CA2426806A1 - Method for breaking a chain during anionic polymerisation - Google Patents

Method for breaking a chain during anionic polymerisation Download PDF

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Publication number
CA2426806A1
CA2426806A1 CA002426806A CA2426806A CA2426806A1 CA 2426806 A1 CA2426806 A1 CA 2426806A1 CA 002426806 A CA002426806 A CA 002426806A CA 2426806 A CA2426806 A CA 2426806A CA 2426806 A1 CA2426806 A1 CA 2426806A1
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Prior art keywords
chain
solution
styrene
termination
glycidyl ether
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Abandoned
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CA002426806A
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French (fr)
Inventor
Konrad Knoll
Hermann Gausepohl
Josef Richard Wunsch
Paul Naegele
Jurgen Koch
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BASF SE
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Individual
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    • CCHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C08ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
    • C08FMACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS OBTAINED BY REACTIONS ONLY INVOLVING CARBON-TO-CARBON UNSATURATED BONDS
    • C08F2/00Processes of polymerisation
    • C08F2/38Polymerisation using regulators, e.g. chain terminating agents, e.g. telomerisation
    • CCHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C08ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
    • C08FMACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS OBTAINED BY REACTIONS ONLY INVOLVING CARBON-TO-CARBON UNSATURATED BONDS
    • C08F12/00Homopolymers and copolymers of compounds having one or more unsaturated aliphatic radicals, each having only one carbon-to-carbon double bond, and at least one being terminated by an aromatic carbocyclic ring
    • C08F12/02Monomers containing only one unsaturated aliphatic radical
    • C08F12/04Monomers containing only one unsaturated aliphatic radical containing one ring
    • C08F12/06Hydrocarbons
    • C08F12/08Styrene

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  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Medicinal Chemistry (AREA)
  • Polymers & Plastics (AREA)
  • Organic Chemistry (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Addition Polymer Or Copolymer, Post-Treatments, Or Chemical Modifications (AREA)
  • Polymerisation Methods In General (AREA)
  • Graft Or Block Polymers (AREA)
  • Macromolecular Compounds Obtained By Forming Nitrogen-Containing Linkages In General (AREA)
  • Polymerization Catalysts (AREA)
  • Mechanical Treatment Of Semiconductor (AREA)
  • Lubricants (AREA)

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for producing linear polymers or styrene block-copolymers by anionic polymerisation, wherein the chain-breaking is carried out by an n-alkyl glycidyl ether or a dialkyl ketone.

Description

METHOD FOR BREAKING A CAAIN DURING ANIONIC POLYMERISATION
The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of linear polymers or block copolymers of styrene by anionic polymerization of styrene and, if desired, butadiene in an inert apolar solvent in the presence of organolithium initiators and subsequent termination of the "living" polymer chains.
In the anionic polymerization of styrene and the copolymerization of styrene and butadiene to produce block copolymers, the "living" chain end has to be terminated. Chain terminators used in practice are alcohols, in particular isopropanol.
ymen using alcohols as chain terminators in the preparation of linear polymers, formation of wall deposits in the heat exchangers used for heating the polymer solution to 200~C for flash devolatilization was found to occur within a period of a few days to weeks, resulting in increasing deterioration of heat transfer. Prolonged periods of operation therefore require removal and cleaning of the heat exchanger. Formation of a white deposit, probably comprising lithium isopropoxide and lithium -hydroxide, is also observed in the polymerization~vessel itself.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to suppress the formation of these deposits. We have found that this object is achieved by using an n-alkyl glycidyl ether or a dialkyl ketone as chain terminator.
The present invention -therefore provides a process for the preparation of linear polymers or block copolymers of styrene by anionic polymerization of styrene and, if desired, butadiene in an inert apolar solvent and subsequent termination of the "living" polymer chains with an n-alkyl glycidyl ether or a dialkyl ketone.
Hydrolysis of the lithium alkoxide obtained by chain termination produces a hydroxy-terminated polymer. The functionalization of living anionic polymers, in particular of polybutadiene and polyisoprene, with terminal hydroxyl groups by chain termination with ethylene oxide is known in the art, e.g. from H.L. Hsieh and R.P. Quirk, "Principles of Anionic Polymerization", Marcel Dekker 1g96, page 267, and S.F. Reed, Journal of Polymer Science, Part A-l, Col. 10 (1972), pages 1187-1194. However, these publications do not suggest that the formation of deposits during anionic polymerization of styrene can be suppressed by functionalization with hydroxyl groups. Using ethylene oxide as chain terminator would require extensive safety precautions because of its carcinogenicity, so that it would not be suitable in an industrial process anyway.
The anionic polymerization of styrene and the copolymerization of styrene and butadiene to produce block copolymers are well known.
Block copolymers consist of a plurality of polymer blocks, e.g.
polystyrene, polybutadiene and butadiene/styrene copolymer blocks. The latter can be random copolymers or e.g. tapered copolymer blocks, where initially a polybutadiene sequence forms into which more and more styrene is incorporated as the polymerization progresses, so that eventually a polystyrene sequence is formed. In each case, a lithium atom is present at the chain end which must be terminated.
The anionic polymerization is carried out in an inert apolar solvent, preferably in cyclohexane. Preferred organolithium initiators are n-butyllithium and sec-butyllithium. The usual adjuvants may be added during polymerization, such as ethers, e.g. tetrahydrofuran, which act as activators for n-butyllithium and - when used in larger amounts - as randomizers for the preparation~of random copolymers, and potassium alkoxides, such as potassium tert-amylate, which also act as randomizers.
After the polymerization has ended, chain termination is effected according to the invention with an n-alkyl glycidyl ether or a dialkyl ketone. Preferred chain terminators are n-butyl glycidyl ether and diethyl ketone. The chain terminator is conveniently used in stoichiometric amounts, based on lithium, or in a slightly substoichiometric amount, preferably in a molar ratio of from 1:1 to 1:0.95. By using a slightly substoichiometric amount, it is possible to prevent chain terminator residues from remaining in the polymer.
It has been found that the chain termination according to the invention often results in a large increase in the viscosity of the polymer solution. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, alcohols, preferably isopropanol or glycerol, can be used in substoichiometric amounts to reduce the viscosity once again.
Preference is given to using from 1 to 99, in particular 5 to 50, mot of alcohol per 100 mol of lithium.
Chain termination or viscosity reduction is followed by hydrolysis of the resulting lithium alkoxide. This can be done with organic and inorganic acids, preferably with C02/H20. This also leads to termination of residual carbanions which are present when a substoichiometric amount of chain terminator is used.
The lithium salt which is formed in the hydrolysis should be soluble, or at least finely dispersible, in the polymer solution, so that the polymer remains transparent. This is true for lithium carbonate which is formed when the hydrolysis is carried out with C02/H20.
Chain termination and hydrolysis are followed by conventional stabilization of the polymer solution, e.g. with trisnonylphenyl phosphate, 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methylphenol, Irganox 1076 or Irganox 3052 (CIBA SC), and removal of solvent by conventional devolatilization~processes.
Inventive Example 1 An inertized and nitrogen-blanketed 10 1 stainless steel stirred reactor was charged with 2991 ml of cyclohexane, which had been dried over alumina, and 1 ml of 1,1-diphenylethene, and a 1.3 molar solution of sec-butyllithium in cyclohexane was added to the mixture~at 58°C until a slight red color appeared at 1.6 ml.
15.4 ml of s-butyllithium and 1.48 ml of potassium tert-amylate (5.4~ strength in cyclohexane) were then injected into the vessel. 1100 ml of styrene were metered in over the course of 10 min at 50°C with cooling. The temperature rose to 97°C. The solution was deep dark red to blackish. 2 min after reaching the maximum temperature and after the temperature had started to fall again, 2.86 ml (19 mmol = 95 mold, based on sec-butyllithium) of butyl glycidyl ether were added. After 5 min, the solution was bright red. The viscosity had increased significantly. The solution was then admixed with 3.0 g of a 10 ~ strength solution of isopropanol (25 mold, based on butyllithium) in cyclohexane, reducing the viscosity back to the original value prior to the butyl glycidyl ether addition. The solution was cooled to 40°C and drained into a canister, and 10 g of dry ice (C02) and 5 ml of water were added with subsequent shaking. The solution was then water-clear and colorless. It did not change over the course of several days.
The GPC analysis showed a monomodal peak with MW/Mn = 1.03 and Mn = 54 000 g/mol (theoretical value: 50 000).

~~50/51838 CA 02426806 2003-04-24 The solution was evaporated in a vacuum drying oven and the residue was compression molded at 180~C to give 2 mm plates which were used for determining transparency: transmission 88.59 yellowness index: 1.7; haze: 4.1.
Comparative Example 1 The polymerization was carried out as described in Example 1, except that termination was effected by adding 12 g of a 10~
strength isopropanol solution instead of butyl glycidyl ether.
The pale yellow solution was then acidified as described above with 10 g of dry ice (C02) and 5 ml of water. The solution was colorless, but milky. After the solution was left for one day, a voluminous white precipitate formed which was identified as moist Li2C03.
Inventive Example 2 The procedure described in Example 1 was repeated, except that 2.01 ml of diethyl ketone were used instead of butyl glycidyl ether, and work up was carried out as described in Example 1. The solution was then likewise clear as water and colorless. It did not change over the course of several days.
GPC analysis showed a monomodal peak with MW/Mn = 1.03 and Mn - 53 000 g/mol (theoretical value: 50 000).
The solution was evaporated in a vacuum drying oven and the residue was compression molded at 180~C to give 2 mm plates which were used for determining transparency: transmission 89.00, yellowness index: 1.6; haze: 2.7.
Inventive Example 3 The procedure described in Example 1 was repeated, except that 1.99 ml of cyclohexanone were used instead of butyl glycidyl ether, and work up was carried out as described in Example 1. The solution was then likewise water-clear and colorless. It did not change over the course of several days.
GPC analysis shows a bimodal molecular weight distribution with maxima at 47 000 and 94 000 g/mol. The high molecular weight fraction was 21 ~.

Inventive Example 4 The procedure described in Example 1 was repeated, except that 12 g of a 10$ strength acetone solution were used instead of butyl 5 glycidyl ether, and work up was carried out as described in Example 1. The solution was then likewise water-clear, but deep brown-red in color. It did not change over the course of several days.
GPC analysis showed a bimodal molecular weight distribution with maxima at 47 000 and 94 000 g/mol. The high molecular weight fraction was 25 ~.
Inventive Example 5 An inertized and nitrogen-blanketed 10 1 stainless stirred reactor was charged with 4786 ml of a cyclohexane, which had been dried over alumina, and 1 ml of 1,1-diphenylethene, and a 1.4 molar solution of sec-butyllithium in cyclohexane was added to the mixture at 58°C until a slight red color appeared at 1.6 ml.
10.4 ml (14.6 mmol) of 1.4 molar s-butyllithium and 1.16 ml (0.39 mmol)'of potassium tert-amylate (0.338 molar in cyclohexane) were injected into the vessel. In a temperature range between 40 and 65°C, the following monomer amounts are successively added and completely polymerized:
a) 211 ml (192 g) of styrene, b) 146 ml (133 g) of styrene and 335 ml (219 g) of butadiene simultaneously, c) 276 ml (251 g) of styrene and 276 ml (181 g) of butadiene simultaneously, d) 686 ml (624 g) of styrene.
2 min after reaching the maximum temperature and after the temperature had started to fall again, 1.97 ml (14.5 mmol - 95 mold, based on sec-butyllithium) of butyl glycidyl ether were added. After 5 min, the initially red-black solution was bright red. The viscosity had increased significantly. The solution was then admixed with 0.07 ml (2.9 mmol) of glycerol, reducing the viscosity back to the original value prior to the butyl glycidyl ether addition. The solution was cooled to 40°C and drained into a canister, and 7 g of dry ice (C02) and 3.4 ml of water were added with subsequent shaking. The solution was then water-clear and colorless. It became slightly cloudy after one day. GPC analysis showed a monomodal peak with Mw/Mn = 1.135 and Mn = 146 000 g/mol.

' 6 Comparative Example 5 The experiment was carried out as described in Example 5, except that 0.9 g of isopropanol was added instead of butyl glycidyl ether. Acidifying with C02/water gave a colorless, but very cloudy solution in which a thick, fluffy precipitate formed within the course of one day.

Claims (6)

We claim:
1. A process for the preparation of linear polymers or block copolymers of styrene by anionic polymerization of styrene and, if desired, butadiene in an inert apolar solvent in the presence of organolithium initiators and subsequent termination of the "living" polymer chains, which comprises carrying out the chain termination with an n-alkyl glycidyl ether or a dialkyl ketone.
2. A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the chain terminator used is n-butyl glycidyl ether or diethyl ketone.
3. A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the chain terminator is used in stoichiometric or slightly substoichiometric amounts, based on lithium.
4. A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the chain termination is followed by addition of alcohols, preferably isopropanol or glycerol, in substoichiometric amounts, based on lithium, in order to reduce the viscosity of the solution.
5. A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the chain ~
termination as claimed in claim 1 or the viscosity reduction as claimed in claim 4 is followed by hydrolysis of the resulting lithium alkoxide.
6. A process as claimed in claim 5, wherein the hydrolysis is carried out with aqueous acids, preferably with CO2/H2O.
CA002426806A 2000-10-27 2001-10-26 Method for breaking a chain during anionic polymerisation Abandoned CA2426806A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE10053324.8 2000-10-27
DE10053324A DE10053324A1 (en) 2000-10-27 2000-10-27 Chain termination method in anionic polymerization
PCT/EP2001/012448 WO2002034792A2 (en) 2000-10-27 2001-10-26 Method for breaking a chain during anionic polymerisation

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US (1) US6916885B2 (en)
EP (1) EP1332163B1 (en)
JP (1) JP3910534B2 (en)
KR (1) KR20030051750A (en)
CN (1) CN1250582C (en)
AT (1) ATE328914T1 (en)
AU (1) AU2002224804A1 (en)
CA (1) CA2426806A1 (en)
DE (2) DE10053324A1 (en)
MX (1) MXPA03002967A (en)
WO (1) WO2002034792A2 (en)

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* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE10234746B4 (en) 2002-07-30 2004-04-29 Sasol Germany Gmbh Process for the preparation of polymers using conjugated dienes and vinylaromatic compounds, polymers prepared by this process and their use
DE102004011345B4 (en) * 2004-03-05 2005-12-08 Basf Ag Process for the preparation of anionically polymerized styrene polymers
CA2659058A1 (en) * 2006-08-01 2008-02-07 Albemarle Corporation Lithium reduction in styrenic polymers
EP2123684A1 (en) 2008-05-14 2009-11-25 Shell International Research Maatschappij B.V. Polymer synthesis in presence of bitumen
IT1402007B1 (en) * 2010-10-06 2013-08-28 Polimeri Europa Spa PROCEDURE FOR THE PREPARATION OF DIENIC POLYMERS OR STATISTICAL COPOLYMERS VINYLARENE-DIENE
TWI518130B (en) * 2014-12-29 2016-01-21 奇美實業股份有限公司 Block copolymer composition
SG11202001265YA (en) * 2017-08-31 2020-03-30 Ineos Styrolution Group Gmbh Process for the preparation of styrenic polymers having an improved color stability
KR20200047590A (en) 2017-08-31 2020-05-07 이네오스 스티롤루션 그룹 게엠베하 Low haze and color stability styrene polymer manufacturing process

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ES267794A1 (en) 1960-06-11 1961-11-16 Polymer Corp Production of novel polymeric compounds
US4017476A (en) * 1974-03-15 1977-04-12 Mobil Oil Corporation Preparation of finely divided styrene-divinylbenzene organic pigments
US4486614A (en) * 1983-07-25 1984-12-04 The Dow Chemical Company Anionic polymerization of cis- and trans-1,3-pentadiene from a mixture of saturated and unsaturated hydrocarbons
US5143990A (en) * 1990-05-14 1992-09-01 Shell Oil Company Termination of anionic polymerization using hydrogen

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Publication number Publication date
ATE328914T1 (en) 2006-06-15
AU2002224804A1 (en) 2002-05-06
CN1250582C (en) 2006-04-12
KR20030051750A (en) 2003-06-25
MXPA03002967A (en) 2003-07-14
US6916885B2 (en) 2005-07-12
EP1332163A2 (en) 2003-08-06
JP3910534B2 (en) 2007-04-25
CN1582306A (en) 2005-02-16
JP2004512398A (en) 2004-04-22
DE50110070D1 (en) 2006-07-20
EP1332163B1 (en) 2006-06-07
DE10053324A1 (en) 2002-05-08
US20040014915A1 (en) 2004-01-22
WO2002034792A3 (en) 2002-07-18
WO2002034792A2 (en) 2002-05-02

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