Effect of head-to-head addition in vinyl acetate controlled radical polymerization: why is Co(acac)2-mediated polymerization so much better?

in Macromolecules (in press)

The controlled polymerization of vinyl acetate has been recently achieved by several techniques, but PVAc with targeted Mn and low dispersity up to very high monomer conversions and high degrees of ... [more ▼]

The controlled polymerization of vinyl acetate has been recently achieved by several techniques, but PVAc with targeted Mn and low dispersity up to very high monomer conversions and high degrees of polymerization was only obtained with Co(acac)2 as controlling agent in the so-called CMRP, a type of organometallic mediated radical polymerization (OMRP). Other techniques (including ATRP, ITP, TERP, and RAFT/MADIX) have shown a more or less pronounced slowdown in the polymerization kinetics, which was attributed to the higher strength of the C−X bond between the radical PVAc chain and the trapping agent (X) in the dormant species and to a consequent slower reactivation after a less frequent head-to-head monomer addition. The reason for the CMRP exception is clarified by the present contribution. First, a detailed investigation by 1H, 13C and multiplicity-edited HSQC and DEPT-135 NMR of the PVAc obtained by CMRP, in comparison with a regular polymer made by free radical polymerization under the same conditions, has revealed that Co(acac)2 does not significantly alter the fraction of head-to-head sequences in the polymer backbone and that there is no accumulation of Co(acac)2-capped chains with a head-to-head ω end. Hence, both dormant chains (following the head-to-head and the head-to-tail monomer additions) must be reactivated at similar rates. A DFT study shows that this is possible because the dormant chains are stabilized not only by the C−Co σ bond but also by formation of a chelate ring through coordination of the ω monomer carbonyl group. The head-to-head dormant chain contains an inherently stronger C−Co bond but forms a weaker 6-membered chelate ring, whereas the weaker C−Co bond in the head-to-tail dormant chain is compensated by a stronger 5-membered chelate ring. Combination of the two effects leads to similar activation enthalpies, as verified by DFT calculations using a variety of local, gradient-corrected, hybrid and “ad hoc” functionals (BPW91, B3PW91, BPW91*, M06 and M06L). While the BDE(C−X) of model H-VAc−X molecules [X = Cl, I, MeTe, EtOC(S)S and Co(acac)2] are functional dependent, the BDE difference between head-to-head and head-to-tail dormant chain models is almost functional insensitive, with values of 5−9 kcal/mol for the ATRP, ITP and TERP models, 3−6 for the RAFT/MADIX model, and around zero for CMRP. [less ▲]

One-pot controlled synthesis of double thermoresponsive N-vinylcaprolactam-based copolymers with tunable LCSTs

in Polymer Chemistry (2013), 4(8), 2575-2583

N-Vinylcaprolactam (NVCL) was copolymerized statistically for the first time in a controlled manner with hydrophilic N-vinylamide or hydrophobic vinylester monomers in order to precisely tune up and down ... [more ▼]

N-Vinylcaprolactam (NVCL) was copolymerized statistically for the first time in a controlled manner with hydrophilic N-vinylamide or hydrophobic vinylester monomers in order to precisely tune up and down the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of the resulting copolymers. The incorporation of these segments in complex architectures was also considered. Several narrowly distributed NVCL-based copolymers were prepared by cobalt-mediated radical polymerization (CMRP) using the bis-(acetylacetonato)cobalt(II) complex as a controlling agent and N-methyl-N-vinylacetamide (NMVA), N-vinylacetamide (NVA), vinyl acetate (VAc) or vinyl pivalate (VPi) as comonomers. PNVCL-containing block copolymers having two discrete LCSTs were also synthesized following a one-pot strategy based on the sequential CMRP of NVCL followed by the copolymerization of NMVA with the residual NVCL. Upon gradual heating of aqueous solutions of such double thermoresponsive copolymers, we noticed a transition from free chains to micelles before full dehydration and collapse of the block copolymers. These advances represent a significant step towards the development of a platform based on thermoresponsive PNVCL copolymers with a single phase separation or multistep assembly behaviors. [less ▲]

Synthesis of poly(vinyl acetate)-b-poly(vinyl chloride) block copolymers by cobalt-mediated radical polymerization (CMRP)

in Polymer Chemistry (2013), 4(5), 1685-1693

The synthesis of poly(vinyl acetate)-b-poly(vinyl chloride) (PVAc-b-PVC) block copolymers by Cobalt-Mediated Radical Polymerization (CMRP) is investigated for the first time in this paper. A PVAc–Co(acac ... [more ▼]

The synthesis of poly(vinyl acetate)-b-poly(vinyl chloride) (PVAc-b-PVC) block copolymers by Cobalt-Mediated Radical Polymerization (CMRP) is investigated for the first time in this paper. A PVAc–Co(acac)2 macroinitiator is prepared by CMRP using the V-70/Co(acac)2 binary system or a preformed alkylcobalt(III) compound. Then, the block copolymerization occurs in the bulk at 40 °C by the addition of VC. The addition of water to the polymerization medium or the slow generation of alkyl radicals during the whole polymerization is beneficial to the process by consuming part of the excess of deactivator (Co(acac)2) that blocks the polymer chains into the dormant form. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) measurements and AFM analyses evidence that the PVAc-b-PVC forms core–shell micelles in a selective solvent of the PVAc block, i.e. methanol, evidencing the blocky structure of the copolymer. PVAc-b-P(VC-co-VAc) copolymers are also successfully prepared by initiating the radical copolymerization of VC and VAc at 40 °C from a PVAc–Co(acac)2 macroinitiator. [less ▲]

Cobalt-mediated radical (co)polymerization of vinyl chloride and vinyl acetate

in Polymer Chemistry (2012), 3(10), 2880-2891

The cobalt mediated radical polymerization (CMRP) of vinyl chloride (VC) in the presence of bis(acetylacetonato)cobalt(II) (Co(acac)2) as a controlling agent is presented for the first time. Using an ... [more ▼]

The cobalt mediated radical polymerization (CMRP) of vinyl chloride (VC) in the presence of bis(acetylacetonato)cobalt(II) (Co(acac)2) as a controlling agent is presented for the first time. Using an alkyl-Co(III) compound (R0–(CH2–CHOAc)<4–Co(acac)2; R0 = (H3C)2(OCH3)C–CH2–C(CH3)(CN)–) as an initiator, the bulk polymerization under non-isotherm conditions is controlled. 1H NMR spectra of the resulting PVC show that the CMRP process does not significantly affect the level of defects compared to a PVC prepared by a conventional free radical polymerization at the same temperature. Using the same alkyl-cobalt(III) compound, the copolymerization of VC and VAc is controlled at 40 °C provided that enough VAc (about 40 mol%) is present in the polymerization medium to moderate the VC polymerization. In line with reactivity ratios, VC is preferentially incorporated in the polymer at the early stages of the polymerization, leading to copolymers with a high VC content at moderate conversions. This is the first report of a CMRP of VC and of the synthesis of well-defined statistical PVC-co-PVAc copolymers by this technique. [less ▲]

Use of new surface active carbohydrate esters for the synthesis of polyhipes in supercritical CO2

Poster (2012, September 10)

see attachment

SINGLE-MOLECULE AFM STUDY OF ADHESIVE POLYMERS PREPARED BY COBALT-MEDIATED RADICAL POLYMERIZATION AND NITRONE-MEDIATED RADICAL COUPLING

Scientific conference (2012, September 10)

Well-defined poly(vinyl acetate) (PVAc) chains prepared by CMRP (cobalt-mediated radical polymerization) were coupled using an alkyne-functional nitrone via NMRC (nitrone-mediated radical coupling).1 In ... [more ▼]

Well-defined poly(vinyl acetate) (PVAc) chains prepared by CMRP (cobalt-mediated radical polymerization) were coupled using an alkyne-functional nitrone via NMRC (nitrone-mediated radical coupling).1 In all the cases, the coupling efficiencies were close to 90% or higher. The polymers mid-chain functionalized with an alkyne group were then reacted with azide-functionalized atomic force microscopy (AFM) tips via copper-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC). As a result, polymers having a double-branch architecture were linked to AFM tips via a short linker. The structure and the molecular parameters of the polymers were determined by NMR and GPC, whereas the ‘click’ step onto AFM tips was assessed by performing the same CuAAC reaction onto macroscopic surfaces and characterizing them by ATR FT-IR. The adhesive properties of these double-branched polymers were studied by AFM single-molecule force spectroscopy. By performing approach-retraction cycles in solution upon a glass surface, the interaction between single PVAc chains and the surface was investigated. The effect of the double-branch architecture on the adhesion forces was under focus. Setting a residence time of the tip on the surface before retraction was found to have a beneficial influence on the adhesion forces. Signs of multiple interactions acting in parallel were detected in the experimental force-distance traces. [less ▲]

Organometallic-mediated radical polymerization of vinyl amides: Effect of metal coordination

Conference (2012, September 04)

Synthetic and mechanistic inputs of photochemistry into the bisacetylacetonatocobalt- mediated radical polymerization of n-butyl acrylate and vinyl acetate

in Polymer Chemistry (2012), 3(7), 1856-1866

The input of photochemistry to the Co(acac)2 mediated radical polymerization (CMRP) of n-butyl acrylate and vinyl acetate is investigated for the first time. Upon UV irradiation, photoinitiators are able ... [more ▼]

The input of photochemistry to the Co(acac)2 mediated radical polymerization (CMRP) of n-butyl acrylate and vinyl acetate is investigated for the first time. Upon UV irradiation, photoinitiators are able to initiate the n-butyl acrylate polymerization that remains controlled up to very high molar masses (>4 × 106 g mol−1) with low polydispersities. The photoinitiator as well as the irradiation time must be appropriately chosen to reach acceptable initiator efficiencies while maintaining an optimal control over the polymerization. Laser flash photolysis experiments were then carried out to evidence the addition of alkyl and phosphonyl radicals onto Co(acac)2 and to determine the rate constants (kdeact) of these addition reactions that were still lacking. Finally, both kinetics of polymerization and spin-trapping experiments have evidenced that the C–Co bond at the extremity of the dormant polymer chains can be easily photocleaved. UV irradiation can therefore be considered as an additional lever for tuning the reactivity of the CMRP process mediated by Co(acac)2. [less ▲]

Controlled radical polymerization of halogenated monomers

Patent (2012)

Process for the preparation of a halogenated polymer comprising a controlled radical polymerization step of at least one monomer containing at least one halogen-carbon bond performed in the presence of an ... [more ▼]

Process for the preparation of a halogenated polymer comprising a controlled radical polymerization step of at least one monomer containing at least one halogen-carbon bond performed in the presence of an organo-cobalt complex, said polymerization step being further carried out in the presence of at least one ligand. [less ▲]

Synthèse de copolymères amphiphiles originaux par polymérisation radicalaire contrôlée via des complexes de cobalt

Conference (2012, June 05)

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