Monomer polymerization route

SCHEME 37. A monomer polymerization route to polymer-supported organotin reagents... 

Hi. The monomer polymerization route. Compared with the resin-functionalization route, the homo- and copolymerization of organotin-containing monomers permits one to influence the polymer resin structure to a greater extent. In principle, it is possible to prepare gel-type, macroporous, microporous or nonporous polymers. The pore structure, tin loading, solubility and other factors which influence the reactivity of the polymer-supported organotin reagents can be controlled by appropriate... 

Parent polyfthicnylene vinylene) has also been synthesized by an aldol precursor route [122]. In this method, 5-methyl-2-thiophenecarbaldehyde 76 is treated with a base and the monomer polymerizes yielding a precursor 77 which is soluble in water. Thermal treatment in an acidic solution at 80 nC yields the fully conjugated material. Alternatively, the solid polymer may be healed to 280 C to effect elimination of water. Fully conjugated material exhibits low conductivity (10 8 S cm"1) in its pristine stale. 

ADMET is quite possibly the most flexible transition-metal-catalyzed polymerization route known to date. With the introduction of new, functionality-tolerant robust catalysts, the primary limitation of this chemistry involves the synthesis and cost of the diene monomer that is used. ADMET gives the chemist a powerful tool for the synthesis of polymers not easily accessible via other means, and in this chapter, we designate the key elements of ADMET. We detail the synthetic techniques required to perform this reaction and discuss the wide range of properties observed from the variety of polymers that can be synthesized. For example, branched and functionalized polymers produced by this route provide excellent models (after quantitative hydrogenation) for the study of many large-volume commercial copolymers, and the synthesis of reactive carbosilane polymers provides a flexible route to solvent-resistant elastomers with variable properties. Telechelic oligomers can also be made which offer an excellent means for polymer modification or incorporation into block copolymers. All of these examples illustrate the versatility of ADMET. 

Ring-opening polymerization of 2-methylene-l,3-dioxepane (Fig. 6) represents the single example of a free radical polymerization route to PCL (51). Initiation with AIBN at SO C afforded PCL with a of 42,000 in 59% yield. While this monomer is not commercially available, the advantage of this method is that it may be used to obtain otherwise inaccessible copolymers. As an example, copolymerization with vinyl monomers has afforded copolymers of e-caprolactone with styrene, 4-vinylanisole, methyl methacrylate, and vinyl acetate. 

Beside the polymerization routes of 1,3-cyclohexadiene derivatives repetitive Diels-Alder polyadditions were widely used to prepare arylated PPPs. Stille et al. developed a set of suitable monomers (1,4-diethynylbenzene and 1,4-phenyl-ene-bis(triphenylcyclopentadienone) derivatives) to generate phenylated PPPs (e.g. 17) with molecular weights of 20,000-100,000 [31]. Unfortunately, the repetitive polyadditon does not proceed regioselectively polymers containing para-as well as mefa-phenylene units within the main chain skeleton are formed. 

Three approaches have been developed for the synthesis of polyphosphazenes. These are (1) The macromolecular substitution route (2) The cyclic trlmer or tetramer substitution/polymerization route, and (3) Direct synthesis from organosllylphosphazene monomers. This last method Is described In detail In another Chapter and will not be considered further In this review. 

A radical initiator based on the oxidation adduct of an alkyl-9-BBN (47) has been utilized to produce poly(methylmethacrylate) (48) (Fig. 31) from methylmethacrylate monomer by a living anionic polymerization route that does not require the mediation of a metal catalyst. The relatively broad molecular weight distribution (PDI = (MJM ) 2.5) compared with those in living anionic polymerization cases was attributed to the slow initiation of the polymerization.69 A similar radical polymerization route aided by 47 was utilized in the synthesis of functionalized syndiotactic polystyrene (PS) polymers by the copolymerization of styrene.70 The borane groups in the functionalized syndiotactic polystyrenes were transformed into free-radical initiators for the in situ free-radical graft polymerization to prepare s-PS-g-PMMA graft copolymers. 

Figure 31 The radical initiator (47) based on the oxidation adduct of an alkyl-9-BBN used for the production of poly(methyhnethacrylate) (48) from methylmethacrylate monomer by the radical polymerization route. (Adapted from ref. 69.)...

Isomeric polymers can also be obtained from a single monomer if there is more than one polymerization route. The head-to-head placement that can occur in the polymerization of a vinyl monomer is isomeric with the normal head-to-tail placement (see structures III and IV in Sec. 3-2a). Isomerization during carbocation polymerization is another instance whereby isomeric structures can be formed (Sec. 5-2b). Monomers with two polymerizable groups can yield isomeric polymers if one or the other of the two alternate polymerization routes is favored. Examples of this type of isomerism are the 1,2- and 1,4-polymers from 1,3-dienes (Secs. 3-14f and 8-10), the separate polymerizations of the alkene and carbonyl double bonds in ketene and acrolein (Sec. 5-7a), and the synthesis of linear or cyclized polymers from non-conjugated dienes (Sec. 6-6b). The different examples of constitutional isomerism are important to note from the practical viewpoint, since the isomeric polymers usually differ considerably in their properties. 

Poly(amic dialkyl amides), which represent the other type of derivatized polyfamic acid) have been prepared by derivatization of poly(isoimide) [57] as well as monomer derivatization and subsequent polymerization [60]. Whereas the poly(isoimide) derivatization route has a pronounced tendency to produce poly(amic amides) with significant levels of imidization, the monomer derivatization and polymerization route reported in the literature is also not amenable to preparing well-defined polyfamic amides). The use of thionyl chloride to... 

ODA). These polymers are characterized by excellent high temperature properties with Tgs typically above 270 °C and continuous service temperatures of about 230 °C. The PAIs utilized here for blending studies were prepared by a simple solution polymerization route, i.e., by reacting trimellitic anhydride acid chloride and 6FDA and diamine monomer (ODA and MDA) in an appropriate solvent (e.g., DM Ac). 

The remaining polymerization route involves zero-valent nickel complexes and dihalide monomers. Variations of this route most often arise where different sources or regeneration methods of the active nickel species are utilized [82,199, 200-204]. A typical example is shown below in Scheme 51 in which poly(3-phe-nylthiophene) 50 is synthesized from the parent 2,5-dichlorothiophene. As with the Ullmann reaction, polymerization appears to be most compatible with ring systems containing electron-withdrawing substituents. 

The monomers obtained can be polymerized by themselves or copolymerized with other monomers. The co-polymerization route is effective for the synthesis of tailor-made polymer supports with precise control over functionality and other polymer characteristics, but it is laborious and requires specialized skills in polymer synthesis. 

Claverie et al. [325] have polymerized norbornene via ROMP using a conventional emulsion polymerization route. In this case the catalyst was water-soluble. Particle nucleation was found to be primarily via homogenous nuclea-tion, and each particle in the final latex was made up of an agglomeration of smaller particles. This is probably due to the fact that, unlike in free radical polymerization with water-soluble initiators, the catalyst never entered the polymer particle. Homogeneous nucleation can lead to a less controllable process than droplet nucleation (miniemulsion polymerization). This system would not work for less strained monomers, and so, in order to use a more active (and strongly hydrophobic) catalyst, Claverie employed a modified miniemulsion process. The hydrophobic catalyst was dissolved in toluene, and subsequently, a miniemulsion was created. Monomer was added to swell the toluene droplets. Reaction rates and monomer conversion were low, presumably because of the proximity of the catalyst to the aqueous phase due to the small droplet size. 

In the absence of impurities, there is no termination reaction. Polymerization stops when the monomer level is reduced to an equilibrium amount which is a function of temperature. The condensation polymerization route which results in very high molecular weight cannot occur with this initiated polymerization. Below temperatures at which the thermal initiation occurs, the initiator concentration controls the number of chains started and thus the molecular weight. 

Block polymerizations were conducted in THF at -78°C under an inert atmosphere. The polymerization route employed is shown in Scheme I. Typically, the styrene monomer was charged into the polymerization reactor with THF, followed by rapid addition of sec-butyl lithium. The polystyryl lithium was then "capped" with 1,1-diphenyl ethylene to form less basic, more hindered anions so as to avoid deleterious side reactions to the methacrylate carbonyl. Just before the addition of methacrylate monomer (IBMA), a small amount of capped polystyryl lithium was removed for GPC analysis. Termination was performed several minutes after the addition of the methacrylate monomer, using a methanol/acetic acid mixture. The polymers were generally isolated by precipitation in methanol. 

Polypyrroles (PPy s) are formed by the oxidation of pyrrole or substituted pyrrole monomers. In the vast majority of cases, these oxidations have been carried out by either (1) electropolymerization at a conductive substrate (electrode) through the application of an external potential or (2) chemical polymerization in solution by the use of a chemical oxidant. Photochemically initiated and enzyme-catalyzed polymerization routes have also been described but are less developed. These various approaches produce polypyrrole (PPy) materials with different forms—chemical oxidations generally produce powders, whereas electrochemical synthesis leads to films deposited on the working electrode, and enzymatic polymerization gives aqueous dispersions. The conducting polymer products also possess different chemical/electrical properties. These alternative routes to PPy s are therefore discussed separately in this chapter. 

Due to the availability of controlled polymerization routes for PFS monomers, well-defined architectures with organic and inorganic coblocks are available. The incorporation of PFS segments into self-organizing motifs, such as block copolymers, provides further possibilities for supramolecular chemistry and the development of functional nanomaterials.18-23 This section summarizes recent developments in the synthesis and self-assembly of PFS block copolymers, as well as their applications in material science. 

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