Issue 36, 2025

Zwitterionic polymerization of glycolide catalyzed by pyridine

Abstract

The usefulness of various N- and P-based catalysts for syntheses of cyclic polyglycolide via zwitterionic polymerization of glycolide was examined. Most catalysts produced discolored, largely insoluble polyglycolides consisting of cycles and unidentified byproducts. Soluble, cyclic polyglycolides were obtained using neat pyridine as catalyst at 120 °C, 100 °C, 80 °C, and even at 60 °C. The number-average molecular weights were extremely low and depended slightly on the glycolide-to-pyridine ratio. Three different mass distributions of the cycles were detected by mass spectrometry, depending on the reaction conditions. The cyclic polyglycolides were also characterized by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) measurements. The SAXS data in combination with the mass spectra indicate that the majority of the cycles form extended-ring crystallites.

Graphical abstract: Zwitterionic polymerization of glycolide catalyzed by pyridine

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
30 Jul 2025
Accepted
13 Aug 2025
First published
14 Aug 2025
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY license

Polym. Chem., 2025,16, 4013-4021

Zwitterionic polymerization of glycolide catalyzed by pyridine

H. R. Kricheldorf and Steffen. M. Weidner, Polym. Chem., 2025, 16, 4013 DOI: 10.1039/D5PY00762C

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