Anionic polymerization initiation processes

Apart from the relevance to the radiation-induced polymerizations, the pulse radiolysis of the solutions of styrene and a-methylstyrene in MTHF or tetrahy-drofuran (THF) has provided useful information about anionic polymerization in general [33]. Anionic polymerizations initiated by alkali-metal reduction or electron transfer reactions involve the initial formation of radical anions followed by their dimerization, giving rise to two centers for chain growth by monomer addition [34]. In the pulse radiolysis of styrene or a-methylstyrene (MS), however, the rapid recombination reaction of the anion with a counterion necessarily formed during the radiolysis makes it difficult to observe the dimerization process directly. Langan et al. used the solutions containing either sodium or lithium tetrahydridoaluminiumate (NAH or LAH) in which the anions formed stable ion-pairs with the alkali-metal cations whereby the radical anions produced by pulse radiolysis could be prevented from rapid recombination reaction [33],... 

Effect of Solvents and Reaction Conditions Synthesis Capabilities Block Copolymers Functional End-Group Polymers Initiation Processes in Anionic Polymerization Initiation by Electron Transfer Initiation by Nucleophilic Attack Mechanism and Kinetics of Homogeneous Anionic Polymerization Polar Media Nonpolar Media... 

More recently, the details of an unconventional approach for the polymerization of n-butylcyanoacrylate were reported [102]. Initially, an inverse miniemulsion was formed with aqueous nanodroplets, after which the monomer was solubilized in the continuous phase and polymerized at the interface of the aqueous droplets, as the OH served as a nucleophile for the anionic polymerization. This process was used successfully to encapsulate DNA, with an encapsulation efficiency of almost 100%. The method was particularly interesting as it allowed the encapsulation of hydrophilic substances in the polymer nanocapsules which, after their formation, could be transferred to an aqueous continuous phase. 

When EWGs such as cyano (-CN) are attached to the carbon-carbon double bond (e.g.,cyanoethene [acrylonitrile, CH2=CH-C=N]) anionic polymerization, initiated by, for example, sodium amide (NaNH2) or butyllithium (CH3CH2CH2CH2Li), can be effected. This polyacrylonitrile (now better made by radical processes, vide infra) has been used to make fibers, and materials prepared from them are sold under the trade name Orlon. ... 

The mechanism of the anionic polymerization of styrenes and 1,3-dienes initiated by alkaU metals has been described in detail (3,20) as shown in equations 3—5 where Mt represents an alkaU metal and M is a monomer molecule. Initiation is a heterogeneous process occurring on the metal surface. The... 

A discussion of this polymerization method would not be complete without mention of the development of specialized glassware utilized over the years. It has evolved from very elaborate, sophisticated, and specially designed glassware to fairly simple setups. Initially, elaborate break-seal technology was used to complete the entire polymerization process,143 similar to anionic polymerization methodology.17 Break-seal techniques were employed to fully understand many monomer structure-reactivity relationships these techniques are no longer needed. 

The difficulties encountered in the early studies of anionic polymerization of methyl methacrylate arose from the unfortunate choice of experimental conditions the use of hydrocarbon solvents and of lithium alkyl initiators. The latter are strong bases. Even at —60 °C they not only initiate the conventional vinyl poly-addition, but attack also the ester group of the monomer yielding a vinyl ketone1, a very reactive monomer, and alkoxide 23). Such a process is described by the scheme. 

It is necessary, however, to critically examine the possibilities of anionic polymerizations to give well defined polymers. We shall consider the monomers suited for such processes, the initiator efficiency and the solvents used. 

The term catalyst is often misused in anionic polymerization. These mechanisms require the use of initiators that differ from catalysts in that they are not regenerated at the end of the reaction. The similarity between initiators and catalysts is that they both create a situation that permits polymerization via a reduction in the activation energy of the process. 

First, we examined the efficiency of the initiation process. A solution of buthyllithium was added to a THF solution of 7 at -70°C. The color of the solution turned to red immediately and a strong ESR signal was observed with a well separated hyperfme structure. The observed radical species was identified as the anion radical of 2-butyl-l,l,2,2-tetramethyldisilanyl-substituted biphenyl by computational simulation as well as by comparison with the spectra of a model compound. The anion radical should be a product of a single electron transfer (SET) process from buthyllithium to the monomer. Since no polymeric product was obtained under the above-mentioned conditions, the SET process is an undesired side reaction of the initiation and one of the reasons why more higher molecular weight polymer was observed than expected. ... 

The most studied catalyst family of this type are lithium alkyls. With relatively non-bulky substituents, for example nBuLi, the polymerization of MMA is complicated by side reactions.4 0 These may be suppressed if bulkier initiators such as 1,1-diphenylhexyllithium are used,431 especially at low temperature (typically —78 °C), allowing the synthesis of block copolymers.432,433 The addition of bulky lithium alkoxides to alkyllithium initiators also retards the rate of intramolecular cyclization, thus allowing the polymerization temperature to be raised.427 LiCl has been used to similar effect, allowing monodisperse PMMA (Mw/Mn = 1.2) to be prepared at —20 °C.434 Sterically hindered lithium aluminum alkyls have been used at ambient (or higher) temperature to polymerize MMA in a controlled way.435 This process has been termed screened anionic polymerization since the bulky alkyl substituents screen the propagating terminus from side reactions. 

These examples demonstrate the well-known process of polymerization initiated by anion-radicals. Our next consideration is devoted to an unusual case of initiation. Intercalation of fullerenes by metals results in the formation of fullerene-metal derivatives. Paramagnetic metallofullerenes (anion-radicals) are the fullerenes doped with endohedral metal. According to calculations and structural studies, LaCs2, for example, contains La in the center of one hexagonal ring of the fuller-ene cage (Akasaka et al. 2000, Nishibori et al. 2000, Nomura et al. 1995). Intrafullerene electron transfer in metallofullerenes is possible (Okazaki et al. 2001). 

Alkene polymers such as poly(methyl methacrylate) and polyacrylonitrile are easily formed via anionic polymerization because the intermediate anions are resonance stabilized by the additional functional group, the ester or the nitrile. The process is initiated by a suitable anionic species, a nucleophile that can add to the monomer through conjugate addition in Michael fashion. The intermediate resonance-stabilized addition anion can then act as a nucleophile in further conjugate addition processes, eventually giving a polymer. The process will terminate by proton abstraction, probably from solvent. 

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