University of Florida Research Foundation Inc

Milliken + Co

John C Sworen

Kenneth Boone Wagener

James Herman Pawlow

Hector F Zuluaga

Piotr Matloka

John G Lever

Kenneth Wagner

Acyclic diene metathesis (ADMET) has been utilized in the synthesis of carbosilane and carbosiloxane polymers bearing a latent reactive methoxy-functional group on each repeat unit. The polymerization results in a linear thermoplastic polymer. The latent reactive methoxy groups remain inert during polymerization; however, exposure to moisture triggers hydrolysis and the formation of a chemically cross-linked thermoset. The thermoset's properties can be modified by varying the ratio of carbosilane and carbosiloxane repeat units in the final material. Also, increasing cross-link density by using cross-linkable chain-end groups and increasing the run length of the soft phase, maximizing phase separation and elasticity, allows for the synthesis of elastic thermosets exhibiting good tensile strength. Adding a trifunctional ADMET active chain-end cross-linker to the system improved the mechanical behavior of the resulting polymer.

Elastomeric polymers

Novel condensation reactions used to produce 1,3-cyclohexadiene. Such a compound is an important precursor in the manufacture of high performance plastics, as one example, are provided. In the past, the production methods for such 1,3-cyclohexadiene required very complex reactions involving numerous process steps. Such a method has proven costly, difficult to properly monitor and control, and less than reliable to provide even low amounts of such a precursor compound. The inventive production methods thus permit a reduction in complexity and cost, and, with a single reaction step, facilitate quality measurements as to the product purity itself.

Simplified methods of making 1,3-cyclohexadiene

Functionalized allylic olefins are condensed by metathesis using the catalyst 1,3-dimesityl-4,5-dihydroimidazol-2-ylidene ruthenium benzylidene &lsqb;Ru*&rsqb;.

Reaction mixtures for metathesis

Metathesis of functionalized allylic cyanides

Metathesis of functionalized allylic olefins

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Gainesville, FL, United States of America

John C Sworen