Structure−Reactivity Relationships in Bimolecular-Activated Monomer Polymerization of (Meth)acrylates Using Oxidatively Activated Group 14 Ketene Acetals

Topology Controlled All-(Meth)acrylic Thermoplastic Elastomers by Multi-Functional Lewis Pairs-Mediated Polymerization

It remains challenging to synthesize all-(meth)acrylic triblock thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs), due to the drastically different reactivities between the acrylates and methacrylates and inevitable occurrence of side reactions during polymerization of acrylates. By taking advantage of the easy structural modulation features of N-heterocyclic olefins (NHOs), we design and synthesize strong nucleophilic tetraphenylethylene-based NHOs varying in the number (i.e. mono-, dual- and tetra-) of initiating functional groups. Its combination with bulky organoaluminum [iBuAl(BHT)2] (BHT=bis(2,6-di-tBu-4-methylphenoxy)) constructs Lewis pair (LP) to realize the living polymerization of both acrylates and methacrylates, furnishing polyacrylates with ultrahigh molecular weight (Mn up to 2174 kg ⋅ mol-1) within 4 min. Moreover, these NHO-based LPs enable us to not only realize the control over the polymers' topology (i.e. linear and star), but also achieve triblock star copolymers in one-step manner. Mechanical studies reveal that the star triblock TPEs exhibit better mechanical properties (elongation at break up to 1863 % and tensile strength up to 19.1 MPa) in comparison with the linear analogs. Moreover, the presence of tetraphenylethylene group in the NHOs entitled the triblock TPEs with excellent AIE properties in both solution and solid state.

Precision synthesis for well-defined linear and/or architecturally controlled thermoresponsive poly(N-substituted acrylamide)s

We describe the progress in precision polymerizations of specific kinds of N-alkylacrylamides and N,N-dialkylacrylamides to produce polymers showing thermoresponsive properties in aqueous media, which representatively include the reversible-deactivation radical polymerizations...

Silylium Ions: From Elusive Reactive Intermediates to Potent Catalysts

The history of silyl cations has all the makings of a drama but with a happy ending. Being considered reactive intermediates impossible to isolate in the condensed phase for decades, their actual characterization in solution and later in solid state did only fuel the discussion about their existence and initially created a lot of controversy. This perception has completely changed today, and silyl cations and their donor-stabilized congeners are now widely accepted compounds with promising use in synthetic chemistry. This review provides a comprehensive summary of the fundamental facts and principles of the chemistry of silyl cations, including reliable ways of their preparation as well as their physical and chemical properties. The striking features of silyl cations are their enormous electrophilicity and as such reactivity as super Lewis acids as well as fluorophilicity. Known applications rely on silyl cations as reactants, stoichiometric reagents, and promoters where the reaction success is based on their steady regeneration over the course of the reaction. Silyl cations can even be discrete catalysts, thereby opening the next chapter of their way into the toolbox of synthetic methodology.

Synthesis of well-defined di- and triblock acrylic copolymers consisting of hard poly(dicyclopentanyl acrylate) and soft poly(alkyl acrylate) segments by organocatalyzed group transfer polymerization and their glass transition behavior

Well-defined acrylic block copolymers with hard poly(dicyclopentanyl acrylate) and soft poly(n-alkylacrylate) blocks prepared by GTP are observed to undergo microphase separation by rheometry except for the crystallizable poly(n-dodecyl acrylate) series.

Living polymerization of naturally renewable butyrolactone-based vinylidenes mediated by a frustrated Lewis pair

The frustrated Lewis pair composed of an organophosphorus(iii) superbase and a bulky organoaluminum Lewis acid promoted the living/controlled polymerization of naturally renewable butyrolactone-based vinylidenes.

Polymerization of Polar Monomers Mediated by Main-Group Lewis Acid-Base Pairs

The development of new or more sustainable, active, efficient, controlled, and selective polymerization reactions or processes continues to be crucial for the synthesis of important polymers or materials with specific structures or functions. In this context, the newly emerged polymerization technique enabled by main-group Lewis pairs (LPs), termed as Lewis pair polymerization (LPP), exploits the synergy and cooperativity between the Lewis acid (LA) and Lewis base (LB) sites of LPs, which can be employed as frustrated Lewis pairs (FLPs), interacting LPs (ILPs), or classical Lewis adducts (CLAs), to effect cooperative monomer activation as well as chain initiation, propagation, termination, and transfer events. Through balancing the Lewis acidity, Lewis basicity, and steric effects of LPs, LPP has shown several unique advantages or intriguing opportunities compared to other polymerization techniques and demonstrated its broad polar monomer scope, high activity, control or livingness, and complete chemo- or regioselectivity, as well as its unique application in materials chemistry. These advances made in LPP are comprehensively reviewed, with the scope of monomers focusing on heteroatom-containing polar monomers, while the polymerizations mediated by main-group LAs and LBs separately that are most relevant to the LPP are also highlighted or updated. Examples of applying the principles of the LPP and LP chemistry as a new platform for advancing materials chemistry are highlighted, and currently unmet challenges in the field of the LPP, and thus the suggested corresponding future research directions, are also presented.

Silyl Ketene Acetals/B(C₆F₅)₃ Lewis Pair-Catalyzed Living Group Transfer Polymerization of Renewable Cyclic Acrylic Monomers

This work reveals the silyl ketene acetal (SKA)/B(C₆F₅)₃ Lewis pair-catalyzed room-temperature group transfer polymerization (GTP) of polar acrylic monomers, including methyl linear methacrylate (MMA), and the biorenewable cyclic monomers γ-methyl-α-methylene-γ-butyrolactone (MMBL) and α-methylene-γ-butyrolactone (MBL) as well. The in situ NMR monitored reaction of SKA with B(C₆F₅)₃ indicated the formation of Frustrated Lewis Pairs (FLPs), although it is sluggish for MMA polymerization, such a FLP system exhibits highly activity and living GTP of MMBL and MBL. Detailed investigations, including the characterization of key reaction intermediates, polymerization kinetics and polymer structures have led to a polymerization mechanism, in which the polymerization is initiated with an intermolecular Michael addition of the ester enolate group of SKA to the vinyl group of B(C₆F₅)₃-activated monomer, while the silyl group is transferred to the carbonyl group of the B(C₆F₅)₃-activated monomer to generate the single-monomer-addition species or the active propagating species; the coordinated B(C₆F₅)₃ is released to the incoming monomer, followed by repeated intermolecular Michael additions in the subsequent propagation cycle. Such neutral SKA analogues are the real active species for the polymerization and are retained in the whole process as confirmed by experimental data and the chain-end analysis by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectroscopy (MALDI-TOF MS). Moreover, using this method, we have successfully synthesized well-defined PMMBL-b-PMBL, PMMBL-b-PMBL-b-PMMBL and random copolymers with the predicated molecular weights (Mn) and narrow molecular weight distribution (MWD).

Organocatalyzed Group Transfer Polymerization

In contrast to the conventional group transfer polymerization (GTP) using a catalyst of either an anionic nucleophile or a transition-metal compound, the organocatalyzed GTP has to a great extent improved the living characteristics of the polymerization from the viewpoints of synthesizing structurally well-defined acrylic polymers and constructing defect-free polymer architectures. In this article, we describe the organocatalyzed GTP from a relatively personal perspective to provide our colleagues with a perspicuous and systematic overview on its recent progress as well as a reply to the curiosity of how excellently the organocatalysts have performed in this field. The stated perspectives of this review mainly cover five aspects, in terms of the assessment of the livingness of the polymerization, limit and scope of applicable monomers, mechanistic studies, control of the polymer structure, and a new GTP methodology involving the use of tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane and hydrosilane.

Synthesis of end-functionalized poly(methyl methacrylate) by organocatalyzed group transfer polymerization using functional silyl ketene acetals and α-phenylacrylates

The α and ω-end-functionalization of PMMA by organocatalyzed GTP was achieved using functional silyl ketene acetals and α-phenylacrylates.

Organic acids as efficient catalysts for group transfer polymerization of N,N-disubstituted acrylamide with silyl ketene acetal: polymerization mechanism and synthesis of diblock copolymers

The GTP of N,N-disubstituted acrylamide using organic acid and silyl ketene acetal was intensively investigated.

B(C6F5)3-catalyzed group transfer polymerization of alkyl methacrylates with dimethylphenylsilane through in situ formation of silyl ketene acetal by B(C6F5)3-catalyzed 1,4-hydrosilylation of methacrylate monomer

The B(C₆F₅)₃-catalyzed GTP of alkyl methacrylates using hydrosilane has been studied in this study.

B(C6F5)3-Catalyzed Group Transfer Polymerization of n-Butyl Acrylate with Hydrosilane through In Situ Formation of Initiator by 1,4-Hydrosilylation of n-Butyl Acrylate

The group transfer polymerization (GTP) of n-butyl acrylate (nBA) using hydrosilane (R₃SiH) and tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane (B(C₆F₅)₃) has been studied, which did not need to use the initiator of a silyl ketene acetal (SKA) as the starting polymerization component. B(C₆F₅)₃ catalyzed the in situ 1,4-hydrosilylation of nBA by R₃SiH to generate the corresponding SKA prior to the polymerization of nBA, which was confirmed by the ¹H NMR measurement of the model reaction. The formed SKA performed as the initiator for the B(C₆F₅)₃-catalyzed GTP of nBA leading to well-defined polymers with targeted molar masses and low dispersities.

Polymerization of nonfood biomass-derived monomers to sustainable polymers

The development of sustainable routes to fine chemicals, liquid fuels, and polymeric materials from natural resources has attracted significant attention from academia, industry, the general public, and governments owing to dwindling fossil resources, surging energy demand, global warming concerns, and other environmental problems. Cellulosic material, such as grasses, trees, corn stover, or wheat straw, is the most abundant nonfood renewable biomass resources on earth. Such annually renewable material can potentially meet our future needs with a low carbon footprint if it can be efficiently converted into fuels, value added chemicals, or polymeric materials. This chapter focuses on various renewable monomers derived directly from cellulose or cellulose platforms and corresponding sustainable polymers or copolymers produced therefrom. Recent advances related to the polymerization processes and the properties of novel biomass-derived polymers are also reviewed and discussed.

Polymerization by classical and frustrated Lewis pairs

Main-group classical and frustrated Lewis pairs (CLPs and FLPs) comprising strong Lewis acids (LAs) and strong Lewis bases (LBs) are highly active for polymerization of conjugated polar alkenes, affording typically high molecular weight polymers with relatively narrow molecular weight distributions. Especially effective systems are the Lewis pairs (LPs) consisting of the strong LA Al(C6F5)3 and strong LBs, such as achiral phosphines and chiral chelating diphosphines, N-heterocyclic carbenes, and phosphazene superbases, for polymerization of methacrylates and acrylamides as well as renewable α-methylene-γ-butyrolactones. Chain initiation involves cooperative addition of LPs to the monomer to generate zwitterionic active species, and chain propagation proceeds via a bimetallic, activated-monomer addition mechanism. Transition metal nucleophile/electrophile pairs comprising neutral metallocene bis(ester enolate)s and strong LAs E(C6F5)3 (E = Al, B) generate two drastically different polymerization systems, depending on the LA. With E = Al, catalyst activation and chain initiating events lead to dually active ion-pairs, thereby effecting ion-pairing polymerization that affords polymers with unique stereo-multiblock microstructures. With E = B, on the other hand, the FLP-induced catalyst activation generates metallacyclic cations paired with the hydridoborate anion [HB(C6F5)3](-); uniquely, such ion-pairs effect catalytic polymerization of conjugated polar alkenes by an H-shuttling mechanism, with the cation catalyzing chain growth and the anion promoting chain transfer by shuttling the hydride between the cation and anion centers through the neutral borane.

Dinuclear silylium-enolate bifunctional active species: remarkable activity and stereoselectivity toward polymerization of methacrylate and renewable methylene butyrolactone monomers

Novel dinuclear silylium-enolate active species, consisting of an electrophilic silylium catalyst site and a nucleophilic silicon enolate initiating site that are covalently linked as single molecules, and their unique polymerization characteristics and kinetics are reported. Such unimolecular, bifunctional propagating species are conveniently generated from activation of ethyl- and oxo-bridged disilicon enolate (i.e., disilyl ketene acetal, di-SKA) compounds with [Ph(3)C][B(C(6)F(5))(4)]. Both the ethyl- and oxo-bridged dinuclear species are much more active for the polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) than the mononuclear SKA-based active species, exhibiting an approximate rate enhancement by a factor of 12 and 44, respectively. The oxo-bridged silylium-enolate species is considerably more active and controlled than the ethyl-bridged one, with their differences being even more pronounced in polymerizing a renewable monomer, γ-methyl-α-methylene-γ-butyrolactone. The polymerization by the oxo-bridged silylium-enolate active species follows first-order kinetics in both monomer and silylium catalyst concentrations, indicating a unimolecular propagation mechanism which involves an intramolecular delivery of the polymeric enolate nucleophile to the monomer activated by the silylium ion electrophile being placed in proximity in the same catalyst molecule. Highly stereoregular poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), with a syndiotacticity up to 92% rr, can be produced in quantitative yield using the oxo-bridged propagator at low temperature.