Title

Carbocationic Polymerization of Isoprene Co-initiated by B (C6f5) 3: an Alternative Route Toward Natural Rubber Polymer Analogues?

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2-14-2011

Abstract

The cationic polymerization of isoprene using the 1-(4-methoxyphenyl)ethanol (1)/B(C6F5)3 initiating system in solution (dichloromethane or α,α,α-trifluorotoluene) and in aqueous media (suspension, dispersion, or emulsion) is reported. In organic solvents the reaction proceeded by controlled initiation via 1, followed by irreversible termination, thus affording polymers with a number-average molar mass Mn ≤ 5000 g mol−1 and a molar mass distribution or MMD (Mw/Mn ≤ 2.5) and rather high content of intact double bonds (≥70%) in the polymer backbone. In particular, using α,α,α-trifluorotoluene as polymerization solvent in place of dichloromethane promoted the synthesis of polyisoprene chains with Mw/Mn ∼ 1.4 and larger content of intact double bonds (up to 88%). In the absence of 1, polyisoprenes with fairly high molar mass (Mn up to 18 000 g mol−1) and Mw/Mn < 2.4 were synthesized through adventitious water/B(C6F5)3-initiated cationic polymerization of isoprene. In aqueous media, the cationic polymerization of isoprene with 1/B(C6F5)3 proceeded without any side reactions (cyclization, branching). However, aqueous conditions afforded only moderate yield (up to 60% monomer conversion) and polyisoprenes with low Mn (≤1200 g mol−1) and Mw/Mn ≤ 1.7 were obtained. By comparing different characterization data (NMR, mass spectrometry), it was demonstrated that under appropriate conditions (in organic solvents at −30 °C or in aqueous media) polyisoprenes carrying the initiator fragment from 1 at the α-end and an olefinic terminal group can be produced almost exclusively in a trans-1,4 configuration (92−96.5%).

Publication Title

Macromolecules

Volume

44

Issue

6

First Page

1372

Last Page

1384

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