RING-OPENING POLYMERIZATION OF TRIMETHYLENE CARBONATE CATALYZED BY NOVEL SINGLE COMPONENT RARE EARTH CALIXARENE COMPLEXES

In this paper,ring-opening polymerization of trimethylene carbonate(TMC)with rare earth(Nd,Y,La)ρ-tert- butylcalix[n]arene(n=4,6,and 8)complexes as catalysts has been studied.Poly(trimethylene carbonate)(PTMC)with M_v of 21,400 was produced by bulk polymerization under the conditions as follows:[TMC]_0/[Nd](molar ratio)=1000,80℃, 8 h.Mechanism study reveals that the polymerization proceeds via a coordination mechanism.

Ring-opening Polymerization ofε-Caprolactone Using Lanthanide Tris(4-tert-butylphenolate)s as a Single-component Initiator

The ring-opening polymerization of e-caprolactone (CL) initiated by novel single lanthanide tris(4-tert-butylphenolate)s [Ln(OTBP)3] is reported. Single-component La(OTBP)3 can effectively prepare polycaprolactone (PCL) with over 90% yield and viscosity average molecular weight about 60 x 10 under quite mild conditions: molar ratio of CL to initiator is 1000, 60 C, 2 h in toluene. Mechanism study indicates that the monomer inserts into the growing chain via the break of acyl-oxygen bond of CL.

RING-OPENING POLYMERIZATION OFε-CAPROLACTONE USING LANTHANIDE TRIS(N-PHENYL-3,5-DI-T-BUTYLSALICYLALDIMINATO)S AS SINGLE COMPONENT CATALYST

Ring-opening polymerization of ε-caprolactone has been carried out by using rare earth Schiff base complexes： lanthanide tris（N-phenyl-3,5-di-t-butylsalicylaldiminato）s [Ln（OPBS）3] as single component catalyst for the first time. The influences of different rare earth elements, monomer and catalyst concentration as well as reaction time on the polymerization were investigated. Mechanism studies showed that monomer inserts into the active site with the acyl-oxygen bond scission rather than the break of alkyl-oxygen bond.

SYNTHESIS, CHARACTERIZATION AND RING-OPENING POLYMERIZATION OF CYCLIC (ARYLENE PHOSPHONATE) OLIGOMERS

A series of cyclic (arylene phosphonate) oligomers were prepared by reaction of phenylphosphonic dichloride (PPD) with various bisphenols under pseudo-high dilution conditions via interfacial polycondensation. The yield of cyclic (arylene phosphonate) oligomers is over 85% by using hexadecyltrimethylammoniun bromide as phase transfer catalyst (PTC) at 0 'C . The structures of the cyclic oligomers were confirmed by a combination of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) and IR analysis. These cyclic oligomers undergo facile ring-opening polymerization in the melt by using potassium 4,4'-biphenoxide as the initiator to give linear polyphosphonate. Free-radical ring-opening polymerization of cyclic(arylene phosphonate) oligomers containing sulfur linkages was also performed in the melt using 2,2'-dithiobis(benzothiazole) (DTB) as the initiator at 270 °C and the resulting polymer had a Mw, of 8 × 103 with a molecular weight distribution of 4. Ring-opening copolymerization of these cyclic oligomers with cyclic carbonate oligomers was also achieved. The average molecular weight of the resulting copolymer is higher than the corresponding homopolymer and the thermal stability of the copolymer is better than the corresponding homopolymer.

SYNTHESIS OF POLY(5,5-DIMETHYL-1,3-DIOXAN-2-ONE)BY LIPASE-CATALYZED RING-OPENING POLYMERIZATION

Porcine pancreas lipase (PPL) and PPL immobilized on narrow distributed micron-sized glass beads wereemployed successfully for the ring-opening polymerization of 5, 5-dimethyl-1, 3-dioxan-2-one (DTC) for the first time.Different polymerization conditions such as enzyme concentration and reaction temperature were studied. Immobilized PPLexhibits higher activity than native PPL. Along wth the increasing enzyme concentration, the molecular weigh of resultingPDTC decreases. PPL immobilized on narrow distributed micron-sized glass beads has outstanding recyclability. For thethird recycle time, immobilized PPL exhibits the highest catalytic activity and with high activity even after the fifth recyletime for the synthesis of PDTC. The ~1H-NMR spectra indicate that decarboxylation does not occur during the ring-openingpolymerization.

A Series of Rare Earth Phenolates Substituted by Alkyl Groups for D,L-Lactide Ring-Opening Polymerization

Single component rare earth phenolates substituted by various alkyl groups have been prepared and the correlation between the aryloxides＇ structure and catalytic activity in the ring-opening polymerization of D,L-lactide has also been investigated.The catalytic activity of all rare earth aryloxides,characteristics of the ring-opening polymerization as well as polymerization kinetics and mechanism were investigated.The results showed that both phenolates＇ catalytic activities and polymerization characteristics changed regularly,keeping in good concordance with variations in substitutents＇ number on phenol and structure of aryloxide ligands.The stronger ability of electron-donation of alkyl groups,the higher catalytic activity.Moreover,the more numbers of substituted alkyl on phenyl ring,the higher catalytic activity.The analyses of polymer ends revealed that the polymerization proceeded via a coordination-acyl-oxygen bond cleavage-insertion mechanism.

Cationic ring-opening polymerization of 3,3-bis(chloromethyl)oxacyclobutane in ionic liquids

Cationic ring-opening polymerization of 3,3-bis（chloromethyl）oxacyclobutane catalyzed by BF3.OEt2 was carded out in ionic liquids [bmim]BF4 and [bmim]PF6. The influences of BCMO concentration and molar ratio of BCMO/BF3.OEt2 on the molecular weights and yield of PBCMO were investigated. The polymerization in ionic liquids proceed to high conversions, although molecular weights are limited, similar to polymerization in organic solvent such as CH2Cl2. Follow a viewpoint of green chemistry, we feel ionic liquid [bmim]BF4 is superior to [bmim]PF6. Extracting [bmim]PF6 from the product using organic solvent as extractant limits its advantage as a green reaction media.

Tetrahydrosalen backboned gadolinium complex as initiator for the ring-opening polymerization of ε-caprolactone

Tetrahydrosalen ligand was employed in the synthesis of gadolinium complex. The ligand was deprotoned by LiBu, and the afforded lithium salt was reacted with anhydrous GdCl3 to produce the gadolinium complex through salt metathesis. This complex was successfully used to initiate the ring-opening polymerization of ε-caprolactone. The initiation conditions in different temperature, monomer-to-initiator ratio and time were investigated. Under the condition： [ε-caprolactone]：[catalyst] = 600, 56 ℃, toluene： 2 ml, poly（ε-caprolactone） （PCL） with Mw = 11,2782 and PDI = 1.96 was achieved.

RING-OPENING POLYMERIZATION OF TRIMETHYLENE CARBONATE BY CALIX[8]ARENE-NEODYMIUM

Ring-opening polymerization of trimethylene carbonate (TMC) with a rare earth calixarene compound as catalyst has been studied for the first time. The effect of TMC/Nd (molar ratio) and polymerization conditions were investigated in detail. It was found that calix[8]arene-neodymium is a highly effective catalyst for the bulk polymerization of TMC and gives high molecular weight (M-v = 60,000) polymer. The optimum conditions of TMC polymerization were found to be as follows:TMC/Nd (molar ratio) = 2,000, 80 degrees C, 16 h. The polymers were characterized by NMR, GPC and DSC. Studying the mechanism by NMR showed that the polymerization of TMC catalyzed by calix[8]arene-neodymium proceeds via a cationic mechanism.

RING-OPENING POLYMERIZATION OF l,4-DIOXAN-2-ONE INITIATED BY LANTHANUM TRIS(2,6-DI-TERT-BUTYL-4-METHYLPHENOLATE)

The ring-opening polymerization of 1,4-dioxan-2-one （PDO） was carried out by lanthanum tris（2,6-di-tert-butyl-4- methylphenolate） （La（OAr）3） as novel single component initiaLor. The influences of polymerization reaction temperature and the molar ratio of monomer to initiator on the monomer conversion and molecular weight of poly（1,4-dioxan-2-one） （PPDO） were explored. PPDO with high viscosity average molecular weight of 1.95×10^5 can be prepared at 40℃ when [PDO]/ [La（OAr）3] molar ratio was 800. Mechanism investigation shows that the polymerization proceeds through a ＂coordination- insertion＂ mechanism with selective rupture of acyl-oxygen be,nd of PDO.

Mononuclear and Dinuclear Yttrium Complexes Supported by Pyrrolide Ligands： Syntheses, Structures and Catalytic Behaviors towards the Ring-opening Polymerization of ε-Caprolactone

The syntheses, structures and catalytic activities of two yttrium complexes supported by pyrrolide ligands are reported. Treatment of Y（N（Si Me3）2）3 with one equivalent of H3bptd（H3bptd = 1,9-bis（2-pyrrolyl）-2,5,8-triazanona-1,8-diene） in THF gave a complex of composition [Y（bptd）（THF）]2（1）. Reaction of Y（N（Si Me3）2）3 with one equivalent of H3tpa（H3tpa = tris（pyrrolyl-α-methyl）amine） in THF generated [Y（tpa）（THF）3]（2） in good yield. Complexes 1and 2 have been characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, elemental analyses and NMR spectroscopy. Complex 1 is dinuclear. The two metal centers are doubly bridged by two amine nitrogen atoms to form a Y–N–Y–N four-membered rhombus ring. The geometries of Y^3＋ ions in 1and 2 are well described as pentagonal bipyramid and capped octahedron, respectively. The ring-opening polymerization reactions of ε-caprolactone initiated by 1 and 2, respectively, were investigated. They both exhibited good catalytic activity for the polymerization of ε-caprolactone. All of the obtained polymers have high molecular weights and relatively narrower PDIs. The polymers generated by 2 possessed polydispersity close to 1.1. The good catalytic activities of 1 and 2 reveal their potential applications in polymer industry.

RING-OPENING POLYMERIZATION OF ε-CAPROLACTONE BY LANTHANOCENE CATALYSIS

Ring-opening polymerization of ε-caprolactone (CL) catalyzed bylanthanocenes, O(C_2H_4C_5H_3CH_3)_2YCl (Cat-YCl) and Me_2Si[(CH_3)_3SiC_5H_3]_2NdCl(Cat-NdCl) has been carried out for the first time. It has been found that both yttroceneand neodymocene are very efficient to catalyze the polymerization of CL, giving high molec-ular weight poly (ε-caprolactone) (PCL ). The effects of [cat] / [ε- CL] molar ratio, polymeriza-tion temperature and time, as well as solvents were investigated and polymerization tem-perature is found to be the most important factor affecting the polymerization. The bulkpolymerization gives higher molecular weight PCL and higher conversion than that in solu-tion polymerization. NaBPh_4 was found to promote the polymerization of ε-caprolactone,and thus to increase both the polymerization conversion and MW of poly (ε- caprolactone ).

TARTARIC ACID TEMPLATED SYNTHESIS OF MESOPOROUS Ti-INCORPORATED SILICA AND ITS CATALYTIC ACTIVITY FOR THE RING-OPENING POLYMERIZATION OF ε-CAPROLACTONE

Ti-incorporated mesoporous silica materials with pore diameters of 3-4 nm have been prepared via the co-hydrolysis and co-condensation reactions, that is the sol-gel reactions, of titanium (IV) tetrabutoxide and tetraethylorthosilicate in the presence of tartaric acid as template, followed by extraction with ethanol to remove the templatemolecules. The materials were characterized in detail by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, nitrogen adsorption-desorption test, powder X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy and X-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy. Theresults indicate that the Ti-containing silica materials have large specific surface areas (ca. 1200 m^2 g^(-1)) and pore volumes(ca. 0.900 cm^3 g^(-1)). The mesoporosity arises from disordered interconnecting channels or pores. The Ti-incorporated silicasexhibit catalytic activity for the ring-opening polymerization of ε-caprolactone, otherwise, the pure mesoporous silicamaterial shows no catalytic activity under the identical conditions.

SINGLE LANTHANUM TRIS(N-PHENYLETHYL-3,5-DI-t-BUTYLSALICYLALDIMINATO)S INITIATOR FOR RING-OPENING POLYMERIZATION OF 1,4-DIOXAN-2-ONE IN BULK

A rare earth Schiff base complex:lanthanum tris(N-phenylethyl-3,5-di-t-butylsalicylaldiminato)s [La(OPEBS)_3] was successfully applied as single component initiator for the ring-opening polymerization of 1,4-dioxan-2-one (PDO) in bulk.The influence of reaction conditions,such as polymerization temperature,the molar ratio of the monomer to initiator (M/I) on the monomer conversion and molecular weight of the polymer has been investigated.Poly(1,4-dioxan-2-one) with a viscosity-average molecular weight (My) o...

THE EFFECTS OF MONOMER STRUCTURE OF CYCLIC KETENE ACETALS ON THE BEHAVIOR OF CONTROLLED RADICAL RING-OPENING POLYMERIZATION

Polymerization of three cyclic ketene acetals: i.e., 5,6-benzo-2-methylene-1,3-dioxepane (BMDO), 2-methylene-4phenyl-1,3-dioxolane (MPDO) and 4,7-dimethyl-2-methylene-1,3-dioxepane (DMMDO) were carried out in the presence of ethyl alpha -bromobutyrate/CuBr/2,2'-bipyridine respectively. The structures of poly(BMDO), poly(MPDO) and poly(DMMDO) were characterized by H-1 and C-13-NMR spectra. The effects of monomer structure on the behavior of atom transfer free radical ring-opening polymerization were investigated and the mechanism of controlled free radical ring-opening polymerization was discussed.

SYNTHESIS AND CATIONIC RING-OPENING POLYMERIZATION OF 1, 4-ANHYDRO-2, 3-DI-O-(P-AZIDOBENZYL)-α-D-RIBOPYRANOSE

New highly stereoregular 2, 3 -di- O-(p-azidobenzyl )-(1 →5 ) - α-D -ribofuranan was synthesized byselective ring-opening polymerization of 1, 4-anhydro-2, 3 - di-O -(p-azidobenzyl )-α-D -ribopyranose(ADABR) using phosphorus pentafluoride or tin tetrachloride as catalyst at low temperature indichloromethane. The monomer was obtained by the reaction of p - bromomethyl -phenyleneazide with 1, 4 -anhydro-α-D-ribose in DMF. The structure of poly(ADANR) was identified by specific rotation and ^(13)C-NMR spectroscopy. Acid chloride-AgCl_4 complex catalyst such as CH_2=C(CH_3)C^+OClO_4^- used in thepolymerization resulted in polymers with mixed structures, i.e. (1→5)-α-D-ribofuranosidic and (1→4)-β-D-ribopyranosidic units. However, with C_6H_5C^+OClO_4^- as catalyst, pure (1→5)-α-D-ribofuranan was obtained.The effects of catalyst, polymerization temperature and time on polymer stereoregularity were examined, andthe mechanism of the ring-opening polymerization was discussed.

Dendritic Macroinitiator for the Ring-Opening Polymerization of γ-Benzyl L-Glutamate N-Carboxyanhydride

By using OH-terminated polyarylether dendrimer and N-Fmoc-glycine as raw materials, the dendritic polyarylether 2-aminoacetate (G3-NH2) was synthesized via two step reactions. G3-NH2 as a macroinitiator for the ring-opening polymerization of -benzyl L-glutamate N-carboxyanhydride was investigated. It is found that the resulting copolymers possessed relatively high molecular weight and narrow molecular weight distribution (1.12< Mw/Mn<1.28).

In situ generated,tetrahydrosalen stabilized yttrium borohydride complex:Efficient initiator for the ring-opening polymerization of ε-caprolactone

In this paper, we report the preparation of a new tertrahydrosalen-stabilized yttrium complex which was employed as an initiator-precursor for the polymerization of ε-caprolactone （ε-CL） in the presence of NaBH4 to give interesting hydroxytelechelic poly（ε-caprolactone） （PCL）. The effect of [monomer]/[initiator] （[CL]/[I]）, temperature and time on the polymerization was investigated. It was found that under the condition： [CL]/[I] = 1200, 55℃, toluene： 0.5 mL, ε-CL： 0.5 mL, PCL with Mw = 32,600 and PDI = 1.47 was obtained.

THE RING-OPENING POLYMERIZATION OF D,L-LACTIDE WITH ONE COMPONENT RARE EARTH CATALYST

(D, L)-Lactide (LA) was first polymerized with one component of rare earth catalysts [Nd(naph)(3), Nd(oct)(3), Nd(O-iPr)(3), Nd(AcAc)(3), Y(AcAc)(3), Sm(AcAc)(3), Er(AcAc)(3))] respectively in solution and in melt state. The effects of [Cat]/[La] molar ratio, solvents, polymerization time, temperature, various rare earth Elements and ligands were investigated in detail. The results showed that both the conversion of polymerization and the molecular weight (MW) of poly (D, L-Lactide) (PLA) in melt polymerization are higher than that in solution polymerization, but the polymerization rate in melt was lower than in solution. The molecular weight distribution (MWD) of PLA is broader with increasing temperature. X-ray study indicated that PLA obtained by Nd(AcAc)(3) in melt polymerization is an amorphous polymer.