Dilatometric constant for polymerization of α-methylstyrene

By measurement of the specific volume of solutions of poly-α-methylstyrene in α-methylstyrene monomer at 25°C, the dilatometric constant was found to be K_D = (0.002007 ± 0.000030)%^?1. Estimation of the temperature dependence resulted in the equation (K_D)_t = 1.81 × 10^?3 + 7.82 + 10^?6 t, where t denotes temperature in °C.     

Polymerization of α-methyleneindane: A cyclic analog of α-methylstyrene

α-Methyleniedane (MI), a cyclic analog of α-methylstyrene which does not undergo radical homopolymerization under standard conditions, was synthesized and subjected to radical, cationic, and anionic polymerizations. MI undergoes radical polymerization with α,α′-azobis(isobutyronitrile) in contrast to α-methylstyrene, owing to its reduced steric hindrance, though the polymerization is slow even in bulk. Cationic and anionic polymerization of MI with BF₃OEt₂ and n-butyllithium, respectively, proceed rapidly. The thermal degradation behavior of the polymer depends on the polymerization conditions. The anionic and radical polymers are heteortactic-rich. Reactivity ratios in bulk radical copolymerization on MI (M₂) with methacrylate (MMA, M₁) were determined at 60°C (r₁ = 0.129 and r₂ = 1.07). In order to clarify the copolymerization mechanism, radical copolymerization of MI with MMA was investigated in bulk at temperatures ranging from 50 to 80°C. The Mayo–Lewis equation has been found to be inadequate to describe the result due to depolymerization of MI sequences above 70°C.     

Synthesis of nearly monodisperse poly(α-methylstyrene)s containing two Si atoms and an allyl group and the application to resist

The anionic polymerizations of 4-allyldimethylsilyldimethylsilyl-α-methylstyrene ( 1 ), 4-allyldimethylsilylmethyldimethylsilyl-α-methylstyrene ( 2 ), and 4-allyldimethylsilylethyldimethylsilyl-α-methylstyrene ( 3 ) have been conducted. Nearly monodisperse poly(4-allyldimethylsilyldimethylsilyl-α-methylstyrene) ( 4 ), poly(4-allyldimethylsilylmethyldimethylsilyl-α-methylstyrene) ( 5 ), and poly(4-allyldimethylsilylethyldimethylsilyl-α-methylstyrene) ( 6 ) were obtained. The T_gs of 4 , 5 , and 6 are 100.5, 39.0, and 30.5°C, respectively. Among these, 4 has attracted most interest because of a high T_g (100.5°C) and a high Si content (20.5%, w/w). Therefore, a near-UV resist (DMAS-A) composed of 4 and a bisazide has been developed as a top resist layer for a bilayer system.     

Polyisobutylene-containing block polymers by sequential monomer addition. X. Synthesis of poly(α-methylstyrene-b-isobutylene-b-α-methylstyrene) thermoplastic elastomers

Preparatory to triblock synthesis experiments, the cationic polymerization of α-methylstyrene (αMeSt) was investigated using the 2-chloro-2,4,4-trimethylpentane (TMPCI)/TiCl₄ initiating system in the presence of triethylamine (Et₃N) as electron donor (ED) and CH₃Cl/n-hexane mixed solvent in the ?80 to ?40°C range. Conversions are influenced by temperature, [TiCl₄], [Et₃N], and [αMeSt]. The polymerization of αMeSt is living at ?80°C: Both termination and chain transfer to monomer are frozen out, however, initiation is slow relative to propagation. Highly syndiotactic (>94%) Pα Mest was obtained. At?60deg;C initiator efficiency is ca. 100%, but termination becomes evident. Et₃N may act both as Ed and as proton scavenger. Novel poly(α-methystyrene-b-isobutylene-b-α-methylstyrene) (PαMeSt-PIB-PαMeSt) triblocks have been synthesized by adding αMeSt to biliving polyisobutylene carbocations (⊕PIB⊕) in the ?80 to ?40°C range. The effects of temperature, solvent polarity, and [Et₃N] on the block copolymerization have been investigated. At ?80°C, the rate of crossover from ⊕PIB⊕ to αMeSt is lower than that of propagation of PαMeSt⊕, so that the triblock is contaminated by PIB and PIB-b-PαMeSt. At ?60°C, crossover occurs preferentially. The rate of propagation relative to that of crossover is also reduced by lowering the solvent polarity and increasing the [Et₃N]. High crossover efficiency and blocking efficiency can be obtained under optimum blocking conditions. The triblocks are novel thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs). © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Molecular weight distribution studies. I. Radiation-induced polymerization of liquid α-methylstyrene

The concentration of water in purified and BaO-dried α-methylstyrene was found to be 1.1 × 10^?4M. The radiation-induced bulk polymerization of the α-methylstyrene thus prepared was studied in the temperature range of ?20°C to 35°C. The polymerization rate varied as the 0.55 power of the dose rate. The theoretical molecular weights and molecular weight distribution were calculated from a proposed kinetic scheme and these values were then compared with those found experimentally. The agreement between these two was reasonably close, and therefore it was concluded that, from the molecular weight distribution point of view, the proposed kinetic scheme for the cationic polymerization of α-methylstyrene is an acceptable one. The rate constant for chain transfer to monomer k_f changed with temperature and was found to be responsible for the decrease in the molecular weight of the polymer with increase in temperature. k_f and k_p at 20°C were found to be 0.95 × 10⁴ l./mole-sec and 0.99 × 10⁶ l./mole-sec, respectively.     

Temperature dependence of unperturbed dimensions for stereoirregular 1,4-polybutadiene and poly(α-methylstyrene)

The temperature coefficient of chain dimensions, d ln〈r²〉₀/dT, was determined for stereoirregular 1,4-polybutadiene and poly(α-methylstyrene) via dilute solution viscometry. The 1,4-polybutadiene was examined in oligomeric 1,4-polybutadiene (an athermal solvent), and poly(α-methylstyrene) was evaluated under near-theta conditions using 1-chloro-n-alkanes as solvents. Both approaches minimize the potential for influence by specific solvent effects. The resulting temperature coefficients, ?0.1₀ × 10^?3 deg^?1 for 1,4-polybutadiene and ?0.3₀ × 10^?3 deg^?1 for poly(α-methylstyrene) are in excellent agreement with rotational isomeric state calculations.     

Stereospecific polymerization of α-methylstyrene by friedel-crafts catalysts

The relationship between stereoregularity and polymerization conditions of α-methylstyrene has been studied by means of NMR spectra. The effects of solvents and various Freidel-Crafts catalysts have been investigated. The stereoregularity of poly-α-methylstyrene increased with increased polymer solubility in the solvent used and with decreasing polymerization temperature. This behavior is completely different from the stereospecific polymerization of vinyl ethers and methyl methacrylate in homogeneous systems. This may be due to the strong steric repulsion exerted by the two substituents in the α-position of α-methylstyrene. For example, with BF₃ · O(C₂H₅)₂ as catalyst at ?78°C., atactic polymer is obtained in n-hexane, a nonsolvent for α-methylstyrene, whereas highly stereoregular polymer is produced in toluene or methylene chloride, good solvents for the polymer. However, the polarity of the solvent and the nature of the catalyst hardly affect the stereoregularity of the polymer.     

Kinetics of free-radical copolymerization of α-methylstyrene and styrene

The free-radical copolymerization of α-methylstyrene and styrene has been studied in toluene and dimethyl phthalate solutions at 60°C. Gas chromatography was used to monitor the rate of consumption of monomers. For styrene alone, the measured rate of polymerization R_p and M?_n of the polymer coincided with values expected from previous studies by other workers. Solution viscosity η affected R_p and M?_n of styrene homopolymers and copolymers as expected on the basis of an inverse proportionality between η^1/2 and termination rate. The rate of initiation by azobisisobutyronitrile appears to be independent of monomer feed composition in this system. Molecular weights of copolymers can be accounted for by considering combinative termination only. The effects of radical chain transfer are not significant. A theory is proposed in which the rate of termination of copolymer radicals is derived statistically from an ideal free-radical polymerization model. This simple theory accounts quantitatively for R_p and M?_n data reported here and for the results of other workers who have favored more complicated reaction models because of the apparent failure of simple copolymer reactivity ratios to predict polymer composition. This deficiency results from systematic losses of low molecular weight copolymer species in some analyses. Copolymer reactivity ratios derived with the assumption of a simple copolymer model and based on rates of monomer loss can be used to predict R_p values measured in other laboratories without necessity for consideration of depropagation or penultimate unit effects. The 60°C rate constants for propagation and termination in styrene homopolymerization were taken to be 176 and 2.7 × 10⁷ mole/l.-sec, respectively. The corresponding figures for α-methylstyrene are 26 and 8.1 × 10⁸ mole/l.-sec. These constants account for the sluggish copolymerization behavior of the latter monomer and the low molecular weights of its copolymers. The simple reaction scheme proposed here suggests that high molecular weight styrene–α-methylstyrene copolymers can be produced at reasonable rates at 60°C by emulsion polymerization. This is shown to be the case.     

Poly(α-methylstyrene-b-styrene) by a cationic mechanism

Block copolymers of styrene and α-methylstyrene were obtained by a cationic mechanism involving a single-step addition in the m-chloroperbenzoic acid/liquid sulfur dioxide system. This result was possible because of the difference in the reactivity of these monomers in the temperatures of ?40°C, ?60°C, and ?78°C. Under these temperature conditions α-methylstyrene is more reactive than styrene. The composition of the block copolymers was determined by NMR and TGA analysis in fractionated samples.     

On the interaction of triphenylmethyl salts with α-methylstyrene

The interaction of triphenylmethyl salts with α-methylstyrene and 1,1-diphenylethylene was investigated. With 1,1-diphenylethylene at a monomer-initiator ratio of 2 (room temperature), mainly 1,1,3-triphenyl-3-methyl-indane was isolated, whereas at a ratio of 100 (?10°C), the dimer 1,1,3,3-tetraphenylbutene-1 mainly formed. In both cases no addition of the trityl group was registered. In the interaction of α-methylstyrene with Ph₃C⁺SbCl at a monomer-initiator ratio of 2(room temperature) a pure 1,3,3-trimethyl-1-phenylindane was isolated and no addition of the trityl group to the double bond was recorded. The initiation reaction of α-methylstyrene polymerization by trityl and chlorinated trityl salts was studied at temperatures from ?20 to 0°C and different concentrations. The oligomers obtained with (pCI-C₆H₄)₃C⁺ were investigated by elemental analysis and fluorescence spectroscopy. The presence of Ph₃CH in the reaction mixture was demonstrated by GLC and NMR spectra. The results obtained give evidence that the initiation of α-methylstyrene polymerization involves hydride abstraction from the monomer.     

Cationic polymerization of α-methylstyrene in dichloromethane initiated with system 2,5-dichloro-2,5-dimethylhexene-BCl3. II. Continuous addition of monomer into initiator,quasiliving polymerization

A slow continuous addition of dichloromethana solutions of α-methylstyrene (α-MeSt) into a dichloromethane solution of 2,5-dichloro-2,5-dimethylhexane (DDH) with BCI₃ (initiating system II) prepared in advance resulted, in the temperature range between ?20 and ?40°, in a quasilving polymerization of α-MeSt. At ?20°C and a 100% conversion a polymer with a very narrow molecular weight distribution is formed, M?_w/M?_n - 1.1. Quasiliving polymerization of α-MeSt has not been achieved with freshly prepared dischloromethane solutions of DDH with BC₃ (initiating sytem I), or with solutions of BCI₃ alone (initiating system III). Polarity of the polymerization medium affected molecular weight distribution (MWD) of the polymer, and the polydispersity index decreased with decreasing polarity. MWD of the polymer samples were studied by the GPC method, the structure of poly (α-methylstyrene) (Pα-MeSt) was investigated by the ₁H-NMR analysis     

Free radicals in γ-irradiated poly-α-methylstyrene

Electron spin resonance (ESR) spectra were observed at ?160°C and at room temperature for γ-irradiated poly-α-methylstyrene. The spectrum observed at room temperature has been attributed to the radical species while that at ?160°C results from the same radical and superposition of the spectrum due to the radical ?H₂-C(CH₃)(C₆H₅)-. The radicals which are stable at room temperature could be used to graft vinyl acetate.     

Radical homo- and copolymerizations of methyl α-trifluoroacetoxyacrylate

Radical homo- and copolymerizations of methyl α-trifluoroacetoxyacrylate (MTFAA) are studied by using azo initiators at 40 and 60°C. The rate of the homopolymerization of MTFAA was lower than that of methyl α-acetoxyacrylate. Monomer reactivity ratios (r), and Q and e values were estimated to be r₁ = 0.03, r₂ = 0.27, Q₁ = 0.65, and e₁ = 1.38 from the copolymerization of MTFAA (M₁) and styrene (M₂) at 60°C. Preferential crosspropagation was observed in particular in the copolymerization of MTFAA and α-methylstyrene. The influence of replacing the hydrogens of the acetoxy moiety of the acyloxyacrylate with the fluorines upon the copolymerization reactivity is discussed on the basis of the ¹³C-NMR chemical shift of various acyloxyacrylates. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 35 : 3537–3541, 1997     

Radical polymerization of N-phenyl-α-methylene-β-lactam

N-phenyl-α-methylene-β-lactam (PML), a cyclic analog of N,N-disubstituted methacrylamides which do not undergo radical homopolymerization, was synthesized and polymerized with α,α′-azobis (isobutyronitrile) (AIBN) in solution. Poly (PML) (PPML) is readily soluble in tetrahydrofuran, chloroform, pyridine, and polar aprotic solvents but insoluble in toluene, ethyl acetate, and methanol. PPML obtained by radical initiation is highly syndiotactic (rr = 92%), exhibits a glass transition at 180°C, and loses no weight upto 330°C in nitrogen. The kinetics of PML homo-polymerization with AIBN was investigated in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone. The rate of polymerization (R_p) can be expressed by R_p = k[AIBN]^0.55[PML]^1.2 and the overall activation energy has been calculated to be 87.3 kJ/mol. Monomer reactivity ratios in copolymerization of PML (M₂) with styrene (M₁) are r₁ = 0.67 and r₂ = 0.41, from which Q and e values of PML are calculated as 0.60 and 0.33, respectively.     

Polymerization of α-methylene-N-methylpyrrolidone

α-Methylene-N-methylpyrrolidone (α-MMP) was synthesized and homopolymerized by bulk and solution methods. The poly(α-MMP) is readily soluble in water, methanol, methylene chloride, and dipolar aprotic solvents at room temperature. Thermogravimetric analysis of poly(α-MMP) showed a 10% weight loss at 330°C in air. The kinetics of α-MMP homopolymerization and copolymerization were investigated in acetonitrile, using azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) as an initiator. The rate of polymerization R_p could be expresed by R_p = k[AIBN]^0.49[α-MMP]^1.3. The overall activation energy was calculated to be 84.1 kj/mol. The relative reactivity ratios of α-MMP (M₂) copolymerization with methyl methacrylate (r₁ = 0.59, r₂ = 0.26) in acetonitrile were obtained. Applying the Q-e scheme led to Q = 2.18 and e = 1.77. These Q and e values are larger than those for acrylamide derivatives.     

New telechelic polymers and sequential copolymers by polyfunctional initiator-transfer agents (inifers). III. Synthesis and characterization of poly(α-methylstyrene-b-isobutylene-b-α-methylstyrene)

The synthesis of a new glassy-rubbery-glassy triblock copolymer poly(α-methylstyrene-b-isobutylene-b-α-methylstyrene) has been demonstrated. The key to the synthesis was the preparation by inifer method of a perfectly bifunctional polyisobutylene which carries tert-chlorine end groups Cl-PIB-Cl. In conjunction with Et₂AlCl coinitiator, the telechelic Cl-PIB-Cl molecule initiates the polymerization of α-methylstyrene at both ends of the prepolymer. Triblock composition can be controlled by the judicious selection of synthesis conditions; that is, Cl-PIB-Cl molecular weight, α-methylstyrene concentration, and solvent polarity. Theoretical triblock M _n calculated from M _n of Cl-PIB-Cl and triblock overall composition is in excellent agreement with experimental M _n which indicates negligible homopolymer contamination. Extraction with a series of hydrocarbon solvents reveals broad composition distribution. The stress-strain profile of a triblock is similar to that of a poly(styrene-b-butadiene-b-styrene) thermoplastic elastomer of similar composition.     

Trityl salt—initiated polymerization of α-methylstyrene

The initiation reaction of the polymerization of α-methylstyrene by trityl tetrachloroferate and tritylhexachloroantimonate in 1,2-dichloroethane at 20°C was studied. The rate constants were 14 × 10^?3 and 27 × 10^?3 L mol^?1s^?1, respectively. The dissociation constants of tritylterachloroferate (K_d = 0.88 × 10^?4M^?1) and tritylhexachloroantimonate (K_d = 2.64 × 10^?4M^?1) was determined. The effect of electron acceptors and donors on the dissociation equilibrium and initiation rate was investigated. It was shown that in strongly dissociated ion pairs such as stable carbenium salts the electron donors and acceptors have no appreciable effect on the magnitude of the dissociation. The temperature dependence of the rate constants in the ?20–+20°C range yielded the following thermodynamic parameters for trityltetrachloroferate: E_i = 8.54 kcal/mol; A = 3.2 × 10⁴ mol^?1s^?1; ΔH* = 8 kcal/mol; and S* = ?39.8 eu.     

Some properties of poly-α-piperidone

The high molecular weight polymer of α-piperidone, which had been unobtainable with the use of alkali metal, trialkyl aluminum, or Grignard reagent as catalyst, was prepared with M–AlEt₃, (where M is alkali metal), MAlEt₄ or KAlEt₃ (piperidone) as catalyst and N-acyl-α-piperidone as initiator. From the determination of the behavior of the solution viscosity of poly-α-piperidone in m-cresol at 30°C. the value of 0.27 for the Huggins constant was obtained. Examination of the correlation between the number-average molecular weight, determined by endgroup titration, and the intrinsic viscosity gave a somewhat small value for the endgroup COOH. This may be considered due to the consumption of N-acyl-α-piperidone by a propagating polymer in the course of polymerization. The thermal stabilities of the polyamides, nylons 4, 5, and 6, was in the order nylons 6 > 5 > 4 according to differential thermal and thermogravimetric analyses, Poly-α-piperidone, which has a reduced viscosity of 0.7, shows a melting point of 270°C.. which was expected from the zigzag pattern of the correlation between melting points and numbers of CH₂ groups for polyamino-acid polymers.     

Kinetics of anionic polymerization of α-methylstyrene in tetrahydrofuran and toluene mixed solvents

The kinetics of anionic polymerization of α-methylstyrene with Na⁺ as counterion have been studied in mixed solvents of tetrahydrofuran (THF) and toluene in various compositions at ?25 to 5°C. The ion-pair rate constant k(_±) increases by about a factor of 50 at ?10°C, whereas the activation energy decreases from 5.1 to ?2.2 kcal/mole, when THF in the mixed solvent increases from 30 to 100 vol-%. The plot of log k(_±) against (D ? 1)/(2D + 1) is a curve, where D is the dielectric constant of the medium. This deviation from linearity is explained in terms of propagation by two types of ion-pairs.     

Preparation,fractionation, and dilute-solution behavior of ABA poly(methyl methacrylate-b-α-methylstyrene) block copolymers

The preparation by anionic polymerization of six ABA poly(methyl methacrylate-b-α-methylstyrene) block copolymers and of sixteen poly(α-methylstyrene)s is described. The block copolymers, of similar molecular weight but with different chemical compositions, were fractionated by preparative gel permeation chromatography and their behavior in dilute solution was investigated using viscometry. The results obtained indicate that the intramolecular phase separation does not occur under the conditions utilized, the block copolymers assuming randomcoil configurations in all of the copolymer/solvent systems studied. Consequently the block copolymer molecules are more expanded than homopolymers of the same molecular weight. The series of poly(α-methylstyrene)s covered the molecular weight range 2.7 × 10³–1.3 × 10⁶ and enabled the determination of Mark–Houwink–Sakurada constants for poly(α-methylstyrene) in the solvents chosen for the block copolymer studies.