SYNDIOTACTIC SYNTHESIS

The synthesis of isotactic polymers of higher a-olefins was discovered in 1955, simultaneously with the synthesis of isotactic PP (1,2) syndiotactic polymers of higher a-olefins were first prepared in 1990 (3,4). The first commercial production of isotactic poly(l-butene) [9003-29-6] (PB) and poly(4-methyl-l-pentene) [9016-80-2] (PMP) started in 1965 (5). 

Zirconocene complexes containing two indenyl or tetrahydroindenyl groups bridged with short links such as —CH2—CH2— or —Si(CH3)— can produce isotactic polymers of higher a-olefins (32). To synthesize syndiotactic PO, bridged zirconocene complexes with rings of two different types are required, one example of which is isopropyl(cyclopentadienyl)(l-fluorenyl)zirconocene. These complexes are used for the synthesis of syndiotactic PB... 

Cyclopentadiene itself has been used as a feedstock for carbon fiber manufacture (76). Cyclopentadiene is also a component of supported metallocene—alumoxane polymerization catalysts in the preparation of syndiotactic polyolefins (77), as a nickel or iron complex in the production of methanol and ethanol from synthesis gas (78), and as Group VIII metal complexes for the production of acetaldehyde from methanol and synthesis gas (79). 

The synthesis of isotactic and syndiotactic polymers has been achieved for a number of polymers. For example poly (methyl methacrylate) can be prepared in either isotactic or syndiotactic configurations depending on the details of the polymerisation conditions. 

A radical initiator based on the oxidation adduct of an alkyl-9-BBN (47) has been utilized to produce poly(methylmethacrylate) (48) (Fig. 31) from methylmethacrylate monomer by a living anionic polymerization route that does not require the mediation of a metal catalyst. The relatively broad molecular weight distribution (PDI = (MJM ) 2.5) compared with those in living anionic polymerization cases was attributed to the slow initiation of the polymerization.69 A similar radical polymerization route aided by 47 was utilized in the synthesis of functionalized syndiotactic polystyrene (PS) polymers by the copolymerization of styrene.70 The borane groups in the functionalized syndiotactic polystyrenes were transformed into free-radical initiators for the in situ free-radical graft polymerization to prepare s-PS-g-PMMA graft copolymers. 

By contrast, the synthesis of syndiotactic PP, s-PP, is generally catalyzed by Cs-symmetry ansa- metallocenes. For example, (16)/MAO affords PP with a pentad (rrrr) content of 86% at 25 °C.77 The stereoselectivity is highly sensitive to ligand variation. For example, substitution at the 3-position of the Cp ring with a methyl group affords heterotactic PP,78 whilst the Bu analog favors i-PP production.50,75,79... 

The synthesis of monodisperse high molecular weight syndiotactic poly(methyl methacrylate) mentioned above was possible at a polymerization temperature as low as — 95 °C [3]. However, methods to synthesize it at a relatively high temperature or to synthesize its isotactic counterpart remain to be found. When the latter is made available, the synthesis of stereo-complexes of poly(methyl methacrylate) will become the focus of considerable interest. 

Characteristic initiation behavior of rare earth metals was also found in the polymerization of polar and nonpolar monomers. In spite of the accelarated development of living isotactic [15] and syndiotactic [16] polymerizations of methyl methacrylate (MMA), the lowest polydispersity indices obtained remain in the region of Mw/Mn = 1.08 for an Mn of only 21 200. Thus, the synthesis of high molecular weight polymers (Mn > 100 x 103) with Mw/Mn < 1.05 is still an important target in both polar and nonpolar polymer chemistry. Undoubtedly, the availability of compositionally pure materials is a must for the accurate physical and chemical characterization of polymeric materials. 

Since the first report on the synthesis of syndiotactic polystyrene (sPS) by researchers at Idemitsu in the mid-1980s, a considerable amount of research has been directed toward the development of highly active,... 

The synthesis of syndiotactic alternating styrene/CO co-polymers with bidentate nitrogen-ligated Pd complexes has already been reported, but thus far, there have never been any reports of a-olefm and CO-based congeners. Syndioselective alternating co-polymerization is believed to proceed via a chain-end control mechanism. 

It is concluded that IR spectroscopy provides information on qualitative as well quantitative analyses of rubbery materials, apart from their microstructures (that is, whether cis or trans, syndiotactic, atactic or isotactic). Different types of rubber blends (compatibilised or self-crosslinked) can be identified by the infrared spectroscopy. Synthesis, and degradation of polymers can also be followed by IR spectra. Mechanism of interaction between rubbers and fillers, can also be studied by IR-spectra. Different types of chemical reactions like the milling behaviour of rubbers, mechanism of adhesion and degradation can also be studied with the help of IR spectroscopy. The technique plays a great role in the product analysis under reverse engineering. 

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