Organopolymerization of naturally occurring Tulipalin B: a hydroxyl-functionalized methylene butyrolactone

Abstract

The first successful polymerization of the naturally occurring, OH-containing, tri-functional monomer Tulipalin B (_βHMBL) is established. N-Heterocyclic carbene and phosphazene superbase catalysts effectively polymerize _βHMBL into polymers with M_n up to 13.2 kg mol⁻¹. The possible polymer structure is thought to be a branched copolymer of poly(vinyl-ether lactone)s, derived from proposed crossovers between conjugate Michael and oxa-Michael additions, enabled by proton transfer.