Polymerization methyl separation mechanism

According to what may be called the methyl separation mechanism, the polymerization reaction involves the rupture of a carbon-carbon bond of the olefin to give a methyl and an olefin radical which then add to the double bond of another olefin molecule (Kline and Drake, 60). The molecule of isobutylene, for example, behaves as though it were activated in the following manner CHa-+C(CH3)=CH2. The positive and negative signs indicate the relative electronegativities (Kharasch, 61) and are not intended to indicate ionization. The addi-... 

The free radical polymerization is probably initiated by the reaction of the peroxide with a metal—carbon bond which has been modified through complexation, solvation, or even chemical interaction with a proper monomer. This "site is interacted with the peroxide molecule, which is then decomposed in a metal-catalyzed manner to form a free radical terminus on the polymer chain along with an inert metal—peroxide interaction product. Whether the metal in question is aluminum, titanium, or a complex of the two is uncertain since the mechanism of Ziegler type reactions is still uncertain and since all three have been found in separate studies to promote the polymerization of methyl methacrylate in the presence of peroxides. However, the complex between AlEt>Cl and TiCl3 has been observed to have a much greater effect in accelerating the polymerization of methyl methacrylate than either component by itself hence, the complex appears to be the most likely species. 

This mechanism implies that a portion of the charred residue from the pyrolysis of cellulose could be derived from the secondary reactions involved in the decomposition of levoglucosan. In the production of levulinic acid, about 25 % of the initial D-glucose residues is converted into the humin that separates as an insoluble, charred residue. This humin could be formed from 5-(hydroxymethyl)-2-furaldehyde, which is readily polymerized and decomposed on heating under acid conditions. The kinetic investigations indicate that the humin could also be formed from the reaction of 5-(hydroxy-methyl)-2-furaldehyde with one of its precursors. ... 

Polyimides (PI) exhibit very good chemical, mechanical and dielectric stability at temperatures from -150 to 250 C. These rigid polymers with a high glass transition temperature are mostly used in (micro)electronics, aircraft industry, space exploration and as polymeric separation membranes. Linear polyimides (LPI) are traditionally prepared by the two-step polymerization. The polyimideprecursor, polyamic acid (PAA) (the most often a solution in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone), is prepared from an aromatic dianhydride and an aromatic diamine. This precursor is transformed into a polyimide using thermal or chemical imidization (Figure 2) [5]. 

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