L Isoprene

From the intercepts of the lines, values of <1>DF(/<1>DF at l/[isoprene] = 0 were obtained. Thus, the portion of the quantum efficiency for the photodimerization, which resulted only from the singlet state, was estimated (Table 14). The photodimerization from the singlet state was found to be a minor reaction in DMSO solution. In DMSO-EG, however, about half of the efficiency for the photodimerization was derived from the singlet state. 

From the intercepts of the lines, values of at l/[isoprene] = 0 were ob-... 

When Szwarc et al. discovered [15,16], or rediscovered [17,18], the anionic living polymerization, a completely different preparation of these elastomers was proposed the study of TPEs passed from infancy to maturity. These authors used sodium metal naphthalene diinitiators to prepare poly (styrene-l>-isoprene-6-styrene), which was probably the first TPE with a perfectly defined structure. However, this copolymer could not be commercialized, as most of the poly-isoprene units were -3,4-, with poor elastomeric properties. It is only when the polymerization was initiated by alkyllithium that poly(styrene-l>-isoprene- -styrene) and poly (styrene-butadiene- -styrene) were obtained with the classical TPE properties very high tensile strength and elongation at break, very rapid elastic recovery, and no chemical crosslinking. Bailey et al [19] announced the existence of these materials in 1966 and Holden et al [20] published the corresponding theory in 1967 and extended it to other block copolymers. 

The term vitamin K2 was applied to 2-methyl-3-difarnesyl-l,4-naphthoquinone, m.p. 54 C, isolated from putrefied fish meal. It now includes a group of related natural compounds ( menaquinones ), differing in the number of isoprene units in the side chain and in their degree of unsaturation. These quinones also appear to be involved in the electron transport chain and oxidative phosphorylation. 

The reaction of isoprene with MeOH catalyzed by Pd(acac)2 and Ph3P is not regioselective, giving a mixture of isomers[37]. However, l-methoxy-2,6-dimethyl-2,7-octadiene (35), the head-to-tail dimer, was obtained in 80% yield, accompanied by the tail-to-tail dimer (15%) using 7r-allylpalladium chloride and BU3P. On heating, 35 was converted into 2.6-dimethyl-1,3,7-octatriene (36) by an elimination reaction[38]. 

Gutta percha is a natural polymer of isoprene (3-methyl-l,3-butadiene) in which the configuration around each double bond is trans. It is hard and horny and has the following formula ... 

Figure 4.2 Melting temperature of crystals versus temperature of crystallization for poly( 1,4-cis-isoprene). Note the temperature range over which melting occurs. [Reprinted with permission from L. A. Wood and N. Bekkedahl, J. Appl. Phys. 17 362 (1946).]...

Poly(l, 4-cis-isoprene). Although AHf j is slightly higher than that of polyethylene, it is still completely reasonable for a hydrocarbon. The... 

A commercial process based on the Prins reaction is the synthesis of isoprene from isobutylene and formaldehyde through the intermediacy of 4,4-dimethyl-l,3-dioxane (49—51) ... 

Aliphatic C-5—C-6. Aliphatic feedstreams are typically composed of C-5 and C-6 paraffins, olefins, and diolefins, the main reactive components being piperylenes cis-[1574-41 -0] and /n j -l,3-pentadiene [2004-70-8f). Other main compounds iaclude substituted C-5 and C-6 olefins such as cyclopentene [142-29-OJ, 2-methyl-2-butene [513-35-9] and 2-methyl-2-pentene [625-27-4J. Isoprene and cyclopentadiene maybe present ia small to moderate quaatities (2—10%). Most steam cracking operatioas are desigaed to remove and purify isoprene from the C-5—C-6 fraction for applications ia mbbers and thermoplastic elastomers. Cyclopentadiene is typically dimerized to dicyclopentadiene (DCPD) and removed from C-5 olefin—diolefin feedstreams duriag fractionation (19). 

The use of alkaU metals for anionic polymerization of diene monomers is primarily of historical interest. A patent disclosure issued in 1911 (16) detailed the use of metallic sodium to polymerize isoprene and other dienes. Independentiy and simultaneously, the use of sodium metal to polymerize butadiene, isoprene, and 2,3-dimethyl-l,3-butadiene was described (17). Interest in alkaU metal-initiated polymerization of 1,3-dienes culminated in the discovery (18) at Firestone Tire and Rubber Co. that polymerization of neat isoprene with lithium dispersion produced high i7j -l,4-polyisoprene, similar in stmcture and properties to Hevea natural mbber (see ELASTOLffiRS,SYNTHETic-POLYisoPRENE Rubber, natural). 

From the time that isoprene was isolated from the pyrolysis products of natural mbber (1), scientific researchers have been attempting to reverse the process. In 1879, Bouchardat prepared a synthetic mbbery product by treating isoprene with hydrochloric acid (2). It was not until 1954—1955 that methods were found to prepare a high i i -polyisoprene which dupHcates the stmcture of natural mbber. In one method (3,4) a Ziegler-type catalyst of tri alkyl aluminum and titanium tetrachloride was used to polymerize isoprene in an air-free, moisture-free hydrocarbon solvent to an all i7j -l,4-polyisoprene. A polyisoprene with 90% 1,4-units was synthesized with lithium catalysts as early as 1949 (5). 

The addition of aromatic and aUphatic thiols, RSH and ArSH, and a thioacetic acid to isoprene yields mainly the trans-l,4-adduct (56). The aromatic thiyl radicals, ArS , add almost entirely to the first carbon atom however, aUphatic thiyl radicals, RS, also add to the fourth C atom in significant amounts. 

Bromination of isoprene using Br2 at —5 ° C in chloroform yields only /n j -l,4-dibromo-2-methyl-2-butene (59). Dry hydrogen chloride reacts with one-third excess of isoprene at —15 ° C to form the 1,2-addition product, 2-chloro-2-methyl-3-butene (60). When an equimolar amount of HCl is used, the principal product is the 1,4-addition product, l-chloro-3-methyl-2-butene (61). The mechanism of addition is essentially all 1,2 with a subsequent isomerization step which is catalyzed by HCl and is responsible for the formation of the 1,4-product (60). The 3,4-product, 3-bromo-2-methyl-1-butene, is obtained by the reaction of isoprene with 50% HBr in the presence of cuprous bromide (59). Isoprene reacts with the reactive halogen of 3-chlorocyclopentene (62). 

The reaction of dihalocarbenes with isoprene yields exclusively the 1,2- (or 3,4-) addition product, eg, dichlorocarbene CI2C and isoprene react to give l,l-dichloro-2-methyl-2-vinylcyclopropane (63). The evidence for the presence of any 1,4 or much 3,4 addition is inconclusive (64). The cycloaddition reaction of l,l-dichloro-2,2-difluoroethylene to isoprene yields 1,2- and 3,4-cycloaddition products in a ratio of 5.4 1 (65). The main product is l,l-dichloro-2,2-difluoro-3-isopropenylcyclobutane, and the side product is l,l-dichloro-2,2-difluoro-3-methyl-3-vinylcyclobutane. When the dichlorocarbene is generated from CHCl plus aqueous base with a tertiary amine as a phase-transfer catalyst, the addition has a high selectivity that increases (for a series of diolefins) with a decrease in activity (66) (see Catalysis, phase-TRANSFEr). For isoprene, both mono-(l,2-) and diadducts (1,2- and 3,4-) could be obtained in various ratios depending on which amine is used. 

Isoprene reacts with a-chloroalkyl ethers in the presence of ZnCl in diethyl ether from 0—10°C. For example,a-chloromethyl methyl ether at 10°C gives a 6 1 ratio of the 1,4-adduct, (F)4-chloro-l-methoxy-2-methyl-2-butene, to the 1,2-adduct, 2-chloro-l-methoxy-2-methyl-3-butene. Other a-chloroalkyl ethers react in a similar manner to give predominately the 1,4-addition product. A wide variety of aHyUc chlorides and bromides and a-chloroethers and esters add primarily 1,4- to isoprene in the presence of acid catalysts (8). 

A telomerization reaction of isoprene can be carried out by treatment with 2-chloro-3-pentene, prepared by the addition of dry HCl to 1,3-pentadiene (67). An equimolar amount of isoprene in dichi oromethane reacts with the 2-chloro-3-pentene at 10°C with stannic chloride as catalyst. l-Chloro-3,5-dimethyl-2,6-octadiene is obtained in 80% yield by 1,4-addition. 

Polymerization. Isoprene polymeri2ation can proceed by either 1,4- or l,2-(vinyl)addition (see Elastomers, synthetic-polyisoprene). 

Al—Ti Catalyst for cis-l,4-PoIyisoprene. Of the many catalysts that polymerize isoprene, four have attained commercial importance. One is a coordination catalyst based on an aluminum alkyl and a vanadium salt which produces /n j -l,4-polyisoprene. A second is a lithium alkyl which produces 90% i7j -l,4-polyisoprene. Very high (99%) i7j -l,4-polyisoprene is produced with coordination catalysts consisting of a combination of titanium tetrachloride, TiCl, plus a trialkyl aluminum, R Al, or a combination of TiCl with an alane (aluminum hydride derivative) (86—88). 

The first successhil use of lithium metal for the preparation of a i7j -l,4-polyisoprene was aimounced in 1955 (50) however, lithium metal catalysis was quickly phased out in favor of hydrocarbon soluble organ olithium compounds. These initiators provide a homogeneous system with predictable results. Organ olithium initiators are used commercially in the production of i7j -l,4-polyisoprene, isoprene block polymers, and several other polymers. 

The usage of isoprene monomer is somewhat limited by price and availabiUty. The historical large usage has been in the production of i7j -l,4-polyisoprene... 

Dehydrogenation of Tertiary Amylenes, The staiting material here is a fiaction which is cut from catal57tic clacking of petroleum. Two of the tertiary amylene isomers, 2-methyl-l-butene and 2-methyl-2-butene, are recovered in high purity by formation of methyl tertiary butyl ether and cracking of this to produce primarily 2-methyl-2-butene. The amylenes are mixed with steam and dehydrogenated over a catalyst. The cmde isoprene can be purified by conventional or extractive distillation. 

Methyl Isopropyl Ketone. Methyl isopropyl ketone [563-80-4] (3-methyl-2-butanone) is a colorless Hquid with a characteristic odor of lower ketones. It can be produced by hydrating isoprene over an acidic catalyst at 200—300°C (150,151) or by acid-catalyzed condensation of methyl ethyl ketone and formaldehyde to 2-methyl-l-buten-3-one, foUowed by hydrogenation to the product (152). Other patented preparations are known (155,156). Methyl isopropyl ketone is used as an intermediate in the production of pharmaceuticals and fragrances (see Perfumes), and as a solvent (157). It is domestically available from Eastman (Longview, Texas) (47). 

Such copolymers of oxygen have been prepared from styrene, a-methylstyrene, indene, ketenes, butadiene, isoprene, l,l-diphen5iethylene, methyl methacrjiate, methyl acrylate, acrylonitrile, and vinyl chloride (44,66,109). 1,3-Dienes, such as butadiene, yield randomly distributed 1,2- and 1,4-copolymers. Oxygen pressure and olefin stmcture are important factors in these reactions for example, other products, eg, carbonyl compounds, epoxides, etc, can form at low oxygen pressures. Polymers possessing dialkyl peroxide moieties in the polymer backbone have also been prepared by base-catalyzed condensations of di(hydroxy-/ f2 -alkyl) peroxides with dibasic acid chlorides or bis(chloroformates) (110). 

Other high molecular weight hydrocarbon polymers are not biodegradable, but oligomers of <7j -l,4-isoprene (83), butadiene (84), and styrene (85), are degradable. And there has been further confirmation of biodegradation of oligomeric ethylene (86). 

Steroids (1) are members of a large class of lipid compounds called terpenes that are biogenicaHy derived from the same parent compound, isoprene, C Hg Steroids contain or are derived from the perhydro-l,2-cyclopentenophenanthrene ring system (1) and are found in a variety of different marine, terrestrial, and synthetic sources. The vast diversity of the natural and synthetic members of this class depends on variations in side-chain substitution (primarily at C17), degree of unsaturation, degree and nature of oxidation, and the stereochemical relationships at the ring junctions. 

Cyclodimerhation of isoprene to 1,5-dimethylcycloocta-1,5-diene and disproportion with a rhenium oxide catalyst and isobutene produce 2,6-dimethyUiepta-l,5-diene. The diene is hydroformylated to citroneUal, which after hydrogenation produces citroneUol (137). 

Polymers account for about 3—4% of the total butylene consumption and about 30% of nonfuels use. Homopolymerization of butylene isomers is relatively unimportant commercially. Only stereoregular poly(l-butene) [9003-29-6] and a small volume of polyisobutylene [25038-49-7] are produced in this manner. High molecular weight polyisobutylenes have found limited use because they cannot be vulcanized. To overcome this deficiency a butyl mbber copolymer of isobutylene with isoprene has been developed. Low molecular weight viscous Hquid polymers of isobutylene are not manufactured because of the high price of purified isobutylene. Copolymerization from relatively inexpensive refinery butane—butylene fractions containing all the butylene isomers yields a range of viscous polymers that satisfy most commercial needs (see Olefin polymers Elastomers, synthetic-butylrubber). 

Natural mbber (Hevea) is 100% i7j -l,4-polyisoprene, whereas another natural product, gutta-percha, a plastic, consists of the trans-1,4 isomer. Up until the mid-1900s, all attempts to polymerize isoprene led to polymers of mixed-chain stmcture. 

Monomers for manufacture of butyl mbber are 2-methylpropene [115-11-7] (isobutylene) and 2-methyl-l.3-butadiene [78-79-5] (isoprene) (see Olefins). Polybutenes are copolymers of isobutylene and / -butenes from mixed-C olefin-containing streams. For the production of high mol wt butyl mbber, isobutylene must be of >99.5 wt % purity, and isoprene of >98 wt % purity is used. Water and oxygenated organic compounds iaterfere with the cationic polymerization mechanism, and are minimized by feed purification systems. 

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