Biocatalytic synthesis of polymers. II. Preparation of [AA–BB]x polyesters by porcine pancreatic lipase catalyzed transesterification in anhydrous,low polarity organic solvents

Enzyme-catalyzed preparation of polymers offers several potentially valuable advantages over the usual polymerization procedures. (1) Such polymerizations may allow the polymer to retain functionality that would be destroyed under normal polymerization conditions. (2) The selectivity provided by enzyme catalysts may permit polymers, including optically active polymers, to be prepared that are either not accessible or accessible only with difficulty by other methods. (3) The characteristics of the enzyme and the mild polymerization conditions may permit formation of polymers having highly regular sizes and backbone structures. This report describes the first successful use of an enzyme-catalyzed polycondensation to prepare a chiral (AA–BB)_x polyesters of more than a few repeat units. Polymerization of bis(2,2,2-trichloroethyl) alkanedioates (BB) with diols (AA) using the enzyme porcine pancreatic lipase (PPL) as a catalyst is detailed. The polycondensations were carried out at ambient temperature in anhydrous, low polarity organic solvents such as ether, THF, and methylene chloride. End group analysis by NMR provided M_n values of 1300–8200 daltons while GPC provided M_w values of 2800–14900 daltons for the polymers. Based on proton NMR spectra obtained during the polymerization, relatively rapid formation of an AA–BB “dimer” and an AA–BB–AA “trimer,” slower formation of a BB–AA–BB “trimer,” and subsequent condensation of these to give higher polymers are suggested to be components of the polymerization mechanism.     

Poly(DCAQI): Synthesis and characterization of a new redox‐active polymer

Redox‐active anthraquinone based polymers are synthesized by the introduction of a polymerizable vinyl and ethynyl group, respectively, resulting in redox‐active monomers, which electrochemical behaviors are tailored by the modification of the keto groups to N‐cyanoimine moieties. These monomers can be polymerized by free radical polymerization and Rh‐catalyzed polymerization methods, respectively. The resulting polymers are obtained in molar masses (M_n) of 4,400 to 16,800 g mol^?1 as well as high yields of up to 97%. The monomers and polymers are furthermore electrochemically characterized by cyclic voltammetry. The monomers exhibit two one‐electron redox reactions at about ?0.6 and ?1.0 V versus Fc⁺/Fc. The N‐cyanoimine units are, however, partially hydrolyzed during the polymerization step or during the electrochemical measurements and degenerate to carbonyl groups, resulting in a new reduction signal at ?1.26 V versus Fc⁺/Fc. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2016 , 54, 1998–2003     

Polymerization of fluorinated diacetylenes

Perfluoroalkylene diacetylenes, HC?C? (CF₂)_n? C?CH, underwent thermal polymerization at 250–350°C to give glassy polymers stable to 450°C. Partial polymerization of the volatile monomers gave oligomers that are processable at atmospheric pressure. Polymers with similar thermal stability were obtained by transition-metal-catalyzed polymerization of the monomers at moderate temperatures.     

Equilibrium anionic polymerization of the isopropenyl monomers containing aromatic heterocycles

The anionic polymerization of three monomers, 2-isopropenyl-4,5-dimethyloxazole(I), 2-isopropenylthiazole(II), and 2-isopropenylpyridine(III), was studied in THF. These monomers produced red-colored living polymers on addition of sodium naphthalene or living α-methylstyrene tetramer as an initiator. It was observed that a considerable amount of monomer remained in the respective living polymer–monomer system, indicating that an equilibrium between the polymer and the monomer existed as in the case of α-methylstyrene. At lower temperatures, the conversion of the monomer to the polymer increased. The equilibrium monomer concentrations [M_e] were determined at different temperatures, and the heats (ΔH) and the entropies (ΔS°) of polymerization were obtained by plotting In(1/[M_e]) against 1/T as ΔH = ?9.4, ?6.8, and ?6.2 kcal/mole, ΔS°S = ?22.9, ?16.5, and ?16.6, eu for I, II, and III, respectively.     

Insertion Homo‐ and Copolymerization of Diallyl Ether

The previously unresolved issue of polymerization of allyl monomers CH₂?CHCH₂X is overcome by a palladium‐catalyzed insertion polymerization of diallyl ether as a monomer. An enhanced 2,1‐insertion of diallyl ether as compared to mono‐allyl ether retards the formation of an unreactive five‐membered cyclic O‐chelate (after 1,2‐insertion) that otherwise hinders further polymerization, and also enhances incorporation in ethylene polymers (20.4 mol %). Cyclic ether repeat units are formed selectively (96 %–99 %) by an intramolecular insertion of the second allyl moiety of the monomer. These features even enable a homopolymerization to yield polymers (poly‐diallyl ether) with degrees of polymerization of DP_n≈44.     

Polymerizations of vinyl methacrylate and vinyl acrylate

Both vinyl methacrylate (VMA) and vinyl acrylate (VA) were homopolymerized by n-butyllithium catalyst at ?78°C. Both of the anionic polymers were soluble in common organic solvents, and only vinyl group was contained in the polymers. Both of the monomers were homopolymerized by free-radical catalysts under different conditions. The soluble polymers were obtained under low monomer concentrations and at low conversions. It was estimated by NMR and infrared spectroscopy that both the soluble polymers contained mainly a vinyl group, similar to the anionic polymers. The soluble VMA polymers comprised 10–20% cyclic units for monomer concentrations ranging from 1.8 to 0.5 mole/I. The soluble VA polymers comprised 50–60% cyclic units for monomer concentrations ranging from 0.9 to 0.3 mole/l. It was suggested that the cyclic units did not consist of γ-lactone but of larger-membered rings than δ-lactone or of ladder structural units. The difference between the cyclization content of poly-VMA and that of poly-VA might be explained by the copolymerization data of the reference monomers.     

Equilibrium cyclotrimerization of ether oxygen-substituted aliphatic aldehydes

This article describes the equilibrium cyclotrimerization of β-methoxypropionaldehyde (MPA), 4,7-dioxaoctanal (DOA), and n-octanal (OA) initiated by boron trifluoride etherate in toluene at a temperature range of ?10 to 25°C. The enthalpy and entropy changes corresponding to the conversion of 1 mole of the monomers to 1/3 mole of their cyclic trimers in toluene solution, at the initial monomer concentration of 1 mole/liter, were evaluated as follows: ΔH_ss = ?5.9 ± 0.3 kcal/mole and ΔS_ss = ?19.1 ± 1.3 cal/mole deg for the MPA system; ΔH_ss = ?7.4 ± 0.4 kcal/mole and ΔS_ss = ?24.1 ± 1.7 cal/mole deg for the DOA system; ΔH_ss = ?6.1 ± 0.4 kcal/mole and ΔS_ss = ?21.2 ± 1.5 cal/mole deg for the OA system. The comparison of these values with those in their polymerization indicates that the cyclotrimerization of aldehydes is thermodynamically of greater advantage than their polymerization. The effects of long and polar substituents are discussed from the view-point of the intermolecular interactions by the polar groups in monomers and their cyclic trimers.     

Rotaxane‐type hyperbranched polymers from a crown ether host and paraquat guests containing blocking groups

Rotaxane‐type hyperbranched polymers are synthesized for the first time from A₂B type semi‐rotaxane monomers formed in situ via complexation of bis(m‐phenylene)‐32‐crown‐10 dimethanol ( 1 ) and two paraquat ω‐n‐alkylenecarboxylic acid derivatives with tris(p‐t‐butylphenyl)methylphenylalkylene stoppers ( 8 and 9) . Rotaxane and taco complexes exist in solutions of the hyperbranched polyesters in CD₃CN/CDCl₃ as confirmed by NMR spectroscopy, but the taco complexes, which derive from non‐rotaxanated paraquat units, disappear in DMSO‐d₆. NMR spectroscopy indicates the portion of rotaxanes strongly interlocked by the environment (inner rotaxanes) is larger in HP1?9 , which has longer alkylene spacers, perhaps indicating a higher degree of polymerization. The molecular size increases upon formation of the hyperbranched polymers are confirmed by dynamic light scattering and by viscometry. As with covalent hyperbranched polymers a number of potential applications exist; the unique mechanically linked character and the presence of uncomplexed host and guest moieties foreshadow the use of such systems for their responses to external stimuli with the added benefit of providing molecular recognition sites useful as delivery vehicles. Use of other host‐guest motifs to form the semirotaxane A₂B monomers is possible and complementary systems with higher binding constants will enable efficient syntheses of high molecular weight, mechanically linked hyperbranched polymers. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2016 , 54, 1647–1658     

Poly(methylene sebacate): Synthesis and characterization

The synthesis of poly(methylene sebacate) was carried out via the reaction of cesium sebacate with bromochloromethane in N-methylpyrrolidone over a range of temperatures (55–130°C). A number of polymers having limiting viscosity numbers in the range of 0.29–0.94 dL g^?1 (CHCl₃; 25°C) were characterized by elemental analyses, ¹H- and ¹³C-NMR, DSC, and GPC techniques. The polymerization was found to be very rapid at 100°C, being complete in ca. 15 min. and was relatively insensitive to the stoichiometric ratio of the monomers. As high molecular weight polymers were produced without the quantitative conversion of the reactants, the polymerization is considered to be occurring by an interfacial mechanism.     

Living cationic polymerization of cis- and trans-ethyl propenyl ethers and synthesis of block copolymers with isobutyl vinyl ether

The cationic polymerization of cis- and trans-ethyl propenyl ethers (EPE, CH₃? CH?CH? O? C₂H₅), initiated by a mixture of hydrogen iodide and iodine (HI/I₂ initiator) at ?40°C in nonpolar media (toluene and n-hexane), led to living polymers of controlled molecular weights and a narrow molecular weight distribution (MWD) (M?_w/M?_n = 1.2–1.3). The geometrical isomerism of the monomer did not affect the living character of the polymerization. ¹³C NMR stereochemical analysis of the polymers showed that the living propagating end is sterically less crowded than nonliving counterparts generated by conventional Lewis acids (e.g., BF₃OEt₂). New block copolymers between EPE (cis or trans) and isobutyl vinyl ether were also prepared by sequential living polymerization of the two monomers.     

Spontaneous copolymerization of 1,3-cyclohexadiene with polar vinyl monomers

In the reactions of 1,3-cyclohexadiene(1,3-CHD) with polar vinyl monomers, CH₂?C(X)Y (X is -? CN and ? CO₂CH₃; Y is ? CI, ? H, and ? CH₃), the two α-chlorosubstituted monomers underwent rapid spontaneous copolymerization, accompanied by the formation of a small amount of cycloadduct. Both polar monomers also gave predominantly copolymers in the reaction with 1,3-cycloheptadiene(1,3-CHpD) in lower yield. 1,3-Cyclooctadiene (1,3-COD) reacted only with α-chloroacrylonitrile (CAN) to give a copolymer, while only cycloaddition took place in systems involving cyclopentadiene(CPD) as diene. The charge–transfer (CT) complex formation of 1,3-CHD with CAN and methyl α-chloroacrylate(MCA) was confirmed by ultraviolet spectroscopic studies and the equilibrium constants estimated were 0.18 and 0.07 liter/mole, respectively, at 25°C in chloroform as solvent. The activation energies for the copolymerizations of 1,3-CHD with CAN and MCA in benzene were determined to be ca. 6.6 and 9.6 kcal/mole, respectively. In the system composed of 1,3-CHD and CAN, only the copolymerization was affected by solvents used and oxygen. Although addition of ZnCl₂ to the system resulted in the acceleration of the both reactions, the variation in the product ratio of copolymer to cycloadduct with ZnCl₂ concentration showed a maximum. Based on the results in the present and preceding studies for systems involving 1,3-cyclodienes and acceptor monomers, the relationship between the cycloaddition and the spontaneous copolymerization is discussed.     

Polymerization of surface-active monomers. II. Polymerization of quarternary alkyl salts of dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate with a different alkyl chain length

The cationic monomers (C_NBr), obtained by quarternization of dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate with n-alkyl bromide containing varying carbon number (N = 4, 8, 12, 14, and 16) were polymerized with radical initiators in water and various organic solvents. The degree of polymerization of the resulting polymers was determined by GPC measurements on poly(methyl methacrylate) samples derived from them. The rate of polymerization of the micelle-forming monomers (N = 8, 12, 14, and 16) in water increases with increasing a chain length of alkyl group, whereas it is little dependent on N in isotropic solution in dimethylformamide. The data on the degree of polymerization for the polymers of C₄Br, C₈Br, and C₁₂Br show that the polymerization of C₁₂Br with azo initiators in water and benzene gives polymers with a very high degree of polymerization. The results obtained here suggest that highly developed or relatively rigid, aggregated structures of monomers in solution are responsible for the formation of the polymers with a very high degree of polymerization, in addition to an enhanced rate of polymerization. Also considered are the relation of the molecular weight of poly(C₁₂Br) to the viscosity data in chloroform and methanol.     

Polymers containing fluorinated ketone groups. IV. Syntheses and characterization of new fluorinated ketone-containing polymer-substituted polystyrenes

A series of new fluorinated ketone-containing polymers, poly(p-vinyltrifluoroacetophenone) (PVTFA), poly(p-vinyldifluoroacetophenone) (PVDFA), poly(p-vinylphenylheptafluoropropyl ketone) (PVHFK), and poly(o-and p-vinylbenzyltrifluoromethyl ketone) (PVTFK), were prepared by the free radical polymerization of the corresponding monomers. The monomers, p-vinyltrifluoroacetophenone (VTFA), p-vinyldifluoroacetophenone (VDFA), p-vinylphenylheptafluoropropyl ketone (VHFK), and o-and p-vinylbenzyltrifluoromethyl ketone (VTFK), were prepared by the reaction of Grignard reagent with the corresponding perfluoroacid or its lithium salt. Polymerization was a competitive side reaction during monomer preparation. Reduced side reaction and higher yields of monomer (based on the Grignard reagent) were obtained from the lithium salt of the perfluoroacid, compared with the perfluoroacid itself. These new substituted polystyrenes which contain fluorinated ketone functionality were characterized by their ability to (1) react with active hydrogen compounds such as alcohols or water; (2) have high glass transition temperatures and decreased solubility in nonpolar solvents (e. g., benzene) compared with polystyrene; and (3) be converted into other functional groups such as alcohols or acids by treatment with the appropriate chemical reagents. Beads of a styrene (ST) terpolymer with 2% divinylbenzene (DVB), which contained the CF₃COCH₂ function, were prepared by suspension polymerization of ST, VTFK, and DVB. The terpolymer, which contains 15-17% mole (or 0.70–0.71 meg/g) of CF₃COCH₂ swollen with a solvent, were shown to chemisorb alcohols.     

Comparisons of glow discharge polymerization between hexamethyldisilazane and trimethylsilyldimethylamine

Glow discharge polymerization between hexamethyldisilazane (HMDSZ) and trimethylsilyldimethylamine (TMSDMA) was compared by means of infrared spectroscopy and ESCA analysis. Infrared spectra pointed out differences in chemical structure between the polymers prepared from the two monomers, although the two polymers were mainly composed of resembling units such as Si? CH₃, Si? CH₂, Si? H, Si? O? Si, and Si? O? C groups: (i) The polymers prepared from TMSDMA contained N → O group, but the polymers from HMDSZ did not contain this group. (ii) Influences of the W/FM parameter (W is the input energy of rf power, F the flow rate of the monomer, and M the molecular weight of the monomer) appeared on decreasing the C? N group and increasing the C?O group in the TMSDMA system, but little influence appeared in the HMDSZ system. ESCA spectra (C_1s, Si_2p, and N_1s core levels) supported the differences between the two polymers elucidated by infrared spectroscopy, and pointed out differences in susceptibility of the Si? N bond to plasma: The N? Si sequence of TMSDMA was completely ruptured in discharge to yield polymers, and the Si? NH? Si sequence of HMDSZ remained in considerable amount.     

Poly(triphenylamine)s derived from oxidative coupling reaction: Substituent effects on the polymerization,electrochemical, and electro‐optical properties

A series of triphenylamine‐based polymers containing electron‐donating methoxy (? OCH₃) and electron‐withdrawing cyano or nitro (? CN or ? NO₂) substituents in the main chains have been designed and investigated. These conjugated polymers ( P1 – P3 ) could be readily prepared by oxidative coupling polymerization from monomers ( M1 – M3 ) using FeCl₃ as an oxidant. The P2 and P3 exhibited moderate high T_g values (203–205 °C) and thermal stability. These polymers in NMP solution showed UV–vis absorption around 288–404 nm and photoluminescence peaks around 435–492 nm. P1 – P3 showed reversible oxidation redox couples at E_onset = 0.67, 0.99, and 1.00 V in solution of 0.1 M tetrabutylammonium perchlorate (TBAP)/acetonitrile (CH₃CN), respectively. M3 and P3 exhibited reversible reduction redox couples at E_onset = ?1.04 and ?1.03 V. These polymers also revealed electrochromic characteristic changing color at different potential. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 285–294, 2009     

Kinetic study of copper(I)‐catalyzed click chemistry step‐growth polymerization

Oligomers and polymers containing triazole units were synthesized by the copper(I)‐catalyzed 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition step‐growth polymerization of four difunctional azides and alkynes. In a first part, monofunctional benzyl azide was used as a chain terminator for the polyaddition of 1,6‐diazidohexane and α,ω‐bis(O‐propargyl)diethylene glycol, leading to polytriazole oligomers of controlled average degree of polymerization (DP_n = 3–20), to perform kinetic studies on low‐viscosity compounds. The monitoring of the step‐growth click polymerization by ¹H NMR at 25, 45, and 60 °C allowed the determination of the activation energy of this click chemistry promoted polyaddition process, that is, E_a = 45 ± 5 kJ/mol. The influence of the catalyst content (0.1–5 mol % of Cu(PPh₃)₃Br according to azide or alkyne functionalities) was also examined for polymerization kinetics performed at 60 °C. In a second part, four high molar mass polytriazoles were synthesized from stoichiometric combinations of diazide and dialkyne monomers above with p‐xylylene diazide and α,ω‐bis(O‐propargyl)bisphenol A. The resulting polymers were characterized by DSC, TGA, SEC, and ¹H NMR. Solubility and thermal properties of the resulting polytriazoles were discussed based on the monomers chemical structure and thermal analyses. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 5506–5517, 2008     

Radical polymerization behavior of hydroxystyrenes

Homopolymerizations of m- and p-hydroxystyrene and their copolymerizations with styrene and methyl methacrylate by use of azobisisobutyronitrile as initiator were investigated, and the results were compared with those obtained previously o-hydroxystyrene. Intrinsic viscosities of m- and p-hydroxystyrene polymers obtained by bulk and solution polymerizations were ca. 2 to 3 times larger than those of o-hydroxystyrene polymers obtained by the similar conditions. The structures of the polymers thus produced were investigated by infrared and ultraviolet spectroscopy. These studies suggested that all of the homopolymers consisted mainly of structures of normal vinyl type polymer. R_p was proportional to [I]^0.52 for m-hydroxystyrene and to [I]^0.50 for p-hydroxystyrene, for o-hydroxystyrene R_p was proportional to [I]^0.72. A reasonable chain transfer mechanism for these monomers was postulated. The apparent activation energies of polymerization for m- and p-hydroxystyrene were found to be 20.1, and 18.0 kcal/mole, respectively, compared to the value of 21.5 kcal/mole for o-hydroxystyrene. Monomer reactivity ratios and Q ? e values for m- and p-hydroxystyrene were determined, and the results were also compared with the case of o-hydroxystyrene. Copolymerization generally gave a polymer with relatively high intrinsic viscosity, even in the case of o-hydroxystyrene.     

Organoaluminum‐mediated polymerization of diazoketones

Polymerization of diazoketones mediated by organoaluminum compounds was investigated. Trialkylaluminum R₃Al (R = iBu, Et, Me) and diisobutylaluminum hydride (DIBAL) polymerized (E)‐1‐diazo‐3‐nonen‐2‐one ( 1 ) to give polymers with M_n = 2000–3500, which contained nearly 33 mol % of azo group (? N?N? ) along with the dominant acylmethylene unit in the main chain. On the other hand, when (E)‐1‐diazo‐4‐phenyl‐3‐buten‐2‐one ( 2 ) was used as a monomer for the organoaluminum‐mediated polymerization, the resulting polymers had ethylidene (? CH[CH₃]? ) units in the main chain along with acylmethylene and azo group, as a result of reductive cleavage of the acyl group during the polymerization. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 5209–5214, 2007     

Synthesis of End‐Functionalized Polyacetylenes that Contain Polar Groups by Employing Well‐Defined Palladium Catalysts

A series of [(dppf)PdBr(R)]‐type complexes (dppf=1,1′‐bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene; R=p‐cyanophenyl ( 1 a ), o‐hydroxymethylphenyl ( 1 b ), and triphenylvinyl ( 1 c )), in combination with silver trifluoromethanesulfonate (AgOTf), were demonstrated to be active for the polymerization of monosubstituted polar acetylene monomers HC?CCONHC₄H₉ ( 2 ), HC?CCO₂C₈H₁₇ ( 3 ), HC?CCH₂OCONHC₆H₁₃ ( 4 ), HC?CCH₂OCO₂C₆H₁₃ ( 5 ), and HC?CCH(CH₃)OH ( 6 ). The yields and molecular weights of the polymers depended on the combination of the Pd catalyst and monomer that was employed. Matrix‐assisted laser‐desorption/ionization–time of flight (MALDI‐TOF) mass spectrometric analysis indicated the formation of polymers that contained the “R” and “H” groups at the chain ends. IR spectroscopic analysis supported the R‐end‐functionalization of the polymers. NMR spectroscopy and MS identified the presence of species that were formed by single, double, and triple insertion of the monomers into the Pd‐C₆H₄‐p‐CN bond, thereby giving solid evidence for an insertion mechanism for the present system. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations suggested the preference for 1,2‐insertion of the monomer compared to 2,1‐insertion.     

Neodymium Catalyst for the Polymerization of Dienes and Polar Vinyl Monomers

Ziegler–Natta catalysts have played a major role in industry for the polymerization of dienes and vinyl monomers. However, due to the deactivation of the catalyst, this system fails to polymerize polar vinyl monomers such as vinyl acetate, methyl methacrylate, and methyl acrylate. Herein, a catalytic system composed of NdCl₃⋅3TEP/TIBA is reported, which promotes a quasi‐living polymerization of dienes and is also active for the homopolymerization of polar vinyl monomers. Additionally, this catalytic system generates polymyrcene‐b‐polyisoprene and poly(myrcene)‐b‐poly(methyl methacrylate) diblock copolymers by sequential monomer addition. To encourage the replacement of petroleum‐based polymers by environmentally benign biobased polymers, polymerization of β‐myrcene is demonstrated with a catalytic activity of ≈106 kg polymer mol Nd⁻¹ h⁻¹.