Radical Polymerizations with 1 Organic Catalysts

Living Radical Polymerizations with Organic Catalysts... 

Living Radical Polymerizations with Organic Catalysts (a) Reversible chain transfer (RT)... 

Living Radical Polymerizations with Organic Catalysts Initiator ----------------------------- 2 R ... 

By contrast, much of the work performed using ruthenium-based catalysts has employed well-defined complexes. These have mostly been studied in the ATRP of MMA, and include complexes (158)-(165).400-405 Recent studies with (158) have shown the importance of amine additives which afford faster, more controlled polymerization.406 A fast polymerization has also been reported with a dimethylaminoindenyl analog of (161).407 The Grubbs-type metathesis initiator (165) polymerizes MMA without the need for an organic initiator, and may therefore be used to prepare block copolymers of MMA and 1,5-cyclooctadiene.405 Hydrogenation of this product yields PE-b-PMMA. N-heterocyclic carbene analogs of (164) have also been used to catalyze the free radical polymerization of both MMA and styrene.408... 

Poly (acetylenes) [16], There are several catalysts available for polymerization of substituted acetylenes. Whereas Ziegler-Natta catalysts are quite effective for polymerization of acetylene itself and simple alkylacetylenes, they are not active towards other substituted acetylenes, e.g. phenylacetylenes. Olefin-metathesis catalysts (Masuda, 1985 Masuda and Higashimura, 1984, 1986) and Rh(i) catalysts (Furlani et al., 1986 Tabata, 1987) are often employed. In our experience, however, many persistent radicals and typical nitrogen-containing functional groups serve as good poisons for these catalysts. Therefore, radical centres have to be introduced after construction of the polymer skeletons. Fortunately, the polymers obtained with these catalysts are often soluble in one or other organic solvent. For example, methyl p-ethynylbenzoate can be polymerized to a brick-coloured amorph- See the Appendix on p. 245 of suffixes to structural formula numbers. 

Triphenylamine derivatives are known to be efficient hole transport materials and are widely used in organic light-emitting devices. Thelakkat et al. reported the synthesis of a 2,2-bipyridine ligand capped with polyfvinyl-triphenylamine) at both ends.97 The polymer chain was synthesized by the atom transfer radical polymerization of 4-bromostyrene using 4,4-bis (chloromethyl)bipyridine as the initiator (Scheme 18). The bromide groups were then replaced by diphenylamine in the presence of palladium catalyst. Polymer 33 was then obtained by the metalation reaction. 

The Ru(II) catalysts currently used for olefin hydroarylation reactions are limited in terms of incorporation of substituents into the olefin substrate. For example, attempted hydrophenylation of isobutylene with TpRu(CO)(NCMe)(Ph) as catalyst does not yield new organic products. In addition, extension of catalysis to hetero-functionalized olefins using the TpRu(CO)(NCMe)(aryl) systems has not been successful. For electron-deficient olefins (e.g. styrene, methyl methacrylate, acrylonitrile) the TpRu(II) complexes initiate radical polymerization of the olefin in transformations that probably involve a Ru(III/II) redox change [4]. The... 

Catalysts of the Ziegler-Natta type are applied widely to the anionic polymerization of olefins and dienes. Polar monomers deactivate the system and cannot be copolymerized with olefins. J. L. Jezl and coworkers discovered that the living chains from an anionic polymerization can be converted to free radicals by the reaction with organic peroxides and thus permit the formation of block copolymers with polar vinyl monomers. In this novel technique of combined anionic-free radical polymerization, they are able to produce block copolymers of most olefins, such as alkylene, propylene, styrene, or butadiene with polar vinyl monomers, such as acrylonitrile or vinyl pyridine. 

Polyethylene glycol in the synthesis of materials. PEG has been used as a solvent in polymerization reactions. It was found to facilitate easy removal of the metal catalyst in transition metal mediated living radical polymerization (Figure 8.10). Products from this type of polymerization are usually heavily contaminated with intensely coloured copper impurities. In the case of methyl methacrylate polymerization the reaction rate was higher than in conventional organic solvents, but for styrene the reaction was slower than in xylene. 

Chapter 1 is used to review the history of polyethylene, to survey quintessential features and nomenclatures for this versatile polymer and to introduce transition metal catalysts (the most important catalysts for industrial polyethylene). Free radical polymerization of ethylene and organic peroxide initiators are discussed in Chapter 2. Also in Chapter 2, hazards of organic peroxides and high pressure processes are briefly addressed. Transition metal catalysts are essential to production of nearly three quarters of all polyethylene manufactured and are described in Chapters 3, 5 and 6. Metal alkyl cocatalysts used with transition metal catalysts and their potentially hazardous reactivity with air and water are reviewed in Chapter 4. Chapter 7 gives an overview of processes used in manufacture of polyethylene and contrasts the wide range of operating conditions characteristic of each process. Chapter 8 surveys downstream aspects of polyethylene (additives, rheology, environmental issues, etc.). However, topics in Chapter 8 are complex and extensive subjects unto themselves and detailed discussions are beyond the scope of an introductory text. 

Metal-catalyzed living or controlled radical polymerizations can generally be achieved with initiating systems consisting of an organic halide as an initiator and a metal complex as a catalyst or an activator as described above. However, these polymerizations are slow in most cases due to low concentration of the radical species, as required by the general principle, the dormant-active species equilibria, for living radical polymerization (see the Introduction). 

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