Propagation constants vinyl ethers

P. H. Plesch, S. H. Shamlian, The Propagation Rate-Constants of the Cationic Polymerisation of Alkenes Part III. Indene, two Vinyl Ethers, and General Discussion, Europ. Polym. J., 1990, 26, 1113. 

A number of publications purport to give values for the absolute propagation rate constant kp for the polymerization of isobutyl vinyl ether (Table 2). The values of Okamura et ah, are derived by techniques and arguments which are of doubtful validity [54a] and they seem much too small. Eley s value, derived from an analysis of non-stationary kinetics, is four orders of magnitude smaller than the kp deduced from studies of radiation... 

Table 2 Propagation rate constant for the polymerisation of isobutyl vinyl ether ...

This paper is about a reinterpretation of the cationic polymerizations of hydrocarbons (HC) and of alkyl vinyl ethers (VE) by ionizing radiations in bulk and in solution. It is shown first that for both classes of monomer, M, in bulk ([M] = niB) the propagation is unimolecular and not bimolecular as was believed previously. This view is in accord with the fact that for many systems the conversion, Y, depends rectilinearly on the reaction time up to high Y. The growth reaction is an isomerization of a 7t-complex, P +M, between the growing cation PB+ and the double bond of M. Therefore the polymerizations are of zero order with respect to m, with first-order rate constant k p]. The previously reported second-order rate constants kp+ are related to these by the equation... 

We report on the measurement of the propagation rate constants kp of styrene, indene, phenyl vinyl ether (PhViE) and 2-chloroethyl vinyl ether (CEViE) in nitrobenzene at (mostly) 298 K with 4-ClC6H4CO+SbF 6 as initiator. The dependence of the conductivity on the [4-ClC6H4CO+SbF"g] = c0 helped to establish that [Pn+] = c0 and thus to validate the foundation of this work. It is shown that most probably the propagating species are the uncomplexed, unpaired, solvated carbenium ions. Some new enthalpies of polymerisation have been found. 

This is the third report on attempts to measure the propagation rate constant, kp+, for the cationic polymerisation of various monomers in nitrobenzene by reaction calorimetry. The first two were concerned with acenaphthylene (ACN) [1, 2] and styrene [2]. The present work is concerned with attempts to extend the method to more rapidly polymerising monomers. With these we were working at the limits of the calorimetric technique [3] and therefore consistent kinetic results could be obtained only for indene and for phenyl vinyl ether (PhViE), the slowest of the vinyl ethers 2-chloroethyl vinyl ether (CEViE) proved to be so reactive that only a rough estimate of kp+ could be obtained. Most of our results were obtained with 4-chlorobenzoyl hexafluoroantimonate (1), and some with tris-(4-chlorophenyl)methyl hexafluorophosphate (2). A general discussion of the significance of all the kp values obtained in this work is presented. 

The present author wanted to determine the propagation rate-constant, kp, for the cationic polymerisation of various alkenes (this term here includes vinyl ethers, VE) under such conditions that the interpretation of the measurements should be as unambiguous as possible. If there are no complications from the complexation of the propagating species with constituents of the reaction mixture, the rate of such polymerisations is given generally by equation (1) ... 

Table 5-3 shows the order of reactivity of monomers in propagation. It is not a simple matter to explain the order of propagation rate constants for a set of monomers because there are variables—the reactivity of the monomer and the reactivity of the carbocation. For example, carbocation stability is apparently the more important feature for isopropyl vinyl ether and results in decreasing its propagation reactivity compared to isobutylene. 

Radical polymerization of AN is monotonously retarded by the addition of isobutyl vinyl ether (IBVE) when initiated by azobisiso-butyronitrile in the dark. The rate of initiation would be kept constant at varying concentrations of IBVE and the change of rate of polymerization must be caused by a reduced rate of propagation or an enhanced... 

Table 8. Rate constants for propagation (fcp), in the polymerisation of alkyl vinyl ethers by stable carbocation salts in CH2C12...

Initiation is apparently slower than propagation. That is, the nucleophilic-ity of vinyl ethers is higher than their basicity. Other monomers such as p-methoxy-a-methylstyrene are apparently more basic and react rapidly with acid. In addition, the equilibrium monomer concentrations of a-meth-yl styrenes are relatively high ([M] 0.2 mol/L at —30° C). Because they can not polymerize at low concentration, they are ideal monomers for model studies [12,13]. The equilibrium constants of dimerization and tri-merization are much larger than that for the formation of high polymer. Therefore, dimers and trimers can be formed below [M] although high polymers cannot. 

The reversibility of propagation, or more specifically, the position of the equilibrium as determined by the ratio of the rate constants of propagation and depropagation is also independent of the mechanism. The equilibrium monomer concentration of monosubstituted alkenes such as styrenes and vinyl ethers are so low ([M] < 10-6 mol/L) at temperatures used for carbocationic polymerizations that the reversibility of polymerization can be neglected. 

The rate constants of propagation in bulk polymerizations of several alkenes initiated by y-rays are presented in Table 15. The rate constant of propagation of isobutene is estimated to be 1000 times lower in chlorinated solvents than in bulk [134]. The rate constant of vinyl ether propagation decreases a few times by adding only 1 mol% of methylene chloride [238]. This may be due to either an error in the estimate of Gh or to specific interactions between growing carbenium ions and solvent molecules both explanations assume that much less reactive, but still conducting carbenium ions are formed. Nevertheless, recently determined rate constants of propagation of isopropyl and isobutyl vinyl ethers initiated with trityl salts [217] are within a factor of 2 of those calculated from y-irradiated systems. 

There are some measurements of the rates of polymerization in systems with reversible formation of covalent species. The equilibrium constants of ionization can be calculated from these kinetic data according to the procedure outlined subsequently in Section IV.D.2.a. The ionization constant depends on the strength of the Lewis acid. For example, the propagating species are almost completely ionized in polymerizations of vinyl ethers with SbCL-, BCLt-, and SnCl5- counteranions, but only partially ionized when the counteranions are I3- or Zn3-. 

Because the reactivities of ions and ion pairs are similar and only weakly affected by the structure of the counteranions, kp + or kp determined by either stopped-flow studies or y-radiated systems (cf., Section IV. 13) can be used in Eq. (75). The equilibrium constant of ionization can then be estimated from the apparent rate constant of propagation and the rate constant of propagation by carbenium ions [Eq. (77)]. For example, Kf 10-s mol-,L in styrene polymerizations initiated by R-Cl/SnCl4 [148]. Kt for vinyl ether polymerization catalyzed by Lewis acids can also be estimated by using the available rate constant of ionic propagation (kp- = 104 mol Lsec-1 at 0° C) [217], The kinetic data in Ref. 258 yields Kj == 10 3 mol - l L in IBVE polymerizations initiated by HI/I2 in toluene at 0° C and Kf 10-1 mol- -L initiated by HI/ZnI2/acetone can be calculated from Eq. (76). 

A similar effect was observed for trityl derivatives. Initiation of vinyl ether polymerization with trityl salts is very slow and often incomplete [257]. This precludes preparation of well-defined polymers with predetermined molecular weights and narrow MWDs. However, polymerization of vinyl ethers initiated by trityl salts in the presence of tetrahydrothiophene leads to controlled polymers [135]. The equilibrium constant for the formation of sulfonium ions is much smaller for trityl salts than for the growing species (K, < Kp), which increases the ratio of the apparent initiation to the propagation rate constants a thousand times (Scheme 14) ... 

The overall polymerization rates and the apparent rate constants of propagation (/c/pp = RP/[M][I]0) for the same initiating system are, however, very different for each class of monomers. For example, the same initiating system, that will polymerize a-methylstyrene (aMeSt) in 1 h, will complete polymerization of vinyl ether within less than 1 min but would require a few days to polymerize styrene and isobutene under otherwise identical conditions. This trend is due to the equilibria between dormant and active species. In this case the apparent rate constant of propagation is the product of the rate constant of propagation (weakly depending on monomer structure) and the ionization constant (kpapp = kp + -Kf). This equilibrium constant is much higher for more stable cations derived from vinyl ethers than from aMeSt, than styrene or isobutene. 

Thus, how should block copolymers between styrene and a vinyl ether be prepared Starting with styrene or with a vinyl ether In the former system, the propagating styryl cation is intrinsically more reactive but present at much lower concentration. A rough estimate of the ratio of cation reactivities is = 103 but the ratio of carbocations concentrations is = I0 S. Thus, the ratio of apparent rate constants of addition is 10-2. Macromolecular species derived from styrene should add to a standard alkene one hundred times slower than those derived from vinyl ethers. Thus, one cross-over reaction St - VE will be accompanied by =100 homopropagation steps VE - VE. Therefore, in addition to a small amount of block copolymer, a mixture of two homopolymers will be formed. Blocking efficiency should be very low, accordingly. 

The classical work of Eley and collaborators described the vinyl ethers-iodine systems as being characterised by the parallel complexation of the monomer by the catalyst and initiation due to the attack of I onto the double bond. It was on this mechanistic basis that Okamura et applied their scheme to calculate propagation rate constants in 1,2-dichloroethane and -hexane. A criticism of that method has already been given in the previous section and the low values of kp obtained in this study prove that the gross approximations implicit in the method, mainly the neglect of the iodine bound to the polymer, introduce large errors in the estimate of the rate constants. 

The first detailed study of a cationic polymerisation of vinyl ethers induced by stable carbenium salts was reported in 1971 by Bawn et Isobutyl vinyl ether was polymerised with trityl and trc ylium hexadiloroantimonates and trityl fluoroborate. From calorimetric measurements of the rate of polymerisation, it was concluded that all the initiator used was consumed roon after mixii and the assumption was made that an equal number of active species was formed in this fast initiation reaction. Propagation rate constants were thus obtained and attributed to the action of free ions. It was als) claimed that no significant termination took place during the polymerisation ce successive monomer additions produced polymerisations having the same propagation rate constant. Later work performed in the same laboratory on other vinyl ethers... 

The authors pointed out that the diphenylboronium ions has similar characteristics to the trityl ion and is therefore a good initiator for the polymerisation of vinyl ethers. The kinetic invest ation of these sterns did not allow the determination of an absolute rate constant of propagation. 

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