Aqueous room temperature living radical polymerization of vinyl halides

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6911515
  • Patent Number
    6,911,515
  • Date Filed
    Monday, June 24, 2002
    22 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, June 28, 2005
    19 years ago
Abstract
A living polymerization process for preparation of poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) with controlled molecular weight and molecular weight distribution is described. The polymerization reaction can be initiated by various polyhalocarbon initiators in conjunction with non-metallic reducing single electron transfer reagents as catalysts and accelerated by electron shuttles. The process occurs at room temperature in water or water-organic solvent medium. The polymerization provides PVC with a controlled molecular weight and narrow molecular weight distribution. The halogen containing polymer compositions are useful as, among others, viscosity modifiers, impact modifiers and compatibilizers.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention


The present invention relates to the non-metal catalyzed radical and living radical polymerization of halogen containing monomers such as vinyl halides and vinylidene halides. In particular, this invention relates to a process for the synthesis, in the presence of a non-metallic catalyst, of poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) with controlled molecular weight and narrow molecular weight distribution. The polymerization can be initiated from various electron accepting radical precursors such as polyhalocarbons in the presence of non-metal reducing single electron transfer reagents as catalysts which can include low valent sulfur salts containing SO2 group. The process can be accelerated by electron shuttles such as alkyl viologens.


2. Description of the Prior Art


Heretofore, it was known to polymerize vinyl chloride (VC) and other vinyl halide monomers using conventional free radical processes. However, even in the presence of certain molecular weight additives, there is limited control over the molecular weight and polydispersity of the resulting polymer. In addition, VC polymers are thermally unstable and require thermal stabilizers for their practical use. Heretofore, there have been no methods reported to prepare poly(vinyl chloride) by a non-metal-catalyzed living process initiated from an active halide compound in which the molecular weight and the molecular weight distribution of PVC could be controlled.


Conventional free radical polymerization of vinyl chloride (VC) is accompanied by the formation of thermally labile tertiary and allylic chlorine defects which are responsible for the low thermal stability of poly(vinyl chloride). This provides its most relevant technological limitations. These structural defects are generated during the conventional radical polymerization of VC and are responsible for the initiation of a zipper mechanism of thermal degradation of PVC.


In U.S. patent Ser. No. 09/893,201, which is herein fully incorporated by reference, there is described a process for the living radical polymerization of vinyl halides utilizing a metal (preferably Cu) catalyst. The polymerization processes taught therein include both non-aqueous high temperature and aqueous room temperatures processes. The former gives polymers with low yields (maximum 30%) and high molecular weight distribution up to about 1.7. The latter achieves high conversions and lower molecular weight distribution (up to 1.50). Both processes show linear molecular weight dependence on the monomer conversion. A single electron transfer mechanism mediated by metals is proposed for the initiation and dormant species activation steps.


The PVC obtained by aqueous room temperature copper-catalyzed living radical polymerization of vinyl chloride as described in U.S. patent Ser. No. 09/893,201, contains a vanishingly small amount of carbon-carbon double bonds in comparison with conventional PVC. This allows us to consider such a polymer as one free of at least allylic chlorine defects that could lead to new properties. Alternatively, the use of heavy metal in polymerization processes requires an additional utilization of the spent catalyst and purification of the polymer, thereby increasing the cost.


Previously, attempts on living radical polymerization of vinyl halides, which did not involve metal catalysis, were based on degenerative chain transfer processes using iodine containing chain transfer agents and peroxy-esters as initiators. As is taught in U.S. Pat. No. 5,455,319, such a process was carried out at temperatures conventionally used for vinyl halide polymerizations. In addition, the polydispersity never decreased to values below 1.7.


SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

There has now been found a process for the polymerization of vinyl chloride to form PVC polymers, and not telomers, utilizing a metal-catalyzed radical and living radical polymerization. Various activated mono, di, tri and multifunctional organic halide initiators, including the allylic chlorines normally found in chlorine containing polymers such as PVC, in conjunction with certain metal catalysts, can successfully initiate the radical polymerization of vinyl chloride. Optionally, a solvent or water or mixtures thereof and a ligand for the metal catalyst can be utilized in the polymerization of the vinyl chlorine monomer of the present invention.


In a further embodiment, a method of polymerizing vinyl chloride to form PVC polymers, and not telomers, has now been found utilizing non-metal-catalyzed radical and living radical polymerization. Various activated electron accepting radical precursor initiators, such as polyhalocarbons, in conjunction with certain non-metallic single electron donors as catalysts can successfully initiate the radical polymerization of vinyl halide. The process occurs in water or aqueous-organic solvent solutions. Optionally, an electron shuttle such as an alkyl viologen, a surfactant, and a buffer can be utilized in the polymerization of the vinyl halide monomer of the present invention.





BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS


FIG. 1 illustrates the dependence of the molecular weight (λ, μ) and molecular weight distribution (ν, o) on conversion for the metal catalyzed polymerization of vinyl chloride initiated from α,α-diiodo-p-xylene at 130° C. in o-DCB ([VC]=4.8M). Closed symbols: [VC]:[1]:[Cu(O)]:[bpy]=260:1:4:8; open symbols: [VC]:[1]:[Cu(O)]:[bpy]=520:1:4:8



FIG. 2 illustrates the dependence of molecular weight (σ) and molecular weight distribution (ν) on conversion for the polymerization of VC initiated from CH3—CHCl-I and catalyzed by Cu(O)/bpy in water at 90° C. in the Presence of sodium dodecylsulfate (NaDDS). [VC]:[CH3CHClI]:[Cu(O)]:[bpy]:[NaDDS]=100:1:2:4:0.5.



FIG. 3 illustrates the dependence of molecular weight, molecular weight distribution and conversion on temperature and concentration for the polymerization of VC initiated from CH3—CHCl-I and catalyzed by Cu(O)/bpy in bulk and in o-DCB at 60° C. (σ, τ Δ), 90° C. (ν, θ, +) and 130° C. (λ, μ, 5). [VC]:[CH3CHClI]:[Cu(O)]:[bpy]=100:1:2:4.



FIG. 4 illustrates the dependence of molecular weight (λ) and molecular weight distribution (σ) on conversion for the polymerization of VC initiated from CH3—CHCl-I and catalyzed by Cu(O)/TREN in water at 20° C. in the presence of sodium dodecylsulfate (NaDDS). [VC]:[CH3CHClI]:[Cu(O)]:[bpy]:[NaDDS]=100:1:2:4:0.5.



FIG. 5 illustrates Room Temperature Na2S2O4-mediated LRP of VC Initiated with iodoform in H2O/THF. [VC]/[CHl3]/[Na2S2O4]/[NaHCO3]=200/1/2/2.2 (mol/mol/mol/mol).


Top, the kinetic plot, conversion (open symbols) and concentration logarithm (closed symbols) on time. Bottom, the dependence of the number average molecular weight (closed symbols) and molecular weight distribution (open symbols) on theoretical number average molecular weight.



FIG. 6 illustrates Room Temperature Na2S2O4-mediated LRP of VC Initiated with iodoform in H2O/THF in the presence of surfactant Brij® 98. [VC]/[CHl3]/[Na2S2O4]/[NaHCO3]/[Brij® 98]=200/1/2/2.2/2080 (mol/mol/mol/mol/mol/ppm w/w to VC).


Top, the kinetic plot, conversion (open symbols) and concentration logarithm (closed symbols) on time. Bottom, the dependence of the number average molecular weight (closed symbols) and molecular weight distribution (open symbols) on theoretical number average molecular weight.



FIG. 7 illustrates Room Temperature Na2S2O4-mediated LRP of VC Initiated with iodoform in H2O/THF in the presence of electron shuttle OV2+ and surfactant Brij® 98. [VC]/[CHl3]/[Na2S2O4]/[NaHCO3]/[OV2+]/[Brij® 98]=200/1/2/2.2/0.00175/2080 (mol/mol/mol/mol/mol/ppm w/w to VC).


Top, the kinetic plot, conversion (open symbols) and concentration logarithm (closed symbols) on time. Bottom, the dependence of the number average molecular weight (closed symbols) and molecular weight distribution (open symbols) on theoretical number average molecular weight.



FIG. 8 illustrates Room Temperature Na2S2O4-mediated LRP of VC Initiated with iodoform in H2O/THF in the presence of electron shuttle MV2+ and surfactant Brij® 98. [VC]/[CHl3]/[Na2S2O4]/[NaHCO3]/[MV2+]/[Brij® 98]=200/1/2/2.2/0.00175/2080 (mol/mol/mol/mol/mol/ppm w/w to VC).


Top, the kinetic plot, conversion (open symbols) and concentration logarithm (closed symbols) on time. Bottom, the dependence of the number average molecular weight (closed symbols) and molecular weight distribution (open symbols) on theoretical number average molecular weight.



FIG. 9 illustrates Room Temperature Na2S2O8—HCOONa-mediated radical polymerization of VC initiated with bromoform in H2O/THF. [VC]/[CHBr3]/[Na2S2O8]/[HCOONa]/[NaHCO3]=200/1/2/2/2.2 (mol/mol/mol/mol/mol).


Top, the kinetic plot, conversion (open symbols) and concentration logarithm (closed symbols) on time. Bottom, the dependence of the number average molecular weight (closed symbols) and molecular weight distribution (open symbols) on theoretical number average molecular weight.



FIG. 10 illustrates Room Temperature Na2S2O8—HCOONa-mediated radical polymerization of VC initiated with chloroform in H2O/THF [VC]/[CHBr3]/[Na2S2O8]/[HCOONa]/[NaHCO3]=200/1/2/2/2.2 (mol/mol/mol/mol/mol).


Top, the kinetic plot, conversion (open symbols) and concentration logarithm (closed symbols) on time. Bottom, the dependence of the number average molecular weight (closed symbols) and molecular weight distribution (open symbols) on theoretical number average molecular weight.



FIG. 11 illustrates Room Temperature H2NC(═NH)SO2H-mediated LRP of VC initiated with iodooform in H2O/THF in the pesence of electron shuttle OV2+. [VC]/[CHl3]/[H2NC(═NH)SO2H]/[NaHCO3]/[OV2+]200/1/2/4.4/0.0035 (mol/mol/mol/mol/mol).


Top, the kinetic plot, conversion (open symbols) and concentration logarithm (closed symbols) on time. Bottom, the dependence of the number average molecular weight (closed symbols) and molecular weight distribution (open symbols) on theoretical number average molecular weight.





DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the metal-catalyzed polymerization of chlorine containing monomers, appropriate initiators include halides and pseudohalides of the formula R—X, where R having from 1 to 100,000 carbon atoms, contains an activating electron withdrawing group such as cyano, ester, perfloroalkyl or any other unit capable of stabilizing a radical such as benzyl or allyl, and X=halide. The halide initiators include, but are not limited to various activated mono, di, tri and polyfunctional α,α-dihaloalkanes, α,α,α-trihaloalkanes, perhaloalkanes, perfloroalkyl halides, benzyl halides, allyl halides, sulfonyl halides, α-haloesters, α-halonitriles, α-haloketones, imidyl halides, or combinations thereof. Additionally, any compound having labile carbon-halide, nitrogen-halide, sulfur-halide, phosporus-halide, silicon-halide bonds which can dissociate homolytically by themselves or in the presence of a metal catalyst are suitable for use as initiators in the present invention. Suitable structures for initiators utilized in the present invention are set forth in Scheme 3.


Generally, preferred initiators include chlorine, bromine and thiocyanate containing compounds, with iodide initiators being desirable. Mono, di and trifunctional α-haloesters act as active initiators for the polymerization of vinyl chloride in the presence of Fe(O), TiCp2Cl2 and Cu(O) and its salts such as Cu2Te, Cu2Se, Cu2S, Cu2O, CuCl, CuBr, CuI and copper thiophenoxide (CuSPh), copper butanethiolate (CuSBu), copper phenylacetylide (CuC═CPh). Various chlorine containing initiators such as CH3CH(CN)Cl, Cl—CH2—Ph—CH2—Cl or R—CH═CH—CH2—Cl and R—SO2—Cl also promote the polymerization of chlorine containing monomers in the presence of catalysts such as Cu(O) and its salts, Fe(O) and TiCp2Cl2. The preferred initiators that lead to polymers of narrowest molecular weight distribution in the presence of Cu(O) and its salts or complexes are the active iodine containing substrates of the type R1R2R3C—I where at least one of the R substituents is an electron withdrawing group (EWG) or radical stabilizing group such as benzylic, allylic, -halo, -cyano, -ester, -trifluoromethyl and so on. The other R substituents can be H, alkyl chains including polymer chains, electron withdrawing groups and combinations thereof. The preferred iodine containing initiators include: I—CH2-Ph-CH2-I, CH3—CH(Cl)-I, CH2I2, CHl3, Cl4, CH2—CH—CH2-I, CF3—(CF2)n—I, I—CH2—CONH2 and I—CH2—COO—(CH2)n—H (n=1-20).
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The amounts of such halide initiators utilized depend on the desired molecular weight of the halide containing polymer and are generally from about 5,000 to about 10, desirably from about 1000 to about 25, and preferably from about 500 to about 50 moles of halide containing monomer per one mole of initiating group. Generally the number average molecular weight of the halide containing polymer will be from about 500 to about 100,000, desirably from about 1000 to about 60,000, and preferably from about 3,000 to about 40,000.


The chlorine-containing monomers which are polymerized or copolymerized according to this invention are vinyl chloride and its structurally related derivatives and monomers known to copolymerize via a radical mechanism with vinyl chloride, including vinylidene chloride and 2-chloropropene. The preferred carbon atom range of each group of monomers is from 2 to 20. The copolymer can have a comonomer content from 1% up to 99%, depending on the reactivity ratios of the comonomers used.


A metal species is utilized to catalyze the initiation reaction and continue the growth of the polymer chain. Typical radical forming catalysts include metal-based catalysts, as metals and/or salts thereof. Examples of such catalysts include metals in their zero oxidation state such as copper, iron, aluminum, cadmium, zinc, samarium, chromium, molybdenum, manganese, tungsten, cobalt, nickel, rhodium, ruthenium, palladium, titanium and certain higher valence salts thereof. The preferred catalyst will be dependent upon the initiator utilized and on the reaction media (such as solvent or water) and temperature. While the initiation step (addition of the radical fragment derived from the initiator to vinyl chloride) may be achieved with all catalysts, it is preferred that the metals be in their zero oxidation state for the metal catalyzed propagation and therefore, living radical polymerization to occur. Additionally, the catalyst may be a mixture of two or more metals in their zero oxidation state, a metal salt or complex, a mixture of two or more metal salts or complexes, or a mixture of two or more metals in their zero oxidation state with metal salts or complexes. Preferred catalysts include Cu(O), copper sulfide (Cu2S), copper selenide (Cu2Se), copper teluride (Cu2Te) copper thiophenoxide (CuSPh), copper butanethiolate (CuSBu), copper phenylacetylide CuC═CPh, Fe(O), and titanium cyclopentadienyl dichloride (TiCp2Cl2).


It has been found that Cu(O) is able to generate polymers regardless of the nature of the halide in the initiator. When Fe(O) is used as catalyst for the polymerization of vinyl chloride, it has been found that chlorine and bromine based initiators are suitable. The preferred initiators for Fe(O) are for example, the active (CH3)2(COOEt)—Br, CH3—CH(Ph)—Br, F-Ph-SO2—Cl, as well as the —CH2—(CH3)C(COOMe)—Cl chain end of PMMA synthesized by metal catalyzed living radical polymerization. For titanium-based catalysts such as TiCp2Cl2, chlorine containing initiators such as Cl—CH2—Ph—CH2—Cl and CH3CH(CN)—Cl or CH2—CH—CH2—Cl are particularly suitable.


The amount of catalyst is dependent upon the desired reaction rate. Generally, the amount of catalyst will be from about 0.01 to about 10 desirably from about 0.75 to about 4, and preferably from about 1 to about 3 moles per mole of halide in the initiator.


A ligand can optionally be included in the polymerization reaction in order to aid in the solubilization of the catalyst. The ligand used will depend specifically and uniquely on the type of catalyst, the temperature of the reaction and on the reaction media such as solvent or water. The ligand can be any organic species capable of complexing the metal in its zero oxidation state and in its higher oxidation states. For Cu-based catalysts, the ligands can include basic aromatic and aliphatic nitrogen and phosphorus containing compounds such as 2,2′-bipyridyl (bpy) and its 4,4′-alkyl substituted compounds such as 4,4′-dinonyl-2,2′-bipyridyl (bpy-9), pentamethylene diethyl triamine, (PMDETA), tris(2-aminoethyl)amine (TREN), tris[2-(dimethylamino)ethyl]amine (Me8-TREN), triphenylphosphine, triphenylphosphine oxide, and combinations thereof. The foregoing ligands and 1,10-phenantroline are also appropriate for Fe-based catalysts. In addition, other ligands such as CO, acetylacetonate, or terpyridine may be used. The use of a ligand is not necessary for TiCp2Cl2 but is preferred for Cu and Fe based catalysts.


When the optional ligand is present, the mixture will usually contain from about 0.1 to about 10 moles of ligand per mole of catalyst, desirably from about 0.75 to about 3 moles of ligand per mole of catalyst, and preferably from about 1 to about 2 moles of ligand per mole of catalyst.


Additionally, various additives may optionally be utilized in the polymerization. Depending on their structure, these additives may affect the molecular weight and molecular weight distribution of the resulting polymer. Such additives can include sodium iodide, urea, Al′Bu3, Ti(OBu)4 and 2,6-di-tertbutyl-4-methylpyridine, with 2,6-di-tertbutyl-4-methylpyridine being preferred and may be added in a similar molar amount as the initiator.


Polymerization of the chlorine containing monomer is usually carried out in the presence of the catalyst and initiator in a closed vessel in an inert atmosphere such as nitrogen, or argon; under autogenous or artificially-induced pressure. The temperature of the polymerization can vary widely depending upon the type of initiator and/or catalyst, but is generally from about 0° C. to about 180° C., desirably from about 10° C. to about 150° C. and preferably from about 20° C. to about 130° C. It has been found that lower temperatures, i.e., 20° C.-90° C., depending on the initiator and catalyst system, lead to lower reaction rates, and higher molecular weight polymers. For solution polymerizations, the Cu(O)/bpy catalyst in conjunction with the X—CH2—Ph—CH2—X (X—Cl, Br, I, SCN) or CHl3 and Cl4 initiators are effective only at about 120° C. and above, while other chlorine, bromine and iodine based initiators generate polymers at temperatures as low as 60° C. This temperature is enough to allow the metal catalyzed reinitiation from chain such as —CH(Cl)—X (X=I, Br, Cl). Higher temperatures promote an increase in the rate of all reactions including chain transfer to monomer. Therefore, a preferred catalyst 115 will be one reactive enough to promote reinitiation from the active halide chain ends at lower temperatures or to successfully compete with chain transfer to monomer at high temperatures.


Optionally, appropriate solvents such as organic fluids or mixtures of organic fluids may be utilized. Naturally, solvents which do not interfere with the reaction are used and suitable solvents include organic solvents such as chlorobenzene, dichlorobenzene, trichlorobenzene, xylene, diphenylether, 1,2-dichloro ethane, dimethylformamide (DMF), tetrahydrofuran (THF), dioxane, dimethylsulfoxide, (DMSO) ketones or esters or any of the other solvents and plasticisers for PVC and their copolymers known in the literature and to those skilled in the art. The amount of solvent used depends on the desired solubility of the system, on the temperature and the desired pressure in the reaction vessel and can be easily determined by one skilled in the art. The amount of solvent generally ranges from about 25 to about 1000, desirably from about 50 to about 500, and preferably from about 75 to about 400 parts per 100 parts of halide containing monomer, such as vinyl chloride.


Alternatively, it has been found that the living free radical polymerization of vinyl chloride can be carried out in the absence of solvent. In such situations, the polymerization is generally carried out in bulk and the other reaction conditions set forth hereinabove are generally suitable.


Alternatively, it has also been found that the living radical polymerization of vinyl chloride can be carried out in water and in water/organic solvent mixtures using the aforementioned solvents as well as other solvents. The presence of an emulsifier such as sodium dodecylsulfate (NaDDS) is optional. The aforementioned conditions still apply. In addition, it was also found that the Cu(O)/TREN, Cu2Y/TREN (Y=O, S, Se, Te), and CuX/TREN (X=Cl, Br, I, SPh, SBu, C=CPh) catalyst and ligand systems or mixtures thereof can successfully catalyze VC polymerization initiated from iodo, bromo or chloro containing initiators to complete conversion at room temperature. The amount of the optional emulsifier depends of the desired particle size, nature of the emulsifier, and the water to monomer ratio and can be easily selected by one skilled in the art.


Depending on the desired properties of the homopolymer or copolymer, the polymerizations can be either batch, semi-batch or continuous. Mechanical agitation is desirable, but not necessary. Normal polymerization time depends on the temperature and the monomer to initiator to catalyst to ligand ratios and is from 0.5 to about 24 hours.


Subsequent to the formation of the polymer composition, solvent and excess monomer are removed, for example by evaporation, precipitation of the polymer, and the like.


In a second embodiment, in the aqueous room temperature non-metal-catalyzed polymerization of halogen containing monomers, appropriate initiators include halides of the formula RX, where R, having 1-1,000 carbon atoms, contains an activated electron withdrawing group such as a halogen, polyhalo, or perfluoroalkyl, and X—halide (where X is a good living group and X=Cl, Br, I). The halide initiator can accept one electron and then release X forming an initiating radical R.

RX+e→[RX]→R.+X

Such electron-accepting radical precursors include, but are not limited to, various activated mono, di, tri and polyfunctional activated halides. These include α,α-dihaloalkanes, α,α,α-trihaloalkanes, perhaloalkanes, perfluoroalkyl halides, polyfluoroalkyl halides, α-haloesters, α-halonitriles, α-haloketones, benzyl halides, sulfonyl halides, imidyl halides, or combinations thereof. Additionally, any compounds having labile carbon-halide, nitrogen-halide, phosphorus-halide, silicon-halide bonds, which possess enough electron affinity to accept one electron and then release halide-anion forming radicals, are suitable for use as initiators in the present invention, and can include, for example, benzyl iodide, N-iodosuccinimide, diphenylposphinic iodide, triphenylsilyl iodide, and the like.


Generally, preferred initiators are one electron accepting radical precursors including chlorine and bromine, with iodine initiators being desirable. Haloforms, tetrahalocarbons, methylene iodide, 1-chloro-1-iodo-ethane, as well as PVC's obtained from them, act as active initiators in conjunction both with Na2S2O4, H2NC(═NH)SO2H, which give the highest efficiency, and also HOCH2SO2Na, HOCH2SO3Na, Na2SO3, Na2S2O5, Na2S2O3, CH3SO2Na, C6H5SO2Na, p-CH3C6H4SO2Na, (Me2N)2C═C(NMe2)2. It should be noted that the system sodium persulfate-sodium formate (Na2S2O8—HCOONa, which form CO2. radical anion) is active in radical (not living) polymerization of vinyl chloride in conjunction with only non-iodine containing halocarbon initiators —CHCl3, CHBr3 (FIGS. 9, 10), CCl4, CBr4. Whereas, in conjunction with CHl3, the persulfate-formate system is not effective at all due to evolution of 12 which terminates the polymerization. Preferred initiators include iodoform, 1-chloro-1-iodoetane, and 1-iodoperfluoroalkane.


The amounts of the initiators utilized depend on the desired molecular weight of the halide containing polymer and are generally from about 5000 to about 1, desirably from about 1000 to about 10, and preferably from about 500 to about 50 of halide containing monomer per mole of initiating group. Generally the number average molecular weight of the halide containing polymer will be from about 500 to about 60,000, desirably from about 1,000 to about 40,000, and preferably from about 2,000 to about 20,000.


The vinyl halide monomers which are polymerized or copolymerized according to this invention are vinyl chloride and its structurally related derivatives, including vinylidene chloride and 2-chloropropene and monomers known to copolymerize via a radical mechanism with vinyl chloride, including one or more of acrylates, vinylidene halides, methacrylates, acrylonitrile, methacrylonitrile, vinyl halides, 2-haloalkenes, styrenes, acrylamide, methacrylamide, vinyl ketones, N-vinylpyrrolidinone, vinyl acetate, maleic acid esters, or combinations thereof. The preferred carbon atom range of each group of monomers is from 2 to 20. The copolymer can have a comonomer content from 1% up to 99%, depending on the reactivity ratios of the comonomers used.


An important component of the second embodiment is the use of a non-metallic single electron transfer species to catalyze the initiation reaction and continue the growth of the polymer chain. Typical of such catalysts are, for example, low valent sulfur salts containing SO2 group and polydialkylamino-substituted unsaturated organic compounds. Examples of such catalysts include Na2S2O4, H2NC(═NH)SO2H, HOCH2SO2Na, HOCH2SO3Na, Na2SO3, Na2S2O5, Na2S2O3, CH3SO2Na, C6H5SO2Na, p-CH3C6H4SO2Na, (Me2N)2C═C(NMe2)2, and the like. The preferred catalyst will be dependent upon the initiator utilized and on the reaction media (such as solvent or water) and temperature. Preferred catalysts include sodium dithionite (Na2S2O4) and formamidinesulfinic acid (H2NC(═NH)SO2H).


The amount of catalyst is dependent upon the desired reaction rate. Generally, the amount of catalyst will be from about 0.01 to about 4, desirably from about 0.05 to about 2, and preferably from about 0.1 to about 1 mole per mole of initiator.


A buffer compound can optionally be included in the polymerization process in order to avoid acidic decomposition of sulfur containing catalysts. The buffer used will depend specifically and uniquely on the type of catalyst, the temperature of the reaction and on the reaction media such as solvent or water. Typical buffers can include alkaline salts of inorganic and organic acids, which water solutions keep pH 8-10, such as NaHCO3, Na2HPO4, NaH2PO4, CH3COONa or the potassium or ammonium salts thereof, including KHCO3, K2HPO4, KH2PO4, CH3COOK, NH4HCO3, (NH4)2HPO4, NH4H4PO4, CH3COONH4, and the like.


When the optional buffer is present, the mixture will usually contain from about 0.1 to about 5 moles of buffer per mole of catalyst, desirably from about 0.5 to about 3 moles of buffer per mole of catalyst, and preferably from about 1 to about 1.2 moles of buffer per mole of catalyst.


The presence of an electron shuttle is also optional. The shuttle allows for acceleration of the process of radical initiation and activation of dormant species by using compounds which, in reduced form are more soluble in organic phase than in water, and which in oxidized form are more soluble in water than in organic solvent. In a reduced state in the aqueous phase (having gained an electron), the compound moves into the organic phase and donates an electron to the halogen-containing initiator or dormant species. The compound then returns to the aqueous phase carrying the halide anion and leaving a radical in the organic phase. Such compounds can include 1,1′-dialkyl-4,4′-bipyridinium dihalides called alkyl viologens. Examples of such shuttles include, but are not limited to, 1,1′-dimethyl-4,4′-bipyridinium dichloride, methyl viologen (MV2+), 1,1′-di-n-octyl-4,4′-bipyridinium dibromide, octyl viologen (OV2+), and the like.


When the shuttle is present, the mixture will usually contain from about 0.00001 to about 1 moles of shuttle per mole of catalyst, desirably from about 0.0001 to about 0.01 moles of shuttle per mole of catalyst, and preferably from about 0.001 to about 0.005 moles of shuttle per mole of catalyst.


Additionally, various additives may optionally be utilized in the polymerization. Depending on their structure, these additives may affect the molecular weight, molecular weight distribution of the resulting polymer, catalyst stability and/or rate of polymerization. Such additives can include sodium iodide, ammonium iodide, tetrabutyl ammonium iodide, and sodium chloride. These can be added in similar amounts as the initiators.


The non-metallically catalyzed polymerization reactions described herein are normally carried out in the presence of catalyst and initiator in a closed vessel in an inert atmosphere such as nitrogen or argon, under autogenously or artificially induced pressure. The optimal temperature of the polymerization is around room temperature, namely 25° C. ±5 DC. A higher temperature can lead to fast reduction of active chain ends and a lower one is simply inconvenient due to necessity to use special cooling equipment. This can lead to higher viscosity, heterogeneity and reduced solubility of reaction components that make results less reproducible.


Appropriate solvents such as water or a mixture of water and organic solvent may be utilized. Solvents play an important role in single electron transfer. It was found that there is no reaction in the absence of water when salts are used. The higher the solvent polarity is, the more efficient is the polymerization. By this means, polar water-soluble organic solvents and good PVC solvents such as tetrahydrofuran (THF), dimethylformamide (DMF), dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), cyclohexanone, chlorobenzene, dichlorobenzene, trichlorobenzene, xylene, diphenylether, 1,2-dichloroethane, dioxane, acetone, diethyloxalate, ethylhexyphtalate, methanol, ethanol, butanol, or combinations thereof, or any other solvent in the literature known to those skilled in the art are appropriate media for the polymerization. The amount of the solvent generally ranges from 1 to 10 parts per volume of halide containing monomer and preferably is from about 2 to about 4 parts per volume (ppv).


The presence of a surfactant is optional. Examples of the surfactants include, but are not limited to, sodium dodecylsulfate (NaDDS), hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (Methocel® F50), 72.5% hydrolyzed polyvinyl acetate (Alcotex® 72.5), polyoxyethylene(10) oleyl ether (Brij® 97), and polyoxyethylene(20) oleyl ether (Brij® 98). The amount of the optional surfactant depends on the desired particle size, nature of the surfactant and the water to monomer ratio. This can be easily selected by one skilled in the art. The amount of surfactant generally ranges from about 0.1 to about 50000 parts per million (ppm) w/w, desirably from about 1 to about 10000 ppm w/w, and preferably from about 10 to about 5000 parts per million w/w relative to halide containing monomer.


Depending on desired properties of the homopolymer or copolymer, the polymerization can be batch or semi batch, or continuous. Mechanical agitation is desirable to obtain reproducible results, but not necessary. Normal polymerization time depends on the monomer-initiator ratio and desirable polymer properties and can be from about 1 h to about 70 h.


Subsequent to the formation of the polymer composition, solvent and excess monomer is removed, for example by evaporation of the vinyl chloride and the addition of methanol to precipitate the polymer.


An advantage of the living radical polymerization process described herein is that it will produce a halogen-containing polymer, such as PVC, with controlled molecular weight, such that the molecular weight increases with the conversion of the monomer. Additionally, the living radical polymerization process will provide PVC with narrow molecular weight distribution and with the well defined chain ends, i.e. telechelics and macromonomers. Such molecular weight distribution, i.e. Mw/Mn, can be from ≦2.00, ≦1.90, or ≦1.80 down to ≦1.70, ≦1.60, or even ≦1.50. A molecular weight distribution of from about ≦1.70 to about ≦1.50 is preferred and less than 1.50 is most preferred. Since the structural defects in PVC are responsible for its low thermal stability, PVC obtained by living radical polymerization will be more stable than conventional PVC, thereby expanding the range of technological applications of PVC.


The poly(vinyl chloride) compositions described herein can be useful for many applications including plastic materials (sheeting, films, molded parts, etc.), viscosity/flow modifiers, additives for flame retardant compositions, and compatibilizers.


The following examples show ways in which the invention can be practiced, as well as comparative examples. However, the examples do not limit the invention.









TABLE 1







Polymerization of Vinyl Chloride Initiated from Various Halides and Catalyzed by Fe(0).




















Time
Conv.


Temp



Exp
Initiator
Catalyst/Ligand
[VC]:[I]:[C]:[L]a)
h
%
Mn
Mw/Mn
° C.
Solvent



















1
Br—(CH3)2C(COOEt)
Fe(0)/Phen
 65:1:0.6:1
19
26
10,000
1.66
90
oDCB


2
Br—(CH3)2C(COOEt)
Fe(0)/Phen
130:1:1.2:2
22
19
7,000
1.75
90
THF


3
Br—(CH3)2C(COOEt)
Fe(0)/Phen
130:1:1.2:2.4
22
16
7,200
1.85
90
DFM


4
Br—(CH3)2C(COOEt)
Fe(0)/Phen
130:1:1.2:2
40
15
19,100
1.65
60
oDCB


5
Br—(CH3)2C(COOEt)
Fe(0)/Phen
130:1:1.2:2.4
22
30
10,200
1.73
90
oDCB


6
Br—(CH3)2C(COOEt)
Fe(0)/Phen
130:1:1.2:2.4
22
33
8,300
1.85
130
oDCB


7
Br—(CH3)2C(COOEt)
Fe(0)/Phen
120:1:1.2:2.4:
20
42
9,000
1.75
90
oDCB


8
Br—(CH3)2C(COOEt)
Fe(0)/Phen/Al′Bu3
130:1:1.2:2:1.2
22
10
12,900
1.59
90
oDCB


9
Cl—(CH3)C(COOMe)—
Fe(0)/Phen
450:1:4.5:3.5
22
35
8,300
1.73
90
oDCB



—CH2—PMMA


10
Br—C(CH3)2—CO—O—Ph—
Fe(0)/Phen
130:1:2:4
96
36
8,400
1.75
90
oDCB



—Ph—OCO—C(CH3)2—Br


11
Br—CH(Ph)CH3
Fe(0)/Phen
130:1:1.2:2
19
27
12,500
1.75
90
oDCB


12
Br—CH2—Ph—CH2—Br
Fe(0)/Phen
130:1:1.2:2.4
22
10
13,300
1.5
90
oDCB


13
Br—CH2—Ph—CH2—Br
Fe(0)/Phen
130:1:2:4
96
5
2,600
1.96
90
oDCB


14
Cl—CH2—Ph—CH2—Cl
Fe(0)/Phen
130:1:2:4
96
5
8,300
1.65
90
oDCB


15
I—CH2—Ph—CH2—I
Fe(0)/Phen
130:1:2:4
23
10
4,300
1.98
130
oDCB


16
NCS—CH2—Ph—CH2—SCN
Fe(0)/Phen
130:1:2:4
48
8
4,800
1.90
90
oDCB


17
Cl—(CN)CHCH3
Fe(0)/Phen
130:1:1.2:2.4
19
10
9,400
1.61
90
oDCB


18
Cl—(CN)CHCH3
Fe(CO)5
130:1:1.2
18
4
14,300
1.65
90
oDCB


19
Cl—SO2—Ph—F
Fe(0)/Phen
130:1:1.2:2.4
18
22
7,600
1.82
90
oDCB






a)Molar ratio of VC to initiator to catalyst to ligand














TABLE 2







Polymerization of Vinyl Chloride initiated from Various Halides and Catalyzed by TiCp2Cl2.




















Time
Conv


Temp



Exp
Initiator
Catalyst/Additive
[VC]:[I]:[C]:[A]a)
h
%
Mn
Mw/Mn
° C.
Solvent



















20

TiCp2Cl2
130:0:1
20
3
12,000
1.67
70
oDCB


21
Br—(CH3)2C—COOEt
TiCp2Cl2
130:1:1.2
22
10
15,000
1.78
90
oDCB


22
Br—(CH3)2C—COOEt
TiCp2Cl2
130:1:1.2
20
7
21,400
1.68
60
oDCB


23
Br—(CH3)2C—COOEt
TiCp2Cl2/Al′Bu3
130:1:1.2:3.6
17
60
3,800
2.10
90
oDCB


24
Br—(CH3)2C—COOEt
TiCp2Cl2/Zn/bpy
130:1:1.2:1.8:0.7
22
22
14,800
1.95
90
oDCB


25
Br—(CH3)2C—COOEt
Ti(OBu)4/Al′Bu3
130:1:1.2:3.6
17
87
5,300
1.80
90
oDCB


26
Br—C(CH3)2—CO—O—Ph—
TiCp2Cl2
520:1:2
20
5
3,100
2.05
130
oDCB



Ph—OCO—C(CH3)2—Br


27
Br—C(CH3)2—OCO—Ph—C(CH3)—
TiCp2Cl2
520:1:2
20
7
4,400
1.81
130
oDCB



[(Ph—OCO—C(CH3)2—Br]2


28
Br—CH2—Ph—CH2—Br
TiCp2Cl2
520:1:2
20
5
3,600
1.86
130
oDCB


29
Cl—CH2—Ph—CH2—Cl
TiCp2Cl2
520:1:2
20
28
4,900
1.81
130
oDCB


30
Cl—CH2—Ph—CH2—Cl
TiCp2Cl2
520:1:2
96
38
10,600
1.80
90
oDCB


31
NCS—CH2—Ph—CH2—SCN
TiCp2Cl2
260:1:3.5
22
5
4,000
2.05
130
oDCB


32
Cl—CH(CN)CH3
TiCp2Cl2
130:1:1.2
19
22
16,000
1.72
90
oDCB


33
Br—N(CO—CH2—CH2—CO)
TiCp2Cl2
130:1:1.2
19
4
19,000
1.75
90
oDCB


34
Cl3(—NCO—)3
TiCp2Cl2
390:1:2.1
20
5
8,200
1.80
90
oDCB


35
(Cl—SO2—Ph)3C—CH3
TiCp2Cl2
400:1:9
22
7
4,000
2.05
110
oDCB


36
Cl—SO2—Ph—F
TiCp2Cl2
130:1:1.2
19
22
12,000
1.65
90
oDCB






a)Molar ratio of VC to initiator to catalyst to additive














TABLE 3







Polymerization of Vinyl Chloride Initiated from Various Halides and Catalyzed by Cu(I).




















Time


Conv
Temp



Exp
Initiator
Catalyst/Ligand
[VC]:[I]:[C]:[L]a)
h
Mn
Mw/Mn
%
° C.
Solvent



















37
Br—C(CH3)2—CO—O—Ph—
CuBr/Me6-TREN
260:1:4:8
20
2,500
1.45
8
130
oDCB



Ph—O—CO—C(CH3)2—Br


38
Br—C(CH3)2—CO—O—Ph—
CuBr/Me6-TREN
260:1:4:4
20
750
1.80
2
90
oDCB



Ph—O—CO—C(CH3)2—Br


39
Cl—(CN)CHCH3
CuC≡C—Ph/bpy
100:1:1.5:3
19
1,300
3.60
15
90
DMF


40
Cl—(CN)CHCH3
CuSPh/bpy
140:1:0.7:1.2
19
2,800
3.30
13
60
DMF


41
I—CH(Cl)—CH3
CuBr/Me6-TREN
260:1:2:4
44
3,200
1.30
5
90
oDCB


42
I—CH(Cl)—CH3
CuBr/Me6-TREN
520:1:4:4
20
4,100
1.27
3
130
oDCB


43
I—CH(Cl)—CH3
CuBr/Me6-TREN
 60:1:1:1
20
2,000
1.40
3
90
oDCB


44
I—CH(Cl)—CH3
Cul/Me6-TREN
130:1:1:1
20
1,700
1.21
2
90
oDCB


45
I—CH2—Ph—CH2—I
CuBr/Me6-TREN
520:1:8:8
20
4,400
1.50
4
130
oDCB


46
NCS—CH2—Ph—CH2—SCN
Cu2Te/bpy
260:1:4:8
22
5,100
2.23
8
130
oDCB


47
NCS—CH2—Ph—CH2—SCN
CuBr/Me6-TREN
520:1:4:4
20
1,000
1.55
2
130
oDCB






a)Molar ratio of VC to initiator to catalyst to ligand














TABLE 4







Polymerization of Vinyl Chloride Initiated from Various Halides and Catalyzed by Cu (0).




















Time,
Conv,


Temp



Exp
Initiator
Catalyst/Ligand
[VC]:[I]:[C]:[L]a)
h
%
Mn
Mw/Mn
° C.
Solvent



















48
Cl—CH2—C(CH2—Cl)═CH2
Cu(0)/bpy
200:1:4:8
20
31
7,700
1.85
130
oDCB


49
Cl—CH2—CH═C(CH3)2
Cu(0)/bpy
100:1:2:4
20
20
8,300
1.62
130
oDCB


50
Cl—CH2—CH═CH2
Cu(0)/bpy
100:1:2:4
20
27
6,100
1.83
130
oDCB


51
Cl—CH(CN)CH3
Cu(0)/bpy
130:1:1.2:1.2
19
20
6,900
1.85
90
DMF


52
Cl—CH(CN)CH3
Cu(0)/bpy
130:1:1.2:2.4
19
12
7,300
1.93
130
oDCB


53
Cl—CH2—Cl
Cu(0)/bpy
100:1:2:4
20
5
50,000
2.75
130
oDCB


54
Cl—CH2—Ph—CH2—Cl
Cu(0)/bpy
260:1:4:8
21
34
5,600
1.62
130
oDCB


55
Cl—CH2—Ph—CH2—Cl
Cu(0)/bpy
1000:1:8:16
20
18
22,400
1.53
130
oDCB


56
Cl—CH2—Ph—CH2—Cl
Cu(0)/bpy
60:1:4:4
20
95
gel

130
oDCB


57
Br—(CH3)2C—COBr
Cu(0)/bpy
130:1:4:8
22
12
17,000
1.90
90
oDCB


58
Br—(CH3)2C—COOEt
Cu(0)/bpy
130:1:1.2:1.8
22
20
8,100
1.85
90
oDCB


59
Br—(CH3)2C—COOEt
Cu(0)/bpy/Al′Bu3
130:1:1.2:1.8:1.2
22
77
6,400
1.85
90
oDCB


60
(Br—CH2)4Ph
Cu(0)/bpy
125:1:8:16
20
7
23,700
1.58
130
oDCB


61
Br—C(CH3)2—COO—Ph—C(CH3)2
Cu(0)/bpy
260:1:4:8
17
30
6,300
1.45
130
oDCB



Ph—OCO—C(CH3)2—Br


62
Br—C(CH3)2—COO—Ph—C(CH3)2
Cu(0)/bpy
260:1:4:8
65
42
11,100
1.72
90
oDCB



Ph—OCO—C(CH3)2—Br


63
Br—C(CH3)2—COO—Ph—C(CH3)2
Cu(0)/bpy/Nal
260:1:3:4.5:3
20
20
4,200
1.50
130
oDCB



Ph—OCO—C(CH3)2—Br


64
Br—C(CH3)2—CO—O—Ph—
Cu(0)/PMDETA
260:1:4:8
20
35
gel

90
oDCB



Ph—O—CO—C(CH3)2—Br


65
Br—C(CH3)2—CO—O—Ph—
Cu(0)/bpy
260:1:4:8
22
30
5,700
1.48
130
oDCB



Ph—OCO—C(CH3)2—Br


66
Br—C(CH3)2—OCO—Ph—C(CH3)—
Cu(0)/bpy
390:1:6:12
18
14
6,800
1.98
130
oDCB



[(Ph—OCO—C(CH3)2—Br]2


67
Br—CH(Cl)—CH3
Cu(0)/bpy
100:1:2:4
20
40
6,000
2.30
130
oDCB


68
Br—CH(Ph)CH3
Cu(0)/bpy
130:1:2.2:3
66
26
6,000
1.75
130
oDCB


69
Br—CH(Ph)CH3
Cu(0)/bpy/Nal
130:1:2:4:2
24
26
4,300
1.70
130
oDCB


70
Br—CH2—Ph—CH2—Br
Cu(0)/bpy
260:1:4:8
20
43
11,000
1.63
130
oDCB


71
Br—N(CO—CH2—CH2—CO)
Cu(0)/bpy
130:1:2:4
20
1
5,600
1.60
130
oDCB


72
I—C(CH3)2—CO—O—Ph—
Cu(0)/bpy
260:1:4:8
20
38
6,700
1.47
130
oDCB



Ph—O—CO—C(CH3)2—I


73
I—C(CH3)2—CO—O—Ph—C(CH3)2
Cu(0)/bpy
260:1:4:8
21
28
7,000
1.60
90
oDCB



Ph—O—CO—C(CH3)2—I


74
I—C(CH3)2—OC—OPh—C(CH3)—
Cu(0)/bpy
390:1:6:12
70
30
8,600
1.67
130
oDCB



[(Ph—OCO—C(CH3)2—I]2


75
I—CF2—(CF2)8—CF3
Cu(0)/bpy
130:1:2:4
22
26
5,800
1.64
130
oDCB


76
I—CH2—CH═CH2
Cu(0)/bpy
130:1:1.2:2.2
20
13.5
6,500
1.70
90
oDCB


77
I—CH2—CH═CH2
Cu(0)/bpy
130:1:5:2.5
22
27
13,100
1.93
90
oDCB


78
I—CH2—CH═CH2
Cu(0)/bpy
260:1:2:4
24
22
6,800
1.72
130
oDCB


79
I—CH2—CH═CH2
Cu(0)/bpy
260:1:2:2
20
12
3,400
1.84
130
oDCB


80
CHI3
Cu(0)/bpy
50:1:1.5:3
20
8
3,300
1.25
130
oDCB


81
CHI3
Cu(0)/bpy
50:1:3:6
20
40
3,700
1.65
130
oDCB


82
CHI3
Cu(0)/bpy
150:1:3:6
20
19
4,500
1.35
130
oDCB


83
CHI3
Cu(0)/bpy
150:1:1.5:3
20
3
760
1.38
130
oDCB


84
CHI3
Cu(0)/bpy
150:1:6:12
20
33
6,100
1.65
130
oDCB


85
CHI3
Cu(0)/bpy
1500:1:6:12
20
7
17,400
1.40
130
oDCB


86
CHI3
Cu(0)/bpy
1500:1:12:24
20
11
30,000
1.63
130
oDCB


87
CHI3
Cu(0)/bpy
1500:1:12:24
20
1
11,400
1.55
90
oDCB


88
CHI3
Cu(0)/bpy
3100:1:12:24
20
8
45,000
1.59
130
oDCB


89
CHI3
Cu(0)/TREN
150:1:0.75:0.75
20
10
5,000
1.58
130
oDCB


90
Cl4
Cu(0)/bpy
150:1:4:8
20
2
2,500
1.45
130
oDCB


91
Cl4
Cu(0)/bpy
1000:1:8:16
20
7
17,400
1.52
130
oDCB


92
I—CH(Cl)—CH3
Cu(0)/bpy
130:1:2:4
67
28
3,500
1.75
130
oDCB


93
I—CH(Cl)—CH3
Cu(0)/bpy
130:1:2:4
21
42
3,900
1.65
90
oDCB


94
I—CH(Cl)—CH3
Cu(0)/bpy
130:1:2:4
44
36
8,400
1.55
60
oDCB


95
I—CH(Cl)—CH3
Cu(0)/bpy
520:1:2:4
44
13
7,700
1.70
90
oDCB


96
I—CH(Cl)—CH3
Cu(0)/TREN
520:1:1:1
20
28
7,900
1.65
130
oDCB


97
I—CH(Cl)—CH3
Cu(0)/bpy
100:1:2:4
20
15
5,200
1.78
60
Bulk


98
I—CH(Cl)—CH3
Cu(0)/bpy
100:1:2:4
20
22
5,600
1.77
60
oDCB


99
I—CH(Cl)—CH3
Cu(0)/bpy
100:1:2:4
20
26
6,200
1.78
60
oDCB


100
I—CH(Cl)—CH3
Cu(0)/bpy
100:1:2:4
20
14
6,500
1.69
60
oDCB


101
I—CH(Cl)—CH3
Cu(0)/bpy
100:1:2:4
20
18
5,400
1.87
90
Bulk


102
I—CH(Cl)—CH3
Cu(0)/bpy
100:1:2:4
20
45
7,800
1.67
90
oDCB


103
I—CH(Cl)—CH3
Cu(0)/bpy
100:1:2:4
20
55
7,300
1.79
90
oDCB


104
I—CH(Cl)—CH3
Cu(0)/bpy
100:1:2:4
20
52
8,300
1.68
90
oDCB


105
I—CH(Cl)—CH3
Cu(0)/bpy
100:1:2:4
20
39
5,500
1.78
130
oDCB


106
I—CH(Cl)—CH3
Cu(0)/bpy
100:1:2:4
20
38
6,100
1.77
130
oDCB


107
I—CH(Cl)—CH3
Cu(0)/bpy
100:1:2:4
20
43
7,100
1.65
130
o-DCB


108
I—CH(Cl)—CH3
Cu(0)/bpy
100:1:2:4
20
39
6,800
1.68
130
o-DCB


109
I—CH(Cl)—CH3
Cu(0)/bpy/NaDDS
100:1:2:4:0.1
20
53
10,600
1.65
90
H2O


110
I—CH(Cl)—CH3
Cu(0)/bpy/NaDDS
100:1:2:4:0.5
20
47
8,500
1.69
90
H2O


111
I—CH(Cl)—CH3
Cu(0)/bpy/NaDDS
100:1:2:4:1
20
41
7,000
1.75
90
H2O


112
I—CH(Cl)—CH3
Cu(0)/bpy/NaDDS
100:1:2:4:2
20
43
7,500
1.66
90
H2O


113
I—CH(Cl)—CH3
Cu(0)/bpy/NaDDS
100:1:2:4:4
20
45
7,300
1.72
90
H2O


114
I—CH(Cl)—CH3
Cu(0)/bpy/NaDDS
100:1:2:4:0.5
1
30
4,700
1.67
90
H2O


115
I—CH(Cl)—CH3
Cu(0)/bpy/NaDDS
100:1:2:4:0.5
2
34
6,200
1.71
90
H2O


116
I—CH(Cl)—CH3
Cu(0)/bpy/NaDDS
100:1:2:4:0.5
4
44
7,100
1.76
90
H2O


117
I—CH(Cl)—CH3
Cu(0)/bpy/NaDDS
100:1:2:4:0.5
8
49
8,500
1.72
90
H2O


118
I—CH2—Ph—CH2—I
Cu(0)/bpy
80:1:4:8
20
35
7,900
1.61
130
oDCB


119
I—CH2—Ph—CH2—I
Cu(0)/bpy
130:1:4:8
20
31
10,300
1.58
130
oDCB


120
I—CH2—Ph—CH2—I
Cu(0)/bpy
260:1:4:8
20
19
8,400
1.55
130
Et2CO3


121
I—CH2—Ph—CH2—I
Cu(0)/Me6-TREN
260:1:4:4
20
14
3,000
1.80
130
oDCB


122
I—CH2—Ph—CH2—I
Cu(0)/TREN
520:1:4:4
20
37
Gel

130
oDCB


123
I—CH2—Ph—CH2—I
Cu(0)/bpy
520:1:4:8
20
5
3,100
2.05
130
DMSO


124
I—CH2—Ph—CH2—I
Cu(0)/bpy
130:1:2:4
22
18
6,100
2.02
130
DMF


125
I—CH2—Ph—CH2—I
Cu(0)/bpy
260:1:4:8
1
1.5
1,100
1.98
130
oDCB


126
I—CH2—Ph—CH2—I
Cu(0)/bpy
260:1:4:8
2
6.6
4,100
1.65
130
oDCB


127
I—CH2—Ph—CH2—I
Cu(0)/bpy
260:1:4:8
4
11
7,600
1.48
130
oDCB


128
I—CH2—Ph—CH2—I
Cu(0)/bpy
260:1:4:8
7
13.4
8,300
1.46
130
oDCB


129
I—CH2—Ph—CH2—I
Cu(0)/bpy
260:1:4:8
13
17.5
10,400
1.48
130
oDCB


130
I—CH2—Ph—CH2—I
Cu(0)/bpy
520:1:4:8
2
2.2
2,100
2.10
130
oDCB


131
I—CH2—Ph—CH2—I
Cu(0)/bpy
520:1:4:8
5
7.5
7,019
1.49
130
oDCB


132
I—CH2—Ph—CH2—I
Cu(0)/bpy
520:1:4:8
11
11
11,000
1.45
130
oDCB


133
I—CH2—Ph—CH2—I
Cu(0)/bpy/Al′Bu3
520:1:4:8:2.6
22
20
12,700
1.59
130
oDCB


134
I—CH2—Ph—CH2—I
Cu(0)/bpy
520:1:8:8
21
20
29,600
1.89
130
oDCB


135
I—CH2—Ph—CH2—I
Cu(0)/bpy
520:1:16:8
21
43
gel

130
oDCB


136
I—CH2—Ph—CH2—I
Cu(0)/bpy/DtBP
1000:1:4:8:8
20
16
14,200
1.49
130
oDCB


137
I—CH2—Ph—CH2—I
Cu(0)/bpy
1000:1:16:32
20
17
16,400
1.63
130
oDCB


138
I—CH2—Ph—CH2—I
Cu(0)/bpy
1000:1:8:16
20
9
15,500
1.59
130
oDCB


137
I—CH2—Ph—CH2—I
Cu(0)/bpy
260:1:4:8
23
20
21,000
1.60
130
oDCB


139
NCS—CH2—Ph—CH2—SCN
Cu(0)/bpy
260:1:4:8
20
26
11,000
3.14
130
oDCB






a) Molar ratio of VC to initiator to catalyst to ligand.














TABLE 5







Polymerization of Vinyl Chloride catalyzed by Various Metal Derivatives and Metals in their Zero Oxidation State.




















Time,

Conv

Temp



Exp
Initiator
Catalyst/Ligand
[VC]:[I]:[C]:[L]a)
h
Mn
%
Mw/Mn
° C.
Solvent



















140
Br—(CH3)2C—COOEt
Al(0)/bpy
130:1:1.3:1.1
17
8,200
5
1.61
90
xylene


141
Br—(CH3)2C—COOEt
Al′Bu3
130:1:1.14
19
12,800
30
1.68
90
oDCB


142
Br—(CH3)2C—COOEt
Cd(0)/bpy
130:1:1.2:1.1
22
14,000
14
1.65
90
oDCB


143
Br—(CH3)2C—COOEt
Sm(0)/bpy
130:1:1.2:1.4
19
11,400
11
1.64
90
dioxane


144
Br—(CH3)2C—COOEt
Zn(0)/bpy
130:1:1.2:1.6
20
14,400
15
1.68
90
oDCB


145
Cl—CH(CN)—CH3
Cr(CO)6
130:1:1.2
18
18,400
9
1.57
90
oDCB






a)Molar ratio of VC to initiator to catalyst to ligand.














TABLE 6







Selected Examples of the Room Temperature Polymerization of Vinyl Chloride Catalyzed by Copper Catalysts in


Water, Solvents and Mixtures Thereof.



















[VC]/[I]/


Time
Conv.
Temp



Exp
Initiator
Catalyst/Ligand
[C]/[L]/[S]a)
Mn
Mw/Mn
h
%
° C.
Solvent



















146
CH3—CH(Cl)—l
Cu(0)/NH4OH
100/1/1/2
8,200
1.75
48
30
20
NH4OH


147
CH3—CH(Cl)—l
Cu(0)/TREN
100/1/2/4
13,500
1.60
20
67
20
o-DCB


148
CH3—CH(Cl)—l
Cu(0)/TREN
100/1/2/4
5,500
1.61
20
45
20
H2O


149
CH3—CH(Cl)—l
Cu(0)/TREN
100/1/2/4
3,700
1.47
20
11
20
THF


150
CH3—CH(Cl)—l
Cu(0)/TREN
100/1/2/4
4,700
1.57
16
26
20
DMF


151
CH3—CH(Cl)—l
Cu(0)/TREN
100/1/2/2
11,500
1.60
20
75
20
o-DCB


152
CH3—CH(Cl)—l
Cu(0)/TREN
100/1/1/2
7,000
1.65
20
65
20
o-DCB


153
CH3—CH(Cl)—l
Cu(0)/TREN/Brij-97
100/1/2/4/0.5
5,500
1.91
20
54
20
H2O


154
CH3—CH(Cl)—l
Cu(0)/TREN/NaDDS
100/1/2/4/0.5
13,200
1.54
20
95
20
H2O


155
CH3—CH(Cl)—l
Cu(0)/TREN/NaDDS
100/1/2/4/0.5
2,600
1.91
1
8
20
H2O


156
CH3—CH(Cl)—l
Cu(0)/TREN/NaDDS
100/1/2/4/0.5
4,350
1.65
2
27
20
H2O


157
CH3—CH(Cl)—l
Cu(0)/TREN/NaDDS
100/1/2/4/0.5
6,440
1.56
4
55
20
H2O


158
CH3—CH(Cl)—l
Cu(0)/TREN/NaDDS
100/1/2/4/0.5
8,300
1.47
8
62
20
H2O


159
CH3—CH(Cl)—l
Cu(0)/TREN/NaDDS
500/1/2/4/0.5
24,000
1.60
48
51
20
H2O


160
CH3—CH(Cl)—l
Cu2O/TREN/NaDDS
100/1/2/4/0.5
12,500
2.43
20
81
25
H2O


161
CH3—CH(Cl)—l
Cu2S/TREN/NaDDS
100/1/2/4/0.5
3,700
1.57
20
40
25
H2O


162
CH3—CH(Cl)—l
Cu2Se/TREN/NaDDS
100/1/2/4/0.5
6,800
1.56
20
84
25
H2O


163
CH3—CH(Cl)—l
Cu2Te/Cu(0)/
100/1/1/1/4/0.5
2,900
2.01
15
35
25
H2O




TREN/NaDDS


164
CH3—CH(Cl)═l
Cu2Te/TREN/
100/1/2/4
5,500
1.81
15
44
25
H2O


165
CH3—CH(Cl)—l
Cu2Te/TREN/Brij97
100/1/2/4/0.5
6,500
1.72
17
88
25
H2O


166
CH3—CH(Cl)—l
Cu2Te/TREN/Brij98
100/1/2/4/0.5
8,600
1.75
17
98
25
H2O


167
CH3—CH(Cl)—l
Cu2Te/TREN/NaDDS
100/1/2/4/2.5
6,700
2.10
17
92
25
H2O


168
CH3—CH(Cl)—l
Cu2Te/TREN/NaDDS
100/1/2/4/1
8,100
1.68
17
96
25
H2O


169
CH3—CH(Cl)—l
Cu2Te/TREN/NaDDS
100/1/2/4/0.5
8,600
1.58
20
96
25
H2O


170
CH3—CH(Cl)—l
Cu2Te/TREN/NaDDS
100/1/2/4/0.5
7,900
2.14
14
93
25
H2O


171
CH3—CH(Cl)—l
Cu2Te/TREN/NaDDS
100/1/1/2/0.5
5,900
1.75
17
76
25
H2O


172
CH3—CH(Cl)—l
Cu2Te/TREN/NaDDS
100/1/2/4/0.1
5,500
1.76
17
69
25
H2O


173
CH3—CH(Cl)—l
CuBr/TREN/Brij 98
100/1/0.5/1/0.5
4,100
1.88
16
31
25
H2O


174
CH3—CH(Cl)—l
CuCl/TREN/Brij 98
100/1/1/1.5/0.5
8,500
1.86
48
73
20
H2O


175
CH3—CH(Cl)—l
CuCl/TREN/Brij-97
100/1/2/4/0.5
19,700
2.02
20
84
20
H2O


176
CH3—CH(Cl)—l
CuCl/TREN/NaDDS
100/1/2/4/0.5
15,500
2.20
20
67
20
H2O


177
CH3—CH(Cl)—l
CuI/TREN/Brij-97
100/1/2/4/0.5
20,800
1.97
20
13
20
H2O


178
CH3—CH(Cl)—l
CuSPh/TREN/NaDDS
100/1/2/4
5500
1.80
18
60
25
H2O


179
CHI3
Cu(0)/PMDETA/
100/1/2/4
3500
1.59
21
18
25
H2O




NaDDS


180
CHI3
Cu(0)/TREN/
100/1/2/4
8330
5.32
87
70
25
MeOH


181
CHI3
Cu(0)/TREN/
100/1/2/4/0.5
1,000
1.47
13
5
25
H2O




(CH3)3NC16H33Cl


182
CHI3
Cu(0)/TREN/NaDDS
1000/1/100/100/5
25,000
2.20
16
23
25
H2O


183
CHI3
Cu(0)/TREN/NaDDS
1000/1/100/100/5
36,000
3.66
87
65
25
H2O


184
CHI3
Cu(0)/TREN/NaDDS
800/1/30/30/4
43,000
2.29
66
90
25
H2O


185
CHI3
Cu(0)/TREN/NaDDS
800/1/15/15/4
33,500
2.44
66
60
25
H2O


186
CHI3
Cu(0)/TREN/NaDDS
200/1/4/8/2
14,900
1.63
20
63
20
H2O


187
CHI3
Cu(0)/TREN/NaDDS
100/1/8/8/0.5
10,600
1.57
13
94
25
H2O


188
CHI3
Cu(0)/TREN/NaDDS
300/1/6/9/1.5
5,800
1.77
16
19
25
MeOH


189
CHI3
Cu(0)/TREN/NaDDS
100/1/4/4/0.5
8,400
1.72
17
88
25
H2O


190
CHI3
Cu(0)/TREN/NaDDS
100/1/2/4/0.5
1,300
1.22
17
8
25
MeOH


191
CHI3
Cu(0)/TREN/NaDDS
100/1/2/4/0.5
1100
1.55
1
10
25
H2O


192
CHI3
Cu(0)/TREN/NaDDS
100/1/2/4/0.5
1358
1.58
2
20
25
H2O


193
CHI3
Cu(0)/TREN/NaDDS
100/1/2/4/0.5
1728
1.58
4
25
25
H2O


194
CHI3
Cu(0)/TREN/NaDDS
100/1/2/4/0.5
1,970
1.56
7
28
25
H2O


195
CHI3
Cu(0)/TREN/NaDDS
100/1/2/4/0.5
2,800
1.54
14
39
25
H2O


196
CHI3
Cu(0)/TREN/NaDDS
100/1/2/4/0.5
5500
1.57
24
69
25
H2O


197
CHI3
Cu(0)/TREN/NaDDS
100/1/2/4/0.5
8400
1.81
62
99
25
H2O


198
CHI3
Cu(0)/TREN/NaDDS
100/1/2/4/0.5
7,263
1.79
37
93
25
H2O


199
CHI3
Cu(0)/TREN/NaDDS
100/1/2/4/0.5
8,100
1.83
50
99
25
H2O


200
CHI3
Cu(0)/TREN/NaDDS
100/1/2/4/0.5
9,300
1.70
16
31
25
Acetone


201
CHI3
Cu(0)/TREN/NaDDS
100/1/2/4/0.5
10,500
1.80
15
60
25
EtOAc


202
CHI3
Cu(0)/TREN/NaDDS
100/1/2/4/0.5
8293
1.80
41
99
25
H2O


203
CHI3
Cu(0)/TREN/NaDDS
100/1/2/4/0.5
7980
1.74
30
94
25
H2O


204
CHI3
Cu(0)/TREN/NaDDS
800/1/6/6/0.5
6,900
1.77
13
7
25
H2O


205
CHI3
Cu(0)/TREN/NaDDS
100/1/2/4/0.25
9,650
2.28
68
88
25
1/1 MeOH/H2O


206
CHI3
Cu(0)/TREN/NaDDS
100/1/2/4/0.25
13,000
1.91
68
96
25
1/1 THF/H2O


207
CHI3
Cu(0)/TREN/NaDDS
100/1/2/4/0.25
11,400
1.57
15
96
25
1/1 THF/H2O


208
CHI3
Cu(0)/TREN/NaDDS
100/1/1/2/0.5
2,600
1.37
17
35
25
H2O


209
CHI3
Cu(0)/TREN/NaDDS
100/1/0.5/1/0.5
1,700
1.35
17
26
25
H2O


210
CHI3
Cu(0)/TREN/NaDDS
100/1/0.5/1/0.5
5700
1.76
87
87
25
H2O


211
CHI3
Cu(0)/TREN/THF
100/1/2/4/0
11,100
1.55
15
98
25
1/1 THF/H2O


212
CHI3
Cu2Te/Cu(0)/
100/1/1/1/4/0.5
5,400
1.45
15
65
25
H2O




TREN/NaDDS


213
CHI3
Cu2Te/CuBr/TREN/
100/1/1/1/4/0.25/
11,200
1.58
14
99
25
THF/H2O 1/1




Brij98/NaDDS
0.25


214
CHI3
Cu2Te/TREN/NaDDS
100/1/8/8/0.5
8,200
1.75
14
99
25
H2O


215
CHI3
Cu2Te/TREN/NaDDS
100/1/6/6/0.5
2,600
1.53
14
54
25
H2O


216
CHI3
Cu2Te/TREN/NaDDS
100/1/4/4/0.5
8,000
1.78
14
98
25
H2O


217
CHI3
Cu2Te/TREN/NaDDS
100/1/2/4/0.5
5,900
1.55
13
80
25
H2O


218
CHI3
Cu2Te/TREN/NaDDS
100/1/2/4/0.3
11,600
1.53
14
99
25
THF/H2O 1/2


219
CHI3
Cu2Te/TREN/NaDDS
100/1/2/4/0.25
6100
1.59
14
82
25
o-DCB/H2O 1/1


220
CHI3
Cu2Te/TREN/NaDDS
100/1/1/2/0.5
3,300
1.38
15
45
25
H2O


221
CHI3
Cu2Te/TREN/NaDDS
100/1/1/2/0.5
1192
1.70
2
14
25
H2O


222
CHI3
Cu2Te/TREN/NaDDS
100/1/1/2/0.5
2585
1.57
4
38
25
H2O


223
CHI3
Cu2Te/TREN/NaDDS
100/1/1/2/0.5
7883
1.82
24
99
25
H2O


224
CHI3
Cu2Te/TREN/NaDDS
100/1/0.5/1/0.5
5,000
1.45
64
66
25
H2O


225
CHI3
Cu2Te/TREN/NaDDS
100/1/0.1/0.5/0.5
850
1.43
64
17
25
H2O


226
CHI3
Cu2Te/TREN/NaDDS
100/1/0.1/0.2/0.5
920
1.42
64
11
25
H2O


227
CHI3
Cu2Te/TREN/NaDDS
100/1/0.05/0.1/0.5
670
1.30
64
2
25
H2O


228
CF3—(CF2)9—I
Cu(0)/TREN/Brij-97
100/1/2/4/0.5
5,900
1.66
20
64
20
H2O


229
CH2═CH—CH2—I
Cu(0)/bpy
100/1/2/4
12,000
1.88
20
5
20
o-DCB


230
BrC(CH3)2—COOPh—
Cu(0)/TREN/NaDDS
200/1/4/8/1
65,000
1.92
20
61
20
H2O



Ph—OCO—C(CH3)2Br


231
CH3C[Ph—OCO—
Cu(0)/TREN/NaDDS
300/1/3/4.5
65,000
1.70
20
18
20
H2O



C(CH3)2Br]3


232
Cl—CH2—Ph—CH2—Cl
CuCl/TREN/Brij 97
50/1/2/3/0.5
62,300
1.95
20
56
20
H2O


233
I—CH2—Ph—CH2—I
Cu(0)/TREN/NaDDS
260/1/4/8/1.3
22,700
1.55
20
13
20
H2O


234
Ph—CO—O—O—CO—Ph
CuCl/TREN/Brij 97
100/1/1.5/1
53,100
1.99
20
62
20
H2O


235
PVC, Mn = 5100,
Cu(0)/TREN/NaDDS
740/1/2/4/0.5
29,800
2.62
20
52
20
H2O



Mw/Mn = 1.6


236
PVC,
Cu(0)/TREN/NaDDS
1440/1/10/20
55,700
2.94
20
20
20
H2O



Mn = 22,000,



Mw/Mn =2.2






a)Molar ratio of VC to initiator to catalyst to ligand to surfactan














TABLE 7







Room temperature Na2S2O4-mediated LRP of VC initiated with


iodoform in H2O/THF



















Catalyst/
Electron

[VC]/[I]/[C]/[ES]/


Time
Conv



Exp
Initator
Buffer
Shuttle
Surfactant
[B]/[S]a)
Mn
Mw/Mn
(h)
(%)
Solvent




















1
CHI3
Na2S2O4/


200/1/2/0/
1,017
2.442
7
12.27
2/1




NaHCO3


2.2/0




H2O/THF


2
CHI3
Na2S2O4/


200/1/2/0/
3,106
1.505
8
16.01
2/1




NaHCO3


2.2/0




H2O/THF


3
CHI3
Na2S2O4/


200/1/2/0/
3,018
1.608
13
24.54
2/1




NaHCO3


2.2/0




H2O/THF


4
CHI3
Na2S2O4/
-—

200/1/2/0/
4,033
1.565
15
30.84
2/1




NaHCO3


2.2/0




H2O/THF


5
CHI3
Na2S2O4/


200/1/2/0/
4,688
1.499
16
35.40
2/1




NaHCO3


2.2/0




H2O/THF


6
CHI3
Na2S2O4/


200/1/2/0/
4,492
1.573
18
39.54
2/1




NaHCO3


2.2/0




H2O/THF


7
CHI3
Na2S2O4/


200/1/2/0/
5,841
1.482
20
46.20
2/1




NaHCO3


2.2/0




H2O/THF


8
CHI3
Na2S2O4/


200/1/2/0/
7,590
1.476
21
50.88
2/1




NaHCO3


2.2/0




H2O/THF


9
CHI3
Na2S2O4/


200/1/2/0/
7,954
1.485
22
54.15
2/1




NaHCO3


2.2/0




H2O/THF


10
CHI3
Na2S2O4/


200/1/2/0/
6,758
1.489
23
55.78
2/1




NaHCO3


2.2/0




H2O/THF


11
CHI3
Na2S2O4/


200/1/2/0/
7,301
1.471
24
57.75
2/1




NaHCO3


2.2/0




H2O/THF


12
CHI3
Na2S2O4/


200/1/2/0/
8,072
1.469
27
61.89
2/1




NaHCO3


2.2/0




H2O/THF


13
CHI3
Na2S2O4/


200/1/2/0/
8,652
1.467
30
64.89
2/1




NaHCO3


2.2/0




H2O/THF


14
CHI3
Na2S2O4/


200/1/2/0/
8,195
1.465
33
66.06
2/1




NaHCO3


2.2/0




H2O/THF


15
CHI3
Na2S2O4/


200/1/2/0/
8,650
1.467
38
68.60
2/1




NaHCO3


2.2/0




H2O/THF


16
CHI3
Na2S2O4/


200/1/2/0/
8,920
1.474
45
73.72
2/1




NaHCO3


2.2/0




H2O/THF


17
CHI3
Na2S2O4/


200/1/2/0/
9,068
1.505
51
76.09
2/1




NaHCO3


2.2/0




H2O/THF


18
CHI3
Na2S2O4/


200/1/2/0/
9,977
1.479
63
77.70
2/1




NaHCO3


2.2/0




H2O/THF


19
CHI3
Na2S2O4/


200/1/2/0/
8,974
1.509
66
80.95
2/1




NaHCO3


2.2/0




H2O/THF


20
CHI3
Na2S2O4/


200/1/2/0/
9,654
1.500
75
80.51
2/1




NaHCO3


2.2/0




H2O/THF


21
CHI3
Na2S2O4/


200/1/4/0/
10,167
1.578
45
79.96
2/1




NaHCO3


2.2/0




H2O/THF


22
CHI3
Na2S2O4/


200/1/2/0/
10,348
1.474
63
77.61
2/1




NaHCO3


4/0




H2O/THF


23
CHI3
Na2S2O4


200/1/2/0/
1,430
1.870
63
7.64
2/1







0/0




H2O/THF


24
CHI3
Na2S2O4/


200/1/2/0/
9,653
1.460
63
75.11
7/3




NaHCO3


2.2/0




H2O/THF






a)Ratio [VC]/[initiator]/[catalyst]/[electron shuttle]/[buffer]/[surfactant] mol/mol/mol/mol/mol/ppm w/w to monomer














TABLE 8







Room Temperature Na2S2O4-mediated LRP of VC Initiated with


Iodoform in H2O/THF in the presence of surfactant Brij ® 98.



















Catalyst/
Electron

[VC]/[I]/[C]/[ES]/


Time
Conv



Exp
Initator
Buffer
Shuttle
Surfactant
[B]/[S]a)
Mn
Mw/Mn
(h)
(%)
Solvent




















25
CHI3
Na2S2O4/

Brij ® 98
200/1/2/0/
7,886
1.524
24
69.07
2/1




NaHCO3


2.2/2180




H2O/THF


26
CHI3
Na2S2O4/

Brij ® 98
200/1/2/0/
10,006
1.479
45
79.94
2/1




NaHCO3


2.2/2180




H2O/THF


27
CHI3
Na2S2O4/

Brij ® 98
200/1/2/0/
2,282
2.328
7
18.18
7/3




NaHCO3


2.2/2180




H2O/THF


28
CHI3
Na2S2O4/

Brij ® 98
200/1/2/0/
2,312
2.428
9
18.87
7/3




NaHCO3


2.2/2180




H2O/THF


29
CHI3
Na2S2O4/

Brij ® 98
200/1/2/0/
3,769
1.791
14
27.24
7/3




NaHCO3


2.2/2180




H2O/THF


30
CHI3
Na2S2O4/

Brij ® 98
200/1/2/0/
7,120
1.508
15
56.53
7/3




NaHCO3


2.2/2180




H2O/THF


31
CHI3
Na2S2O4/

Brij ® 98
200/1/2/0/
4,562
1.642
15
35.19
7/3




NaHCO3


2.2/2180




H2O/THF


32
CHI3
Na2S2O4/

Brij ® 98
200/1/2/0/
7,165
1.523
16
52.41
7/3




NaHCO3


2.2/2180




H2O/THF


33
CHI3
Na2S2O4/

Brij ® 98
200/1/2/0/
8,639
1.486
16
62.08
7/3




NaHCO3


2.2/2180




H2O/THF


34
CHI3
Na2S2O4/

Brij ® 98
200/1/2/0/
4,453
1.579
17
34.37
7/3




NaHCO3


2.2/2180




H2O/THF


35
CHI3
Na2S2O4/

Brij ® 98
200/1/2/0/
9,012
1.504
17
61.66
7/3




NaHCO3


2.2/2180




H2O/THF


36
CHI3
Na2S2O4/

Brij ® 98
200/1/2/0/
7,174
1.514
18
54.72
7/3




NaHCO3


2.2/2180




H2O/THF


37
CHI3
Na2S2O4/

Brij ® 98
200/1/2/0/
4,811
1.676
20
37.04
7/3




NaHCO3


2.2/2180




H2O/THF


38
CHI3
Na2S2O4/

Brij ® 98
200/1/2/0/
7,460
1.492
20
57.25
7/3




NaHCO3


2.2/2180




H2O/THF


39
CHI3
Na2S2O4/

Brij ® 98
200/1/2/0/
7,197
1.483
21
60.54
7/3




NaHCO3


2.2/2180




H2O/THF


40
CHI3
Na2S2O4/

Brij ® 98
200/1/2/0/
4,057
1.849
22
32.02
7/3




NaHCO3


2.2/2180




H2O/THF


41
CHI3
Na2S2O4/

Brij ® 98
200/1/2/0/
8,866
1.512
22
64.50
7/3




NaHCO3


2.2/2180




H2O/THF


42
CHI3
Na2S2O4/

Brij ® 98
200/1/2/0/
7,606
1.505
24
66.62
7/3




NaHCO3


2.2/2180




H2O/THF


43
CHI3
Na2S2O4/

Brij ® 98
200/1/2/0/
8,865
1.511
28
69.50
7/3




NaHCO3


2.2/2180




H2O/THF


44
CHI3
Na2S2O4/

Brij ® 98
200/1/2/0/
9,325
1.487
44
72.18
7/3




NaHCO3


2.2/2180




H2O/THF


45
CHI3
Na2S2O4/

Brij ® 98
200/1/2/0/
9,419
1.527
48
73.66
7/3




NaHCO3


2.2/2180




H2O/THF


46
CHI3
Na2S2O4/

Brij ® 98
200/1/2/0/
10,793
1.510
56
79.81
7/3




NaHCO3


2.2/2180




H2O/THF


47
CHI3
Na2S2O4/

Brij ® 98
200/1/2/0/
10,124
1.54
66
80.33
7/3




NaHCO3


2.2/2180




H2O/THF


48
CHI3
Na2S2O4/

Brij ® 98
200/1/2/0/
8,892
1.551
66
78.23
2/1




NaHCO3


2.2/2180




H2O/THF


49
CHI3
Na2S2O4/

Brij ® 98
200/1/2/0/
10,139
1.570
24
70.58
2/1




NaHCO3


2.2/4160




H2O/THF


50
CHI3
Na2S2O4/

Brij ® 98
200/1/2/0/
11,106
1.503
45
79.80
2/1




NaHCO3


2.2/4160




H2O/THF


51
CHI3
Na2S2O4/

Brij ® 98
200/1/2/0/
10,707
1.562
48
79.15
2/1




NaHCO3


2.2/4160




H2O/THF


52
CHI3
Na2S2O4/

Brij ® 98
200/1/2/0/
11,076
1.562
66
79.13
2/1




NaHCO3


2.2/4160




H2O/THF


53
CHI3
Na2S2O4/

Brij ® 98
200/1/2/0/
11,669
1.533
66
75.43
7/3




NaHCO3


2.2/4160




H2O/THF


54
CHI3
Na2S2O4/

Brij ® 98
200/1/2/0/
12,331
1.546
45
80.44
2/1




NaHCO3


2.2/8320




H2O/THF


55
CHI3
Na2S2O4/

Brij ® 98
200/1/2/0/
11,679
1.626
45
80.03
2/1




NaHCO3


2.2/12480




H2O/THF


56
CHI3
Na2S2O4/

Brij ® 98
200/1/2/0/
10,629
1.618
45
81.10
7/3




NaHCO3


22/12480




H2O/THF


57
CHI3
Na2S2O4/

Brij ® 98
200/1/2/0/
10,260
1.616
66
79.68
2/1




NaHCO3


2.2/12480




H2O/THF


58
CHI3
Na2S2O4/

Brij ® 98
200/1/2/0/
10,425
1.664
45
85.00
2/1




NaHCO3


2.2/16640




H2O/THF






a)Ratio [VC]/[initiator]/[catalyst]/[electron shuttle]/[buffer]/[surfactant] mol/mol/mol/mol/mol/ppm w/w to monomer














TABLE 9







Room Temperature Na2S2O4-mediated LRP of VC Initiated with


Iodoform in H2O/THF in the presence of electron shuttle OV2+


and surfactant Brij ® 98



















Catalyst/
Electron

[VC]/[I]/[C]/[ES]/


Time
Conv



Exp
Init
Buffer
Shuttle
Surfactant
[B]/[S]a)
Mn
Mw/Mn
(h)
(%)
Solvent




















59
CHI3
Na2S2O4/
OV2+
Brij ® 98
200/1/2/0.00175/
1,349
2.205
1
9.35
7/3




NaHCO3


2.2/2180




H2O/THF


60
CHI3
Na2S2O4/
OV2+
Brij ® 98
200/1/2/0.00175/
2,584
2.009
6
18.90
7/3




NaHCO3


2.2/2180




H2O/THF


61
CHI3
Na2S2O4/
OV2+
Brij ® 98
200/1/2/0.00175/
3,348
1.802
7
24.17
7/3




NaHCO3


2.2/2180




H2O/THF


62
CHI3
Na2S2O4/
OV2+
Brij ® 98
200/1/2/0.00175/
4,261
1.749
9
30.13
7/3




NaHCO3


2.2/2180




H2O/THF


63
CHI3
Na2S2O4/
OV2+
Brij ® 98
200/1/2/0.00175/
7,087
1.614
14
59.15
7/3




NaHCO3


2.2/2180




H2O/THF


64
CHI3
Na2S2O4/
OV2+
Brij ® 98
200/1/2/0.00175/
8,110
1.507
16
64.06
7/3




NaHCO3


2.2/2180




H2O/THF


65
CHI3
Na2S2O4/
OV2+
Brij ® 98
200/1/2/0.00175/
9,455
1.484
18
65.42
7/3




NaHCO3


2.2/2180




H2O/THF


66
CHI3
Na2S2O4/
OV2+
Brij ® 98
200/1/2/0.00175/
9,087
1.511
20
70.12
7/3




NaHCO3


2.2/2180




H2O/THF


67
CHI3
Na2S2O4/
OV2+
Brij ® 98
200/1/2/0.00175/
9,773
1.480
24
73.14
7/3




NaHCO3


2.2/2180




H2O/THF


68
CHI3
Na2S2O4/
OV2+
Brij ® 98
200/1/2/0.00175/
9,705
1.490
40
75.43
7/3




NaHCO3


2.2/2180




H2O/THF


69
CHI3
Na2S2O4/
OV2+
Brij ® 98
200/1/2/0.00175/
9,853
1.546
48
77.12
7/3




NaHCO3


2.2/2180




H2O/THF


70
CHI3
Na2S2O4/
OV2+
Brij ® 98
200/1/2/0.00175/
10,175
1.546
66
79.20
7/3




NaHCO3


2.2/2180




H2O/THF


71
CHI3
Na2S2O4/
OV2+
Brij ® 98
200/1/2/0.00175/
10,573
1.530
24
72.29
2/1




NaHCO3


2.2/4160




H2O/THF


72
CHI3
Na2S2O4/
OV2+
Brij ® 98
200/1/2/0.0035/
10,940
1.492
24
73.12
2/1




NaHCO3


2.2/2180




H2O/THF


73
CHI3
Na2S2O4/
OV2+
Brij ® 98
200/1/2/0.0035/
10,455
1.592
66
83.22
7/3




NaHCO3


2.2/2180




H2O/THF


74
CHI3
Na2S2O4/
OV2+
Brij ® 98
200/1/2/0.0035/
11,592
1.542
24
73.59
2/1




NaHCO3


2.2/4160




H2O/THF


75
CHI3
Na2S2O4/
OV2+
Brij ® 98
200/1/2/0.0035/
11,400
1.560
48
79.47
2/1




NaHCO3


2.2/4160




H2O/THF


76
CHI3
Na2S2O4/
OV2+
Brij ® 98
200/1/2/0.0035/
12,225
1.555
24
75.02
2/1




NaHCO3


2.2/8320




H2O/THF


77
CHI3
Na2S2O4/
OV2+
Brij ® 98
200/1/2/0.2/2.2/
12,553
1.561
24
75.82
2/1




NaHCO3


4160




H2O/THF


78
CHI3
Na2S2O4/
OV2+
Brij ® 98
200/1/2/2/2.2/
8,152
1.70
3
35.61
2/1




NaHCO3


4160




H2O/THF






a)Ratio [VC]/[initiator]/[catalyst]/[electron shuttle]/[buffer]/[surfactant] mol/mol/mol/mol/mol/ppm w/w to monomer














TABLE 10







Room Temperature Na2S2O4-mediated LRP of VC Initiated with


Iodoform in H2O/THF in the presence of electron shuttle MV2+


and surfactant Brij ® 98



















Catalyst/
Electron

[VC]/[I]/[C]/[ES]/


Time
Conv



Exp
Init
Buffer
Shuttle
Surfactant
[B]/[S]a)
Mn
Mw/Mn
(h)
(%)
Solvent




















79
CHI3
Na2S2O4/
MV2+
Brij ® 98
200/1/2/0.00175/
10,458
1.513
24
70.72
2/1




NaHCO3


2.2/2180




H2O/THF


80
CHI3
Na2S2O4/
MV2+
Brij ® 98
200/1/2/0.00175/
7,215
1.527
24
55.01
2/1




NaHCO3


2.2/2180




H2O/THF


81
CHI3
Na2S2O4/
MV2+
Brij ® 98
200/1/2/0.00175/
2,476
2.027
7
17.84
7/3




NaHCO3


2.2/2180




H2O/THF


82
CHI3
Na2S2O4/
MV2+
Brij ® 98
200/1/2/0.00175/
2,480
1.874
9
19.63
7/3




NaHCO3


2.2/2180




H2O/THF


83
CHI3
Na2S2O4/
MV2+
Brij ® 98
200/1/2/0.00175/
3,147
2.017
14
25.15
7/3




NaHCO3


2.2/2180




H2O/THF


84
CHI3
Na2S2O4/
MV2+
Brij ® 98
200/1/2/0.00175/
5,342
1.598
16
41.46
7/3




NaHCO3


2.2/2180




H2O/THF


85
CHI3
Na2S2O4/
MV2+
Brij ® 98
200/1/2/0.00175/
5,473
1.526
18
42.98
7/3




NaHCO3


2.2/2180




H2O/THF


86
CHI3
Na2S2O4/
MV2+
Brij ® 98
200/1/2/0.00175/
9,611
1.482
20
74.62
7/3




NaHCO3


2.2/2180




H2O/THF


87
CHI3
Na2S2O4/
MV2+
Brij ® 98
200/1/2/0.00175/
7,042
1.513
21
58.41
7/3




NaHCO3


2.2/2180




H2O/THF


88
CHI3
Na2S2O4/
MV2+
Brij ® 98
200/1/2/0.00175/
9,062
1.483
22
64.87
7/3




NaHCO3


2.2/2180




H2O/THF


89
CHI3
Na2S2O4/
MV2+
Brij ® 98
200/1/2/0.00175/
8,150
1.498
24
67.00
7/3




NaHCO3


2.2/2180




H2O/THF


90
CHI3
Na2S2O4/
MV2+
Brij ® 98
200/1/2/0.00175/
7,763
1.488
28
64.46
7/3




NaHCO3


2.2/2180




H2O/THF


91
CHI3
Na2S2O4/
MV2+
Brij ® 98
200/1/2/0.00175/
8,818
1.506
40
72.53
7/3




NaHCO3


2.2/2180




H2O/THF


92
CHI3
Na2S2O4/
MV2+
Brij ® 98
200/1/2/0.00175/
9,453
1.514
48
78.22
7/3




NaHCO3


2.2/2180




H2O/THF


93
CHI3
Na2S2O4/
MV2+
Brij ® 98
200/1/2/0.00175/
9,241
1.502
51
72.52
7/3




NaHCO3


2.2/2180




H2O/THF


94
CHI3
Na2S2O4/
MV2+
Brij ® 98
200/1/2/0.00175/
9,767
1.499
54
76.64
7/3




NaHCO3


2.2/2180




H2O/THF


95
CHI3
Na2S2O4/
MV2+
Brij ® 98
200/1/2/0.00175/
9,760
1.530
66
73.76
7/3




NaHCO3


2.2/2180




H2O/THF


96
CHI3
Na2S2O4/
MV2+
Brij ® 98
200/1/2/0.0035/
9,209
1.494
24
65.88
2/1




NaHCO3


2.2/2180




H2O/THF


97
CHI3
Na2S2O4/
MV2+
Brij ® 98
200/1/2/0.0035/
8,924
1.488
24
70.76
2/1




NaHCO3


2.2/2180




H2O/THF


98
CHI3
Na2S2O4/
MV2+
Brij ® 98
200/1/2/0.0035/
10,448
1.556
24
71.38
2/1




NaHCO3


2.2/8320




H2O/THF


99
CHI3
Na2S2O4/
MV2+
Brij ® 98
200/1/2/0.0035/
9,763
1.549
24
69.90
2/1




NaHCO3


2.2/4160




H2O/THF


100
CHI3
Na2S2O4/
MV2+
Brij ® 98
200/1/2/0.007/
10,174
1.516
24
75.90
2/1




NaHCO3


2.2/2180




H2O/THF


101
CHI3
Na2S2O4/
MV2+
Brij ® 98
200/1/2/0.013/
4,984
1.729
24
36.19
2/1




NaHCO3


2.2/2180




H2O/THF






a)Ratio [VC]/[initiator]/[catalyst]/[electron shuttle]/[buffer]/[surfactant] mol/mol/mol/mol/mol/ppm w/w to monomer














TABLE 11







Room temperature Na2S2O8—HCOONa-mediated radical


polymerization of VC initiated with bromoform in H2O/THF



















Catalyst/
Electron

[VC]/[I]/[C]/[ES]/


Time
Conv



Exp
Init
Buffer
Shuttle
Surfactant
[B]/[S]a)
Mn
Mw/Mn
(h)
(%)
Solvent




















102
CHBr3
Na2S2O8/


200/1/2/2/0/
9,539
1.941
24
 7.15
2/1




HCOONa/


2.2/0




H2O/THF




NaHCO3


103
CHBr3
Na2S2O8/


200/1/2/2/0/
9,042
1.943
48
20.84
2/1




HCOONa/


2.2/0




H2O/THF




NaHCO3


104
CHBr3
Na2S2O8/


200/1/2/2/0/
8,738
1.931
72
35.17
2/1




HCOONa/


2.2/0




H2O/THF




NaHCO3


105
CHBr3
Na2S2O8/


200/1/2/2/0/
8,157
2.018
96
48.68
2/1




HCOONa/


2.2/0




H2O/THF




NaHCO3


106
CHBr3
Na2S2O8/


200/1/2/2/0/
8,593
1.968
120 
53.74
2/1




HCOONa/


2.2/0




H2O/THF




NaHCO3






a)Ratio [VC]/[initiator]/[catalyst]/[electron shuttle]/[buffer]/[surfactant] mol/mol/mol/mol/mol/ppm w/w to monomer














TABLE 12







Room temperature Na2S2O8—HCOONa-mediated radical


polymerization of VC initiated with chloroform in H2O/THF



















Catalyst/
Electron

[VC]/[I]/[C]/[ES]/


Time
Conv



Exp
Init
Buffer
Shuttle
Surfactant
[B]/[S]a)
Mn
Mw/Mn
(h)
(%)
Solvent





107
CHCl3
Na2S2O8/


200/1/2/2/0/
10,207 
1.893
24
 7.77
2/1




HCOONa/


2.2/0




H2O/THF




NaHCO3


108
CHCl3
Na2S2O8/


200/1/2/2/0/
9,535
1.906
48
23.01
2/1




HCOONa/


2.2/0




H2O/THF




NaHCO3


109
CHCl3
Na2S2O8/


200/1/2/2/0/
8,863
1.929
72
39.28
2/1




HCOONa/


2.2/0




H2O/THF




NaHCO3


110
CHCl3
Na2S2O8/


200/1/2/2/0/
8,854
2.154
96
58.15
2/1




HCOONa/


2.2/0




H2O/THF




NaHCO3


111
CHCl3
Na2S2O8/


200/1/2/2/0/
7,909
1.907
120 
56.08
2/1




HCOONa/


2.2/0




H2O/THF




NaHCO3






a) Ratio [VC]/[initiator]/[catalyst]/[electron shuttle]/[buffer]/[surfactant] mol/mol/mol/mol/mol/ppm w/w to monomer














TABLE 13







Room temperature H2NC(═NH)SO2H-mediated LRP of VC initiated


with iodoform in H2O/THF in the presence of electron shuttle OV2+



















Catalyst/
Electron

[VC]/[I]/[C]/[ES]/


Time
Conv



Exp
Init
Buffer
Shuttle
Surfactant
[B]/[S]a)
Mn
Mw/Mn
(h)
(%)
Solvent





112
CHI3
H2NC(═NH)SO2H/
OV2+

200/1/2/0.0035/
1,352
1.933
 8
10.32
7/3




NaHCO3


4.4/0




H2O/THF


113
CHI3
H2NC(═NH)SO2H/
OV2+

200/1/2/0.0035/
3,535
1.748
16
28.14
7/3




NaHCO3


4.4/0




H2O/THF


114
CHI3
H2NC(═NH)SO2H/
OV2+

200/1/2/0.0035/
5,662
1.563
24
45.87
7/3




NaHCO3


4.4/0




H2O/THF


115
CHI3
H2NC(═NH)SO2H/
OV2+

200/1/2/0.0035/
6,240
1.560
48
49.68
7/3




NaHCO3


4.4/0




H2O/THF


116
CHI3
H2NC(═NH)SO2H/
OV2+

200/1/2/0.0035/
7,119
1.489
68
54.86
7/3




NaHCO3


4.4/0




H2O/THF


117
CHI3
H2NC(═NH)SO2H/
OV2+

200/1/2/0.0035/
6,663
1.533
96
55.53
7/3




NaHCO3


4.4/0




H2O/THF






a)Ratio [VC]/[initiator]/[catalyst]/[electron shuttle]/[buffer]/[surfactant] mol/mol/mol/mol/mol/ppm w/w to monomer














TABLE 14







Selected examples of the room temperature non-metallic SET reagents-


mediated LRP of VC in H2O, THF and mixtures thereof



















Catalyst/Additive/
Electron

[VC]/[I]/[C]/[A]/


Time
Conv



Exp
Init
Buffer
Shuttle
Surfactant
[ES]/[B]/[S]a)
Mn
Mw/Mn
(h)
(%)
Solvent




















118
CHI3
Na2S2O4/

Brij ® 98
200/1/2/8/0/
7,914
1.451
66
60.22
7/3




NaI/


2.2/2180




H2O/THF




NaHCO3


119
CHI3
Na2S2O4/
OV2+

200/1/2/0/0.00175/
10,355
1.482
24
69.42
2/1




NaHCO3


2.2/0




H2O/THF


120
CHI3
Na2S2O4/
OV2+

200/1/2/0/0.0035/
9,679
1.472
24
63.99
2/1




NaHCO3


2.2/0




H2O/THF


121
CHI3
Na2S2O4/
OV2+

200/1/2/0/0.0035/
9,020
1.480
24
65.51
7/3




NaHCO3


2.2/0




H2O/THF


122
CHI3
Na2S2O4/
OV2+

200/1/2/0/0.0035/
10,529
1.499
66
79.74
7/3




NaHCO3


2.2/0




H2O/THF


123
CHI3
Na2S2O4/
OV2+

200/1/2/0/0.00525/
9,731
1.474
24
67.21
7/3




NaHCO3


2.2/0




H2O/THF


124
CHI3
Na2S2O4/
OV2+

200/1/4/0/0.0035/
9,925
1.509
24
71.54
7/3




NaHCO3


2.2/0




H2O/THF


125
CHI3
Na2S2O4/
OV2+

200/1/2/4/0.0035/
8,903
1.467
66
71.40
7/3




NaI/


2.2/0




H2O/THF




NaHCO3


126
CHI3
Na2S2O4/
OV2+

200/1/2/8/0.0035/
8,915
1.445
66
69.87
7/3




NaI/


2.2/0




H2O/THF




NaHCO3


127
CHI3
Na2S2O4/
OV2+

200/1/2/12/0.0035/
9,819
1.450
66
69.19
7/3




NaI/


2.2/0




H2O/THF




NaHCO3


128
CHI3
Na2S2O4/
OV2+

200/1/4/8/0.00175/
10,002
1.467
66
75.02
7/3




NaI/


2.2/0




H2O/THF




NaHCO3


129
CHI3
Na2S2O4/
OV2+

200/1/4/8/0.0035/
11,369
1.495
66
81.95
7/3




NaI/


2.2/0




H2O/THF




NaHCO3


130
CHI3
Na2S2O4/
OV2+
Brij ® 98
200/1/2/8/0.00175/
8,961
1.461
66
60.04
7/3




NaI/


2.2/2180




H2O/THF




NaHCO3


131
CHI3
Na2S2O4/
OV2+
Brij ® 98
200/1/2/4/0.00175/
7,626
1.512
24
50.24
2/1




NaI/


2.2/4160




H2O/THF




NaHCO3


132
CHI3
Na2S2O4/
OV2+

200/1/4/8/0.0035/
11,482
1.529
66
85.48
7/3




NaCl/


2.2/0




H2O/THF




NaHCO3


133
CHI3
Na2S2O4/
OV2+

200/1/2/0/0.0035/
No rxn

24
0.0
THF




NaHCO3


2.2/0


134
CHI3
Na2S2O4/
OV2+

200/1/2/0/0.0035/
2,033
1.623
24
20.11
H2O




NaHCO3


2.2/0


135
CHI3
Na2S2O4/
MV2+

200/1/2/0/0.0035/
7,457
1.489
24
53.58
2/1




NaHCO3


2.2/0




H2O/THF


136
CHI3
Na2S2O4/
MV2+

200/1/2/0/0.0035/
9,059
1.455
66
69.01
7/3




NaHCO3


2.2/0




H2O/THF


137
CHI3
Na2S2O4/
MV2+

200/1/2/0/0.0065/
8,599
1.455
66
67.82
7/3




NaHCO3


2.2/0




H2O/THF


138
CHI3
Na2SO3/
MV2+

200/1/2/0/0.0035/
2,382
1.746
66
16.91
7/3




NaHCO3


2.2/0




H2O/THF


139
CHI3
Na2S2O4/

Methocel ®
200/1/2/0/0/
10,504
1.492
45
78.15
2/1




NaHCO3

F50
2.2/600b)




H2O/THF


140
CHI3
Na2S2O4/

Methocel ®
200/1/2/0/0/
9,644
1.472
45
74.99
2/1




NaHCO3

F50
2.2/1000b)




H2O/THF


141
CHI3
Na2S2O4/

NaDDS
200/1/2/0/0/
3,862
1.795
24
30.43
2/1




NaHCO3


2.2/0.1




H2O/THF


142
CHI3
Na2S2O4/

NaDDS
200/1/2/0/0/
8,442
1.524
45
62.93
2/1




NaHCO3


2.2/3130




H2O/THF


143
CH3CH
Na2S2O4/


200/1/2/0/0/
8,945
1.743
66
60.86
2/1



(I)Cl
NaHCO3


2.2/0




H2O/THF


144
CH2I2
Na2S2O4/


200/1/2/0/0/
8,162
1.861
66
37.34
2/1




NaHCO3


2.2/0




H2O/THF


145
CF3(CF2)7
Na2S2O4/
OV2+
Brij ® 98
200/1/2/0/0.00175/
9,408
2.291
69
3.35
7/3



CH2CH2I
NaHCO3


2.2/2180




H2O/THF


146
CF3(CF2)9I
Na2S2O4/
OV2+

200/1/2/0/0.0035/
7,554
1.676
24
45.39
7/3




NaHCO3


2.2/0




H2O/THF


147
CHBr3
Na2S2O4/


200/1/2/0/0/
7,943
1.945
45
46.61
2/1




NaHCO3


2.2/0




H2O/THF


148
CHBr3
Na2S2O4/
OV2+
Brij ® 98
200/1/2/0/0.00175/
6,767
2.033
24
71.52
2/1




NaHCO3


2.2/4160




H2O/THF


149
CBr4
Na2S2O4/


200/1/2/0/0/
6,478
2.150
45
51.17
2/1




NaHCO3


2.2/0




H2O/THF


150
CBr4
Na2S2O4/
OV2+
Brij ® 98
200/1/2/0/0.0035/
7,360
2.117
24
50.86
2/1




NaHCO3


2.2/4160




H2O/THF


151
CBr4
Na2S2O8/


200/1/2/2/0/
3,226
2.592
66
16.59
2/1




HCOONa/


0/2.2/0




H2O/THF




NaHCO3


152
CBr4
Na2S2O8/


200/1/2/0/0/
3,722
2.449
66
21.61
2/1




NaHCO3


2.2/0




H2O/THF


153
CHI3
Na2S2O3/


200/1/2/0/
0,433
2.551
64
3.12
2/1




NaHCO3


2.2/0




H2O/THF


154
CHI3
Na2S2O4/

NaDDS
200/1/2/0/
0,400
2.277
12
1.08
H2O




NaHCO3


2.2/2085


155
CHI3
NaNO2/


200/1/2/0/
No rxn

38
0
2/1




NaHCO3


2.2/0




H2O/THF


156
CHI3
Na2SO3/


200/1/2/0/
0,722
2.851
38
14.70
2/1




NaHCO3


2.2/0




H2O/THF


157
CHI3
HCOONa/


200/1/2/0/0/
No rxn

137
0
2/1




NaHCO3


2.2/0




H2O/THF


158
CHI3
NaBH4/


200/1/2/0/0/
0,624
3.21
137
9.64
2/1




NaHCO3


2.2/0




H2O/THF


159
CHI3
SnCl2 2H2O/


200/1/2/0/0/
0,519
3.818
137
11
2/1




NaHCO3


2.2/0




H2O/THF


160
CHI3
Na2S2O5/


200/1/2/0/0/
0,481
2.458
40
5.93
2/1




NaHCO3


2.2/0




H2O/THF


161
CHI3
Na2S2O8/


200/1/2/2/0/0/
No rxn

29
0
2/1




HCOONa/


2.2/0




H2O/THF




NaHCO3


162
CBr4
Na2S2O8/


200/1/2/2/0/0/
4,876
2.331
94
36.74
2/1




HCOONa/


2.2/0




H2O/THF




NaHCO3


163
CCI4
Na2S2O8/


200/1/2/2/0/0/
8,757
1.943
92
55.38
2/1




HCOONa/


2.2/0




H2O/THF




NaHCO3


164
CHI3
HOCH2SO2


200/1/2/0/0/
0,732
2.568
58
7.11
2/1




Na 2H2O/


2.2/0




H2O/THF




NaHCO3


165
CHI3
HOCH2SO3Na/


200/1/2/0/0/
0,488
2.609
58
7.34
2/1




NaHCO3


2.2/0




H2O/THF


166
CHI3
H2NC(═NH)SO2H/


200/1/2/0/0/
7,407
1.509
58
55.84
2/1




NaHCO3


2.2/0




H2O/THF






a)Ratio [VC]/[initiator]/[catalyst]/[electron shuttle]/[buffer]/[surfactant] mol/mol/mol/mol/mol/ppm w/w to monomer







Table 1 presents selected examples of Fe(O) catalyzed VC polymerization. Examples 1 to 9 describe the initiation performed from α-haloesters. Example 9 describes the synthesis of a block copolymer by initiating from the Cl chain end of PMMA synthesized via living radical polymerization. Examples 10 to 16 describe the VC polymerization initiated from benzyl halides and pseudohalides, while examples 17 and 18 exemplify α-cyanoesters and example 19 describes the use of sulfonyl halides as initiators. The polymerization may be performed in o-DCB, THF or DMF. In o-DCB, at constant [VC]:[l]:[C]:[L] ratios, lower temperatures lead to higher molecular weights and narrower Mw/Mn but lower conversions (# 4-6).


Table 2 presents the TiCp2Cl2 catalyzed polymerization of VC initiated from various halides. By itself, in the absence of added initiator, TiCp2Cl2 catalyzes VC polymerization only to very low conversion. Polymers can be obtained in the presence of α-haloesters (examples 21 to 25), benzy halides and pseudohalides (examples 26 to 31), α-cyanoesters (example 32) as well as imidyl halides (examples 33 and 34). The addition of Al′Bu3 (examples 23 and 25) significantly increase the conversion. Star polymers can be synthesized in the presence of trifunctional initiators (example 27). Lower temperature affords higher Mn but lower conversion (examples 21 and 22). For Ti based catalysts, bhlorine and bromine containing initiators generate higher conversions than iodine initiators and are therefore preferred.


Table 3 presents the Cu(I) catalyzed polymerization of VC initiated from various halides. In the presence of more activating ligands than bpy, such as Me6-TREN, CuBr can catalyzed VC polymerization initiated from α-haloesters (examples 37 and 38). More reactive Cu(I) species such as CuC═C-Ph, CuSPh or Cu2Te (examples 39, 40 and 46) can catalyze VC polymerization even in the presence of bpy as ligand. For the less reactive copper halides, the presence of more activating polyamine ligands is therefore necessary.


Table 4 presents the Cu(O) catalyzed polymerization of VC initiated from various halides. Initiation from allyl chloride defects is demonstrated using various haloallyl model compounds (examples 48-50) while the initiation from the repeat unit of PVC is demonstrated with the corresponding 1,1-dichloro (example 53), 1,1-chlorobromo (example 67) and 1,1-chloroiodo derivatives (examples 92 to 117). Cu(O) is also able to catalyze VC polymerization in the presence of a large variety of chloro, bromo and iodo initiators such as α-cyanohalides (examples 51 and 52), α-haloesters (examples 57-59, 61-66 and 72-74) and various benzyl halides such as α,α′-dichloro-p-xylene (examples 54-56), α,α′-dibromo-p-xylene (example 70) 1-bromo-1-phenylethane (examples 68 and 69) and 1,2,4,5-tetrakisbromomethyl benzene (example 60, star polymer), α,α′-diiodo-p-xylene (examples 118 to 137). Other successful initiators include perfloroalkyliodides (example 75), allyl iodide (examples 76 to 79), iodoform (examples 80 to 89) and carbon tetraiodide (examples 90 and 91).


The experiments described in examples 125-132 are plotted in FIG. 1 and show that the molecular weight increases linearly with conversion while the polydispersity decreases with conversion at 130° C. using o-DCB as solvent. A linear (FIG. 2) dependence between molecular weight and conversion is observed (examples 114-117) even at 90° C. if VC polymerization is carried out in water in the presence of a surfactant (sodium dodecylsulfate).


The results from examples 97 to 108 describe the combined effect of VC concentration (from bulk 14.4 M to solution 4.8 M) and temperature (from 60° C. to 130° C.) on the molecular weight molecular weight distribution and conversion of the resulting PVC for a reaction time of 20 h and are presented in FIG. 3. An optimum conversion is observed for [VC]=7.2 M while bulk polymerization generates both lower conversion as well as lower molecular weight and broader molecular weight distribution.


Table 5 presents miscellaneous examples of metal catalyzed VC polymerization. It was observed that α-haloesters catalyze VC polymerization (examples 140-144) in the presence of Al(O)/bpy and Al′Bu3 as well as Cd(O)/bpy, Sm(O)/bpy and Zn(O)/bpy. α-Cyanohalides (example 145) can catalyze VC polymerization in the presence of Cr(CO)6.


Table 6 presents selected examples of the room temperature metal catalyzed VC polymerization in water, organic solvents or mixtures thereof. In the presence of activating ligands such as TREN, Cu(O) and its derivatives are successful in polymerizing VC at room temperature. Particularly suitable initiators include iodine derivatives such as CH3—CH(Cl)—I (example 147 to example 178), CHl3 (example 179 to example 227), CF3—(CF2)9—I (example 228), CH2—CH—CH2—I (example 229) and I—CH2—Ph—CH2—I (example 233). A demonstration of the Cu(O)/TREN catalyzed living radical polymerization of VC at room temperature initiated from CH3—CH(Cl)—I in water is presented in FIG. 4. A linear dependence between molecular weight and conversion is observed up to complete conversion of VC. Initiators that generate high Mn PVC at room temperature are also bromine and chlorine containing initiators such as BrC(CH3)2—COO—Ph—Ph—OCO—C(CH3)2Br (example 230) or CH3C[Ph—OCO—C(CH3)2Br]3 (example 231 in which case a star PVC polymer was obtained) or Cl—CH2—Ph—CH2—Cl(example 232). Low Mn PVC synthesized by living radical polymerization (example 235) can be chain-extended with VC in water while commercial PVC (example 236) can be grafted in water with VC under the same conditions. Very suitable catalytic systems include Cu(O)/TREN, Cu2Te/TREN and combinations thereof. By contrast with the solution experiments performed with CuX (X=Cl, Br, I) at higher temperatures, the CuX/TREN catalytic systems are active in water even at room temperature (examples 173-177, 232). A conventional initiator such as benzoyl peroxide can be employed as well (example 234). The polymerization can also be carried out at room temperature in various organic solvents such as o-DCB, THF, Acetone, Ethyl Acetate, MeOH etc or mixtures water/organic solvent in which case the presence of the surfactant may be not be necessary.


Table 7 presents selected examples of Na2S2O4-catalyzed LRP of VC initiated with iodoform in H2O/THF. Examples 1-22 with the same water-THF ratio 2/1 are plotted in FIG. 1. The two rate constants are observed. kp1 represents a liquid-liquid emulsion polymerization when kp2 represents a solid-liquid suspension one. Such a transfer takes place after about 24 h at about 60% of VC conversion. kp1>kp2 more than 2 times (0.0039 h−1 and 0.0015 h1 respectively). Mn is consistent with Mth as for a living process. Polydispersity drastically decreases in the beginning of the polymerization with increasing of Mth and keeps lower than 1.5 until the end of the process after 66 h (example 19). VC conversion at this point is a little more than 80%. Example 22 without buffer shows low conversion. Change of the H2O/THF ratio to 7/3 (example 23) does not have a significant influence on this reaction.


Table 8 presents room temperature Na2S2O4-catalyzed LRP of VC initiated with iodoform in H2O/THF in the presence of surfactant Brij® 98. These experiments were carried out with different H2O/THF ratios both 2/1 and 7/3. Comparison of the experiments, for example, 47 and 48, which are equal except for H2O/THF ratios (7/3 and 2/1 resp.) shows a little higher yield (80 vs. 78%) and lower polydispersity (1.54 vs. 1.55) for the former one after 66 h. Amount of the surfactant varies from 2080 to 16640 ppm w/w relative to VC. Comparing the results of the experiments 26, 54, 55, 56 and 58 for 45 h one can see the increasing of polydispersity with increasing of surfactant amount from 1.48 to 1.66, when the VC conversions do not differ essentially each from others. The experiments with H2O/THF ratio 7/3 and amount of Brij® 98 2080 ppm w/w relative to VC are plotted in FIG. 2. One can also observe two different polymerization rates, namely for emulsion and suspension. In this case kp1 for the liquid-liquid emulsion polymerization is higher then that rate constant for the non-surfactant process in FIG. 1 (0.050 vs. 0.039 h−1), whereas the two constants kp2 are similar (0.013 and 0.015 h−1 respectively). The emulsion-suspension transfer also occurs after about 24 h but already at about 70% of VC conversion. The emulsion is kept longer in this case. Mn is in good agreement with Mth. Polydispersity drops fast from 2.4 to less than 1.5 and is held practically constant up to the end of polymerization.


Table 9 presents results of the room temperature Na2S2O4-catalyzed LRP of VC initiated with iodoform in H2O/THF in the presence of electron shuttle OV2+ and surfactant Brij® 98. All other factors being equal, decreasing of OV2+ decreases polydispersity from 1.49 to 1.48 (experiments 72 and 67) while the monomer conversions are equal (72%). Increasing of surfactant amount increases monomer conversion but also polydispersity (experiments 71 and 74). Experiments 59-70 are plotted in FIG. 3. One can see that the rate constant of emulsion polymerization and kp1 is the highest 0.066 h−1 and the emulsion-suspension transfer occurs at above 70% of monomer conversion after less than 20 h, while the constant of solid-liquid polymerization kp2 is lower. As in the previous cases Mn is consistent with Mth and polydispersity decreases up to 1.5 with increasing of Mth up to about 6000 and then is kept close to this value. Monomer conversion is 82% after 66 h.


Table 10 presents results of the room temperature Na2S2O4-catalyzed LRP of VC initiated with iodoform in H2O/THF in the presence of electron shuttle MV2+ and surfactant Brij® 98. Experiments 99, 98 demonstrate a very small increasing of polydispersity from 1.55 to 1.56 with increasing of surfactant amount, while monomer conversions are practically equal (70 and 71% resp.). A marked increase of MV2+ (experiment 101) lows the conversion (36%) and shows an increase in polydispersity (1.73) in comparison with lower amounts of methyl viologen (experiments 89, 96, 97, 100). Experiments 81-95 are plotted in FIG. 4. As one can see MV2+ accelerates liquid-liquid emulsion polymerization kp1=0.054 h−1, while kp2 is smaller than for the non-electron shuttle involving reactions but bigger than for one of octyl viologen. Dependence Mn on Mth is similar as for the previous cases as well as polydispersity is.


Tables 11 and 12 along with FIGS. 5 and 6 present Na2S2O8— HCOONa-catalyzed radical polymerization of VC initiated with, respectively, bromoform and chloroform in H2O/THF. These polymerizations occur only in the presence of no-iodine containing initiators and show a typical free radical dependence Mn on Mth as it can be seen from FIGS. 9 and 10.


Table 13 presents room temperature H2NC(═NH)SO2H-catalyzed LRP of VC initiated with iodoform in H2O/THF in the presence of electron shuttle OV2+. As H2NC(═NH)SO2H is an acidic compound twice amount of buffer is used. The results of the experiments are plotted in FIG. 7. Both kp1 and kp2 are lower than for a dithionite-mediated polymerization. Maximal conversion is below 60%. Mn shows an ideal dependence on Mth. Polydispersity decreases from 1.9 to 1.5.


Table 14 presents selected examples of the room temperature non-metallic SET reagents-mediated LRP of VC in H2O, THF and mixtures thereof. The role of the solvent is illustrated by experiments 133, 134 and 154. While in water either in the presence of OV2+ or NaDDS reaction occurs there is no dithionite-catalyzed reaction in dry THF. Different halogen containing compounds, other than iodoform, in conjunction with Na2S2O4 can initiate VC polymerization (experiments 143, 144, 145, 146, 149) both in the presence of electron shuttle and surfactant and without them. The CO2. radical anion precursor Na2S2O8— HCOONa is active in conjunction with bromo- or chloro-containing initiators (experiments 151, 152, 162, 163). Different SO2 containing compounds other than Na2S2O4 show activity with iodoform as initiator (experiments 152, 156, 160, 164, 165, 166). Some surfactants show activity in experiments 139, 140, 141, 142, 154. Additives such as sodium halides are active (experiments 125-132), with the narrowest polydispersity (1.445) and high yeld obtained in experiment 126.


EXAMPLES OF PREPARATION OF THE CHLORINE CONTAINING POLYMER UTLIZING A METALLIC CATALYST

The polymerizations reported were performed as follows unless otherwise noted: A 50 mL Ace Glass 8648 #15 Ace-Thred pressure tube equipped with bushing and plunger valve containing solvent (ortho-dichlorobenzene, 10 mL), initiator catalyst, ligand, optional additive and vinyl chloride (5 mL, 0.072 mol), was degassed by three freeze-vacuum pump-thaw cycles was filled with argon. The reaction mixture was slowly heated to the specific reaction temperature in an oil bath. After the specific reaction time, the tube was slowly cooled and excess vinyl chloride was allowed to boil off. Methylene chloride (10 mL) was added and the solution was precipitated into methanol, filtered and dried. The conversion was determined gravimetrically and the number average molecular weight (Mn) and molecular weight distribution (Mw/Mn) were determined by gel permeation chromatography using a calibration based on polystyrene standards. GPC analysis of the polymers was performed on a Perkin-Elmer Series 10 high pressure liquid chromatograph equipped with an LC-100 column oven (22° C.), a Nelson Analytical 900 Series integrator data station, a Perkin-Elmer 785A UV/Visible Detector (254 nm), a Varian Star 4090 RI detector and 2 AM gel (10 μm, 500 Å and 10 μm, 104 Å) columns. THF (Fisher, HPLC-grade) was used as eluent at a flow rate of 1 mL/min.


A number of polymerization reactions were produced in accordance with the above description. Selected examples from the Tables 1-6 are presented below:


Table 1, Example 1

A 50 mL Ace Glass 8648 #15 Ace-Thred pressure tube equipped with bushing and plunger valve containing vinyl chloride (5 mL, 0.072 mol), solvent (ortho-dichlorobenzene (o-DCB), 10 mL), initiator (ethyl 2-bromoisobutyrate, 223 mg, 1.12 mmol), catalyst (Fe(0), 40 mg, 0.7 mmol) and ligand (phen 200 mg, 1.1 mmol) was degassed by three freeze-vacuum pump-thaw cycles and filled with argon. The reaction mixture was slowly heated to 90° C. in an oil bath. After 19 hours, the tube was slowly cooled and excess vinyl chloride was allowed to boil off. Methylene chloride (10 mL) was added and the solution was precipitated into methanol, filtered and dried to yield 1.17 g (26%) of PVC, Mn=10,000, Mw/Mn=1.66.


Table 1, Example 9

A 50 mL Ace Glass 8648 #15 Ace-Thred pressure tube equipped with bushing and plunger valve containing vinyl chloride (5 mL, 0.072 mol), solvent (o-DCB, 10 mL), initiator (chlorine terminated poly(methylmethacrylate) PMMA-CH2—C(COOMe)(CH3)—Cl, Mn=6,300, Mw/Mn=1.25, 1 g, 0.16 mmol), catalyst (Fe(O), 40 mg, 0.7 mmol) and ligand (phen 100 mg, 0.55 mmol) was degassed by three freeze-vacuum pump-thaw cycles and filled with argon. The reaction mixture was slowly heated to 0.90° C. in an oil bath. After 20 hours, the tube was slowly cooled and excess vinyl chloride was allowed to boil off. Methylene chloride (20 mL) was added and the solution was precipitated into methanol, filtered and dried to yield 3.5 g (35%) of PVC, Mn=8,300, Mw/Mn=1.73.


Table 1, Example 18

A 50 mL Ace Glass 8648 #10 Ace-Thred pressure tube equipped with bushing and plunger valve containing vinyl chloride (5 mL, 0.072 mol), solvent (o-DCB, 10 mL), initiator (1-chloro-1-cyanoethane, 79 mg, 0.56 mmol), catalyst (Fe(CO)5, 133 mg, 0.68 mmol) was degassed by three freeze-vacuum pump-thaw cycles and filled with argon. The reaction mixture was slowly heated to 90° C. in an oil bath. After 18 hours, the tube was slowly cooled and excess vinyl chloride was allowed to boil off. Methylene chloride (10 mL) was added and the solution was precipitated into methanol, filtered and dried to yield 0.23 g (4%) of PVC, Mn=14,300, Mw/Mn=1.65.


Table 1, Example 19

A 50 mL Ace Glass 8648 #15 Ace-Thred pressure tube equipped with bushing and plunger valve containing vinyl chloride (5 mL, 0.072 mol), solvent (o-DCB, 10 mL), initiator (4-florobenzenesulfonyl chloride 132 mg, 0.56 mmol), catalyst (Fe(0), 40 mg, 0.7 mmol)) and ligand (phen 200 mg, 1.12 mmol) was degassed by three freeze-vacuum pump-thaw cycles and filled with argon. The reaction mixture was slowly heated to 90° C. in an oil bath. After 18 hours, the tube was slowly cooled and excess vinyl chloride was allowed to boil off. Methylene chloride (10 mL) was added and the solution was precipitated into methanol, filtered and dried to yield 1 g (22%) of PVC, Mn=14,300, Mw/Mn=1.82.


Table 2, Example 21

A 50 mL Ace Glass 8648 #15 Ace-Thred pressure tube equipped with bushing and plunger valve containing vinyl chloride (5 mL, 0.072 mol), solvent (o-DCB, 10 mL), initiator (ethyl 2-bromoisobutyrate, 111 mg, 0.56 mmol) and catalyst (TiCp2C2, 167 mg, 0.67 mmol) was degassed by three freeze-vacuum pump-thaw cycles and filled with argon. The reaction mixture was slowly heated to 90° C. in an oil bath. After 22 hours, the tube was slowly cooled and excess vinyl chloride was allowed to boil off. Methylene chloride (10 mL) was added and the solution was precipitated into methanol, filtered and dried to yield 0.47 g (10%) of PVC, Mn=14,300, Mw/Mn=1.82.


Table 2. Example 23

A 50 mL Ace Glass 8648 #15 Ace-Thred pressure tube equipped with bushing and plunger valve containing vinyl chloride (5 mL, 0.072 mol), solvent (o-DCB, 10 mL), initiator (ethyl 2-bromoisobutyrate, 111 mg, 0.56 mmol), catalyst (TiCp2Cl2, 167 mg, 0.6 mmol) and additive (Al′Bu3, 2 mmol, 2 mL 1M in toluene) was degassed by three freeze-vacuum pump-thaw cycles and filled with argon. The reaction mixture was slowly heated to 90° C. in an oil bath. After 17 hours, the tube was slowly cooled and excess vinyl chloride was allowed to boil off. Methylene chloride (10 mL) was added and the solution was precipitated into methanol, filtered and dried to yield 2.8 g (60%) of PVC, Mn=3,800, Mw/Mn 2.10.


Table 2, Example 24

A 50 mL Ace Glass 8648 #15 Ace-Thred pressure tube equipped with bushing and plunger valve containing vinyl chloride (5 mL, 0.072 mol), solvent (o-DCB, 10 mL), initiator (ethyl 2-bromoisobutyrate, 111 mg, 0.56 mmol), catalyst (TiCp2Cl2, 167 mg, 0.6 mmol), additive (Zn(O), 65 mg, 1 mmol) and ligand (bpy 100 mg, 0.4 mmol) was degassed by three freeze-vacuum pump-thaw cycles and filled with argon. The reaction mixture was slowly heated to 90° C. in an oil bath. After 17 hours, the tube was slowly cooled and excess vinyl chloride was allowed to boil off. Methylene chloride (10 mL) was added and the solution was precipitated into methanol, filtered and dried to yield 1 g (22%) of PVC, Mn=14,800, Mw/Mn=1.95.


Table 2, Example 25

A 50 mL Ace Glass 8648 #15 Ace-Thred pressure tube equipped with bushing and plunger valve containing vinyl chloride (5 mL, 0.072 mol), solvent (o-DCB, 10 mL), initiator (ethyl 2-bromoisobutyrate, 111 mg, 0.56 mmol), catalyst (Ti(OBu)4, 231 mg, 0.7 mmol), additive (Al′Bu3, 2 mmol, 2 mL 1M in toluene) was degassed by three freeze-vacuum pump-thaw cycles and filled with argon. The reaction mixture was slowly heated to 90° C. in an oil bath. After 17 hours, the tube was slowly cooled and excess vinyl chloride was allowed to boil off. Methylene chloride (10 mL) was added and the solution was precipitated into methanol, filtered and dried to yield 4 g (88%) of PVC, Mn=14,800 Mw/Mn=1.95.


Table 2, Example 29

A 50 mL Ace Glass 8648 #15 Ace-Thred pressure tube equipped with bushing and plunger valve containing vinyl chloride (5 mL, 0.072 mol), solvent (o-DCB, 10 mL), initiator (α,α′-dichloro-p-xylene, 25 mg 0.14 mmol) and catalyst (TiCp2Cl2, 70 mg, 0.28 mmol), was degassed by three freeze-vacuum pump-thaw cycles and filled with argon. The reaction mixture was slowly heated to 130° C. in an oil bath. After 20 hours, the tube was slowly cooled and excess vinyl chloride was allowed to boil off. Methylene chloride (10 mL) was added and the solution was precipitated into methanol, filtered and dried to yield 1.25 g (28%) of PVC, Mn=4,900, Mw/Mn=1.81.


Table 2, Example 33

A 50 mL Ace Glass 8648 #15 Ace-Thred pressure tube equipped with bushing and plunger valve containing vinyl chloride (5 mL, 0.072 mol), solvent (o-DCB, 10 mL), initiator (N-bromosuccinimide, 100 mg 0.56 mmol) and catalyst (TiCp2Cl2, 170 mg, 0.68 mmol), was degassed by three freeze-vacuum pump-thaw cycles and filled with argon. The reaction mixture was slowly heated to 90° C. in an oil bath. After 19 hours, the tube was slowly cooled and excess vinyl chloride was allowed to boil off. Methylene chloride (10 mL) was added and the solution was precipitated into methanol, filtered and dried to yield 0.2 g (4%) of PVC, Mn=19,000 Mw/Mn=1.78.


Table 2, Example 34

A 50 mL Ace Glass 8648 #15 Ace-Thred pressure tube equipped with bushing and plunger valve containing vinyl chloride (5 mL, 0.072 mol), solvent (o-DCB, 10 mL), initiator (trichloroisocyanuric acid, 100 mg, 0.56 mmol) and catalyst (TiCp2Cl2, 170 mg, 0.68 mmol), was degassed by three freeze-vacuum pump-thaw cycles and filled with argon. The reaction mixture was slowly heated to 90° C. in an oil bath. After 19 hours, the tube was slowly cooled and excess vinyl chloride was allowed to boil off. Methylene chloride (10 mL) was added and the solution was precipitated into methanol, filtered and dried to yield 0.2 g (4%) of PVC, Mn=19,000, Mw/Mn=1.80.


Table 2, Example 35

A 50 mL Ace Glass 8648 #15 Ace-Thred pressure tube equipped with bushing and plunger valve containing vinyl chloride (5 mL, 0.072 mol), solvent (o-DCB, 10 mL), initiator (1,1,1-tris(4-chlorosulfonylphenyl)ethane, 100 mg, 0.18 mmol) and catalyst (TiCp2Cl2, 400 mg, 1.6 mmol), was degassed by three freeze-vacuum pump-thaw cycles and filled with argon. The reaction mixture was slowly heated to 110° C. in an oil bath. After 22 hours, the tube was slowly cooled and excess vinyl chloride was allowed to boil off. Methylene chloride (10 mL) was added and the solution was precipitated into methanol, filtered and dried to yield 0.35 g (7%) of PVC, Mn=4,000 Mw/Mn=2.05.


Table 3, Example 39

A 50 mL Ace Glass 8648 #15 Ace-Thred pressure tube equipped with bushing and plunger valve containing vinyl chloride (5 mL, 0.072 mol), solvent (DMF, 5 mL), initiator (1-chloro-1-cyanoethane, 64 mg, 0.72 mmol) catalyst (copper phenylacetylide, 178 mg, 1.1 mmol) and ligand (bpy, 337 mg, 2.16 mmol) was degassed by three freeze-vacuum pump-thaw cycles and filled with argon. The reaction mixture was slowly heated to 90° C. in an oil bath. After 19 hours, the tube was slowly cooled and excess vinyl chloride was allowed to boil off. Methylene chloride (10 mL) was added and the solution was precipitated into methanol, filtered and dried to yield 0.67 g (15%) of PVC, Mn=1,300, Mw/Mn=3.60.


Table 3, Example 40

A 50 mL Ace Glass 8648 #15 Ace-Thred pressure tube equipped with bushing and plunger valve containing vinyl chloride (5 mL, 0.072 mol), solvent (DMF, 5 mL), initiator (1-chloro-1-cyanoethane, 51 mg, 0.56 mmol) catalyst (copper thiophenoxide, 69 mg, 0.4 mmol) and ligand (bpy, 337 mg, 2.16 mmol) was degassed by three freeze-vacuum pump-thaw cycles and filled with argon. The reaction mixture was slowly heated to 60° C. in an oil bath. After 19 hours, the tube was slowly cooled and excess vinyl chloride was allowed to boil off. Methylene chloride (10 mL) was added and the solution was precipitated into methanol, filtered and dried to yield 0.6 g (13%) of PVC, Mn=2,800, Mw/Mn=3.60.


Table 3, Example 41

A 50 mL Ace Glass 8648 #15 Ace-Thred pressure tube equipped with bushing and plunger valve containing vinyl chloride (5 mL, 0.072 mol), solvent (o-DCB, 5 mL), initiator (1-chloro-1-iodoethane, 53 mg, 0.28 mmol) catalyst (copper (I) bromide, 61 mg, 0.42 mmol) and ligand (tris[2-(dimethylamino)ethyl]amine (Me6-TREN), 193 mg, 0.84 mmol) was degassed by three freeze-vacuum pump-thaw cycles and filled with argon. The reaction mixture was slowly heated to 90° C. in an oil bath. After 44 hours, the tube was slowly cooled and excess vinyl chloride was allowed to boil off. Methylene chloride (10 mL) was added and the solution was precipitated into methanol, filtered and dried to yield 0.22 g (5%) of PVC, Mn=3,200, Mw/Mn=1.30.


Table 3, Example 46

A 50 mL Ace Glass 8648 #15 Ace-Thred pressure tube equipped with bushing and plunger valve containing vinyl chloride (5 mL, 0.072 mol), solvent (o-DCB, 5 mL), initiator (α,α′-dithiocyanato-p-xylene, 61 mg, 0.28 mmol) catalyst (copper (I) telluride, 285 mg, 1.12 mmol) and ligand (bpy, 350 mg, 1.36 mmol) was degassed by three freeze-vacuum pump-thaw cycles and filled with argon. The reaction mixture was slowly heated to 130° C. in an oil bath. After 22 hours, the tube was slowly cooled and excess vinyl chloride was allowed to boil off. Methylene chloride (10 mL) was added and the solution was precipitated into methanol, filtered and dried to yield 0.36 g (8%) of PVC, Mn=5,100, Mw/Mn=2.23.


Table 4, Example 48

A 50 mL Ace Glass 8648 #15 Ace-Thred pressure tube equipped with bushing and plunger valve containing vinyl chloride (5 mL, 0.072 mol), solvent (o-DCB, 10 mL), initiator (3-chloro-2-chloromethylpropene, 90 mg, 0.72 mmol) catalyst (copper, 184 mg, 2.8 mmol) and ligand (bpy, 898 mg, 5.76 mmol) was degassed by three freeze-vacuum pump-thaw cycles and filled with argon. The reaction mixture was slowly heated to 130° C. in an oil bath. After 20 hours, the tube was slowly cooled and excess vinyl chloride was allowed to boil off. Methylene chloride (10 mL) was added and the solution was precipitated into methanol, filtered and dried to yield 1.4 g (31%) of PVC, Mn=7,700, Mw/Mn=1.85.


Table 4, Example 49

A 50 mL Ace Glass 8648 #15 Ace-Thred pressure tube equipped with bushing and plunger valve containing vinyl chloride (5 mL, 0.072 moll, solvent (o-DCB, 10 mL), initiator (1-chloro-methyl-2-butene, 75 mg, 0.72 mmol) catalyst (copper, 92 mg, 1.4 mmol) and ligand (bpy, 450 mg, 2.88 mmol) was degassed by three freeze-vacuum pump-thaw cycles and filled with argon. The reaction mixture was slowly heated to 130° C. in an oil bath. After 20 hours, the tube was slowly cooled and excess vinyl chloride was allowed to boil off. Methylene chloride (10 mL) was added and the solution was precipitated into methanol, filtered and dried to yield 0.9 g (20%) of PVC, Mn=8,300, Mw/Mn=1.62.


Table 4, Example 49

A 50 mL Ace Glass 8648 #15 Ace-Thred pressure tube equipped with bushing and plunger valve containing vinyl chloride (5 mL, 0.072 mol), solvent (o-DCB, 10 mL), initiator (1-chloro-methyl-2-butene, 75 mg, 0.72 mmol), catalyst (copper, 92 mg, 1.4 mmol) and ligand (bpy, 450 mg, 2.88 mmol) was degassed by three freeze-vacuum pump-thaw cycles and filled with argon. The reaction mixture was slowly heated to 130° C. in an oil bath. After 20 hours, the tube was slowly cooled and excess vinyl chloride was allowed to boil off. Methylene chloride (10 mL) was added and then the solution was precipitated into methanol, filtered and dried to yield 0.9 g (20%) of PVC, Mn=8,300, Mw/Mn=162.


Table 4, Example 50

A 50 mL Ace Glass 8648 #15 Ace-Thred pressure tube equipped with bushing and plunger valve containing vinyl chloride (5 mL, 0.072 mol), solvent (o-DCB, 10 mL), initiator (ally chloride, 55 mg, 0.72 mmol), catalyst (copper, 92 mg, 1.4 mmol) and ligand (bpy, 450 mg, 2.88 mmol) was degassed by three freeze-vacuum pump-thaw cycles and filled with argon. The reaction mixture was slowly heated to 130° C. in an oil bath. After 20 hours, the tube was slowly cooled and excess vinyl chloride was allowed to boil off. Methylene chloride (10 mL) was added and the solution was precipitated into methanol, filtered and dried to yield 1.2 g (27%) of PVC, Mn=6,100, Mw/Mn=1.83.


Table 4, Example 53

A 50 mL Ace Glass 8648 #15 Ace-Thred pressure tube equipped with bushing and plunger valve containing vinyl chloride (5 mL, 0.072 mol), solvent (o-DCB, 10 mL), initiator (methylene chloride, 61 mg, 0.72 mmol), catalyst (copper, 92 mg, 1.4 mmol) and ligand (bpy, 450 mg, 2.88 mmol) was degassed by three freeze-vacuum pump-thaw cycles and filled with argon. The reaction mixture was slowly heated to 130° C. in an oil bath. After 20 hours, the tube was slowly cooled and excess vinyl chloride was allowed to boil off. Methylene chloride (10 mL) was added and the solution was precipitated into methanol, filtered and dried to yield 0.25 g (5%) of PVC, Mn=50,000, Mw/Mn=2.75.


Table 4, Example 55

A 50 mL Ace Glass 8648 #15 Ace-Thred pressure tube equipped with bushing and plunger valve containing vinyl chloride (5 mL, 0.072 mol), solvent (o-DCB, 10 mL), initiator (α,α′-dichloro-p-xylene, 12 mg, 0.07 mmol), catalyst (copper, 36 mg, 0.56 mmol) and ligand (bpy, 175 mg, 1.12 mmol) was degassed by three freeze-vacuum pump-thaw cycles and filled with argon. The reaction mixture was slowly heated to 130° C. in an oil bath. After 21 hours, the tube was slowly cooled and excess vinyl chloride was allowed to boil off. Methylene chloride (10 mL) was added and the solution was precipitated into methanol, filtered and dried to yield 0.8 g (18%) of PVC, Mn=22,400, Mw/Mn=1.53.


Table 4, Example 56

A 50 mL Ace Glass 8648 #15 Ace-Thred pressure tube equipped with bushing and plunger valve containing vinyl chloride (2.5 mL, 0.036 mol), solvent (o-DCB, 5 mL), initiator (α,α′-dichloro-p-xylene, 105 mg, 0.6 mmol), catalyst (copper, 307 mg, 0.48 mmol) and ligand (bpy, 750 mg, 0.48 mmol) was degassed by three freeze-vacuum pump-thaw cycles and filled with argon. The reaction mixture was slowly heated to 130° C. in an oil bath. After 20 hours, the tube was slowly cooled and excess vinyl chloride was allowed to boil off. Methylene chloride (10 mL) was added and the mixture was precipitated into methanol, filtered and dried to yield 2.3 g (95%) of PVC.


Table 4, Example 57

A 50 mL Ace Glass 8648 #15 Ace-Thred pressure tube equipped with bushing and plunger valve containing vinyl chloride (5 mL, 0.072 mol), solvent (o-DCB, 10 mL), initiator (2-bromo-2-methylpropionyl bromide, 64 mg, 0.28 mmol), catalyst (copper, 72 mg, 1.12 mmol) and ligand (bpy, 350 mg, 2.24 mmol) was degassed by three freeze-vacuum pump-thaw cycles and filled with argon. The reaction mixture was slowly heated to 90° C. in an oil bath. After 22 hours, the tube was slowly cooled and excess vinyl chloride was allowed to boil off. Methylene chloride (10 mL) was added and the solution was precipitated into methanol, filtered and dried to yield 0.5 g (12%) of PVC, Mn=17,000, Mw/Mn=1.90.


Table 4, Example 59

A 50 mL Ace Glass 8648 #15 Ace-Thred pressure tube equipped with bushing and plunger valve containing vinyl chloride (5 mL, 0.072 mol), solvent (o-DCB, 10 mL), initiator (ethyl 2-bromoisobutyrate, 111 mg, 0.6 mmol), catalyst (copper, 40 mg, 0.6 mmol) ligand (bpy, 150 mg, 0.96 mmol) and additive (Al′Bu3, 0.6 mmol, 0.6 mL 1M in toluene) was degassed by three freeze-vacuum pump-thaw cycles and filled with argon. The reaction mixture was slowly heated to 90° C. in an oil bath. After 22 hours, the tube was slowly cooled and excess vinyl chloride was allowed to boil off. Methylene chloride (10 mL) was added and the solution was precipitated into methanol, filtered and dried to yield 3.5 g (77%) of PVC, Mn=6,400, Mw/Mn=1.85.


Table 4, Example 60

A 50 mL Ace Glass 8648 #15 Ace-Thred pressure tube equipped with bushing and plunger valve containing vinyl chloride (5 mL, 0.072 mol), solvent (o-DCB, 10 mL), initiator (1,2,4,5-tetrakis(bromomethyl)benzene, 16 mg, 0.035 mmol), catalyst (copper, 18 mg, 0.28 mmol) and ligand (bpy, 87 mg, 0.56 mmol) was degassed by three freeze-vacuum pump-thaw cycles and filled with argon. The reaction mixture was slowly heated to 130° C. in an oil bath. After 20 hours, the tube was slowly cooled and excess vinyl chloride was allowed to boil off. Methylene chloride (10 mL) was added and the solution was precipitated into methanol, filtered and dried to yield 0.3 g (7%) of PVC, Mn=23,700, Mw/Mn=1.58.


Table 4, Example 61

A 50 mL Ace Glass 8648 #15 Ace-Thred pressure tube equipped with bushing and plunger valve containing vinyl chloride (5 mL, 0.072 mol), solvent (o-DCB, 10 mL), initiator (propanoic acid, 2-bromo-2-methyl-(1-methylethylidene)-di-4,1-phenylene ester 150 mg, 0.28 mmol), catalyst (copper, 72 mg, 1.12 mmol) and ligand (bpy, 350 mg, 2.2 mmol) was degassed by three freeze-vacuum pump-thaw cycles and filled with argon. The reaction mixture was slowly heated to 90° C. in an oil bath. After 22 hours, the tube was slowly cooled and excess vinyl chloride was allowed to boil off. Methylene chloride (10 mL) was added and the solution was precipitated into methanol, filtered and dried to yield 1.7 g (35%) of PVC, Mn=6,300, Mw/Mn=1.45.


Table 4, Example 65

A 50 mL Ace Glass 8648 #15 Ace-Thred pressure tube equipped with bushing and plunger valve containing vinyl chloride (5 mL, 0.072 mol), solvent (o-DCB, 10 mL), initiator (propanoic acid, 2-bromo-2-methyl-4,4′-biphenylene ester 135 mg, 0.28 mmol), catalyst (copper, 72 mg, 1.12 mmol) and ligand (bpy, 350 mg, 2.2 mmol) was degassed by three freeze-vacuum pump-thaw cycles and filled with argon. The reaction mixture was slowly heated to 130° C. in an oil bath. After 22 hours, the tube was slowly cooled and excess vinyl chloride was allowed to boil off. Methylene chloride (10 mL) was added and the solution was precipitated into methanol, filtered and dried to yield 1.35 g (31%) of PVC, Mn=5,600, Mw/Mn=1.48.


Table 4, Example 67

A 50 mL Ace Glass 8648 #15 Ace-Thred pressure tube equipped with bushing and plunger valve containing vinyl chloride (5 mL, 0.072 mol), solvent (o-DCB, 10 mL), initiator (1-chloro-1-bromoethane 103 mg, 0.72 mmol), catalyst (copper, 92 mg, 1.44 mmol) and ligand (bpy, 450 mg, 2.9 mmol) was degassed by three freeze-vacuum pump-thaw cycles and filled with argon. The reaction mixture was slowly heated to 130° C. in an oil bath. After 20 hours, the tube was slowly cooled and excess vinyl chloride was allowed to boil off. Methylene chloride (10 mL) was added and the solution was precipitated into methanol, filtered and dried to yield 1.79 g (40%) of PVC, Mn=6,000, Mw/Mn=2.30.


Table 4, Example 70

A 50 mL Ace Glass 8648 #15 Ace-Thred pressure tube equipped with bushing and plunger valve containing vinyl chloride (5 mL, 0.072 mol), solvent (o-DCB, 10 mL), initiator (α,α′-dibromo-p-xylene 33 mg, 0.28 mmol), catalyst (copper, 72 mg, 1.12 mmol) and ligand (bpy, 350 mg, 2.2 mmol) was degassed by three freeze-vacuum pump-thaw cycles and filled with argon. The reaction mixture was slowly heated to 130° C. in an oil bath. After 20 hours, the tube was slowly cooled and excess vinyl chloride was allowed to boil off. Methylene chloride (10 mL) was added and the solution was precipitated into methanol, filtered and dried to yield 1.95 g (43%) of PVC, Mn=11,000, Mw/Mn=1.63.


Table 4, Example 72

A 50 mL Ace Glass 8648 #15 Ace-Thred pressure tube equipped with bushing and plunger valve containing vinyl chloride (5 mL, 0.072 mol), solvent (o-DCB, 10 mL), initiator (propanoic acid, 2-iodo-2-methyl-4,4′-biphenylene ester 162 mg, 0.28 mmol), catalyst (copper, 72 mg, 1.12 mmol) and ligand (bpy, 350 mg, 2.2 mmol) was degassed by three freeze-vacuum pump-thaw cycles and filled with argon. The reaction mixture was slowly heated to 130° C. in an oil bath. After 20 hours, the tube was slowly cooled and excess vinyl chloride was allowed to boil off. Methylene chloride (10 mL) was added and the solution was precipitated into methanol, filtered and dried to yield 1.75 g (38%) of PVC, Mn=6,700, Mw/Mn=1.47.


Table 4, Example 74

A 50 mL Ace Glass 8648 #15 Ace-Thred pressure tube equipped with bushing and plunger valve containing vinyl chloride (5 mL, 0.072 mol), solvent (o-DCB, 10 mL), initiator (1,1,1-tris(4-(2-iodo-2-methylpropanoylphenyl))ethane 167 mg, 0.19 mmol), catalyst (copper, 72 mg, 1.12 mmol) and ligand (bpy, 350 mg, 2.2 mmol) was degassed by three freeze-vacuum pump-thaw cycles and filled with argon. The reaction mixture was slowly heated to 130° C. in an oil bath. After 70 hours, the tube was slowly cooled and excess vinyl chloride was allowed to boil off. Methylene chloride (10 mL) was added and the solution was precipitated into methanol, filtered and dried to yield 1.7 g (37%) of PVC, Mn=8,600, Mw/Mn=1.67.


Table 4, Example 75

A 50 mL Ace Glass 8648 #15 Ace-Thred pressure tube equipped with bushing and plunger valve containing vinyl chloride (5 mL, 0.072 mol), solvent (o-DCB, 10 mL), initiator (iodoperflorodecane 180 mg, 0.28 mmol), catalyst (copper, 25 mg, 0.56 mmol) and ligand (bpy, 175 mg, 1.1 mmol) was degassed by three freeze-vacuum pump-thaw cycles and filled with argon. The reaction mixture was slowly heated to 130° C. in an oil bath. After 20 hours, the tube was slowly cooled and excess vinyl chloride was allowed to boil off. Methylene chloride (10 mL) was added and the solution was precipitated into methanol, filtered and dried to yield 1.2 g (26%) of PVC, Mn=5,800, Mw/Mn=1.64.


Table 4, Example 78

A 50 mL Ace Glass 8648 #15 Ace-Thred pressure tube equipped with bushing and plunger valve containing vinyl chloride (5 mL, 0.072 mol), solvent (o-DCB, 10 mL), initiator (allyl iodide 47 mg, 0.28 mmol), catalyst (copper, 36 mg, 0.56 mmol) and ligand (bpy, 175 mg, 1.1 mmol) was degassed by three freeze-vacuum pump-thaw cycles and filled with argon. The reaction mixture was slowly heated to 130° C. in an oil bath. After 20 hours, the tube was slowly cooled and excess vinyl chloride was allowed to boil off. Methylene chloride (10 mL) was added and the solution was precipitated into methanol, filtered and dried to yield 1 g (22%) of PVC, Mn=6,800, Mw/Mn=1.72.


Table 4, Example 80

A 50 mL Ace Glass 8648 #15 Ace-Thred pressure tube equipped with bushing and plunger valve containing vinyl chloride (5 mL, 0.072 mol), solvent (o-DCB, 10 mL), initiator (iodoform, CHl3, 567 mg, 1.44 mmol), catalyst (copper, 138 mg, 2.11 mmol) and ligand (bpy, 675 mg, 4.3 mmol) was degassed by three freeze-vacuum pump-thaw cycles and filled with argon. The reaction mixture was slowly heated to 130° C. in an oil bath. After 20 hours, the tube was slowly cooled and excess vinyl chloride was allowed to boil off. Methylene chloride (10 mL) was added and the solution was precipitated into methanol, filtered and dried to yield 0.36 g (8%) of PVC, Mn=3.300, Mw/Mn=1.25.


Table 4, Example 80

A 50 mL Ace Glass 8648 #15 Ace-Thred pressure tube equipped with bushing and plunger valve containing vinyl chloride (5 mL, 0.072 mol), solvent (o-DCB, 10 mL), initiator (iodoform, CHl3, 190 mg, 0.48 mmol), catalyst (copper, 184 mg, 2.8 mmol) and ligand (bpy, 900 mg, 5.8 mmol) was degassed by three freeze-vacuum pump-thaw cycles and filled with argon. The reaction mixture was slowly heated to 130° C. in an oil bath. After 20 hours, the tube was slowly cooled and excess vinyl chloride was allowed to boil off. Methylene chloride (10 mL) was added and the solution was precipitated into methanol, filtered and dried to yield 1.45 g (33%) of PVC, Mn=6.100, Mw/Mn=1.65.


Table 4, Example 86

A 50 mL Ace Glass 8648 #15 Ace-Thred pressure tube equipped with bushing and plunger valve containing vinyl chloride (5 mL, 0.072 mol), solvent (o-DCB, 10 mL), initiator (iodoform, CHl3, 18.4 mg, 0.05 mmol), catalyst (copper, 36 mg, 0.56 mmol) and ligand (bpy, 175 mg, 1.12 mmol) was degassed by three freeze-vacuum pump-thaw cycles and filled with argon. The reaction mixture was slowly heated to 130° C. in an oil bath. After 20 hours, the tube was slowly cooled and excess vinyl chloride was allowed to boil off. Methylene chloride (10 mL) was added and the solution was precipitated into methanol, filtered and dried to yield 0.5 g (11%) of PVC, Mn=30,000, Mw/Mn=1.63.


Table 4, Example 88

A 50 mL Ace Glass 8648 #15 Ace-Thred pressure tube equipped with bushing and plunger valve containing vinyl chloride (5 mL, 0.072 mol), solvent (o-DCB, 10 mL), initiator (iodoform, CHl3, 9.2 mg, 0.02 mmol), catalyst (copper, 18 mg, 0.28 mmol) and ligand (bpy, 87 mg, 0.56 mmol) was degassed by three freeze-vacuum pump-thaw cycles and filled with argon. The reaction mixture was slowly heated to 130° C. in an oil bath. After 20 hours, the tube was slowly cooled and excess vinyl chloride was allowed to boil off. Methylene chloride (10 mL) was added and the solution was precipitated into methanol, filtered and dried to yield 0.34 g (8%) of PVC, Mn=45,000, Mw/Mn 1.59.


Table 4, Example 89

A 50 mL Ace Glass 8648 #15 Ace-Thred pressure tube equipped with bushing and plunger valve containing vinyl chloride (5 mL, 0.072 mol), solvent (o-DCB, 10 mL), initiator (iodoform, CHl3, 190 mg, 0.48 mmol), catalyst (copper, 23 mg, 0.36 mmol) and ligand (tris(2-aminoethyl)amine (TREN), 52 mg, 0.36 mmol) was degassed by three freeze-vacuum pump-thaw cycles and filled with argon. The reaction mixture was slowly heated to 130° C. in an oil bath. After 20 hours, the tube was slowly cooled and excess vinyl chloride was allowed to boil off. Methylene chloride (10 mL) was added and the solution was precipitated into methanol, filtered and dried to yield 0.45 g (10%) of PVC, Mn=5,000, Mw/Mn 1.58.


Table 4, Example 91

A 50 mL Ace Glass 8648 #15 Ace-Thred pressure tube equipped with bushing and plunger valve containing vinyl chloride (5 mL, 0.072 mol), solvent (o-DCB, 10 mL), initiator (carbon tetraiodide, Cl4, 37 mg, 0.07 mmol), catalyst (copper, 37 mg, 0.57 mmol) and ligand (bpy, 180 mg, 1.15 mmol) was degassed by three freeze-vacuum pump-thaw cycles and filled with argon. The reaction mixture was slowly heated to 130° C. in an oil bath. After 20 hours, the tube was slowly cooled and excess vinyl chloride was allowed to boil off. Methylene chloride (10 mL) was added and the solution was precipitated into methanol, filtered and dried to yield 0.29 g (7%) of PVC, Mn=17,400, Mw/Mn=1.52.


Table 4, Example 97

A 50 mL Ace Glass 8648 #15 Ace-Thred pressure tube equipped with bushing and plunger valve containing vinyl chloride (5 mL, 0.072 mol), initiator (1-iodo-1-chloroethane, 137 mg, 0.72 mmol), catalyst (copper, 92 mg, 1.44 mmol) and ligand (bpy, 450 mg, 2.88 mmol) was degassed by three freeze-vacuum pump-thaw cycles and filled with argon. The reaction mixture was slowly heated to 60° C. in an oil bath. After 20 hours, the tube was slowly cooled and excess vinyl chloride was allowed to boil off. Methylene chloride (10 mL) was added and the solution was precipitated into methanol, filtered and dried to yield 0.66 g (15%) of PVC, Mn=5,200, Mw/Mn=1.78.


Table 4, Example 98

A 50 mL Ace Glass 8648 #15 Ace-Thred pressure tube equipped with bushing and plunger valve containing vinyl chloride (5 mL, 0.072 mol), solvent (o-DCB, 2.5 mL) initiator (1-iodo-1-chloroethane, 137 mg, 0.72 mmol), catalyst (copper, 92 mg, 1.44 mmol) and ligand (bpy, 450 mg, 2.88 mmol) was degassed by three freeze-vacuum pump-thaw cycles and filled with argon. The reaction mixture was slowly heated to 60° C. in an oil bath. After 20 hours, the tube was slowly cooled and excess vinyl chloride was allowed to boil off. Methylene chloride (10 mL) was added and the solution was precipitated into methanol, filtered and dried to yield 1 g (22%) of PVC, Mn=5,600, Mw/Mn=1.77.


Table 4, Example 99

A 50 mL Ace Glass 8648 #15 Ace-Thred pressure tube equipped with bushing and plunger valve containing vinyl chloride (5 mL, 0.072 mol), solvent (o-DCB, 5 mL) initiator (1-iodo-1-chloroethane, 137 mg, 0.72 mmol), catalyst (copper, 92 mg, 1.44 mmol) and ligand (bpy, 450 mg, 2.88 mmol) was degassed by three freeze-vacuum pump-thaw cycles and filled with argon. The reaction mixture was slowly heated to 60° C. in an oil bath. After 20 hours, the tube was slowly cooled and excess vinyl chloride was allowed to boil off. Methylene chloride (10 mL) was added and the solution was precipitated into methanol, filtered and dried to yield 1.17 g (26%) of PVC, Mn=6,200, Mw/Mn=1.78.


Table 4, Example 100

A 50 mL Ace Glass 8648 #15 Ace-Thred pressure tube equipped with bushing and plunger valve containing vinyl chloride (5 mL, 0.072 mol), solvent (o-DCB, 5 mL) initiator (1-iodo-1-chloroethane, 137 mg, 0.72 mmol), catalyst (copper, 92 mg, 1.44 mmol) and ligand (bpy, 450 mg, 2.88 mmol) was degassed by three freeze-vacuum pump-thaw cycles and filled with argon. The reaction mixture was slowly heated to 60° C. in an oil bath. After 20 hours, the tube was slowly cooled and excess vinyl chloride was allowed to boil off. Methylene chloride (10 mL) was added and the solution was precipitated into methanol, filtered and dried to yield 0.63 g (14%) of PVC, Mn=6,500, Mw/Mn=1.69.


Table 4, Example 101

A 50 mL Ace Glass 8648 #15 Ace-Thred pressure tube equipped with bushing and plunger valve containing vinyl chloride (5 mL, 0.072 mol), initiator (1-iodo-1-chloroethane, 137 mg, 0.72 mmol), catalyst (copper, 92 mg, 1.44 mmol) and ligand (bpy, 450 mg, 2.88 mmol) was degassed by three freeze-vacuum pump-thaw cycles and filled with argon. The reaction mixture was slowly heated to 90° C. in an oil bath. After 20 hours, the tube was slowly cooled and excess vinyl chloride was allowed to boil off. Methylene chloride (10 mL) was added and the solution was precipitated into methanol, filtered and dried to yield 0.81 g (18%) of PVC, Mn=5,400, Mw/Mn=1.87.


Table 4, Example 104

A 50 mL Ace Glass 8648 #15 Ace-Thred pressure tube equipped with bushing and plunger valve containing vinyl chloride (5 mL, 0.072 mol), solvent (o-DCB, 5 mL) initiator (1-iodo-1-chloroethane, 137 mg, 0.72 mmol), catalyst (copper, 92 mg, 1.44 mmol) and ligand (bpy, 450 mg, 2.88 mmol) was degassed by three freeze-vacuum pump-thaw cycles and filled with argon. The reaction mixture was slowly heated to 90° C. in an oil bath. After 20 hours, the tube was slowly cooled and excess vinyl chloride was allowed to boil off. Methylene chloride (10 mL) was added and the solution was precipitated into methanol, filtered and dried to yield 0.63 g (14%) of PVC, Mn=6,500, Mw/Mn=1.69.


Table 4, Example 107

A 50 mL Ace Glass 8648 #15 Ace-Thred pressure tube equipped with bushing and plunger valve containing vinyl chloride (5 mL, 0.072 mol), solvent (o-DCB, 5 mL) initiator (1-iodo-1-chloroethane, 137 mg, 0.72 mmol), catalyst (copper, 92 mg, 1.44 mmol) and ligand (bpy, 450 mg, 2.88 mmol) was degassed by three freeze-vacuum pump-thaw cycles and filled with argon. The reaction mixture was slowly heated to 130° C. in an oil bath. After 20 hours, the tube was slowly cooled and excess vinyl chloride was allowed to boil off. Methylene chloride (10 mL) was added and the solution was precipitated into methanol, filtered and dried to yield 1.95 g (43%) of PVC, Mn=7,100, Mw/Mn=1.65.


Table 4, Example 109

A 50 mL Ace Glass 8648 #15 Ace-Thred pressure tube equipped with bushing and plunger valve containing vinyl chloride (5 mL, 0.072 mol), deionized water 8 mL), initiator (1-iodo-1-chloroethane, 137 mg, 0.72 mmol), catalyst (copper, 92 mg, 1.44 mmol), ligand (bpy, 450 mg, 2.88 mmol) and surfactant (CH3—(CH2)11—SO3Na, (NaDDS, sodium dodecylsulfate), 21 mg, 0.072 mmol) was degassed by three freeze-vacuum pump-thaw cycles and filled with argon. The reaction mixture was slowly heated to 90° C. in an oil bath. After 20 hours, the tube was slowly cooled and excess vinyl chloride was allowed to boil off. Methylene chloride (10 mL) was added and the mixture was precipitated into methanol, filtered and dried to yield 2.38 g (53%) of PVC, Mn=10,600, Mw/Mn=1.65.


Table 4, Example 110

A 50 mL Ace Glass 8648 #15 Ace-Thred pressure tube equipped with bushing and plunger valve containing vinyl chloride (5 mL, 0.072 mol), deionized water 8 mL), initiator (1-iodo-1-chloroethane, 137 mg, 0.72 mmol), catalyst (copper, 92 mg, 1.44 mmol), ligand (bpy, 450 mg, 2.88 mmol) and surfactant (CH3—(CH2)11—SO3Na, (NaDDS, sodium dodecylsulfate), 104 mg, 0.36 mmol) was degassed by three freeze-vacuum pump-thaw cycles and filled with argon. The reaction mixture was slowly heated to 90° C. in an oil bath. After 20 hours, the tube was slowly cooled and excess vinyl chloride was allowed to boil off. Methylene chloride (10 mL) was added and the mixture was precipitated into methanol, filtered and dried to yield 2.11 g (47%) of PVC, Mn=8,500, Mw/Mn=1.69.


Table 4, Example 111

A 50 mL Ace Glass 8648 #15 Ace-Thred pressure tube equipped with bushing and plunger valve containing vinyl chloride (5 mL, 0.072 mol), deionized water 8 mL), initiator (1-iodo-1-chloroethane, 137 mg, 0.72 mmol), catalyst (copper, 92 mg, 1.44 mmol), ligand (bpy, 450 mg, 2.88 mmol) and surfactant (CH3—(CH2)11—SO3Na, (NaDDS, sodium dodecylsulfate), 208 mg, 0.72 mmol) was degassed by three freeze-vacuum pump-thaw cycles and filled with argon. The reaction mixture was slowly heated to 90° C. in an oil bath. After 20 hours, the tube was slowly cooled and excess vinyl chloride was allowed to boil off. Methylene chloride (10 mL) was added and the mixture was precipitated into methanol, filtered and dried to yield 1.84 g (41%) of PVC, Mn=7,000, Mw/Mn=1.75.


Table 4, Example 112

A 50 mL Ace Glass 8648 #15 Ace-Thred pressure tube equipped with bushing and plunger valve containing vinyl chloride (5 mL, 0.072 mol), deionized water 8 mL), initiator (1-iodo-1-chloroethane, 137 mg, 0.72 mmol), catalyst (copper, 92 mg, 1.44 mmol), ligand (bpy, 450 mg, 2.88 mmol) and surfactant (CH3—(CH2)11—SO3Na, (NaDDS, sodium dodecylsulfate), 416 mg, 1.44 mmol) was degassed by three freeze-vacuum pump-thaw cycles and filled with argon. The reaction mixture was slowly heated to 90° C. in an oil bath. After 20 hours, the tube was slowly cooled and excess vinyl chloride was allowed to boil off. Methylene chloride (10 mL) was added and the mixture was precipitated into methanol, filtered and dried to yield 1.93 g (43%) of PVC, Mn=7,500, Mw/Mn=1.76.


Table 4, Example 112

A 50 mL Ace Glass 8648 #15 Ace-Thred pressure tube equipped with bushing and plunger valve containing vinyl chloride (5 mL, 0.072 mol), deionized water 8 mL), initiator (1-iodo-1-chloroethane, 137 mg, 0.72 mmol), catalyst (copper, 92 mg, 1.44 mmol), ligand (bpy, 450 mg, 2.88 mmol) and surfactant (CH3—(CH2)11—SO3Na, (NaDDS, sodium dodecylsulfate), 416 mg, 1.44 mmol) was degassed by three freeze-vacuum pump-thaw cycles and filled with argon. The reaction mixture was slowly heated to 90° C. in an oil bath. After 20 hours, the tube was slowly cooled and excess vinyl chloride was allowed to boil off. Methylene chloride (10 mL) was added and the mixture was precipitated into methanol, filtered and dried to yield 1.93 g (43%) of PVC, Mn=7,500, Mw/Mn=1.76.


Table 4, Example 113

A 50 mL Ace Glass 8648 #15 Ace-Thred pressure tube equipped with bushing and plunger valve containing vinyl chloride (5 mL, 0.072 mol), deionized water 8 mL), initiator (1-iodo-1-chloroethane, 137 mg, 0.72 mmol), catalyst (copper, 92 mg, 1.44 mmol), ligand (bpy, 450 mg, 2.88 mmol) and surfactant (CH3—(CH2)11—SO3Na, (NaDDS, sodium dodecylsulfate), 830 mg, 2.88 mmol) was degassed by three freeze-vacuum pump-thaw cycles and filled with argon. The reaction mixture was slowly heated to 90° C. in an oil bath. After 20 hours, the tube was slowly cooled and excess vinyl chloride was allowed to boil off. Methylene chloride (10 mL) was added and the mixture was precipitated into methanol, filtered and dried to yield 2.02 g (45%) of PVC, Mn=7,300, Mw/Mn=1.72.


Table 4, Example 114

A 50 mL Ace Glass 8648 #15 Ace-Thred pressure tube equipped with bushing and plunger valve containing vinyl chloride (5 mL, 0.072 mol), deionized water 8 mL), initiator (1-iodo-1-chloroethane, 137 mg, 0.72 mmol), catalyst (copper, 92 mg, 1.44 mmol), ligand (bpy, 450 mg, 2.88 mmol) and surfactant (CH3—(CH2)11—SO3Na, NaDDS, sodium dodecylsulfate), 104 mg, 0.36 mmol) was degassed by three freeze-vacuum pump-thaw cycles and filled with argon. The reaction mixture was slowly heated to 90° C. in an oil bath. After 1 hour, the tube was slowly cooled and excess vinyl chloride was allowed to boil off. Methylene chloride (10 mL) was added and the mixture was precipitated into methanol, filtered and dried to yield 1.35 g (30%) of PVC, Mn=4,700, Mw/Mn=1.67.


Table 4, Example 115

A 50 mL Ace Glass 8648 #15 Ace-Thred pressure tube equipped with bushing and plunger valve containing vinyl chloride (5 mL, 0.072 mol), deionized water 8 mL), initiator (1-iodo-1-chloroethane, 137 mg, 0.72 mmol), catalyst (copper, 92 mg, 1.44 mmol), ligand (bpy, 450 mg, 2.88 mmol) and surfactant (CH3—(CH2)11—SO3Na, (NaDDS, sodium dodecylsulfate), 104 mg, 0.36 mmol) was degassed by three freeze-vacuum pump-thaw cycles and filled with argon. The reaction mixture was slowly heated to 90° C. in an oil bath. After 2 hours, the tube was slowly cooled and excess vinyl chloride was allowed to boil off. Methylene chloride (10 mL) was added and the mixture was precipitated into methanol, filtered and dried to yield 1.49 g (34%) of PVC, Mn=6,200, Mw/Mn=1.71.


Table 4. Example 116

A 50 mL Ace Glass 8648 #15 Ace-Thred pressure tube equipped with bushing and plunger valve containing vinyl chloride (5 mL, 0.072 mol), deionized water 8 mL), initiator (1-iodo-1-chloroethane, 137 mg, 0.72 mmol), catalyst (copper, 92 mg, 1.44 mmol), ligand (bpy, 450 mg, 2.88 mmol) and surfactant (CH3—(CH2)11—SO3Na, (NaDDS, sodium dodecylsulfate), 104 mg, 0.36 mmol) was degassed by three freeze-vacuum pump-thaw cycles and filled with argon. The reaction mixture was slowly heated to 90° C. in an oil bath. After 4 hours, the tube was slowly cooled and excess vinyl chloride was allowed to boil off. Methylene chloride (10 mL) was added and the mixture was precipitated into methanol, filtered and dried to yield 1.98 g (44%) of PVC, Mn=7,100, Mw/Mn=1.76.


Table 4, Example 117

A 50 mL Ace Glass 8648 #15 Ace-Thred pressure tube equipped with bushing and plunger valve containing vinyl chloride (5 mL, 0.072 mol), deionized water 8 mL), initiator (1-iodo-1-chloroethane, 137 mg, 0.72 mmol), catalyst (copper, 92 mg, 1.44 mmol), ligand (bpy, 450 mg, 2.88 mmol) and surfactant (CH3—(CH2)11—SO3Na, NaDDS, sodium dodecylsulfate), 104 mg, 0.36 mmol) was degassed by three freeze-vacuum pump-thaw cycles and filled with argon. The reaction mixture was slowly heated to 90° C. in an oil bath. After 8 hours, the tube was slowly cooled and excess vinyl chloride was allowed to boil off. Methylene chloride (10 mL) was added and the mixture was precipitated into methanol, filtered and dried to yield 1.98 g (44%) of PVC, Mn=8,500, Mw/Mn=1.73.


Table 4, Example 118

A 50 mL Ace Glass 0.8648#15 Ace-Thred pressure tube equipped with bushing and plunger valve containing vinyl chloride (5 mL, 0.072 mol), solvent (o-DCB, 10 mL), initiator (α,α′-diiodo-p-xylene, 25 mg, 0.07 mmol), catalyst (copper, 36 mg, 0.56 mmol) and ligand (bpy, 175 mg, 1.12 mmol) was degassed by three freeze-vacuum pump-thaw cycles and filled with argon. The reaction mixture was slowly heated to 130° C. in an oil bath. After 20 hours, the tube was slowly cooled and excess vinyl chloride was allowed to boil off. Methylene chloride (10 mL) was added and the solution was precipitated into methanol, filtered and dried to yield 1.57 g (35%) of PVC, Mn=7,900, Mw/Mn=1.61.


Table 4, Example 119

A 50 mL Ace Glass 8648 #15 Ace-Thred pressure tube equipped with bushing and plunger valve containing vinyl chloride (5 mL, 0.072 mol), solvent (o-DCB, 10 mL), initiator (α,α′-diiodo-p-xylene, 200 mg, 0.56 mmol), catalyst (copper, 143 mg, 2.24 mmol) and ligand (bpy, 700 mg, 4.48 mmol) was degassed by three freeze-vacuum pump-thaw cycles and filled with argon. The reaction mixture was slowly heated to 130° C. in an oil bath. After 20 hours, the tube was slowly cooled and excess vinyl chloride was allowed to boil off. Methylene chloride (10 mL) was added and the solution was precipitated into methanol, filtered and dried to yield 1.48 g (31%) of PVC, Mn=10,300, Mw/Mn=1.58.


Table 4, Example 120

A 50 mL Ace Glass 8648 #15 Ace-Thred pressure tube equipped with bushing and plunger valve containing vinyl chloride (5 mL, 0.072 mol), solvent (ethylene carbonate, 13.2 g, 10 mL), initiator (α,α′-diiodo-p-xylene, 100 mg, 0.28 mmol), catalyst (copper, 72 mg, 1.12 mmol) and ligand (bpy, 250 mg, 2.21 mmol) was degassed by three freeze-vacuum pump-thaw cycles and filled with argon. The reaction mixture was slowly heated to 130° C. in an oil bath. After 20 hours, the tube was slowly cooled and excess vinyl chloride was allowed to boil off. Methylene chloride (10 mL) was added and the solution was precipitated into methanol, filtered and dried to yield 0.85 g (19%) of PVC, Mn=8,400, Mw/Mn=1.56.


Table 4, Example 121

A 50 mL Ace Glass 8648 #15 Ace-Thred pressure tube equipped with bushing and plunger valve containing vinyl chloride (5 mL, 0.072 mol), solvent (o-DCB, 10 mL), initiator (α,α′-diiodo-p-xylene, 50 mg, 0.14 mmol), catalyst (copper, 36 mg, 0.56 mmol) and ligand (tris[2-(dimethylamino)ethyl]amine (Me6-TREN) 128 mg, 0.56 mmol) was degassed by three freeze-vacuum pump-thaw cycles and filled with argon. The reaction mixture was slowly heated to 130° C. in an oil bath. After 20 hours, the tube was slowly cooled and excess vinyl chloride was allowed to boil off. Methylene chloride (10 mL) was added and the solution was precipitated into methanol, filtered and dried to yield 0.63 g (19%) of PVC, Mn=3,000, Mw/Mn=1.80.


Table 4, Example 122

A 50 mL Ace Glass 8648 #15 Ace-Thred pressure tube equipped with bushing and plunger valve containing vinyl chloride (5 mL, 0.072 mol), solvent (o-DCB, 10 mL), initiator (′,α′-diiodo-p-xylene, 50 mg, 0.14 mmol), catalyst (copper, 36 mg, 0.56 mmol) and (tris(2-aminoethyl)amine (TREN), 164 mg, 1.12 mmol) was degassed by three freeze-vacuum pump-thaw cycles and filled with argon. The reaction mixture was slowly heated to 130° C. in an oil bath. After 20 hours, the tube was slowly cooled and excess vinyl chloride was allowed to boil off. Methylene chloride (10 mL) was added and the mixture was precipitated into methanol, filtered and dried to yield 1.66 g (37%) of PVC.


Table 4, Example 123

A 50 mL Ace Glass 8648 #15 Ace-Thred pressure tube equipped with bushing and plunger valve containing vinyl chloride (5 mL, 0.072 mol), solvent (dimethylsulfoxide, DMSO, 10 mL), initiator (α,α′-diiodo-p-xylene, 50 mg, 0.14 mmol), catalyst (copper, 36 mg, 0.56 mmol) and ligand (bpy, 175 mg, 1.12 mmol) was degassed by three freeze-vacuum pump-thaw cycles and filled with argon. The reaction mixture was slowly heated to 130° C. in an oil bath. After 20 hours, the tube was slowly cooled and excess vinyl chloride was allowed to boil off. Methylene chloride (10 mL) was added and the solution was precipitated into methanol, filtered and dried to yield 0.22 g (5%) of PVC, Mn=3,100, Mw/Mn=2.05.


Table 4, Example 124

A 50 mL Ace Glass 8648 #15 Ace-Thred pressure tube equipped with bushing and plunger valve containing vinyl chloride (5 mL, 0.072 mol), solvent (dimethylformamide, DMF, 10 mL), initiator (α,α′-diiodo-p-xylene, 100 mg, 0.28 mmol), catalyst (copper, 72 mg, 1.12 mmol) and ligand (bpy, 350 mg, 2.24 mmol) was degassed by three freeze-vacuum pump-thaw cycles and filled with argon. The reaction mixture was slowly heated to 130° C. in an oil bath. After 22 hours, the tube was slowly cooled and excess vinyl chloride was allowed to boil off. Methylene chloride (10 mL) was added and the solution was precipitated into methanol, filtered and dried to yield 0.8 g (18%) of PVC, Mn=6,100, Mw/Mn=2.02.


Table 4, Example 125

A 50 mL Ace Glass 8648 #15 Ace-Thred pressure tube equipped with bushing and plunger valve containing vinyl chloride (5 mL, 0.072 mol), solvent (o-DCB, 10 mL), initiator (α,α′-diiodo-p-xylene, 100 mg, 0.28 mmol), catalyst (copper, 72 mg, 1.12 mmol) and ligand (bpy, 350 mg, 2.24 mmol) was degassed by three freeze-vacuum pump-thaw cycles and filled with argon. The reaction mixture was slowly heated to 130° C. in an oil bath. After 1 hour, the tube was slowly cooled and excess vinyl chloride was allowed to boil off. Methylene chloride (10 mL) was added and the solution was precipitated into methanol, filtered and dried to yield 0.07 g (1.5%) of PVC, Mn=1,100, Mw/Mn=1.98.


Table 4, Example 126

A 50 mL Ace Glass 8648 #15 Ace-Thred pressure tube equipped with bushing and plunger valve containing vinyl chloride (5 mL, 0.072 mol), solvent (o-DCB, 10 mL), initiator (α,α′-diiodo-p-xylene, 100 mg, 0.28 mmol), catalyst (copper, 72 mg, 1.12 mmol) and ligand (bpy, 350 mg, 2.24 mmol) was degassed by three freeze-vacuum pump-thaw cycles and filled with argon. The reaction mixture was slowly heated to 130° C. in an oil bath. After 2 hours, the tube was slowly cooled and excess vinyl chloride was allowed to boil off. Methylene chloride (10 mL) was added and the solution was precipitated into methanol, filtered and dried to yield 0.3 g (6.6%) of PVC, Mn=4,100, Mw/Mn=1.68.


Table 4, Example 127

A 50 mL Ace Glass 8648 #15 Ace-Thred pressure tube equipped with bushing and plunger valve containing vinyl chloride (5 mL, 0.072 mol), solvent (o-DCB, 10 mL), initiator (α,α′-diiodo-p-xylene, 100 mg, 0.28 mmol), catalyst (copper, 72 mg, 1.12 mmol) and ligand (bpy, 350 mg, 2.24 mmol) was degassed by three freeze-vacuum pump-thaw cycles and filled with argon. The reaction mixture was slowly heated to 130° C. in an oil bath. After 4 hours, the tube was slowly cooled and excess vinyl chloride was allowed to boil off. Methylene chloride (10 mL) was added and the solution was precipitated into methanol, filtered and dried to yield 0.46 g (11%) of PVC, Mn=7,600, Mw/Mn=1.48.


Table 4, Example 128

A 50 mL Ace Glass 8648 #15 Ace-Thred pressure tube equipped with bushing and plunger valve containing vinyl chloride (5 mL, 0.072 mol), solvent (o-DCB, 10 mL), initiator (α,α′-diiodo-p-xylene, 100 mg, 0.28 mmol), catalyst (copper, 72 mg, 1.12 mmol) and ligand (bpy, 350 mg, 2.24 mmol) was degassed by three freeze-vacuum pump-thaw cycles and filled with argon. The reaction mixture was slowly heated to 130° C. in an oil bath. After 7 hours, the tube was slowly cooled and excess vinyl chloride was allowed to boil off. Methylene chloride (10 mL) was added and the solution was precipitated into methanol, filtered and dried to yield 0.61 g (13.5%) of PVC, Mn=8,300, Mw/Mn=1.46.


Table 4, Example 129

A 50 mL Ace Glass 8648 #15 Ace-Thred pressure tube equipped with bushing and plunger valve containing vinyl chloride (5 mL, 0.072 mol), solvent (o-DCB, 10 mL), initiator (α,α′-diiodo-p-xylene, 100 mg, 0.28 mmol), catalyst (copper, 72 mg, 1.12 mmol) and ligand (bpy, 350 mg, 2.24 mmol) was degassed by three freeze-vacuum pump-thaw cycles and filled with argon. The reaction mixture was slowly heated to 130° C. in an oil bath. After 13 hours, the tube was slowly cooled and excess vinyl chloride was allowed to boil off. Methylene chloride (10 mL) was added and the solution was precipitated into methanol, filtered and dried to yield 0.78 g (17.5%) of PVC, Mn=10,400, Mw/Mn=1.48.


Table 4, Example 130

A 50 mL Ace Glass 8648 #15 Ace-Thred pressure tube equipped with bushing and plunger valve containing vinyl chloride (5 mL, 0.072 mol), solvent (o-DCB, 10 mL), initiator (α,α′-diiodo-p-xylene, 50 mg, 0.14 mmol), catalyst (copper, 36 mg, 0.56 mmol) and ligand (bpy, 175 mg, 1.12 mmol) was degassed by three freeze-vacuum pump-thaw cycles and filled with argon. The reaction mixture was slowly heated to 130° C. in an oil bath. After 2 hours, the tube was slowly cooled and excess vinyl chloride was allowed to boil off. Methylene chloride (10 mL) was added and the solution was precipitated into methanol, filtered and dried to yield 0.1 g (2.2%) of PVC, Mn=2.100, Mw/Mn=2.10.


Table 4, Example 131

A 50 mL Ace Glass 8648 #15 Ace-Thred pressure tube equipped with bushing and plunger valve containing vinyl chloride (5 mL, 0.072 mol), solvent (o-DCB, 10 mL), initiator (α,α′-diiodo-p-xylene, 50 mg, 0.14 mmol), catalyst (copper, 36 mg, 0.56 mmol) and ligand (bpy, 175 mg, 1.12 mmol) was degassed by three freeze-vacuum pump-thaw cycles and filled with argon. The reaction mixture was slowly heated to 130° C. in an oil bath. After 5 hours, the tube was slowly cooled and excess vinyl chloride was allowed to boil off. Methylene chloride (10 mL) was added and the solution was precipitated into methanol, filtered and dried to yield 0.34 g·(7.5%) of PVC, Mn=7,000, Mw/Mn=1.49.


Table 4, Example 132

A 50 mL Ace Glass 8648 #15 Ace-Thred pressure tube equipped with bushing and plunger valve containing vinyl chloride (5 mL, 0.072 mol), solvent (o-DCB, 10 mL), initiator (α,α′-diiodo-p-xylene, 50 mg, 0.14 mmol), catalyst (copper, 36 mg, 0.56 mmol) and ligand (bpy, 175 mg, 1.12 mmol) was degassed by three freeze-vacuum pump-thaw cycles and filled with argon. The reaction mixture was slowly heated to 130° C. in an oil bath. After 11 hours, the tube was slowly cooled and excess vinyl chloride was allowed to boil off. Methylene chloride (10 mL) was added and the solution was precipitated into methanol, filtered and dried to yield 0.49 g (11%) of PVC, Mn=11,000, Mw/Mn=1.45.


Table 4, Example 133

A 50 mL Ace Glass 8648 #15 Ace-Thred pressure tube equipped with bushing and plunger valve containing vinyl chloride (5 mL, 0.072 mol), solvent (o-DCB, 10 mL), initiator (α,α∝-diiodo-p-xylene, 50 mg, 0.14 mmol), catalyst (copper, 36 mg, 0.56 mmol) ligand (bpy, 175 mg, 1.12 mmol) and additive (Al′Bu3, 0.26 mL 1M in tolene, 0.26 mmol) was degassed by three freeze-vacuum pump-thaw cycles and filled with argon. The reaction mixture was slowly heated to 130° C. in an oil bath. After 20 hours, the tube was slowly cooled and excess vinyl chloride was allowed to boil off. Methylene chloride (10 mL) was added and the solution was precipitated into methanol, filtered and dried to yield 0.9 g (20%) of PVC, Mn=12,700, Mw/Mn=1.59.


Table 4, Example 134

A 50 mL Ace Glass 8648 #15 Ace-Thred pressure tube equipped with bushing and plunger valve containing vinyl chloride (5 mL, 0.072 mol), solvent (o-DCB, 10 mL), initiator (α,α′-diiodo-p-xylene, 50 mg, 0.14 mmol), catalyst (copper, 72 mg, 1.12 mmol) and ligand (bpy, 175 mg, 1.12 mmol) was degassed by three freeze-vacuum pump-thaw cycles and filled with argon. The reaction mixture was slowly heated to 130° C. in an oil bath. After 21 hours, the tube was slowly cooled and excess vinyl chloride was allowed to boil off. Methylene chloride (10 mL) was added and the solution was precipitated into methanol, filtered and dried to yield 0.95 g (21%) of PVC, Mn=29,600, Mw/Mn=1.89.


Table 4, Example 135

A 50 mL Ace Glass 8648 #15 Ace-Thred pressure tube equipped with bushing and plunger valve containing vinyl chloride (5 mL, 0.072 mol), solvent (o-DCB, 10 mL), initiator (α,α′-diiodo-p-xylene, 50 mg, 0.14 mmol), catalyst (copper, 144 mg, 2.24 mmol) and ligand (bpy, 175 mg, 1.12 mmol) was degassed by three freeze-vacuum pump-thaw cycles and filled with argon. The reaction mixture was slowly heated to 130° C. in an oil bath. After 21 hours, the tube was slowly cooled and excess vinyl chloride was allowed to boil off. Methylene chloride (10 mL) was added and the mixture was precipitated into methanol, filtered and dried to yield 1.9 g (42%) of PVC.


Table 4, Example 136

A 50 mL Ace Glass 8648 #15 Ace-Thred pressure tube equipped with bushing and plunger valve containing vinyl chloride (5 mL, 0.072 mol), solvent (o-DCB, 10 mL), initiator (α,α′-diiodo-p-xylene, 25 mg, 0.07 mmol), catalyst (copper, 18 mg, 0.28 mmol), ligand (bpy, 88 mg, 0.56 mmol) and additive (2,6-di-′butylpyridine, 115 mg, 0.56 mmol) was degassed by three freeze-vacuum pump-thaw cycles and filled with argon. The reaction mixture was slowly heated to 130° C. in an oil bath. After 21 hours, the tube was slowly cooled and excess vinyl chloride was allowed to boil off. Methylene chloride (10 mL) was added and the solution was precipitated into methanol, filtered and dried to yield 0.4 g (9%) of PVC, Mn=29,600, Mw/Mn=1.89.


Table 4, Example 139

A 50 mL Ace Glass 8648 #15 Ace-Thred pressure tube equipped with bushing and plunger valve containing vinyl chloride (5 mL, 0.072 mol), solvent (o-DCB, 10 mL), initiator (α,α′-dithiocyanato-p-xylene, 62 mg, 0.28 mmol), catalyst (copper, 72 mg, 1.12 mmol) and ligand (bpy, 350 mg, 2.24 mmol) was degassed by three freeze-vacuum pump-thaw cycles and filled with argon. The reaction mixture was slowly heated to 130° C. in an oil bath. After 20 hours, the tube was slowly cooled and excess vinyl chloride was allowed to boil off. Methylene chloride (10 mL) was added and the solution was precipitated into methanol, filtered and dried to yield 1.2 g (26%) of PVC, Mn=11,000, Mw/Mn=3.14.


Table 5, Example 140

A 50 mL Ace Glass 8648 #15 Ace-Th red pressure tube equipped with bushing and plunger valve containing vinyl chloride (5 mL, 0.072 mol), solvent (xylene, 10 mL), initiator (ethyl 2-bromoisobutyrate, 111 mg, 0.56 mmol), catalyst (aluminium, 20 mg, 0.74 mmol) and ligand (bpy, 100 mg, 0.64 mmol) was degassed by three freeze-vacuum pump-thaw cycles and filled with argon. The reaction mixture was slowly heated to 90° C. in an oil bath. After 17 hours, the tube was slowly cooled and excess vinyl chloride was allowed to boil off. Methylene chloride (10 mL) was added and the solution was precipitated into methanol, filtered and dried to yield 0.31 g (7%) of PVC, Mn=8,200, Mw/Mn=1.61.


Table 5, Example 141

A 50 mL Ace Glass 8648 #15 Ace-Thred pressure tube equipped with bushing and plunger valve containing vinyl chloride (5 mL, 0.072 mol), solvent (o-DCB, 10 mL), initiator (ethyl 2-bromoisobutyrate, 111 mg, 0.56 mmol) and catalyst (triisobutylaluminium, Al′Bu3, 0.64 mL 1 M in toluene, 0.64 mmol) was degassed by three freeze-vacuum pump-thaw cycles and filled with argon. The reaction mixture was slowly heated to 90° C. in an oil bath. After 19 hours, the tube was slowly cooled and excess vinyl chloride was allowed to boil off. Methylene chloride (10 mL) was added and the solution was precipitated into methanol, filtered and dried to yield 1.35 g (30%) of PVC, Mn=8,200, Mw/Mn=1.61.


Table 5. Example 142

A 50 mL Ace Glass 8648 #15 Ace-Thred pressure tube equipped with bushing and plunger valve containing vinyl chloride (5 mL, 0.072 mol), solvent (o-DCB, 10 mL), initiator (ethyl 2-bromoisobutyrate, 111 mg, 0.56 mmol), catalyst (cadmium, 76 mg, 0.68 mmol) and ligand (bpy, 100 mg, 0.64 mmol) was degassed by three freeze-vacuum pump-thaw cycles and filled with argon. The reaction mixture was slowly heated to 90° C. in an oil bath. After 22 hours, the tube was slowly cooled and excess vinyl chloride was allowed to boil off. Methylene chloride (10 mL) was added and the solution was precipitated into methanol, filtered and dried to yield 0.6 g (14%) of PVC, Mn=14,100, Mw/Mn=1.65.


Table 5, Example 143

A 50 mL Ace Glass 8648 #15 Ace-Thred pressure tube equipped with bushing and plunger valve containing vinyl chloride (5 mL, 0.072 mol), solvent (dioxane, 10 mL), initiator (ethyl 2-bromoisobutyrate, 111 mg, 0.56 mmol), catalyst (samarium, 102 mg, 0.68 mmol) and ligand (bpy, 150 mg, 0.96 mmol) was degassed by three freeze-vacuum pump-thaw cycles and filled with argon. The reaction mixture was slowly heated to 90° C. in an oil bath. After 19 hours, the tube was slowly cooled and excess vinyl chloride was allowed to boil off. Methylene chloride (10 mL) was added and the solution was precipitated into methanol, filtered and dried to yield 0.49 g (11%) of PVC, Mn=11,400, Mw/Mn=1.64.


Table 4, Example 144

A 50 mL Ace Glass 8648 #15 Ace-Thred pressure tube equipped with bushing and plunger valve containing vinyl chloride (5 mL, 0.072 mol), solvent (o-DCB, 10 mL), initiator (ethyl 2-bromoisobutyrate, 111 mg, 0.56 mmol), catalyst (zinc, 45 mg, 0.69 mmol) and ligand (bpy, 200 mg, 0.96 mmol) was degassed by three freeze-vacuum pump-thaw cycles and filled with argon. The reaction mixture was slowly heated to 90° C. in an oil bath. After 20 hours, the tube was slowly cooled and excess vinyl chloride was allowed to boil off. Methylene chloride (10 mL) was added and the solution was precipitated into methanol, filtered and dried to yield 0.49 g (11%) of PVC, Mn=11,400, Mw/Mn=1.64.


Table 4, Example 145

A 50 mL Ace Glass 8648 #15 Ace-Thred pressure tube equipped with bushing and plunger valve containing vinyl chloride (5 mL, 0.072 mol), solvent (o-DCB, 10 mL), initiator (1-chloro-cyanoethane, 111 mg, 0.56 mmol) and catalyst (chromium hexacarbonyl Cr(CO)6, 150 mg, 0.68 mmol) was degassed by three freeze-vacuum pump-thaw cycles and filled with argon. The reaction mixture was slowly heated to 90° C. in an oil bath. After 20 hours, the tube was slowly cooled and excess vinyl chloride was allowed to boil off. Methylene chloride (10 mL) was added and the solution was precipitated into methanol, filtered and dried to yield 0.4 g (9%) of PVC, Mn=18,400, Mw/Mn=1.57.


Table 6, Example 154

A 50 mL Ace Glass 8648 #15 Ace-Thred pressure tube equipped with bushing and plunger valve containing vinyl chloride (5 mL, 0.072 mol), deionized water 10 mL), initiator (1-iodo-1-chloroethane, 137 mg, 0.72 mmol), catalyst (copper, 92 mg, 1.44 mmol), ligand (TREN, 421 mg, 2.88 mmol) and surfactant (CH3—(CH2)11—SO3Na, NaDDS, sodium dodecylsulfate), 104 mg, 0.36 mmol) was degassed by three freeze-vacuum pump-thaw cycles and filled with argon. The reaction mixture was stirred at 20° C. in an oil bath. After 20 hours, the tube was slowly opened and excess vinyl chloride was allowed to boil off. THF (10 mL) was added and the mixture was precipitated into methanol, filtered and dried to yield 4.3 g (95%) of PVC, Mn=13,200, Mw/Mn=1.54.


Table 6, Example 218

A 50 mL Ace Glass 8648 #15 Ace-Thred pressure tube equipped with bushing and plunger valve containing vinyl chloride (5 mL, 0.072 mol), deionized water 6 mL and THF 4 mL), initiator (iodoform, 284 mg, 0.72 mmol), catalyst (copper telluride, 367 mg, 1.44 mmol), ligand (TREN, 421 mg, 2.88 mmol) and surfactant (CH3—(CH2)11—SO3Na, NaDDS, sodium dodecylsulfate), 63 mg, 0.21 mmol) was degassed by three freeze-vacuum pump-thaw cycles and filled with argon. The reaction mixture was stirred at 20° C. in an oil bath. After 14 hours, the tube was slowly opened and excess vinyl chloride was allowed to boil off. THF (10 mL) was added and the mixture was precipitated into methanol, filtered and dried to yield 4.5 g (99%) of PVC, Mn=11,600, Mw/Mn=1.53.


Examples of Preparation of the Chlorine Containing Polymer Utilizing a Non-Metallic Catalyst

Materials. Vinyl chloride (VC, 99%) was provided by OxyVinyls. Iodoform (99%), and sodium dithionate (85%) were purchased from Lancaster. Chloroform (99%), and bromoform (99%) were purchased from ACROS Organics. Tetrahydrofuran (THF, 99%), methylene chloride (99.5%), and methanol (99.8%) were purchased from Fisher Scientific. Alcotex® 72.5 was purchased from Harlow Chemical Co., UK. Methocel® F50 was purchased from the Dow Chemical Company. All other chemicals were purchased from Aldrich and used as received.


Techniques. 1H- and 13C-NMR spectra were recorded on a Bruker DRX500 at 20° C. in CDCl3 or CD2Cl2 with tetramethylsilane (TMS) as internal standard. GPC analysis was performed on a Perkin-Elmer Series 10 high-pressure liquid chromatograph equipped with an LC-100 column oven (22° C.), a Nelson Analytical 900 Series integrator data station, a Perkin-Elmer 785A UV-Vis Detector (254 nm), a Varian Star 4090 RI detector and 2 AM gel (10 μm, 500 Å and 10 μm, 104 Å) columns. Number and weight-average molecular weights were determined against polystyrene standards and were corrected using the Universal Calibration with the following Mark-Houwink parameters for PVC: K=1.50×10−2 mL/g, a=0.77.


The polymerizations reported were performed as follows unless otherwise noted: a 50 mL Ace Glass 8648 #15 Ace-Thred pressure tube equipped with bushing and plunger valve was charged with 9 ml of a previously degassed appropriate mixture of water and THF then filled with argon, closed and frozen using MeOH/dry ice. The initiator (0.22 mmol), catalyst (0.43 mmol), buffer (4.8 mmol), optional additive and precondensed VC (3 mL, 0.043 mol) were then added. The exact amount of VC is determined gravimetrically after the reaction. The tube was closed and degassed through the plunger valve by applying reduced pressure and backfilling the tube with Argon 15 times at −40° C. The valve was closed and the reaction mixture was stirred in a water bath at 25° C.±0.5° C., behind a protective shield. After the specified reaction time the tube was slowly opened. The excess of VC was allowed to evaporate and the mixture was poured into MeOH (150 mL). The polymer was ground mechanically, recovered by filtration, then dried in a vacuum oven to a constant weight. The conversion was determined gravimetrically. The kinetic plots were constructed from individual experiments, as sampling of the reaction is not possible.


The samples used for spectral analysis were precipitated twice from THF or CH2Cl2 solutions in MeOH and dried under vacuum.


A number of polymerization reactions were produced in accordance with the above description. Selected examples from the Tables 1-8 are presented below.


Table 7. Example 14

A 50 mL Ace Glass 8648 #15 Ace-Thred pressure tube equipped with bushing and plunger valve was charged with a previously degassed mixture of water (6 mL) and THF (3 mL), then filled with argon, closed and frozen using MeOH/dry ice. Then, the initiator (CHl3, 85.5 mg, 0.22 mmol), catalyst (Na2S2O4, 75.6 mg, 0.43 mmol), buffer (NaHCO3, 40.1 mg, 0.48 mmol), and precondensed VC (3 mL, 0.043 mol) were added. The exact amount of VC was determined gravimetrically after the reaction. The tube was closed and degassed through the plunger valve by applying reduced pressure and filling the tube with Ar 15 times at −40° C. The valve was closed and the reaction mixture was stirred in a water bath at 25° C.±0.5° C., behind a protective shield. After 33 h, the tube was slowly opened and the excess of VC was allowed to evaporate and the mixture was poured into MeOH (150 mL). The polymer was ground mechanically, recovered by filtration and dried in a vacuum oven to constant weight to give 1.78 g (66.1%) PVC, Mn=8,195; Mw/Mn=1.465.


Table 8, Example 44

A 50 mL Ace Glass 8648 #15 Ace-Thred pressure tube equipped with bushing and plunger valve was charged with Brij® 98 (6,3 mg 5.5 μmol), a previously degassed mixture of water and THF (volume ratio 7/3, 9 mL), then filled with argon, closed and frozen using MeOH/dry ice. The initiator (CHl3, 85.5 mg, 0.22 mmol), catalyst (Na2S2O4, 75.6 mg, 0.43 mmol), buffer (NaHCO3, 40.1 mg, 0.48 mmol), and precondensed VC (3 mL, 0.043 mol) were then added. The exact amount of VC is determined gravimetrically after the reaction. The tube was closed and degassed through the plunger valve by applying reduced pressure and filling the tube with Ar 15 times at −40° C. The valve was closed and the reaction mixture was stirred in a water bath at 25° C.±0.5° C. behind a protective shield. After 44 h, the tube was slowly opened and the excess of VC was allowed to evaporate and the mixture was poured into MeOH (150 mL). The polymer was ground mechanically, recovered by filtration and dried in a vacuum oven to constant weight to give 2.16 g (72.18%) PVC, Mn=9,325; Mw/Mn=1.487.


Table 9, Example 73

A 50 mL Ace Glass 8648 #15 Ace-Thred pressure tube equipped with bushing and plunger valve was charged with Brij® 98 (6,3 mg 5.5 μmol), a previously degassed mixture of water and THF (volume ratio 7/3, 9 mL), then filled with argon, closed and frozen using MeOH/dry ice. The initiator (CHl3, 85.5 mg, 0.22 mmol), catalyst (Na2S2O4, 75.6 mg, 0.43 mmol), buffer (NaHCO3, 40.1 mg, 0.48 mmol), optional electron shuttle (OV2+, 0.2 mg, 0.39 μmol), and precondensed VC (3 mL, 0.043 mol) were then added. The exact amount of VC was determined gravimetrically after the reaction. The tube was closed and degassed through the plunger valve by applying reduced pressure and filling the tube with Ar 15 times at −40° C. The valve was closed and the reaction mixture was stirred in a water bath at 25° C.±0.5° C. behind a protective shield. After 66 h, the tube was slowly opened and the excess of VC was allowed to evaporate and the mixture was poured into MeOH (150 mL). The polymer was ground mechanically, recovered by filtration and dried in a vacuum oven to constant weight to give 2.50 g (83.22%) PVC, Mn=10,455; Mw/Mn=1.592.


Table 10, Example 100

A 50 mL Ace Glass 8648 #15 Ace-Thred pressure tube equipped with bushing and plunger valve was charged with Brij® 98 (6,3 mg 5.5 μmol), a previously degassed mixture of water and THF (volume ratio 2/1, 9 mL), then filled with argon, closed and frozen using MeOH/dry ice. The initiator (CHl3, 85.5 mg, 0.22 mmol), catalyst (Na2S2O4, 75.6 mg, 0.43 mmol), buffer (NaHCO3, 40.1 mg, 0.48 mmol), optional electron shuttle (MV2+, 0.1 mg, 0.39 mmol), and precondensed VC (3 mL, 0.043 mol) were then added. The exact amount of VC was determined gravimetrically after the reaction. The tube was closed and degassed through the plunger valve by applying reduced pressure and filling the tube with Ar 15 times at −40° C. The valve was closed and the reaction mixture was stirred in a water bath at 25° C.±0.5° C. behind a protective shield. After 24 h, the tube was slowly opened and the excess of VC was allowed to evaporate and the mixture was poured into MeOH (150 mL). The polymer was ground mechanically, recovered by filtration and dried in a vacuum oven to constant weight to give 2.28 g (75.90%) PVC, Mn=10,174; Mw/Mn=1.516.


Table 11, Example 106

A 50 mL Ace Glass 8648 #15 Ace-Thred pressure tube equipped with bushing and plunger valve was charged with a previously degassed mixture of water (6 mL) and THF (3 mL), then filled with argon, closed and frozen using MeOH/dry ice. The initiator (CHBr3, 26.2 mg, 0.22 mmol), catalyst (Na2S2O8, 102.4 mg, 0.43 mmol and HCOONa, 29.2 mg, 0.43 mmol), buffer (NaHCO3, 40.1 mg, 0.48 mmol), and precondensed VC (3 mL, 0.043 mol) were then added. The exact amount of VC was determined gravimetrically after the reaction. The tube was closed and degassed through the plunger valve by applying reduced pressure and filling the tube with Ar 15 times at −40° C. The valve was closed and the reaction mixture was stirred in a water bath at 25° C.±0.5° C. behind a protective shield. After 120 h, the tube was slowly opened and the excess of VC was allowed to evaporate and the mixture was poured into MeOH (150 mL). The polymer was ground mechanically, recovered by filtration and dried in a vacuum oven to constant weight to give 1.61 g (53.74%) PVC, Mn=8,593; Mw/Mn=1.968.


Table 12, Example 110

A 50 mL Ace Glass 8648 #15 Ace-Thred pressure tube equipped with bushing and plunger valve was charged with a previously degassed mixture of water (6 mL) and THF (3 mL), then filled with argon, closed and frozen using MeOH/dry ice. The initiator (CHCl3, 26.2 mg, 0.22 mmol), catalyst (Na2S2O8, 102.4 mg, 0.43 mmol and HCOONa, 29.2 mg, 0.43 mmol), buffer (NaHCO3, 40.1 mg, 0.48 mmol), and precondensed VC (3 mL, 0.043 mol) were then added. The exact amount of VC was determined gravimetrically after the reaction. The tube was closed and degassed through the plunger valve by applying reduced pressure and filling the tube with Ar 15 times at −40° C. The valve was closed and the reaction mixture was stirred in a water bath at 25° C.±0.5° C. behind a protective shield. After 96 h, the tube was slowly opened, the excess of VC was allowed to evaporate and the mixture was poured into MeOH (150 mL). The polymer was ground mechanically, recovered by filtration and dried in a vacuum oven to constant weight to give 1.78 g (58.15%) PVC, Mn=8,854; Mw/Mn=2.154.


Table 13, Example 116

A 50 mL Ace Glass 8648 #15 Ace-Thred pressure tube equipped with bushing and plunger valve was charged with a previously degassed mixture of water and THF (volume ratio 7/3, 9 mL), then filled with argon, closed and frozen using MeOH/dry ice. The initiator (CHl3, 85.5 mg, 0.22 mmol), catalyst (H2NC(═NH)SO2H, 46.9 mg, 0.43 mmol), buffer (NaHCO3, 80.2 mg, 0.95 mmol), optional electron shuttle (OV2+, 0.2 mg, 0.39 μmol), and precondensed VC (3 mL, 0.043 mol) were then added. The exact amount of VC was determined gravimetrically after the reaction. The tube was closed and degassed through the plunger valve by applying reduced pressure and filling the tube with Ar 15 times at −40° C. The valve was closed and the reaction mixture was stirred in a water bath at 25° C.±0.5° C. behind a protective shield. After 68 h, the tube was slowly opened and the excess of VC was allowed to evaporate and the mixture was poured into MeOH (150 mL). The polymer was ground mechanically, recovered by filtration and dried in a vacuum oven to constant weight to give 1.65 g (69.87%) PVC, Mn=7,119; Mw/Mn=1.489.


Table 14, Example 126

A 50 mL Ace Glass 8648 #15 Ace-Thred pressure tube equipped with bushing and plunger valve was charged with a previously degassed mixture of water and THF (volume ratio 7/3, 9 mL), then filled with argon, closed and frozen using MeOH/dry ice. The initiator (CHl3, 85.5 mg, 0.22 mmol), catalyst (Na2S2O4, 75.6 mg, 0.43 mmol), buffer (NaHCO3, 40.1 mg, 0.48 mmol), optional electron shuttle (OV2+, 0.2 mg, 0.39 mmol) and optional additive (Nal, 263 mg, 1.76 mmol), and precondensed VC (3 mL, 0.043 mol) were then added. The exact amount of VC was determined gravimetrically after the reaction. The tube was closed and degassed through the plunger valve by applying reduced pressure and filling the tube with Ar 15 times at −40° C. The valve was closed and the reaction mixture was stirred in a water bath at 25° C.±0.5° C. behind a protective shield. After 66 h, the tube was slowly opened and the excess of VC was allowed to evaporate and the mixture was poured into MeOH (150 mL). The polymer was ground mechanically, recovered by filtration and dried in a vacuum oven to constant weight to give 2.10 g (69.87%) PVC, Mn=8,915; Mw/Mn=1.445.

Claims
  • 1. A polymeric composition comprising: a vinyl halide polymer derived from a living radical polymerization of vinyl halide monomer in the presence of: an initiator; a metal-free catalyst; and optionally, a buffer, an electron shuttle, a surfactant and a solvent or water.
  • 2. A polymeric composition according to claim 1, wherein said vinyl halide monomer is one or more of vinyl chloride, vinylidene chloride or 2-chloropropene.
  • 3. A polymeric composition according to claim 2, wherein said initiator is a halogen containing initiator and said initiator contains one or more of a mono, di, tri or polyfunctional α,α-dihaloalkane, α,α,α-trihaloalkane, a perhaloalkane, a perfluoroalkyl halide, a polyfluoroalkyl halide, a benzyl halide, an allyl halide, a sulfonyl halide, an α-haloester, an α-halonitrile, an α-haloketone, an imidylhalide, or combinations thereof.
  • 4. A polymeric composition according to claim 3, wherein said halogen is one or more of chlorine, bromine, or iodine, and said initiator is present in an amount from about 5000 to about 1 moles of halide containing monomer per mole of initiating group.
  • 5. A polymeric composition according to claim 4, wherein said initiator is iodoform, 1-chloro-1-iodoetane, or 1-iodoperfluoroalkane.
  • 6. A polymeric composition according to claim 3, wherein said catalyst is a non-metal reducing, single electron transfer species.
  • 7. A polymeric composition according to claim 5, wherein said catalyst is a SO2-containing compound, or a polydialkylamino-substituted unsaturated organic compound, and said catalyst contains one or more of Na2S2O4, H2NC(═NH)SO2H, HOCH2SO2Na, HOCH2SO3Na, Na2SO3, Na2S2O5, Na2S2O3, CH3SO2Na, C6H5SO2Na, p-CH3C6H4SO2Na, (Me2N)2C═C(NMe2)21 or combinations thereof.
  • 8. A polymeric composition according to claim 6, wherein said catalyst is present in an amount of from about 0.01 to about 4 moles per mole of initiating group in the initiator, and said catalyst is sodium dithionite or formamidinesulfinic acid.
  • 9. A polymeric composition according to claim 1, including said buffer, wherein said buffer includes one or more of NaHCO3, Na2HPO4, NaH2PO4, CH3COONa, KHCO3, K2HPO4, KH2PO4, CH3COOK, NH4HCO3, (NH4)2HPO4, NH4H2PO4, CH3COONH4 or combinations thereof, and said buffer is present in an amount from about 0.1 to about 5 moles of buffer per mole of catalyst.
  • 10. A polymeric composition according to claim 1, further including a comonomer, wherein said comonomer is a monomer known to copolymerize with vinyl chloride via a radical mechanism and said comonomer is one or more of acrylates, vinylidene halides, methacrylates, acrylonitrile, methacrylonitrile, vinyl halides, 2-haloalkenes, styrenes, acrylamide, methacrylamide, vinyl ketones, N-vinylpyrrolidinone, vinyl acetate, maleic acid esters or combinations thereof, and said comonomer is present in an amount of from about 1% up to about 99%.
  • 11. A polymeric composition according to claim 10, wherein said comonomer is vinylidene chloride, 2-chloropropene, acrylonitrile, acrylic acid esters or maleic acid esters and said comonomer is present in an amount from about 1% to about 99%.
  • 12. A polymeric composition according to claim 1 comprising vinyl chloride, an initiator containing one or more of a mono, di, tri or polyfunctional α,α-dihaloalkanes, α,α,α-trihaloalkanes, perhaloalkanes, perfluoroalkyl halides, polyfluoroalkyl halides, α-haloesters, α-halonitriles, α-haloketones, imidyl halides, and a catalyst containing one or more of a SO2-containing compound or an Na2S2O4, H2NC(═NH)SO2H, HOCH2SO2Na, HOCH2SO3Na, Na2SO3, Na2S2O5, Na2S2O3, CH3SO2Na, C6H5SO2Na, p-CH3C6H4SO2Na, one or more of polydialkylamino-substituted unsaturated organic compound or an (Me2N)2C═C(NMe2)2 or combinations thereof.
  • 13. A polymeric composition according to claim 6, including said electron shuttle, wherein said electron shuttle is a 1,1′-dialkyl-4,4′-bipyridinium dihalide.
  • 14. A polymeric composition according to claim 13, wherein said electron shuttle is on or more of 1,1′-dimethyl-4,4′-bipyridinium dichloride, 1,1′-di-n-octyl-4,4′-bipyridinium dibromide, or combinations thereof, and said electron shuttle is present it an amount from about 0.00001 to about 1 mole of shuttle per mole of catalyst.
  • 15. A polymeric composition according to claim 13, including said surfactant, wherein said surfactant is on or more of sodium dodecylsulfate, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, 72.5% hydrolyzed polyvinyl acetate, polyoxyethylene (10) oleyl ether, polyoxyethylene (20) oleyl ether, or combinations thereof, and said surfactant is present in an amount from about 10 to about 5000 parts per million w/w relative to halide containing monomer.
  • 16. A polymeric composition according to claim 1, wherein said initiator contains one or more of a mono, di, tri or polyfunctional α-α-α-trihaloalkane, a perhaloalkane, a perfluoroalkyl halide, a polyfluoroalkyl halide, a benzyl halide, an allyl halide, a sulfonyl halide, an α-haloester, an α-halonitrile, an α-haloketone, an imidylhalide, or combinations thereof; said catalyst is a SO2-containing compound or a polydialkylamino-substituted unsaturated organic compound; said buffer is on or more of NaHCO3, Na2HPO4, NaH2PO4, CH3COONa, KHCO3, K2HPO4, KH2PO4, CH3COOK, NH4HCO3, (NH4)2HPO4, NH4H2PO4, CH3COONH4, or combinations thereof; said electron shuttle is a 1,1′-dialkyl-4,4′-bipyrridinium dihalide; and said surfactant is one or more of sodium dodecylsulfate, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, 72.5% hydrolyzed polyvinyl acetate, polyoxyethylene (10) oleyl ether, polyoxyethylene (20) oleyl ether, or combinations thereof.
  • 17. A polymeric composition according to claim 4, wherein said halogen containing initiator is part of a polymer chain, including the chain ends of the said polymer.
  • 18. A composition according to claim 1, wherein the molecular weight distribution of said composition is from about ≦2.0 down to about ≦1.5.
  • 19. A composition according to claim 18, wherein said molecular weight distribution is from about ≦1.5 down to about ≦1.1.
  • 20. A polymeric composition comprising: a copolymer derived from a living radical polymerization of vinyl halide monomer or a structurally-related derivative and a comonomer known to copolymerize with vinyl chloride via a radical mechanism in the presence of: an initiator; a metal-free catalyst; and optionally, a buffer, an electron shuttle, a surfactant, and a solvent or water.
  • 21. A composition according to claim 20, wherein said initiator is a halogen-containing initiator and said initiator contains one or more of a mono, di, tri or polyfunctional α,α-dihaloalkane, α,α,α-trihaloalkane, a perhaloalkane, a perfloroalkyl halide, a benzyl halide, an allyl halide, a sulfonyl halide, an α-haloester, an α-halonitrile, an α-haloketone, an imidylhalide, or combinations thereof.
  • 22. A composition according to claim 21, wherein said halogen is one or more of chlorine, bromine, or iodine, and said initiator is present in an amount from about 5000 to about 1 moles of halide-containing monomer per mole of initiating group.
  • 23. A composition according to claim 22, wherein said initiator is iodoform, 1-chloro-1-iodoetane, or 1-iodoperfluoroalkene.
  • 24. A composition according to claim 21, wherein said catalyst is a non-metal reducing, single electron transfer species.
  • 25. A composition according to claim 21, wherein said catalyst is sodium dithionite or formamidinesulfinic acid, said catalyst is present in an amount from about 0.01 to about 4 moles per mole of initiating group in the initiator, and said vinyl halide monomer is vinyl chloride.
  • 26. A composition according to claim 24, including said buffer, wherein said buffer includes one or more of NaHCO3, Na2HPO4, NaH2PO4, CH3COONa, KHCO3, K2HPO4, KH2PO4, CH3COOK, NH4HCO3, (NH4)2HPO4, NH4H2PO4, CH3COONH4 or combinations thereof, and said buffer is present in an amount from about 0.1 to about 5 moles of buffer per mole of catalyst.
  • 27. A composition according to claim 20, further comprising a comonomer, wherein said comonomer is an acrylate, a vinylidene halide, a 2-haloalkene, a methacrylate, an acrylonitrile, a methacrylonitrile, a vinyl halide, a styrene, an acrylamide, a methacrylamide, a vinyl ketone, an N-vinylpyrrolidinone, a vinyl acetate, a maleic acid ester, or combinations thereof, and said comonomer is present in an amount of from about 1% up to about 99%.
  • 28. A composition according to claim 27, wherein said comonomer is vinylidene chloride, acrylonitrile, 2-chloropropene, acrylic acid esters and maleic acid esters.
  • 29. A composition according to claim 24, including said electron shuttle, wherein said electron shuttle is a 1,1′-dialkyl-4,4′-bipyridinium dihalide.
  • 30. A composition according to claim 29, wherein said electron shuttle is one or more of 1,1′-dimethyl-4,4′-bipyridinium dichloride, 1,1′-d-n-octyl-4,4′-bipyridinium dibromide, or combinations thereof, and said electron shuttle is present in an amount from about 0.00001 to about 1 mole of shuttle per mole of catalyst.
  • 31. A composition according to claim 24, including said surfactant, wherein said surfactant is on or more of sodium dodecylsulfate, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, 72.5% hydrolyzed polyvinyl acetate, polyoxyethylene (10) oleyl ether, polyoxyethylene (20) oleyl ether, or combinations thereof, and said surfactant is present in an amount from about 10 to about 5000 parts per million w/w relative to halide containing monomer.
  • 32. A composition according to claim 20, comprising vinyl chloride, an initiator containing one or more of a mono, di, tri or polyfunctional α,α-dihaloalkane, α,α,α-trihaloalkane, a perhaloalkane, a perfloroalkyl halide, a benzyl halide, an allyl halide, a sulfonyl halide, an α-haloester, an α-halonitrile, an α-haloketone, an imidylhalide, or combinations thereof, a catalyst containing one or more of an SO2-containing compound or a polydialkylamino-substituted unsaturated organic compound, or combinations thereof; a buffer containing one or more of NaHCO3, Na2HPO4, NaH2PO4, CH3COONa, KHCO3, K2HPO4, KH2PO4, CH3COOK, NH4HCO3, (NH4)2HPO4, NH4H2PO4, CH3COONH4 or combinations thereof; an electron shuttle which is a 1,1′-dialkyl-4,4′-bipyridinium dihalide; and a surfactant which is one or more of sodium dodecylsulfate, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, 72.5% hydrolyzed polyvinyl acetate, polyoxyethylene (10) oleyl ether, polyoxyethylene (20) oleyl ether, or combinations thereof.
  • 33. A composition according to claim 25, wherein the molecular weight distribution of said composition is from about ≦2.0 down to about ≦1.5.
  • 34. A polymeric composition comprising: a vinyl halide polymer derive from a radical polymerization of vinyl halide monomer in the presence of: an initiator; a catalyst containing a CO2 radical anion-forming species; and optionally, a buffer, a surfactant and a solvent or water.
  • 35. A polymeric composition according to claim 34, wherein said vinyl halide monomer is one or more of vinyl chloride, vinylidene chloride or 2-chloropropene.
  • 36. A polymeric composition according to claim 34, wherein said initiator is a halogen containing initiator and said initiator contains one or more of a mono, di, tri or polyfunctional α,α-dihaloalkane, α,α,α-trihaloalkane, a perhaloalkane, a perfluoroalkyl halide, a polyfluoroalkyl halide, a benzyl halide, an allyl halide, a sulfonyl halide, an α-haloester, an α-halonitrile, an α-haloketone, an imidylhalide, or combinations thereof.
  • 37. A polymeric composition according to claim 36, wherein said halogen is one or more of chlorine or bromine, and said initiator is present in an amount from about 5000 to about 1 moles of halide containing monomer per mole of initiating group.
  • 38. A polymeric composition according to claim 37, wherein said initiator is bromoform, chloroform, carbon tetrabromide or carbon tetrachloride.
  • 39. A polymeric composition according to claim 38, wherein said catalyst is present in an amount of from about 0.01 to about 4 moles per mole of initiating group in the initiator, and said catalyst is alkali metal or ammonium persulfate and alkali metal or ammonium formate in the ratio 1:1.
  • 40. A polymeric composition according to claim 39, wherein said alkali metal is one or more of sodium or potassium.
  • 41. A polymeric composition according to claim 34, including said buffer includes one or more of NaHCO3, Na2HPO4, NaH2PO4, CH3COONa, KHCO3, K2HPO4, KH2PO4, CH3COOK, NH4HCO3, (NH4)2HPO4, NH4H2PO4, CH3COONH4 or combinations thereof, and said buffer is present in an amount from about 0.1 to about 5 moles of buffer per mole of catalyst.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation in part of related application Ser. No. 09/893,201 filed Jun. 27, 2001, pending which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application 60/278,114 filed Mar. 23, 2001.

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Related Publications (1)
Number Date Country
20030078353 A1 Apr 2003 US
Provisional Applications (1)
Number Date Country
60278114 Mar 2001 US
Continuation in Parts (1)
Number Date Country
Parent 09893201 Jun 2001 US
Child 10179584 US