Issue 24, 2015

Organophosphate-catalyzed bulk ring-opening polymerization as an environmentally benign route leading to block copolyesters, end-functionalized polyesters, and polyester-based polyurethane

Abstract

The ring-opening polymerizations (ROPs) of ε-caprolactone (ε-CL), δ-valerolactone, 1,5-dioxepan-2-one, trimethylene carbonate, and L-lactide were performed in the bulk using an organophosphate, such as diphenyl phosphate, bis(4-nitrophenyl)phosphate, and di(2,6-xylyl)phosphate, as the catalyst. The ROPs proceeded in a well-controlled manner even under the bulk conditions to afford well-defined aliphatic polyesters, polyester–ether, and polycarbonate with relatively low dispersities. Notably, the amount of the loaded catalyst was successfully reduced when compared to the conventional organophosphate-catalyzed ROP in solution. A kinetic study revealed the controlled/living nature of the present bulk ROP system, which allowed us to produce the block copolymers composed of polyesters, polyester–ether, and polycarbonate in one pot. Syntheses of the end-functionalized poly(ε-caprolactone)s (PCLs) and poly(trimethylene carbonate) were successfully demonstrated using alcohol initiators possessing highly reactive functional groups. Furthermore, the α,ω-dihydroxy telechelic PCL-diol as well as the three- and four-armed star-shaped PCL-polyols were also easily obtained by using the polyols as an initiator. Finally, the one-pot synthesis of polyurethane via the ROP of ε-CL and a subsequent urethane forming reaction was demonstrated by taking advantage of the dual catalytic abilities of the organophosphate for both the ROP and polyurethane synthesis.

Graphical abstract: Organophosphate-catalyzed bulk ring-opening polymerization as an environmentally benign route leading to block copolyesters, end-functionalized polyesters, and polyester-based polyurethane

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
10 Apr 2015
Accepted
02 May 2015
First published
05 May 2015

Polym. Chem., 2015,6, 4374-4384

Author version available

Organophosphate-catalyzed bulk ring-opening polymerization as an environmentally benign route leading to block copolyesters, end-functionalized polyesters, and polyester-based polyurethane

T. Saito, Y. Aizawa, K. Tajima, T. Isono and T. Satoh, Polym. Chem., 2015, 6, 4374 DOI: 10.1039/C5PY00533G

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