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First all-union conference on the chemistry and physical chemistry of oligomers capable of polymerization
F i r s t All-Union Conference
1309
The system of calculation described therefore enables elasticity moduli of rigid chain polymers to be evaluated from the chemical structure of recurrent units, therefore, together with the system used to determine C, [1] it is evidently of definite significance for the controlled synthesis ofr optically sensitive polymers with previously given optical and mechanical properties. Tranalate~ by E. SE~.m~
REFERENCES 1. A. A. ASKADSKII~ S. N. PROZOROVA and G. L. SLONIMSK[I~ Vysokomol. soyed. A I 8 : 636, 1976 (Translated in Polymer Sci. U.S.S.R. 18: 3, 726, 1976) 2. G.L. SLONIMSKII and A. A. ASKADSKII, Vysokomol. soyod. A13: 1917, 1971 (Translated in Polymer Sci. U.S.S.R. 13: 8, 2158, 1971) 3. A. A. ASKADSKII, Vysokomol. soyed. A9: 418, 1967 (Translated in Polymer Sci. U.S.S.R. 9: 2, 471, 1967) 4. L. K. YARALOV, A. S. MARSHALKOVICH and S. L. SOSIN, Vysokomol. soyod. B l S : 860, 1973 (Not translated in Polymer Sci. U.S.S.R.) 5. K. KAVATA, Pura~utikusu 5: No. 3, 26, 1954 6. A. S. MARSHALKOVICH, K a n a d i d a t s k a y a dissertatsiya (Post-Graduate Thesis). Moscow, M I S I ira. V. V. Kuibysheva, 1973
]Polymer Science U.S.S.R. Vol. 20, pp. 1309-1312.
0032-3950/7810501-1309507.50/0
(~ Pergamon Press Ltd. 1979. Printed in Poland
REPORTS FIRST ALL-UNION CONFERENCE ON THE CHEMISTRY ANI) PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY OF OLIGOMERS CAPABLE OF POLYMERIZATION * S. M. MEZHIKOVSKIIand D. B. IzYu~mv THE first All-Union Conference on the chemistry and physical chemistry of oligomers capable~ of polymerization (OP) was held from 13 to 15 September, 1977 in the Noginsk Scientific Centre of the U.S.S.R. A c a d e m y of Sciences, organized by the scientific Council on High Molecular Weight Compounds, U.S.S.R. Academy of Sciences and the Institute of Chemical Physics, U.S.S.R. A c a d e m y of Sciences under the patronage of the U.S.S.R. Academy of Sciences, G K N T , M K h P , and MNKhP. Over 450 specialists from 92 organizations of the country took p a r t in the work of the Conference. Opening the Conference, Academician N. N. Screener noted t h a t no specialist symposia have been held in tile world dealing with oligomers and t h a t a similar Conference held f o r the first time in the Soviet Union reflects the leading role of Soviet polymer science in thi~ field. * Vysokomol. soyed. A20: No. 5, 1160-1162, 1978.
1310
S. M. M~zm~ovsr~u and D. B. I z r u ~ o v
General problems of the chemistry and physical chemistry of oligomers, problems of synthesizing OP, kinetics and mechanism of three dimensional polymerization and correlations of the structures of three dimensional crosslinked polymers and their properties and physical and chemical and technological foundations for processing oligomer and polymeroligomer compositions, were examined at the Conference. A special "round table" session dealt with problems of the mechanism and topology of network formation from OP. In his paper entitled "Main Trends in the Development and Some Problems of the Chemistry of OP and polymers" A. A. Berlin reviewed the history of development of the chemistry and physico-chemistry of oligomers. The author also proposed some physical c~iteria, which e~plain the separation of the chemistry and physico-chemistry of oligomers into a special study. To solve the problem of OP synthesis with a given MW, MWD, distribution according to the type and number of functional groups and the requisite size of the oligomcr unit, the following general methods were proposed: regulation of chain extension and rupture in polyreactions, chemical conversions in oligomer chains and macromolecular breakdown of high polymers. Each was illustrated by the synthesis of oligomers of different chemical structures. By an analysis of literature results the author proposed a three dimensional system for the polymerization of OP, passing through the stage of formation of a fl-polymer. Finally, properties of some crosslinked polymers obtained from oligomer and polymeroligomer compositions were described. In his paper "Physical and Chemical Properties of Oligomer Systems" Yu. S. Lipatov, Academician of the Ukr. S.S.R. Academy of Sciences (Institute of the Chemistry of High Molecular Weight Compounds, Ukr. S.S.R. Academy of Sciences) noted that the physicochemistry of oligomers had developed to a lesser extent than the physico-chemistry of polymers and gave some information about thermodynamic properties of oligomors and their solutions and the flexibility of oligomer molecules. The author analysed ideas about the structural viscosity of oligomers, its dependence on the type of molecular interaction, shear velocity and stress, etc. Causes of association and structure formation in oligomers and the effect of these processes on properties of oligomers themselves and on products of conversion were analysed. Finally, thermodynamic and rheological properties of oligomer compounds were examined. In a paper "Quantitative Aspects of the Synthesis of Reactive Oligomers and the Formation of Linear and Three Dimensional Polymers" S. G. Entelis (Institute of Chemical Physics, U.S.S.R. Academy of Sciences) examined in detail the problem of quantitative evaluation of oligomers according to the distribution of the type of functionality (DTF) and MWD, analysed the causes of damage in the functionality of oligomer molecules in various processes of polymerization, demonstrated a model, from which the quantitative relation between characteristics of the oligomor and polymer were established. Problems of synthesis of different OP were examined in detail by Acad. K. A. Andrianova and A. B. Zachernynk (INEOS, U.S.S.R. Academy of Sciences) in a paper entitled "Progress and Future in Hctero-organic OP and Polymers Therefrom", by N. G. Matveyeva (IKhF, U.S.S.R. Academy of Sciences) in "Synthesis of OP with Uneaturatecl Groups and Materials on their Basis", Prof. S. S. Ivanchev (ONPO "PIastpolymcr") in "Synthesis, Properties, Reactivity and Field of Application of Oligomers with Peroxide Functional Groups", V. I. Zapadinskii and B. I. Liogon'kii (IKhF U.S.S.R. Academy of Sciences) in "Fundamental Progress in the Field of Synthesis of OP with Polyconjugated Units and Materials of High Heat Resistance Prepared from Them" and G. N. Petrov (VNIISK) in "Progress in the Synthesis of OP with Reactive Functional Groups to obtain Elastomers". A detailed study was made in these papers of main methods of synthesis and modern views abou~ mechanisms of obtaining different OP and some physical and chemical properties of OP themselves and linear and three dimensional polymers prepared from them.
F i r s t All-Union Conference
1311
Acad. N. S. Yenikolopyan (Institute of Chemical Physics, U.S.S.R. A c a d e m y of Sciences) gave a p a p e r "Some Problems of Forming Crosslinked Polymers from E p o x y Oligomers" in which he generalized results of a composite s t u d y of both reactions modelling individual stages of synthesis of epoxicTe oligomers to obtain individual substances described to a m a x i m u m extent and s t u d y in detail the reaction rnechanism and kinetics of throe dimensional polymerization, which enabled the molecular structure of a crosslinked polymer to be examined without considering the heterogeneity (variable MWD and DTF) of the initial diepoxide. A detailed experimental s t u d y of the thermodynamics a n d kinetics of solidificatiorl of epoxide oligomers by diamines under various thermal conditions shows t h a t according to the size and geometry of solidified products, the process m a y take place either under quasi-adiabatic conditions or under conditions of extended reaction front. A mathematical model of the solidification of large products and the solution of the optimized thermal state were examined in the study. Results of calculations were confirmed experimentally. Kinetics of obtaining high strength polymers were dealt with by Prof. G. V. Korolev ( O I K h F , U.S.S.R. Academy of Sciences) in a paper entitled "Kinetics and Mechanism of F o r m a t i o n of a Polymer by Radical I n i t i a t e d Three Dimensional Polymerization". Since three dimensional polymerization is accompanied by structural and physical processes, as well as chernic~fl conversions (chain aggregation, phase separation, syneresis, redistribution of molecular interactions, etc.) the author proposed a model for a damaged polymer network using "microheterogeneity parameters". Using triethylene glycol dimethacrylate, factors responsible for the strength properties during three dimensional polymerization were revealed and a kinetic approach proposed for "closing u p " defects. Kinetic aspects of polymerization of unsaturated oligoesters in thin layers were examined by Prof. M. 5I. Mogilevich (YAP1) in his paper "Specific Features of Oxidizing Polymerization of Oligomers". In her paper " F e a t u r e s of Kinetics and the Mechanism of F o r m a t i o n of Polyurethanes from Oligorner Glycols" T. E. L i p a t o v a (IOKh AN Ukr. SSR) generalized original and literature results concerning mi~oTation polymerization of oligomors and showed the effect of p r e p a r a t o r y ordering in liquid phase on kinetics and chemistry of conversions and on the structure of products formed. In a paper entitled "Some Aspects of the Relation between the Structure and Three I)imensional Crosslinked Polymers and their Physical and Mechanical Properties" using three dimensional polymers based on epoxy oligomers Prof. B. A. Rosenberg examined the effect of molecular, topological and superrnolecular structure of dense, three dimensional polymers on properties. Prof. P. I. Zubov and L. A. Sukhareva (Institute of Physical Chemistry, U.S.S.R. Academy of Sciences) gave a paper "Effect of Structural Conversions in Forming Coatings from Oligorners on Properties" in which they dealt with the role of supermolecular structure in forming coatings from oligoestcr malcates, oligoepoxides, oligourcthancs, oligooster acrylat¢~s and other OP. Molecular mobility and relaxation properties of polyester acrylates was the subject of the p;~per by Prof. I. I. Percpechko, A. D. Nauonov (N. K. K r u p s k a y a MOPI) and Yu. M. Siil~,rgin (Institute of Ctmrnical Physics, U.S.S.I~. Academy of Sciences) entitled "Relaxation Processes and Structure of Three Dimensional Polymers". Scientific and technological problems of using oligorners, OP compounds and p o l y m e r oligomer systems were examined in the paper by S. M. Mezhikovskii (Institute of Chemical Physics, U.S.S.R. A c a d e m y of Sciences) "Some Physical and Chemical and Technological Aspects of the Polymer-Oligomer principle of Modifying High Polymers, B. G. Zadontseva (Ukr. NIIPlastmass) "Problems and Achievements in the Field of Obtaining and Processing Polymer-Oligomer Materials", Yu. L. Morozov (NIIR) "Technological and E.ngineering Problems of Liquid F o r m a t i o n of O P " and Prof. A. S. Kuz'minskii ( N I I R P ) "Problems and
1312
Aleksandr Vasil'yevich Topchiyev
Achievements in the Field of Chemical F o r m a t i o n of R T I " . Using several concrete oligomer and polyrner-oligomer systems physical and chemical methods of research, the main prin. ciples of preparation and processing were examined. The whole complex of problems (kinetic, topological, thermodynamic, structural, etc.) arising from the s t u d y of three dimensional polymerization of OP was dealt with in detail during the " r o u n d table" discussion, in which L. S. Priss (NIIShP), E. F. Oleinik (Inst. of Chemical Physics, U.S.S.R. A c a d e m y of Sciences), L. Ya. R a p p o p o r t (VNIISK), S. M. Baturin ( O I K h F , U.S.S.R. Academy of Sciences, V. U. Novikov (VZPI), e~ aL took part. The Conference summarized theoretical, experimental and applied studies concerning the chemistry and physico-ehemistry of OP and determined the main trends of studies in coming years. The proceedings of the Conference are published in the form of a two volume collection of papers. The second Conference on the Chemistry and Physico-chemistry of O P is to be held in 1979 in Donetsk.
Translated by E. SE~RE
oo32-395o/78/o5o1-13125o7.5o]0
Polymer Science U.S.8.R. Vol. 20, pp. 1312-1314. ~) Pergamon Press Ltd. 1979. Printed in Poland
ALEKSANDR VASIL'YEVICH TOPCHIYEV* (1907-1962) (On his 70th birthday)
I n addition to several other fields of organic chemistry, the development of a t least, two very i m p o r t a n t trends of polymer science--the chemistry of polyolefins and the chemistry and physico-ehemistry of polyconj ugated systems is linked with the name of Acad. Aleksandr Vasil'yevich Topchiyev and the group of scientists he supervised for m a n y years in t h e I n s t i t u t e of petrochemical synthesis, U.S.S.R. Academy of Sciences. Polymerization of unsaturated hydrocarbons has a t t r a c t e d the attention of A. V. Topchiyev for m a n y years. The first studies in this field carried out in the 40-50-s were linked with the creation and s t u d y by A. V. Topchiyev et al., of a number of new catalytic systems based on boron fluoride and its esterates, which are highly active in alkylation o f aromatic hydrocarbons by olefins and polymerization of the latter to form polymer-gasolines. I t is therefore natural t h a t the discovery in the middle 50-s by N a t t a and his school o f fundamentally new stereospecific catalysts and original principles of synthesis formerly unavailable for high molecular weight polyolefins, first of all polyprepylene, could not be outside A. V. Topchiyev's field of scientific interests. After publishing Ziegler's first reporta a b o u t organo-metallic composite catalysts in ethylene polymerization and subsequent brief publics tions by N a t t a concerning stereospecific catalysis in polymerization of ~-olefins, A. V. Topchiyev formed a scientific group and carried out a broad eircule of scientific studies in various directions of stereospecifie polymerization of phosphines and some derivatives. Under the direct guidance of A. V. Topchiyev a system of preparing isotactie poly. * Vysokomol. soyed. A20: No. 5, 1163-1164, 1978.
1309
The system of calculation described therefore enables elasticity moduli of rigid chain polymers to be evaluated from the chemical structure of recurrent units, therefore, together with the system used to determine C, [1] it is evidently of definite significance for the controlled synthesis ofr optically sensitive polymers with previously given optical and mechanical properties. Tranalate~ by E. SE~.m~
REFERENCES 1. A. A. ASKADSKII~ S. N. PROZOROVA and G. L. SLONIMSK[I~ Vysokomol. soyed. A I 8 : 636, 1976 (Translated in Polymer Sci. U.S.S.R. 18: 3, 726, 1976) 2. G.L. SLONIMSKII and A. A. ASKADSKII, Vysokomol. soyod. A13: 1917, 1971 (Translated in Polymer Sci. U.S.S.R. 13: 8, 2158, 1971) 3. A. A. ASKADSKII, Vysokomol. soyed. A9: 418, 1967 (Translated in Polymer Sci. U.S.S.R. 9: 2, 471, 1967) 4. L. K. YARALOV, A. S. MARSHALKOVICH and S. L. SOSIN, Vysokomol. soyod. B l S : 860, 1973 (Not translated in Polymer Sci. U.S.S.R.) 5. K. KAVATA, Pura~utikusu 5: No. 3, 26, 1954 6. A. S. MARSHALKOVICH, K a n a d i d a t s k a y a dissertatsiya (Post-Graduate Thesis). Moscow, M I S I ira. V. V. Kuibysheva, 1973
]Polymer Science U.S.S.R. Vol. 20, pp. 1309-1312.
0032-3950/7810501-1309507.50/0
(~ Pergamon Press Ltd. 1979. Printed in Poland
REPORTS FIRST ALL-UNION CONFERENCE ON THE CHEMISTRY ANI) PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY OF OLIGOMERS CAPABLE OF POLYMERIZATION * S. M. MEZHIKOVSKIIand D. B. IzYu~mv THE first All-Union Conference on the chemistry and physical chemistry of oligomers capable~ of polymerization (OP) was held from 13 to 15 September, 1977 in the Noginsk Scientific Centre of the U.S.S.R. A c a d e m y of Sciences, organized by the scientific Council on High Molecular Weight Compounds, U.S.S.R. Academy of Sciences and the Institute of Chemical Physics, U.S.S.R. A c a d e m y of Sciences under the patronage of the U.S.S.R. Academy of Sciences, G K N T , M K h P , and MNKhP. Over 450 specialists from 92 organizations of the country took p a r t in the work of the Conference. Opening the Conference, Academician N. N. Screener noted t h a t no specialist symposia have been held in tile world dealing with oligomers and t h a t a similar Conference held f o r the first time in the Soviet Union reflects the leading role of Soviet polymer science in thi~ field. * Vysokomol. soyed. A20: No. 5, 1160-1162, 1978.
1310
S. M. M~zm~ovsr~u and D. B. I z r u ~ o v
General problems of the chemistry and physical chemistry of oligomers, problems of synthesizing OP, kinetics and mechanism of three dimensional polymerization and correlations of the structures of three dimensional crosslinked polymers and their properties and physical and chemical and technological foundations for processing oligomer and polymeroligomer compositions, were examined at the Conference. A special "round table" session dealt with problems of the mechanism and topology of network formation from OP. In his paper entitled "Main Trends in the Development and Some Problems of the Chemistry of OP and polymers" A. A. Berlin reviewed the history of development of the chemistry and physico-chemistry of oligomers. The author also proposed some physical c~iteria, which e~plain the separation of the chemistry and physico-chemistry of oligomers into a special study. To solve the problem of OP synthesis with a given MW, MWD, distribution according to the type and number of functional groups and the requisite size of the oligomcr unit, the following general methods were proposed: regulation of chain extension and rupture in polyreactions, chemical conversions in oligomer chains and macromolecular breakdown of high polymers. Each was illustrated by the synthesis of oligomers of different chemical structures. By an analysis of literature results the author proposed a three dimensional system for the polymerization of OP, passing through the stage of formation of a fl-polymer. Finally, properties of some crosslinked polymers obtained from oligomer and polymeroligomer compositions were described. In his paper "Physical and Chemical Properties of Oligomer Systems" Yu. S. Lipatov, Academician of the Ukr. S.S.R. Academy of Sciences (Institute of the Chemistry of High Molecular Weight Compounds, Ukr. S.S.R. Academy of Sciences) noted that the physicochemistry of oligomers had developed to a lesser extent than the physico-chemistry of polymers and gave some information about thermodynamic properties of oligomors and their solutions and the flexibility of oligomer molecules. The author analysed ideas about the structural viscosity of oligomers, its dependence on the type of molecular interaction, shear velocity and stress, etc. Causes of association and structure formation in oligomers and the effect of these processes on properties of oligomers themselves and on products of conversion were analysed. Finally, thermodynamic and rheological properties of oligomer compounds were examined. In a paper "Quantitative Aspects of the Synthesis of Reactive Oligomers and the Formation of Linear and Three Dimensional Polymers" S. G. Entelis (Institute of Chemical Physics, U.S.S.R. Academy of Sciences) examined in detail the problem of quantitative evaluation of oligomers according to the distribution of the type of functionality (DTF) and MWD, analysed the causes of damage in the functionality of oligomer molecules in various processes of polymerization, demonstrated a model, from which the quantitative relation between characteristics of the oligomor and polymer were established. Problems of synthesis of different OP were examined in detail by Acad. K. A. Andrianova and A. B. Zachernynk (INEOS, U.S.S.R. Academy of Sciences) in a paper entitled "Progress and Future in Hctero-organic OP and Polymers Therefrom", by N. G. Matveyeva (IKhF, U.S.S.R. Academy of Sciences) in "Synthesis of OP with Uneaturatecl Groups and Materials on their Basis", Prof. S. S. Ivanchev (ONPO "PIastpolymcr") in "Synthesis, Properties, Reactivity and Field of Application of Oligomers with Peroxide Functional Groups", V. I. Zapadinskii and B. I. Liogon'kii (IKhF U.S.S.R. Academy of Sciences) in "Fundamental Progress in the Field of Synthesis of OP with Polyconjugated Units and Materials of High Heat Resistance Prepared from Them" and G. N. Petrov (VNIISK) in "Progress in the Synthesis of OP with Reactive Functional Groups to obtain Elastomers". A detailed study was made in these papers of main methods of synthesis and modern views abou~ mechanisms of obtaining different OP and some physical and chemical properties of OP themselves and linear and three dimensional polymers prepared from them.
F i r s t All-Union Conference
1311
Acad. N. S. Yenikolopyan (Institute of Chemical Physics, U.S.S.R. A c a d e m y of Sciences) gave a p a p e r "Some Problems of Forming Crosslinked Polymers from E p o x y Oligomers" in which he generalized results of a composite s t u d y of both reactions modelling individual stages of synthesis of epoxicTe oligomers to obtain individual substances described to a m a x i m u m extent and s t u d y in detail the reaction rnechanism and kinetics of throe dimensional polymerization, which enabled the molecular structure of a crosslinked polymer to be examined without considering the heterogeneity (variable MWD and DTF) of the initial diepoxide. A detailed experimental s t u d y of the thermodynamics a n d kinetics of solidificatiorl of epoxide oligomers by diamines under various thermal conditions shows t h a t according to the size and geometry of solidified products, the process m a y take place either under quasi-adiabatic conditions or under conditions of extended reaction front. A mathematical model of the solidification of large products and the solution of the optimized thermal state were examined in the study. Results of calculations were confirmed experimentally. Kinetics of obtaining high strength polymers were dealt with by Prof. G. V. Korolev ( O I K h F , U.S.S.R. Academy of Sciences) in a paper entitled "Kinetics and Mechanism of F o r m a t i o n of a Polymer by Radical I n i t i a t e d Three Dimensional Polymerization". Since three dimensional polymerization is accompanied by structural and physical processes, as well as chernic~fl conversions (chain aggregation, phase separation, syneresis, redistribution of molecular interactions, etc.) the author proposed a model for a damaged polymer network using "microheterogeneity parameters". Using triethylene glycol dimethacrylate, factors responsible for the strength properties during three dimensional polymerization were revealed and a kinetic approach proposed for "closing u p " defects. Kinetic aspects of polymerization of unsaturated oligoesters in thin layers were examined by Prof. M. 5I. Mogilevich (YAP1) in his paper "Specific Features of Oxidizing Polymerization of Oligomers". In her paper " F e a t u r e s of Kinetics and the Mechanism of F o r m a t i o n of Polyurethanes from Oligorner Glycols" T. E. L i p a t o v a (IOKh AN Ukr. SSR) generalized original and literature results concerning mi~oTation polymerization of oligomors and showed the effect of p r e p a r a t o r y ordering in liquid phase on kinetics and chemistry of conversions and on the structure of products formed. In a paper entitled "Some Aspects of the Relation between the Structure and Three I)imensional Crosslinked Polymers and their Physical and Mechanical Properties" using three dimensional polymers based on epoxy oligomers Prof. B. A. Rosenberg examined the effect of molecular, topological and superrnolecular structure of dense, three dimensional polymers on properties. Prof. P. I. Zubov and L. A. Sukhareva (Institute of Physical Chemistry, U.S.S.R. Academy of Sciences) gave a paper "Effect of Structural Conversions in Forming Coatings from Oligorners on Properties" in which they dealt with the role of supermolecular structure in forming coatings from oligoestcr malcates, oligoepoxides, oligourcthancs, oligooster acrylat¢~s and other OP. Molecular mobility and relaxation properties of polyester acrylates was the subject of the p;~per by Prof. I. I. Percpechko, A. D. Nauonov (N. K. K r u p s k a y a MOPI) and Yu. M. Siil~,rgin (Institute of Ctmrnical Physics, U.S.S.I~. Academy of Sciences) entitled "Relaxation Processes and Structure of Three Dimensional Polymers". Scientific and technological problems of using oligorners, OP compounds and p o l y m e r oligomer systems were examined in the paper by S. M. Mezhikovskii (Institute of Chemical Physics, U.S.S.R. A c a d e m y of Sciences) "Some Physical and Chemical and Technological Aspects of the Polymer-Oligomer principle of Modifying High Polymers, B. G. Zadontseva (Ukr. NIIPlastmass) "Problems and Achievements in the Field of Obtaining and Processing Polymer-Oligomer Materials", Yu. L. Morozov (NIIR) "Technological and E.ngineering Problems of Liquid F o r m a t i o n of O P " and Prof. A. S. Kuz'minskii ( N I I R P ) "Problems and
1312
Aleksandr Vasil'yevich Topchiyev
Achievements in the Field of Chemical F o r m a t i o n of R T I " . Using several concrete oligomer and polyrner-oligomer systems physical and chemical methods of research, the main prin. ciples of preparation and processing were examined. The whole complex of problems (kinetic, topological, thermodynamic, structural, etc.) arising from the s t u d y of three dimensional polymerization of OP was dealt with in detail during the " r o u n d table" discussion, in which L. S. Priss (NIIShP), E. F. Oleinik (Inst. of Chemical Physics, U.S.S.R. A c a d e m y of Sciences), L. Ya. R a p p o p o r t (VNIISK), S. M. Baturin ( O I K h F , U.S.S.R. Academy of Sciences, V. U. Novikov (VZPI), e~ aL took part. The Conference summarized theoretical, experimental and applied studies concerning the chemistry and physico-ehemistry of OP and determined the main trends of studies in coming years. The proceedings of the Conference are published in the form of a two volume collection of papers. The second Conference on the Chemistry and Physico-chemistry of O P is to be held in 1979 in Donetsk.
Translated by E. SE~RE
oo32-395o/78/o5o1-13125o7.5o]0
Polymer Science U.S.8.R. Vol. 20, pp. 1312-1314. ~) Pergamon Press Ltd. 1979. Printed in Poland
ALEKSANDR VASIL'YEVICH TOPCHIYEV* (1907-1962) (On his 70th birthday)
I n addition to several other fields of organic chemistry, the development of a t least, two very i m p o r t a n t trends of polymer science--the chemistry of polyolefins and the chemistry and physico-ehemistry of polyconj ugated systems is linked with the name of Acad. Aleksandr Vasil'yevich Topchiyev and the group of scientists he supervised for m a n y years in t h e I n s t i t u t e of petrochemical synthesis, U.S.S.R. Academy of Sciences. Polymerization of unsaturated hydrocarbons has a t t r a c t e d the attention of A. V. Topchiyev for m a n y years. The first studies in this field carried out in the 40-50-s were linked with the creation and s t u d y by A. V. Topchiyev et al., of a number of new catalytic systems based on boron fluoride and its esterates, which are highly active in alkylation o f aromatic hydrocarbons by olefins and polymerization of the latter to form polymer-gasolines. I t is therefore natural t h a t the discovery in the middle 50-s by N a t t a and his school o f fundamentally new stereospecific catalysts and original principles of synthesis formerly unavailable for high molecular weight polyolefins, first of all polyprepylene, could not be outside A. V. Topchiyev's field of scientific interests. After publishing Ziegler's first reporta a b o u t organo-metallic composite catalysts in ethylene polymerization and subsequent brief publics tions by N a t t a concerning stereospecific catalysis in polymerization of ~-olefins, A. V. Topchiyev formed a scientific group and carried out a broad eircule of scientific studies in various directions of stereospecifie polymerization of phosphines and some derivatives. Under the direct guidance of A. V. Topchiyev a system of preparing isotactie poly. * Vysokomol. soyed. A20: No. 5, 1163-1164, 1978.