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Controlled Synthesis and Characterization of Poly[ethylene‐ block ‐( L , L ‐lactide)]s by Combining Catalytic Ethylene Oligomerization with “Coordination‐Insertion” Ring‐Opening Polymerization
Author(s) -
Ring Jochen O.,
Thomann Ralf,
Mülhaupt Rolf,
Raquez JeanMarie,
Degée Philippe,
Dubois Philippe
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
macromolecular chemistry and physics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.57
H-Index - 112
eISSN - 1521-3935
pISSN - 1022-1352
DOI - 10.1002/macp.200600640
Subject(s) - polymer chemistry , lactide , ethylene , methylaluminoxane , copolymer , ring opening polymerization , polymerization , materials science , polyethylene , chemistry , catalysis , metallocene , polymer , organic chemistry
Abstract Model poly[ethylene‐ block ‐( L , L ‐lactide)] (PE‐ block ‐PLA) block copolymers were successfully synthesized by combining metallocene catalyzed ethylene oligomerization with ring‐opening polymerization (ROP) of L , L ‐lactide (LA). Hydroxy‐terminated polyethylene (PE‐OH) macroinitiator was prepared by means of ethylene oligomerization on rac ‐dimethyl‐silylen‐bis(2‐methyl‐benz[e]indenyl)‐zirconium(IV)‐dichloride/methylaluminoxane ( rac ‐MBI/MAO) in presence of diethyl zinc as a chain transfer agent, and subsequent in situ oxidation with synthetic air. Poly[ethylene‐ block ‐( L , L ‐lactide)] block copolymers were obtained via ring‐opening polymerization of LA initiated by PE‐OH in toluene at 100 °C mediated by tin octoate. The formation of block copolymers was confirmed by 1 H NMR spectroscopy, fractionation experiments, thermal behavior, and morphological characterization using AFM and light microscopy techniques.