Photoinduced ring-opening polymerisation of l-lactide via a photocaged superbase

Abstract

The phototriggered ring-opening polymerisation of L-lactide is demonstrated for the first time using a photocaged tetramethylguanidine. The catalytic activity of the free guanidine was also investigated, showing it to be active for the polymerisation of δ-valerolactone and ε-caprolactone in the presence of a thiourea cocatalyst.