Polymerization boron-containing monomer

Boron trifluoride (BF3) is an excellent catalyst for cationic polymerization because it leaves no good nucleophile that might attack a carbocation intermediate and end the polymerization. Boron trifluoride is electron-deficient and a strong Lewis acid. It usually contains a trace of water that acts as a co-catalyst by adding to BF3 and then protonating the monomer. Protonation occurs at the less substituted end of... 

Scheme 10.1 Three routes to synthesize boronic acid-containing hydrogels (1) Polymerization of a boronic acid-containing monomer in the presence of a crosslinker (2) modification of a preformed network with boronic acid groups and (3) complexation between a boronic acid-bearing polymer and a diol-bearing polymer.

Cationic polymerization of cyclic acetals generally involves equilibrium between monomer and polymer. The equilibrium nature of the cationic polymerization of 2 was ascertained by depolymerization experiments Methylene chloride solutions of the polymer ([P]0 = 1.76 and 1.71 base-mol/1) containing a catalytic amount of boron trifluoride etherate were allowed to stand for several days at 0 °C to give 2 which was in equilibrium with its polymer. The equilibrium concentrations ([M]e = 0.47 and 0.46 mol/1) were in excellent agreement with that found in the polymerization experiments under the same conditions. The thermodynamic parameters for the polymerization of 1 were evaluated from the temperature dependence of the equilibrium monomer concentrations between -20 and 30 °C. 

Wolfe and Wagener have developed main-chain boronate polymers (59) (Fig. 38) by the acyclic diene metathesis (ADMET) polymerization of symmetrical ,oj-dienes, containing both methyl- and phenyl-substituted boronate functionalities using Mo and Ru catalysts.84 The ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) of several norbornene monomers containing methyl- and phenyl-substituted boronates into... 

Conjugated boron polymers containing platimnn or palladium atom in the main chain were also prepared by hydroboration polymerization between tetrayne/ metal complex monomers and tripylborane (scheme 16).30 From gel permeation chromatographic analysis [THF, polystyrene (PSt) standards], the number-average molecular weights of the polymers obtained were found to be 9000. The polymers were soluble in common organic solvents such as THF, chloroform, and benzene. The absorption peaks due to tt-tt transition were observed around 390 nm in the UV-vis spectra of these polymers. The fluorescence emission spectra exhibited intense peaks at 490 nm in chloroform. 

Diazotization in the presence of boron trifluoride enables diazonium tetrafluoroborates to be isolated from the reaction mixture and purified. Subsequent controlled decomposition produces the required fluoroaromatic. Although explosion hazards and the toxicity of the isolated salts are significant concerns with this process, known as the Balz-Schiemann process, 4,4 -di-fluorobenzophenone (BDF. 6) has been prepared by this route as a monomer for the production of the engineering plastic poly(ether ether ketone) , or PEEK , by condensation with 1,4-dihydroxybenzene in the presence of potassium carbonate. BDF 6 is superior to its chlorine analog because in aromatic systems the nucleophilic displacement of fluorine is more facile than that of chlorine, leading to a shorter polymerization time and a better quality product containing less degradation impurities. 

There are a few examples of polymers based on vinylbenzofurans. Vinyldibenzofuran 324 has been patented for use in copolymer formulations with other vinyl arenes, used to prepare light-emitting devices <2004USP6803124>. Benzofuran 325 was developed as one of four polymerizable monomers that contain a built-in antioxidant. The polymerization process was transition metal catalyzed <2003MM8346>. Benzofuran 326 also contains the styrene substructure, but there are few examples of its polymerization. Poly(2,3-benzofuran) films were synthesized by anodic oxidation on stainless steel in the presence of boron trifluoride etherate. The films had good thermal stability and conductivity of lO Scm <2005MI1654>. 

Kobayashi et al. developed chiral Lewis acids derived from A -benzyldiphenylproli-nol and boron tribromide and used these successfully as catalysts in enantioselective Diels-Alder reactions [89]. The corresponding polymeric catalyst 71 was prepared and used for the Diels-Alder reaction of cyclopentadiene with methacrolein [90]. Different polymeric catalysts 72, 73, 74 were prepared from supported chiral amino alcohols and diols fimctionalized with boron, aluminum and titanium [88,90]. In these polymers copolymerization of styrene with a chiral auxiliary containing two polymerizable groups is a new approach to the preparation of crosslinked chiral polymeric ligands. This chiral monomer unit acts as chiral ligand and as a crosslink. 

Hereby, poly(p-phenylene) polymers containing ether and carbonyl linkages in the polymer backbone are accessible. By polymerization of the AB2 monomer 3,5-dibromobenzene boronic acid in a biphasic aqueous/organic medium, Kim and Webster obtained hyperbranched polyphenylenes [233]. Suzuki polycondensation in aqueous systems has proven to be a versatile method, which has been applied to the synthesis of various polymer types ]234]. 

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