title: Single-component catalyst/initiators for the organocatalytic ring-opening polymerization of lactide.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Center for Polymeric Interfaces and Macromolecular Assemblies, Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, USA.
authors.forename: Szilárd
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Csihony
authors.forename: Darcy A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Culkin
authors.forename: Alan C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Sentman
authors.forename: Andrew P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Dove
authors.forename: Robert M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Waymouth
authors.forename: James L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Hedrick
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: C504863:1,3-dimesitylimidazolin-2-ylidene; D000438:Alcohols; D007093:Imidazoles; D011091:Polyesters; C033616:poly(lactide)