Continuous flow ring-opening polymerizations

Abstract

Ring-opening polymerization is one of the three polymerization methodologies, together with addition polymerization and polycondensation. Poly(ester), poly(2-oxazoline), poly(phosphoester), poly(ether), poly(amino acid) and nylon 6 are mainly synthesized via ring-opening polymerizations of their corresponding cyclic monomers. To obtain well-defined and cost-effective polymers, the combination of ring-opening polymerization and microflow technology has drawn great interest from both academia and industry. This article highlighted recent progress in continuous flow ring-opening polymerizations. Lactone, lactide, 2-oxazoline and cyclic phosphate were assessed as cyclic monomers in consecutive order. The challenge and outlook for microfluidic ring-opening polymerization were also discussed.