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AB 2 Functional Polyesters via Ring Opening Polymerization: Synthesis and Characterization
Author(s) -
Velthoen Ingrid W.,
Dijkstra Pieter J.,
Feijen Jan
Publication year - 2009
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.200800596
Subject(s) - polymerization , polymer chemistry , monomer , ring opening polymerization , polyester , hydroxymethyl , chemistry , polymer , caprolactone , chain growth polymerization , bulk polymerization , lactide , materials science , radical polymerization , organic chemistry
Aliphatic AB 2 functional polyesters were conveniently prepared by the ring opening polymerization of ε ‐caprolactone and L ‐lactide in the presence of the AB 2 functional initiator 2,2‐bis(hydroxymethyl)propionic acid (bis‐MPA) and Sn(Oct) 2 as the catalyst. In L ‐lactide polymerization, both bis‐MPA hydroxyl groups initiated the polymerization reaction, but for ε ‐caprolactone polymerization this depended on the monomer to initiator to catalyst ratio. Initiation at two hydroxyl groups occurred at high monomer to initiator ([M]/[I]) ratio and at high Sn(Oct) 2 to monomer ratio. The melting temperatures of the AB 2 ‐functional PLLA and PCL polymers were comparable to linear polymers with a $\overline {DP}$ equal to the $\overline {DP}$ per arm in the polymer.