Catalyzed polymerization

The key initiation step in cationic polymerization of alkenes is the formation of a carbocationic intermediate, which can then interact with excess monomer to start propagation. We studied in some detail the initiation of cationic polymerization under superacidic, stable ion conditions. Carbocations also play a key role, as I found not only in the acid-catalyzed polymerization of alkenes but also in the polycondensation of arenes as well as in the ring opening polymerization of cyclic ethers, sulfides, and nitrogen compounds. Superacidic oxidative condensation of alkanes can even be achieved, including that of methane, as can the co-condensation of alkanes and alkenes. 

At present it is not possible to determine which of these mechanisms or their variations most accurately represents the behavior of Ziegler-Natta catalysts. In view of the number of variables in these catalyzed polymerizations, both mechanisms may be valid, each for different specific systems. In the following example the termination step of coordination polymerizations is considered. 

The radical-catalyzed polymerization of furan and maleic anhydride has been reported to yield a 1 1 furan-maleic anhydride copolymer (89,91). The stmcture of the equimolar product, as shown by nmr analyses, is that of an unsaturated alternating copolymer (18) arising through homopolymerization of the intermediate excited donor—acceptor complex (91,92). 

Acrolein produced in the United States is stabilized against free-radical polymerization by 1000—2500 ppm of hydroquinone and is protected somewhat against base-catalyzed polymerization by about 100 ppm of acetic acid. To ensure stabiUty, the pH of a 10% v/v solution of acrolein in water should be below 6. 

Since the principal hazard of contamination of acrolein is base-catalyzed polymerization, a "buffer" solution to shortstop such a polymerization is often employed for emergency addition to a reacting tank. A typical composition of this solution is 78% acetic acid, 15% water, and 7% hydroquinone. The acetic acid is the primary active ingredient. Water is added to depress the freezing point and to increase the solubiUty of hydroquinone. Hydroquinone (HQ) prevents free-radical polymerization. Such polymerization is not expected to be a safety hazard, but there is no reason to exclude HQ from the formulation. Sodium acetate may be included as well to stop polymerization by very strong acids. There is, however, a temperature rise when it is added to acrolein due to catalysis of the acetic acid-acrolein addition reaction. 

Terpene Copolymers. Terpenes are routinely polymerized with other terpenes or with nonterpene-type monomers (97—102). The AlCl catalyzed polymerization of P-pinene, dipentene, and terpene oligomers (oily dimers and trimers) has been found to yield resins with softening points ranging from 0—40°C (103). 

Ring-Opening Polymerization. As with most other inorganic polymers, ring-opening polymerization of cyclotetrasilanes has been used to make polysilanes (109,110). This method, however, has so far only been used for polymethylphenylsilane (eq. 12). Molecular weights (up to 100,000) are higher than from transition-metal catalyzed polymerization of primary silanes. 

Pyrrole is a colorless, slightly hygroscopic Hquid which, if fresh, emits an odor like that of chloroform. However, it darkens on exposure to air and eventually produces a dark brown resin. It can be preserved by excluding air from the storage container, preferably by displacement with ammonia to prevent acid-catalyzed polymerization. A review of the physical and theoretical aspects of pyrrole is found in Reference 4. Some physical properties of pyrrole are Hsted in Table 1. 

This conceptual link extends to surfaces that are not so obviously similar in stmcture to molecular species. For example, the early Ziegler catalysts for polymerization of propylene were a-TiCl. Today, supported Ti complexes are used instead (26,57). These catalysts are selective for stereospecific polymerization, giving high yields of isotactic polypropylene from propylene. The catalytic sites are beheved to be located at the edges of TiCl crystals. The surface stmctures have been inferred to incorporate anion vacancies that is, sites where CL ions are not present and where TL" ions are exposed (66). These cations exist in octahedral surroundings, The polymerization has been explained by a mechanism whereby the growing polymer chain and an adsorbed propylene bonded cis to it on the surface undergo an insertion reaction (67). In this respect, there is no essential difference between the explanation of the surface catalyzed polymerization and that catalyzed in solution. 

These polymers differ from those prepared in the traditional two-step routes in that there is a direct carbon—phosphoms bond instead of a potentially weaker O, N, or S linkage to phosphoms. A related approach has been discovered using a catalyzed polymerization of... 

The Ekestone group also polymerized 1,3-butadiene to give an extremely high mol wt polybutadiene of 70% cis-1 4 stmcture. In thek research, they purposefully avoided the preparation of vinyl stmctures in both polyisoprene and polybutadiene since it was beheved that vinyl groups adversely affected tke performance. Since natural mbber was 99.9% cis-1 4 stmcture and had superior properties, they beheved that a 1,4 stmcture was necessary for acceptable physical properties. The addition of polar compounds to the hthium-catalyzed polymerization of butadiene changes the microstmcture from the 90% tij -l,4 stmcture to a mixed cis-1 4 and trans-1 4 microstmcture. 

Polymers with much higher average molecular weights, from 90,000 to 4 x 10 , are formed by a process of coordinate anionic polymerization (43—45). The patent Hterature describes numerous organometaUic compounds, aLkaline-earth compounds, and mixtures as polymerization catalysts. Iron oxides that accumulate in ethylene oxide storage vessels also catalyze polymerization. This leads to the formation of nonvolatile residue (NVR) no inhibitor has been found (46). 

Indole undergoes add-catalyzed dimerization the 3H-indoIium ion acts as an electrophile and attacks an unprotonated molecule to give the dimer (46). Protonation of the dimer in turn gives an electrophilic species from which a trimeric product can be derived (77CPB3122). Af-Methylisoindole undergoes acid-catalyzed polymerization, indicating that protonation at C-1 gives a reactive electrophilic intermediate. 

Indole can be nitrated with benzoyl nitrate at low temperatures to give 3-nitroindole. More vigorous conditions can be used for the nitration of 2-methylindole because of its resistance to acid-catalyzed polymerization. In nitric acid alone it is converted into the 3-nitro derivative, but in a mixture of concentrated nitric and sulfuric acids 2-methyl-5-nitroindole (47) is formed. In sulfuric acid, 2-methylindole is completely protonated. Thus it is probable that it is the conjugate acid which is undergoing nitration. 3,3-Dialkyl-3H-indolium salts similarly nitrate at the 5-position. The para directing ability of the immonium group in a benzenoid context is illustrated by the para nitration of the conjugate acid of benzylideneaniline (48). 

In some cases, it may be desirable to specify an all stainless steel arrester to avoid contamination of the stored liqnid by mst or other particles from the honsing. Note that certain metals may catalyze polymerization of vapors in gas streams containing monomers, which will then be deposited on the flame arrester elements and hasten blockage. Also note that mst may be transported to the flame arrester from npstream sonrces. 

The Acid-Catalyzed Polymerization of Pyrroles and Indoles G. F. Smith... 

Reviews dealing with a specific reaction or property from the heterocyclic point of view have been rarer—tautomerism (continued from Volume 1), free radical substitution, metal catalysts and pyri-dines, acid-catalyzed polymerization of pyrroles, and diazomethane reactions have been covered in this volume. 

DFT molecular dynamics simulations were used to investigate the kinetics of the chemical reactions that occur during the induction phase of acid-catalyzed polymerization of 205 [97JA7218]. These calculations support the experimental finding that the induction phase is characterized by the protolysis of 205 followed by a rapid decomposition into two formaldehyde molecules plus a methylenic carbocation (Scheme 135). For the second phase of the polymerization process, a reaction of the protonated 1,3,5-trioxane 208 with formaldehyde yielding 1,3,5,7-tetroxane 209 is discussed (Scheme 136). 

The use of catalysts for a Diels-Alder reaction is often not necessary, since in many cases the product is obtained in high yield in a reasonable reaction time. In order to increase the regioselectivity and stereoselectivity (e.g. to obtain a particular endo- or exo-product), Lewis acids as catalysts (e.g. TiCU, AICI3, BF3-etherate) have been successfully employed." The usefulness of strong Lewis acids as catalysts may however be limited, because they may also catalyze polymerization reactions of the reactants. Chiral Lewis acid catalysts are used for catalytic enantioselective Diels-Alder reactions. ... 

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