New Strategy for Enzymatic Synthesis of High‐Molecular‐Weight Poly(butylene succinate) via Cyclic Oligomers

Summary: High‐molecular‐weight poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) is prepared by the lipase‐catalyzed polymerization of dimethyl succinate and butane‐1,4‐diol via the formation of cyclic oligomers as a new strategy for the green production of bio‐based plastics. The cyclic oligomer is first produced by the lipase‐catalyzed condensation of dimethyl succinate and butane‐1,4‐diol in a dilute toluene solution using lipase from Candida antarctica , followed by the ring‐opening polymerization of the cyclic oligomer in a more concentrated solution or in bulk with the same lipase to produce PBS with an $\overline M _{\rm w}$ of 130 000. On the other hand, PBS is produced with an $\overline M _{\rm w}$ of 45 000 by direct polycondensation.The lipase‐catalyzed preparation of PBS by two routes.