Single-component catalyst/initiators for the organocatalytic ring-opening polymerization of lactide.
The synthesis and characterization of a series of primary and secondary alcohol adducts of 1,3-dimesitylimidazolin-2-ylidene is described. These adducts are stable as solids at room temperature, but readily release alcohol and the free carbene in solution. These alcohol adducts function as excellent single-component catalyst/initiators for the ring-opening polymerization of lactide under mild conditions, providing polymers with controlled molecular weights and narrow polydispersities. Multifunctional adducts were used to prepare poly(lactide)s of more complex architectures.
Csihony
Szilárd
S
Center for Polymeric Interfaces and Macromolecular Assemblies, Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, USA.
Culkin
Darcy A
DA
Sentman
Alan C
AC
Dove
Andrew P
AP
Waymouth
Robert M
RM
Hedrick
James L
JL
D000438:Alcohols / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D002384:Catalysis; D018360:Crystallography, X-Ray; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry; D008958:Models, Molecular; D015394:Molecular Structure; D011091:Polyesters / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry
C504863:1,3-dimesitylimidazolin-2-ylidene; D000438:Alcohols; D007093:Imidazoles; D011091:Polyesters; C033616:poly(lactide)