Synthesis and characterization of syndiotactic 3,4-polyisoprene prepared with diethylbis(2,2′-bipyridine)iron–MAO

• Published in: Polymer (Guilford) Vol. 45; no. 9; pp. 2871 - 2875
• Main Authors: Bazzini, Cristina, Giarrusso, Antonino, Porri, Lido, Pirozzi, Beniamino, Napolitano, Roberto
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01-04-2004; Elsevier
• Subjects: 3,4 Syndiotactic polyisoprene; Applied sciences; Exact sciences and technology; Iron-based catalysts; Isoprene; Organic polymers; Physicochemistry of polymers; Polymerization; Preparation, kinetics, thermodynamics, mechanism and catalysts; 3,4 Syndiotactic polyisoprene; Iron-based catalysts; Isoprene; Temperature effect; Complex catalyst polymerization; Complex catalyst; Experimental study; Syndiotactic polymer; Stereoregulation; Iron complex; Reaction mechanism; Stereospecificity; Aluminium Organic compounds; Stereospecific polymerization; Catalyst activity; Isoprene polymer
• ISSN: 0032-3861; 1873-2291
• DOI: 10.1016/j.polymer.2004.02.042

The soluble system diethylbis(2,2′-bipyridine)Fe–MAO is very active for the polymerization of isoprene to predominantly 3,4 polymers (ca. 80%). The polymers obtained at 25 °C are amorphous by X-ray examination, while those obtained below 10 °C are crystalline. The identity period determined from the X-ray fiber spectrum, ca. 5.2
Å, and the NMR analysis show that the polymer contains stereoregular sequences of 3,4 syndiotactic structure. An interpretation is given of the effect of polymerization temperature on stereospecificity. Some differences between the 1,2 polymerization of butadiene and the 3,4 polymerization of isoprene are examined.