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Phosphazene Bases as Organocatalysts for Ring‐Opening Polymerization of Cyclic Esters
Author(s) -
Liu Shaofeng,
Ren Chuanli,
Zhao Na,
Shen Yong,
Li Zhibo
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
macromolecular rapid communications
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.348
H-Index - 154
eISSN - 1521-3927
pISSN - 1022-1336
DOI - 10.1002/marc.201800485
Subject(s) - phosphazene , polymerization , nucleophile , ring opening polymerization , monomer , chemistry , living anionic polymerization , deprotonation , polymer chemistry , anionic addition polymerization , organocatalysis , living polymerization , combinatorial chemistry , ionic polymerization , polymer , organic chemistry , catalysis , enantioselective synthesis , radical polymerization , ion
Over the past several years, organocatalyzed polymerization reactions have attracted considerable attention, and these efforts have led to major advances. A large number of organic compounds have been proven active for the polymerization of a large variety of monomers. In particular, phosphazene bases (PBs) are a family of extremely strong, non‐nucleophilic, and uncharged auxiliary bases, and have shown their remarkable potential as organocatalysts for the ring‐opening polymerization (ROP) of cyclic monomers. By deprotonation of weak acids or in combination with lithium cation, PBs significantly enhance the nucleophilicity of the initiator/chain‐end, thus allowing fast and usually controlled anionic polymerization. In this feature article, the recent advances in phosphazene‐catalyzed ROP of cyclic esters are summarized. This review is divided into three sections, including general features, design and synthesis, and catalytic applications. It aims to provide a critical analysis of PB‐mediated ROP systems and a useful guide for the further design of organocatalysts applied to polymer synthesis. An outlook is given at the end.