Stereochemistry of anionic vinyl polymerization

The stereochemistry of anionic polymerization of vinyl monomers: CH₂=C(R)C(Y)=X where X and Y are O, N or C and R = H or alkyl is discussed in terms of a: the geometry of the -CH₂C-(R)C(Y)=X intermediate existing as E- or Z-isomers; b: the interactions of cation (Li, Na, etc.) with the anion and coordinating groups on the penultimate or antepenultimate asymmetric carbon. The E/Z ratio appears to be determined directly by the s-trans/s-cis approach of the monomer. The nature of the coordination of the counter ion is considerably more complicated and is discussed in detail.     

Synthesis and characterization of macrocyclic polystyrene block-copolymers

The synthesis of macrocyclic polystyrene- block-poly(2-vinylpyridine) and macrocyclic polystyrene- block-poly(dimethylsiloxane) was carried out by initiation of 2-vinylpyridine (2VP) and hexamethyl-cyclotrisiloxane (D3) by difunctional living polystyryllithium followed by coupling with 1,4-bis(bromethyl)benzene (1,4-DBX) and dichloro-dimethylsilane (Cl₂SiMe₂), respectively. A small portion of the living ABA precursors were protonated to serve as isobaric linear precursors. The linear and macrocyclic block copolymers were characterized by size-exclusion chromatography (SEC). The ratios of apparent cyclic/linear SEC molecular-weight maxima versus degree of polymerization (DP) show increases with decreasing DP varying from 0.70 ± 0.03 at high DP ≤ 200 to 0.78 ± 0.044 at low DP (≥60) whereas that of the linear ABA block copolymers decreased. Increases in glass transition temperature (Tg) were also observed for the cyclic PS-b-PDMS copolymers with respect to the isobaric linear precursors. The macrocycles were characterized by ¹H and ¹³C NMR and in the case of macrocyclic PS-b-PDMS by ²⁹Si NMR as well. Broadening in the NMR absorptions of the macrocyclic block copolymers is general and is similar to that observed for the homopolymers. Differemtial scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis of the PS-b-P2VP macrocycles shows increases in Tg at lower molecular weight as was observed for the PS and P2VP macrocycles.     

A fluorine-containing hydrophobically associating polymer. I. Synthesis and solution properties of copolymers of acrylamide and fluorine-containing acrylates or methacrylates

Fluorine-containing hydrophobically associating polymers have been synthesized by copolymerization of acrylamide with a small amount of an acrylate or methacrylate having a fluorocarbon containing ester group. It was found that hydrophobic associations occurring between these fluorocarbon chains was stronger than the interactions of the corresponding hydrocarbon comonomers and depend on the length of the fluorocarbon chain. The rheological properties of the copolymer solutions were studied. The solutions were found to be highly pseudoplastic but the viscosity loss was completely reversible upon removal of shear. Evidence for hydrophobic association of the fluorocarbon groups was obtained by the dependence of the Brookfield viscosity on temperature, the addition of NaCl, and the addition of organic solvents, urea, and surfactants.     

Synthesis and characterization of poly (2-vinylpridine)-b-poly (t-butyl methacrylate)

The synthesis of well defined and monodisperse (M_w/M_n ≤ 1.2) narrow molecular weight distribution poly (2-vinylpyridine)-poly (t-butyl methacrylate) (P2VP-PTBMA) AB block copolymers is carried out by initiation of 2-vinylpyridine polymerization by 1,1-diphenylhexyllithium in THF at-78°C, followed by addition of TBMA and termination at ?78°C using MeOH. The formation of the BAB block copolymer is carried out in a similar fashion except that 1,4-dilithio-1,1,4,4-tetraphenylbutane is used as initiator. The corresponding synthesis of P2VP-PMMA block copolymers is carried in a similar manner, except that 1-2 equivalents of TBMA is used to end-functionalize the living P2VP before the addition of MMA. Without the addition of TBMA, trimodal molecular weight distributions in P2VP-b-PMMA are obtained. All the block copolymers are characterized by Size Exclusion Chromatography (SEC), Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC). © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Oligomerization of vinyl monomers 20. Carbon-13 NMR of oligomers of 2-vinylpyridine. Studies of labelled end groups

Oligomers of 2-vinylpyridine initiated with Li, Na, K, and Rb salts of ¹³C-labeled or-unlabeled 2-ethylpyridine and terminated with ¹³C-labeled or -unlabeled methyl iodide were separated by liquid chromatography and analyzed by ¹³C-NMR of the initial or terminal CH₃ group. The stereochemistry of the three dyads which flank the initial or terminal methyl group could be determined and this allowed us to evaluate the stereochemistry of both methylation and vinyl addition. The methylation of the Li and Na salts of the oligomer anions is highly (> 95%) stereoselective and independent of chain length, whereas the stereoselectivity of the K and Rb salts is substantially less. These data indicate that the Li and Na oligomer and polymer anions exist in a chelated form in which the metal ion is complexed with the penultimate 2-pyridine group, the other counterions being chelated to a lesser extent. The stereochemistry of monomer addition was found to be less stereoselective than that of methylation for the Li and Na salts. In addition, the apparent meso-stereoselectivity of monomer addition of the Na, K, and Rb systems was greater than that of the Li ion. For the latter system, in particular, the mechanism appeared to be Markoff-like and consistent with different reactivities of anions flanked by a distinct dyad or triad stereochemistry. These data appear to be consistent with the intramolecular coordination that tends to hold the third asymmetric center close to the propagating carbanion.     

DFT based Monte Carlo simulations of poly(9,9-dialkylfluorene-2,7-diyl) polymers in solution

The dilute solution properties of poly(9,9-dihexylfluorene-2,7-diyl) (PDHF) were studied by coupled SEC/light scattering and MALDI-TOF over a large molecular weight (MW) span ranging from PDHF oligomers (1-8-mer) to high MW polymer. The results were compared with Monte Carlo simulations based on realistic PDHF models obtained from X-ray data and density functional theory (DFT) calculations and with a DFT based Kratky-Porod-Benoit-Doty (KPBD) worm-like chain. The simulations called "selective random walk" (SRW) and the corresponding "selective self-avoiding random walk" (SSAW) explicitly take into account the rotationally labile bonds between the fluorene units in that four distinct torsion angles (+/-37.5 and +/-143 degrees) between the units are chosen randomly. The simulations better account than the KPBD model for the experimental data obtained by us and others for various poly(9,9-dialkylfluorene-2,7-diyl) polymers but still give somewhat larger values for the radii of gyration and hydrodynamic volumes. The torsion angle selectivity of the SRW and SSAW simulations predict long chain sections punctuated by sudden sharp loops.     

New bifunctional initiator for use in anionic polymerizations

The synthesis is described of narrow distribution polystyrenes initiated by the 2,7-dimethyl-3,6-diphenyl-octane dianion (DDO²⁻). DDO²⁻ was synthesized via electron transfer from lithium or potassium metal to 3-methyl-2-phenyl-1-butene (MPB) in tetrahydrofuran at temperatures between −78 and −100 °C. In contrast to the analogous α-methyl styrene, there was no evidence of MPB polymerization. The structure of DDO²⁻ was demonstrated by ¹H and ¹³C NMR, as well as gas chromatography/mass spectrometry characterization of the DDO²⁻ protonation and methylation products. In addition, kinetic studies were performed by ultraviolet–visible spectrophotometry for the determination of the stability of this anion in comparison with other similar species. The initiation of styrene by DDO²⁻ led to narrow molecular weight polymers, as shown by size exclusion chromatography. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 2108–2115, 2002     

Ylide mediated polymerization of methacrylates and acrylates in the presence of tetraphenylphosphonium cation 3

Triphenylmethide tetraphenylphosphonium (TPM, TPP) or methylisobutyrate tetraphenylphosphonium (MIB, TPP) formed by ion exchange reactions of TPP chloride(TPPCl) with the TPM or MB potassium salts in THF, initiate the living polymerization of MMA producing PMMA's with narrow MW distributions (below 1.3) at ambient temperatures.