Nontoxic N-Heterocyclic Olefin Catalyst Systems for Well-Defined Polymerization of Biocompatible Aliphatic Polycarbonates.

ABSTRACT: Herein, N-heterocyclic olefins (NHOs) are utilized as catalysts for the ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of functional aliphatic carbonates. This emerging class of catalysts provides high reactivity and rapid conversion. Aiming for the polymerization of monomers with high side chain functionality, six-membered carbonates derived from 2,2-bis(hydroxymethyl)propionic acid (bis-MPA) served as model compounds. Tuning the reactivity of NHO from predominant side chain transesterification at room temperature toward ring-opening at lowered temperatures (-40 °C) enables controlled ROP. These refined conditions give narrowly distributed polymers of the hydrophobic carbonate 5-methyl-5-benzyloxycarbonyl-1,3-dioxan-2-one (MTC-OBn) (Đ < 1.30) at (pseudo)first-order kinetic polymerization

SUBMITTER: Czysch C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9955374 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature