Comment on “Multidimensional kinetic study on the organocatalyzed ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of l-lactide via a robotic high-throughput flow platform” by B. Zhang and T. Junkers, Chem. Sci., 2026, 17, 4706

Abstract

Zhang and Junkers recently reported a multidimensional kinetic study of the ring-opening polymerization of L-lactide (LLA) catalyzed by 1,5,7-triazabicyclo[4.4.0]dec-5-ene (TBD) and initiated by 4-methylbenzyl alcohol (MBA). Reanalysis of their conversion–time data using an initial-rate approach suggests that the kinetics are consistent with an overall rate dependence close to R_p ∝ [LLA]¹[TBD]^0.5[MBA]^0.5. The time-series data also indicate that the reaction rate decreases as the polymerization proceeds, suggesting the occurrence of catalyst deactivation under some conditions.