One‐Pot Difunctionalization of Poly(ω‐pentadecalactone) with Thiol‐Thiol or Thiol‐Acrylate Groups,Catalyzed by Candida antarctica Lipase B

Summary: An enzymatic one‐pot procedure has been developed for the synthesis of difunctional polyesters containing terminal thiols and acrylates. Candida antarctica lipase B was used as a catalyst for the ring‐opening polymerization of ω‐pentadecalactone. The polymerization was initiated with 6‐mercaptohexanol, then terminated with γ‐thiobutyrolactone or vinyl acrylate to create two types of difunctional polyesters with a very high content of thiol‐thiol or thiol‐acrylate end‐groups.

Difunctionalization of poly‐PDL.     

Alternating Ring‐Opening Metathesis Copolymerization by Grubbs‐Type Initiators with Unsymmetrical N‐Heterocyclic Carbenes

A series of Ru^IV–alkylidenes based on unsymmetrical imidazolin‐2‐ylidenes, that is, [RuCl₂{1‐(2,4,6‐trimethylphenyl)‐3‐R‐4,5‐dihydro‐(3H)‐imidazol‐1‐ylidene}(CHPh)(pyridin)] (R=CH₂Ph ( 5 ), Ph ( 6 ), ethyl ( 7 ), methyl ( 8 )), have been synthesized. These and the parent initiators [RuCl₂(PCy₃){1‐(2,4,6‐trimethylphenyl)‐3‐R‐4,5‐dihydro‐(3H)‐imidazol‐1‐ylidene}(CHC₆H₅)] (R=CH₂C₆H₅ ( 1 ), C₆H₅ ( 2 ), ethyl ( 3 )) were used for the alternating copolymerization of norborn‐2‐ene (NBE) with cis‐cyclooctene (COE) and cyclopentene (CPE), respectively. Alternating copolymers, that is, poly(NBE‐alt‐COE)_n and poly(NBE‐alt‐CPE)_n containing up to 97 and 91 % alternating diads, respectively, were obtained. The copolymerization parameters of the alternating copolymerization of NBE with CPE under the action of initiators 1 – 3 and 5 – 8 were determined by using both a zero‐ and first‐order Markov model. Finally, kinetic investigations using initiators 1 – 3 , 6 , and 7 were carried out. These revealed that in contrast to the 2nd‐generation Grubbs‐type initiators 1 – 3 the corresponding pyridine derivatives 6 and 7 represent fast and quantitative initiating systems. Hydrogenation of poly(NBE‐alt‐COE)_n yielded a fully saturated, hydrocarbon‐based polymer. Its backbone can formally be derived by 1‐olefin polymerization of CPE (1,3‐insertion) followed by five ethylene units and thus serves as an excellent model compound for 1‐olefin polymerization‐derived copolymers.     

Development of Amino–Oxazoline and Amino–Thiazoline Organic Catalysts for the Ring‐Opening Polymerisation of Lactide

The ring‐opening polymerisation of lactide by a range of amino–oxazoline and amino–thiazoline catalysts is reported. The more electron‐rich derivatives are demonstrated to be the most highly active and polymerisation is well controlled, as evidenced by the linear relationship between the molecular weight and both the monomer conversion and the monomer‐to‐initiator ratio. Mechanistic studies reveal significant interactions between the monomer, initiator and catalyst and that the polymerisation is first order with respect to each of these components. These observations indicate that the polymerisation operates by a general base/pseudo‐anionic mechanism.     

Ring‐opening polymerization of lactides catalyzed by magnesium complexes coordinated with NNO‐tridentate pyrazolonate ligands

A series of magnesium benzylalkoxide complexes, [LⁿMg(μ‐OBn)]₂ ( 1 – 14 ) supported by NNO‐tridentate pyrazolonate ligands with various electron withdrawing‐donating subsituents have been synthesized and characterized. X‐ray crystal structural studies revealed that Complexes 1 – 3 , 5 , 7 , 9 , and 10 are dinuclear bridging through benzylalkoxy oxygen atoms with penta‐coordinated metal centers. All of these complexes acted as efficient initiators for the ring‐opening polymerization of L‐lactide and rac‐lactide. Based on kinetic studies, the activity of these metal complexes is significantly influenced by the electronic effect of the ancillary ligands with the electron‐donating substituents at the phenyl rings enhancing the polymerization rate. In addition, the “living” and “immortal” character of 6 has paved a way to synthesize as much as 40‐fold polymer chains of polylactides with a very narrow polydispersity index in the presence of a small amount of initiator. Among all of magnesium complexes, Complex 6 exhibits the highest stereoselectivity toward ring‐opening polymerization of rac‐lactide with Pr up to 88% in THF at 0 °C. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2013     

Ring‐Opening Polymerization of Cyclic Esters by an Enantiopure Heteroscorpionate Rare Earth Initiator

With a sting in its tail : An enantiopure neodymium complex (see scheme) acts as an efficient single‐site initiator for the controlled ring‐opening polymerization of rac‐lactide, forming isotactic polyester. The heteroscorpionate complex was characterized spectroscopically and by X‐ray diffraction.

     

Chiral Bora[1]ferrocenophanes: Syntheses,Mechanistic Insights,and Ring‐Opening Polymerizations

A series of new boron‐bridged [1]ferrocenophanes ([1]FCPs) was prepared by salt‐metathesis reactions between enantiomerically pure dilithioferrocenes and amino(dichloro)boranes (Et₂NBCl₂, iPr₂NBCl₂, or tBu(Me₃Si)NBCl₂). The dilithioferrocenes were prepared in situ by lithium–bromine exchange from the respective planar‐chiral dibromides (S_p,S_p)‐[1‐Br‐2‐(HR₂C)H₃C₅]₂Fe (R=Me or Et). In most of the cases, mixtures of the targeted [1]FCPs 4 and the unwanted 1,1′‐bis(boryl)ferrocenes 5 were formed. The product ratio depends on the bulkiness of the amino group, the speed of addition of the amino(dichloro)borane, the alkyl group on Cp rings, and in particular on the reaction temperature. The formation of strained [1]FCPs is strongly favored by increased reaction temperatures. Secondly, CHEt₂ groups at Cp rings favored the formation of the targeted [1]FCPs stronger than CHMe₂ groups. These discoveries open up new possibilities to further suppress the formation of unwanted byproducts by a careful choice of the reaction temperature and through tailoring the bulkiness of CHR₂ groups on ferrocene. Thermal ring‐opening polymerizations of selected boron‐bridged [1]FCPs gave metallopolymers with a M_w of 10 kDa (GPC).     

Ring‐opening polymerization of lactones using binaphthyl‐diyl hydrogen phosphate as organocatalyst and resulting monosaccharide functionalization of polylactones

Binaphthyl‐diyl hydrogen phosphate has been assessed for the first time as a catalyst for the ring‐opening polymerization of ε‐caprolactone (CL) and δ‐valerolactone (VL). In the presence of benzyl alcohol as coinitiator at 40–60 °C, the polymerization is quantitative and controlled both in terms of dispersity and of number‐average molecular weight corresponding to the monomer/initiator ratio. The use of a selectively protected D ‐glucose derivative bearing the primary C6 hydroxyl group as initiator leads to the quantitative end‐functionalization of the polyesters in rather short reaction times (ca. 10 min at 60 °C for δ‐VL) with dispersities around 1.08–1.10. Methyl‐α‐D ‐glucopyranoside has been used as a carbohydrate polyol initiator in bulk. The initiation efficiency is partial, leading to hydrophilic carbohydrates functionalized polylactones in a one‐step procedure. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2013     

Ring‐opening polymerization of 6‐hydroxynon‐8‐enoic acid lactone: Novel biodegradable copolymers containing allyl pendent groups

This article reports the synthesis and copolymerization of 6‐hydroxynon‐8‐enoic acid lactone. The ring‐opening polymerization of this lactone‐type monomer bearing a pendant allyl group led to new homopolymers and random copolymers with ε‐caprolactone and L ,L ‐lactide. The copolymerizations were carried out at 110 °C with Sn(Oct)₂ as a catalyst. The introduction of unsaturations into the aliphatic polyester permitted us to carry out different chemical transformations on this family of polymers. For example, this article reports the bromination, epoxidation, and hydrosylilation of the allyl group in the new polyester copolymers. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 870–875, 2000     

Oxidation‐Triggered Ring‐Opening Metathesis Polymerization

Eight new N‐Hoveyda‐type complexes were synthesized in yields of 67–92 % through reaction of [RuCl₂(NHC)(Ind)(py)] (NHC=1,3‐bis(2,4,6‐trimethylphenylimidazolin)‐2‐ylidene (SIMes) or 1,3‐bis(2,6‐diisopropylphenylimidazolin)‐2‐ylidene (SIPr), Ind=3‐phenylindenylid‐1‐ene, py=pyridine) with various 1‐ or 1,2‐substituted ferrocene compounds with vinyl and amine or imine substituents. The redox potentials of the respective complexes were determined; in all complexes an iron‐centered oxidation reaction occurs at potentials close to E=+0.5 V. The crystal structures of the reduced and of the respective oxidized Hoveyda‐type complexes were determined and show that the oxidation of the ferrocene unit has little effect on the ruthenium environment. Two of the eight new complexes were found to be switchable catalysts, in that the reduced form is inactive in the ring‐opening metathesis polymerization of cis‐cyclooctene (COE), whereas the oxidized complexes produce polyCOE. The other complexes are not switchable catalysts and are either inactive or active in both reduced and oxidized states.     

Enzymatic Ring‐Opening Polymerization of Oxiranes and Dicarboxylic Anhydrides

Oxiranes, such as glycidyl phenyl ether, benzyl glycidate, glycidyl methyl ether, and styrene oxide, were copolymerized with dicarboxylic anhydrides, such as succinic anhydride, phthalic anhydride, and maleic anhydride, by the action of an enzyme in a stepwise reaction to produce the corresponding polyesters containing some ether linkages having a maximum M _w of 13 500. Oxiranes, such as glycidol and glycidyl phenyl ether, were also homopolymerized and copolymerized with other oxiranes by the enzyme to produce the corresponding polyethers.

Enzymatic polymerization of oxiranes and dicarboxylic anhydrides.     

A Hybrid Ring‐Opening Metathesis Polymerization Catalyst Based on an Engineered Variant of the β‐Barrel Protein FhuA

A β‐barrel protein hybrid catalyst was prepared by covalently anchoring a Grubbs–Hoveyda type olefin metathesis catalyst at a single accessible cysteine amino acid in the barrel interior of a variant of β‐barrel transmembrane protein ferric hydroxamate uptake protein component A (FhuA). Activity of this hybrid catalyst type was demonstrated by ring‐opening metathesis polymerization of a 7‐oxanorbornene derivative in aqueous solution.     

Metal‐Free Activation in the Anionic Ring‐Opening Polymerization of Cyclopropane Derivatives

The successful activation observed when using Bu^tP₄ phosphazene base and thiophenol or bisthiols for the anionic ring opening polymerization (ROP) of di‐n‐propyl cyclopropane‐1,1‐dicarboxylate is described. Well‐defined monofunctional or difunctional polymers with a very narrow molecular weight distribution were obtained through a living process. Quantitative end‐capping of the propagating malonate carbanion was accessible by using either an electrophilic reagent such as allyl bromide or a strong acid such as HCl. Kinetics studies demonstrated a much higher reactivity compared to the conventional route using alkali metal thiophenolates.

     

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     

A New Interpretation of Apparent Induction Period in Ring‐Opening Polymerization of Octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane in Acid Emulsion

A following new interpretation of apparent induction period is proposed considering the experimental results obtained: octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane (D4) is activated by the reaction with acid to generate an activated derivative (A4). A4 reacts with D4 to generate A8, an active species containing eight dimethylsiloxane units. A8 backbites to generate mostly A4 and D4, which causes retardation in polymerization, but occasionally to form A3 and D5. A3 is highly reactive, and when the concentration of A3 exceeds a certain limit, much Ai where i is large enough is formed and promotes fast growth of chain at the interfacial area due to high concentration of D4. The interpretation assumes that A3 accelerates growth of chain faster than other species, and that A8 tends to backbite rather than grow. The interpretation is supported by the experimental results of polymerization conducted with D4 and D3, or D5 and D3 charged.     

Synthesis of block and end‐functionalized polyesters by triflimide‐catalyzed ring‐opening polymerization of ε‐caprolactone, 1,5‐dioxepan‐2‐one,and rac‐lactide

The ring‐opening polymerization (ROP) of cyclic esters, such as ε‐caprolactone, 1,5‐dioxepan‐2‐one, and racemic lactide using the combination of 3‐phenyl‐1‐propanol as the initiator and triflimide (HNTf₂) as the catalyst at room temperature with the [monomer]₀/[initiator]₀ ratio of 50/1 was investigated. The polymerizations homogeneously proceeded to afford poly(ε‐caprolactone) (PCL), poly(1,5‐dioxepan‐2‐one) (PDXO), and polylactide (PLA) with controlled molecular weights and narrow polydispersity indices. The molecular weight determined from an ¹H NMR analysis (PCL, M_n,NMR = 5380; PDXO, M_n,NMR = 5820; PLA, M_n,NMR = 6490) showed good agreement with the calculated values. The ¹H NMR and matrix‐assisted laser desorption ionization time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry analyses strongly indicated that the obtained compounds were the desired polyesters. The kinetic measurements confirmed the controlled/living nature for the HNTf₂‐catalyzed ROP of cyclic esters. A series of functional alcohols, such as propargyl alcohol, 6‐azido‐1‐hexanol, N‐(2‐hydroxyethyl)maleimide, 5‐hexen‐1‐ol, and 2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate, successfully produced end‐functionalized polyesters. In addition, poly(ethylene glycol)‐block‐polyester, poly(δ‐valerolactone)‐block‐poly(ε‐caprolactone), and poly(ε‐caprolactone)‐block‐polylactide were synthesized using the HNTf₂‐catalyzed ROP. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2013, 51, 2455–2463     

Ring‐opening polymerization of 1,3‐benzoxazines by p‐toluenesulfonates as thermally latent initiators

p‐Toluenesulfonic acid (TsOH) and several alkyl p‐toluenesulfonates, that is, methyl p‐toluenesulfonate (TsOMe), cyclohexyl p‐toluenesulfonate (TsOCH), and neopentyl p‐toluenesulfonate (TsONP), were evaluated as initiators for the ring‐opening polymerization of benzoxazines. TsOH and TsOMe were highly efficient initiators that induced the polymerization at 60 and 80 °C, respectively. In contrast, TsOCH and TsONP did not initiate the polymerization below 100 °C, while they induced the polymerization at elevated temperatures, 120 and 150 °C, respectively. When TsOCH was used as an initiator, the corresponding polymerization rate was comparable to that observed for the polymerization with using TsOH as an initiator. These results suggested that neutral TsOCH and TsONP can be regarded as “thermally latent initiators,” which underwent the thermal dissociation at the elevated temperatures to generate the corresponding alkyl cations and/or TsOH as the initiators of the polymerization. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011     

Block Copolypeptides Prepared by N‐Carboxyanhydride Ring‐Opening Polymerization

N‐Carboxyanhydride ring‐opening polymerization (NCA ROP) is a synthetically straightforward methodology to generate homopolypeptides. Extensive control over the polymerization permits the production of highly monodisperse synthetic polypeptides to a targeted molecular weight in the absence of unfavorable side reactions. Sequential NCA ROP permits the creation of block copolypeptides composed of individual polypeptide blocks boasting different functionalities, secondary structures, and desirable chemical properties. Consequently, a plethora of novel materials have been generated that have found wide‐range applicability. This review offers an insight into contemporary synthetic approaches toward NCA ROP before highlighting a number of block copolypeptide architectures generated.     

Manganese‐Corrole Complexes as Versatile Catalysts for the Ring‐Opening Homo‐ and Co‐Polymerization of Epoxide

Manganese‐corrole complexes in combination with a co‐catalyst [PPN]X ([PPN]⁺=bis(triphenylphosphoranylidene)iminium) were found to be new versatile catalysts for the polymerization of epoxides, copolymerization of epoxides with CO₂, and copolymerization of epoxides with cyclic anhydrides affording a wide range of polymeric materials. This work should allow the synthesis of new types of improved innovative (co)polymers with original properties and would clearly increase the number of applications for polyesters, polycarbonates, and polyethers.     

Scale‐up of Microwave‐Assisted Polymerizations in Batch Mode: The Cationic Ring‐Opening Polymerization of 2‐Ethyl‐2‐oxazoline

Summary: The use of microwave heating in polymer science is a rapidly growing field of research leading to faster and cleaner polymerization procedures. However, the majority of the investigations are performed at small scales (≈1 mL), which is far away from potential commercial applications of microwave‐assisted polymerizations. In addition, it has been shown in organic chemistry that microwave‐assisted reaction protocols can be directly scaled without the need for process optimization. In this contribution, we have investigated the direct scaling of microwave‐assisted polymerization procedures under pressure conditions using the cationic ring‐opening polymerization of 2‐ethyl‐2‐oxazoline as the model system. This polymerization was performed at scales ranging from 4.0 mmol (1 mL) to 1.0 mol (250 mL) in different microwave synthesizers covering both monomode and multimode devices.

Scale‐up of microwave‐assisted polymerizations in batch mode: the cationic ring‐opening polymerization of 2 ethyl‐2‐oxazoline.