Issue 30, 2015

Ring-opening copolymerization (ROCOP): synthesis and properties of polyesters and polycarbonates

Abstract

Controlled routes to prepare polyesters and polycarbonates are of interest due to the widespread application of these materials and the opportunities provided to prepare new copolymers. Furthermore, ring-opening copolymerization may enable new poly(ester–carbonate) materials to be prepared which are inaccessible using alternative polymerizations. This review highlights recent advances in the ring-opening copolymerization catalysis, using epoxides coupled with anhydrides or CO2, to produce polyesters and polycarbonates. In particular, the structures and performances of various homogeneous catalysts are presented for the epoxide–anhydride copolymerization. The properties of the resultant polyesters and polycarbonates are presented and future opportunities highlighted for developments of both the materials and catalysts.

Graphical abstract: Ring-opening copolymerization (ROCOP): synthesis and properties of polyesters and polycarbonates

Article information

Article type
Feature Article
Submitted
18 Dec 2014
Accepted
29 Jan 2015
First published
17 Feb 2015
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY license

Chem. Commun., 2015,51, 6459-6479

Ring-opening copolymerization (ROCOP): synthesis and properties of polyesters and polycarbonates

S. Paul, Y. Zhu, C. Romain, R. Brooks, P. K. Saini and C. K. Williams, Chem. Commun., 2015, 51, 6459 DOI: 10.1039/C4CC10113H

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