One-Pot Precision Synthesis of AB, ABA and ABC Block Copolymers via Switchable Catalysis

Selective Copolymerization from Mixed Monomers of Phthalic Anhydride, Propylene Oxide and Lactide Using Nano-Sized Zinc Glutarate

Selective polymerization with heterogeneous catalysts from mixed monomers remains a challenge in polymer synthesis. Herein, we describe that nano-sized zinc glutarate (ZnGA) can serve as a catalyst for the selective copolymerization of phthalic anhydride (PA), propylene oxide (PO) and lactide (LA). It was found that the ring-opening copolymerization (ROCOP) of PA with PO occurs firstly in the multicomponent polymerization. After the complete consumption of PA, the ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of LA turns into the formation of block polyester. In the process, the formation of zinc-alkoxide bonds on the surface of ZnGA accounts for the selective copolymerization from ROCOP to ROP. These results facilitate the understanding of the heterogeneous catalytic process and offer a new platform for selective polymerization from monomer mixtures.

Insights into the Distinct Behaviors between Bifunctional and Binary Organoborane Catalysts through Terpolymerization of Epoxide, CO2, and Anhydride

Alkyl borane compounds-mediated polymerizations have expanded to Lewis pair polymerization, free radical polymerization, ionic ring-opening polymerization, and polyhomologation. The bifunctional organoborane catalysts that contain the Lewis acid and ammonium or phosphonium salt in one molecule have demonstrated superior catalytic performance for ring-opening polymerization of epoxides and ring-opening copolymerization of epoxides and CO2 than their two-component analogues, i.e., the blend of organoborane and ammonium or phosphonium salt. To explore the origin of the differences of the one-component and two-component organoborane catalysts, here we conducted a systematic investigation on the catalytic performances of these two kinds of organoborane catalysts via terpolymerization of epoxide, carbon dioxide and anhydride. The resultant terpolymers produced independently by bifunctional and binary organoborane catalyst exhibited distinct microstructures, where a series of gradient polyester-polycarbonate terpolymers with varying polyester content were afforded using the bifunctional catalyst, while tapering diblock terpolymers were obtained using the binary system. The bifunctional catalyst enhances the competitiveness of CO2 insertion than anhydride, which leads to the premature incorporation of CO2 into the polymer chains and ultimately results in the formation of gradient terpolymers. DFT calculations revealed the role of electrostatic interaction and charge distribution caused by intramolecular synergistic effect for bifunctional organoborane catalyst.

Bimetallic Manganese Catalysts: A Route to Controlled and Switchable Polymerization of Lactones

The sustainable solution to the environmental problem of polymeric materials calls for efficient and well-controlled ring-opening polymerization catalytic systems. Inspired by the highly reactive and stereospecific bimetallic catalysts, three kinds of bimetallic Salen-Mn catalysts supported by biaryl linking moieties are synthesized and applied to polymerization catalysis of lactide (LA) and ϵ-caprolactone (ϵ-CL) in this work. The polymerization is initiated in situ by the ring-opening of epoxide compounds, in which the ionic cocatalyst could accelerate the reaction process. The Mn-Mn coordination effect contributes to the higher activity and iso-selectivity towards LA compared to the mononuclear Salen-Mn catalyst. The reactivity and stereoselectivity are determined by the conformation of catalysts, specifically the Mn-Mn separation and dihedral angle. Finally, the CO2 -controlled switchable polymerizations are carried out with LA and ϵ-CL. The reversibility of the on-off switching operation is influenced by the combination between CO2 molecules and active species. The success in binuclear Salen-Mn catalysts not only expands the range of bimetallic catalyst analogues but also claims the promising potential of Mn-based catalysts in practical and theoretical research.

Cyclic Polyesters with Closed-Loop Recyclability from A New Chemically Reversible Alternating Copolymerization

Polyesters with both cyclic topology and chemical recyclability are attractive. Here, the alternating copolymerization of cyclic anhydride and o-phthalaldehyde to synthesize a series of cyclic and recyclable polyesters are reported for the first time. Besides readily available monomers, the copolymerization is carried out at 25 °C, uses common Lewis/Brønsted acids as catalysts, and achieves high yields within 1 h. The resulting polyesters possess well-defined alternating sequences, high-purity cyclic topology, and tunable structures using distinct two monomer sets. Of interest, the copolymerization manifests obvious chemical reversibility as revealed by kinetic and thermodynamic studies, making the unprecedented polyesters easy to recycle to their distinct two monomers in a closed loop at high temperatures. This work furnishes a facile and efficient method to synthesize cyclic polyesters with closed-loop recyclability.

Recent progress in nanocomposites of carbon dioxide fixation derived reproducible biomedical polymers

In recent years, the environmental problems accompanying the extensive application of biomedical polymer materials produced from fossil fuels have attracted more and more attentions. As many biomedical polymer products are disposable, their life cycle is relatively short. Most of the used or overdue biomedical polymer products need to be burned after destruction, which increases the emission of carbon dioxide (CO₂). Developing biomedical products based on CO₂ fixation derived polymers with reproducible sources, and gradually replacing their unsustainable fossil-based counterparts, will promote the recycling of CO₂ in this field and do good to control the greenhouse effect. Unfortunately, most of the existing polymer materials from renewable raw materials have some property shortages, which make them unable to meet the gradually improved quality and property requirements of biomedical products. In order to overcome these shortages, much time and effort has been dedicated to applying nanotechnology in this field. The present paper reviews recent advances in nanocomposites of CO₂ fixation derived reproducible polymers for biomedical applications, and several promising strategies for further research directions in this field are highlighted.

Multidimensional Control of Repeating Unit/Sequence/Topology for One-Step Synthesis of Block Polymers from Monomer Mixtures

Synchronously and thoroughly adjusting the chemical structure difference between two blocks of the diblock copolymer is very useful for designing materials but difficult to achieve via self-switchable alternating copolymerization. Here, we report self-switchable alternating copolymerization from a mixture of two different cyclic anhydrides, epoxides, and oxetanes, where a simple alkali metal carboxylate catalyst switches between ring-opening alternating copolymerization (ROCOP) of cyclic anhydrides/epoxides and ROCOP of cyclic anhydrides/oxetanes, resulting in the formation of a perfect block tetrapolymer. By investigating the reactivity ratio of these comonomers, a reactivity gradient was established, enabling the precise synthesis of block copolymers with synchronous adjustment of each unit's chemical structure/sequence/topology. Consequently, a diblock tetrapolymer with two glass transition temperatures (T_g) can be easily produced by adjusting the difference in chemical structures between the two blocks.

Simple and Rapid Access toward AB, BAB and ABAB Block Copolyesters from One-Pot Monomer Mixtures Using an Indium Catalyst

The synthesis of well-defined block copolymers from one-pot monomer mixtures is particularly challenging when monomers are from the same class and show similar reactivity. Herein, an indium-based catalyst that shows comparable rates in the ring-opening homopolymerization of β-butyrolactone (β-BL) and ε-decalactone (ε-DL), demonstrates monomer-selective behavior in one-pot copolymerizations of β-BL and ε-DL. This provides simple and rapid access to well-defined di-, tri-, or tetra-block copolyesters from monomer mixtures. The sequence-controlled nature of these polymers was confirmed by kinetic analysis, ¹³C{¹H} NMR spectroscopy, DSC, and TGA measurements.

Lithium achieves sequence selective ring-opening terpolymerisation (ROTERP) of ternary monomer mixtures

Heteroatom-containing degradable polymers have strong potential as sustainable replacements for petrochemically derived materials. However, to accelerate and broaden their uptake greater structural diversity and new synthetic methodologies are required. Here we report a sequence selective ring-opening terpolymerisation (ROTERP), in which three monomers (A, B, C) are selectively enchained into an (ABA'C) n sequence by a simple lithium catalyst. Degradable poly(ester-alt-ester-alt-trithiocarbonate)s are obtained in a M n range from 2.35 to 111.20 kDa which are not easily accessible via other polymerisation methodologies. The choice of alkali metal is key to achieve high activity and to control the terpolymer sequence. ROTERP is mechanistically compatible with ring-opening polymerisation (ROP) allowing switchable catalysis for blockpolymer synthesis. The ROTERP demonstrated in this study could be the first example of an entirely new family of sequence selective terpolymerisations.