Ralph-Peter Krüger

New polymer syntheses. 107. Aliphatic poly(thio ester)s by ring‐opening polycondensation of 2‐stanna‐1,3‐dithiacycloalkanes

We prepared 2,2-dibutyl-2-stanna-1,3-dithiacycloalkanes from dibutyltin oxide and α,ω-dimercaptoalkanes. Heterocycles with five-, six-, seven-, or nine-ring members were used as bifunctional monomers for polycondensations with aliphatic dicarboxylic acid chlorides. These polycondensations conducted in bulk were highly exothermic and yielded poly(thio ester)s with number average molecular weights (Mns) in the range of 5000–30,000 Da. These poly(thio ester)s proved to be rapidly crystallizing materials with melting temperatures in the range of 90–150 °C. In addition to the success of the new synthetic approach, two interesting and unpredictable results were obtained. All volatile species detectable by matrix assisted laser desorption induced-time of flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry were cyclic oligo- and poly(thio ester)s. Second, several polyesters showed a reversible first-order change of the crystal modification as identified by differential scanning calorimetry measurements and X-ray scattering with variation of the temperature.

Ring-Closing Polycondensations

The role of cyclization in polycondensations is discussed for two different scenarios: thermodynamically-controlled polycondensation (TCPs) on the one hand and kinetically-controlled polycondensations (KCPs) on the other. The classical Carothers–Flory theory of step-growth polymerization does not include cyclization reactions. However, TCPs involve the formation of cycles via ‘back-biting degradation’, and when the ring–chain equilibrium is on the side of the cycles the main reaction products of the TCP will be cyclic oligomers. Two groups of examples are discussed: polycondensations of salicyclic acid derivatives (e.g. aspirin) and polycondensations of dibutyltin derivatives with long α-, ω-diols or dicarboxylic acids. Furthermore, various kinetically-controlled syntheses of polyesters and polyamides were studied and carefully optimized in the direction of high molecular weights. High fractions of cyclic oligomers and polymers were found by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry, and their fractions increased with optimization of the process for molecular weight. These results disagree with the Carothers–Flory theory but agree with the theoretical background of the Ruggli–Ziegler dilution method (RZDM). When poly(ether-sulfone)s were prepared from 4,4′-difluorodiphenylsulfone and silylated bisphenol-A two different scenarios were found. With CsF as catalyst at a temperature of more than 145°C cyclic oligoethers were formed under thermodynamic control. When the polycondensation was promoted with K2CO3 in N-methylpyrolidone at ≤145°C the formation of cyclic oligoethers and polyethers occurred under kinetic control. A new mathematical formula is presented correlating the average degree of polymerization with the conversion and taking into account the competition between cyclization and propagation.

Molecular structure investigations on fluorine containing polyazomethines by means of the MALDI–TOF–MS technique

Abstract Three new aromatic polyazomethines have been synthesized by solution polycondensation reactions of terephthalic dialdehyde with fluorine containing aromatic diamines. The polymers were obtained in high yields. The investigation of these polymers by means of matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization–time-of-flight–mass spectrometry (MALDI–TOF–MS) proved the initial members of the four theoretical possible series of the corresponding oligomers with 2–10 repeating units per molecule.

MACROCYCLES. 12. RING-OPENING POLYCONDENSATIONS OF TIN-CONTAINING MACROCYCLES WITH BIS(THIOARYLESTER)S

2,2-Dibutyl-2-stanna-1,3-dioxepane (DSDOP) was polycondensed with bis(4-chlorothiophenyl) suberat under various reaction conditions, but only moderate molecular weights (Mn ≈ 10000) were obtained. The MALDI-TOF mass spectrosmetry revealed the formation of cyclic oligo- and polyesters in addition to linear species having OH, CO2H, and unreacted 4-chlorothiophenyl ester endgroups. Furthermore, ϵ-Caprolactone (ϵ-CL) was polymerized with DSDOP as the initiator at monomer/initiator (M/I) ratios of 20 and 50. The resulting tin-containing macrocyclic polylactones were reacted with sebacic acid bis(4-thiocresyl)ester at three different temperatures and with different reaction times. Analogous polycondensations were conducted with suberic acid bis(4-chlorothiophenyl) ester. The presence of thioarylester endgroups in the isolated polyesters was checked by 1H NMR spectroscopy. The highest conversions were found at long reaction times (24 or 72 hours), or after the addition of pyridine and N,N-dimethylaminopyridine as catalysts. Despite high conversions, the number average molecular weights (Mns) did not exceed values around 20000. Even in the samples having the highest molecular weights, unreacted 4-chlorothiophenylester endgroups were detected by GPC measurements evaluated with a UV-detector. It is concluded that both factors, cyclization and incomplete conversion, contribute to the limitation of the chain growth.

Zur Charakterisierung von Si-Polymeren durch flüssigchromatographische Verfahren in Kopplung mit MALDI-TOF-MS

Summary. The coupling of the three liquid chromatographic modes with MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry is suitable for the determination of the molecular, functional, and chemical heterogeneities of Si polymers. Silsesquioxanes and siloxanes serve as examples for this method of structure identification. The substance specific construction of the SEC calibration curve by means of MALDI-MS is shown.Zusammenfassung. Die Kopplung der drei flüssigchromatographischen Modi mit MALDI-TOF-Massenspektrometrie ist zur Bestimmung der molekularen, funktionalen und chemischen Verteilungen von Si-Polymeren geeignet. Silsesquioxane und Siloxane dienen als Beispiele für diese Art der Strukturerkennung. Die substanzspezifische Konstruktion einer SEC-Eichkurve mit Hilfe der MALDI-MS wird gezeigt.

Macrocycles, 16. Macrocyclic Dibutyltin Dicarboxylates via Thermodynamically Controlled Polycondensations

Various dibutyltin derivatives were polycondensed with aliphatic α,ω-dicarboxylic acids having chain lengths from 4 (succinic acid) to 22 carbon atoms. White crystalline products were obtained from all experiments, and the structure of the products was independent of the synthetic method. Viscosity measurements revealed low molecular weights (M n ≤ 1 500 Da) in all cases. Vapor pressure osmometry (VPO) measurements and matrix assisted laser desorption time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry proved that cyclic dimers and trimer were formed from dicarboxylic acids having 6 to 16 carbons, but mainly the monomeric cycle from docosane dioic acid. Heating to 250 °C did not change the structure. Therefore, the results indicate that the macrocycles are the result of a thermodynamically controlled ring-closing polycondensation. This means that linear high-molecular weight poly(dibutyltin dicarboxylate)s cannot exist above room temperature.