Living radical polymerizations with germanium, tin, and phosphorus catalysts--reversible chain transfer catalyzed polymerizations (RTCPs)

A novel class of living radical polymerizations with germanium, tin, and phosphorus catalysts were developed. The polymerizations are based on a new reversible activation mechanism, Reversible chain Transfer (RT) catalysis. Low-polydispersity (M(w)/M(n) approximately 1.1-1.3) polystyrene, poly(methyl methacrylate), poly(glycidyl methacrylate), and poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) with predicted molecular weight were obtained with fairly high conversion in a fairly short time. The pseudo-first-order activation rate constant kact for the styrene/GeI4 (catalyst) system was large enough, even with a small amount of GeI4, explaining why the system provides low-polydispersity polymers from an early stage of polymerization. The retardation in the polymerization rate observed for the styrene/GeI4 system was kinetically proven to be mainly due to the cross-termination between the propagating radical with GeI3*. Attractive features of the germanium, tin, and phosphorus catalysts include their high reactivity hence small amounts (1-10 mM) being required under relatively mild conditions (at 60-100 degrees C), high solubility in organic media without ligands, insensitivity to air hence sample preparation being allowed in the air, and minor color and smell. The germanium and phosphorus catalysts may also be attractive for their low toxicity. The phosphorus catalysts may also be attractive for their low cost.     

Novel formation of 1,2-dithiolane-3-thione from β-dithiolactone. Isolation of dithiolato-palladium and -platinum complexes

Sulfurization of β-dithiolactone (4) gave corresponding 1,2-dithiolane-3-thione (2a) via an ionic intermediate. Oxidation of β-dithiolactone 4 by m-CPBA afforded corresponding S-oxide (11), while dioxide (12) was obtained when 3 equiv of m-CPBA was used. Dithiolane-3-thione 2a reacted with ethylenebis(triphenylphosphine)platinum or tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium to afford the corresponding dithiolato-platinum (20) and dithiolato-palladium (21) complexes in good yields.     

Reaction of selenofenchone with propiolic acid: first instance of Wagner-Meerwein rearrangement in selone

The reaction of selenofenchone (3a) with propiolic acid in refluxing chloroform produced selenodioxenone (4) along with rearranged product (5b), while 5b was obtained in almost quantitative yield under solvent-free conditions. In the presence of Lewis acid, selenofenchone 3a reacted with methyl propiolate to afford corresponding rearranged adduct (7).     

On conformally flat Lorentz parabolic manifolds

We introduce conformally flat Fefferman-Lorentz manifold of parabolic type as a special class of Lorentz parabolic manifolds. It is a smooth (2n+2)-manifold locally modeled on (Û(n+1, 1), S ^2n+1,1). As the terminology suggests, when a Fefferman-Lorentz manifold M is conformally flat, M is a Fefferman-Lorentz manifold of parabolic type. We shall discuss which compact manifolds occur as a conformally flat Fefferman-Lorentz manifold of parabolic type.     

Controlled Polymerization of Protic Ionic Liquid Monomer by ARGET‐ATRP and TERP

The direct synthesis of structurally well‐defined protic polymeric ionic liquid (PIL) with controlled molecular weight and molecular weight distribution is examined using N,N‐diethyl‐N‐(2‐methacryloylethyl) ammonium bis(tri‐fluoromethylsulfonyl)imide (DEMH‐TFSI) as a monomer. Three polymerization methods, namely, atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP), activators regenerated by electron transfer (ARGET)‐ATRP, and organotellurium‐mediated living radical polymerization (TERP) are employed in this study. While the polymerization by ATRP is slow and does not reach high monomer conversion that under ARGET‐ATRP and TERP proceeds smoothly and affords structurally well‐defined poly(DEMH‐TFSI)s. TERP is especially efficient for the control and poly(DEMH‐TFSI)s with low to high molecular weights ( = 49 100–392 500) and narrow molecular weight distributions (/ = 1.17–1.46) are obtained. These results represent the first example of synthesis of a structurally well‐defined protic, ammonium PIL by direct polymerization of the protic ionic liquid monomer. The polymerization of N,N‐diethyl‐N‐(2‐methacryloylethyl)‐N‐methylammonium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide (DEMM‐TFSI), which possesses a quaternary ammonium salt, also proceeds in a highly controlled manner under TERP conditions. A diblock copolymer, polystyrene‐block‐poly(DEMH‐TFSI), is also successfully synthesized by TERP.

     

Cationic gel crystals of lightly cross-linked poly(2-vinylpyridine) spheres (170∼180 nm in diameter) in the deionized aqueous suspension

Colloidal crystallization of deionized suspensions of the cationic gel spheres of lightly cross-linked poly(2-vinylpyridine), AIBA-P2VP (170～180 nm in diameter) has been studied from the microscopic observation, morphology, phase diagram, and elastic property. Critical concentrations of melting that coexisted with ion-exchange resins were low compared with those without resins and decreased as the degree of cross-linking decreased. The density of a gel sphere in suspension state (ρ), i.e., weight percent of the gel spheres divided by the corresponding volume percent, was between 0.5 and 0.8, and decreased as the degree of cross-linking of the spheres decreased. The ρ values also decreased with decreasing size of gel spheres, which supports the small P2VP gel spheres being softer than the large ones. The closest intersphere distances of the crystals were much longer than the hydrodynamic diameters of the gel spheres especially at low sphere concentrations. Fluctuation parameters evaluated from the rigidities of the crystals of AIBA-P2VP (0.05～0.09) were similar to those of gel crystals of cationic gel spheres of lightly cross-linked poly(2-vinylpyridine) spheres coated with poly(ethylene glycol), 400 nm in diameter, and thermo-sensitive gel spheres of pNIPAm, poly(N-isopropylacrylamide), but larger than those of typical colloidal hard spheres. The stable crystal phase formed beyond the adsorbed monolayer of cationic gel spheres on the surface of the substrate. These experimental findings support important role of the extended electrical double layers around the cationic gel spheres in addition to the excluded volume effect of the sphere themselves on the crystallization.     

Drying dissipative structures of cationic gel spheres of lightly cross-linked poly(2-vinyl pyridine) (170 ∼ 180 nm in diameter) in the deionized aqueous suspension

Drying dissipative patterns of cationic gel crystals of lightly cross-linked poly(2-vinyl pyridine) spheres (AIBA-P2VP, 170?～?180 nm in diameter) were observed on a cover glass, a watch glass, and a Petri glass dish. Convectional patterns were recognized with the naked eyes. Two kinds of the broad rings were observed at the outside edge and inner region in the macroscopic drying pattern, and their size at the inner regions first decreased and then turned to increase as gel concentration decreased. Formation of the similar-sized aggregates, i.e., hierarchical aggregation and their ordered arrays were observed. This work supported strongly the formation of the microscopic drying structures of (a) ordered rings, (b) flickering ordered spoke-lines, (c) net structure, and (d) lattice-like ordered structures of the aggregated particles. The ordering of the similar-sized aggregates of the cationic gel spheres (AIBA-P2VP) in this work is similar to that of the large cationic gel spheres of poly(2-vinyl pyridine) (385?～?400 nm in diameter) and further to that of the anionic thermosensitive gel spheres of poly(N-isopropyl acrylamide). Role of the electrical double layers around the aggregates and their interaction with the substrates during dryness are important for the ordering. The microscopic drying patterns of gel spheres were different from those of linear-type polymers and also from typical colloidal hard spheres, though the macroscopic patterns such as broad ring formation were similar to each other.     

Chemical Modification of Dextran through Reaction with Biscyclopentadienyltitanium Dichloride and Dibutyltin Dichloride as a Function of the Reaction System

Abstract

Dextran was modified through condensation with biscyclopentadienyltitanium dichloride and dibutyltin dichloride by employing a number of solution and interfacial condensation systems. The modified dextran is rapidly synthesized (within 30 s) in good yield with moderate to high degrees of substitution. The products are complex with chains composed of a variety of substituted and un-substituted glycopyranose units.     

The Velocity Constants of Free Ions and Ion Pairs. II

The distribution of the intercharge distance of ion pairs was derived from a solvated ion pair model. The calculation was applied to a fluorenylsodium-tetrahydrofuran system, and the equilibrium constants for the equilibria, contact ion pairs ? solvent separated ion pairs ? free ions, were calculated. Furthermore, the enthalpy and entropy changes for the equilibria were derived. Agreement with experimental data was satisfactory.