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Low Temperature Ring‐Opening Polymerization of Diglycolide Using Organocatalysts with PEG as Macroinitiator
Author(s) -
Kemo Viviane Mawamba,
Schmidt Christian,
Zhang Yufei,
Beuermann Sabine
Publication year - 2016
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.201500491
Subject(s) - polymer chemistry , polymerization , polyethylene glycol , peg ratio , polymer , glass transition , thermal stability , chemistry , molecular mass , polyethylene , melting temperature , ring opening polymerization , materials science , organic chemistry , composite material , finance , economics , enzyme
Polyglycolide (PGA) is synthesized via ring‐opening polymerization (ROP) of diglycolide using the organocatalysts 1,8‐diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec‐7‐ene (DBU), 1,5‐diazabicyclo[4.3.0]non‐5‐ene, or 1,5,7‐ triazabicyclo[4.4.0]dec‐5‐ene. ROP is carried out at low temperatures ranging from −20 to 50 °C without adding any alcohol as initiator. All polymers are fully soluble in hexafluoroisopropanol. At ambient temperature number average molecular weights up to 27 000 g mol −1 are obtained. With DBU the highest molecular weights and conversions are accessible at −20 °C. Melting temperature and glass transition temperature are independent of PGA molecular weight. Carrying out the reactions in the presence of polyethylene glycol serving as macroinitiator yields polymers with improved thermal stability and lowered melting temperatures.