Radical thermally initiated

The photoreduction of aromatic ketones by polymeric systems having tertiary amine end groups provides an ele nt way for the preparation of block copolymers with high efficiency [138]. The method consists of the synthesis of the bifimctional azo-derivative 4,4 -azobis (iV,i -dimethylaminoethyl-4-cyano pentanoate) (ADCP), successively used as fiee radical thermal initiator for the preparation of tertiary amine-terminated poly(styrene). 

AIBN monomer (2 % w/w) was used as free radical thermal initiator in 15 mL of THF solutions reaction vials. Under nitrogen atmosphere the polar composition was prepared and injected into the vials, and freeze-thaw cycles were followed to eliminate any trace amount of dissolved oxygen under 60 °C for 72 h. The excess amount of methanol (100 mL) was poured into the reaction mixture, filtered and the product obtained. The product again dissolved in DMF and, methanol was used to re-precipitate the product. The unreacted monomers were removed by extraction technique. At 70 °C under vacuum condition for several days the product was dried until the constant weight achieved. The obtained dried polymers were highly soluble in polar solvents. Gravimetric method was used for the determination of conversions. 

Photoinitiation is not as important as thermal initiation in the overall picture of free-radical chain-growth polymerization. The foregoing discussion reveals, however, that the contrast between the two modes of initiation does provide insight into and confirmation of various aspects of addition polymerization. The most important application of photoinitiated polymerization is in providing a third experimental relationship among the kinetic parameters of the chain mechanism. We shall consider this in the next section. 

Water-soluble peroxide salts, such as ammonium or sodium persulfate, are the usual initiators. The initiating species is the sulfate radical anion generated from either the thermal or redox cleavage of the persulfate anion. The thermal dissociation of the persulfate anion, which is a first-order process at constant temperature (106), can be greatly accelerated by the addition of certain reducing agents or small amounts of polyvalent metal salts, or both (87). By using redox initiator systems, rapid polymerizations are possible at much lower temperatures (25—60°C) than are practical with a thermally initiated system (75—90°C). 

When initiator is first added the reaction medium remains clear while particles 10 to 20 nm in diameter are formed. As the reaction proceeds the particle size increases, giving the reaction medium a white milky appearance. When a thermal initiator, such as AIBN or benzoyl peroxide, is used the reaction is autocatalytic. This contrasts sharply with normal homogeneous polymerizations in which the rate of polymerization decreases monotonicaHy with time. Studies show that three propagation reactions occur simultaneously to account for the anomalous auto acceleration (17). These are chain growth in the continuous monomer phase chain growth of radicals that have precipitated from solution onto the particle surface and chain growth of radicals within the polymer particles (13,18). 

However, because of the high temperature nature of this class of peroxides (10-h half-life temperatures of 133—172°C) and their extreme sensitivities to radical-induced decompositions and transition-metal activation, hydroperoxides have very limited utiUty as thermal initiators. The oxygen—hydrogen bond in hydroperoxides is weak (368-377 kJ/mol (88.0-90.1 kcal/mol) BDE) andis susceptible to attack by higher energy radicals ... 

Styrene is a colorless Hquid with an aromatic odor. Important physical properties of styrene are shown in Table 1 (1). Styrene is infinitely soluble in acetone, carbon tetrachloride, benzene, ether, / -heptane, and ethanol. Nearly all of the commercial styrene is consumed in polymerization and copolymerization processes. Common methods in plastics technology such as mass, suspension, solution, and emulsion polymerization can be used to manufacture polystyrene and styrene copolymers with different physical characteristics, but processes relating to the first two methods account for most of the styrene polymers currendy (ca 1996) being manufactured (2—8). Polymerization generally takes place by free-radical reactions initiated thermally or catalyticaHy. Polymerization occurs slowly even at ambient temperatures. It can be retarded by inhibitors. 

When 4-(mercaptoacetamido)diphenylamine [60766-26-9] (39) is added to EPDM mbber and mixed in a torque rheometer for 15 minutes at 150°C, 87% of it chemically binds to the elastomer (24). The mechanical and thermal stress placed on the polymer during mixing mptures the polymer chain, producing radicals that initiate the grafting process. 

This thermal initiation generates two free radicals by breaking a covalent bond. The aldehyde radical is long-lived and does not markedly influence the subsequent mechanism. The methane radical is highly reactive and generates most reactions. 

Reaction lOe is relatively slow in the Re2(CO)io initiating system, and the thermal reaction between Re(CO)6 formed in 10a and CCI4 generated CCI3 radicals thermally in the dark and so is responsible for the aftereffect. However, Mn2(CO)io reacts rapidly according to lOe and no aftereffect is observed for the Mn2(CO)io/CCl4 photoinitiating system,... 

The trapped radicals, most of which are presumably polymeric species, have been used to initiate graft copolymerization [127,128]. For this purpose, the irradiated polymer is brought into contact with a monomer that can diffuse into the polymer and thus reach the trapped radical sites. This reaction is assumed to lead almost exclusively to graft copolymer and to very little homopolymer since it can be conducted at low temperature, thus minimizing thermal initiation and chain transfer processes. Moreover, low-molecular weight radicals, which would initiate homopolymerization, are not expected to remain trapped at ordinary temperatures. Accordingly, irradiation at low temperatures increases the grafting yield [129]. 

Aspects of thermal initiation have been reviewed by Moad et al., w Pryor and Laswell, 10 Kurbatov/" and Hall.312 It is often difficult to establish whether initiation is actually a process involving only the monomer. Trace impurities in the monomers or the reaction vessel may prove to be the actual initiators. Purely thermal homopolymerizations to high molecular weight polymers have only been demonstrated unequivocally for S and its derivatives and MMA. For these and other systems, the identity of the initiating radicals and the mechanisms by which they are formed remain subjects of controversy. 

In eq. 8, the rate of polymerization is shown as being half order in initiator (T). This is only true for initiators that decompose to two radicals both of which begin chains. The form of this term depends on the particular initiator and the initiation mechanism. The equation takes a slightly different form in the case of thermal initiation (S), redox initiation, diradical initiation, etc. Side reactions also cause a departure from ideal behavior. 

Disulfide derivatives and hexasubstituted ethanes2,15 may also be used in this context to make cnd-functional polymers and block copolymers. The use of dilhiuram disulfides as thermal initiators was explored by Clouet, Nair and coworkers.206 Chain ends are formed by primary radical termination and by transfer to the dilhiuram disulfide. The chain ends formed are thermally stable under normal polymerization conditions. The use of similar compounds as photoin iferters, when some living characteristics may be achieved, is described in Section 9.3.2.1.1. 

If there is an external source of free radicals (e.g. from thermal initiation in S polymerization or from an added conventional initiator) eq. 5 may again apply. The rate of polymerization becomes independent of the concentration oflX and, as long as the number of radicals generated remains small with respect to [IX] , a high fraction of living chains and low dispersilies is still possible. The validity of these equations has been confirmed for NMP and with appropriate modification has also been shown to apply in the case of ATRP.3... 

NMP is most commonly used for S polymerization. For S polymerizations carried out at temperatures greater than 100 °C, thermal initiation provides some rate enhancement and a mechanism for controlling the excess of nitroxide that is formed as a consequence of radical-radical termination and the persistent radical... 

The reactions are radical chain processes (Scheme 3) and, therefore, the initial silyl radicals are generated by some initiation. The most popular thermal initiator is azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN), with a half-life of 1 h at 81 °C. Other azocompounds are used from time to time depending on the reaction conditions. EtsB in the presence of very small amounts of oxygen is an excellent initiator for lower temperature reactions (down to —78°C). The procedures and examples for reductive removal of functional groups by (TMSlsSiH are numerous and have recently been summarized in the book Organosilanes in Radical Chemistry. ... 

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