Polyisoprene formation

The principal steps in the mechanism of polyisoprene formation in plants are known and should help to improve the natural production of hydrocarbons. Mevalonic acid, a key intermediate derived from plant carbohydrate via acetylcoen2yme A, is transformed into isopentenyl pyrophosphate (IPP) via phosphorylation, dehydration, and decarboxylation (see Alkaloids). IPP then rearranges to dimethylaHyl pyrophosphate (DMAPP). DMAPP and... 

The major steps in the mechanisms of terpene and polyisoprene formation in plants and trees are known, and this knowledge should help improve the natural production of terpene hydrocarbons (Fig. 3.4). Mevalonic acid (1), a key intermediate derived from plant sugars via acetylcoenzyme A, is succes-... 

Figure 1. Acid-Catalyzed Cyclization of 1.4-Polyisoprene. (Formation of a Tetracylic S nent).

Inoue T., Soen T., Hashimoto T., and Kawai, H. Studies on domain formation of the A-B t3fpe block copolymer with polystyrene and polyisoprene. Macromolecules, 13, 87, 1970. 

While free radical attack in step (i) is by no means confined to carbon atom 4, the products obtained in the reactions involving the lower polyisoprenes indicate that this process is the dominant one. Likewise in step (ii) sulfur may frequently add at carbon atom 4 rather than at atom 2. Addition in the manner shown is indicated, however, by infrared spectra, which reveal the formation of —CH=CH— groups during vulcanization. The scheme accounts also for the observed constancy of the C/H ratio during vulcanization and for the relatively low efficiency of utilization of sulfur in the formation of cross-linkages in the absence of accelerators. A preponderance of the sulfur is involved in addition without formation of cross-linkages a considerable fraction of the thus-combined sulfur may occur in five- and six-membered heterocyclic rings formed by the mechanisms indicated. 

The use of polyisoprene or butadiene-styrene latex with bentonite or chalk filler and polyoxypropylene as an additive has been used in a plugging solution for oil and gas wells [1042]. The solution can be pumped but coagulates within the formation at temperatures of 100° C within 2 hours. This causes a reduction in permeability. The formulation is particularly useful in deep oil deposits. 

The method is based on the fact that the rate of conformational change required for excimer formation depends on the free volume induced by the segmental motions of the polymer occurring above the glass transition. DIPHANT (compound 3 in Figure 8.3) was used as an excimer-forming probe of three polymer samples consisting of polybutadiene, polyisoprene and poly(dimethylsiloxane).a)... 

Synthetic cA-l,4-polyisoprene (structure 5.42) is produced at an annual rate of about 100,000 t by the anionic polymerization of isoprene when a low dielectric solvent, such as hexane, and K-butyllithium are used. But, when a stronger dielectric solvent, such as diethy-lether, is used along with w-butyllithium, equal molar amount of tra i -l,4-polyisoprene and cA-3,4-polyisoprene units is produced. It is believed that an intermediate cisoid conformation assures the formation of a cis product. An outline describing the formation of cA-1,4-polyisoprene is given in structure 5.42. 

Rubber is synthesized and sequestered on cytsolic vesicles known as rubber particles. Rubber transferase is localized to the surface of the rubber particles, and biosynthesis is initiated through the binding of an allylic pyrophosphate (APP, a pyrophosphate, produced by soluble trans- rtnyl transferases) primer. Progressive additions of IPP molecules ultimately result in the formation of high molecular weight cjT-l,4-polyisoprene. The rubber transferase also requires a divalent cation, such as Mg + or Mn +, as cofactor. 

Naphthalene-terminated polyvinyl aromatics and polyisoprene were obtained successfully. These functional polymers were metalated by potassium in THF at 25°C. The formation of a stable dinegative ion is observed unless the naphthalene is directly attached to the end of the polyvinyl aromatics, in which case a few isoprene units can be advantageously inserted between the naphthalene end group and the polyvinyl aromatics. The polymeric and stable dinegative ion polymerizes oxirane by both anionic sites and forms three-branched starshaped block copolymers. 

In 1965, Milkovich (. ) reported that divinylbenzene could be utilized for the formation of star-branched macromolecules. Later, Rempp and coworkers (2, 3, 4) successfully applied this method for the synthesis of star-branched polystyrenes. Moreover, Fetters and coworkers (54 ) used this procedure for the synthesis of multi-arm star-branched polyisoprene homopolymers and poly-... 

For polyisoprenyllithium anions, it was also observed that increased linking efficiency was achieved at higher DVB/RLi ratios, Figure 10. In comparison, the polyisoprenyllithium anions link more efficiently than polybutadienyllithium. Also, in contrast to polybutadienyllithium anions, polyisoprene star formation does not result in coupled dimer at the lower DVB/RLi ratios. This is perhaps reflected in the faster cross-over rate from the polydienyllithium anion to the vinylbenzylanion (reaction... 

Allen, P. W., G. Ayrey, C. G. Moore and J. Scanlan Radiochemical studies of free-radical vinyl polymerizations. Part II. The polymerization of vinyl monomers in the presence of polyisoprenes use of C14-labeled initiators to determine the mechanism of graft-interpolymer formation. J. Polymer Sci. 36, 55 (1959). 

The formation of coagulum is observed in all types of emulsion polymers (i) synthetic rubber latexes such as butadiene-styrene, acrylonitrile-butadiene, and butadiene-styrene-vinyl pyridine copolymers as well as polybutadiene, polychloroprene, and polyisoprene (ii) coatings latexes such as styrene-butadiene, acrylate ester, vinyl acetate, vinyl chloride, and ethylene copolymers (iii) plastisol resins such as polyvinyl chloride (iv) specialty latexes such as polyethylene, polytetrafluoroethylene, and other fluorinated polymers (v) inverse latexes of polyacrylamide and other water-soluble polymers prepared by inverse emulsion polymerization. There are no major latex classes produced by emulsion polymerization that are completely free of coagulum formation during or after polymerization. 

Asymmetric polyisoprene (PI) three-arm stars with variable length of the third arm were synthesized using the same method [8]. The reaction of the living PI chains with excess methyltrichlorosilane was performed at 5 °C. This low temperature was selected in an effort to minimize the coupled byproduct. Nevertheless the reduced steric hindrance of the PILi chain end in association with the low molecular weight of the polydienes used (Mn=5500 and 1100) led to the formation of an appreciable amount of the coupled byproduct, which was later separated by fractionation, with the excess of the last coupled arm, using a sol-vent-precipitant system. Pure products were finally isolated as evidenced by the molecular characterization techniques used (SEC, MO, SLS). 

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