Organocatalytic Ring-Opening Copolymerization of Trimethylene Carbonate and Dithiolane Trimethylene Carbonate: Impact of Organocatalysts on Copolymerization Kinetics and Copolymer Microstructures

Biomacromolecules. 2018 Jun 11;19(6):2294-2301. doi: 10.1021/acs.biomac.8b00415. Epub 2018 May 15.

Abstract

The ring opening copolymerization of trimethylene carbonate (TMC) and dithiolane trimethylene carbonate (DTC) using acidic and basic organocatalysts, i.e., diphenyl phosphate (DPP) and triazabicyclo[4.4.0]dec-5-ene (TBD), was systemically investigated. Interestingly, DPP and TBD gave rise to completely different polymerization kinetics and copolymer sequences. The copolymerization of TMC and DTC using methoxy poly(ethylene glycol) (mPEG-OH) as an initiator and DPP as a catalyst proceeded in a first-order manner and to near completion in 72 h for both monomers, yielding well-controlled copolymers with random sequences, predictable molar mass, and low dispersity ( Mw/ Mn = 1.09-1.19). By contrast, TBD brought about much faster copolymerization of TMC and DTC under similar conditions (high monomer conversion achieved in 2-4 h), to furnish copolymers with controlled molar mass and moderate dispersity ( Mw/ Mn = 1.27-1.80). Moreover, polymerization kinetics revealed that DTC was preferentially polymerized followed by first-order polymerization of TMC, leading to blocky copolymers. These results signify that type of organocatalysts has a critical influence on polymerization kinetics of cyclic carbonates, copolymer sequence, and molar mass control.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Catalysis
  • Dioxanes / chemistry*
  • Kinetics
  • Polyethylene Glycols / chemical synthesis*
  • Polyethylene Glycols / chemistry*

Substances

  • Dioxanes
  • Polyethylene Glycols
  • trimethylene carbonate
  • monomethoxypolyethylene glycol