Protection and polymerization of functional monomers: 8. Anionic living polymerization of 4-[2-(trialkyl)silyloxyethyl]styrene as protected 4-(2-hydroxyethyl)styrene

Protection and polymerization of functional monomers: 8. Anionic living polymerization of 4-[2-(trialkyl)silyloxyethyl] styrene as protected 4- (2- hydroxyethyl)styrene* Akira Hirao, Akihiko Yamamoto, KatsuhikoTakenaka, Kazuo Yamaguchi and Seiichi Nakahama Department of Polymer Chemistry, Faculty of Engineering, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Ohokayama. Meguro-ku, Tokyo 152, Japan (Received 17 April 1986; revised 8 May 1986) Anionic polymerizations of 2-(4-vinylphenyl)ethoxy(trialkyl)silanes and 2-(4-vinytphenyl)ethoxy(tbutoxydimethyl)silane were investigated with oligo(ct-methylstyrylktilithium or -dipotassium as initiator in tetrahydrofuran at -78°C. These monomers readily polymerized to form 'living polymers'. Subsequent deprotection of the silyl groups from the resulting polymers gave poly[2-(_4-vinylphenyl)ethanol]s of the desired molecular weights with narrow molecular weight distributions (M,/Mn= 1.05-1.21). The living polymers of the silyl ethers of 2-(4-vinylphenyl)ethanol can initiate further polymerization of either styrene or ct-methylstyrene, yielding new block copolymers containing 2-(vinylphenyl)ethanol blocks. (Keywords: poly[2-(4-vinyiphenyl)ethanol] livingpolymer; anionic polymerization; 2-(4-vinylphenyl)ethoxy(trialkyl)silane; ; block copolymer) INTRODUCTION For a few years we have been investigating the synthesis of linear functional polymers having a high uniformity of chain length as well as a predictable molecular weight 1-~. Our approach involves the anionic living polymerization of monomers with suitably protected functional groups, followed by the removal of the protecting groups, as illustrated in the following scheme where a styrene derivative is given as an example. We have found that some trialkylsilyl groups satisfy the above-mentioned criteria for the protection of hydroxyl and amino functions attached to styrene derivatives. The new silyl-protected monomers such as 1 and 2 undergo anionic living polymerization. By subsequent removal of CH 2 = CH CH 2 = CH I( CH 3 CH 3 , CH 2 = CH O CH 2 = CH CH 2 - C H - M + Anbonlc living ~1~ polymerization --4 CH 2 MeOH Deprotectlon - CH ~n ~ N /\ I SI- C CH 3 I I CH 3 CH 3 1 "~] (CH3}3SI S~(CH3) 3 2 the silyl groups, poly(4-vinylphenol) and poly(4vinylaniline) of known molecular weights and narrow molecular weight distributions have been obtained 1-4. These polymers are so far difficult to prepare by any other method. In the previous communication 3, we reported that the trimethylsilyl ether (4a) of 2-(4-vinylphenyl)ethanol (3) was anionically polymerized in a living fashion free from chain transfer and termination. The resulting polymer CH 2 = CH CH 2 -- CH functional group (~ M protected form of ( ~ L4 Na, or K It is of course essential that the functional group can be satisfactorily protected during the course of the anionic polymerization, and that the protective group can be readily and completely removed after the polymerization, to regenerate the original functional group. *Part 7: Ishino, Y., Hirao, A. and Nakahama, S. Macromolecules 1986, 19, 2307 0032 3861/87/020303-08503.00 rc~ 1987 Butterworth & Co. (Publishers) Ltd. CH2CH2OH 3 CH2CHgO 4a Si CH 3 I CH 3 had a predictable molecular weight and a narrow molecular weight distribution. Very recently, however, it occurred to us that the trimethylsilyl protective groups might undergo undesirable side reactions which cause gradual destruction of the living ends of poly(4a) with time. POLYMER, 1987, Vol 28, February 303 Protection and polymerization of functional monomers: A. Hirao et al. Therefore, we rechecked in this work the living character of the polymerization of 4a. In addition, the possibility of anionic living polymerizations of the following silyl ethers of 3 will be described for comparison. CH 2 ~ CH C2H5 4b R1 I C H 2 C H 2 0 _ Si _ R2 ] R3 R ! = R2 = R 3 = 4c R 1 = R 2 = CH3, R 3 = C H ( C H 3 ) ~ 4(I R1 = R2 = CH3, R3 = C ( C H 3 ) 3 4e R 1 = R 2 = CH3, R 3 = O C ( C H 3 ) 3 4b- e EXPERIMENTAL Materials 4-Chlorostyrene was kindly supplied by Hokko Chemical Industry Co. Ltd. It was distilled at 52-54°C (5 mbar) over calcium hydride. Commercial ~methylstyrene, styrene, pyridine, and t-butyl alcohol were purified by distillation over calcium hydride. Tetrahydrofuran (THF) was used as a solvent in all polymerization experiments and was distilled from sodium wire and then from sodium naphthalide solution. Naphthalene was purified by sublimation. Butyllithium was obtained from Nakarai Chemical Co. Ltd. Hexamethyldisilazane, dimethyldichlorosilane, triethylsilyl chloride and t-butyldimethylsilyl chloride were obtained from Shinetsu Chemical Co. Ltd and were used without further purification. Lithium and potassium naphthalides were prepared from lithium and potassium, respectively, and naphthalene in THF at 20°C for 10 h. The reaction mixture was filtered and the green-coloured filtrate was titrated to a colourless endpoint by using standardized 1-octanol in THF. Oligo(~-methylstyryl-) dilithium and -dipotassium were prepared, just prior to polymerization, from lithium and potassium naphthalides, respectively, and 2--4 moles of ~-methylstyrene at 30°C for 1 rain and then at - 7 8 ° C for 5-10rain. The preparations of lithium and potassium naphthalides and oligo(,t-methylstyryl)dilithium and -dipotassium were carried out under high vacuum (~ 10 -6 mbar) in reactors equipped with breakseals. i-Propyldimethylsilyl chloride A mixture of i-propyl chloride (13.4g, 130mmol), dimethyldichlorosilane (40.7g, 330mmol) and magnesium (4.2 g, 170 mmol) in THF (200 ml) was refluxed for 15 h under a nitrogen atmosphere. The mixture was filtered and the precipitate was washed with dry THF under a nitrogen atmosphere. The THF extracts were combined with the filtrate, and the mixture was fractionally distilled at 105-110°C to give 7.1 g (39 9/0)of ipropyldimethylsilyl chloride as a colourless liquid. ~H n.m.r. (CDCI3): 6= 1.00 (s, 6H, Si--CH3), 1.20-1.90 (m, 1H, S i g H - ) , 1.67 (s, 6H, Si-C(CHa)2). t-Butoxydimethylsilyl chloride To a stirred solution of dimethyldichlorosilane (22.7 g, 176 mmol) in pentane (150 ml) was slowly added t-butyl alcohol (13.0g, 176mmol) and triethylamine (16.7g, 165mmol) in pentane (150ml) over a 1 h period at 0°C under an atmosphere of nitrogen. After the mixture was stirred for 5 h at room temperature, it was filtered and the white solid was washed with pentane. The pentane 304 POLYMER, 1987, Vol 28, February extracts were combined with the filtrate and tt.-. mixture was fractionally distilled at 60-64°C (120mbar) to give 18.3g (69~) of t-butoxydimethylsilyl chloride as a colourless liquid. 1H n.m.r. (CC14): 6=0.41 (s, 6H, Si-CHa); 1.33 (s, 9H, C42Ha). 2-(4-Vinylphenyl)ethanol (3) ethoxy(trimethyl)silane (4a) and 2-(4-vinylphenyl)- Monomers 3 and 4a were prepared as reported elsewhere 3,a. 2-(4-Vinylphenyl)ethoxy(triethyl)silane (4b) To a mixture of 3 (5.5 g, 37 mmol) and imidazole (5.4 g, 80mmol) in N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) (20ml), triet hylsilyl chloride (5.6 g, 37 mmol) in D M F (10 ml) was added dropwise at 0°C. The reaction mixture was stirred at 0°C for 1 h and then at 20°C overnight. After addition of ether, the mixture was washed with 5~o NaOH solution and then with water, and dried over anhydrous MgSO¢. After evaporation of the ether, the crude product was purified by fractional distillation. Yield: 69~o; b.p. 100-105°C (1 mbar). 1H n.m.r. (CCI4) 6=0.15-0.97 (m, 15H, Si-CH_2CH_3), 2.63 (t, 2H, J =7 Hz, C6H4-CH_2-), 3.63 (t, 2H, J =7 Hz, Si-O-CH2-), 5.01, 5.49 (2d, 2H, J = 11, 18 Hz, CH2=), 6.56 (2d, 1H, CH=), 6.94, 7.16 (2d, 4H, J = 8 Hz, C6H4, a, b). 2-(4-Vinylphenyl)ethoxy(i-propyldimethyl)silane (4e) A reaction similar to the above was run with 3, imidazole and i-propyldimethylsilyl chloride (5.1g, 37 mmol) in DMF. After the reaction was completed, the product was distilled at 89-91°C (3 mbar). Yield: 6 7 ~ 1H n.m.r. (CC14): 6=0.20 (s, 6H, Si--CH3), 1.31 (s, 6H, Si-CH(C_Ha)2), 1.00-1.50 (In, S i g H ) , 3.11 (t, 2H, J =7Hz, C6H4-CH_2-), 4.14 (t, 2H, J = 7 Hz, Si4D--CH2-), 5.55, 6.04 (2d, 2H, J = 11, 18 Hz, CH2=), 7.10, (2d, 1H, CH=), 7.48, 7.70 (2d, 4H, J = 8 Hz, C6H 4, a,b). 2-(4- V inylphenyl)et ho x y( t-but yld imet hyl)silane (dal) A reaction similar to the above was run with 3, imidazole and t-butyldimethylsilyl chloride (5.6g, 37 mmol) in DMF. After the reaction was completed, the product was distilled at 93-95°C (2 mbar). Yield: 75 %. 1H n.m.r. (CC14): 6=0.20 (s, 6H, Si-CHa), 1.12 (s, 9H, Si-C42Ha), 3.02 (t, 2H, J = 7 H z , 426H4~_Hz-), 4.05 (t, 2H, J = 7 Hz, Si-O--CH2-), 5.42, 5.92 (2d, 2H, J = 10, 18 Hz, CH2=), 6.96 (2d, 1H, CH=), 7.35, 7.55 (2d, 4H, J - 8 Hz, C6H4, a, b). 2-(4-Vinylphenyl)ethoxy(t-butoxydimethyl)silane (4e) A reaction similar to the above was run with 3, imidazole and t-butoxydimethylsilyl chloride (6.2g, 37 mmol) in DMF. After the reaction was completed, the product was distilled at 83-85°C (2 mbar). Yield: 53 ~o. XH n.m.r. (CC14); 6=0.20 (s, 6H, Si-CH3). 1.43 (s, 9H, Si-O--C-CHa), 3.08 (t, 2H, J = 7 H z , C6H442_H2-), 4.01 (t, 2H, J = 7 H z , Si-O--CH2-), 5.36, 5.81 (2d, 2H, J = 1 0 , 18Hz, CH2-- ), 6.91, (2d, 1H, C H = ) , 7.31, 7.53 (2d, 4H, J = 8 Hz, C6H 4, a, b). Purification In order to remove impurities in monomer 4a, benzylmagnesium chloride (5.0ml, 0.5 M solution in THF) was added to 4a (5.0 g, 23 retool) at 0°C under a nitrogen atmosphere. The mixture was stirred for 10 rain Protection and polymerization of functional monomers." A. Hirao et al. and degassed. THF and 4a were then distilled on a vacuum line into ampoules fitted with breakseals. Purified 4a in THF thus obtained was stored at -30°C until used. The other monomers (4b--e, styrene and ~-methylstyrene) were purified in a similar manner. Polymerizations All operations were carried out under high vacuum (10-6mbar) in an all-glass apparatus equipped with breakseals. All the polymerizations were carried out at -78°C with shaking. The polymers from 4b-e were precipitated in water and filtered, redissolved in THF, and precipitated into methanol-water (5/1, v/v) twice more. Then they were freeze-dried. The polymers from 4a were precipitated, after quenching with methanol-2N HC1 (1/1, v/v), by addition to an excess of water. They were filtered, redissolved in methanol, precipitated into water twice more and were dissolved in 1,4-dioxane and dried by freeze-drying. Block copolymerizations and the resulting block copolymer treatments were also performed in a similar manner. Determination of actual contents of 5a-e polymerization systems in the The operations were conducted under vacuum by a method similar to that described by Morton, Rembaum and Hall 9. Deprotection of silyl protecting groups from the poly(41~e) Poly(4h), -(4e) or -(4e) (1.0g) was dissolved in 1,4dioxane (20ml) containing a few drops of concentrated HCI. The mixture was heated to 80°C for 1 h and poured into an excess of water. The polymer was recovered by filtration, washed with water, redissolved in 1,4-dioxane, precipitated into hexane, and then dried. In the case of poly(4d), more acidic conditions were needed for deprotection. Thus, the polymer was dissolved in 2 N HC1 aqueous 1,4-dioxane. The mixture was heated to 50°C for 3 h, and subsequently treated as above to give poly[2-(4-vinylphenyl)ethanol] in an almost quantitative yield. The ~H n.m.r, and i.r. spectra of the resulting polymers showed signals and absorptions consistent with poly[2(4-vinylphenyl)ethanol]. Neither signal nor band corresponding to the silyl protecting groups could be detected at all. Acetylation of poly[ 2-(4-vinylphenyl)ethanol] To 0.5 g polymer in 6 ml dry pyridine under a nitrogen atmosphere, 3 ml acetic anhydride was added over 5 min Table 1 at 0°C. The reaction mixture was stirred at 0°C for 24 h and then at 20°C for an additional 24 h, and poured into water. The polymer precipitated was recovered by filtration, dissolved in THF, reprecipitated twice into methanol-water (1/1, v/v), and freeze-dried. The XH n.m.r, specrrum indicated a complete acetylation of poly[2-(4-vinylphenyl)ethanol]. Measurements tH n.m.r, spectra were recorded using a Jeol JNMPMX 60 spectrometer. I.r. spectra were recorded on a Jasco IR-G spectrometer. Gel permeation chromatograms (g.p.c.) were obtained on a Toyosoda HLC-802 instrument with u.v. or refractive index detection, THF being the eluent. Molecular weights were measured on a Corona 117 vapour pressure osmometer (v.p.o.) in benzene. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION A large number of protective methods for the hydroxyl group have so far been known ~°. Among them, those using the trialkylsilyl protective groups are of particular interest to us because the resulting silyl ethers as protected forms are stable towards the highly reactive bases, some of which are often used a anionic initiators. This suggests that the hydroxyl group can be satisfactorily protected with the trialkylsilyl groups during the course of anionic polymerization. Anionic polymerization of 4a The anionic polymerization of 4a was carried out in THF at -78°C with lithium naphthalide, oligo(~methylstyryl)hthium or -dipotassium as an initiator. The results are summarized in Table 1. Since the partial cleavage of trimethylsilyl ether in the resulting polymer was always observed after two reprecipitations using the THF-methanol system, we converted the resulting polymer to poly[2-(4-vinylphenyl)ethyl acetate] by removal of the trimethylsilyl groups followed by esterification with acetic anhydride. The ~H n.m.r. spectra confirm that the two steps proceed quantitatively. The acetylated polymer thus obtained was then characterized. As can be seen in Tab_le 1, there is good agreement between the values of M n for the acetylated polymers measured by v.p.o, and the calculated values based on the assumption that living polymers are obtained by difunctional initiators. The g.p.c, curves indicate that the polymers all possess narrow molecular weight distributions with the values of Mw/Mn, calculated by Anionic polymerization of 4a m T H F at - 78°C for 5-30 min a 4a (mmol) Initiator (mmol) 5.35 5.20 4.89 9.13 8.99 10.25 Butyllithium Lithium naphthalide Potassium naphthalide Lithium naphthalide Lithium naphthalide Lithium naphthalide c~-Methylstyrene (mmol) 0.132 0.125 0.0886 0.133 0.120 0.0680 0.747 0.335 - A4n c a l c ) Mn obs.C Mw/Mn d 9000 16000 23000 28 000 31 000 62000 12000 18000 20000 25 000 25 000 69000 1.12 1.20 1.12 1.13 1.21 1.16 a Yields of polymers were 95-100 % bCalculated for poly[2-(4-vinylphenyl)ethyl acetate] c Vapour pressure osmometry in benzene d Calculated from g.p.c, curves according to Tung's method 1 POLYMER, 1987, Vol 28, February 305 Protection and polymerization of functional monomers: A. Hirao et al. titration indicated, the side reactions are slow and far from complete even after 30min, they may occur mainly after then end of the polymerization. Since it is known that alkyllithium compounds cleave trialkylsily ethers ~2 R1LI + R20-S= I - ~ Rl-sI I I - + R2OLI (I ) I the side reaction would most likely be one between the active growing end and a trimethylsilyl ether group in the polymer: CH 2 - CH- LI + I I 30 I I 1 I 33 I I CH 2 I I CH 2 I 36 ~H~ I O i CH 3 - S= - CH I 3 Count Figure 1 Molecular _weight distribution for poly[2-(4vinylphenyl)ethyl acetate], Mn obs. (v.p.o.) = 12 000, Mw/Mn = 1.12 (see O I CH 3 - iSi - CH 3 cHa Table 1) CH 3 CH ~ C H Time (h) InitiatoP (mmol) 5 (mmol) 0.112 0.104 0.0918 0.145 0.118 0.0731 0.104 0.0770 0.126 5a 0.0850 5b 0.0980 5b 0.0905 5e 0.154 5e 0.117 5d 0.0726 5d 0.103 5e 0.0781 5e 0.122 76 94 99 ~ 100 99 99 99 ~ 100 97 "Conversion of polymer: 100% b Oligo(~-met hylstyryl)dipotassium cCalculated from the ratio of [5] to [initiator] Tung's method 11 using a polystyrene calibration, in the range of 1.12 to 1.21. A representative g.p.c, profile is illustrated in Figure 1. These results indicate the rapidity of initiation and the absence of chain transfer and termination in the polymerization. However, at the end of the polymerization we observed that a characteristic colour (brownish orange with Li ÷ and dark red with K ÷) of the polymerization mixture gradually faded with time, indicating the destruction of the growing chain end. The concentration of the living ends was therefore determined by direct in situ titration of the coloured solution. By the titration, 30-50% losses of the living ends were detected after 30-60min polymerizations, although the values depended on the ratio of monomer to initiator, counterion and polymerization time. Accordingly, some side reactions annihilated the living ends. If such reactions could occur during the polymerization, they would result in losses of initiator and active growing ends, so that the actual molecular weight would be higher than predicted and the molecular weight distribution would be broader than actually observed. The results shown in Table 1 clearly exclude such possibilities, and there is little, if any, influence of the side reactions on the polymerization. Since the polymerization appears almost instantaneous and, as the POLYMER, 1987, Vol 28, February CH 2 ~ I ICH2 Carbanion survived c (%) 0.5 0.5 24 0.5 24 0.5 24 0.5 24 2 [~ ~ - - SIH~ CH 3 + ~ CH (2) Table 2 Results of titration for initiator and 5a-e in THF at - 78°C" 306 CH 2 - CH CH 2 I CH 2 CH 2 I O I CH 3 - S I - CH 3 I CH 3 O I LI Anionic polymerization of 4b-e New silyl-protected monomers 4b-e were readily prepared by treating 3 with the corresponding silyl chlorides and 2 moles of imidazole in DMF. Yields were usually either excellent or nearly quantitative (by g.c. indication; 70-90% after isolation). The monomers are stable and resistant to hydrolysis under either neutral or basic conditions. The anionic polymerizations of these monomers were carried out at -78°C in THF mainly with oligo(~methylstyryl)dipotassiumas an initiator. Throughout the polymerizations, a dark red colour, characteristic of the polystyryl anions ($b-e), was observed and remained unchanged as long as 24 h at the same temperature. ~ C H 2 -CH-K + 5a R1 = R 2 = R 3 = C H 3 5b RI r C H 2 C H 2 0 - Sl -- R 2 I R3 R I = R 2 = R 3 = C2H 5 5c R1 = R2 = CH3, R3 = CH(CH3) 2 5d R1 = R 2 = CH3, R 3 = C(CH3) 3 5e R 1 = R 2 = CH3, R 3 = OC(CH3) 3 5a- e The concentrations of 5a-e could be determined by colorimetric in situ titration of the coloured reaction solutions. Typical results are shown in Table 2, which compares the concentrations of 5a--e (at - 78°C after 0.5 and 24 h) with those of the initiators. As can be seen, losses of 5 b ~ are absent within analytical error, indicating that 5b--e are stable under our conditions. This is in contrast to the fact that the active end of 5a is gradually destroyed with time. The polymers of 4 b ~ were recovered by precipitation into excess methanol. Yields were almost quantitative. After two additional reprecipitations, the silyl protecting groups stayed intact, as indicated by the 1H n.m.r, spectra of the resulting polymers. They were therefore Protection and polymerization of functional monomers: A. Hirao et al. Table 3 Anionic polymerizations of 41~e in T H F at - 78°C for 5-30 rain ° Monomer (mmol) Initiator (mmol) ct-Methylstyrene (mmol) h,tn calc. A4 nobs. b hdtwlMnc 4b 7.60 464.13 463.55 4b 3.05 BuLi d 0.183 K-Nape 0.166 K-Nap 0.124 K-Nap 0.0569 0.337 0.355 0.413 0.151 11 000 14000 16 000 29000 12 000 12000 13 000 29000 1.06 1.17 1.13 1.20 4e 3.90 41e3.73 4e 9.18 K-Nap 0.152 K-Nap 0.120 K-Nap 0.0842 0.298 0.557 0.239 13 000 17000 55 000 14000 21 000 54000 1.14 1.08 1.11 4(I 4.83 4d 5.00 4(13.41 4(16.46 BuLi BuLi K-Nap K-Nap 0.0754 0.0684 0.0728 0.0622 0.460 0.443 0.326 0.318 18 000 20 000 26000 56 000 19 000 22 000 23 000 45 000 1.06 1.05 1.10 1.13 4e 3.37 4e 3.77 4e4.23 K -Nap 0.108 K-Nap 0.0846 K-Nap 0.0618 0.180 0.150 0.340 18 000 25 000 39 000 13 000 26 000 32 000 1.09 1.19 1.10 ° Yields of polymers were 90-100 °/o bVapour pressure osmometry in benzene cCalculated from g.p.c, curves according to Tung's method1 d Butyllithium e Potassium naphthalide A characterized as recovered without further treatment. The results are summarized in Table 3. It can be seen that the measured and predicted molecular weights are in good agreement in all cases studied here. The molecular weight distributions of these polymer samples (Figure 2) were very narrow; the Mw/M, values were in the range between 1.05 and 1.20. These results indicate that the polymerizations of 41~e proceed in the absence of transfer and termination. The narrow molecular weight distribution provided convincing evidence that initiation is much faster than propagation. Accordingly, together with the results of titration indicating that 5b--e are stable, these systems are classified as truly living. Further evidence for their living character is provided by successful preparation of block copolymers which will be discussed later. Thus, triethyl-, i-propyldimethyl-, t-butyldimethyland t-butoxydimethylsilyl groups satisfactorily protect the hydroxyl proton of 3 under anionic polymerization conditions. The silyl ethers of 3 carrying these groups (and their polymers) are stable towards both anionic initiators and growing carbanions. In contrast, the trimethylsilyl ether (4a) is unsatisfactory as a protected monomer, since it is gradually cleaved by these nucleophiles (equation (2)). The success of the above silyl groups, except for the trimethylsilyl one, as protecting functions is at least in part due to the steric bulkiness of the substituents around the silicon atom. Deprotection of silyl protecting groups from polymers Among the silyloxyl pendants in poly(4a)-poly(4e), the trimethylsilyloxyl group is the most labile towards hydrolysis. It was instantly and completely cleaved by treatment at room temperature with aqueous 1,4-dioxane containing a small amount of acetic acid. The triethyl-, ipropyldimethyl- and t-butoxydimethylsilyl counterparts were more stable to hydrolysis, but were still readily cleaved by treatment with aqueous 1,4-dioxane containing a few drops of concentrated HC1 at 80°C for l h . More acidic conditions (2N HCI aqueous 1,4dioxane, 50°C, 3h) were needed to cleave the tbutyldimethylsilyloxylgroup, which was, as expected, the most stable. Free poly(3) was isolated in an almost 100~o yield by B I 27 1 1 I I 30 1 I I 1 33 I 36 Count Figure 2 Molecular weight distributions for (A) polyr2. (4-vinylphenyl)ethoxy(triethyl)silane], /~n obs. (v.p.o.) 12000, = M w / M n = 1.06, and (B) poly[2-(4-vinylphenyl)ethoxy(t-butoxydimethyl)silane],/~nobs. (v.p.o.)=32000, M w / M n = 1.10 (see Table3) precipitation in water after the above treatment. In all cases quantitative removal of the silyl groups was confirmed by i.r. and 1H n.m.r, spectra of the resulting polymers. Figure 3 shows the representative 1H n.m.r. spectra before and after the hydrolysis of poly(4d). The spectrumB shows the expected structure of poly(3) and no signals corresponding to the silyl protecting group are detected. In order to check the molecular weight and its distribution of the poly(3) samples thus obtained, some of POLYMER, 1987, Vol 28, February 307 Protection and polymerization of functional monomers: A. Hirao et al. them were converted into poly[2-(4-vinylphenyl)ethyl acetate] so as to solubilize them in THF and benzene for g.p.c, and v.p.o, measurements. The g.p.c, traces of the acetylated polymers all showed a single narrow peak (Mw/M, ~ 1.1) eluting in a reasonable molecular weight region. This confirms the absence of main chain degradation during the deprotection step under acidic I I I I 8 I I 6 4 I I I 2 I 0 (ppm) Figure 3 1H n.m.r, spectra of (A) polyr2-(4-vinylphenyl)ethoxy(t- butyldimethyl)silane] (in CC14), and (B) polyl2-(4-vinylphenyl)ethanol (in CDaOD) obtained after hydrolysis of poly[2-(4-vinylphenyl)ethoxy(t -butyldimet hyl)silane] Table 4 Degrees of polymerization of poly(4) and its acetylated form Poly(4) Acetylated polymera DP b Poly(4b) Poly(4c) Poly(4d) Mw/Mn DP b Mw/Mn 46 129 76 1.10 1.26 1.10 43 127 78 1.12 1.24 1.15 =Obtained by deprotection of poly(4) followed by acetylation (see text) bDetermined by vapour pressure osmometry in benzene Table 5 conditions. More reliable data were obtained by v.p.o.; little difference in the degree of polymerization was found between the original protected polymers and their deprotected and then acetylated forms as shown in Table 4. Accordingly, the poly(3) obtained by the anionic living polymerization of silyl-protected monomers (4b--e), followed by the removal of the protecting groups, should be a linear polymer of well defined structure, known molecular weight and narrow molecular weight distribution. Block copolymerization The synthesis of precisely tailored block copolymers has stimulated a great deal of interest from both chemical and industrial points of view. Such polymer synthesis is possible only through sequential living polymerization of different monomers. Indeed, several interesting block copolymers have successfully been prepared by this met hod 13. In the preceding section, we have demonstrated the living character of the anionic polymerizations of protected monomers, 4b-e. The application of these polymerizations to the synthesis of block copolymers is interesting, since it can produce novel block copolymers with hydroxyl functionalities in which each block has a predictable molecular weight and a narrow molecular weight distribution. B-A-B type triblock copolymers were prepared by the sequential polymerization of monomer A (4b, 4e, 4d or 4e) and monomer B (styrene or ~t-methylstyrene). The polymers were obtained in virtually quantitative yields. The results are summarized in Table 5. G.p.c. analysis (Figure 4) showed that the peaks of the polymers obtained at the first stage shifted completely towards higher molecular weight after the addition of the second monomer and that the resulting polymers possessed a single and narrow molecular weight distribution without any observable peak corresponding to the first block. The observed Mn values of the block copolymers were in reasonable agreement with those expected from the monomer-to-initiator ratios. The 1H n.m.r, spectra showed the presence of each block in the resulting polymers. The observed intensity ratios of the Block copolymerizations of 4 with styrene or ~t-methylstyrene at - 78°C in THF with oligo(~t-methylstyryl)dipotassium Block copolymer" Observed values b Calculated values Type A monomer B monomer Mn [A]/[B] /~n [A]/[B] B-A-B B-A-B B-A-B c B-A-B 4b 4e 4d 4e Styrene Styrene ~t-Methylstyrene Styrene 42 000 47 000 52 000 44 000 15/85 19/81 18/82 19/81 40 000 53 000 45 000 40 000 14/86 21/79 18/82 17/83 A-B-A A-B-A A-B-A A-B-A 4b 4¢ 4d 4e Styrene Styrene Styrene Styrene 24 000 29 000 30 000 30 000 25/75 31/69 31/69 26/74 22 000 32 000 27 000 28 000 23/77 30/70 31/69 22/78 A-B~ A-B~ B-Ad 4d 4d 4d ct-Methylstyrene ~-Methylstyrene ct-Methylstyrene 59 000 88 000 33 000 15/85 12/88 47/53 66 000 89 000 39 000 14/86 11/89 55/45 ]~w//~n" 1.05-1.20; not deprotected ~'Determined by v.p.o, and 1H n.m.r. "Initiated by oligo(ct-methylstyryl)dilithium prepared from lithium naphthalide and ct-methylstyrene aInitiated by oligo(~t-methylstyryl)lithium prepared from butyllithium and ct-methylstyrene =Yields: 90-100%; 308 POLYMER, 1987, Vol 28, February Protection and polymerization of functional monomers: A. Hirao et al. aromatic to I I CH 3 - S~ I or CH3CH 2 - SI I protons were found to be almost equal to those calculated from both monomers fed into the polymerizations. These analyses clearly indicate the formation of the expected block copolymers free of homopolymers. It follows that the tailored block copolymers with hydroxyl functionalities can be made by our method (see the formula below). The successful preparation of the block copolymers also provides strong evidence for the living character of the anionic polymerizations of 4b~. R I ~-~CH2r~ xff~-~CH2Ay~- ~ R H, CH 3 CH2CH2OH A block B block A B With 4a, on the other hand, the less stable living end of poly(4a) presents the following problem for the preparation of block copolymers. Some portions of the bifunctional living ends of poly(4a) would be terminated at one or both ends before the addition of second monomer, so that the final triblock copolymer would be contaminated by a free homopolymer of 4a and a diblock copolymer. Curve B in Figure 5 shows the g.p.c, curve of an example obtained by the sequenlial polymerization of 4a and ~-methylstyrene. Curve B for the final product consists of three peaks, indicating that it is a mixture of the starting homopolymer of 4a, A-B block copolymers and the desired B-A-B component. Therefore it was difficult to prepare a pure block copolymer of B--A-B structure by the method using the polymeric anion of 4a. In contrast, the block copolymer of A-B-A type could be successfully obtained by the opposite sequence of monomer addition (first ~-methylstyrene and then 4a) to a THF solution of lithium naphthalide at - 78°C. G.p.c., v.p.o, and 1H n.m.r, analyses of the resulting polymers supported the formation of the expected block copolymers, as shown in Table 6 and Figure 6. Thus, the synthesis of block copolymers by the use of 4a imposes 'i A B f~ __L/ 1 1 I I 27 1 30 1 1 I I I 1 33 1 I I 24 Count 4 Molecular weight distributions for (A) poly[2-(4vinylphenyl)ethoxy(t-butyldimethyl)silane] initially polymerized,Mn obs. (v.p.o.)= 15000, and (B) poly[~t-methylstyrene-b_-2-(4-vinylphenyl) Table 6 (v.p.o.) I I I I 30 I 33 Count Figure ethoxy(t-butyldimethyl)silane-b-ct-methylstyrene], M n o b s . = 45 000 (see Table 5) I 27 Figure 5 Molecular weight distributions for (A) poly[2-(4vinylphenyl)ethyl acetate] initially polymerized, A~ nobs. (v.p.o.) = 57000, and (B) poly[ct-methylstyrene-b-2-(4-vinylphenyl)ethyl acetate-b-or-methylstyrene] Block copolymerization of 4a with styrene or ct-methylstyrene with lithium naphthalide in THF at - 78°C Block copolymer" Observed values b Calculated values Type A monomer B monomer A,fn A-B-A A-B-A 4a 4a Styrene ~t-Methylstyrene 41 000 52 000 rA]/[B] 40/60 41/59 Mn [A]/[B] 39 000 53 000 43/57 49/51 =Yields: 98-100%; Mw/Mn: 1.10-1.15; deprotected and acetylated ~Determined by v.p.o, and IH n.m.r. POLYMER, 1987, Vol 28, February 309 Protection and polymerization of functional monomers: A. Hirao et al. B I such restrictions t h a t the m o n o m e r 4a m u s t n o t be p o l y m e r i z e d first, since the living a n i o n of poly(4a) is n o t sufficiently stable. A REFERENCES 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1 I 27 1 I 1 I I 30 I I 33 Count Figure 6 Molecular we~ht distributions for (A) poly(ct-methylstyrene) initially polymerized, Mn obs. (v.p.o.)= 28 000, and (B) poly[2-(4vinylpheny_l)ethyl acetate-b-~-met hylstyrene-b-2-(4-vinylphenyl)ethyl acetate], Mn obs. (v.p.o.) = 53 000 (see Table 6) 310 POLYMER, 1987, Vol 28, February 8 9 10 11 12 13 Hirao, A., Yamaguchi, K., Takenaka, K., Suzuki, K., Nakahama, S. and Yamazaki, N. Makromol. Chem. Rapid Commun. 1982, 3, 941 Yamaguchi, K., Hirao, A., Suzuki, K., Nakahama, S. and Yamazaki, N. J. Polym. Sci., Polym. Lett. Edn. 1983, 21,395 Hirao, A., Takenaka, K., Yamaguchi, K., Nakahama, S. and Yamazaki, N. Polymer 1983, 24 (Commun.), 339 Hirao, A., Takenaka, K., Packirisamy, S., Yamaguchi, K. and Nakahama, S. Makromol. Chem. 1985, 186, 1157 Hirao, A., Nagawa, T., Hatayama, T., Yamaguchi, K. and Nakahama, S. Macromolecules 1985, lg, 2101 Hirao, A. and Nakahama, S. Polymer 1986, 27, 309 Hirao, A., Ishino, Y. and Nakahama, S. Makromol. Chem. 1986, 187, 141 Tanimoto, S. and Oda, R. Kogyo Kagaku Zasshi (Japan) 1961, 69, 932 Morton, M., Rembaum, A. A. and Hall, J. L. J. Polym. Sci. 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