Thiols chain transfer

The effect of the initiation and termination processes on compositional heterogeneity can be seen in data presented in Figure 7.3 and Figure 7.4. The data come from a computer simulation of the synthesis of a hydroxy functional oligomer prepared from S, BA, and HEA with a thiol chain transfer agent. The recipe is similar to those used in some coatings applications. 

T. F. McCallum, III and B. Weinstein. Amine-thiol chain transfer agents. Patent US 5298585, 1994. 

Viscosity of the medium can also play a role in the kinetics due to the importance of diffusion in the observed rate constants. In the bulk radical polymerization of 2-phenoxyethyl methacrylate, thiol chain-transfer reagents operate at rates close to those observed for MMA while the rate of CCT catalyzed by 9a is an order of magnitude slower (2 x 103 at 60 °C) than that of MMA.5 The thiol reactions involve a chemically controlled hydrogen transfer event, whereas the reaction of methacrylate radicals with cobalt are diffusion controlled. The higher bulk viscosity of the 2-phenoxyethyl methacrylate has a significant influence on the transfer rate. 

In a more specific example, macromonomer composed of n-butyl methacrylate and methacrylic acid prepared by CCT was copolymerized with n-butyl acrylate containing a small portion of methyl methacrylate.341 Comparison to the equivalent copolymer made with a macromonomer prepared with a thiol chain-transfer agent demonstrated that the CCT macromonomer formed a copolymer while the thiol macromonomer did not. When these compositions were cured using trifunctional isocyanates, they were useful as both clear and pigmented automotive finishes. 

Minor peaks in the chromatogram were associated with end groups derived from benzoyl peroxide polymerisation initiator or dodecane thiol chain transfer agent reactions. End-group data were related to molecular weight data. 

The molecular weight of a polymer can be controlled through the use of a chain-transfer agent, as well as by initiator concentration and type, monomer concentration, and solvent type and temperature. Chlorinated aUphatic compounds and thiols are particularly effective chain-transfer agents used for regulating the molecular weight of acryUc polymers (94). Chain-transfer constants (C at 60°C) for some typical agents for poly(methyl acrylate) are as follows (87) ... 

In mbber production, the thiol acts as a chain transfer agent, in which it functions as a hydrogen atom donor to one mbber chain, effectively finishing chain growth for that polymer chain. The sulfur-based radical then either terminates with another radical species or initiates another chain. The thiol is used up in this process. The length of the mbber polymer chain is a function of the thiol concentration. The higher the concentration, the shorter the mbber chain and the softer the mbber. An array of thiols have subsequendy been utilized in the production of many different polymers. Some of these apphcations are as foUow ... 

Often a chain-transfer agent is added to vinyl acetate polymerizations, whether emulsion, suspension, solution, or bulk, to control the polymer molecular weight. Aldehydes, thiols, carbon tetrachloride, etc, have been added. Some emulsion procedures call for the recipe to include a quantity of preformed PVAc emulsion and sometimes antifoamers must be added (see Foams). 

The thiol ( -dodecyl mercaptan) used ia this recipe played a prominent role ia the quaUty control of the product. Such thiols are known as chain-transfer agents and help control the molecular weight of the SBR by means of the foUowiag reaction where M = monomer, eg, butadiene or styrene R(M) = growing free-radical chain k = propagation-rate constant = transfer-rate constant and k = initiation-rate constant. 

Thus the thiol 0 2 25511 is capable of terminating a growiug chain and also initiating a new chain. If the initiation-rate constant, k is not much slower than the propagation-rate constant, the net result is the growth of a new chain without any effect on the overall polymerization rate (retardation). That represents a tme chain transfer, ie, no effect on the rate but a substantial decrease iu molecular weight (12). 

However, upon terminating chains with thiols, sulphur centered low-molecular weight radicals are formed that are able to start a polymerization of the remaining monomer B. Therefore, formation of homopolymer consisting of B is inevitable if thiols are used. A suitable alternative to the classical transfer additives are degra-dative chain transfer agents, such as allylmalonic acid... 

Chain transfer is the reaction of a propagating radical with a non-radical substrate (X-Y, Scheme 6.1) to produce a dead polymer chain and a new radical (Y ) capable of initiating a polymer chain. The transfer agent (X-Y) may be a deliberate additive (e.g. a thiol) or it may be the initiator, monomer, polymer, solvent or an adventitious impurity. 

Even in the absence of added transfer agents, all polymerizations may be complicated by transfer to initiator (Sections 3.2.10 and 3.3), solvent (Section 6.2.2.5), monomer (Section 6.2.6) or polymer (Section 6.2.7). The significance of these transfer reactions is dependent upon the particular propagating radicals involved, the reaction medium and the polymerization conditions. Thiol-ene polymerization consists of sequential chain transfer and reinitiation steps and ideally no monomer consumption by propagation (Section 7.5.3). 

Thiol-ene polymerization was first reported in 1938.220 In this process, a polymer chain is built up by a sequence of thiyl radical addition and chain transfer steps (Scheme 7.17). The thiol-ene process is unique amongst radical polymerizations in that, while it is a radical chain process, the rate of molecular weight increase is more typical of a step-growth polymerization. Polymers ideally consist of alternating residues derived from the diene and the dithiol. However, when dienes with high kp and relatively low A-, monomers (e.g. acrylates) are used, short sequences of units derived from the diene are sometimes formed. 

The lanthanocene initiators also polymerize EtMA, PrMA and BuMA in a well-controlled manner, although syndiotacticity decreases as the bulk of alkyl substituent increases. Reactivity also decreases in the order MMA EtMA > PrMA > BuMA. Chain transfer to provide shorter polymer chains is accomplished by addition of ketones and thiols.460 The alkyl complexes (190) and (191) also rapidly polymerize acrylate monomers at 0°C.461,462 Both initiators deliver monodisperse poly(acrylic esters) (Mw/Mn 1.07). An enolate is again believed to be the active propagating species since the model complex (195) was also shown to initiate the polymerization of MA. 

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