Coordinate anionic polymerization Copolymerization

Recent investigations [259] have indicated that the polymerization is not conventional free radical in character but is likely to be coordinated anionic. In support of this view are the reactivity ratio coefficients in copolymerization of vinyl chloride with vinyl acetate and methyl methacrylate, which are different from those found with free radical initiators. 

Oxetanes, 4-membered cyclic ethers, polymerize exclusively by cationic mechanism 1 3), although coordinative anionic homopolymerization and copolymerization with C02 was claimed 4 5) for the unsubstituted oxetane. 

Another example of ionic graft copolymerization is a reaction carried out on pendant olefinic groups using Ziegler-Natta catalysts in a coordinated anionic-type polymerization. The procedure consists of two steps. In the first, diethylaluminum hydride is added across the double bonds. In the second the product is treated with a transition metal halide. This yields an active catalyst for polymerizations of a-olefms. By this method polyethylene and polypropylene can be grafted to butadiene styrene copolymers. Propylene monomer polymerization results in formations of isotactic polymeric branches ... 

Bochmann and coworkers [77] carried out polymerizations of isobutylene and copolymerizations with isoprene using cationic zirconocene hydride complexes. The combination of [CpaZrH] with various trityl salts of weakly coordinating anions gives binuclear cationic hydrides [Cp 4Zr2H (p,-H)2] X which are powerful initiators for the polymerization of isobutene and its copolymerization with isoprene. The temperature dependence of M is indicative of a cationic mechanism. The highest molecular weights are obtained only under scmpulously dry conditions. 

In the present case, no matter what kind of catalytic system was chosen, the butadiene content in the copolymer is always greater than that in the feed. Values of the reactivity ratios (and their product) found with different catalysts are listed in table 20. Generally, if the reactivity ratio of Bd is greater than that of isoprene, the copolymerization process is assumed to be by a coordination anionic mechanism. Thus, rare earth coordination catalysts again exhibit a coordination-anionic mechanism in the polymerization of diene. 

Currently, more SBR is produced by copolymerizing the two monomers with anionic or coordination catalysts. The formed copolymer has better mechanical properties and a narrower molecular weight distribution. A random copolymer with ordered sequence can also be made in solution using butyllithium, provided that the two monomers are charged slowly. Block copolymers of butadiene and styrene may be produced in solution using coordination or anionic catalysts. Butadiene polymerizes first until it is consumed, then styrene starts to polymerize. SBR produced by coordinaton catalysts has better tensile strength than that produced by free radical initiators. 

One of the major advantages of radical polymerization over most other forms of polymerization, (anionic, cationic, coordination) is that statistical copolymers can be prepared from a very wide range of monomer types that can contain various unprotected functionalities. Radical copolymerization and the factors that influence copolymer structure have been discussed in Chapter 7. Copolymerization of macromonomers by NMP, ATRP and RAFT is discussed in Section 9.10.1. 

A macromonomer is a macromolecule with a reactive end group that can be homopolymerized or copolymerized with a small monomer by cationic, anionic, free-radical, or coordination polymerization (macromonomers for step-growth polymerization will not be considered here). The resulting species may be a star-like polymer (homopolymerization of the macromonomer), a comblike polymer (copolymerization with the same monomer), or a graft polymer (copolymerization with a different monomer) in which the branches are the macromonomer chains. 

Copolymerization of styrene with diolefins provides further support that monomer coordinates with the cationic site prior to addition. Korotkov (218) showed that in homopolymerizations styrene is more reactive than butadiene, but in copolymerization the butadiene reacted first at its homopolymerization rate and when it was exhausted the styrene reacted at its homopolymerization rate. This interesting result has been duplicated by Kuntz (245) and analogous results have been obtained by Spirin and coworkers (237) for the styrene-isoprene system. Presumably, the diene complexes more strongly than styrene with the lithium and excludes styrene from the site. That the complex occurs at a cationic site, rather than at the anion or the metal-carbon bond, is indicated by the fact that dienes form more stable complexes than styrene with Lewis acids (246). It should be emphasized that selective monomer coordination is not the only factor influencing reactivities in copolymerizations. Of greatest importance are the relative reactivities of the different polymer anions. The more resonance-stabilized anion is more readily formed and is less reactive for polymerizing the co-monomer. 

Most data were obtained from copolymerization studies. The copolymerization parameter r (see Chap. 5, Sect. 5.2) is the rate constant ratio for the addition of two different monomers to the same active centre. The inverse values of r j determined for the copolymerization of a series of monomers with the monomer M, define the relative reactivities of these monomers with the active centre from the first monomer, M°,. Thus it is possible to order monomers according to their reactivities in radical, anionic, cationic and coordination polymerizations from the tabulated values of copolymerization parameters [101-103]. 

The radical model cannot be applied for ionic and coordination polymerizations. With a few exceptions, termination by mutual combination of active centres does not occur. The only possibility is to measure the rate of each copolymerization independently. The situation can be greatly simplified for copolymerizations in living systems. The constants ku and k22 can usually be measured easily in homopolymerizations. Also, the coaddition constants fc12 or k2] are often directly accessible when the M] and M2 active centres can be differentiated spectroscopically or when the rate of monomer M2 (M[) consumption at M] M 2 centres can be measured. Ionic equibria, association, polarity of medium and solvation must be respected, even when their quantitative effect is not known exactly. The unusual situations confronting macromolecular chemistry will be demonstrated by the example of the anionic copolymerization of styrene with butadiene initiated by lithium alkyls in hydrocarbon medium. 

Kinetic aspects of step-growth copolymerization have been examined in Section 10.2.2. The principal features of chain-growth copolymerization are very different, but are alike for all types of chain growth, that is, for free-radical, anionic, cationic, and coordination polymerization. 

Compilations of reactivity ratios for various pairs of monomers in radical polymerization have been provided by Eastmond [131] and Odian [132], The reactivity ratios for pairs of given monomers can be very different for the different types of chain-growth copolymerization radical, anionic, cationic, and coordination copolymerization. Although the copolymer equation is valid for each of them, the copolymer composition can depend strongly on the mode of initiation (see Figure 11.8). 

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