Polymers of carbonic acid. XIV. High molecular weight poly(trimethylene carbonate) by ring-opening polymerization with butyltin chlorides as initiators

Numerous BuSnCl, Bu₂SnCl, and Bu₃SnCl-initiated polymerizations of cyclo(tri-methylene carbonate) (TMC) were conducted in bulk. In addition to the initiator, reaction time, temperature, and monomer/initiator (M/I) ratio were varied. Yields above 90% were obtained with all three initiators, but their reactivities decrease in the order BuSnCl₃ > Bu₂SnCl₂ > Bu₃SnCl. The maximum molecular weights decrease in the same order. With BuSnCl₃ M_ws up to 250,000 were obtained. These molecular weights were determined by GPC on the basis of the universal calibration method. In this connection Mark-Houwink equations for two solvents, tetrahydrofuran (THF) and CH₂Cl₂ were determined and compared with literature data. Furthermore, mechanistic aspects were studied. ¹H- and ¹³C- NMR spectra revealed that BuSnCl₃ forms complexes with the CO-group of TMC, whereas Bu₂SnCl₃ do not cause NMR spectroscopic effects. Kinetic studies in chloroform and nitrobenzene and a comparison with Bu₃SnOMe suggest that at least BuSnCl₃ initiates a cationic mechanism. However, in contrast to SnCl₄ (or SnBr₄), BuSnCl₃ does not cause decarboxylation. Regardless of the initiator ¹H-NMR spectroscopy revealed CH₂OH and CH₂CI endgroups in all cases. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Anionic ring-opening polymerization behavior of trans-cyclohexene carbonate using metal tert-butoxides: Construction of living anionic ring-opening polymerization by lithium tert-butoxide

Anionic ring-opening polymerization (ROP) behavior of trans-cyclohexene carbonate (CHC) using metal alkoxides as initiators was investigated. As a result, lithium tert-butoxide-initiated ROP of CHC with a high-monomer concentration (10 M) at low temperature (−15 to −10°C) proceeded to afford a poly(trans-cyclohexene carbonate) (PCHC) without undesired side reactions such as mainly backbiting. The suppression of side reactions enables the control of the molecular weight (M_n = 2400–6100) of PCHC with low molar-mass dispersity values (M_w/M_n = 1.16–1.22). Furthermore, by increasing the feed ratio of the monomer to the initiator, the molecular weight increases proportionally, indicating a controllable polymerization. The results of a matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry analysis, a kinetic study, and a chain extension experiment suggested a living nature of this ROP using lithium tert-butoxide.     

Enzymatic ring-opening copolymerization of trimethylene carbonate and ethylene ethyl phosphate

A growing interest in biodegradable polymers and their biomedical and pharmaceutical applications has developed since the past decade. Ring-opening polymerization has been regarded as an efficient route for the synthesis of the biodegradable polymers, such as polyester, polycar- bonates and polyphosphates[1—6]. However, chemical methods for the ring-opening polymerization of biodegradable polymers need extremely pure monomers and anhydrous conditions as well as metallic catalysts, which must …     

Rapid synthesis of poly(trimethylene carbonate) by microwave-assisted ring-opening polymerization

Poly(trimethylene carbonate) (PTMC) was synthesized successfully by microwave-assisted ring-opening polymerization of trimethylene carbonate. The polymerizations were carried out in a single-mode microwave oven using ethylene glycol (EG) as the initiator in the absence of any metallic compound catalyst. The temperature-time profiles of the reaction mixture were investigated at different power levels and EG concentrations. The molar mass of the resulting PTMC and TMC monomer conversion by the microwave method is higher than those by the conventional method. Thermal properties of the resulting polymers were studied by differential scanning calorimetry. Microwave irradiation proved to be an effective and efficient method for the preparation of PTMC.     

聚三亚甲基碳酸酯的研究进展

聚三亚甲基碳酸酯具有良好的生物降解性能及生物相容性,是一种重要的生物降解医用高分子材料,在生物医用领域具有较大的应用前景。本文结合近年来的研究进展,综述了阳离子开环聚合、阴离子开环聚合、配位聚合、酶促开环聚合以及微波开环聚合等方法在聚三亚甲基碳酸酯制备过程中的应用,总结了聚三亚甲基碳酸酯的分子量与物理性能的关系,并重点讨论了聚三亚甲基碳酸酯的体内外降解性能,详细描述了分子量及脂肪酶对聚三亚甲基碳酸酯降解行为的影响,最后总结了聚三亚甲基碳酸酯在生物医用领域的应用。     

Synthesis of functional polycarbonates by lipase-catalyzed ring-opening polymerization

Poly(5-benzyloxy-trimethylene carbonate) (PBTMC), a new functional polycarbonate was synthesized by enzymatic ring-opening polymerization in bulk at 150°C using Porcine pancreas lipase (PPL) or Candida rugosa lipase (CL) as catalyst. Influences of different polymerization conditions such as the source of enzyme, enzyme concentration and polymerization time on the molecular weight and yield were studied. The results showed that PPL exhibited higher activity than CL. Both higher molecular weight(Mn, 18953) and yield(98%) could be obtained by the use of PPL as catalyst. ¹H NMR spectrum showed no decarboxylation occurrence during the ring-opening polymerization.     

聚三亚甲基碳酸酯的生物相容性研究

以实验室自制的聚三亚甲基碳酸酯(PTMC)为研究对象,通过测定聚三亚甲基碳酸酯在体外酶解过程中降解液pH变化,考察其在降解过程中是否产生酸性降解产物;通过MTS法考察聚三亚甲基碳酸酯的体外细胞毒性;通过HE染色的方法考察聚三亚甲基碳酸酯在大鼠体内埋植部位的皮肤刺激性,进而考察聚三亚甲基碳酸酯的生物相容性。结果表明:PTMC在降解过程中不产生酸性降解产物,可避免埋植部位无菌炎症的产生。同时不同分子量的PTMC可以存在于皮下组织而不会造成伤害,因此聚三亚甲基碳酸酯具有良好的生物相容性,可安全植入体内。     

Less toxic acetylacetonates as initiators of trimethylene carbonate and 2,2‐dimethyltrimethylene carbonate ring opening polymerization

This article presents the results of TMC and DMC polymerization with the use of acetylacetonates of low‐toxic metals: iron, zinc, and zirconium. Zinc (II) acetylacetonate proves to be a very good initiator of homopolymerization. The reaction carried out with the use of this initiator at 110 °C is very rapid and of high yield. Using both zinc and iron (III) acetylacetonates, as well as the zirconium (IV) one, in high temperatures it is possible to obtain PTMC possessing high molecular mass, thus ensuring optimization of the relation between the duration of the polymerization and its yield. A strong influence of thermal degradation on the course of the reaction has been observed, particularly at 160 °C, with the use of Fe(acac)₃ as the initiator. DMC polymerization proceeds much more slowly when initiated by iron and zinc acetylacetonates. A high conversion of the monomer is obtained in this case as well. The relation between the molecular mass of the obtained PDMC and the conversion of the monomer is directly proportional; however, those masses, determined on the basis of polystyrene standards, are much lower than those estimated theoretically. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 1913–1922, 2005     

Polymers of carbonic acid. XXVII. Macrocyclic polymerization of trimethylene carbonate

2,2-Dibutyl-2-stanna-1,3-dioxepane (DSDOP) was used as cyclic initiator for the polymerization of trimethylene carbonate (TMC). The polymerizations were either conducted in concentrated chlorobenzene solution at 50 and 80°C or in bulk at 60 and 120°C. With monomer/initiator ratios ≤100 the conversion was complete within 2 h at 80°C and within 12 h at 50°C. Variation of the reaction time revealed that the rapid polymerization is followed by a relatively rapid (backbiting) degradation even at 80°C. The polymerizations in bulk at 60°C were somewhat slower than those at 80°C in solution, but the influence of degradation reactions was less pronounced. With optimized reaction time the number average molecular weight (M_n) roughly parallels the monomer/initiator ratio and M_n's up to 100,000 were obtained. In contrast to a classical living polymerization broader polydispersities (1.5–1.7) were found. In the case of 5,5-dimethyltrimethylene carbonate rapid degradation and chain transfer reactions prevented the formation of high molecular weight polymers. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 2179–2189, 1999     

Fabrication of biodegradable poly(trimethylene carbonate) networks for potential tissue engineering scaffold applications

Biodegradable poly(trimethylene carbonate) (PTMC) networks were prepared by photopolymerization of linear (L)‐ and star (S)‐shaped PTMC macromonomers for potential tissue engineering scaffold applications. The L‐ (M_n, 6400) and S‐shaped (M_n, 5880) PTMC macromonomers were synthesized using 1,4‐butane diol and 2‐ethyl‐ 2‐hydroxyl‐propane‐1,3‐diol co‐initiated ring‐opening polymerization of trimethylene carbonate (TMC) in the presence of stannous octoate and subsequent acrylation with acryloyl chloride. Chemical structures of the PTMC macromonomers and their corresponding networks were characterized by ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy. The human endothelial cell line, EA.hy926 was used to test the biocompatibility, cell adhesion, and proliferation behavior of both PTMC networks. The PTMC networks made from the S‐shaped macromonomers exhibited superior cell adhesion and proliferation behavior than those made of the linear macromonomers. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Polymerization mechanism of trimethylene carbonate carried out with zinc(II) acetylacetonate monohydrate

The proposed mechanism of initiation and course of ring‐opening polymerization of cyclic trimethylene carbonate (TMC) involving zinc(II) acetylacetonate is in accordance with the mechanism of monomer activation. At the first stage of the process, coordination of carbonate to Zn(Acac)₂ · H₂O complex occurs with the release of weakly coordinated water molecules. This free water molecule reacts with active TMC–Zn(Acac)₂ complex. The reaction results in the formation of propanediol and CO₂ emission. During further stages of the investigated process, the formed propanediols, or later the oligomeric diols produced with polymerization, are cocatalysts of the chain propagation reaction. The chain propagation occurs because of repeating activation of the TMC monomer through the creation of an active structure resulting in the exchange/transfer reaction between the zinc complex and the monomer, with its following attachment to the hydroxyl groups, carbonate ring opening, and formation of the carbonic unit of polymer chain. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011     

Polymers of carbonic acid. XVII. Polymerization of cyclobis(tetramethylene carbonate) by means of BuSnCl3 and Sn(II) 2-ethylhexanoate

Dimeric cyclotetramethylene carbonate (TeMC)₂ was polymerized in bulk at 185°C. Either nBuSnCl₃ or Sn(II)2-ethylhexanoate (SnOct₂) were used as catalysts. SnOct₂ proved to be somewhat less reactive, but high yields (up to 93%) and high viscosities (ν_inh up to 0.85 dL/g) were obtained with both catalysts. Viscosity-average molecular weights (M_v) in the range of 50–75 × 10³ were determined. The isolated crystalline poly(tetramethylene carbonate)s were characterized by IR, ¹H- and ¹³C-NMR spectra, DSC measurements and WAXD powder pattern. CH₂OH and octoate end groups were detected by means of ¹H-NMR spectroscopy when SnOct₂ was used as initiator, but ether groups were absent. DSC measurements revealed that poly(tetramethylene carbonate) is a slowly crystallizing polymer with a degree of crystallinity below 50% and a melting temperature in the range of 64–69°C depending on the molecular weight. Thermogravimetric analyses proved that polyTeMC decomposes completely between 240 and 340°C without leaving a residue. CO₂ and tetrahydrofuran were the main degradation products. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Miscibility and isothermal crystallization of poly(L-lactide) and poly(trimethylene carbonate) blends

Miscibility, isothermal crystallization kinetics, and morphology of poly(L-lactide)/poly(trimethylene carbonate)(PLLA/PTMC) crystalline/amorphous blends were studied by differential scanning calorimetry(DSC) and optical microscopy(OM). The heterogeneity of OM images and an unchanged glass transition temperature showed that PLLA was immiscible with PTMC. During isothermal crystallization, the crystallization rate of PLLA improved when the PTMC content was low(≤ 20%). However, when the PTMC content was high(≥ 30%), the crystallization rate decreased significantly. The reason of these nonlinear changes in crystal kinetics was analyzed according to the nucleation and growth process by virtue of a microscope heating stage. The isothermal crystallization morphologies of the blends were also studied by polarized optical microscopy and the results confirmed the conclusions obtained from crystallization kinetics.     

Main-chain biodegradable liquid crystal derived from cholesteryl derivative end-capped poly(trimethylene carbonate): synthesis and characterisation

Main-chain biodegradable liquid crystal derived from cholesteryl derivative end-capped poly(trimethylene carbonate) was investigated. The novel liquid crystal was synthesised via ring-opening polymerisation of trimethylene carbonate initiated by cholesteryl derivative with an alkyl spacer and end primary hydroxyl group, without any catalyst. The chemical structure of resulting polymers was verified by ¹H NMR. Liquid crystalline properties were validated by X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, and polarising optical microscopy. The results showed that all the synthesised polymers Chol-(CH₂)₂-(TMC)_n exhibited mesomorphism in particular temperature ranges because of the introduction of the cholesteryl derivative moiety.     

聚三亚甲基碳酸酯的改性研究

聚三亚甲基碳酸酯具有良好的生物降解性能及生物相容性,是一种重要的生物降解医用高分子材料,在生物医用领域具有巨大的潜在应用。本文结合近几年的研究进展,综述了聚三亚甲基碳酸酯改性的三大类方法,详细介绍了聚三亚甲基碳酸酯的功能化方法与途径、讨论了聚三亚甲基碳酸酯与不同类别单体共聚改性的研究现状及性能变化,并总结了共混改性对聚三亚甲基碳酸酯性能的影响,最后介绍了改性后的聚三亚甲基碳酸酯在生物医用领域的应用。     

Preparation of block copolymer of poly(trimethylene carbonate) with oligo(ethylene glycol) and the surface properties of the dip coated film

To persuade the stent coating materials for the better sustainable development, a block copolymer composed of hydrophobicity of poly(trimethylene carbonate) (PTMC) and hydrophilicity of PTMC bearing ethylene glycol chains was synthesized as a potential candidate. The result of thermal stability of the polymer was analyzed which reached up to 206 °C (T₁₀) and it is considered that sufficient for sterilization during the treatment. Moreover, the dip coated films of polymer were coated on polyethylene (PE) and stainless steel (SS) substrates in order to stimulate the stability upon the physiological environment. In addition, the preliminary in vitro test of the films were evaluated by protein adsorption and blood platelet adhesion tests. Hence, this study tends to convince that the synthetic block copolymer based on PTMC derivatives were approached for stent coating materials.     

Kinetics and mechanism studies on scandium calix[6]arene complex initiating ring-opening polymerization of 2,2-dimethyltrimethylene carbonate

Scandium p-tert-butylcalix[6]arene complex has been synthesized from scandium isopropoxide and p-tert-butylcalix[6]arene and used as a single component initiator for the first time. The polymerization of 2,2-dimethyltrimethylene carbonate (DTC) using this complex can proceed under mild conditions. Poly (2,2-dimethyltrimethylene carbonate) (PolyDTC) with weight-average molecular weight of 33700 and molecular weight distribution of 1.21 can be prepared. Kinetics study indicates that the polymeri- zation rate is first order with respect to both monomer and initiator concentrations, and the apparent activation energy of the polymerization is 22.7 kJ/mol. 1H NMR spectrum of the polymer reveals that the monomer ring opens via acyl-oxygen bond cleavage leading to an active center of Sc-O.     

Organometallic mediated radical polymerization of vinyl acetate with Fe(acac)2

The radical polymerization of vinyl acetate (VAc) is moderated by iron(II) acetylacetonate (Fe(acac)₂) by the organometallic route (OMRP), as well as by degenerative transfer polymerization (DTP) when in the presence of excess radicals, through the formation of thermally labile organometallic Fe^III dormant species. The poly(vinyl acetate) (PVAc)‐Fe^III(acac)₂ dormant species has been isolated in the form of an oligomer and characterized by ¹H NMR, EPR, and IR methods, and then used as a single‐component initiator for the OMRP of VAc. The degree of polymerization of this isolated oligomeric species demonstrates the limited ability of Fe(acac)₂, relative to the Co(acac)₂ congener, to rapidly trap the growing PVAc radical chain. Control under OMRP conditions is improved by the presence of Lewis bases, especially PMe₂Ph. On the other hand, iron(II) phthalocyanine inhibits the radical polymerization of VAc completely. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2013 , 51, 3494–3504