Metal vinyl monomers, polymerization

Some of the vinyl monomers polymerized by transition metal benzyl compounds are listed in Table IX. In this table R represents the rate of polymerization in moles per liter per second M sec-1), [M]0 the initial monomer concentration in moles per liter (M) and [C]0 the initial concentration of catalyst in the same units. The ratio i2/[M]0[C]0 gives a measure of the reactivity of the system which is approximately independent of the concentration of catalyst and monomer. It will be observed that the substitution in the benzyl group is able to affect the polymerization rate significantly, but the groups that increase the polymerization rate toward ethylene have the opposite effect where styrene is concerned. It would also appear that titanium complexes are more active than zirconium. The results with styrene and p-bromostyrene suggests that substituents in the monomer, which increase the electronegative character of the double bond, reduces the polymerization rate. The order of reactivity of various olefinically unsaturated compounds is approximately as follows ... 

Dialkyl peroxydicarbonates are used primarily as free-radical initiators for vinyl monomer polymerizations. Dialkyl peroxydicarbonate decompositions are accelerated by certain metals, concentrated sulfuric acid, and amines. Violent decompositions can occur with neat or highly concentrated peroxides. 

Many applications of metal salts as photoinitiators have been described. These include (i) vinyl monomer polymerization using iron(m) salt-saccharide systems 1 (ii) mixtures of tetraphenylporphineiron(m), amine, and CC14 2... 

The reaction where vinylic monomers polymerize through coordination at the metallic center of some catalytic species is called coordination polymerization. Although the first catalytic system based on this kind of coordination chemistry was reported by Phillips Petroleum Co., most of the literature concerning coordination polymerization refers to the Ziegler-Natta catalysts because of their versatility in controlling chemical composition distribution (CCD) and of the wider variety of monomers they can polymerize [1]. 

Anionic polymerization of vinyl monomers can be effected with a variety of organometaUic compounds alkyllithium compounds are the most useful class (1,33—35). A variety of simple alkyllithium compounds are available commercially. Most simple alkyllithium compounds are soluble in hydrocarbon solvents such as hexane and cyclohexane and they can be prepared by reaction of the corresponding alkyl chlorides with lithium metal. Methyllithium [917-54-4] and phenyllithium [591-51-5] are available in diethyl ether and cyclohexane—ether solutions, respectively, because they are not soluble in hydrocarbon solvents vinyllithium [917-57-7] and allyllithium [3052-45-7] are also insoluble in hydrocarbon solutions and can only be prepared in ether solutions (38,39). Hydrocarbon-soluble alkyllithium initiators are used directiy to initiate polymerization of styrene and diene monomers quantitatively one unique aspect of hthium-based initiators in hydrocarbon solution is that elastomeric polydienes with high 1,4-microstmcture are obtained (1,24,33—37). Certain alkyllithium compounds can be purified by recrystallization (ethyllithium), sublimation (ethyllithium, /-butyUithium [594-19-4] isopropyllithium [2417-93-8] or distillation (j -butyUithium) (40,41). Unfortunately, / -butyUithium is noncrystaUine and too high boiling to be purified by distiUation (38). Since methyllithium and phenyllithium are crystalline soUds which are insoluble in hydrocarbon solution, they can be precipitated into these solutions and then redissolved in appropriate polar solvents (42,43). OrganometaUic compounds of other alkaU metals are insoluble in hydrocarbon solution and possess negligible vapor pressures as expected for salt-like compounds. 

Uses. Magnesium alkyls are used as polymerization catalysts for alpha-alkenes and dienes, such as the polymerization of ethylene (qv), and in combination with aluminum alkyls and the transition-metal haUdes (16—18). Magnesium alkyls have been used in conjunction with other compounds in the polymerization of alkene oxides, alkene sulfides, acrylonitrile (qv), and polar vinyl monomers (19—22). Magnesium alkyls can be used as a Hquid detergents (23). Also, magnesium alkyls have been used as fuel additives and for the suppression of soot in combustion of residual furnace oil (24). 

The reactions of alkyl hydroperoxides with ferrous ion (eq. 11) generate alkoxy radicals. These free-radical initiator systems are used industrially for the emulsion polymerization and copolymerization of vinyl monomers, eg, butadiene—styrene. The use of hydroperoxides in the presence of transition-metal ions to synthesize a large variety of products has been reviewed (48,51). 

Pi and Sigma Transition Metal Carbon Compounds as Catalysts for the Polymerization of Vinyl Monomers and Olefins... 

A great variety of suitable polymers is accessible by polymerization of vinylic monomers, or by reaction of alcohols or amines with functionalized polymers such as chloromethylat polystyrene or methacryloylchloride. The functionality in the polymer may also a ligand which can bind transition metal complexes. Examples are poly-4-vinylpyridine and triphenylphosphine modified polymers. In all cases of reactively functionalized polymers, the loading with redox active species may also occur after film formation on the electrode surface but it was recognized that such a procedure may lead to inhomogeneous distribution of redox centers in the film... 

The gelling of the vinyl monomers in an aqueous medium in the presence of an organic peroxide polymerization initiator is delayed by using an inhibitor consisting of an alkali metal or ammonium salt of the N-nitroso-phenylhydroxylamine combined with an aminocarboxyUc acid [1179]. 

Polymerization of vinyl chloride occurs through a radical chain addition mechanism, which can be achieved through bulk, suspension, or emulsion polymerization processes. Radical initiators used in vinyl chloride polymerization fall into two classes water-soluble or monomer-soluble. The water-soluble initiators, such as hydrogen peroxide and alkali metal persulfates, are used in emulsion polymerization processes where polymerization begins in the aqueous phase. Monomer-soluble initiators include peroxides, such as dilauryl and benzoyl peroxide, and azo species, such as 1,1 -azobisisobutyrate, which are shown in Fig. 22.2. These initiators are used in emulsion and bulk polymerization processes. 

The activity of transition metal allyl compounds for the polymerization of vinyl monomers has been studied by Ballard, Janes, and Medinger (10) and their results are summarized in Table II. Monomers that polymerize readily with anionic initiators, such as sodium or lithium alkyls, polymerize vigorously with allyl compounds typical of these are acrylonitrile, methyl methacrylate, and the diene isoprene. Vinyl acetate, vinyl chloride, ethyl acrylate, and allylic monomers do not respond to these initiators under the conditions given in Table II. 

Sigma-bonded transition metal complexes are able to polymerize a range of vinyl monomers, the only limitation being that the monomer should not have groups that react chemically with the transition metal compound. An important observation is that styrene and its derivatives are polymerized by the sigma complexes. In this respect they differ from the jr-allyl compounds that show no reactivity at all toward these monomers. A reasonable explanation for this is that the mechanism of the initiation is different... 

Polymerization of Vinyl Monomers in the Dark by Transition Metal Benzyl Compounds... 

The polymerization of vinyl monomers by transition metal sigma complexes has been shown by Ballard and van Lienden (25,28) to be catalyzed by white light which has been filtered through pyrex glass. The effect is best illustrated by the following experiment ... 

Like all controlled radical polymerization processes, ATRP relies on a rapid equilibration between a very small concentration of active radical sites and a much larger concentration of dormant species, in order to reduce the potential for bimolecular termination (Scheme 3). The radicals are generated via a reversible process catalyzed by a transition metal complex with a suitable redox manifold. An organic initiator (many initiators have been used but halides are the most common), homolytically transfers its halogen atom to the metal center, thereby raising its oxidation state. The radical species thus formed may then undergo addition to one or more vinyl monomer units before the halide is transferred back from the metal. The reader is directed to several comprehensive reviews of this field for more detailed information. 

Rare Earth Metal-Initiated Polymerization of Polar Vinyl Monomers... 

In 1866 AD a polymeric product was formed from styrene and sulphuric acid. Another breakthrough was the production of synthetic rubber from butadiene by using metallic sodium or potassium by German scientists during 1911 -22. In 1929, Ziegler reported polymerisation of vinyl monomers using butyllithium. 

For vinyl monomers two methods can be used to initiate polymerization, both involve alkali metal derivatives, or more rarely alkaline-earth metal derivatives, and differ only by the mechanism of formation of the primary carbanionic... 

A fluorous biphasic system has been used to reduce the metal contamination arising in the copper-catalysed living radical polymerization of vinyl monomers. 

OrganometaUic compounds, of transition metals as catalysts for polymerization of vinyl monomers and olefins, 23 263-325 OrganometaUic transformation, molecular analogs, 38 288, 290-291 Organophosphorus substrates, hydrolysis of, effect of cycloamyloses on, 23 235 Organosilicon compounds, hexacoordinated, 34 155... 

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