International Journal of Analytical Chemistry
Volume 2016 (2016), Article ID 3727062, 6 pages
http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/3727062

Research Article

The Influence of Crown Ether and Alcohol on Unsaturation and Molar Mass of Poly(propylene oxide)s Prepared by Use of Potassium t-Butoxide: Reinvestigation of Chain Transfer Reactions

Zbigniew Grobelny,¹ Andrzej Swinarew,² Justyna Jurek-Suliga,² Kinga Skrzeczyna,¹ Jadwiga Gabor,² and Marta Łężniak²

¹Institute of Chemistry, Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry, University of Silesia in Katowice, 40-007 Katowice, Poland
²Institute of Material Science, Faculty of Computer Science and Material Science, University of Silesia in Katowice, 40-007 Katowice, Poland

Received 24 February 2016; Accepted 8 June 2016

Academic Editor: Adil Denizli

Copyright © 2016 Zbigniew Grobelny et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract.

Potassium t-butoxide dissolved in tetrahydrofuran effectively initiates homogeneous polymerization of propylene oxide at room temperature. Unsaturation and molar mass () of the polymers prepared depend on the presence of additives, such as macrocyclic ligand 18-crown-6 (L) and t-butanol. Application of the ligand alone results in distinct increase of unsaturation and decrease of , whereas use of t-BuOH leads to simultaneous decrease of unsaturation and . Activation of t-BuOK/t-BuOH system with the ligand causes further decrease of unsaturation, that is, from 12.0 to 3.5 mol % for OK/OH (1/3) and OK/OH/L (1/3/2) systems, respectively. Unexpectedly, of the polymers obtained does not practically change (~4800). This result differs from that reported earlier for neat PO polymerization initiated potassium 1-methoxy-2-propoxide/1-methoxy-2-propanol, in which in the presence of the same ligand increases to ~12 400 for the same ratio of reagents. The mechanism of studied processes was discussed.

1. Introduction

Polymers of propylene oxide (PPOs) are important polyethers, which have several applications, for example, as impact modifiers, dispersant agents, deemulsifiers, fuel additives, wetting agents, lubricants, adhesives, and biomedical applications [1–5]. PPOs are produced mainly by anionic polymerization of PO with use of potassium alkoxides in bulk or in solution. Initiators with two active sites, that is, KOH/glycol system or dipotassium glycoxides, are particularly interesting because they are used in the synthesis of triblock copolymers with wide applications as surfactants [6] or in synthesis of macromonomers for fabrication of polyurethane elastomers [7]. Use of KOH/glycerol system allows preparation of polyether-triols for synthesis of crosslinked polyurethane foams [8].

A disadvantage of anionic polymerization of PO is side reaction, that is, chain transfer to the monomer, which markedly decreases molar mass of polymers ( 2000–3000) and produces unsaturated polyether polyols, so-called “monols” (Scheme 1) [7, 8].

Scheme 1: Mechanism of the chain transfer reaction to the monomer.

The general properties of polyurethanes can be greatly improved by the use of polyether polyols with reduced monol content. It is possible by lowering the temperature and initiator concentration or by using suitable solvents [6–8]. More selective catalyst systems which can produce a smaller proportion of monofunctional products are therefore of increasing importance.

One of the methods of unsaturation reduction is using for initiation of polymerization mixtures of potassium alkoxides and alcohols [9]. Unsaturation of the polymers markedly decreases due to elimination of PO from complex 2 because OH groups are stronger ligands for K⁺ than PO (Scheme 2) [8].

Scheme 2: Decomposition of the alkoxide active centre/PO complex 2 under influence of alcohol.

Addition of macrocyclic ligand 18-crown-6 (18C6) to the system containing alcohol causes further depression of chain transfer to the monomer resulting in decrease of unsaturation [10]. The polyethers obtained have two to four times lower unsaturation than the polymers synthesized by usual anionic PO polymerization with uncomplexed potassium cations. The minimum unsaturation of the polyether-triols was found in the polymerization initiated with monopotassium salt of glycerin while using 18C6 or cryptand C222 which appeared to be better ligands than dibenzo-18C6 or poly(ethylene glycols) [11]. Moreover, using for initiation a mixture of 1-methoxy-2-propanol and its potassium salt together with 18C6 (1/3/1.94 ratio) PPO with low unsaturation and high  400 was obtained [12].

An explanation of this effect given by Ionescu [8] is the acceleration of propagation and the deceleration of the chain transfer to the monomer. The author proposed that, using a strong complexing agent for K⁺, PO being a soft ligand is eliminated from the complex and thus chain transfer is inhibited (Scheme 3). However, the role of the alcohol in this process was not taken into account.

Scheme 3: Decomposition of alkoxide active centre/PO complex 2 in the presence of macrocyclic ligand (a circle denotes ligand).

The aim of the present work was to determine the influence of ligand 18C6 on unsaturation and molar mass of polymers obtained in PO polymerization initiated with potassium t-butoxide and, comparatively, with potassium t-butoxide/t-butanol system. Polymerizations were carried out in mild homogeneous conditions, that is, in tetrahydrofuran solution and room temperature. Mechanism of the reactions was discussed.

2. Experimental Part

2.1. Materials

Propylene oxide (Aldrich) was dried over CaH₂ and finally distilled at 307 K (34°C). Anhydrous tetrahydrofuran (THF) (Across Organics) was kept over CaH₂ and distilled at 339 K (66°C). Potassium t-butoxide (1.0 mol/dm³ solution in tetrahydrofuran) (Aldrich), coronand 18C6 (1,4,7,10,13,16-hexaoxacyclooctadecane) (Merck), t-butanol, and methyl iodide were used for initiation without purification.

2.2. Propylene Oxide Polymerization

All syntheses were performed at room temperature in a 50 cm³ reactor equipped with a magnetic stirrer and a teflon valve enabling substrates delivery and sampling under argon atmosphere. In the first series of polymerizations the initial concentration of the monomer and initiator was equal to 2.0 and 0.1 mol/dm³ but in the second one 10.0 and 0.05 mol/dm³, respectively. For example, tetrahydrofuran (15.2 cm³) and t-BuOK solution (2.0 cm³) were introduced into reactor and mixed during 5 min. That solution was used as the initiator when propylene oxide (2.8 cm³; 2.3 g; 40 mmol) was added into the reactor. The homogeneous reaction mixture was then stirred several days. After almost complete conversion of the monomer methyl iodide was added to transform alkoxide active centres into the methoxy end groups. After separation of potassium iodide precipitate from the reaction mixture by filtration, THF was evaporated in vacuum from the solution at room temperature yielding a viscous liquid polymer. In an additional experiment the polymerization was carried out with the addition of 18C6 (0.53 g; 2.0 mmol) or t-butanol (0.19 cm³; 2.0 mmol). The concentration of monomer during the polymerizations was monitored by the 1,4-dioxane method [13]. The final conversion was equal to 99%. The yields of the reactions were 95−98%.

2.3. Measurements

100 MHz NMR spectra were recorded in CDCl₃ at 25°C on a Bruker Avance 400 pulsed spectrometer equipped with 5 mm broad-band probe and applying Waltz 16 decoupling sequence. Chemical shifts were referenced to tetramethylsilane serving as an internal standard. To obtain a good spectrum of the polymer main chain exhibiting its microstructural details about 3000 scans were sufficient but in order to observe the signals of the polymer chain terminal groups more than 10 000 scans were necessary. Molar masses and dispersities of polymers were obtained by means of size exclusion chromatography (SEC) on a Shimadzu Prominence UFLC instrument at 40°C on a Shodex 300 mm 8 mm OHpac column using THF as a solvent. Poly(propylene glycol)s were used as calibration standards.

3. Results and Discussion

The results obtained were collected in Table 1. Polymerizations were performed at various initial concentrations of monomer and initiator, that is, 2.0 and 0.1 mol/dm³, respectively (1,2,5,6,9–11), as well as 10.0 and 0.05 mol/dm³, respectively (3,4,7,8,12–16).

Table 1: Characterization of unsaturation of PPOs synthesized in the presence of t-BuOK including 18C6 or t-BuOH or t-BuOH/18C6 as additives.

Sample
Initiating system
Macromolecules with unsaturated starting groups (mol %)
(SEC)
(SEC)

Set A

    1
t-BuOK
14.0
2600
1.05

    2
t-BuOK/18C6 (1/1)
26.8
2300
1.05

    3
t-BuOK
28.4
6400
1.07

    4
t-BuOK/18C6 (1/1)
40.1
5800
1.06

Set B

    5
t-BuOK/t-BuOH (1/1)
10.1
1700
1.07

    6
t-BuOK/t-BuOH (1/3)
1.3
1000
1.10

    7
t-BuOK/t-BuOH (1/1)
22.5
6000
1.08

    8
t-BuOK/t-BuOH (1/3)
12.0
4700
1.12

Set C

    9
t-BuOK/t-BuOH/18C6 (1/3/1)
0.5
900
1.06

    10
t-BuOK/t-BuOH/18C6 (1/3/2)
0.3
1000
1.04

    11
t-BuOK/t-BuOH/18C6 (1/3/3)
0.2
1000
1.05

    12
t-BuOK/t-BuOH/18C6 (1/3/1)
4.1
4800
1.02

    13
t-BuOK/t-BuOH/18C6 (1/3/2)
3.5
4800
1.09

    14
t-BuOK/t-BuOH/18C6 (1/3/3)
3.3
4900
1.04

Set D

    15
t-BuOK/t-BuOH/18C6 (1/5/3)
1.1
4100
1.03

    16
t-BuOK/t-BuOH/18C6 (1/7/3)
0.3
3700
1.04

Unsaturation of polymers obtained changes in wide range, from 0.2 to 40.1 mol % depending on the presence of additives. Unsaturation is represented by allyloxy starting groups; however, in some polymers also isomeric cis-propenyloxy groups were detected and estimated by ¹³C NMR spectroscopy, that is, 5.8 and 25.5 mol % in samples 1 and 2, respectively. Figure 1 presents ¹³C NMR spectra of mentioned polymers 1 and 2 and, additionally, polymer 9, without cis-propenyloxy starting groups.

(a)

(b)

(c)

Figure 1: Unsaturated region in ¹³C NMR spectra of polymers: (a) sample 1; (b) sample 2; and (c) sample 9.

Activation of t-BuOK with the ligand causes distinct increase of polymer unsaturation (samples 2 and 4 in Set A). Evidently, in these cases the acceleration of chain transfer to the monomer (which depends on basicity of anions) occurs simultaneously with the acceleration of propagation (which depends on nucleophilicity of anions). However, the acceleration of the first reaction is greater than the acceleration of the second one.

We assumed that deprotonation of the monomer by ligand activated ion pairs present in polymer chains or initiator molecules cannot occur by elimination reaction (E2) due to steric hindrance and electronic reasons. However, chain transfer reaction is not inhibited but can be realized successfully by direct deprotonation of the monomer, resulting in distinct increase of polymer unsaturation (Scheme 4). In this reaction extremely reactive potassium glycidoxide 5 as intermediate is formed, which decomposes by the ring opening in the α-position giving potassium allyloxide.

Scheme 4: Mechanism of direct deprotonation of the monomer by ligand activated ion pairs.

It is worth noting that increase of polymer unsaturation in the presence of ligand is accompanied with decrease of molar masses, due to increase of number of polymer chains caused by chain transfer to monomer. Similar effects were observed earlier by us in the polymerization of PO initiated anhydrous potassium hydroxide [14].

Application of t-BuOK/t-BuOH mixtures as initiators results in distinct decreasing of polymer unsaturation and , especially for 1/3 system (samples 6 and 8 in Set B). The course of the process was shown in Scheme 5.

Scheme 5: Formation of hydrogen-bonded ion pair with three alcohol molecules 6 leading to chain transfer to alcohol.

Diminishing of PPO unsaturation was reported previously for PO polymerization initiated monopotassium salt of glycerol mixtures with glycerol at high concentration of the last one [9]. However, results concerning the influence of OH groups on of polymers were not presented in cited work.

Data concerning Set C result from the use of t-BuOK/t-BuOH (1/3) initiating system containing ligand at K⁺/18C6 1/1, 1/2, or 1/3 ratios. In two series of polymerizations carried out for low (samples 9–11) and high (samples 12–14) initial monomer concentration further decreasing of polymers unsaturation was observed. The lowest level occurs at t-BuOK/t-BuOH/18C6 (1/3/3) (sample 11). The effect of the ligand added was presented in Scheme 6.

Scheme 6: Decomposition of hydrogen-bonded ion pair 6 in the presence of macrocyclic ligand.

In our opinion, nucleophilicity and basicity of crowned ion pair is greater than that of 6. However, in the system activated by the ligand the acceleration of chain transfer to monomer is lower than the acceleration of propagation. Thus, the influence of 18C6 on behavior of ion pairs 1 is opposite to that observed for hydrogen-bonded ion pairs 6. In the first case unsaturation of polymers increases, whereas in the second one it decreases. It presumably results from great acceleration of alcohol deprotonation in the presence of ligand. Distinct decrease of PPO unsaturation was also observed previously in the polymerization initiated n-BuOK/n-BuOH (1/3) [10] or potassium 1-methoxy-2-propoxide/1-methoxy-2-propanol (1/3) [12] both activated 18C6. However, the authors did not explain this phenomenon. Molar mass of PPOs obtained at 110°C in the presence of n-BuOK/n-BuOH (1/3) increased gradually from = 1240 without 18C6 and 2020 for n-BuOK/n-BuOH/18C6 (1/3/1) to 2140 for n-BuOK/n-BuOH/18C6 (1/3/3). In the second system, that is, potassium 1-methoxy-2-propoxide/1-methoxy-2-propanol (1/3), addition of 18C6 for (1/3/0.75 4.54) decreases from 3500 to 3300 at 80°C. However, at 40°C for (1/3/1.47 1.94) increases from 4050 to 12 400. The authors did not comment on these results. Unexpectedly, ligand 18C6 practically does not influence molar mass of polymers prepared in our work, contrary to the previous data [10, 12]. of polymers 6 and 11 are the same and of polymer 14 is only small higher than that of polymer 8. In general, these effects are probably consistent with great acceleration of chain transfer reaction to t-butanol in comparison to the monomer in the presence of 18C6. Further addition of alcohol (samples 15 and 16 in Set D) results in decreasing of unsaturation and of polymers.

Dispersity (/) of all synthesized polymers in this work is generally low, probably due to high rate of counterion exchange reaction (Scheme 7).

Scheme 7: Cation exchange reaction between polymer chains.

It is also worth noting that the presence of nonpolar solvent, that is, n-pentane, in the reaction mixture results in relatively small decrease of polymer unsaturation. For example, unsaturation of PPOs prepared similarly to sample 1, but in mixture of THF/n-pentane = 1/1 or 1/5 volume ratios, reaches the values equal to 13.1 or 11.4%, respectively. of polymers is practically unchanged.

Summarizing, anionic polymerization of propylene oxide initiated potassium alkoxide is very sensitive on additives such as counterion complexing ligand and/or hydroxylic compound, that is, alcohol. In general, they strongly influence unsaturation and molar mass of the synthesized polyethers.

4. Conclusions

Potassium t-butoxide dissolved in tetrahydrofuran is effective initiator of propylene oxide polymerization at room temperature. Polymerizations were carried out at and - equal to 2.0 and 0.1 mol/dm³ or 10.0 and 0.05 mol/dm³, respectively. The polymers obtained have relatively high unsaturation which changes strongly in the presence of some additives. The main characteristic features of the studied processes are as follows:

(i)In the presence of 18-crown-6 unsaturation of poly(propylene oxide) markedly increases and of polymer decreases due to distinct acceleration of chain transfer reaction to the monomer.(ii)In this system direct deprotonation of the monomer occurs exclusively and not deprotonation by elimination due to steric hindrance of cation complexed ligand.(iii)In the presence of t-butanol decreasing of unsaturation and of polymers occurs which results from chain transfer reaction to alcohol.(iv)Activation of the system containing alcohol by 18-crown-6 results in further decrease of polymer unsaturation; however, of polymers (~4800) does not change probably due to great acceleration of chain transfer reaction to alcohol.(v)This result differs strongly from that reported earlier for PO polymerization initiated potassium 1-methoxy-2-propoxide/1-methoxy-2-propanol in which in the presence of the same ligand increases to ~12 400 for the same ratio of reagents.(vi)Addition of nonpolar solvent n-pentane to the system containing t-BuOK results only in small decrease of polymers unsaturation.(vii)Dispersities of synthesized polymers are relatively low and independent on additives used.(viii)In general, the observed effects result from different influence of applied additives, as crown ether and/or alcohol on the rates of propagation and chain transfer to the monomer and alcohol as well as cation exchange reactions.

Competing Interests

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

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