Butadiene stereo 1,4-addition polymerization

A useful group of rubbers are the stereo specific poly(butadiene) rubbers formed by the polymerization of 1,3-butadiene. These rubbers have a ris-isomer content of more than 30%. They contain at least about 85% of poly(butadiene) formed by 1,4 addition. Further, the rubber should have a second order transition temperature of preferably not higher than -20°C (8). 

When butadiene and 2,3-dimethylbutadiene are included in the channels of urea and thiourea, respectively, 1,4 addition invariably results to yield polymers with chemical and stereo regularities (Scheme 39). Note that addition in the 1,2 fashion is prevented sterically by the narrow channel. Similarly, high selectivity was obtained when butadiene, vinyl chloride, and styrenes were polymerized in the channels of cyclophosphazenes. Syndiotac-tic polymer alone is obtained from vinyl chloride included in urea channels this is apparently the first example of inclusion polymerization of a vinyl polymer in which control is exerted over the steric configuration of the developing tetrahedral carbon atom (Scheme 39). Highly isotactic polymer is obtained from 1,3-pentadiene when it is included in a perhydrotriphenylene matrix (Scheme 39). Note that addition could occur at either end (i.e., Q to... 

SOLUTION POLYMERIZATION Solution SBR typically made in hydrocarbon solution with alkyl lithium-based inihator. In this stereo-specific catalyst system, in principle, every polymer molecule remains live until a deactivator or some other agent capable of reacting with the anion intervenes. Able to control molecular weight, molecular weight distribution, and branching. Able to make random and block copolymers with designed chain sequence. Able to make copolymer with controlled styrene content. Able to control the butadiene structure of vinyl/ ds/ trans. Higher purity due to no addition of soap. 

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