title: Zinc undecylenate catalyst for the ring-opening polymerization of caprolactone monomers.
abstract: The ring-opening polymerization of two caprolactone monomers catalyzed by zinc undecylenate (ZU) is reported. Polymerizations were performed in bulk with benzyl alcohol (BnOH) as an initiator at 90 and 110 °C, respectively. A slower polymerization rate was observed for γ-octyloxy-ε-caprolactone as compared to ε-caprolactone. Diblock copolymers were synthesized by the sequential monomer addition at 90 and 110 °C. The kinetic studies performed for the ring-opening polymerization of ε-caprolactone and γ-octyloxy-ε-caprolactone and the successful synthesis of diblock copolymers by the sequential monomer addition confirmed the controlled/living nature of zinc undecylenate catalyzed reactions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Texas at Dallas, 800 West Campbell Road, Richardson, TX 75080, USA.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hao
authors.forename: Patricia C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Granowski
authors.forename: Mihaela C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Stefan
mesh_terms: D002208:Caproates / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry; D002384:Catalysis; D007700:Kinetics; D007783:Lactones / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry; D015394:Molecular Structure; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D058105:Polymerization; D014476:Undecylenic Acids / Q000737:chemistry*; D015032:Zinc / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D002208:Caproates; D007783:Lactones; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D014476:Undecylenic Acids; C121056:caprolactone; D015032:Zinc