Role of External Field in Polymerization: Mechanism and Kinetics

The past decades have witnessed an increasing interest in developing advanced polymerization techniques subjected to external fields. Various physical modulations, such as temperature, light, electricity, magnetic field, ultrasound, and microwave irradiation, are noninvasive means, having superb but distinct abilities to regulate polymerizations in terms of process intensification and spatial and temporal controls. Gas as an emerging regulator plays a distinctive role in controlling polymerization and resembles a physical regulator in some cases. This review provides a systematic overview of seven types of external-field-regulated polymerizations, ranging from chain-growth to step-growth polymerization. A detailed account of the relevant mechanism and kinetics is provided to better understand the role of each external field in polymerization. In addition, given the crucial role of modeling and simulation in mechanisms and kinetics investigation, an overview of model construction and typical numerical methods used in this field as well as highlights of the interaction between experiment and simulation toward kinetics in the existing systems are given. At the end, limitations and future perspectives for this field are critically discussed. This state-of-the-art research progress not only provides the fundamental principles underlying external-field-regulated polymerizations but also stimulates new development of advanced polymerization methods.

Microwave-assisted cationic ring-opening polymerization of 2-oxazolines

Unlike any other polymer class, the (co-)poly(2-oxazoline)s have tremendously benefited from the introduction of microwave reactors into chemical laboratories. This review focuses on the research activities in the area of (co-)poly(2-oxazoline)s prepared by microwave-assisted syntheses and, correspondingly, summarizes the current-state-of the-art of the microwave-assisted synthesis of 2-oxazoline monomers and the microwave-assisted ring-opening (co-)polymerization of 2-oxazolines as well as prominent examples of post-polymerization modification of (co-)poly(2-oxazoline)s. Special attention is attributed to the kinetic analysis of the microwave-assisted polymerization of 2-oxazolines and the discussion of non-thermal microwave effects.

Accelerated living cationic ring-opening polymerization of a methyl ester functionalized 2-oxazoline monomer

Kinetic studies on the homo- and copolymerization of 2-methoxycarboxyethyl-2-oxazoline with 2-methyl-2-oxazoline and 2-ethyl-2-oxazoline is discussed.

One-Pot Synthesis of 2-Substituted Benzoxazoles Directly from Carboxylic Acids

Methanesulfonic acid has been found to be a highly effective catalyst for a convenient and one-pot synthesis of 2-substituted benzoxazoles by the reaction of 2-aminophenol with acid chlorides, generated in situ from carboxylic acids. Aryl, heteroaryl, and arylalkyl carboxylic acids provided excellent yields of the corresponding benzoxazoles. The reaction conditions were compatible with various substituents such as chloro, bromo, nitro, methoxy, cyclopentyloxy, phenoxy, thiophenoxy, and conjugated double bonds. Benzoxazole formation was found to be general with respect to substituted 2-aminophenols.