Donor-Acceptor Complexes in Copolymerization. XVIII. Alternating Diene–Dienophile Copolymers. 1. Conjugated Diene–Maleic Anhydride Copolymers through Radical-Catalyzed Polymerization

The copolymerization of isoprene, butadiene, and other conjugated dienes with maleic anhydride was readily initiated in polar solvents by conventional free radical catalysts, including peroxides, hydroperoxides, and azobisisobutyronitrile, at high concentrations or at temperatures at which the catalyst had a half-life of 1 hr or less and the total reaction time was 0.5-1 hr. Decreasing the reaction temperature or the rate of catalyst addition resulted in increased yields of Diels-Alder adduct and decreased yields of copolymer. The molecular weight decreased as the temperature increased. Dioxane and tetrahydrofuran peroxides, obtained by the passage of oxygen or UV irradiation in air, also initiated the copolymerization. The soluble diene-maleic anhydride copolymers were equimolar and alternating, had [n] 0.1-6 (cyclohexanone) and contained 75-95% 1,4 structure according to ozonolysis, titration with IC1 and NMR. The IR spectrum of the butadiene–maleic anhydride copolymer indicated 75-95% cis-1,4, 5-20% trans-1,4 and 0-5% 1,2-vinyl unsaturation. The proposed mechanism of polymerization involves a donor-acceptor (diene-dienophile) interaction generating a ground-state charge transfer complex which is readily converted to the cyclic adduct. Under the influence of radicals the ground-state complex is transformed into an excited complex which undergoes polymerization. High concentrations of radicals are necessary to generate polymerizable excited complexes in competition with adduct formation.     

Donor-Acceptor Complexes in Copolymerization. XXXV. Alternating Diene-Dienophile Copolymers. 3. Copolymerization of cis- and trans-1, 3-Pentadiene with Maleic Anhydride and Acrylonitrile… AlEt1.5CI1.5

Abstract

The copolymerization of the cis or trans isomers of 1,3-pentadiene with maleic anhydride in the presence of a peroxide catalyst yields identical equimolar, alternating copolymers in which the pentadiene units have a cis-1, 4 configuration (IR, NMR). The copolymerization of the cis or trans isomers of 1, 3-pentadiene with acrylonitrile in the presence of ethyl aluminum sesquichloride yields identical equimolar, alternating copolymers in which the pentadiene units have a trans-1,4 configuration (IR, NMR). Although the trans isomer forms cyclic adducts with both maleic anhydride and acrylonitrile, the cis isomer does not undergo the Diels-Alder reaction with these dienophlles. The formation of identical copolymers from cis- and trans-1, 3-pentadiene is attributed to isomerization of the diene-dienophile charge transfer complex in the excited state, resulting in the generation of the same homopolymerizable exciplex from both isomers.     

Poly-2,3- and 2,7-Bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-enes: Preparation and Structures of Polynorbornenes

The polymerization of norbornene in the presence of either radical catalysts having a short half-life at the polymerization temperature or ethylaluminum dichloride yields a saturated polymer having a rearranged structure with 2,7 linkages. Polymerization in the presence of either Pd(C₆H₅CN)₂Cl₂ or Ziegler-Natta catalysts containing TiCI₄ and A1R₃ or R₂ A1C1 yields a saturated polymer with 2,3 linkages.     

Oxidation of Poly(2,3-dimethylbutadiene-1,3)

Abstract

Poly(2,3-dimethylbutadiene-1,3) containing cis-1,4, trans-1,4, and 1,2 structural units in various proportions undergoes rapid oxidation even at room temperature. The process of oxidation is accompanied by cyclization. The concentration of peroxides that form at room temperature is relatively very high, reaching the value of one peroxidic group per 16 monomeric units. The formation of six-membered rings involving the peroxidic bonds in poly(2,3-dimethylbutadiene) is accompanied by degradation.