title: Anionic ring-opening polymerization of beta-alkoxymethyl-substituted beta-lactones.
abstract: We report on anionic ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of racemic beta-(methoxymethyl)-beta-propiolactone (MOMPL) and beta-(ethoxymethyl)-beta-propiolactone (EOMPL) initiated by supramolecular complex of potassium acetate and tetrabutylammonium acetate (Bu4N+ Ac) as well as by tetrabutylammonium hydroxide, respectively. Structure of the resulting polymers has been established at the molecular level by electrospray ionization multistage mass spectrometry (ESI-MS(n)) and has been confirmed by FT-IR, NMR, and GPC analyses. Similar behavior of MOMPL and EOMPL with respect to already-studied beta-alkyl-substituted beta-lactones, e.g., beta-butyrolactone (MPL), has been observed under the conditions of anionic ROP (including observed side reactions leading to unsaturated end groups) and the already-established mechanisms of anionic polymerization of beta-alkyl-substituted beta-lactones are extended on beta-alkoxymethyl-substituted ones.
authors.affiliation: Polish Academy of Sciences, Centre of Polymer and Carbon Materials, 34 M. Curie-Skłodowska Street, 41-800 Zabrze, Poland. gadamus@cchp-pan.zabrze.pl
authors.forename: Grazyna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Adamus
authors.forename: Marek
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kowalczuk
mesh_terms: D000438:Alcohols / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*; D000838:Anions / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D005609:Free Radicals / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D007783:Lactones / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*; D011108:Polymers / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*; D021241:Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D000438:Alcohols; D000838:Anions; D005609:Free Radicals; D007783:Lactones; D011108:Polymers; C059688:alkoxyl radical