Stereocomplexed poly(limonene carbonate): a unique example of the cocrystallization of amorphous enantiomeric polymers

Abstract

We report the cocrystallization of the regio- and stereoregular chiral copolymer poly(limonene carbonate). To the best of our knowledge, this marks the first example of an amorphous, enantiomerically pure polymer that becomes crystalline upon stereocomplexation with its complementary enantiomer. By analyzing X-ray powder diffraction data, we propose a packing model in which sheets of enantiopure chains interdigitate with layers of the opposite enantiomer, forming a "steric zipper".

Keywords: X-ray diffraction; carbon dioxide; chiral polymers; polymer stereocomplex; renewable resources.