Chain end-group selectivity using an organometallic Al(iii)/K(i) ring-opening copolymerization catalyst delivers high molar mass, monodisperse polyesters† † Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available. See https://doi.org/10.1039/d2sc02752f

ABSTRACT: Polyesters are important plastics, elastomers and fibres; efficient and selective polymerizations making predictable, high molar mass polymers are required. Here, a new type of catalyst for the ring-opening polymerization (ROCOP) of epoxides and anhydrides combines unusually high chain end-group selectivity, fast rates, and good molar mass control. The organometallic heterodinuclear Al(iii)/K(i) complex, applied with a diol, is tolerant to a range of epoxides/phthalic anhydride and produces only α,ω-hydroxyl telechelic polyesters with molar masses from 6–91 kg mol−1, in all cases with monomodal distributions. As proof of its potential, high molar mass poly(vinyl cyclohexene oxide-alt-phthalic anhydride) (91 kg mol−1) shows 5× greater flexural strain at break (εb = 3.7%) and 9× higher maxim

SUBMITTER: Diment W 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9337735 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature