Dual catalysis for the copolymerisation of epoxides and lactones†
Naomi E.
Clayman, 
‡a
Lilliana S.
Morris,
‡b
Anne M.
LaPointe,
b
Ivan
Keresztes,
b
Robert M.
Waymouth
*a
and
Geoffrey W.
Coates
*b
‡a
Lilliana S.
Morris,
‡b
Anne M.
LaPointe,
b
Ivan
Keresztes,
b
Robert M.
Waymouth
*a
and
Geoffrey W.
Coates
*b
Abstract
A dual catalysis system was developed to synthesize hydrolyzable polyether–polyester copolymers from propylene oxide and cyclic esters such as γ-butyrolactone, δ-valerolactone, and ε-caprolactone. A bimetallic chromium catalyst active for the enantioselective polymerisation of propylene oxide and an organocatalyst active for the ring-opening polymerisation of lactones were used in conjunction with an alcohol chain shuttling agent to create new copolymers. The monomer and alcohol ratios were varied to yield a wide range of copolymers with varying monomer ratios, molecular weights, and crystallinities.
- This article is part of the themed collection: Switchable Catalysis
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