Ketones, polymerization

Before the mechanism of vinyl polymerization was understood, the question of the structure of vinyl polymers was of considerable interest. Staudinger had written these polymers as having a head-to-tail arrangement of recurring units, but he had not really furnished evidence of the structure. As Carothers once said, Staudinger had assigned the structure by pronouncement. He was as usual correct, and chemical evidence was developed to establish such structures. For example, when monovinyl methyl ketone polymerized, it could produce by head-to-head, tail-to-tail reaction a 1,4-diketone. By head-to-tail polymerization it would give a 1,5-diketone. These two types have different reactions. The study of the polymer proper showed that the polymer was a 1,5-diketone. In the case of polyvinyl chloride, a head-to-head, tail-to-tail polymerization would lead to a 1,2-dihalide compound, and a head-to-tail polymerization would lead to a 1,3-dihalide. 

Unlike the reactions described in the previous two sections, competition between insertion and j5-hydrogen transfer is usually not an issue here. Ketone polymerization is nearly thermoneutral and disfavoured by entropy. However, aldehyde insertion is thermodynamically more favourable, and the Tishchenko reaction mentioned in the previous section can plausibly be written as a sequence of insertions and j -hydrogen transfer reactions (Scheme 4). 

Other vinyl monomers, such as acrylonitrile, methacrylonitrile, tert.-butyl vinyl ketone and methyl isopropenyl ketone, polymerize at 203 K, i. e. most probably by non-radical mechanisms. Even here, conversion of monomer to polymer is not complete, and utilization of the initiator is low. Only the polymerization of acrylate momomers proceeds to full monomer consumption at low temperatures. Additional monomer, even when introduced after some delay, is also polymerized. This indicates that a part of the active centres remains living for some time. However, the number of high-molecular-weight chains is lower than the number of added initiator molecules. At the same time, initiation is very rapid [163]. 

Use Reducing agent for aldehydes and ketones, polymerization catalyst. 

Most of the common free-radical systems are effective in initiating vinyl ketone polymerization. Azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) is considered the best initiator for... 

Both UV- and y-irradiation have been applied successfully for the initiation of methyl isopropenyl ketone [349-351] and phenyl vinyl ketone polymerization [341]. Since polymerization initiated by y-irradiation was inhibited by chinone, a radical mechanism was proposed. 

However, a more thorough investi tion of the subject was subsequently able to show that methyl vinyl ketone polymerization vcqmgates also into ttie bulk of the solution with HO, H2SO4, HNO3 or their salts as electndytes, vidier it develops in situ, confined to the Fe sheet cathode surface, when HF or KF are utilized. 

Thirdly, a problem with all allylic peroxides, but particularly severe here, the product a,3-unsaturated aldehyde (or ketone) polymerizes, incorporating other interesting products as well as some undecomposed hydroperoxide. The polymerization of acrolein by itself is gloriously complicated, and the nonvolatile residue from thermal decomposition of allyl hydroperoxide in toluene has so far defied analysis. Since the polymer constitutes the major, if not the only, chain termination product, some knowledge of its structure is necessary in order to obtain a free radical count and determine the efficacy of reaction 15. 

Furfural—acetone resins have been used to form resin-aggregate mixtures referred to as organic concretes. Despite the reportedly excellent properties, there has been virtually no commercial use of such resins outside the former Soviet Union. The stmctures and polymerization mechanisms of these furfural—aldehyde—ketone polymers are discussed in a review (6). 

Many of these reactions are reversible, and for the stronger nucleophiles they usually proceed the fastest. Typical examples are the addition of ammonia, amines, phosphines, and bisulfite. Alkaline conditions permit the addition of mercaptans, sulfides, ketones, nitroalkanes, and alcohols to acrylamide. Good examples of alcohol reactions are those involving polymeric alcohols such as poly(vinyl alcohol), cellulose, and starch. The alkaline conditions employed with these reactions result in partial hydrolysis of the amide, yielding mixed carbamojdethyl and carboxyethyl products. 

Synthesis and Properties. Polyquinolines are formed by the step-growth polymerization of o-aminophenyl (aryl) ketone monomers and ketone monomers with alpha hydrogens (mosdy acetophenone derivatives). Both AA—BB and AB-type polyquinolines are known as well as a number of copolymers. Polyquinolines have often been prepared by the Friedlander reaction (88), which involves either an acid- or a base-catalyzed condensation of an (9-amino aromatic aldehyde or ketone with a ketomethylene compound, producing quinoline. Surveys of monomers and their syntheses and properties have beenpubhshed (89—91). 

The wide variety of ketomethylene and amino ketone monomers that could be synthesized, and the abiUty of the quinoline-forming reaction to generate high molar mass polymers under relatively mild conditions, allow the synthesis of a series of polyquinolines with a wide stmctural variety. Thus polyquinolines with a range of chain stiffness from a semirigid chain to rod-like macromolecules have been synthesized. Polyquinolines are most often prepared by solution polymerization of bis(i9-amino aryl ketone) and bis (ketomethylene) monomers, where R = H or C H, in y -cresol with di-y -cresyl phosphate at 135—140°C for a period of 24—48 h (92). 

Derivative Formation. Hydrogen peroxide is an important reagent in the manufacture of organic peroxides, including tert-huty hydroperoxide, benzoyl peroxide, peroxyacetic acid, esters such as tert-huty peroxyacetate, and ketone derivatives such as methyl ethyl ketone peroxide. These are used as polymerization catalysts, cross-linking agents, and oxidants (see Peroxides and peroxide compounds). 

Methyl Vinyl Ketone. Methyl vinyl ketone [78-94-4] (3-buten-2-one) is a colorless Hquid with a pungent odor. It is stable only below 0°C, and readily polymerizes on standing at room temperature. It can be inhibited for storage and transportation by a mixture of acetic or formic acid and hydroquinone or catechol (266). This ketone is completely soluble in water, and forms a binary azeotrope with water (85 MVK 15 H2O vol %) at 75.8°C. 

Methyl Isopropenyl Ketone. Methyl isopropenyl ketone [814-78-8] (3-methyl-3-buten-2-one) is a colorless, lachrymatory Hquid, which like methyl vinyl ketone readily polymerizes on exposure to heat and light. Methyl isopropenyl ketone is produced by the condensation of methyl ethyl ketone and formaldehyde over an acid cation-exchange resin at 130°C and 1.5 MPa (218 psi) (274). Other methods are possible (275—280). Methyl isopropenyl ketone can be used as a comonomer which promotes photochemical degradation in polymeric materials. It is commercially available in North America (281). 

Propiophenone. Propiophenone [93-55-0] (ethyl phenyl ketone) is a colorless Hquid with a flowery odor. It can be prepared by the Friedel-Crafts reaction of benzene and propionyl chloride in the presence of aluminum chloride (346), or by the catalytic reaction of benzoic acid and propionic acid in the presence of water (347). Propiophenone is commercially available (348), and is sold in Japan at 2700 Y/kg (349). It is used in the production of ephedrine, as a fragrance enhancer, and as a polymerization sensitizer. 

Polymeric OC-Oxygen-Substituted Peroxides. Polymeric peroxides (3) are formed from the following reactions ketone and aldehydes with hydrogen peroxide, ozonization of unsaturated compounds, and dehydration of a-hydroxyalkyl hydroperoxides consequendy, a variety of polymeric peroxides of this type exist. Polymeric peroxides are generally viscous Hquids or amorphous soHds, are difficult to characterize, and are prone to explosive decomp o sition. 

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