Ring-Opening Polymerization of L-Lactide Catalyzed by Potassium-Based Complexes: Mechanistic Studies.

ABSTRACT: Two non-toxic potassium compounds, 1 and 2, with a commercial oximate ligand have been prepared and fully spectroscopically characterized. Their activity as catalysts for the ring-opening polymerization (ROP) process of LLA has been studied, showing that they are extremely active and able to polymerize the monomer in a few minutes. For derivative 2, the presence of a crown ether in the potassium coordination sphere affects the nuclearity of the compound and consequently its solubility, with both aspects having an influence in the polymerization process. Detailed studies of the polymerization mechanism have been performed, and an unusual anionic mechanism was observed in absence of a co-initiator. Indeed, the monomer deprotonation generates a lactide enolate, which init

SUBMITTER: Rentero C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9329769 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature