Synthesis of poly[dimethylsiloxane-block-oligo(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate]: an amphiphilic copolymer with a comb-like block

AB amphiphilic comb-like block copolymers of poly(oligo[ethylene glycol] methyl ether methacrylate) and polydimethylsiloxane were synthesised with a methodology based on atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). The anionic ring opening polymerisation of hexamethylcyclotrisiloxane followed by reaction with 3-(chlorodimethylsilyl) propyl 2-bromo-2-methylpropanoate propyldimethylchlorosilane gave suitable macroinitiators for the ATRP of oligo[ethylene glycol] methyl ether methacrylate. The latter synthetic procedure was optimised by performing a number of syntheses varying the reaction solvent, catalytic complex and the temperature used. Copolymers with relatively high polydispersity indices (M_w/M_n>1.3) could be synthesised at room temperature by employing a Cu(I)Br:N,N,N′,N′,N″-pentamethyldiethylenetriamine complex in n-propanol with Cu(II)Br. The optimum reaction conditions employed a Cu(I)Cl:N-(n-propyl)-2-pyridyl(methanimine) complex with an n-propanol/water mixture or toluene as solvent at 90 °C. This gave block copolymers of the desired molecular weights and polydispersity indices of less than 1.1. The block copolymers were characterised with ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy and size exclusion chromatography.     

Biodegradable Poly(ε‐Caprolactone)‐Based Graft Copolymers Via Poly(Linoleic Acid): In Vitro Enzymatic Evaluation

Well‐defined graft copolymers based on poly(ε‐caprolactone) (PCL) via poly(linoleic acid) (PLina), are derived from soybean oil. Poly(linoleic acid)‐g‐poly(ε‐caprolactone) (PLina‐g‐PCL) and poly(linoleic acid)‐g‐poly(styrene)‐g‐poly(ε‐caprolactone) (PLina‐g‐PSt‐g‐PCL) were synthesized by ring‐opening polymerization of ε‐caprolactone initiated by PLina and one‐pot synthesis of graft copolymers, and by ring‐opening polymerization and free radical polymerization by using PLina, respectively. PLina‐g‐PCL, PLina‐g‐PSt‐g‐PCL3, and PLina‐g‐PSt‐g‐PCL4 copolymers containing 96.97, 75.04 and 80.34 mol% CL, respectively, have been investigated regarding their enzymatic degradation properties in the presence of Pseudomonas lipase. In terms of weight loss, after 1 month, 51.5 % of PLina‐g‐PCL, 18.8 % of PLina‐g‐PSt‐g‐PCL3, and 38.4 % of PLina‐g‐PSt‐g‐PCL4 were degraded, leaving remaining copolymers with molecular weights of 16,140, 83,220 and 70,600 Da, respectively. Introducing the PLina unit into the copolymers greatly decreased the degradation rate. The molar ratio of [CL]/[Lina] dramatically decreased, from 21.3 to 8.4, after 30 days of incubation. Moreover, reduced PCL content in PLina‐g‐PSt‐g‐PCL copolymers decreased the degradation rate, probably due to the PSt enrichment within the structure, which blocks lipase contact with PCL units. Thus, copolymerization of PCL with PLina and PSt units leads to a controllable degradation profile, which encourages the use of these polymers as promising biomaterials for tissue engineering applications.     

Stereocomplex crystallization and spherulite growth behavior of poly(l-lactide)-b-poly(d-lactide) stereodiblock copolymers

The non-isothermally and isothermally crystallized stereodiblock copolymers of poly(l-lactide) (PLLA) and poly(d-lactide) (PDLA) with equimolar l-lactyl and d-lactyl units and different number-average molecular weights (M_n) of 3.9 × 10³, 9.3 × 10³, and 1.1 × 10⁴ g mol⁻¹, which are abbreviated as PLLA-b-PDLA copolymers, contained only stereocomplex crystallites as crystalline species, causing higher melting temperatures of the PLLA-b-PDLA copolymers compared to those of PLLA homopolymers. In the case of non-isothermal crystallization, the cold crystallization temperatures of the PLLA-b-PDLA copolymers during heating and cooling were respectively lower and higher than those of PLLA homopolymers, indicating accelerated crystallization of PLLA-b-PDLA copolymers. In the case of isothermal crystallization, in the crystallizable temperature range, the crystallinity (X_c) values of the PLLA-b-PDLA copolymers were lower than those of the PLLA homopolymers, and were susceptible to the effect of crystallization temperature in contrast to that of homopolymers. The radial growth rate of the spherulites (G) of the PLLA-b-PDLA copolymers was the highest at the middle M_n of 9.3 × 10³ g mol⁻¹. This trend is different from that of the PLLA homopolymers where the G values increased monotonically with a decrease in M_n, but seems to be caused by the upper critical M_n values of PLLA and PDLA chains as in the case of PLLA/PDLA blends (in other papers), above which homo-crystallites are formed in addition to stereocomplex crystallites. The disturbed crystallization of PLLA-b-PDLA copolymers compared to that of the PLLA/PDLA blend is attributable to the segmental connection between the PLLA and PDLA chains, which interrupted the free movement of those chains of the PLLA-b-PDLA copolymers during crystallization. The crystallite growth mechanism of the PLLA-b-PDLA copolymers was different from that of the PLLA/PDLA blend.     

Branched poly(arylene ether ketone)s with tailored thermal properties: Effects of AB/AB2 ratio, core (B3) percentage, and reaction temperature

A series of poly(ether ketone) copolymers were prepared by nucleophilic aromatic polymerization reactions of the AB monomer 4-fluoro-4′-hydroxybenzophenone, 1, and the AB₂ monomer bis(4-fluorophenyl)-(4-hydroxyphenyl)phosphine oxide, 2, in the presence of 3 or 5 mol% of a highly reactive core molecule, tris(3,4,5-trifluorophenyl)phosphine oxide (B₃), 4. All of the copolymers prepared in the presence of a core molecule were sufficiently soluble in N-methylpyrrolidinone, NMP, to allow the determination of their molecular weights and polydispersity indices, PDIs. Number-average molecular weights, M_ns, of 3200-6800 Da were determined and the PDI values ranged from 1.41 to 4.07. The M_n was controlled by the mol% of 4 present in the reaction mixture with higher molar percentages leading to lower M_n values. Lower reaction temperatures and lower ratios of AB/AB₂ monomers afforded copolymers with lower PDI values. As expected, the crystallinity of the samples decreased with an increasing AB₂ content or an increase in PDI. The copolymers also exhibited excellent thermo-oxidative stability with a number of samples suffering 5% weight losses at temperatures, in air, well in excess of 450 °C.     

Inhibition of pyrite corrosion and photocorrosion by MEKF-R modified carbazoles

In this study natural iron sulfide (FeS₂) surface was coated by films of poly(N-vinylcarbazole) (PNVCz), poly(N-vinylcarbazole methylethylketoneformaldehyde resin) (P[NVCz-MEKF-R]), carbazole methylethylketone formaldehyde resin (Cz-MEKFR) and poly(carbazole methyl ethylketone formaldehyde resin) (P[Cz-MEKFR]). The corrosion, photocorrosion, and photoactivity characteristics of coated electrodes were investigated in potassium iodide/iodide (KI/I₂) redox electrolyte. The inhibition effect and photoactivity of Cz-MEKF-R, P[Cz-MEKF-R] P[NVCz-MEKFR] and PNVCz homopolymer coatings were compared. Coating performance was tested by polarization and electrochemical impedance (EIS) measurements. The photopotential and photocurrent values of bare and coated pyrite electrodes were obtained under illuminated conditions. The inhibition efficiencies were calculated from corrosion currents obtained by Tafel extrapolation from polarization curves.     

Poly(methylphenylphosphazene)–Graft–Poly(methyl Methacrylate) Copolymers Via Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization

Atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) was used to graft poly(methyl methacrylate), PMMA, onto poly(methylphenylphosphazene), [(Me)(Ph)PN] _n , PMPP. A two-step process was used to convert a portion of the methyl substituents on [(Me)(Ph)PN] _n to –CH₂C(CH₃)₂OH groups and then to bromoalkyl groups, –CH₂C(CH₃)₂OC(=O)C(CH₃)₂Br, the latter of which served as initiation sites for ATRP of methyl methacrylate (MMA) in the presence of CuCl/bipyridine. Variations in the length of the grafted chains were investigated and the graft copolymers were compared to the parent polymer and blends of similar composition. The new bromoalkyl derivatives of [(Me)(Ph)PN] _n and the PMPP–graft–PMMA copolymers were characterized by elemental analysis, ¹H and ³¹P NMR spectroscopy, size exclusion chromatography (SEC), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). We dedicate this paper to Professor Harry R. Allcock for consistently maintaining the highest standards in his creative, pioneering work in inorganic rings and polymers.     

N-PEG’ylation of chitosan via “click chemistry” reactions

N-azidated chitosan was prepared by four different methods: using azidated epichlorohydrin, sodium azide plius sodium nitrite, trifluoromethane sulfonyl azide or imidazole-1-sulfonyl azide hydrochloride. Using the two last reagents, the degree of azidation (DA) of chitosan was up to 40% and 65%, respectively. N-azidated chitosans with DA at about 60% were insoluble in aqueous and common organic solvents but dissolved in 5% LiCl solution in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, one of the very few solvents for chitin. Chitosan–methoxy poly(ethylene glycol) derivatives containing triazolyl moiety (chitosan-N-TMPEG comb copolymers) were prepared for the first time by coupling via 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition between pendant azide and end alkyne groups of chitosan and MPEG, respectively. Comb copolymers chitosan-N-TMPEG with degree of substitution (DS) of chitosan equal to DA of chitosan were synthesized at a certain excess of MPEG alkyne reaching DS up to 40%. “Clicking” of MPEG alkyne onto azidated chitosan was successful in binary mixture of water and methylene chloride but failed in 5% LiCl solution in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone. Significant breakdown of chitosan backbone took place under “clicking” of MPEG in the presence of Cu(II)/ascorbate catalyst resulting in graft copolymers with bimodal MWD. Chitosan-N-TMPEG copolymers contained a certain residual amount of Cu and were soluble in acetate buffer (pH 3.7). Novel comb copolymers were characterized by FT-IR and ¹H NMR spectroscopy, SEC with triple detection, intrinsic viscosity, elemental and functional group analysis.     

High molecular weight methyl ester of microbial poly(β,l-malic acid): Synthesis and crystallization

High molecular weight poly(α-methyl β,l-malate) (M_n ∼ 25,000, PD ∼ 1.7) was prepared from microbial poly(β,l-malic acid) (M_n ∼ 29,000, PD ∼ 1.3) by methylation with diazomethane in dry acetone without substantial cleavage of the polyester main chain. The thermal properties of this poly(malate) were assessed and its crystal structure was preliminary examined. Two crystal forms were identified by X-ray diffraction, their occurrence being dependent on crystallization conditions. The kinetics of nonisothermal and isothermal crystallizations from the melt were studied and modelled using the Avrami approach. Results were compared to those recently reported by us for low molecular weight poly(α-methyl β,l-malate) (M_n ∼ 3000, PD ∼ 1.3).     

Synthesis, isothermal crystallization and micellization of mPEG-PCL diblock copolymers catalyzed by yttrium complex

Amphiphilic biodegradable mPEG-PCL diblock copolymers have been synthesized using rare earth catalyst: yttrium tris(2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methylphenolate) [Y(DBMP)₃] in the presence of monomethoxy poly(ethylene glycol) (mPEG, M_n = 5000) as macro-initiator. The diblock architecture of the copolymers was thoroughly characterized by ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR and SEC. The molecular weights of mPEG-PCLs can be well controlled by adjusting the feeding molar ratio of ?-CL to mPEG. Thermal and crystallization behaviors of the diblock copolymers were investigated by DSC and POM (polarized optical microscope). The crystallization property of mPEG-PCL block copolymers depends on the length of PCL blocks. As the molecular weight of PCL block increased, the crystallization ability of mPEG block was visibly restrained. Aqueous micelles were prepared by dialysis method. The critical micelle concentration of the copolymers, which was determined to be 0.9-6.9 mg/L by fluorescence technique, increased with the decreasing of PCL block length. The particle sizes determined by DLS were 30-80 nm increasing with the PCL block length. TEM images showed that these micelles were regularly spherical in shape.     

Synthesis and self-assembly of comb-like amphiphilic Doxifluridine-poly(?-caprolactone)-graft-poly(γ-glutamic acid) copolymer

Advances in amphiphilic copolymers can potentially be exploited in drug or gene delivery. This study develops novel comb-like amphiphilic copolymers that comprise poly(γ-glutamic acid) (γ-PGA) as a hydrophilic backbone and Doxifluridine-poly-(?-caprolactone) (5′-deoxy-5-fluorouridine-poly(?-caprolactone), 5′DFUR-PCL) as a hydrophobic side chain. A novel 5′DFUR-PCL polymer was synthesized with antitumor agent Doxifluridine (5′DFUR) as the initiator via the ring-opening polymerization of ?-caprolactone (?-CL) using tin(II) 2-ethylhexanoate (Sn(Oct)₂) as the catalyst. The 5′DFUR-PCL polymer was then grafted on γ-PGA to yield a 5′DFUR-PCL-γ-PGA comb-like copolymer with the help of 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethyl-aminopropyl) carbodiimide (EDC). The characteristics of these copolymers were examined by ¹H NMR, FT-IR, GPC, contact angle measurement and thermal properties. Grafting 5′DFUR-PCL would significantly increase the contact angle and decrease the melting temperature (T_m) of the copolymers. The micelles self-assembled from these amphiphilic copolymers were formed in an aqueous phase and were examined via fluorescence approaches, dynamic light scattering (DLS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The average sizes of the micelles were in the range from 130 to 230 nm and their zeta potentials were negative and less than −16.7 mV. The critical micelle concentration (CMC) was from 1.49 mg/L to 4.63 mg/L at 25 °C. TEM images demonstrated that the micelles were spherical and clearly had a core-shell structure.     

The effect of hydrogen bonding on the phase behavior of poly(ethylene-co-acrylic acid)-ethylene-cosolvent mixtures at high pressures

Experimental cloud-point data to 260 °C and 2,500 bar are reported to demonstrate the impact of two cosolvents, acetone and methanol, on the phase behavior of polyethylene, poly(ethylene-co-2.4 mol% acrylic acid) (EAA_2.4), poly(ethylene-co-3.9 mol% acrylic acid) (EAA_3.9), poly(ethylene-co-6.9 mol% acrylic acid) (EAA_6.9), and poly(ethylene-co-9.2 mol% acrylic acid) (EAA_9.2) in ethylene. In pressure-temperature (P-T) space, the miscibility of EAA copolymers in ethylene decreases significantly with temperature and with increasing acrylic acid content of EAA due to self-association of the acrylic acid segments. Acetone and methanol, both dramatically enlarge the solubility of EAA copolymers due to the hydrogen bonding with acrylic acids in the EAA. At low concentrations, methanol is a better cosolvent than acetone. However, the impact of methanol diminishes rapidly with increasing methanol concentration once all the acrylic acids in the EAA are hydrogen bond with methanol molecules.     

Bioengineering functional copolymers. XI. Copper(II)-poly(N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone-co-N-isopropylacrylamide) macrocomplexes

A series of poly(N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone-co-N-isopropylacrylamide)s, poly(VP-co-NIPA) copolymers with different compositions were prepared by radical copolymerization of VP and NIPA in N,N′-dimethylformamide at 65°C using 2,2′-azobisisobutyronitrile as initiator. Cu(II)-copolymer macrocomplexes were prepared by complexation of the copolymers with copper sulfate in aqueous solution at 40°C. The structure and composition of the copolymers, and the formation of coordinated Cu(II)-complexes between amide VP units and Cu²⁺ ions, were studied by FTIR spectroscopy, DSC and TGA-DTG in addition to electrical conductivity. Studies on the relationship between composition and thermal behavior showed that the values of T_g and T_d of the copolymers and their coordinated macrocomplexes increased with increasing VP content. The copolymers predominantly show amorphous structure while their Cu(II)-macrocomplexes show the presence of a crystalline phase. The conductive properties of the synthesized Cu(II)-poly(VP-co-NIPA) complexes are also discussed. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008     

Geometrical influence of ABn monomer structure on the thermal properties of linear-hyperbranched ether-ketone copolymers prepared via an AB+ABn route

A series of poly(ether ketone) copolymers were prepared by nucleophilic aromatic polymerization reactions of 4-fluoro-4′-hydroxybenzophenone, 2, in the presence of varying percentages of AB_n monomers based on a triarylphosphine oxide platform, 1a (2F), 1b (4F), and 1c (6F), where A=OH and B=F. As expected, the crystallinity of the samples decreased with an increasing AB_n content. However, the tetrahedral geometry of the phosphine oxide-based AB_n monomers proved to be much more efficient at lowering the melt temperature of the copolymers than was the corresponding ketone-based AB_n monomer, 3,5-bis(4-fluorophenylbenzoyl)phenol, 4, that possesses a structure more similar to that of 2. Polymerization of 2 in the presence of as little as 5 mol% of bis-(3,4,5-trifluorophenyl)-(4-hydroxyphenyl)phosphine oxide, 1c (6F), afforded a completely amorphous polymer with a glass transition temperature of 168 °C that was soluble in hot NMP and DMSO. The copolymers also exhibited excellent thermoxidative stability with a number of samples displaying 5% weight loss temperatures, in air, well in excess of 500 °C.     

Kinetics of graft copolymerization of poly(hexanedioic acid ethylene glycol) and methyl acrylate initiated by potassium diperiodatocuprate(III)

A redox system, potassium diperiodatocuprate(III) [DPC]/poly(hexanedioic acid ethylene glycol) (PEA) system, was employed to initiate graft copolymers of methyl acrylate (MA) and PEA in alkaline medium. The results indicate that the equation of the polymerization rate (R_p) is as follows: R_p = k [MA]^1.62[Cu(III)]^0.69, and that the overall activation energy of graft polymerization is 42.5 kJ/mol. The total conversion at different conditions (concentration of reactants, temperature, concentration of the DPC, and reaction time) was also investigated. The infrared spectra proved that the graft copolymers were synthesized successfully. Some basic properties of the graft copolymer were studied by instrumental analyses, including thermogravimetry and scanning electron microscope. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 103: 2376–2381, 2007     

Architecture of rod–brush block copolymers synthesized by a combination of coordination polymerization and atom transfer radical polymerization

A combination of coordination polymerization and atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) was applied to a novel synthesis of rod–brush block copolymers. The procedure included the following steps: (1) the monoesterification reaction of ethylene glycol with 2-bromoisobutyryl bromide (BIBB) yielded the bifunctional initiator monobromobutyryloxy ethylene glycol and (2) a trichlorocyclopentadienyl titanium (CpTiCl₃; bifunctional initiator) catalyst was prepared from a mixture of CpTiCl₃ and bifunctional initiator. The coordination polymerization of n-butyl isocyanate initiated by such a catalyst provided a well-defined macroinitiator, poly(n-butyl isocyanate)–bromine (PBIC–Br). (3) The ATRP method of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate initiated by PBIC–Br provided rod [poly(n-butyl isocyanate) (PBIC)]–coil [poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA)] block copolymers with a CuCl/CuCl₂/2,2′-bipyridyl catalyst. (4) The esterfication of PBIC-block-PHEMA with BIBB yielded a block-type macroinitiator, and (5) ATRP of methyl methacrylate with a block-type macroinitiator provided rod–brush block copolymers. We found from the solution properties that such rod–brush block copolymers formed nanostructured macromolecules in solution. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008     

Precise preparation of four-arm-poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(trimethylene carbonate) star block copolymers via activated monomer mechanism and examination of their solution properties

The polymerization of trimethylene carbonate (TMC) in the presence of HCl·Et₂O via activated monomer mechanism was performed to synthesize 4a-PEG-b-PTMC star block copolymers composed of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and poly(trimethylene carbonate) (PTMC) using four-arm (4a) PEG as an initiator. The TMC conversion and molecular weight of PTMC increased linearly with the polymerization time or the feed ratios of the TMC to 4a-PEG in the presence of HCl·Et₂O in CH₂Cl₂ at 25 °C. The obtained PTMC had molecular weights close to the theoretical value calculated from TMC to PEG molar ratio and exhibited monomodal GPC curve. We prepared successfully 4a-PEG-b-PTMC star block copolymers without metal catalyst at room temperature via living ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of TMC from 4a-PEG as an initiator in the presence of HCl·Et₂O as a monomer activator. The CMCs of the 4a-PEG-b-PTMC star block copolymers determined from fluorescence measurements. The CMCs of the 4a-PEG-b-PTMC star block copolymers decreased in the order of the increase in the PTMC segment. The partition equilibrium constant, K_v, which is an indicator of the hydrophobicity of the micelles of the 4a-PEG-b-PTMC star block copolymers in aqueous media, increased with the increase in the PTMC segment. In conclusion, we confirmed that the 4a-PEG-b-PTMC star block copolymers form micelles and hence may be potential hydrophobic-drug delivery vehicles.     

Synthesis and characterization of amphiphilic graft copolymer poly(ethylene oxide)-graft-poly(methyl acrylate)

A novel well-defined amphiphilic graft copolymer of poly(ethylene oxide) as main chain and poly(methyl acrylate) as graft chains is successfully prepared by combination of anionic copolymerization with atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). The glycidol is protected by ethyl vinyl ether first, then obtained 2,3-epoxypropyl-1-ethoxyethyl ether (EPEE) is copolymerized with EO by initiation of mixture of diphenylmethyl potassium and triethylene glycol to give the well-defined poly(EO-co-EPEE), the latter is deprotected in the acidic conditions, then the recovered copolymer [(poly(EO-co-Gly)] with multi-pending hydroxyls is esterified with 2-bromoisobutyryl bromide to produce the ATRP macroinitiator with multi-pending activated bromides [poly(EO-co-Gly)_(ATRP)] to initiate the polymerization of methyl acrylate (MA). The object products and intermediates are characterized by NMR, MALDI-TOF-MS, FT-IR, and SEC in detail. In solution polymerization, the molecular weight distribution of the graft copolymers is rather narrow (M_w/M_n < 1.2), and the linear dependence of Ln [M₀]/[M] on time demonstrates that the MA polymerization is well controlled.     

Layer-by-layer assembly of myoglobin and nonionic poly(ethylene glycol) through ion-dipole interaction: An electrochemical study

Nonionic poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and myoglobin (Mb) were successfully assembled into {PEG/Mb}_n layer-by-layer films on various solid surfaces. Quartz crystal microbalance (QCM), UV-vis spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry (CV) were used to monitor and confirm the film growth and characterize the films. The Mb in stable {PEG/Mb}_n films showed a quasi-reversible CV response for its heme Fe(III)/Fe(II) redox couple, and was used to electrocatalyze the reduction of various substrates. The interaction between PEG and Mb in the assembly was investigated in detail. A series of comparative experiments showed that the ion-dipole interaction between positively charged groups on the Mb surface and electronegative ether oxygen groups of PEG would be the main driving force for the assembly of {PEG/Mb}_n films, while other interactions such as hydrogen bonding and/or hydrophobic interaction may also play an important role in stabilizing the films in blank buffers.     

Unique Crystallization Behavior of Poly(L-lactic acid) Nucleated by Stereocomplex with Different Fine Structure

Effect of the addition of poly(D-lactic acid) (PDLA) as stereocomplex (SC) on crystallization behavior of poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA) had been systemically investigated. The result indicated that the inclusion of PDLA with higher MW into PLLA exhibited lower t _1/2 and showed accelerated crystallization behavior. Meanwhile, SC formed in blends with higher MW of PDLA exhibited enhanced nucleation activity. In combination with both DSC and WAXD analysis, it was believed that nucleation process was more related to the crystalline size of SC. The result in this study would provide guidance for the application of SC as nucleating agent for the PLA-based products.     

Fatty Imidazolines: A Novel Extractant for the Recovery of Palladium(II) from Hydrochloric Acid Solutions

The extraction of palladium(II) from hydrochloric acid solutions with a novel highly basic extractant, a mixture of homologous 1-[2-(alkanoylamino)ethyl]-2-alkyl-2-imidazolines (AAI) in toluene with 15% (v/v) of n-octanol was studied. Palladium(II) is rapidly and most effectively extracted with AAI hydrochloride at the low hydrochloric acid (chloride ions) concentration (up to 1 M) and can be completely separated from Fe(III), Cu(II), and Co(II). The palladium(II) extraction at the optimum acidity occurs via an anion-exchange mechanism with the formation of ionic associates (LH)₂PdCl₄ (K _ex = (1.5 ± 0.2) · 10⁴ at 0.5 M HCl) and is accompanied by the dimerization of palladium(II) in the organic phase with the formation of ionic associates (LH)₂Pd₂Cl₆ (K _dim = (3.9 ± 0.4) · 10^?4 at 0.5 M HCl). The anion-exchange extraction of palladium(II) at the acidity of 0.5 M HCl is temperature independent in the range 20–49°C. Complete stripping of palladium(II) can be performed using a 5% solution of thiourea in 0.1 M HCl.