Organocatalytic Ring-Opening Polymerization of Methyl-Substituted Glycolides.

ABSTRACT: Aliphatic polyesters derived from the ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of cyclic esters offers access to sustainable, depolymerizable, and renewable materials. Herein, we report the first organocatalytic ROP of dimethyl glycolide (DMG) and tetramethyl glycolide (TMG), synthesized from biobased α-hydroxy acids via an acylation/cyclization pathway. Using a metal-free catalytic system comprising phosphazene base (P₂-Et), thiourea (TU), and benzyl alcohol (BnOH) as the initiator, racemization-free poly-(dimethylglycolide) (PDMG) and poly-(tetramethylglycolide) (PTMG) were synthesized at room temperature. The resulting polyesters exhibited predictable molecular weights, low dispersity indices (Đ ≤ 1.25), and no transesterification, confirmed by ¹H NMR, SEC, and MAL

SUBMITTER: Nikam SB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12511978 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature