ABSTRACT:Mixture of poly(r-benzyl L-glutamate) and poly(r-benzyl o-glutamate) have a special interaction between the benzyl groups at the end of the side chain and have different properties from the pure enantiomorphic form of poly(r-benzyl glutamate). A reversible first-order transition has been observed and ascribed to the formation and breakdown of stackings of the benzyl groups at the end of the side chain. The isothermal transition was investigated by dilatometry and studied in light of present concepts of crystallization in crystalline polymers. Plots of extent of isothermal transition vs. time were sigmoidal in shape and fitted the Avrami equation. The exponent in the A vrami equation was 4. The reciprocal half-time of the transition was taken as a measure of the overall rate of transition. Plots of logarithm of transition rate against
Tm[T(Tm-T)]-1 and Tm2[T(Tm-T)2]-I, whereTm is the temperature for the breakdown of stacking of the benzyl groups, taken as 100.2°C, and Tis the stack formation temperature, gave reasonably good straight lines. Thus, as is usually found with polymers, no discrimination could be made between two possible mechanisms of the transition; two-dimensional or three-dimensional nucleations.KEY WORDS The structure of the racemic form of poly(rbenzyl glutamate) (PBG) is different from that of pure poly(r-benzyl L-glutamate) (PBLG) or pure poly(r-benzyl n-glutamate) (PBDG). 1 ' 2 ' 3 The structural studies on the racemic form of PBG have revealed that regular side-chain conformations are formed between the benzyl groups; stackings of the benzyl groups at the end of the side chain are formed between neighbouring PBLG and PBDG molecules.in light of present concepts of crystallization in crystalline polymers.
EXPERIMENTAL
Synthesis and Specimenr-benzyl glutamate N-carboxyanhydride (NCA) was prepared by the method proposed by Leuch. 5 The polymerization was initiated with triethylamine and was completed in about one day at room temperature. The molecular weights of PBLG and PBDG, which were computed from the relation of intrinsic viscosity and molecular weight, were 170,000 and 150,000, respectively. Some studies of the transition due to the breakdown of stacking in the racemic mixture of PBG have been reported by Fukuzawa, et al. 4 From thermal analysis and dilatometric measurements, a first-order transition was observed at about 95°C. In this paper the kinetics of the formation of stacking is investigated and studied * To whom correspondence should be addressed.
96The mixtures of PBLG and PBDG were dissolved in 1,2-dichloroethane at a concentration below 0.05 (wjv). Films 0.01-cm thick were cast at room temperature from the solution. Specimens were heated once to 140°C and then cooled