Synthesis of New Polymer Ionomers via Ring-Opening Metathesis Polymerization ()
1. Introduction
The ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) of fluorinated norbornenes using classical metathesis catalysts is well established [1] [2] . Furthermore, the presence of fluorine containing moieties in the polynorbornene dicarboximide structures becomes important for their gas transport properties due to an increase of the interactions between the gases and the polar fluorinated moieties as well as in the free volume which in turns facilitates the diffusion of the gas molecules through the polymer [3] [4] . The pentafluorophenyl moieties also provide the possibility of further modifications. They are highly reactive towards the nucleophilic aromatic substitutions and multiblock copolymers have been successfully prepared by a polycondensation reaction between fluorinated oligomers and hydroxyl-terminated telechelics [5] .
In the present study, norbornene copolymers containing fluorinated dicarboxylic imide side moieties were prepared through ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) using bis(tricyclohexylphosphine) benzylidene ruthenium(IV) dichloride (I) and tricyclohexylphosphine [1,3-bis(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)-4,5-dihydroimidazol- 2-ylidene] [benzylidene] ruthenium dichloride (II).
On the other hand, we reported the synthesis and ionic transport performance of a ionic polynorbornene dicarboximide [6] [7] , therefore we have envisioned the synthesis of high molecular weight polymers, their homogenous post-hydrogenations and even further sulfonations to obtain new polymeric ionomers.
2. Experimental Part
2.1. Techniques
1H NMR, 13C NMR and 19F NMR spectra were recorded on a Varian spectrometer at 300, 75 and 300 MHz, respectively, in deuterated chloroform CDCl3, N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF-d7) and dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO- d6). Tetramethylsilane (TMS) and trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) were used as internal standards, respectively. Glass transition temperatures, Tg, were determined in a DSC-7 Perkin Elmer Inc., at scanning rate of 10˚C/min under nitrogen atmosphere. The samples were encapsulated in standard aluminum DSC pans. Each sample was run twice on the temperature range between 30˚C and 300˚C under nitrogen atmosphere. The Tg values obtained were confirmed by TMA from the first heating cycle conducted at a rate of 10˚C/min under nitrogen atmosphere with a TA Instruments Thermomechanical Analyzer TMA 2940. Onset of decomposition temperature, Td, was determined using thermogravimetric analysis, TGA, which was performed at a heating rate of 10˚C/min under nitrogen atmosphere with a DuPont 2100 instrument. FT-IR spectra were obtained on a Thermo Nicolet 6700 spectrometer. Molecular weights and molecular weight distributions were determined with reference to polystyrene standards on a Waters 2695 ALLIANCE GPC at 35˚C in tetrahydrofuran using a universal column and a flow rate of 0.5 mL∙min−1. X-ray diffraction measurements of copolymer films as cast were carried out in a Siemens D-5000 diffractometer between 4 and 70 degrees 2θ, at 35 KV 25 mA, using CuKα radiation (1.54 Å). Tapping mode atomic force microscopy (TM-AFM) was performed in air using a Scanning Probe Microscope Jeol JSPM-4210 with a NSC12 mmasch needle. The samples were imaged at ambient conditions.
2.2. Reagents
Norbornene-5,6-dicarboxylic anhydride (NDA) was prepared via Diels-Alder condensation of cyclopentadiene and maleic anhydride according to literature [6] . 2,3,4,5,6-Pentafluoroaniline, aniline, phenol and sodium 4-hy- droxybenzenesulfonate dihydrate were purchased from Aldrich Chemical Co. and used without further purification. 1,2-Dichloroethane, dichloromethane, p-dioxane, toluene and N,N-dimethylacetamide were dried over anhydrous calcium chloride and distilled over CaH2. Bis(tricyclohexylphosphine) benzylidene ruthenium(IV) dichloride (I) and ClRh(PPh3)3 were purchased from Aldrich Chemical Co. and used as received.
2.3. Synthesis and Characterization of Exo(90%)-Endo(10%) Monomer Mixture of N-Pentafluorophenyl-norbornene-5,6-dicarboximide (2a)
Monomer 2a was synthesized according to the general methodology previously described for the synthesis of aliphatic and aromatic norbornene dicarboximides [8] . Thus, 2,3,4,5,6-pentafluoroaniline reacted with NDA to the corresponding amic acid which was cyclized to imide using acetic anhydride as dehydrating agent (Scheme 1) NDA ( 5.0 g , 30.5 mmol) was dissolved in 40 mL of CH2Cl2. An amount of 5.58 g (30.5 mmol) of 2,3,4,5,6- pentafluoroaniline in 20 mL of CH2Cl2 was added dropwise to the stirred solution of NDA. The mixture was boiled for 3 h and then cooled to room temperature. Solvent removal gave a white solid of amic acid. The obtained amic acid 1a ( 10.3 g , 29.7 mmol), anhydrous sodium acetate ( 2.50 g , 30.47 mmol) and acetic anhydride ( 21.0 g , 205.7 mmol) were heated at 80˚C for 24 h. The mixture was washed with dilute HCl and ex-tracted into ether. The ether layer was washed with dilute HCl, saturated NaHCO3 and H2O. Solvent was evapo-
Scheme 1. Synthesis of N-pentafluorophenyl- and N-phenyl-exo-endo-norbornene-5,6-dicarboximide, 2a and 2b, respectively.
rated and pure monomer 2a was obtained after twice recrystallization from hexane and dried in a vacuum oven at 50˚C overnight: yield = 75%; m.p. = 112˚C - 113˚C; 1H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl3), d (ppm) = 6.36 (1H, s), 6.25 (1H, s), 3.53 (1H, s), 3.42 (1H, s), 2.96 (2H, s), 1.70 - 1.54 (2H, m); 13C NMR (75 MHz, CDCl3): d (ppm) = 174.7 (C=O), 147.8 - 139.6 (C-F), 137.8 (C=C), 134.4 (C=C), 107.1 (C-N), 52.1, 48.4, 45.8, 45.6, 42.9; 19F NMR (300 MHz, CDCl3, ref. TFA [−77 ppm]): d (ppm) = −142.2, −142.4, −150.1, −150.6, −160.1, −160.4; FT-IR (KBr, cm−1): 3076, 2949 (C-H asym str), 2880 (C-H sym str), 1782 (C=O), 1724 (C=O), 1644 (C=C str), 1519, 1356, 1299 (C-F), 1172, 1157, 984, 793.
2.4. Synthesis and Characterization of Exo(90%)-Endo(10%) Monomer Mixture N-phenyl-norbornene-5,6-dicarboximide) (2b)
Monomer 2b was synthesized according to literature (Scheme 1) [8] [9] . NDA ( 5 g , 30.5 mmol) was dissolved in 50 mL of toluene. An amount of 2.8 g (30.1 mmol) of aniline in 10 mL of toluene was added dropwise to the stirred solution of NDA. The reaction was maintained at 50˚C for 3 h. A precipitate was filtered and dried to give 7.6 g (29.5 mmol) of amic acid 1b. The amic acid obtained ( 7.6 g , 29.5 mmol), anhydrous sodium acetate ( 3.0 g , 36 mmol) and acetic anhydride ( 21 g , 212 mmol) were heated at 90˚C for 6 h and then cooled. The solid crystallized on cooling was filtered, washed several times with water and dried in a vacuum oven at 50˚C overnight. Pure monomer 2b was obtained after twice recrystallization from toluene: yield = 81%; m.p. = 195˚C - 196˚C; 1H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl3), d (ppm) = 7.49 - 7.25 (5H, m), 6.33 (2H, s), 6.24 (2H, s), 3.38 (2H, s), 2.84 (2H, s), 1.62 - 1.46 (2H, m); 13C NMR (75 MHZ, CDCl3): d (ppm) = 176.8 (C=O), 137.8 (C=C), 134.4, 131.7 (C-N), 129.0, 128.4, 126.2, 47.7, 45,7, 42.8; FT-IR (KBr, cm−1): 3064, 2946 (C-H asym str), 2877 (C-H sym str), 1770 (C=O), 1594 (C=C str), 1454 (C-N), 1382, 1329, 1289, 1188, 975, 799.
2.5. Metathesis Copolymerization of Monomers
Copolymerizations were carried out in glass vials under dry nitrogen atmosphere. They were inhibited by adding a small amount of ethyl vinyl ether and the solutions were poured into an excess of methanol. The copolymers were purified by solubilization in chloroform containing a few drops of 1 N HCl and precipitation into methanol. The obtained copolymers were dried in a vacuum oven at 40˚C to constant weight.
2.5.1. Synthesis of Random Poly(N-pentafluorophenyl-norbornene-5,6-dicarboximide-Co-N- phenyl-norbornene-5,6-dicarboximide) (3)
Monomer 2a ( 0.50 g , 1.51 mmol) and monomer 2b ( 0.36 g , 1.51 mmol) were initially dissolved in 4.34 mL of 1,2-dichloroethane. Then catalyst I (2.49 × 10−3 g, 0.0030 mmol) was added and the mixture was stirred at 65˚C for 2 h (Scheme 2). The obtained copolymer 3 was soluble in chloroform and dichloroethane: Incorporation of 2a in copolymer = 48 mol%; Mn = 2.85 × 105; Mw/Mn = 1.22; Tg = 205˚C; Td = 425˚C; 1H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl3): d (ppm) = 7.45 - 7.23 (5H, m), 5.78 (2H, s, trans), 5.56 (2H, s, cis), 3.23 - 3.15 (4H, s), 2.87 (4H, s), 2.21 (2H, s), 1.73 (2H, s); 13C NMR (75 MHz, CDCl3): d (ppm) = 177.0 (C=O), 174.8 (C=O), 145.1-139.6 (C-F), 136.2 (cis), 131.7 (trans), 129.0, 126.3, 107.2, 50.9, 46.1, 41.6; 19F NMR (300 MHz, CDCl3, ref. TFA [-77ppm]): d (ppm) = −142.1, −142.5, −143.1, −150.0, −150.4, −159.7, −160.0; FT-IR (thin film, cm−1): 3018, 2923 (C-H asym str), 2853 (C-H sym str), 1777 (C = O), 1706 (C = O), 1598 (C = C str), 1514, 1455 (C-N), 1356, 1297 (C-F), 1165, 1139, 1066, 1021, 985, 880, 785, 768, 746, 690.
2.5.2. Synthesis of Block Poly(N-pentafluorophenyl-norbornene-5,6-dicarboximide-Co-N- phenyl-norbornene-5,6-dicarboximide) (4)
Monomer 2b ( 0.36 g , 1.51 mmol) and catalyst I (2.49 × 10−3 g, 0.0030 mmol) were stirred in 2.17 mL of 1,2- dichloroethane at 65˚C for 0.33 h. Then, 0.50 g (1.51 mmol) of monomer 2a dissolved in 2.17 mL of 1,2- dichloroethane was added to the polymer solution and stirred at 65˚C for 0.66 h (Scheme 2). The obtained copolymer 4 was soluble in chloroform and dichloroethane: Incorporation of 2a in copolymer = 32 mol%; Mn = 2.60 × 105; Mw/Mn = 1.15; Tg1 = 170˚C; Tg2 = 224˚C; Td = 424˚C; 1H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl3): d (ppm) = 7.44 - 7.24 (5H, m), 5.77 (2H, s, trans), 5.55 (2H, s, cis), 3.25 - 3.14 (4H, s), 2.87 (4H, s), 2.20 (2H, s), 1.68 (2H, s); 13 C NMR (75 MHz, CDCl3): d (ppm) = 177.1 (C=O), 174.7 (C=O), 144.9 - 139.4 (C-F), 132.1 (cis), 131.9 (trans), 129.0, 126.6, 107.5 (C-N), 50.9, 46.1, 41.7; 19F NMR (300 MHz, CDCl3, ref. TFA [−77ppm]): d (ppm) = −142.2, −142.7, −143.2, −150.0, −150.3, −159.7, −160.0, −160.7; FT-IR (thin film, cm−1): 3022, 2925 (C-H asym str), 2838 (C-H sym str), 1774 (C=O), 1707 (C=O), 1588 (C=C str), 1517, 1455 (C-N), 1360, 1299 (C-F), 1167, 1022, 988, 746, 690.
2.6. Hydrogenation of Block poly(N-pentafluorophenyl-norbornene-5,6-dicarboximide- Co-N-phenyl-norbornene-5,6-dicarboximide) (5)
0.5 g of 4 was added to 60 mL of solvent (dichloromethane-p-dioxane, 1:1) in a Schlenk tube. The catalyst (5 wt%) was previously introduced into a Parr shaker reactor. The solution was degassed and charged into the reactor under N2. Then hydrogen was added. A 99% of hydrogenation, determined by 1H NMR, for 5 was
Scheme 2.Synthesis of polynorbornene based copolymers via ROMP.
achieved using a Wilkinson’s catalyst, ClRh(PPh3)3, at room temperature and 115 bar (Scheme 3). The obtained polymer 5 was soluble in chloroform and dichloromethane. Tg1 = 143˚C; Tg2 = 198˚C; Td = 460˚C; 1H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl3): d (ppm) = 7.48 - 7.23 (5H, m), 3.03 - 2.93 (2H, m), 2.17, 1.89, 1.60, 1.23; 13 C NMR (75 MHZ, CDCl3): d (ppm) = 177.9 (C=O), 175.6 (C=O), 144.7-139.1 (C-F), 131.8, 128.9, 128.3, 126.4, 107.4 (C-N), 51.9, 44.0, 42.1, 33.7; 19F NMR (300 MHz, CDCl3, ref. TFA [−77ppm]): d (ppm) = −142.2, −143.1, −150.2, −150.3, −159.8, −160.2; FT-IR (thin film, cm−1): 2923 (C-H asym str), 2846 (C-H sym str), 1779 (C = O), 1706 (C = O), 1517, 1456 (C-N), 1359, 1299, (C-F), 1168, 1036, 988.
2.7. Sulfonation of Hydrogenated block poly(N-pentafluorophenyl-norbornene-5,6- dicarboximide-Co-N-phenyl-norbornene-5,6-dicarboximide) (6)
Hydrogenated poly(N-pentafluorophenyl-exo-endo-norbornene-5,6-dicarboximide-co-N-phenyl-exo-endo-norbornene-
5,6-dicarboximide) (5) ( 1.0 g , 1.74 mmol), sodium 4-hydroxybenzenesulfonate dihydrate ( 0.61 g , 2.62 mmol) and potassium carbonate ( 0.44 g , 3.18 mmol) were mixed in a round flask equipped with a Dean-Stark trap and stirred in 22 mL of solvent (N,N-dimethylacetamide-toluene, 10:1) at 120˚C for 5 h (Scheme 3). Progressive precipitation overtime was observed. The product was then filtered off, washed several times with distilled water and dried in a vacuum oven at 40˚C overnight. The resulting polymer 6, a pale-brown powder, was soluble in DMF and DMSO. Yield: 96%; Tg1 = 198˚C; Tg2 = 227˚C; Td1 = 272˚C (sulfonic group loss); Td2 = 458˚C (main chain decomposition); 1H NMR (300 MHz, DMF-d7): d (ppm) = 7.81 (2H, m), 7.53 - 7.34 (5H, m), 7.27 (2H, m), 3.65 (2H, s), 3.09, 2.24, 1.90, 1.65, 1.28; 13 C NMR (75 MHZ, DMSO-d6): d (ppm) = 178.2 (C=O), 177.9 (C = O), 127.9 (C-O), 114.9, 107.5 (C-N), 51.6; 19 F NMR (300 MHz, DMF-d7, ref. TFA [−77 ppm]): d (ppm) = −141.9, −142.9, −150.0, −153.1, −160.4; FT-IR (thin film, cm−1): 3420, 2923 (C-H asym str), 2854 (C-H sym str), 1703 (C=O), 1698 (C=O), 1682, 1505, 1492, 1359, 1291 (C-F), 1165 (-SO3H, asym str), 1124, 1033 (-SO3H, sym str), 1008, 987, 742, 689, 608.
3. Results and Discussion
Monomers 2a and 2b were prepared in high yields according to literature [8] [9] . 2,3,4,5,6-Pentafluoroaniline and aniline reacted with NDA to the corresponding amic acids which were cyclized to imide using acetic anhydride as dehydrating agent (Scheme 1). 1H, 13C and 19F NMR spectra as well as elemental analysis confirmed monomers structure and purity.
The high molecular weight copolymers were synthesized via ROMP using bis(tricyclohexylphosphine) benzylidene ruthenium(IV) dichloride (I) and tricyclohexylphosphine [1,3-bis(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)-4,5-dihy- droimidazol-2-ylidene] [benzylidene] ruthenium dichloride (II) (Scheme 2). Table 1 summarizes the results of the high conversion copolymerizations of 2a with 2b. It is observed that catalyst II produced random high molecular weight copolymers in the early minutes of reaction in high yield at room temperature with almost complete incorporation of 2a in the copolymer (Entry 1). On the contrary, catalyst I was not able to incorporate monomer 2a in copolymer in the same time even at 45˚C (Entry 3) and more reaction time was needed for the incorporation of 2a to take place and it could be detected by 1H NMR (Entries 4 and 5). In fact, complete incorpo-
Scheme 3.Hydrogenation and further sulfonation of polynorbornene based copolymers bearing pentafluorophenyl moieties.
Table 1. General conditions for copolymerization of monomer 2a.
aMolar ratio of monomer to catalyst = 1000, 1,2-Dichloroethane as solvent, Mol% of 2a in the feed = 50; bDetermined by 1H NMR; cMethanol insoluble polymer; dReaction time for monomer 2b; eReaction time for monomer 2a; fGPC analysis in tetrahydrofuran with polystyrene calibration standards.
ration of monomer 2a in copolymer, in high yield and using catalyst I, was only achieved by increasing temperature to 65 ˚C (Entry 6). Block copolymers of 2a with 2b were synthesized in high yields using catalyst I (Entries 7-9). In the first case, the copolymerizations were conducted at 65˚C and the monomer 2b was added initially polymerizing completely within 0.33 h (Entries 7-9). Immediately, monomer 2a was added to the reaction and complete incorporation of 2a in copolymer was detected after 1.33 h of being added to the growing polymer (Entry 9). Figure 1 shows the thermomechanical analysis performed on the random and block copolymers synthesized. As expected, a single transition is observed, at 205˚C, and interpreted as the glass transition temperature, Tg, of the random copolymer 3 whereas two transitions are observed for the block copolymer 4, at 170˚C and 224˚C, and attributed to the corresponding Tg of 2a and 2b homopolymer regions, respectively. The thermo-oxidative stabilities of block copolymer 4 were enhanced by quantitative hydrogenation according to the methodology previously reported for this kind of polymers (Scheme 3) [10] .
Figure 2 shows the X-ray diffraction patterns of the as cast random copolymer 3 as well as block copolymer 4 films.
Polymeric ionomer was synthesized by reaction of hydrogenated copolymer 5 with sodium 4-hydroxybenze- nesulfonate dehydrate (Scheme 3). Ionomer films were cast from sulfonated copolymer solutions in DMF and DMSO, respectively. The films were quite flexible when fully hydrated and became somewhat brittle as they dried out. The substitution reaction was monitored by 19F NMR and 1H NMR spectroscopy and the degree of sulfonation was controlled both by the nucleophilic agent amount and the time of reaction. According to Figure 3, it is appreciated that as the pentafluorophenyl moiety is sulfonated, the signal corresponding to the fluorine atom in meta position of unsulfonated copolymer 5 (b, −160.2 ppm) becomes weak and a new meta signal corresponding to those pentafluorophenyl moieties which have already been sulfonated (6) become to grow (d, −153.1 ppm) until a unique meta signal is observed at complete sulfonation of copolymer 5 (d, −153.1 ppm).
The signal corresponding to the fluorine atom in para position (c, −150.1 ppm) decreases until its complete disappearance when a fully sulfonated copolymer is obtained. From this analysis we conclude that only the carbon in para position has undergone the nucleophilic aromatic substitution. In addition, FT-IR allowed us to confirm the introduction of sulfonate groups in the copolymers by observing the characteristic bands around 1033 and 1165 cm−1 assigned to symetric and asymmetric stretching of sulfonate groups.
4. Conclusion
The random and block high molecular weight copolymers of 2a with 2b using ruthenium alkylidene catalysts
Figure 1. Thermomechanical analysis of random copolymer 3 and block copolymer 4.
Figure 2. X-Ray diffraction patterns of (a) random copolymer 3 and (b) block copolymer 4.
Figure 3. 19 F NMR spectra of a) non-sulfonated copolymer 5 and b) sulfonated copolymer 6.
were synthesized. The main chains were hydrogenated and the perfluoroaromatic moieties were further sulfonated quantitatively to yield thermally enhanced film forming new polymeric ionomers.