Rate Constant of Initiation Reaction in Cationic Polymerization of Vinyl Monomers. I. Polymerization of Styrene Derivatives Catalyzed by Triphenylmethyl Stannic Pentachloride

Abstract

To investigate the method of measurement of the initiation rate constant in cationic polymerization, styrene and α-methylstyrene are polymerized by triphenylmethyl stannic pentachloride (Ph₃CSnCl₅). Adding these monomers to a solution of Ph₃CSnCl₅, the strong absorption of triphenylmethyl cation at 400 to 450 mμ disappears. The rate of disappearance of the absorption at 430 mμ is proportional to the concentration of Ph₃CSnCl₅ and monomer. It is confirmed that this disappearance of the absorption is due to the conversion of triphenyl cation to styryl or α-methylstyryl cation. Therefore, the rate of consumption of triphenylmethyl cation corresponds to that of the addition of triphenylmethyl cation to the olefinic double bond in a monomer, that is, the rate of the initiation reaction. Considering the dissociation constant of Ph₃CSnCl₅, the initiation rate constants of styrene and α-methylstyrene in ethylene chloride solution at 30°C are 11.6 × 10^?2 and 2.85 liters/mole-min, respectively. These values seem to be much smaller than the propagation rate constant of each monomer. However, the effect of polymerization conditions, for example, the kind of a monomer and the polarity of a solvent, on the initiation rate constant is the same as in the propagation reaction. This fact suggests the similarity of a reaction mechanism in both elementary reactions.     

Synthesis of novel oxazaborolidines B-C6F5 and their effectiveness as asymmetric catalysts

Novel oxazaborolidines B-C₆F₅ were synthesized by modified protocol from C₆F₅B(OMe)₂ (in place of usual C₆F₅B(OH)₂) and the corresponding amino alcohols, aiming to know the π-π stacking and electron-withdrawing effects of C₆F₅ group in asymmetric reduction of ketones. Although the results were not simply explained by the expected effects, significant difference was observed in the enantioselectivity between the catalysts with B-C₆H₅ and B-C₆F₅.     

A polyrotaxane gel using boronic acid-appended γ-cyclodextrin as a hybrid cross-linker

A boronic acid-appended γ-cyclodextrin (BA-CyD) was synthesized as a hybrid cross-linker of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) to form a new type of hydrogel. The CyD moiety of BA-CyD forms an inclusion complex with the PVA chain to produce a mechanically interlocking structure. At the same time, the BA moiety of BA-CyD forms covalent bonds with the 1,3-diol moieties of PVA. On the basis of these two modes of interaction, the hybrid cross-linker connects two PVA chains, thus resulting in the formation of a hydrogel. To investigate the possibility of this hydrogel becoming the basis for an intelligent material for drug delivery, sugar-responsive drug release from the hydrogel was demonstrated.     

High dispersion and fluorescence of anthracene doped in polyphenylsiloxane films

Phenylsilsesquioxane-diphenylsiloxane glass thick films doped with anthracene were prepared from homogeneous coating sols obtained from two different approaches. One approach consisted in incorporating the dye during the glass preparation (which implies the incorporation of the dye in an aqueous media). The doped-glass was further dissolved in the solvents mixture composed of cyclohexane and acetone. The other approach which is non-aqueous consisted simply in dissolving directly the preformed non-doped polyphenylsiloxane glass in the dye solutions. The stability of the organic-inorganic hybrid glass matrix in most organic solvents makes possible the incorporation of the dye without problems of miscibility and dispersion in the hybrid matrix. The coating was performed at room temperature using spin-coating technique prior to further heat-treatment. Crack-free and homogeneous films of high optical quality were obtained. The optical properties of the doped films based on their absorption and emission spectra were discussed owing the incorporation route of the dye. The results showed that the non-aqueous approach used to incorporate the dye minimizes the dye aggregation. This property associated to the preparation route permits to obtain optically active hybrid films loaded with high concentrations of anthracene (in the order of 10⁻² M) which enhance the fluorescence of the doped films. The hybrid doped-films obtained represent therefore a tremendous potential for applications in the field of optics and photonics including the development of new nonlinear optical materials. Bouzid Menaa and Masahide Takahashi both the author contributed equally.     

Synthesis of transparent BaTiO<Subscript>3</Subscript> nanoparticle/polymer hybrid

Transparent BaTiO₃ nanoparticle/polymer hybrid was synthesized by polymerization and hydrolysis of barium titanium alkoxide modified with 2-vinyloxyethoxy ligand. Barium alkoxide, titanium alkoxide and 2-vinyloxyethanol were reacted affording a BaTiO₃ precursor, which was then hydrolyzed and polymerized to form BaTiO₃ particle/polymer hybrids below 100°C. BaTiO₃ particles increased in crystallinity with increasing water amount for hydrolysis. The absorption edge of the hybrid film on silica plates shifted to shorter wavelength with decreasing crystallite size. Nano-sized BaTiO₃ particle/polymer hybrid polymerized with methyl methacrylate (MMA) was shaped into a transparent and self-standing film with a refractive index of 1.595 at 589 nm.     

Regulated interaction between polypeptide chain elongation factor-1 complex with the 26S proteasome during <Emphasis Type="Italic">Xenopus</Emphasis> oocyte maturation

Background  

During Xenopusoocyte maturation, the amount of a 48 kDa protein detected in the 26S proteasome fraction (p48) decreased markedly during oocyte maturation to the low levels seen in unfertilized eggs. The results indicate that the interaction of at least one protein with the 26S proteasome changes during oocyte maturation and early development. An alteration in proteasome function may be important for the regulation of developmental events, such as the rapid cell cycle, in the early embryo. In this study, we identified p48.     

Copolymerization of 1-(trimethylsilyl)-1-propyne with disubstituted hydrocarbon acetylenes

Copolymerization of 1-(trimethylsilyl)-1-propyne (MeC ≡ CSiMe₃) with several aromatic and aliphatic disubstituted acetylenes (MeC ≡ CPh, n-BuC ≡ CPh, 2-octyne, and 4-octyne) were examined by using Ta and Nb catalysts. The TaCl₅–Ph₃Bi catalyst was effective in copolymerization with the aromatic acetylenes, whereas the NbCl₅–Ph₃Bi catalyst was preferable in copolymerization with the aliphatic acetylenes. The copolymerization products were not mixtures of homopolymers but copolymers. The relative reactivity of monomer tended to decrease with increasing steric effect of monomer: 2-octyne > MeC ≡ CSiMe₃ > 4-octyne > MeC ≡ CPh > n-BuC ≡ CPh. The copolymers of MeC ≡ CSiMe₃ with MeC ≡ CPh [copoly(TMSP/PP)s] had high molecular weight (M _w > 1 × 10⁶), and provided thermally stable tough films. With increasing MeC ≡ CPh content of copoly(TMSP/PP), the oxygen permeability coefficient (P) decreased, while the separation factor (P/P) increased.