Radical generators

Methyl free radicals, generated either by thermolysis of lead tetracetate in acetic acid solution (401) or by radical cleavage of dimethylsulfoxide by H2O2 and iron (II) salts (408), afford 2- and 5-methylthiazole in the proportion of 86 and 14%, respectively, in agreement with the nucleophilic character of alkyl free radicals and the positive charge of the 2-carbon atom of the thiazole (6). 

CycJohexyl free radicals, generated by photolysis of t-butyl peroxide in excess cyclohexane, also possess nucleophilic character (410). Their attack on thiazole in neutral medium leads to an increase of the 2-isomer and a decrease of 5-isomer relative to the phenylation reaction, in agreement with the positive charge of the 2-position and the negative charge of the 5-position (6). 

An important descriptor of a chain reaction is the kinetic chain length, ie, the number of cycles of the propagation steps (eqs. 2 and 3) for each new radical introduced into the system. The chain length for a hydroperoxide reaction is given by equation (10) where HPE = efficiency to hydroperoxide, %, and 2/ = number of effective radicals generated per mol of hydroperoxide decomposed. For 100% radical generation efficiency, / = 1. For 90% efficiency to hydroperoxide, the minimum chain length (/ = 1) is 14. 

As the temperature is increased through the NTC zone, the contribution of alkylperoxy radicals falls. Littie alkyl hydroperoxide is made and hydrogen peroxide decomposition makes a greater contribution to radical generation. Eventually the rate goes through a minimum. At this point, reaction 2 is highly displaced to the left and alkyl radicals are the dominant radical species. 

A typical oxidation is conducted at 700°C (113). Methyl radicals generated on the surface are effectively injected into the vapor space before further reaction occurs (114). Under these conditions, methyl radicals are not very reactive with oxygen and tend to dimerize. Ethane and its oxidation product ethylene can be produced in good efficiencies but maximum yield is limited to ca 20%. This limitation is imposed by the susceptibiUty of the intermediates to further oxidation (see Figs. 2 and 3). A conservative estimate of the lower limit of the oxidation rate constant ratio for ethane and ethylene with respect to methane is one, and the ratio for methanol may be at least 20 (115). 

Aromatic diacyl peroxides such as dibenzoyl peroxide (BPO) [94-36-0] may be used with promoters to lower the usehil decomposition temperatures of the peroxides, although usually with some sacrifice to radical generation efficiency. The most widely used promoter is dimethylaniline (DMA). The BPO—DMA combination is used for hardening (curing) of unsaturated polyester resin compositions, eg, body putty in auto repair kits. Here, the aromatic amine promoter attacks the BPO to initially form W-benzoyloxydimethylanilinium benzoate (ion pair) which subsequentiy decomposes at room temperature to form a benzoate ion, a dimethylaniline radical cation, and a benzoyloxy radical that, in turn, initiates the curing reaction (33) ... 

This reaction is one example of several possible radical transition-metal ion interactions. The significance of this and similar reactions is that radicals are destroyed and are no longer available for initiation of useful radical reactions. Consequentiy, the optimum use levels of transition metals are very low. Although the hydroperoxide decomposes quickly when excess transition metal is employed, the efficiency of radical generation is poor. 

There are many chemical methods for generating radicals reported in the hterature that do not involve conventional initiators. Specific examples are included in References 64—79. Most of these radical-generating systems carmot broadly compete with the use of conventional initiators in industrial polymer apphcations owing to cost or efficiency considerations. However, some systems may be weU-suited for initiating specific radical reactions or polymerizations, eg, grafting of monomers to cellulose using ceric ion (80). 

Addition reactions between isoprene and tetrahalomethanes can be induced by peroxides, high energy ionizing radiation, or other radical-generating... 

Radicals generated from water-soluble initiator might not enter a micelle (14) because of differences in surface-charge density. It is postulated that radical entry is preceded by some polymerization of the monomer in the aqueous phase. The very short oligomer chains are less soluble in the aqueous phase and readily enter the micelles. Other theories exist to explain how water-soluble radicals enter micelles (15). The micelles are presumed to be the principal locus of particle nucleation (16) because of the large surface area of micelles relative to the monomer droplets. 

An expression for the number of particles formed during Stage I was developed, assuming micellar entry as the formation mechanism (13), where k is a constant varying from 0.37 to 0.53 depending on the relative rates of radical adsorption in micelles and polymer particles, r is the rate of radical generation, m is the rate of particle growth, is the surface area covered by one surfactant molecule, and S is the total concentration of soap molecules. 

A third source of initiator for emulsion polymerisation is hydroxyl radicals created by y-radiation of water. A review of radiation-induced emulsion polymerisation detailed efforts to use y-radiation to produce styrene, acrylonitrile, methyl methacrylate, and other similar polymers (60). The economics of y-radiation processes are claimed to compare favorably with conventional techniques although worldwide iadustrial appHcation of y-radiation processes has yet to occur. Use of y-radiation has been made for laboratory study because radical generation can be turned on and off quickly and at various rates (61). 

The ionic nature of the radicals generated, by whatever technique, can contribute to the stabilisation of latex particles. Soapless emulsion polymerisations can be carried out usiag potassium persulfate as initiator (62). It is often important to control pH with buffets dutiag soapless emulsion p olymerisation. 

Polymerization using oxygen is not well understood it is known that oxygen copolymerizes with ethylene to form peroxidic copolymers (10). Other free-radical generators such as azo compounds and carbon—carbon compounds have found only limited use in the synthesis of LDPE. 

The ultimate fate of the oxygen-centered radicals generated from alkyl hydroperoxides depends on the decomposition environment. In vinyl monomers, hydroperoxides can be used as efficient sources of free radicals because vinyl monomers generally are efficient radical scavengers which effectively suppress induced decomposition. When induced decomposition occurs, the hydroperoxide is decomposed with no net increase of radicals in the system (see eqs. 8, 9, and 10). Hydroperoxides usually are not effective free-radical initiators since radical-induced decompositions significantly decrease the efficiency of radical generation. Thermal decomposition-rate studies in dilute solutions show that alkyl hydroperoxides have 10-h HLTs of 133—172°C. 

The radicals are destroyed and are not available to take part in the desired radical reactions, eg, polymerizations. Thus, transition-metal ion concentrations of metal—hydroperoxide initiating systems are optimized to maximize radical generation. 

Because di-/ fZ-alkyl peroxides are less susceptible to radical-induced decompositions, they are safer and more efficient radical generators than primary or secondary dialkyl peroxides. They are the preferred dialkyl peroxides for generating free radicals for commercial appHcations. Without reactive substrates present, di-/ fZ-alkyl peroxides decompose to generate alcohols, ketones, hydrocarbons, and minor amounts of ethers, epoxides, and carbon monoxide. Photolysis of di-/ fZ-butyl peroxide generates / fZ-butoxy radicals at low temperatures (75), whereas thermolysis at high temperatures generates methyl radicals by P-scission (44). 

Phenols with bulky ortho- and para-substituents, eg, phenoHc antioxidants, do not undergo this reaction however, they scavenge radicals generated by thermolysis of diacyl peroxides and other peroxides. Diacyl peroxides react with potassium superoxide, KO2, forming singlet oxygen (207). 

Polymerization. The most important reaction of vinyl chloride is its polymerization and copolymerization in the presence of a radical-generating initiator. 

Emulsion Polymerization. Poly(vinyl acetate)-based emulsion polymers are produced by the polymerization of an emulsified monomer through free-radicals generated by an initiator system. Descriptions of the technology may be found in several references (35—39). 

Polymerization Initiator. Some unsaturated monomers can be polymerized through the aid of free radicals generated, as transient intermediates, in the course of a redox reaction. The electron-transfer step during the redox process causes the scission of an intermediate to produce an active free radical. The ceric ion, Ce" ", is a strong one-electron oxidizing agent that can readily initiate the redox polymerization of, for example, vinyl monomers in aqueous media at near ambient temperatures (40). The reaction scheme is... 

Pyrolysis. Pyrolysis of 1,2-dichloroethane in the temperature range of 340—515°C gives vinyl chloride, hydrogen chloride, and traces of acetylene (1,18) and 2-chlorobutadiene. Reaction rate is accelerated by chlorine (19), bromine, bromotrichloromethane, carbon tetrachloride (20), and other free-radical generators. Catalytic dehydrochlorination of 1,2-dichloroethane on activated alumina (3), metal carbonate, and sulfate salts (5) has been reported, and lasers have been used to initiate the cracking reaction, although not at a low enough temperature to show economic benefits. 

---