Ring‐opening polymerization of lactides initiated by magnesium and zinc complexes based on NNO‐tridentate ketiminate ligands: Activity and stereoselectivity studies

Four metal benzylalkoxides, [L₂M₂(μ‐OBn)₂] (M = Mg or Zn), based on NNO‐tridentate ketiminate ligands are synthesized and characterized. X‐ray crystal structural studies of [(L¹)₂Mg₂(μ‐OBn)₂] ( 1a ) and [(L¹)₂Zn₂(μ‐OBn)₂] ( 1b ) (L¹‐H = (Z)‐4‐((2‐(dimethylamino)ethylamino)(phenyl)methylene)‐3‐methyl‐1‐phenyl‐pyrazol‐5‐one) reveal that both complexes 1a and 1b are dinuclear species whereas the geometry around the metal center is penta‐coordinated bridging through the benzylalkoxy oxygen atoms in the solid structure. The activities and stereoselectivities of these four complexes toward the ring‐opening polymerization of L ‐lactide and rac‐lactide are investigated. Polymerization of L ‐lactide initiated by these four metal benzyloxides proceeds rapidly with good molecular weight control and yields polymer with a very narrow molecular weight distribution. The kinetic studies for the polymerization of L ‐lactide with compound 1a show first order in both compound 1a and lactide concentrations with the polymerization rate constant, k, of 6.94 M/min. Besides, experimental results demonstrate that among these metal benzylalkoxides, complex 1a exhibits the highest stereoselectivity with a Pr up to 87% and complex 1b possesses the highest activity indicating that the terminal group of NNO‐tridentate ketimine ligands exerts a significant influence on both the reactivity and stereoselectivity of these complexes. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 2318–2329, 2009     

Efficient initiators for the ring‐opening polymerization of L‐lactide: Synthesis and characterization of NNO‐tridentate Schiff‐base zinc complexes

A series of efficient catalysts, based on zinc alkoxides coordinated with NNO‐tridentate Schiff‐base ligands (L¹H‐L⁶H), for ring opening polymerization of L ‐lactide have been prepared. The reactions of diethyl zinc (ZnEt₂) with L¹H‐L⁶H yielded [(μ‐L)ZnEt]₂ ( 1a–6a ), respectively. Further reaction of compounds 1a–6a with benzyl alcohol (BnOH) produced the corresponding compounds of [LZn(μ‐OBn)]₂ ( 1b–6b), respectively. X‐ray crystal structural studies reveal that all of these compounds 1a–6a are dimeric bridging through the phenolato oxygen atoms of the Schiff‐base ligand. However, the molecular structures of 1b–6b show a dimeric character bridging through the benzylalkoxy oxygen atoms. Ring‐opening polymerization of L ‐lactide, initiated by 1b–6b , proceeds rapidly with good molecular weight control and yields polymer with a very narrow molecular weight distribution. Experimental results show that the substituents on the imine carbon of the NNO‐ligand affect the reactivity of zinc complexes dramatically. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 6466–6476, 2008     

Ring‐opening polymerization of ϵ‐caprolactone by iodine charge‐transfer complex

The ring‐opening polymerization of ?‐caprolactone (?‐CL) catalyzed by iodine (I₂) was studied. The formation of a charge‐transfer complex (CTC) among triiodide, I, and ?‐CL was confirmed with ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy. The monomer ?‐CL was polymerized in bulk using I₂ as a catalyst to form the polyester having apparent weight‐average molecular weights of 35,900 and 45,500 at polymerization temperatures of 25 and 70 °C, respectively. The reactivity of both, ?‐CL monomer and ?‐CL:I₂ CTC, was interpreted by means of the potential energy surfaces determined by semiempirical computations (MNDO‐d). The results suggest that the formation of the ?‐CL:I₂ CTC leads to the ring opening of the ?‐CL structure with the lactone protonation and the formation of a highly polarized polymerization precursor (?‐CL)⁺. The band gaps approximated from an extrapolation of the oligomeric polycaprolactone (PCL) structures were computed. With semiempirical quantum chemical calculations, geometries and charge distributions of the protonated polymerization precursor (?‐CL)⁺ were obtained. The calculated band gap (highest occupied molecular orbit/lowest unoccupied molecular orbit differences) agrees with the experiment. The analysis of the oligomeric PCL isosurfaces indicate the existence of a weakly lone pair character of the C?O and C? O bonds suggesting a ?‐CL ring‐opening specificity. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 40: 714–722, 2002     

Lactide polymerization co‐initiated by carbohydrate esters and pyranoses

The polymerization of [S]‐lactide was accomplished using an initiating system comprising an alkyl zinc complex and a series of well defined carbohydrate co‐initiators derived from D ‐glucose, D ‐xylose, and 2‐deoxy‐D ‐ribose. The monosaccharide co‐initiators were aldonate esters and pyranoses, they were all prepared in high yield and had only a single alcohol co‐initiating group; the remaining carbohydrate hydroxyl functionalities were protected as acetyl, benzyl ether and isopropylidene acetal groups. The polymerizations were all well controlled, illustrated by the linear increase in poly(S‐lactide) M_n with percentage conversion of lactide, the increase in poly(S‐lactide) M_n with [lactide]₀‐[lactide]_t/[co‐initiator] and the narrow polydispersity indices of the polylactides. Thus, the novel initiating systems were used to produce poly(S‐lactides) end functionalized with a variety of different aldonate ester and pyranose groups and with degrees of polymerization from 10 to 250. The polyesters were fully characterized, including by NMR spectroscopy, size exclusion chromatography (SEC), matrix‐assisted laser deposorption/ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometry and by static water contact angle measurements. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 4350–4362, 2008     

Ring‐opening polymerization of rac‐ and meso‐lactide initiated by indium bis(phenolate) isopropoxy complexes

Ring‐opening polymerization of rac‐ and meso‐lactide initiated by indium bis(phenolate) isopropoxides {1,4‐dithiabutanediylbis(4,6‐di‐tert‐butylphenolate)}(isopropoxy)indium ( 1 ) and {1,4‐dithiabutanediylbis(4,6‐di(2‐phenyl‐2‐propyl)phenolate)}(isopropoxy)indium ( 2 ) is found to follow first‐order kinetics for monomer conversion. Activation parameters ΔH^? and ΔS^? suggest an ordered transition state. Initiators 1 and 2 polymerize meso‐lactide faster than rac‐lactide. In general, compound 2 with the more bulky cumyl ortho‐substituents in the phenolate moiety shows higher polymerization activity than 1 with tert‐butyl substituents. meso‐Lactide is polymerized to syndiotactic poly(meso‐lactides) in THF, while polymerization of rac‐lactide in THF gives atactic poly(rac‐lactides) with solvent‐dependent preferences for heterotactic (THF) or isotactic (CH₂Cl₂) sequences. Indium bis(phenolate) compound rac‐(1,2‐cyclohexanedithio‐2,2′‐bis{4,6‐di(2‐phenyl‐2‐propyl)phenolato}(isopropoxy)indium ( 3 ) polymerizes meso‐lactide to give syndiotactic poly(meso‐lactide) with narrow molecular weight distributions and rac‐lactide in THF to give heterotactically enriched poly(rac‐lactides). © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2013 , 51, 4983–4991     

Ring‐opening polymerization of cyclic esters promoted by phosphido‐diphosphine pincer group 3 complexes

Phosphido‐diphosphine Group 3 metal complexes 1–4 [(o‐C₆H₄PR₂)₂P‐M(CH₂SiMe₃)₂; R = Ph, 1 : M = Y, 2 : M = Sc; R = iPr, 3 : M = Y, 4 : M = Sc] are very efficient catalysts for the ring‐opening polymerization (ROP) of cyclic esters such as ε‐caprolactone (ε‐CL), L ‐lactide, and δ‐valerolactone under mild polymerization conditions. In the ROP of ε‐CL, complexes 1–4 promote quantitative conversion of high amount of monomer (up to 3000 equiv) with very high turnover frequencies (TOF) (～4 × 10⁴ mol_CL/mol_I h) showing a catalytic activity among the highest reported in the literature. The immortal and living ROP of ε‐CL and L ‐lactide is feasible by combining complexes 1–4 with 5 equiv of 2‐propanol. Polymers with controlled molecular parameters (M_n, end groups) and low polydispersities (M_w/M_n = 1.05–1.09) are formed as a result of fast alkoxide/alcohol exchange. In the ROP of δ‐valerolactone, complexes 1–4 showed the same activity observed for lactide (L ‐ and D ,L ‐lactide) producing high molecular weight polymers with narrow distribution of molar masses. Complexes 1–4 also promote the ROP of rac‐β butyrolactone affording atactic low molecular weight poly(hydroxybutyrate) bearing unsaturated end groups probably generated by elimination reactions. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011     

Living ring‐opening polymerization of lactides catalyzed by guanidinium acetate

Hexabutyl guanidinium acetate (HBG · OAc) was synthesized and successfully used as a catalyst for the ring‐opening polymerization (ROP) of lactides. The experimental results indicated that the guanidinium salt HBG · OAc showed satisfactory catalytic behavior. Polymerization in bulk (120 °C, 18 h) produced polylactides with moderate molecular weights (number‐average molecular weight = 2.0 × 10⁴) and very narrow molecular weight distributions (polydispersity index = 1.07–1.12). A kinetic study of polymerization in bulk with HBG · OAc as an initiator revealed that the polymerization possessed typical characteristics of living polymerization. A ROP mechanism by HBG · OAc was proposed on the basis of the additive effect of the polymerization and the ¹H NMR characterization of the microstructure of the product polymers. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 3775–3781, 2004     

Synthesis and ring‐opening polymerization of new monoalkyl‐substituted lactides

New monoalkyl‐substituted lactides were synthesized by reaction of α‐hydroxy acids with 2‐bromopropionyl bromide, and polymerized with various catalysts in the presence of benzyl alcohol by ring‐opening polymerization (ROP). The classic tin(II) 2‐ethylhexanoate (Sn(Oct)₂) catalyst was leading to polymers with narrow distribution and predictable molecular weights, in polymerizations in bulk or toluene at 100 °C. The polymerization rate was corresponding to the steric hindrance of the alkyl substituents, such as butyl, hexyl, benzyl, isopropyl, and dimethyl groups. A yield of 83% was obtained with the hexyl‐substituted lactide after 1 h of polymerization. Excellent conversions (97%) could be achieved by using the alternative catalyst 4‐(dimethylamino)pyridine (DMAP). This latter organic catalyst was most efficient in polymerizing the more steric‐hindered lactides with good molecular weight and polydispersity control, in comparison to the tin(II) 2‐ethylhexanoate and tin(II) trifluoromethane sulfonate [Sn(OTf)₂] catalysts. The efficiency of the DMAP catalyst and the variability of the monomer synthesis route for new alkyl‐substituted lactides allow to prepare and to envision a wide range of new functionalized polylactides for the elaboration of tailored materials. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 4379–4391, 2004     

Significant enhancement of catalytic properties in mononuclear yttrium complexes by nitrophenolate‐type ligands: Synthesis,structure, and catalysis for lactide polymerization

The syntheses, structures, and catalytic properties for lactones polymerization of eight novel yttrium complexes containing an amine‐bis(benzotriazole phenolate) ( ^C1NN BiBTP ) ligand are reported. A series of nitrophenolate (NP)‐type of ligands possessing R substituents with variable electronic properties (R = NO₂, Cl, H, CH₃) on ortho and/or para position attached to the phenolate rings have been selected and further reacted with ^C1NN BiBTP ‐H₂ proligand and YCl₃·6H₂O. Two series of complexes, [Y( ^C1NN BiBTP )(TNP)(MeOH)₂] ( 3 ), [Y( ^C1NN BiBTP )(2,4‐DNP)(MeOH)₂] ( 4 ) and [Y( ^C1NN BiBTP )(2,5‐DNP)(MeOH)₂] ( 5 ) with two MeOH molecules as initiators as well as [Y( ^C1NN BiBTP ‐H)(CNP)₂] ( 6 ), [Y( ^C1NN BiBTP ‐H)(2‐NP)₂] ( 7 ) and [Y( ^C1NN BiBTP ‐H)(MNP)₂] ( 8 ) with two NP derivatives, were synthesized. Their ring‐opening polymerizations of L‐ lactide (L‐ LA) were investigated for all complexes in order to further understand the correlations between the inductive effect of substitutions and catalytic properties. Particularly, the activity and controllability of yttrium complexes 3 and 5 were improved dramatically comparing with the literature complex with the similar coordination environment, [Y( ^C1NN BiBTP )(NO₃)(MeOH)₂], which can be a successful example to enhance the catalytic properties by exchanging coordinate molecules. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2019, 57, 2038–2047     

Tetrakis Sn(IV) alkoxides as novel initiators for living ring‐opening polymerization of lactides

The use of tetrakis Sn(IV) alkoxides as highly active initiators for the ring‐opening polymerization of D ,L ‐lactide is reported. The activities of prepared Sn(IV) tetra‐2‐methyl‐2‐butoxide, Sn(IV) tetra‐iso‐propoxide, and Sn(IV) tetra‐ethoxide were compared to a well‐known ring‐opening polymerization initiator system, Sn(II) octoate activated with n‐butanol. All polymerizations were conducted at 75 °C in toluene. The activities of tetrakis Sn(IV) alkoxides grew in order of increasing steric hindrance, and the bulky Sn(IV) alkoxides showed higher activity than the Sn(II) octoate/butanol system. The living character of the polymerization was demonstrated in homopolymerization of D ,L ‐lactide and in block copolymerization of L ‐lactide with ?‐caprolactone. ¹H, ¹³C, and ¹¹⁹Sn NMR were used to characterize the prepared Sn(IV) alkoxides and the polymer microstructure, and size exclusion chromatography was used to determine the molar masses as well as the molar‐mass distributions of the polymers. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 1901–1911, 2004     

Ring‐opening polymerization of β‐butyrolactone catalyzed by efficient magnesium and zinc complexes derived from tridentate anilido‐aldimine ligand

Magnesium (Mg) and zinc (Zn) complexes incorporating tridentate anilido‐aldimine ligand, (E)‐2, 6‐diisopropyl‐N‐(2‐((2‐(piperidin‐1‐yl)ethylimino)methyl)phenyl)aniline ( AA ^Pip ‐H, 1 ), were synthesized and structurally characterized. The reaction of AA ^Pip ‐H ( 1 ) with MgⁿBu₂ or ZnEt₂ in equivalent proportions afforded the monomeric complex [( AA ^Pip )MgⁿBu] ( 2 ) or [( AA ^Pip )ZnEt] ( 3 ), respectively. The coordination modes of these complexes differ in the solid state: Mg complex 2 shows a four‐coordinated and distorted tetrahedral geometry, whereas Zn complex 3 adopts a trigonal planar geometry with a three‐coordinated Zn center. Complexes 2 and 3 are efficient catalysts for the ring‐opening polymerization of β‐butyrolactone (β‐BL) in the presence of 9‐anthracenemethanol (9‐AnOH). The polymerization of β‐BL with the Zn catalyst system is demonstrated in a living fashion with a narrow polydispersity index, PDI = 1.01–1.10. The number‐averaged molecular weight (M_n) of the produced poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) is quite close to the expected M_n over diverse molar ratios of monomer to 9‐AnOH. A greater ratio of monomer to alcohol catalyzed by Zn complex 3 served to form PHB with a large molecular weight (M_n > 60000). An effective method to prepare PHB‐b‐PCL and PEG‐b‐PHB by the ring‐opening copolymerization of β‐BL catalyzed by zinc complex 3 is reported. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2010     

Ring‐opening polymerization of 1,4‐dioxan‐2‐one initiated by lanthanum isopropoxide in bulk

Lanthanum isopropoxide (La(OiPr)₃) has been synthesized and employed for ring‐opening polymerization of 1,4‐dioxan‐2‐one in bulk as a single‐component initiator. The influences of reaction conditions such as initiator concentration, reaction time, and reaction temperature on the polymerization were investigated. The kinetics indicated that the polymerization is first‐order with respect to the monomer concentration. The Mechanistic investigations according to ¹H NMR spectrum analysis demonstrated that the polymerization of PDO proceeded through a coordination‐insertion mechanism with a rupture of the acyl‐oxygen bond of the monomer rather than the alkyl‐oxygen bond cleavage. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 5214–5222, 2008     

Ring opening polymerization of lactide promoted by alcoholyzed heteroscorpionate aluminum complexes

The alcoholysis of the heteroscorpionate methyl aluminum complex (bpzmp)AlMe₂ ( 1 ) (bpzmp = 2,4‐di‐tert‐butyl‐6‐(bis‐(3,5‐dimethylpyrazol‐1‐yl)methyl)phenoxo), promoted both by phenol and isopropanol, has been investigated. The reaction of 1 with phenol afforded the dimeric mono(phenoxo) derivative 2 , whereas the alcoholysis of 1 with the less acidic isopropanol involved the coordinated heteroscorpionate ligand and led to the tetrahedral complex 3 in which the aluminum atom is surrounded by one κ²‐N,O^? coordinated bpzmp ligand and one η¹‐O^? coordinated ppzmp ligand (ppzmp = 2,4‐di‐tert‐butyl‐6‐(i‐propoxy‐(3,5‐dimethylpyrazol‐1‐yl)methyl)phenoxo). Complexes 1 – 3 have been tested in the ring opening polymerization (ROP) of L ‐lactide. The dimeric mono(phenoxo) derivative 2 was inactive in the ROP of L ‐lactide. Quite surprisingly, complex 3 was found to be active in ROP of L ‐ and rac‐lactide, showing a good molar‐mass control. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 3632–3639, 2010     

Substituent effects of N‐alkyl groups on thermally induced polymerization behavior of 1,3‐benzoxazines

Thermally induced polymerizations of a series of 1,3‐benzoxazines with a variety of substituents on the nitrogen atom were investigated in detail, particularly in the following three aspects of the polymerization: (1) N‐alkyl‐1,3‐benzoxazines are much more reactive than N‐phenyl‐1,3‐benzoxazine. (2) The polymerization rate depended on the bulkiness of the N‐substituent. The bulkier the substituent was, the slower the polymerization was. (3) The polymerizations accompanied weight loss due to the elimination of the corresponding imine (R‐N = CH₂), and its extent became larger when R was more bulky. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 2777–2782, 2010     

The effect of microwave irradiation on the kinetics and activation thermodynamics of ring‐opening polymerization of ε‐caprolactone

We examined the ring‐opening polymerization of ε‐caprolactone in toluene between 50 and 70 °C, and catalyzed by some Lewis and Brønsted acids to investigate the effects of microwave versus conventional heating on the kinetics and activation thermodynamics of the reaction. The polymerizations proceeded more rapidly when microwave heating, instead of conventional heating, was used to control the temperature. The number‐average molecular weight (M_n) of the polymer could be controlled even when microwave heating was used. To identify which thermodynamic activation constants were responsible for the accelerated polymerizations, we performed the reaction at different temperatures to obtain data for the Arrhenius and Eyring equations. Although the values for the activation energies and the activation enthalpies were larger when microwave heating rather than conventional heating was used, the frequency factors and the activation entropies (ΔS^?) over compensated for the less favorable activation energies and enthalpies. The more favorable ΔG^? found for the microwave‐assisted polymerizations mainly reflect the larger ΔS^? values, and the rate accelerations appear to be a consequence of differently arranged intermediates and/or transition states. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2013, 51, 3732–3739     

Acceleration effect of N‐allyl group on thermally induced ring‐opening polymerization of 1,3‐benzoxazine

Thermally induced ring‐opening polymerization of monofunctional N‐allyl‐1,3‐benzoxazine 1a was compared with that of N‐(n‐propyl)‐1,3‐benzoxazine 1b to clarify an unexpected effect of allyl group to promote the polymerization, that is, in spite of the comparable bulkiness of allyl group to n‐propyl group, the polymerization of 1a was much faster than that of 1b . Such a difference in polymerization rate was also observed similarly in the comparison of thermally induced polymerization of a bifunctional N‐allyl‐benzoxazine 2a with that of a bifunctional N‐(n‐propyl) analogue 2b . These observations implied a certain contribution of an electron‐rich C? C double bond of the N‐ally group to promotion of the ring‐opening reaction of 1,3‐benzoxazine into the corresponding zwitterionic species, which would involve a mechanism to stabilize the cationic part of the zwitterionic species based on “neighboring group participation” of the C? C double bond. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2010     

Efficient zinc initiators supported by NNO‐tridentate ketiminate ligands for cyclic esters polymerization

A series of zinc benzylalkoxide complexes, [LⁿZn(μ‐OBn)]₂ (L = L ¹ H – L ⁵ H ), supported by NNO‐tridentate ketiminate ligands with various electron withdrawing‐donating subsituents have been synthesized and characterized. X‐ray crystal structural studies revealed that complexes 2b and 4b are dinuclear bridging through the benzylalkoxy oxygen atoms with penta‐coordinated metal centers. All the metal complexes have acted as efficient initiators for the ring‐opening polymerization of L ‐lactide (within 12 min, 0 °C). Remarkably, a molecular weight of PLLA up to 580,000 can be achieved using [(L⁵Zn(μ‐OBn)]₂ ( 5b ) as an initiator. The kinetic studies for the polymerization of L ‐lactide with complex 3b at ?10 °C corresponded to first‐order reactions in the monomer. The ring‐opening polymerization (ROP) of ε‐caprolactone, ε‐decalactone, β‐butyrolactone and their copolymer with complex 3b was investigated. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2013     

Well‐controlled ring‐opening polymerization of cyclic esters catalyzed by aluminum amido complexes: Kinetics and mechanism

A series of aluminum dimethyl complexes 1 – 6 bearing N‐[2‐(pyrrolidinyl)benzyl]anilido ligands were synthesized and well characterized. The molecular structure of complex 1 determined by an X‐ray diffraction study indicates the bidentate chelating mode of the pyrrolidinyl‐anilido ligand. In the absence of a coinitiator, these complexes exhibited excellent control toward the polymerizations of ε‐caprolactone and rac‐lactide, affording polyesters with quite narrow molecular weight distributions (M_w/M_n = 1.04–1.26). The end group analysis of ε?CL oligomer via ¹H NMR and ESI‐TOF MS methods gave strong support to the hypothesis that the polymerization catalyzed by these aluminum complexes proceeds via a coordination‐insertion mechanism involving a unique Al? N (amido) bond initiation. Via ¹H NMR scale oligomerization studies, it is suggested that the insertion of the first lactide monomer into Al? N bond of the complex is much easier than the insertion of lactide monomer into the newly formed Al? O (lactate) bond and might also be easier than the insertion of the first ε?CL monomer into Al? N bond. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2014 , 52, 3096–3106     

Ring‐opening polymerization of the cyclic dimer of poly(trimethylene terephthalate)

Poly(trimethylene terephthalate) (PTT) was prepared by the ring‐opening polymerization of its cyclic dimer. Antimony(III) oxide, titanium(IV) butoxide, dibutyltin oxide, and titanium(IV) isopropoxide were used as catalysts. Among the catalysts, titanium(IV) butoxide was the most effective for the same reaction conditions. A weight‐average molecular weight of 63,500 g/mol was obtained from ring‐opening poly merization at 265 °C for 2 h in the presence of 0.5 mol % titanium(IV) butoxide. The PTTs obtained from the polymerization catalyzed with increasing amounts of antimony(III) oxide showed increasing weight‐average molecular weights and reaction conversions. When 1 mol % antimony(III) oxide was used, the weight‐average molecular weight was 32,000 g/mol and the conversion was 82% after 1 h of polymerization at 265 °C. In the case of the polymer catalyzed by titanium(IV) butoxide under the same conditions, the weight‐average molecular weight and conversion were 40,000 g/mol and 77% when 0.25 mol % was used, whereas 0.5 mol % catalyst produced a weight‐average molecular weight of 27,000 g/mol and a conversion of 95%. To get an acceptable molecular weight and relatively high reaction conversion, a catalyst concentration of at least 0.5 mol % was found to be necessary, in contrast to conventional condensation polymerizations, which require only about one‐tenth of this amount of the catalyst. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 6801–6809, 2006