Styrene, polymerization, anionic cationic

The overall activation energy, Ea, of polymerization was determined for both monomers as a function of the nature of the initiator [66,79,81,90,92]. For styrene polymerization in cationic microemulsions, Ea was found to be much higher for KPS systems (E 95 kJ/mol) than for AIBN systems (48 kJ/mol) in spite of similar decomposition energies. This difference was attributed to different radical capture efficiencies between the anion radicals of KPS and the uncharged AIBN radicals and the positively charged... 

There are two problems in the manufacture of PS removal of the heat of polymeriza tion (ca 700 kj /kg (300 Btu/lb)) of styrene polymerized and the simultaneous handling of a partially converted polymer symp with a viscosity of ca 10 mPa(=cP). The latter problem strongly aggravates the former. A wide variety of solutions to these problems have been reported for the four mechanisms described earlier, ie, free radical, anionic, cationic, and Ziegler, several processes can be used. Table 6 summarizes the processes which have been used to implement each mechanism for Hquid-phase systems. Free-radical polymerization of styrenic systems, primarily in solution, is of principal commercial interest. Details of suspension processes, which are declining in importance, are available (208,209), as are descriptions of emulsion processes (210) and summaries of the historical development of styrene polymerization processes (208,211,212). 

Polymerization Reactions. The polymerization of butadiene with itself and with other monomers represents its largest commercial use. The commercially most important polymers are styrene—butadiene mbber (SBR), polybutadiene (BR), styrene—butadiene latex (SBL), acrylonittile—butadiene—styrene polymer (ABS), and nittile mbber (NR). The reaction mechanisms are free-radical, anionic, cationic, or coordinate, depending on the nature of the initiators or catalysts (194—196). 

Many ionogenic monomers containing a polymerizable carbon double bond have been reported in the literature, and therefore a wide variety of anionic, cationic, and amphophilic polyelectrolytes may be synthesized using free radical polymerizations. Examples of anionic ionogenic monomers which have been used to synthesize anionic polyelectrolytes include acrylic acid [4-10], methac-rylic acid [6-8,11,12], sodium styrenesulfonate [7,13,14], p-styrene carboxylic... 

Thus the growing anionic chain can assume at least two identities the free anion and the anion-cation ion pair (several types of solvated ion-pairs can also be considered). Furthermore, the kinetics of these propagation reactions, which generally show a fractional dependency on chain-end concentration ranging from one-half to unity, can best be explained by assuming that the monomer can react with both the free anion and the ion-pair (4, 5, 60, but at different rates. Thus, for example, in the polymerization of styrene by organosodium, the rate of polymerization (Rp) can be expressed as... 

The formation of ion radicals from monomers by charge transfer from the matrices is clearly evidenced by the observed spectra nitroethylene anion radicals in 2-methyltetrahydrofuran, n-butylvinylether cation radicals in 3-methylpentane and styrene anion radicals and cation radicals in 2-methyltetrahydrofuran and n-butylchloride, respectively. Such a nature of monomers agrees well with their behavior in radiation-induced ionic polymerization, anionic or cationic. These observations suggest that the ion radicals of monomers play an important role in the initiation process of radiation-induced ionic polymerization, being precursors of the propagating carbanion or carbonium ion. On the basis of the above electron spin resonance studies, the initiation process is discussed briefly. 

Smith (29) showed that the polymerization of styrene by sodium ketyls with excess sodium produced low yields of isotactic polystyrene. Smith also believed that sodium ketyls initiated the styrene polymerization in the same way as the anionic alfin catalyst. Das, Feld and Szwarc (30) proposed that the lithium naphthalene polymerization of styrene occured through an anionic propagating species arising from the dissociation of the alkyllithium into ion pairs. These could arise from the dimeric styryllithium as a dialkyllithium anion and a lithium cation... 

Phenyl and alkenyl (—CH=CH2) substituents are electron releasing but they stabilize the product anions by resonance, and so styrene and butadiene can undergo both cationic and anionic polymerizations. Anionic mechanisms are more important, however, since they provide better control over the polymer structure (Chapter 9). 

The active site in chain-growth polymerizations can be an ion instead of a free-radical. Ionic reactions are much more sensitive than free-radical processes to the effects of solvent, temperature, and adventitious impurities. Successful ionic polymerizations must be carried out much more carefully than normal free-radical syntheses. Consequently, a given polymeric structure will ordinarily not be produced by ionic initiation if a satisfactory product can be made by less expensive free-radical processes. Styrene polymerization can be initiated with free radicals or appropriate anions or cations. Commercial atactic styrene polymers are, however, all almost free-radical products. Particular anionic processes are used to make research-grade polystyrenes with exceptionally narrow molecular weight distributions and the syndiotactic polymer is produced by metallocene catalysis. Cationic polymerization of styrene is not a commercial process. 

Conjugated olefins, like styrene, butadiene, and isoprene, can be caused to polymerize by cationic and anionic as well as by free-radical processes because the active site is delocalized in all cases. The most practical ionic polymerizations for these species are anionic, because such reactions involve fewer side reactions and better control of the diene polymer microstructure than in cationic systems. Free-radical polymerization of styrene is preferred over ionie proeesses, however, for cost reasons. 

Although styrene undergoes both cationic and anionic polymerization, one method is often preferred with substituted styrenes. Which method is preferred with each compound Explain. 

Use SpartanView to compare electrostatic potential maps of styrene, 2-methyl-propene, 2-propenal, and nitroethylene. Which alkenes look like they would make good substrates for anionic polymerization For cationic polymerization Explain. 

Use SpartanView to compare electrostatic potential maps of styrene + hydride anion, 2-vinyJpyridine + hydride anion, and 3-vinylfuran + hydride anion. Are either of the two heterocycles as effective as styrene at delocalizing the developing negative charge during anionic polymerization Next, compare electrostatic potential maps of neutral styrene, 2-% inylpyridine, and 3-vinylfuran. Why don t the heterocyclic alkenes lend themselves to cationic polymerization ... 

Styrene is one of the few monomers that may be polymerized by free-radical, anionic, cationic, or coordination (Ziegler-Natta) methods. This property, common to styrene and most of its derivatives, is the consequence of the availability of a benzylic position in these monomers, which is capable of stabilizing a radical, carbanionic, or carbocationic center, as well as possessing a polarizability amenable to the charge distributions required by coordination methods of polymerization. 

There have been numerous literature reports on the preparation of block copolymers using CRP methods. These copolymers range from those synthesized wholly by CRP to those that involve either transformation from other living polymerization techniques (anionic, cationic, ring-opening, etc.) to CRP, or functionalization of a macromolecule that can then be used as a macroinitiator for CRP. Each of these methods will be addressed separately. Nitroxides were predominantly used for styrene containing copolymers, whereas ATRP was successful for the acrylates and methacrylates as well [42]. 

First, suitable monomers are required for radiation-induced polymerization proceeding by a cationic mechanism. Isobutylene, vinyl ethers, cyclopentadiene and p-pinene polymerize only by a cationic mechanism, whereas a-methyl styrene polymerizes by both cationic and anionic mechanisms. Second, it is necessary to use the conditions of the existence of ions M+ (M—>M+ + e) and the stabilization of secondary electrons capable of neutralizing M+. This is achieved (a) by carrying out polymerization at low temperatures when the lifetime of ions increases and the activity of free radicals drastically decrease, and (b) by using electron-accepting solvents or additives. 

---