Hydrogenation of cis‐1,4‐polyisoprene catalyzed by Ru(CHCH(Ph))Cl(CO)(PCy3)2

Hydrogenation is a useful method which has been used to improve oxidative and thermal degradation resistance of diene‐based polymers. The quantitative hydrogenation of cis‐1,4‐polyisoprene which leads to an alternating ethylene–propylene copolymer was studied in the present investigation. To examine the influence of key factors on the reaction, such as catalyst concentration, polymer concentration, hydrogen pressure, and temperature, a detailed study of the hydrogenation of cis‐1,4‐polyisoprene catalyzed by the Ru complex, Ru(CH?CH(Ph))Cl(CO)(PCy₃)₂ was carried out by monitoring the amount of hydrogen consumed. Infrared and ¹H‐NMR spectroscopic measurements confirmed the final degree of hydrogenation. The hydrogenation of cis‐1,4‐polyisoprene followed pseudo‐first‐order kinetics in double‐bond concentration up to high conversions of double bond, under all sets of conditions studied. The kinetic results suggested a first‐order behavior with respect to total catalyst concentration as well as with respect to hydrogen pressure. The apparent activation energy for the hydrogenation process, obtained from an Arrhenius plot, was 51.1 kJ mol^?1 over the temperature range of 130 to 180°C. Mechanistic aspects of the catalytic process are discussed. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 91: 3259–3273, 2004     

Hydrogenation of natural rubber in the presence of OsHCL(CO)(O2)(PCY3)2: Kinetics and mechanism

The homogeneous catalyst precursor, OsHCl(CO)(O₂)(PCy₃)₂, was utilized for the hydrogenation of natural rubber to convert the unsaturated structure to a saturated form, providing an alternating ethylene‐propylene copolymer. A detailed kinetic investigation was carried out by monitoring the amount of hydrogen consumption during the reaction using a gas‐uptake apparatus. ¹H NMR spectroscopy was used to determine the final olefin conversion to the hydrogenated product. Kinetic data, collected according to a statistical design framework, defined the influence of catalyst and polymer concentration, hydrogen pressure, and reaction temperature on the catalytic activity. The kinetic results indicated that the hydrogenation rate exhibited a first‐ shifted to zero‐order dependence on hydrogen at lower hydrogen pressure, which then decreased toward an inverse behavior at pressures higher than 41.4 bar. The hydrogenation was also observed to be first‐order with respect to catalyst concentration, and an apparent inverse dependence on rubber concentration was observed due to the impurities in the rubber. The hydrogenation rate was dependent on reaction temperature, and the apparent activation energy over the temperature range of 125–145°C was found to be 122.76 kJ/mol. Mechanistic aspects of the hydrogenation of natural rubber in the presence of OsHCl(CO)(O₂)(PCy₃)₂ were proposed on the basis of the observed kinetic results. The addition of some acids and certain nitrogen containing materials showed an effect on the hydrogenation rate. The thermal properties of hydrogenated natural rubber indicated that the thermal stability increased with increasing % hydrogenation of the rubber. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 100: 4499–4514, 2006     

Hydrogenation of natural rubber latex in the presence of OsHCl(CO)(O2)(PCy3)2

Hydrogenation is an important method of chemical modification, which improves the physical, chemical, and thermal properties of diene elastomers. Natural rubber latex (NRL) can be quantitatively hydrogenated to provide a strictly alternating ethylene–propylene copolymer using a homogeneous osmium catalyst OsHCl(CO)(O₂)(PCy₃)₂. A detailed kinetic investigation was carried out by monitoring the amount of hydrogen consumption during the reaction using a gas‐uptake apparatus. The kinetic results of NRL hydrogenation indicated that this system had a second‐order dependence of the hydrogenation rate on hydrogen pressure and then decreased toward a zero‐order dependence for hydrogen pressures above 13.8 bar. The hydrogenation was also observed to be first‐order with respect to catalyst concentration and inverse first‐order on rubber concentration due to impurities present in the rubber latex. Additions of a controlled amount of acid demonstrated a beneficial effect on the hydrogenation rate of NRL. The temperature dependence of the hydrogenation rate was investigated and an apparent activation energy (over the range of 120–160°C) was calculated as 57.6 kJ/mol. Mechanistic aspects of this catalytic process are discussed on the basis of kinetic results. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 100: 640–655, 2006     

Kinetics of hydrogenation of 4‐chloro‐2‐nitrophenol catalyzed by Pt/carbon catalyst

Hydrogenation of 4‐chloro‐2‐nitrophenol (CNP) was carried out at moderate hydrogen pressures, 7–28 atm, and temperatures in the range 298–313 K using Pt/carbon and Pd/γ‐Al₂O₃ as catalysts in a stirred pressure reactor. Hydrogenation of CNP under the above conditions gave 4‐chloro‐2‐aminophenol (CAP). Dechlorination to form 2‐aminophenol and 2‐nitrophenol is observed when hydrogenation of CNP is carried out above 338 K, particularly with Pd/γ‐Al₂O₃ catalyst. Among the catalysts tested, 1%Pt/C was found to be an effective catalyst for the hydrogenation of CNP to form CAP, exclusively. To confirm the absence of gas–liquid mass transfer effects on the reaction, the effect of stirring speed (200–1000 rpm) and catalyst loading (0.02–0.16 g) on the initial reaction rate at maximum temperature 310 K and substrate concentration (0.25 mole) were thoroughly studied. The kinetics of hydrogenation of CNP carried out using 1%Pt/C indicated that the initial rates of hydrogenation had first order dependence with respect to substrate, catalyst and hydrogen pressure in the range of concentrations varied. From the Arrhenius plot of ln rate vs 1000/T, an apparent activation energy of 22 kJ mol^?1 was estimated. © 2001 Society of Chemical Industry     

Hydrogenation of synthetic cis‐1,4‐polyisoprene and natural rubber catalyzed by [Ir(COD)py(PCy3)]PF6

In the presence of chlorinated solvents, the catalytic complex [Ir(COD)py(PCy₃)]PF₆ (where COD is 1,5‐cyclooctadiene and py is pyridine) was an active catalyst for the hydrogenation of synthetic cis‐1,4‐polyisoprene and natural rubber. Detailed kinetic and mechanistic studies for homogeneous hydrogenation were carried out through the monitoring of the amount of hydrogen consumed during the reaction. The final degree of olefin conversion, measured with a computer‐controlled gas‐uptake apparatus, was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and ¹H‐NMR spectroscopy. Synthetic cis‐1,4‐polyisoprene was used as a model polymer for natural rubber without impurities to study the influence of the catalyst loading, polymer concentration, hydrogen pressure, and reaction temperature with a statistical design framework. The kinetic results for the hydrogenation of both synthetic cis‐1,4‐polyisoprene and natural rubber indicated that the hydrogenation rate exhibited a first‐order dependence on the catalyst concentration and hydrogen pressure. Because of impurities inside the natural rubber, the hydrogenation of natural rubber showed an inverse behavior dependence on the rubber concentration, whereas the hydrogenation rate of synthetic rubber, that is, cis‐1,4‐polyisoprene, remained constant when the rubber concentration increased. The hydrogenation rate was also dependent on the reaction temperature. The apparent activation energies for the hydrogenation of synthetic cis‐1,4‐polyisoprene and natural rubber were evaluated to be 79.8 and 75.6 kJ/mol, respectively. The mechanistic aspects of these catalytic processes were discussed on the basis of observed kinetic results. The addition of some acids showed an effect on the hydrogenation rate of both rubbers. The thermal properties of hydrogenated rubber samples were determined and indicated that hydrogenation increased the thermal stability of the hydrogenated rubber but did not affect the inherent glass‐transition temperature. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 100: 4219–4233, 2006     

Liquid‐Phase Catalytic Hydrogenation of p‐Chlorobenzophenone to p‐Chlorobenzhydrol over a 5 % Pd/C Catalyst

The kinetics of the liquid‐phase catalytic hydrogenation of p‐chlorobenzophenone have been investigated over a 5 % Pd/C catalyst. The effects of hydrogen partial pressure (800–2200 kPa), catalyst loading (0.4–1.6 gm dm^–3), p‐chlorobenzophenone concentration (0.37–1.5 mol dm^–3), and temperature (303–313 K) were studied. A stirring speed > 20 rps has no effect on the initial rate of reaction. Effects of various catalysts (Pd/C, Pd/BaSO₄, Pd/CaCO₃, Pt/C, Raney nickel) and solvents (2‐propanol, methanol, dimethylformamide, toluene, xylene, hexane) on the hydrogenation of p‐chlorobenzophenone were also investigated. The reaction was found to be first order with respect to hydrogen partial pressure and catalyst loading, and zero order with respect to p‐chlorobenzophenone concentration. Several Langmuir‐Hinshelwood type models were considered and the experimental data fitted to a model involving reaction between adsorbed p‐chlorobenzophenone and hydrogen in the liquid phase.     

Selectivity of the OsHCl(CO)(O2)(PCy3)2 catalyzed hydrogenation of nitrile–butadiene rubber

A new homogeneous catalyst precursor has been discovered for the hydrogenation of carbon–carbon unsaturation resident within acrylonitrile–butadiene copolymers. The hydrido‐phosphine complex OsHCl(CO)(O₂)(PCy₃)₂ (1) selectively and quantitatively saturates olefin, leaving the copolymer's nitrile functionality intact. However, the process suffers from an undesirable crosslinking reaction that is not demonstrated by the established rhodium technology. The extent of this crosslinking is dependent on the process conditions and can be minimized by operating with a low catalyst concentration and high H₂ pressure. Kinetic studies have identified a previously unknown unexpected influence of olefin on the polymer crosslinking process. In light of this new information, the prevailing mechanism for this class of reactions has been reconsidered. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 79: 1618–1626, 2001     

Investigation of kinetics of 4‐methylpentene‐1 polymerization using Ziegler–Natta‐type catalysts

The kinetics of 4‐methylpentene‐1 (4MP1) polymerization by use of Ziegler–Natta‐type catalyst systems, M(acac)₃‐AlEt₃ (M = Cr, Mn, Fe, and Co), are investigated in benzene medium at 40°C. The effect of various parameters such as Al/M ratio, reaction time, aging time, temperature, catalyst, and monomer concentrations on the rate of polymerization and yield are examined. The rate of polymerization increased linearly with increasing monomer concentration with first‐order dependence, whereas the rate of polymerization with respect to catalyst concentration is found to be 0.5. For all cases, the polymer yield is maximum at an Al/M ratio of 2. The activation energies obtained from linear Arrhenius plots are in the range of 25.27–33.51 kJ mol^?1. It is found that the aging time to give maximum percentage yield of the polymer varies with the catalyst systems. Based on the experimental results, a plausible mechanism is proposed that envisages a free‐radical mechanism. Characterization of the resulting polymer product, for all the cases, through FTIR, ¹H‐NMR, and ¹³C‐NMR studies, showed isomerized polymeric structures with 1,4‐structure as dominant. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 88: 2468–2477, 2003     

A Study of White‐Spirit Vapor Combustion on Pt/Al2O3 Catalyst

The objective of the work is to investigate the catalytic combustion of white spirit solvent vapors at low concentration in air, typical for depollution applications, on a commercial catalyst, Pt/γ‐Al₂O₃ (0.5 wt‐% Pt). To study the influence of the main variables on the process kinetics, experiments were performed under various operating conditions (temperature domain: 150–350 °C; flow rates: 125–250 mL min^–1; white spirit concentrations: 220–260 ppmv). The stoichiometry and kinetics of the vapor combustion was described globally by using a pseudo‐compound, representing the average molecular weight and the carbon/hydrogen ratio of the mixture. Experimental data were reasonably well correlated by a first order rate expression with respect to the apparent concentration of the lumping pseudo‐component.     

Polymer‐supported palladium(II) complexes and their catalytic study

Chloromethylated poly(styrene–divinylbenzene) copolymers with 8 and 14% crosslinking was functionalized to a Schiff‐base‐bearing polymer by the sequential oxidation of the chloromethyl group to an aldehydic group and subsequent condensation with a base. The anchoring of the metal ion to the liganded polymer beads was carried out by its reaction with an ethanolic solution of palladium(II) chloride. The physicochemical properties of the supported catalyst, including surface area, bulk density, and the swelling of the polymer in polar and nonpolar solvents, were studied. The catalysts were characterized by various techniques, including elemental analysis, DTA–thermogravimetric analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. The surface morphology of the catalyst was studied by scanning electron microscopy. The catalytic hydrogenation of cis‐cyclooctene was investigated with the immobilized catalysts. The effects of various reaction parameters, including catalyst concentration, temperature, and hydrogen pressure on the reduction of olefin, were studied. The rate of the reaction was determined from hydrogen uptake measurements. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 90: 370–378, 2003     

Syndioselective propylene polymerization: Comparison of Me2C(Cp)(Flu)ZrMe2 with Et(Cp)(Flu)ZrMe2

The kinetics and stereochemical control of propylene polymerization initiated by syndiospecific isopropylidene(1-η⁵-cyclopentadienyl)(1-η⁵-fluorenyl)-dimethylzirconium–methyl aluminoxane (1/MAO) and (1-fluorenyl-2-cyclopentadienylethane)-dimethylzirconium–MAO (2/MAO) were investigated. The influence of MAO concentration and polymerization temperature (T_p) on polymerization kinetics and polypropylene properties, such as molecular weight, molecular weight distribution (MWD), and stereoselectivity, have been studied in detail. The activity of both catalytic systems is very sensitive to the concentration of MAO. The 1/MAO and 2/MAO catalysts record maximum activity when [Al]/[Zr] ratio is around 1300 and 2500, respectively. The activity and the degree of stereochemical control are also sensitive to T_p. The 2/MAO catalyst is much more thermally stable than 1/MAO catalyst; the former shows maximum activity at 80°C, whereas the latter shows maximum activity at 20°C. The cationic active species generated by 2/MAO is not so stereorigid as those by 1/MAO so that 2/MAO catalyst produces sPP of broad MWD (4.43–6.38) and low syndiospecificity at high T_p. When T_p is above 50°C, 2/MAO catalyst produces completely atactic polypropylene. The results of fractionation of sPP samples produced by 1/MAO and 2/MAO demonstrate that 1/MAO catalyst is characterized by uniform active sites, but 2/MAO is characterized by multiple active sites. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 70: 973–983, 1998     

Destruction of chlorinated organics by hydrotreatment using Ru/TiO2 catalyst

Catalytic hydrodechlorination reactions of p‐chloro‐m‐cresol (PCMC) and p‐chloroaniline (PCA) were investigated in a slurry reactor using a Ru/TiO₂ catalyst. The organic reaction intermediates, m‐cresol and aniline, were further converted into methylcyclohexanol and cyclohexylamine respectively. Kinetics of PCMC hydrogenation was studied over the ranges in temperature, 323–373 K, H₂ partial pressure, 0.34–1.38 MPa, PCMC concentration, 3.5–14 mM and catalyst loading, 0.1–2 kg/m³. The reaction orders with respect to PCMC and H₂ were evaluated as 0.5 and 0.8 respectively. It was found that aniline hydrogenation is the rate‐determining step in the hydrotreatment of PCA. Kinetics of aniline hydrogenation was studied at 343 and 363 K over the ranges in H₂ partial pressure, 0.34–1.38 MPa, aniline concentration, 5.4–21.5 mM and catalyst loading, 0.1–0.6 kg/m³. The reaction orders with respect to aniline and H₂ were found to be 1.3 and 1.0 respectively. © 2012 Canadian Society for Chemical Engineering     

Fabrication of supported Pd–Ir/Al2O3 bimetallic catalysts for 2‐ethylanthraquinone hydrogenation

A series of χ wt % Pd‐(1‐χ) wt % Ir (χ = 0.75, 0.50, and 0.25) catalysts supported on γ‐Al₂O₃ have been prepared by co‐impregnation and calcination‐reduction, and subsequently employed in the hydrogenation of 2‐ethylanthraquinone—a key step in the manufacture of hydrogen peroxide. Detailed studies showed that the size and structure of the bimetallic Pd–Ir particles vary as a function of Pd/Ir ratio. By virtue of its small metal particle size and the strong interaction between Pd and Ir, the 0.75 wt % Pd–0.25 wt % Ir/Al₂O₃ catalyst afforded the highest yield of H₂O₂, some 25.4% higher than that obtained with the monometallic 1 wt % Pd catalyst. Moreover, the concentration of the undesired byproduct 2‐ethyl‐5,6,7,8‐tetrahydroanthraquinone (H₄eAQ) formed using the Pd–Ir bimetallic catalysts was much lower than that observed with the pure Pd catalyst, which can be assigned to the geometric and electronic effects caused by the introduction of Ir. © 2017 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 63: 3955–3965, 2017     

Rhodium‐Catalyzed Enantioselective Hydrogenation of (E)‐Enol Acetate Acids

The novel rhodium complex [Rh(S)‐Phanephos(cod)]‐catalyzed hydrogenation of disubstituted (E)‐enol acetate carboxylic acids is reported. The catalytic cycle works under 30 bar of hydrogen under conventional heating giving different 3‐acetoxy‐2,3‐disubstituted carboxylic acids with ee ≥90%. Hydrogenation occurred also under microwave dielectric heating without eroding the enantioselectivity but improving the overall efficiency of the process. With microwaves, hydrogen pressure and reaction time required for complete hydrogenation dropped to 5 bar and 30 min, respectively. The best performance of this catalyst under microwave irradiation was TON 100, TOF 196 h⁻¹ with ee 99% on a 6‐g scale.     

Synthesis and characterization of degradable copoly(trans‐4‐hydroxy‐L‐proline/ϵ‐caprolactone)

The melt polycondensation reaction of N‐protected trans‐4‐hydroxy‐L ‐proline (N‐Z‐Hpr) and ?‐caprolactone (?‐CL) over a wide range of molar fractions in the feed produced new and degradable poly(N‐Z‐Hpr‐co‐?‐CL)s with stannous octoate as a catalyst. The optimal reaction conditions for the synthesis of the copolymers were obtained with 1.5 wt % stannous octoate at 140°C for 24 h. The synthesized copolymers were characterized by IR spectrophotometry, ¹H NMR, differential scanning calorimetry, and Ubbelohde viscometry. The values of the inherent viscosity (η_inh) and glass‐transition temperature (T_g) of the copolymers depended on the molar fractions of N‐Z‐Hpr. With an increase in the trans‐4‐hydroxy‐N‐benzyloxycarbonyl‐L ‐proline (N‐CBz‐Hpr) feed from 10 to 90 mol %, a decrease in η_inh from 2.47 to 1.05 dL/g, and an increase in T_g from ?48 to 49°C were observed. The in vitro degradation of these poly(N‐CBz‐Hpr‐co‐?‐CL)s was evaluated from weight‐loss measurements. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 88: 3176–3182, 2003     

Hydrogenation of m‐dinitrobenzene to m‐phenylenediamine over La2O3‐promoted Ni/SiO2 catalysts

BACKGROUND: Liquid‐phase catalytic hydrogenation of m‐dinitrobenzene is an environmentally friendly routine for m‐phenylenediamine production. The key to increasing product yield is to develop catalysts with high catalytic performance. In this work, La₂O₃‐modified Ni/SiO₂ catalysts were prepared and applied to the hydrogenation of m‐dinitrobenzene to m‐phenylenediamine. The effect of La₂O₃ loading on the properties of Ni/SiO₂ was investigated. The reaction kinetic study was performed in ethanol over Ni/3%La₂O₃–SiO₂ catalyst, in order to clarify the reaction mechanism of m‐dinitrobenzene hydrogenation. RESULTS: It was found that the activity of the silica supported nickel catalysts is obviously influenced by La₂O₃ loading. Ni/3%La₂O₃–SiO₂ catalyst exhibits high activity owing to its well dispersed nickel species, with conversion of m‐dinitrobenzene and yield of m‐phenylenediamine up to 97.1% and 94%, respectively. The results also show that Ni/3%La₂O₃–SiO₂ catalyst can be reused at least six times without significant loss of activity. CONCLUSION: La₂O₃ shows strong promotion of the effect of Ni/SiO₂ catalyst for liquid‐phase hydrogenation of m‐dinitrobenzene. La₂O₃ loading can affect the properties of Ni/SiO₂ catalyst. Based on the study of m‐dinitrobenzene hydrogenation kinetics over Ni/3%La₂O₃–SiO₂ catalyst, a possible reaction mechanism is proposed. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry     

Liquid‐Phase Hydrogenation of m‐phenoxybenzaldehyde to m‐phenoxybenzylalcohol Using Raney Nickel Catalyst: Reaction Kinetics

Kinetics of the liquid‐phase catalytic hydrogenation of m‐phenoxybenzaldehyde to m‐phenoxybenzyl alcohol have been investigated over the Raney nickel catalyst. Effects of hydrogen partial pressure (500‐2000 kPa), catalyst loading (1.6‐6.4 g.L^?1), m‐phenoxybenzaldehyde concentration (0.2‐0.8 mol.L^?1) and temperature (333‐363 K) on the progress of the reaction were studied. The speed of stirring > 15 rps has no effect on the initial rate of reaction. Effects of various catalysts and solvents on the hydrogenation of m‐phenoxybenzaldehyde have been investigated. The reaction was found to be first order with respect to the hydrogen partial pressure, catalyst loading and m‐phenoxybenzaldehyde concentration. Several Langmuir‐Hinshelwood type models were considered and the experimental data fitted to the model involving surface reaction, between dissociatively adsorbed hydrogen and molecularly adsorbed m‐phenoxybenzaldehyde.     

Thermodynamic hydrogen bonding inpoly(styrene‐co‐acrylic acid)/poly(styrene‐co‐4‐N,N‐dimethylacrylamide) blends

FTIR study of the hydrogen bonding interactions within blends of different ratios of poly(styrene‐co‐acrylic acid) containing 18, 27, and 32 mol% of acrylic acid (SAA) and poly(styrene‐co‐N,N‐dimethylacrylamide) containing 17 mol% of N,N‐dimethylacrylamide (SAD‐17) was carried out qualitatively and quantitatively in the temperature range varying from room temperature to 210°C. Two new bands characterizing these interactions appeared in the 1800–1550 cm^–1 region at 1730 cm^–1 and 1616 cm^–1 and are attributed to “liberated” carbonyl group of the acidic copolymer and the “associated amide” carbonyl group, respectively. Equilibrium constants describing both the self‐association K₂ and inter‐association K_A and the enthalpy of hydrogen bonding formation in the different blends were experimentally determined using a curve fitting analysis of the infra‐red spectra as a function of temperature using the appropriate equations derived from the Painter‐Coleman association model. The obtained results confirm the miscibility of these blends in the considered temperature range from the negative values of the total free energy of mixing ΔG_M. Optimization of the extent of intermolecular interactions between the two polymers in these blends is investigated. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2008. © 2008 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Kinetics of 2,2,6,6‐Tetramethylpiperidine Oxidation over Sn2+ on Ion Exchange Resin

The oxidation of 2,2,6,6‐tetramethylpiperidine (TEMP) over Sn²⁺ on ion exchange resin is carried out in a batch reactor. The influence of the reactant concentrations, reaction temperature and catalyst amount is investigated. Within the temperature range studied, 303–323 K, the reaction follows the second order kinetic equation ‐r_TEMP = kC_TEMPC_H2O2, with reaction rate constant k = 2.2 × 10⁷exp (‐51200/RT) L/mol h. We propose a reaction mechanism different from that for catalyzation by tungstate. The catalyst likely forms complexes with hydroxyl radicals, keeping their concentration steady. At the same time, the catalyst also decreases the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide caused by high temperatures and the reactant 2,2,6,6‐tetramethylpiperidine itself.     

Synthesis,characterization of poly‐2‐ (2‐hydroxybenzylideneamino)‐6‐phenyl‐4,5,6, 7‐tetrahydrobenzo[b]thiophene‐3‐carbonitrile: Investigation of antibacterial activity and optical properties

The oxidative polycondensation reaction conditions of 2‐(2‐hydroxybenzylideneamino)‐6‐phenyl‐4,5,6,7‐tetrahydrobenzo[b]thiophene‐3‐carbonitrile were examined. The magnitude of the reflectance of the polymer decreases sharply with increasing of wavelength up to 524 nm, then reflectance of the polymer increases slowly with increasing of wavelength. The refractive index values of the polymer vary from 1.474 to 2.350. The E_p and E_d values of the polymer were found to be 4.56 and 7.068 eV, respectively. Absorption coefficient K of the polymer is of the order 817.062–1434.77 m^?1. Angle values of incidence and refraction of the polymer vary from 57.36 to 66.95° and from 23.05 to 32.65°, respectively. The film‐phase thickness of the polymer increases with increasing photon energy. The thickness, d, of the polymer was of the order 439.3–4184.7 Å for 190 and 1100 nm, respectively. The real part of dielectric constant of the polymer decreases slowly with increasing of frequency up to about 600 THz, then the real part of dielectric constant of the polymer increases sharply with increasing of frequency. The real and imaginary parts of dielectric constant of the polymer vary from 2.17 to 5.52 and from 5.81 × 10^?5 to 3.58 × 10^?4, respectively. Finally, polymer was tested for antibacterial activities against some bacteria. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2012. © 2012 Society of Plastics Engineers