title: No Strain, No Gain? Enzymatic Ring-Opening Polymerization of Strainless Aliphatic Macrolactones.
abstract: Starting from readily available oleic and erucic acid, macrocyclic nonadecalactone (C19) and tricosalactone (C23) can be synthesized in polymerization grade purity in a four-step reaction sequence. Ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of these strainless macrolactones can be performed utilizing an enzyme as a catalyst. Despite the missing ring-strain as key driving force for smaller (strained) lactones, high molar masses (Mn≈ 105g mol-1) can be accessed in an entropically driven ROP. Polyester-19 and polyester-23 prepared feature melting temperatures well above 100 °C. Further analysis of the mechanical properties of these materials displays the resemblance to polyethylene. For example, Young's moduli on the order of 600 MPa are observed as a result of the high crystallinity of the polymer.
authors.affiliation: Chair of Chemical Materials Science, University of Konstanz, Department of Chemistry, Universitätsstraße 10, 78457, Konstanz, Germany.
authors.forename: Timo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Witt
authors.affiliation: Chair of Chemical Materials Science, University of Konstanz, Department of Chemistry, Universitätsstraße 10, 78457, Konstanz, Germany.
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Häußler
authors.affiliation: Chair of Chemical Materials Science, University of Konstanz, Department of Chemistry, Universitätsstraße 10, 78457, Konstanz, Germany.
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mecking
mesh_terms: D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D007783:Lactones / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D008049:Lipase / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D015394:Molecular Structure; D011091:Polyesters / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D058105:Polymerization
chemical_list: D005656:Fungal Proteins; D007783:Lactones; D011091:Polyesters; D008049:Lipase; C431349:lipase B, Candida antarctica
keywords: Candida antarctica lipase B; aliphatic polymacrolactones; all-aliphatic polyester material properties; enzymatic ring-opening polymerization; macrocyclic monolides