Thermal degradation of linear polyurethanes and model biscarbamates

Thermal degradation of model biscarbamates, polyurethanes and poly(urethane-ureas) has been investigated by pyrolysis at atmospheric pressure. The biscarbamates were prepared from phenyl, benzyl, and cyclohexyl isocyanate and ethylene glycol. The polyurethanes and poly(urethane-ureas) were prepared from tolylene diisocyanate (TDI), xylylene diisocyanate (XDI), and 4,4′-dicyclohexylmethane diisocyanate (H₁₂-MDI) and poly(oxyethylene glycols) of various molecular weights. Rate constants for thermal degradation were obtained by measuring carbon dioxide evolution. The thermal degradation of all materials showed that the stability increased in the following manner: aromatic < aralkyl < cycloaliphatic. The separation and identification of the products of the thermal degradation gave an insight into the mechanisms involved in the pyrolysis of aromatic, aralkyl, and cycloaliphatic biscarbamates and the influence of temperature on these mechanisms.     

Linear polyurethanes made from naturally occurring tartaric acid

Naturally occurring tartaric acid was used as raw material for the synthesis of novel linear polyurethanes (PURs) bearing two carboxylate side‐groups in the repeating unit. Aliphatic and aromatic PURs were obtained by reaction in solution of alkyl and benzyl tartrates with hexamethylene diisocyanate and 4,4′‐methylene‐bis(phenyl isocyanate), respectively. All the novel PURs were thermally stable and optically active. The aliphatic carboxylate‐containing PURs had M_w in the 40–70 kDa range, with PD between 2.1 and 2.5; all were semicrystalline polymers with melting temperatures between 100 and 150 °C and T_g in the 50–80 °C range. The aromatic PURs were amorphous materials with molecular weights between 18 kDa and 25 kDa and T_g above 130 °C. Hydrogenolysis of the PUR made from hexamethylene diisocyanate and benzyl tartrate yielded PURs containing up to 40% of free carboxylic side‐groups. The tartrate‐derived PURs displayed enhanced sensitivity to hydrolysis compared with their unsubstituted 2,6‐PUR homologs. The PURs bearing free carboxylic groups were unique in being degraded by water upon incubation under physiological conditions. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 2391–2407, 2009     

Synthesis of N-arylcarbamates with tetrazole fragment and some their derivatives

Reactions of methyl(ethyl) N-(2-cyanophenyl)carbamates with sodium azide in dimethylformamide at 80–90°C in the presence of anhydrous CdCl₂ afforded the corresponding N-arylcarbamates with a 1,2,3,4-tetrazole fragment. The acylation of methyl N-[2-(1H-1,2,3,4-tetrazol-5-yl)phenyl]carbamate with acetic anhydride followed by the condensation of the obtained N-acyl derivative with thiophene-2-carbaldehyde in the KOH methanol solution led to the formation of methyl N-(2-{1-[3-(2-thienyl)-2-propenoyl]-1H-1,2,3,4-tetrazol-5-yl}phenyl)carbamate. The reaction of cyclohexyl N-(4-aminophenyl)carbamate with a triethyl orthoformate and sodium azide in glacial AcOH yielded cyclohexyl N-[4-(1H-1,2,3,4-tetrazol-1-yl)phenyl]carbamate.     

Amine-quinone polyurethanes. I. Preparation of polyurethane block copolymers containing 2,5–bis(N-2-hydroxyethyl-N-methylamino)-1,4–benzoquinone diol monomer

The amine-quinone monomer, 2,5–bis(N-2-hydroxyethyl-N-methylamino)-1,4-benzoqui-none (AQM-1), was prepared by the multiple-step condensation of 2-(N-methylam-ino)ethanol with benzoquinone in the presence of oxygen. This crystalline monomer was used to prepare a series of amine-quinone polyurethanes by condensation polymerization, either in the melt or in solution (THF or DMF), with a diisocyanate (MDI, TDI, or IPDI) and an oligomeric diol [poly(caprolactone) or poly(1,2-butylene glycol)]. The amine-quinone functional group was stable under the polymerization conditions, and was incorporated into the main chain, giving red-brown polyurethanes that had molecular weights in the range of 11,000–90,000 and were soluble in THF, MEK, DMF, and DMSO. The thermal properties were consistent with a two-phase morphology with an amorphous soft segment, containing the oligomeric diol, and a microcrystalline hard segment, containing AQM-1. The polymers having a low hard segment content (<50%) were rubbery (soft segment T_g <?25°C); polymers having a high hard segment content (>50%) were thermoplastic (hard segment T_g>150°C). © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Acid-catalyzed hydrolysis of ring-substituted phenyl vinyl sulfides

The acid-catalyzed hydrolysis of phenyl vinyl sulfide and its ring-substituted derivatives has kinetically been investigated in 40% aqueous dioxane and 90% aqueous tetrahydrofuran. The observed rate constants were satisfactorily correlated with the Hammett acidity function H₀. The effect of substituents on the hydrolysis rates was found to conform to the Hammett σ- constants with ? = ? 1.98 (40% dioxane, 30°). The ? value was compared with that found for the hydrolysis of phenyl vinyl ether in terms of the transmission efficiency of the S and O atoms.     

Linear polyurethanes made from threitol: Acetalized and hydroxylated polymers

A set of novel linear polyurethanes was synthesized by reaction in solution of 1,6‐hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI) or 4,4′‐methylene‐bis(phenyl diisocyanate) with 2,3‐acetalized threitols, specifically, 2,3‐O‐methylidene‐L ‐threitol and 2,3‐O‐isopropylidene‐D ‐threitol. The polyurethanes containing acetalized threitols had weight‐average molecular weights between 40,000 and 65,000 Da. Most of them were amorphous and they displayed T_g higher than their unsubstituted analogs. Deprotection of acetalized polyurethanes by treatment with acid allowed preparing semicrystalline polyurethanes bearing two free hydroxyl groups in the repeating unit. The crystalline structure and crystallizability of the hydroxylated polyurethane made from HDI were investigated taken as reference the polyurethane made from 1,4‐butanediol and HDI. The hydrolytic degradability of threitol derived polyurethanes was comparatively evaluated under a variety of conditions. Highest degradation rates were obtained upon incubation at pH 10 at temperatures above T_g, the aliphatic hydroxylated polyurethane being the fastest degrading compound. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 7996–8012, 2008     

Investigation on novel thermoplastic poly(urethane-thiourea-imide)s with enhanced chemical and heat resistance

A new generation of segmented thermoplastic poly(urethane-thiourea-imide)s (PUTIs) was synthesized via reaction of polyethylene glycol and thiourea-based prepolymer with dianhydride as chain extenders. NCO-terminated prepolymer was synthesized from a new diisocyanate, 3-(3-((4-isocyanatophenyl)carbamoyl)thioureido)phenyl-4-isocyanatophenylcarbamate (IPCT), as a hard segment and PEG forming soft segment. The starting materials and polymers were characterized by conventional methods and physical properties such as solubility, solution viscosity, molecular weight, thermal stability and thermal behavior were studied. PUTIs showed partially crystalline structures. Weight average molecular weights of PUTIs (GPC measurements) were in the range of 1,68,694-1,97,035. Moreover, thermogravimetric analysis indicated that poly(urethane-thiourea-imide)s were fairly stable above 500 °C having T₁₀ of 521-543 °C. Investigation of the results authenticated the approach of introducing thiourea (using IPCT) and imide structure in polyurethanes for the improvement of thermal stability. In comparison to typical polyurethanes, these polymers exhibited better heat resistance, chemical resistance as well as processability.     

Synthesis and properties of segmented main‐chain liquid‐crystalline polyurethanes with a high aspect ratio mesogenic diol as a chain extender

Main‐chain liquid‐crystalline polyurethanes were synthesized based on a high aspect ratio mesogenic diol (4‐{[4‐(6‐hydroxyhexyloxy)‐phenylimino]‐methyl}‐benzoic acid 4‐{[4‐(6‐hydroxyhexyloxy)‐phenylimino]‐methyl}‐phenyl ester) as a chain extender; polycaprolactone (PCL) diol soft segments of different number‐average molecular weights (530, 1250, or 2000); and different diisocyanates, including 1,4‐hexamethylene diisocyanate (HMDI), 4,4′‐methylene bis(cyclohexyl isocyanate) (H₁₂MDI), and 4,4′‐methylene bis(phenyl isocyanate) (MDI). The structure of the polymers was confirmed with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and differential scanning calorimetry and polarizing microscopy measurements were carried out to examine the liquid‐crystalline and thermal properties of the polyurethanes, respectively. The mesogenic diol was partially replaced with 20–50 mol % PCL. A 20 mol % mesogen content was sufficient to impart a liquid crystalline property to all the polymers. The partial replacement of the mesogenic diol with PCL of various molecular weights, as well as the various diisocyanates, influenced the phase transitions and the occurrence of mesophase textures. Characteristic liquid‐crystalline textures were observed when a sufficient content of the mesogenic diol was present. Depending on the flexible spacer length and the mesogenic content, grained and threadlike textures were obtained for the HMDI and H₁₂MDI series polymers, whereas the polyurethanes prepared from MDI showed only grained textures for all the compositions. The polymers formed brittle films and could not be subjected to tensile tests. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 1527–1538, 2002     

Studies on thermoplastic polyurethanes based on new diphenylethane-derivative diols. II. Synthesis and characterization of segmented polyurethanes from HDI and MDI

Various new thermoplastic segmented polyurethanes were synthesized by a one-step melt polymerization from aliphatic-aromatic α,ω-diols containing sulfur in the aliphatic chain, including 4,4′-(ethane-1,2-diyl)bis(benzenethioethanol), 4,4′-(ethane-1,2-diyl)bis(benzenethiopropanol) and 4,4′-(ethane-1,2-diyl)bis(benzenethiodecanol) as chain extenders, hexane-1,6-diyl diisocyanate (HDI) or 4,4′-diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI) and 20-80 mol% poly(oxytetramethylene)diol (PTMO) with molecular weight of 1000 g/mol as a soft segment. The reaction was conducted at the molar ratio of NCO/OH = 1 and 1.05, and in the case of the HDI-based polyurethanes in the presence of dibutyltin dilaurate as a catalyst. The effect of the diisocyanate used on the structure and some physicochemical, thermal and mechanical properties of the segmented polyurethanes were studied. The structures of these polyurethanes were examined by FTIR and X-ray diffraction analysis. The thermal properties were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis. Shore hardness and tensile properties were also determined. All the synthesized polymers showed partially crystalline structures. The MDI-based polyurethanes were products with lower crystallinity, higher glass-transition temperature (T_g) and better thermal stability in comparison with the HDI-based ones. The MDI series polymers also exhibited higher tensile strength (up to ∼36 MPa vs. ∼23 MPa) and elongation at break (up to ∼3900% vs. ∼900%), but lower hardness than the analogous HDI series polyurethanes. In both series of the polymers an increase in PTMO soft-segment content was associated with decreased crystallinity, T_g, hardness and tensile strength. An increase in PTMO content also involved an increase in elongation at break.     

Kinetic study on the alkaline hydrolysis of 1-aryl-2-phenyl-2-imidazolines. Basicity-rate of hydrolysis and structure relationships

Rate constants (k_obs) of hydrolysis in boiling alkaline ethanolic solution for six 1-aryl-2-phenyl-2-imidazolines were determined. The influence of substituents in the phenyl group at N-1 upon rate of hydrolysis was studied. When the imidazoline ring is considered to be a substituent of the benzene ring at N-1, a good correlation with the Hammett equation is found. It was observed that reaction rates were enhanced by electron-releasing phenyl substituents of N-1 and reduced by electron-withdrawing groups, providing a change in the mechanism of the reaction in the first case that was not observed in the second. Agreement with the Hammett equation allowed comparison between experimental and “calculated” rate constants which are nearly equal. An equation relating the rate constants with the ionization constants of imidazolinium ions is given.     

Polyesters,polyurethanes and epoxy resins derived from 2,2′-(1,4-phenylenedivinylene)bis-8-hydroxyquinaldine and 6-(4-hydroxystyryl)-3-hydroxypyridine

New polyesters and polyurethanes as well as diepoxides bearing styrylpyridine segments were prepared utilizing 2,2′-(1,4-phenylenedivinylene)bis-8-hydroxyquinaldine (PBHQ) and 6-(4-hydroxystyryl)-3-hydroxypyridine (HSHP) as starting materials. The polyesters were prepared by reacting PBHQ or HSHP with terephthaloyl dichloride in the presence of an acid acceptor utilizing the solution polycondensation method. The polyurethanes were prepared from the reactions of PBHQ and HSHP with tolylene diisocyanate and methylenebis(4-phenylisocyanate). In addition, model diesters and diurethanes were synthesized by reacting PBHQ and HSHP with benzoyl chloride and phenyl isocyanate, respectively. Model compounds and polymers were characterized by FT-IR and ¹H-NMR spectroscopy as well as by DTA and TGA. Diepoxides were also prepared from the reactions of PBHQ and HSHP with epichlorohydrin which were polymerized in the presence of 4,4′-diaminodiphenylsulfone. The polyesters were the most thermostable polymers obtained. After curing at 240°C for 20 h, they were stable in N₂ up to 345–370°C and afforded anaerobic char yields of 65–75% at 800°C. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Segmented polyurethanes with 4,4′-bis-(6-hydroxyhexoxy) biphenyl as chain extender. I. Synthesis and characterization of 2,4-tdi-polyurethanes

Polyurethanes composed of 2,4-toluene diisocyanate (TDI), poly (butylene adipate) diols (PBA) of different molecular weights, and 4,4′-bis-(6-hydroxyhexoxy) biphenyl (BHHBP) were prepared by a two-step solution polymerization process. The polyurethanes were char-acterized by elemental analysis, NMR, and SEC. The thermal properties were investigated by DSC, DMA, and optical polarizing microscopy. Dependent on the molecular weight of the PBA, a shift in the glass transition temperature T_g of the polyurethanes has been observed by DSC and DMA. Polyurethanes based on poly (butylene adipate)s of M_n ～ 2000 exhibited a T_g nearly independent on the hard-segment content up to 50% LC hard segments, indicating the existence of mainly phase separated soft and hard segments. By shortening the PBA chain length up to 1,000 and further to 600, the T_g of the polyester soft-segment phase increases with growing hard-segment content, a consequence of enhanced interaction between the hard and soft segments. This tendency is observed to the greatest extent at polyurethanes with the shortest, polyester diol and can be interpreted as a partial miscibility or compatibility of hard and soft segments. Although in polyurethanes with PBA 2000 the mesophase can be proven at a hard-segment content of ～ 40%, its appearance in polyure-thances prepared with PBA 1000 or PBA 600 requires a hard-segment content > 60%. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Structural and Kinetic Relations Holding in the Halogen Abstraction from Organohalogen Compounds by Alkyl Radicals

The relative rate constants were determined, and the absolute rate constants were estimated, for halogen transfer from N,N-dihaloarenesulfonamides, (dichloroiodo)arenes, benzyl bromides, and arenesulfonyl chlorides to cyclohexyl radical and from N,N-dihaloarenesulfonamides to benzyl radical. Polar effect of the substituent was found to be the main factor determining the rate of halogen transfer from benzyl bromides and arenesulfonyl chlorides; it increases with rise in the electrophilicity of the organohalogen substrate due mainly to charge distribution in the transition state.__________Translated from Zhurnal Organicheskoi Khimii, Vol. 41, No. 1, 2005, pp. 33–39.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Dneprovskii, Eliseenkov, Chulkova.     

Linear polyurethanes derived from alditols and diisocyanates

A set of linear [m,n]‐type polyurethanes was synthesized by polycondensation in solution from hexamethylene diisocyanate and 4,4′‐methylene‐bis(phenyl isocyanate) with alditols. Threitol, arabinitol, and xylitol bearing the secondary hydroxy groups blocked as methyl ethers were used. Either regioregular or nonregioregular polymers (depending on the configuration of the alditol) were obtained in high yields and with number‐average molecular weights within the 20,000–30,000 range. All these polyurethanes were amorphous with T_g being highly dependent on the aliphatic or aromatic nature of the diisocyanate used, but scarcely depending on the chemical structure of the alditol moiety. They were found to be stable up to near 300 °C, decomposing at higher temperatures through a complex three‐stage mechanism. Polyurethanes obtained from threitol did not show significant enhancement of hydrolytic degradability as compared with polyurethanes obtained from 1,4‐butanediol. Conversely, polyurethane prepared from xylitol and hexamethylendiisocyanate was found to be almost fully hydrolyzed in 1 month when incubated in water either at 80 °C and pH 7.4 or at 37 °C and pH 10. It was concluded that the alditol size seems to be of prime importance in determining the hydrodegradability of these sugar containing polyurethanes. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 4109–4117, 2007     

SnCl<Subscript>2</Subscript>-catalyzed synthesis of carbamates from renewable origin alcohols

Effects of structure and reactivity of renewable origin alcohols in the conversion and selectivity of the SnCl₂-catalyzed reactions in the presence and absence of urea were assessed. Convenient simple and suitable method for the synthesis of carbamates from renewable origin alcohols and urea in one-step are provided. We have assessed the activity of SnCl₂ catalyst, a commercially affordable Lewis acid, in reactions of urea alcoholysis with different natural origin alcohols (geranyl, neryl, bornyl, cinnamyl, α-terpinyl and benzyl alcohols), aiming to synthesize carbamates, which are biologically active compounds, building blocks in organic synthesis and raw material to synthesize polyurethanes. The low cost of urea, the water tolerant catalyst and phosgene free reaction are positive aspects of this carbamates synthesis process. The different reaction pathways were assessed. A mechanism was proposed based on FT-IR experiments and experimental data.     

Synthesis and properties of liquid crystalline polyurethanes

Liquid crystalline polyurethanes were prepared from 4,4′-bis(2-hydroxyethoxy)biphenyl (BHBP) and 2,4-tolylene diisocyanate (TDI). The effect of partial replacement of BHBP by 25–75 mol % poly(oxytetramethylene) diol (PTMO, M _n = 250) on the liquid crystalline properties was studied. The BHBP/TDI/PTMO polyurethanes were obtained by one- and two-step polyaddition. The polyurethanes were investigated by DSC, polarizing microscopy, x-ray, and IR spectroscopy. The molecular weight distribution was determined by GPC. The morphology of the polymers was investigated by the SALS method. Thermogravimetric investigations of the polyurethanes were also performed. All polyurethanes containing BHBP units have liquid crystalline properties. Partial replacement of BHBP by PTMO-250 considerably changes the phase transition temperatures and the range of mesophase occurrence. More homogeneous polyurethanes were obtained, if the two-step polyaddition method was applied. The polyaddition method affects the phase transition temperatures. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Liquid crystalline polyurethane. Polyurethanes containing bis-(p-oxymethylphenyl) terephthalate

Several polyurethanes based on bis-(p-oxymethylphenyl) terephthalate (BOPT) were synthesized and studied with respect to some of their thermal properties. BOPT exhibits a mesomorphic phase at 252–264°C. Polymerization was carried out by equimolar reaction with hexamethyl-ene diisocyanate (HDI), 4,4-dicyclohexylmethane diisocyanate (H₁₂MDI) α,α'-diisocyanate-1,3-dimethylcyclohexane (H6 XDI), 4,4′-diphenylmeth-ane diisocyanate (MDI), 2,4-tolylene diisocyanate (TDI), and phenylene diisocyanate (PDI). It became clear that polyurethanes obtained from BOPT with HDI, H₁₂MDI, H₆XDI, and TDI have mesomorphic phases at 243–291, 214–250, 172–229, and 180–234°C, respectively, as determined by DSC and polarized microscopy, and that all polyurethanes are crystalline as evidenced by x-ray diffraction.     

Cyclodextrins in polymer synthesis: free radical polymerisation of cyclodextrin complexes of cyclohexyl and phenyl methacrylate in aqueous medium

The polymerisation mechanism of 2,6-dimethyl-β-cyclodextrin (Me₂-β-CD) complexes of phenyl methacrylate ( 1 ) and cyclohexyl methacrylate ( 2 ) is described. The polymerisation of the complexes 1 a and 2a was carried out in water with potassium peroxodisulfate/potassium hydrogensulfite as initiator. The unthreading of the Me₂-β-CD during the polymerisation led to water-insoluble poly(phenyl methacrylate) ( 1b ) and poly(cyclohexyl methacrylate) ( 2b ). By comparison, analogously prepared polymers from uncomplexed monomers 1 and 2 in homogeneous organic solvent (THF) with AIBN as radical initiator showed significantly lower viscosities and were obtained in lower yields in both cases.     

Phase morphology of hydrolysable polyurethanes derived from aqueous dispersions

Biodegradable polyurethanes are an interesting alternative to many applications that involve plastics since they can minimize environmental problems caused by the low rates of natural degradation of synthetic polymers. In addition, since waterborne polyurethanes are based on aqueous dispersions, they restrict the use of organic solvents during processing and application of the polymer, thus contributing furthermore to reduce environmental damage. In this work, aqueous anionic polyurethane dispersions (PUD) with tailorable susceptibility for hydrolysis were synthesized by progressively replacing polypropylene glycol (PPG) with a biodegradable polycaprolactone diol (PCL) as soft segments. The hard segments were formed by extending isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI) with hydrazine (HZ). Dimethylol propionic acid (DMPA) was used as ionic center and triethyl amine (TEA) as neutralizer. The degree of phase separation was evaluated mainly by infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). The results indicated that phase separation between hard and soft segments of poly(ester-urethane) is more significant than that of poly(ether-urethane). Data obtained from SAXS experiments indicated that phase separation within soft domains can also be present in samples containing both polyester and polyether soft segments. Hydrolytic degradation of the polymers in buffer solution of pH 7.4 and alkaline solution was performed as an initial test. The results showed that the fraction of polyester soft segments in the polyurethanes can be used to tailor the susceptibility of the materials to hydrolytic attack. Polyurethanes having higher contents of polyester were more promptly hydrolytically degraded than polyurethanes containing only polyether segments.     

Estimation of unperturbed dimensions of poly(cyclohexyl) methacrylate from light scattering,osmometry and viscosity data

Dilute solution properties of poly(cyclohexyl) methacrylate were determined at various temperatures in a theta solvent by light scattering. osmometry and viscometry. The values of the unperturbed dimensions (< s²₌>/M), solvent-polymer interaction parameters and conformational parameter σ have been computed by applying the theories of Burchard-Stockmayer--Fixman, Kurata-Stockmayer, Fixman and Kurata-Stockmayer-Roig.