N-heterocyclic carbenes as organocatalysts in controlled/living ring-opening polymerization of O-carboxyanhydrides derived from l -lactic acid and l -mandelic acid

Haidong Xia, Suli Kan, Zhenjiang Li, Jia Chen, Saide Cui, Wenzhuo Wu, Pingkai Ouyang, Kai Guo

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

29 Scopus citations

Abstract

An organocatalytic approach to controlled/living ring-opening polymerizations (ROPs) of O-carboxyanhydrides (OCAs) using N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) as nucleophilic catalysts has been investigated. NHCs with different structures were used in order to compare the catalytic performances in the ROP of OCA of l-lactic acid. 1H NMR, SEC, and MALDI-TOF MS measurements of the products clearly indicated a controlled/living manner of the polymerization. The controlled/living nature was further confirmed by kinetic and chain extension experiments. Additionally, polylol initiators were used to produce α,ω-dihydroxy telechelic, 3-, and 4-armed star-shaped polymers. Moreover, star-shaped diblock copolymer, bearing methyl and phenyl side groups, has been successfully synthesized with OCA/NHC system.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2306-2315
Number of pages10
JournalJournal of Polymer Science, Part A: Polymer Chemistry
Volume52
Issue number16
DOIs
StatePublished - 15 Aug 2014

Keywords

  • N-heterocyclic carbene
  • living polymerization
  • ring-opening polymerization

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