Yang JC, Yang J, Li WB, Lu XB, Liu Y. Carbonylative Polymerization of Epoxides Mediated by Tri-metallic Complexes: A Dual Catalysis Strategy for Synthesis of Biodegradable Polyhydroxyalkanoates.
Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2021;
61:e202116208. [PMID:
34964224 DOI:
10.1002/anie.202116208]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are a unique class of commercially manufactured biodegradable polyesters with properties suitable for partially substituting petroleum-based plastics. However, high costs and low volumes of production have restricted their application as commodity materials. In this study, tri-metallic complexes were developed for carbonylative polymerization of epoxides via a dual catalysis strategy, affording 17 products of novel PHAs with up to 38.2 kg/mol M n values. The polymerization proceeds in a sequential fashion, which entails the carbonylative ring expansion of epoxide to β -lactone and its subsequent ring-opening polymerization that occurs selectively at the O- alkyl bond via carboxylate species. The wide availability and structural diversity of epoxide monomers provide PHAs with various structures, excellent functionalities, and tunable properties. This study represents a rare example of the preparation of PHAs using epoxides and carbon monoxide as raw materials.
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