Lewis-acid polymers

A very interesting technique that has been used widely in the MTO-catalyzed olefin oxidation reaction is the microencapsulation technique. This technique uses poly(4-vinylpyridine) (PVP), either 2% or 25% cross-linked with divinylbenzene (PVP-2% or PVP-25%, Fig. 4), as well as poly(4-vinylpyridine-/V-oxide) (PVPN-2%, Fig. 4). In addition, 2% cross-linked PS (PS-2%, Fig. 4, X = CH2) and a mixture of PS-2% and PVP-2% (5 1, Fig. 4, X = N) have been used as support polymers. This approach is based on the physical envelopment of the Lewis-acidic MTO by the PS polymer, enhanced by interactions of the 7t-electrons of the phenyl rings with MTO. In the case of the pyridine-containing polymers, Lewis acid-Lewis base interactions between the pyridine moiety and MTO obviously play an important role. In the case of the PVP and PVPN polymers, MTO can be incorporated in the support matrix by mixing the polymer and MTO in ethanol to obtain the desired immobilized catalyst. 

Furyl derivatives 76, with an allylether or allylamine-type linkage to a methylenecyclopropane framework, readily undergo high pressure-promoted intramolecular cycloaddition" to give spirocyclopropane tricyclic products 77. No cycloaddition reaction occurred at ambient pressure and the products were mostly tar and polymers. Lewis acid catalysis was only marginally successful (Scheme 7.18). At 1.0 GPa and a slightly elevated temperature (60-70 °C) the intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction occurs readily and is exo-diastereo-selective. To quantify the pressure effect on the kinetics the volumes of activation were determined. 

Under acidic conditions, furfuryl alcohol polymerizes to black polymers, which eventually become crosslinked and insoluble in the reaction medium. The reaction can be very violent and extreme care must be taken when furfuryl alcohol is mixed with any strong Lewis acid or Brn nstad acid. Copolymer resins are formed with phenoHc compounds, formaldehyde and/or other aldehydes. In dilute aqueous acid, the predominant reaction is a ring opening hydrolysis to form levulinic acid [123-76-2] (52). In acidic alcohoHc media, levulinic esters are formed. The mechanism for this unusual reaction in which the hydroxymethyl group of furfuryl alcohol is converted to the terminal methyl group of levulinic acid has recendy been elucidated (53). 

The cyanoacryhc esters are prepared via the Knoevenagel condensation reaction (5), in which the corresponding alkyl cyanoacetate reacts with formaldehyde in the presence of a basic catalyst to form a low molecular weight polymer. The polymer slurry is acidified and the water is removed. Subsequendy, the polymer is cracked and redistilled at a high temperature onto a suitable stabilizer combination to prevent premature repolymerization. Strong protonic or Lewis acids are normally used in combination with small amounts of a free-radical stabilizer. 

The inactivity of pure anhydrous Lewis acid haUdes in Friedel-Crafts polymerisation of olefins was first demonstrated in 1936 (203) it was found that pure, dry aluminum chloride does not react with ethylene. Subsequentiy it was shown (204) that boron ttifluoride alone does not catalyse the polymerisation of isobutylene when kept absolutely dry in a vacuum system. However, polymers form upon admission of traces of water. The active catalyst is boron ttifluoride hydrate, BF H20, ie, a conjugate protic acid H" (BF20H) . 

Stabilization Mechanism. Zinc and cadmium salts react with defect sites on PVC to displace the labHe chloride atoms (32). This reaction ultimately leads to the formation of the respective chloride salts which can be very damaging to the polymer. The role of the calcium and/or barium carboxylate is to react with the newly formed zinc—chlorine or cadmium—chlorine bonds by exchanging ligands (33). In effect, this regenerates the active zinc or cadmium stabilizer and delays the formation of significant concentrations of strong Lewis acids. 

Phosphites. Tertiary phosphites are also commonly used and are particularly effective ia most mixed metal stabilizers at a use level of 0.25—1.0 phr. They can take part ia a number of different reactions duting PVC processing they can react with HCl, displace activated chlorine atoms on the polymer, provide antioxidant functionaHty, and coordinate with the metals to alter the Lewis acidity of the chloride salts. Typical examples of phosphites are triphenyl phosphite [101 -02-0], diphenyl decyl phosphite [3287-06-7], tridecyl phosphite [2929-86-4], and polyphosphites made by reaction of PCl with polyols and capping alcohols. The phosphites are often included in commercial stabilizer packages. 

The polymerization of ethyleneimine (16,354—357) is started by a catalyticaHy active reagent (H or a Lewis acid), which converts the ethyleneimine into a highly electrophilic initiator molecule. The initiator then reacts with nitrogen nucleophiles, such as the ethyleneimine monomer and the subsequendy formed oligomers, to produce a branched polymer, which contains primary, secondary, and tertiary nitrogen atoms in random ratios. Termination takes place by intramolecular macrocycle formation. 

Lewis acids, such as the haUde salts of the alkaline-earth metals, Cu(I), Cu(II), 2inc, Fe(III), aluminum, etc, are effective catalysts for this reaction (63). The ammonolysis of polyamides obtained from post-consumer waste has been used to cleave the polymer chain as the first step in a recycle process in which mixtures of nylon-6,6 and nylon-6 can be reconverted to diamine (64). The advantage of this approach Hes in the fact that both the adipamide [628-94-4] and 6-aminohexanoamide can be converted to hexarnethylenediarnine via their respective nitriles in a conventional two-step process in the presence of the diamine formed in the original ammonolysis reaction, thus avoiding a difficult and cosdy separation process. In addition, the mixture of nylon-6,6 and nylon-6 appears to react faster than does either polyamide alone. 

PoIysuIfonyIa.tlon, The polysulfonylation route to aromatic sulfone polymers was developed independendy by Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing (3M) and by Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI) at about the same time (81). In the polymerisation step, sulfone links are formed by reaction of an aromatic sulfonyl chloride with a second aromatic ring. The reaction is similar to the Friedel-Crafts acylation reaction. The key to development of sulfonylation as a polymerisation process was the discovery that, unlike the acylation reaction which requires equimolar amounts of aluminum chloride or other strong Lewis acids, sulfonylation can be accompHshed with only catalytic amounts of certain haUdes, eg, FeCl, SbCl, and InCl. The reaction is a typical electrophilic substitution by an arylsulfonium cation (eq. 13). 

Oxidative coupling of aromatic compounds via the SchoU reaction has been appHed successhiUy to synthesise a polyarylethersulfone (18). High molecular weight polymer was obtained upon treating 4,4 -di(l-naphthoxy)diphenylsulfone and 4,4 -di(l-naphthoxy)ben2ophenone with ferric chloride. Equimolar amounts of the Lewis acid are required and the method is limited to naphthoxy-based monomers and other systems that can undergo the SchoU reaction. 

Few aHyl monomers have been polymerized to useful, weH-characterized products of high molecular weight by ionic methods, eg, by Lewis acid or base catalysts. Polymerization of the 1-alkenes by Ziegler catalysts is an exception. However, addition of acidic substances, at room temperature or upon heating, often gives viscous liquid low mol wt polymers, frequently along with by-products of uncertain stmcture. 

The mineral talc is extremely soft (Mohs hardness = 1), has good sHp, a density of 2.7 to 2.8 g/cm, and a refractive index of 1.58. It is relatively inert and nonreactive with conventional acids and bases. It is soluble in hydroduoric acid. Although it has a pH in water of 9.0 to 9.5, talc has Lewis acid sites on its surface and at elevated temperatures is a mild catalyst for oxidation, depolymerization, and cross-linking of polymers. 

The most important reaction with Lewis acids such as boron trifluoride etherate is polymerization (Scheme 30) (72MI50601). Other Lewis acids have been used SnCL, Bu 2A1C1, Bu sAl, Et2Zn, SO3, PFs, TiCU, AICI3, Pd(II) and Pt(II) salts. Trialkylaluminum, dialkylzinc and other alkyl metal initiators may partially hydrolyze to catalyze the polymerization by an anionic mechanism rather than the cationic one illustrated in Scheme 30. Cyclic dimers and trimers are often products of cationic polymerization reactions, and desulfurization of the monomer may occur. Polymerization of optically active thiiranes yields optically active polymers (75MI50600). 

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