated monomers. IV. Copolymerization of methyl methacrylate– and methacrylonitrile–Lewis acid complexes with styrene

Complexes of methyl methacrylate and methacrylonitrile with Lewis acids (SnCl₄, AlCl₃, and BF₃) were copolymerized with styrene at ?75°C under irradiation with a high-pressure mercury lamp in toluene solution. The resulting copolymers consisted of equimolar amount of methyl methacrylate or methacrylonitrile and styrene, regardless of the molar ratio of monomers in the feed. NMR spectroscopy showed the copolymers to have an alternate sequence. The tacticities of the copolymers varied with the complex to have an alternate sequence. The tacticities of the copolymers varied with the complex species: the copolymer from the SnCl₄ complex system had a higher cosyndiotactieity, while those from the AlCl₃ and the BF₃ complex systems showed coisotacticity to predominate over cosyndiotacticity. NMR spectroscopic investigation of the copolymerization system indicated the presence of a charge-transfer complex between the styrene and the methyl methacrylate coordinated to SnCl₄. The concentration of the charge-transfer complex was estimated to be about 30% of monomer pairs at ?78°C at a 1:1 molar ratio of feed. The growing end radicals were identified as a methyl methacrylate radical for the AlCl₃ complex–styrene system and a styrene radical for the SnCl₄ complex–styrene system by the measurement of the ESR spectra of the copolymerization systems under or after irradation with a high-pressure mercury lamp. The tacticity of the resulting polymer appears to be controlled by the structure of the charge transfer complex. In the case of the SnCl₄ complex a certain interaction of SnCl₄ with the growing end radical seems to be a factor controlling the polymer structure. These copolymerizations can be explained by an alternating charge-transfer complex copolymerization scheme.     

Principles and design of living cationic polymerization of vinyl monomers: The nature of the growing species based on in-situ 1H NMR analysis

This paper focuses on in-situ ¹H NMR analysis of model reactions that are directed to clarify the nature of the growing species in the following three classes of living cationic polymerization based on the stabilization of the growing carbocations with nucleophilic counteranions and added salts: (a) Vinyl ethers/HCl/SnCl₄/added nBu4N+Y-; (b) Vinyl ethers/HX/ZnCl₂ (salt free); (c) Styrene/HX/SnCl₄/added nBu4N+Y- (X and Y: halogen) Through the NMR analysis, system (a) provides evidence for the generation of carbocations from adducts [CH₃CH(OR)Cl] of vinyl ethers and hydrogen chloride and also for the suppression of such ionic species by the added salts. For systems (b) and (c) the spectroscopic observation demonstrated rapid counteranion exchanges in the growing species, indicating that upon reacting with a monomer the living end assumes an ionic character.