Polymerization of methacrylates

The range of uses of mercuric iodide has increased because of its abiUty to detect nuclear particles. Various metals such as Pd, Cu, Al, Tri, Sn, Ag, and Ta affect the photoluminescence of Hgl2, which is of importance in the preparation of high quaUty photodetectors (qv). Hgl2 has also been mentioned as a catalyst in group transfer polymerization of methacrylates or acrylates (8). 

The vast majority of commercial apphcations of methacryhc acid and its esters stem from their facile free-radical polymerizabiUty (see Initiators, FREE-RADICAl). Solution, suspension, emulsion, and bulk polymerizations have been used to advantage. Although of much less commercial importance, anionic polymerizations of methacrylates have also been extensively studied. Strictiy anhydrous reaction conditions at low temperatures are required to yield high molecular weight polymers in anionic polymerization. Side reactions of the propagating anion at the ester carbonyl are difficult to avoid and lead to polymer branching and inactivation (38—44). 

Polymerization of methacrylates is also possible via what is known as group-transfer polymerization. Although only limited commercial use has been made of this technique, it does provide a route to block copolymers that is not available from ordinary free-radical polymerizations. In a prototypical group-transfer polymerization the fluoride-ion-catalyzed reaction of a methacrylate (or acrylate) in the presence of a silyl ketene acetal gives a high molecular weight polymer (45—50). 

Polymerizations of methacrylic acid and derivatives are very energetic (MAA, 66.1 kj/mol MMA, 57.5 kJ/mol = 13.7 kcal/mol). The potential for the rapid evolution of heat and generation of pressure presents an explosion hazard if the materials are stored ia closed or poorly vented containers. 

Free-radical polymerization processes are used to produce virtually all commercial methacrylic polymers. Usually free-radical initiators (qv) such as azo compounds or peroxides are used to initiate the polymerizations. Photochemical and radiation-initiated polymerizations are also well known. At a constant temperature, the initial rate of the bulk or solution radical polymerization of methacrylic monomers is first-order with respect to monomer concentration, and one-half order with respect to the initiator concentration. Rate data for polymerization of several common methacrylic monomers initiated with 2,2 -azobisisobutyronitrile [78-67-1] (AIBN) have been deterrnined and are shown in Table 8. 

The free-radical polymerization of methacrylic monomers follows a classical chain mechanism in which the chain-propagation step entails the head-to-taH growth of the polymeric free radical by attack on the double bond of the monomer. Chain termination can occur by either combination or disproportionation, depending on the conditions of the process (36). 

Emulsion Polymerization. The principal markets for aqueous dispersion polymers made by emulsion polymerization of methacrylic esters are the paint (qv), paper (qv), textile, floor poHsh, and leather (qv) industries where they are used principally as coatings or binders. Copolymers of methyl methacrylate with either ethyl acrylate or butyl acrylate are most common. 

The anionic polymerization of methacrylates using a silyl ketene acetal initiator has been termed group-transfer polymerization (GTP). First reported by Du Pont researchers in 1983 (100), group-transfer polymerization allows the control of methacrylate molecular stmcture typical of living polymers, but can be conveniendy mn at room temperature and above. The use of GTP to prepare block polymers, comb-graft polymers, loop polymers, star polymers, and functional polymers has been reported (100,101). 

In polymerization of methacrylates, the adducts formed by addition to the macromonomer radicals are relatively unreactive towards adding further monomer... 

The thermal decomposition of the phenylelhyl alkoxyamine with TEMPO and the fraction of living ends in TEMPO-mediated S polymerization has been studied by Priddy and coworkers.143 179 They concluded that to achieve >90% living ends conversions and/or nitroxide concentrations should be chosen to give V/ less than 10000.143 However, disproportionation or elimination is most important during polymerizations of methacrylates and accounts for NMP being less successful with... 

Haddlcton and coworkers314 reported the use of Cu1 complexes based on the methanimine ligands (e.g. 136-138) and have demonstrated their efficacy in the polymerization of methacrylates. The ligands can be prepared in situ from the appropriate amine and 2-pyridinc carboxaldchydc (Scheme 9.34). 

ATRP has been widely used for the polymerization of methacrylates. However, a very wide range of monomers, including most of those amenable to conventional radical polymerization, has been used in ATRP. ATRP has also been used in cyclopolymerization (e.g. of 16flm364) and ring opening polymerization or copolymerization e.g. of 16T 115 366 and 162 67). ... 

Polymerizations of methacrylic monomers in the presence of methacrylic macromonomers under monomer-starved conditions display many of the characteristics of living polymerization (Scheme 9.36). These systems involve RAFT (Section 9.5.2). However, RAFT with appropriate thiocarbonylthio compounds is the most well known process of this class (Section 9.5.3). It is also the most versatile having been shown to be compatible with most monomer types and a very wide range of reaction conditions.382... 

Although, ATRP appears most suited to polymerization of methacrylate monomers, a very w ide range of monomers can and have been used as is... 

The polymerization of methacrylic esters, by lithium-organic initiators, carried out in toluene at low temperature, yields some stereocontrol46147 >. 

Interestingly, Reggelin et al. [147] prepared helical chiral polymers by helix-sense selective anionic polymerization of methacrylates, using an asymmetric base mixture as initiator (Scheme 61). 

The controlled polymerization of (meth)acrylates was achieved by anionic polymerization. However, special bulky initiators and very low temperatures (- 78 °C) must be employed in order to avoid side reactions. An alternative procedure for achieving the same results by conducting the polymerization at room temperature was proposed by Webster and Sogah [84], The technique, called group transfer polymerization, involves a catalyzed silicon-mediated sequential Michael addition of a, /f-unsaluralcd esters using silyl ketene acetals as initiators. Nucleophilic (anionic) or Lewis acid catalysts are necessary for the polymerization. Nucleophilic catalysts activate the initiator and are usually employed for the polymerization of methacrylates, whereas Lewis acids activate the monomer and are more suitable for the polymerization of acrylates [85,86]. 

Chakraborty and Chen reported the syntheses and structures of organzinc compounds bearing chiral trans-1,2-(HNSiMe3)2-cyclohexanediyl ligands for the stereoselective polymerization of methacrylates. Depending upon the reaction conditions, Scheme 62, either the fully deprotonated trimeric bis(amido)methylzinc complex 80, or a dimeric amido(amino)methylzinc complex 81 were isolated.140... 

Abstract. Auto-accelerated polymerization is known to occur in viscous reaction media ("gel-effect") and also when the polymer precipitates as it forms. It is generally assumed that the cause of auto-acceleration is the arising of non-steady-state kinetics created by a diffusion controlled termination step. Recent work has shown that the polymerization of acrylic acid in bulk and in solution proceeds under steady or auto-accelered conditions irrespective of the precipitation of the polymer. On the other hand, a close correlation is established between auto-acceleration and the type of H-bonded molecular association involving acrylic acid in the system. On the basis of numerous data it is concluded that auto-acceleration is determined by the formation of an oriented monomer-polymer association complex which favors an ultra-fast propagation process. Similar conclusions are derived for the polymerization of methacrylic acid and acrylonitrile based on studies of polymerization kinetics in bulk and in solution and on evidence of molecular associations. In the case of acrylonitrile a dipole-dipole complex involving the nitrile groups is assumed to be responsible for the observed auto-acceleration. 

Many other metal-catalysed polymerizations may be carried out in water including the copper-catalysed polymerization of methacrylates, the palladium-and nickel-catalysed polymerization of ethene and other alkenes and the rhodium-catalysed polymerization of butadiene [22],... 

Fig, 4, Schematic illustration of high-speed living polymerization of methacrylate esters accelerated by steric separation of the aluminum porphyrin nucleophile and bulky Lewis acid. ... 

Aluminum porphyrins (Z = Cl, OR, SR) also initiate living polymerizations of methacrylates and acrylates without the need for low temperatures [Aida and Inoue, 1996 Inoue, 2000 ... 

Some early polymerizations reported as Ziegler-Natta polymerizations were conventional free-radical, cationic, or anionic polymerizations proceeding with low stereoselectivity. Some Ziegler-Natta initiators contain components that are capable of initiating conventional ionic polymerizations of certain monomers, such as anionic polymerization of methacrylates by alkyllithium and cationic polymerization of vinyl ethers by TiCLt-... 

Polymerization of Methacrylic Acid with Potassium Peroxodisulfate in Aqueous Solution... 

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