Isotactic structures chain conformation

Molecular mechanics techniques are employed to calculate the molecular structure and conformational energies of model compounds for polyphenylmethylsllylene and polysilastyrene. In both isotactic and syndiotactic stereochemical forms. The structural and conformational energy data provided are used to calculate, by application of the RIS theory, the unperturbed chain dimensions, given as the characteristic ratio, and its temperature coefficient. 

In spite of the similarity of the structure of the monomer units the two corresponding isotactic polymers crystallize in two different chain conformations tiie helix of poly-3-methyl-l-butene contains four monomer units per turn (4/1) with a chain repeat of 6.85 A the helix of poly-4-methyl-l-pentene contains 3.5 units per turn (7/2) and has a repeat of 13.85 A. The copolymers tend to crystallize. Their chain conformation and cross sectional area in the crystal lattice are analogous to those of the homopolymer corresponding to the predominant comonomer. For 4-methyl-l-pentene contents higher than 50% some evidence exists that the system simultaneously contains both chain conformations. 

Rather recently, we have studied the solid-state structure of various polymers, such as polyethylene crystallized under different conditions [17-21], poly (tetramethylene oxide) [22], polyvinyl alcohol [23], isotactic and syndiotactic polypropylene [24,25],cellulose [26-30],and amylose [31] with solid-state high-resolution X3C NMR with supplementary use of other methods, such as X-ray diffraction and IR spectroscopy. Through these studies, the high resolution solid-state X3C NMR has proved very powerful for elucidating the solid-state structure of polymers in order of molecules, that is, in terms of molecular chain conformation and dynamics, not only on the crystalline component but also on the noncrystalline components via the chemical shift and magnetic relaxation. In this chapter we will review briefly these studies, focusing particular attention on the molecular chain conformation and dynamics in the crystalline-amorphous interfacial region. 

In this section we will discuss the molecular structure of this polymer based on our results mainly from the solid-state 13C NMR, paying particular attention to the phase structure [24]. This polymer has somewhat different character when compared to the crystalline polymers such as polyethylene and poly(tetrameth-ylene) oxide discussed previously. Isotactic polypropylene has a helical molecular chain conformation as the most stable conformation and its amorphous component is in a glassy state at room temperature, while the most stable molecular chain conformation of the polymers examined in the previous sections is planar zig-zag form and their amorphous phase is in the rubbery state at room temperature. This difference will reflect on their phase structure. 

Abstract Stereocomplexes have been formed by mixing the two isotactic poly(a-methyl-a-cthyl-p-propriolactones) (PMEPL) of opposite chirality. This leads to an insoluble complex exhibiting a melting transition which is 40 C above that of the initial isotactic components. Structural differences between these samples have been determined by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and electron diffraction. It was found by NMR that the stereocomplex crystallizes in a 2 helical conformation whereas the corresponding isotactic chains exhibit a helical or extended chain conformation depending upon the method of sample preparation. Electron diffraction confirms these measurements with the determination of a,b and c dimensions of the orthorombic unit cells. 

Fig. 2 (A) Chain conformation of isotactic polypropylene in the crystalline state. Symbols R and L identify right- and left-handed helices, respectively, in 3/1 conformations. Subscripts up and dw ( dw standing for down ) identify chains with opposite orientation of C - C bonds connecting tertiary carbon atoms to the methyl groups along the z-axis (B) Limit-ordered model structure (a2 modification, space group P2 /c) [113] (C) Limit-disordered model structure (otl modification, space group Cl/c) [114]. In the a2 modification up and down chains follow each other according to a well-defined pattern. The al modification presents a complete disorder correspon ng to a statistical substitution of up and down isomorphic helices...

Several works have shown that the aggregation of isotactic and syndiotactic chains leads to the formation of stereoeomplexes for which the iso/syndio stoichiometry is found equal to 1/2, probably with a structure composed of a double-stranded helix of a 30/4 helicoidal isotactic chain surroxmded by a 60/4 helicoidal syndiotactic chain. Syndiotactic PMMA self-aggregates exhibit similar structures, with conformations close to extended chains. Experimental data indicate that, in self-aggregated syndiotactic PMMA in solution, some of the ester groups are close in contact, probably in a double helix slructure with solvent molecules included in the cavities of inner- and inter-helices. Isotactic PMMA self-aggregates also exhibit conformational helix structures. 

Whereas most of the early work on crystallization, etc., were concerned with predominantly isotactic chains, the recent developments in synthetic methodologies have enabled the preparation of highly syndiotactic polymers [13,14]. Since the high stereoregularity of these syndiotactic polymers facilitates their crystallization, several papers have been published on the x-ray crystal structure and polymorphism of syndiotactic polystyrene [15-18]. The chain conformation in the crystalline state has also been analyzed using NMR [19]. Similarly, the crystal structure of syndiotactic polypropylene has also been studied by a number of authors [20-22]. 

In the conformational analysis, we assumed that the main chain conformation of sample polymers in the glassy state maintains locally their crystalline structure. Since the crystal structure is 3/1 helix for both isotactic MA (24) and isotactic tBA (25), the local conformation was taken to be 3/1 helix for the isotactic sequence in both polymers, though the present samples are both atactic. Furthermore, we assumed to be planer zig-zag for the syndio-tactic sequence. 

Figure 3.1 The 25-MHz spectra of three preparations of polypropylene isotactic, atactic, and syndiotactic. (From Bovey, F.A., Chain Structure and Conformation (f Macromolecules, Academic Press, New York, 1982. With permission.)...

The considerations discussed in detail in connection with the chemical, configurational, and conformational structure of polypropylene apply similarly to poly-1-butene and the higher poly-1-olefins. Also with poly-1-butene, the preferred backbone conformation is tgtg for the isotactic chain [37]. The various crystalline modifications correspond to greater or lesser deviations from these ideal chain conformations, coupled with variations in chain packing in the crystal lattice. 

The configurational structure (stereoregularity) of 1-butene and of the higher polyolefins up to 1-nonene has been studied by NMR spectroscopy in solution [38, 39], interpreted with the aid of chemical shift calculations, consideration of the y effect and of the rotational isomeric state model of Flory. The evaluation of the results favors the bicatalytic sites model of polymerization [40] over simple Markovian statistics. In contrast to polypropylene, side-chain conformation also has to be considered. Comparison with alkane model compounds indicates that in meso-units of poly-1-butene, trans conformation of backbone is less favored than in isotactic polypropylene because of contiguous ethyl group interactions. Introduction of racemic units in both... 

While the exact solution of the chain structure of polystyrene in the crystalline gels would require more accurate energy minimizations in respect to all the internal coordinates (f.i. preliminary calculation show that the benzene rings are better energetically when not exactly staggered) and a comparison of calculated and observed X-ray data, the discussion above shows that a very elongated chain conformation can be built up for isotactic polystyrene. 

Epitaxy of Isotactic Poly (1-butene) Isotactic poly(1-butene) (iPBul) is an archetypical polymorphic polymer with three different structures that differ by the chain conformation, and thus by the unit-cell geometry and symmetry (cf Chapter 2).The three crystal phases could be obtained by epitaxial crystallization on appropriate substrates [48-50]. Most interesting among them are the epitaxy of Form I (trigonal unit cell, threefold helical conformation, racemic phase) and that of Form III (orthorhombic unit cell, fourfold helical geometry, chiral crystal phase). 

The majority of research concerned with the relationship between physical structure and mechanical properties of fibres is concerned with the Young s modulus. Theoretical calculations showed that at absolute zero the modulus of polyethylene crystals in the chain direction is between 260 and 320 GPa the value obtained by X-ray measurements assuming homogeneous stress was 240 GPa. The moduli in other directions obtained both by calculation and by the X-ray method are considerably lower. The moduli in the chain direction for other polymers, with essentially extended-chain conformations, are somewhat lower e.g. 110GPa for PET ). For polymer crystals with helical chain conformations, the chain modulus is further reduced e.g. 42 GPa for isotactic polypropyleneThe average transverse moduli obtained by various experimental methods are typically between 2 and 4GPa. ... 

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