Molecular weight amination reactions, polymer synthesis

It is also possible to prepare them from amino acids by the self-condensation reaction (3.12). The PAs (AABB) can be prepared from diamines and diacids by hydrolytic polymerization [see (3.12)]. The polyamides can also be prepared from other starting materials, such as esters, acid chlorides, isocyanates, silylated amines, and nitrils. The reactive acid chlorides are employed in the synthesis of wholly aromatic polyamides, such as poly(p-phenyleneterephthalamide) in (3.4). The molecular weight distribution (Mw/Mn) of these polymers follows the classical theory of molecular weight distribution and is nearly always in the region of 2. In some cases, such as PA-6,6, chain branching can take place and then the Mw/Mn ratio is higher. 

The key to a controlled molecular weight build-up, which leads to the control of product properties such as glass transition temperature and melt viscosity, is the use of a molar excess of diisopropanolamine as a chain stopper. Thus, as a first step in the synthesis process, the cyclic anhydride is dosed slowly to an excess of amine to accommodate the exothermic reaction and prevent unwanted side reactions such as double acylation of diisopropanolamine. HPLC analysis has shown that the reaction mixture after the exothermic reaction is quite complex. Although the main component is the expected acid-diol, unreacted amine and amine salts are still present and small oligomers already formed. In the absence of any catalyst, a further increase of reaction temperature to 140-180°C leads to a rapid polycondensation. The expected amount of water is distilled (under vacuum, if required) from the hot polymer melt in approximately 2-6 h depending on the anhydride used. At the end of the synthesis the concentration of carboxylic acid groups value reaches the desired low level. 

When the ratio of template to acid is close to 0.5, the viscosity of the product is more than 3 times higher than the viscosity of the polymer obtained without the template. PEO participates in the change of local concentration by interaction with carbonyl groups, but not in the activation. Solution of LiCl in N-methylpyrrolidone with PlOCeHsls was found very effective system for synthesis of amides by the direct reaction of acids with amines in the presence of polymeric matrix. High molecular weight poly(aminoacids) obtained by direct polycondensation reaction, promoted by triphenyl phosphite and LiCl in the presence of poly(vinylpyrrolidone), were synthesized by Higashi et al The results for polymerization of L-leucine in the presence of poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) are presented in the Table 6.3. 

We have recently reported the horseradish peroxidase catalyzed reaction in dioxane for the synthesis of polymers from phenols and aromatic amines (9,10). We have also shown that molecular weight and other properties of the polymer products could be controlled by the reaction conditions used. 

KimNC, Kim YT, Nam SW, Jeon BS, Kim YJ. Synthesis of poly(2,6-dimethyl-l,4-phenylene ether) with controlled molecular weight via suspension polymerization catalyzed by amine-copper (I) complexes under various reaction conditions. Polym Bull 2013 70(l) 23-33. 

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