Halogenated poly(isobutylene-co-isoprene): influence of halogen leaving-group and polymer microstructure on chemical reactivity

Abstract

Brominated (BIIR) and chlorinated (CIIR) poly(isobutylene-co-isoprene) are commercially available materials commonly known as halobutyl rubbers. The effect of leaving-group ability on the reactivity of halogenated poly(isobutylene-co-isoprene) was studied to place iodobutyl rubber reactivity into context with these materials. The effect of microstructure on reactivity of existing commercial materials was studied through comparison to that of polymers containing rearranged halomethyl (r-CIIR, r-BIIR, and r-IIIR) microstructure (prepared from as-received BIIR). The effect of leaving group on both thermal stability and reactivity towards nucleophilic substitution with acetate, N-butylimidazole, and sulfur was examined. The material containing the iodomethyl microstructure (r-IIIR) readily underwent nucleophilic substitution at low temperatures; however, it was extremely sensitive towards dehydrohalogenation at temperatures above 65 °C. At temperatures between 100 and 135 °C, the material containing the bromomethyl microstructure (r-BIIR) demonstrated the greatest balance between reactivity toward nucleophilic substitution and elimination through dehydrohalogenation. Exceptional thermal stability at temperatures up to 190 °C was displayed by the material containing the chloromethyl microstructure (r-CIIR); however, its reactivity towards nucleophiles was variable and nucleophile dependent. Sulfur vulcanization studies showed a clear effect of microstructure on the ability to cure with sulfur. While commercial chlorobutyl rubber has no ability to cure with sulfur alone, when rearranged to its chloromethyl microstructure (r-CIIR), curing occurs readily. Both commercial (BIIR) and rearranged (r-BIIR) bromobutyl rubber readily vulcanize in the presence of sulfur; however, BIIR cures to a greater extent.