Andrey V. Shlyakhtin

Controlled Synthesis of Polyacrylonitrile via Reversible Addition-Fragmentation Chain-Transfer Pseudoliving Radical Polymerization and Its Thermal Behavior

The polymerization of acrylonitrile mediated by various trithiocarbonates as reversible addition-fragmentation chain-transfer agents is studied. It is shown that, when polymerization is performed in DMSO, a narrowly dispersed PAN with a controlled molecular mass can be prepared. The pseudoliving radical polymerization of acrylonitrile is conducted for the first time via the reversible addition-fragmentation chaintransfer mechanism in carbon dioxide at an increased pressure. The structure of the polymers is investigated via NMR and IR spectroscopy. As shown by DSC and IR pyrolysis, the thermal behavior of PAN is determined by its molecular mass, the width of the molecular-mass distribution, and the conditions of synthesis. The incorporation of functional groups of the reversible addition-fragmentation chain-transfer agent into a macromolecule changes the structure of the polyconjugated system and makes it possible to control the conditions of its formation.

Controlled synthesis of multiblock copolymers by pseudoliving radical polymerization via the reversible addition-fragmentation chain-transfer mechanism

With the use of two classes of reversible addition-fragmentation chain-transfer agents—dithiobenzoates and trithiocarbonates—multiblock copolymers based on styrene and n-butyl acrylate, which are the best-studied monomers in these processes, are synthesized. It is shown that the polymers containing dithiobenzoate and trithiocarbonate groups are highly efficient for the synthesis of block copolymers, which is independent of the number of stages at which the polymeric RAFT agents are used in polymerization: In all cases, the polymeric RAFT agent is fully consumed in the polymerization of the “alien” monomer. The mechanism governing chain formation during the synthesis of multiblock copolymers, that is, the character of monomer insertion into the polymer chain, via one or both ends, is studied. It is found that the order of monomer loading determines the ratio of chains growing through one or two ends. The thermal stability of amphiphilic multiblock copolymers, their solubility in various solvents, and self-organizing ability are investigated.

Controlled ring-opening polymerisation of cyclic phosphates, phosphonates and phosphoramidates catalysed by heteroleptic BHT-alkoxy magnesium complexes

We report here that the heteroleptic BHT-Mg(OR) complex, i.e. [(BHT)Mg(OBn)(THF)]2 (Mg3), represents an effective and versatile ring-opening polymerisation (ROP) catalyst for several cyclic ethylene phosphate monomers (CEPMs), such as ethylene phosphates with methoxy- (MeOEP, 1), isopropoxy- (iPrOEP, 2), and tert-butoxy- (tBuOEP, 3) substituents, N,N-diethyl ethylene phosphoramidate (Me2NEP, 4) as well as ethyl (EtPPn, 5) and tert-butyl (tBuPPn, 6) ethylene phosphonates. Mg3 retains its catalytic activity over a broad temperature range from −50 to 100 °C and efficiently carries out the fast and controlled polymerisation of CEPMs with sterically unhindered alkoxy groups with less than 1% chain branching even at near-complete conversion. Compared with ROP catalysed by 1,5,7-triazabicyclo[4.4.0]dec-5-ene (TBD), Mg3 performs much better in the polymerisation of CEPMs with bulky groups and of monomers sensitive to strong nucleophiles, such as tBuOEP.

Effects of synthesis conditions and the mechanism of homopolymerization of acrylonitrile on the thermal behavior of the resulting polymer

The effect of the conditions of polyacrylonitrile synthesis (nature of the solvent, homogeneity of the reaction medium, and type of initiation) on the conditions of formation of the polyconjugation system during the pyrolysis of polyacrylonitrile is studied. The controlled synthesis of polyacrylonitrile via radiation polymerization mediated by dibenzyl trithiocarbonate as a reversible addition-fragmentation chain-transfer agent at 25 and 80°C is performed for the first time. It is shown that the type of initiation in reversible addition-fragmentation chain-transfer polymerization (material initiation or radiolysis) strongly affects the structure of the formed polyconjugation system.

Polymerization of trimethylene carbonate and lactones in the presence of magnesium monoionolate: A comparative theoretical and experimental study

Using quantum-chemical calculations (DFT, program Priroda), the formation of a catalyst species on the basis of magnesium complexes with 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methylphenol is discussed. A comparative theoretical and experimental study of the ring-opening polymerization of trimethylene carbonate, 1,4-dioxanone, δ-valerolactone, and e-caprolactone in the presence of the monoionolate magnesium complex is performed. It is shown that the calculated values of activation barriers correlate with the observed order of activity of cyclic esters. The maximum rate of polymerization is exhibited by trimethylene carbonate.

A study of the morphology of acrylonitrile-methylacrylateitaconic acid/itaconic acid derivative copolymers synthesized in a supercritical carbon dioxide medium

Ternary copolymers of acrylonitrile with methylacrylate, itaconic acid (IA), and its derivatives, namely, monomethyl ester (MME), monoethyl ester (MEE), monoamide, and mono-n-octylamide, were synthesized in a supercritical carbon dioxide medium. The morphology of the synthesized copolymers was studied by scanning electron microscopy. Copolymers with IA, MME, and MEE were obtained in the form of regularly shaped particles of nearly 1 μm in size without the addition of stabilizers.

New “old” polylactides for tissue engineering constructions

New methods for the synthesis of aliphatic polyesters were proposed and realized with highly effective and low-toxic 1,5,7-triazabicyclo[4.4.0]decene-5 and (2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methylphenoxy)-butyl-magnesium as catalysts and ethanol as an initiator. The interaction processes between D,L-polylactides of different molecular weights, obtained through these methods, and supercritical carbon dioxide were studied to provide “soft and dry” formation (without high temperatures and toxic organic solvents) of highly porous (up to 90 vol %) bioresorbable matrices for tissue engineering constructions. The chemical structure, molecular weight characteristics, morphology, cytotoxicity, and matrix properties of the samples synthesized from D,L-polylactides were studied with nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, gel permeation chromatography, scanning electron microscopy, colorimetric testing to estimate the metabolic activity of cells (MTT test), and coloration with a vital fluorescent dye of in vitro cultures of multipotent stromal cells of human adipose tissue. A comparative analysis for biocompatibility of these matrices with control samples made from “medical grade” polylactide analog produced industrially indicates that the materials developed can be recommended for tissue engineering.

Supercritical Fluid State of Hydrocarbon-Water Fluids in a Porous Medium and Optimization of Fluid Release from Pores

The conditions for transition to a state of supercritical (SC) fluid in the hydrocarbons-water system are examined. A method for thermochemical heating the productive stratum near the oil well involving the transition of the oil-water formation fluid to the SC state (homogeneous, inseparable, and extremely fluid) is proposed. New chemical compositions, binary mixtures (BMs) of nitrates of organic amines (organic nitrate) and initiators of their decomposition, capable of ensuring the transition of the fluid to the supercritical state at the expense of high pressures and temperatures generated by rock pressure and heat of the exothermic reaction of BM are tested. The effectiveness of the scheme of production of formation fluid in waterflooded oil fields is assessed.