Well defined polymer structures by ionic ring-opening polymerization of cyclic monomers comprising the respective structure

Ring-opening polymerization of cyclic monomers is the method of choice when tailor-made polymers and copolymers with heteroatoms in the main chain are to be prepared. Triblock copolymers comprising a poly(ethylene oxide) block [poly(EO)] and two poly(2,2-dimethyltrimethylene carbonate) blocks [poly(DTC)] were prepared using a telechelic poly(EO) as initiator for the DTC polymerization. These block copolymers dissolve suitable salts leading to solid polymeric electrolytes. The thermal properties and the ionic conductivity of these materials are presented. Block copolymers comprising a poly(tetrahydrofuran) block [poly(THF)] and a poly(trimethylene urethane) block [poly(TU)] were obtained by sequential cationic polymerization of THF and TU with methyl trifluoromethane-sulfonate as initiator. Mechanistic and kinetic aspects of the TU polymerization are discussed. To achieve the synthesis of block copolymers with a poly(L-lactide) block [poly(LLA)] and a poly(α-amino acid) block [poly(AA)] amino-terminated poly(LLA) was prepared which served as initiator for the polymerization of α-amino acid N-carboxyanhydrides.     

三亚甲基环碳酸酯及2,2-二甲基三亚甲基环碳酸酯开环均聚合*

生物降解聚合物聚三亚甲基环碳酸酯（PTMC）及聚2,2-二甲基三亚甲基环碳酸酯（PDTC）在药物控释载体及其它生物医学技术领域有着良好的应用前景。与脂肪族聚酯不同,PTMC、PDTC降解时,不会产生有害的酸性化合物。PTMC、PDTC主要由三亚甲基环碳酸酯（TMC）及2,2-二甲基三亚甲基环碳酸酯（DTC）开环均聚合制备。本文总结了催化TMC、DTC开环均聚合的不同催化剂及其聚合机理,综述了近年来国内外在TMC、DTC均聚合催化剂开发上的研究进展,并对生物相容性催化剂如稀土催化剂、Ca、Mg、Zn、Fe催化剂以及酶催化剂催化TMC、DTC开环聚合的优缺点进行了比较。     

Controlled enzymatic degradation of poly(?-caprolactone)-based copolymers in the presence of porcine pancreatic lipase

Poly(?-caprolactone) (PCL) has been extensively studied for biomedical use due to its outstanding biocompatibility. Well-defined random and block copolymers based on PCL such as poly(?-caprolactone-r-2,2-dimethyltrimethylene carbonate) (PCD), poly[(?-caprolactone-r-2,2-dimethyltrimethylene carbonate)-b-PEG-b-(?-caprolactone-r-2,2-dimethyltrimethylene carbonate)] (PECD) and poly[MPEG-b-(?-caprolactone-r-2,2-dimethyltrimethylene carbonate)] (MPECD) containing 5.0-8.5 mol% 2,2-dimethyltrimethylene carbonate (DTC) and 15.9-18.3 mol% polyethylene glycol (PEG) or polyethylene glycol monomethyl ether (MPEG) have been synthesized by using lanthanum tris(2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methylphenolate) as catalyst. Their crystallization properties, thermal behaviors, hydrophilicities and degradation properties depend on the tunable microstructures and morphologies. It is found for the first time that porcine pancreatic lipase (PP lipase) can effectively catalyze the degradation of PCD electrospun mats (EMs) with 92.0% weight loss within 7 days while it shows no detectable effect on PCL EMs. Surface erosion mechanism is proposed in the enzymatic degradation systems, and the high proportion of amorphous domain of PCD contributes to its fast degradation rate according to the degradation product analyses. The enzymatic degradation rates of PCD EMs with porous structures and huge surface areas are higher than those of compression molding films (CMFs). Introducing PEG segment improves the hydrophilicity of PCD but decreases the degradation rate. A PEG segment enrichment process on the surface is addressed, which prevents the contact of PP lipase with PCD segments in the PEG-involved electrospun fiber. PECD and MPECD exhibit different mechanical strengths and contact angles, but similar degradation profiles. This study provides a practical example for tunable biodegradation of polyesters by designing the materials' bulk structures and/or surface morphologies.     

Copolymerization of 2,2-dimethyltrimethylene carbonate and cyclic esters

The anionic and/or insertion copolymerization of 2,2-dimethyltrimethylene carbonate (DTC) with ϵ-caprolactone (ECL), pivalolactone (PVL) and L-lactide (LLA) is presented with special emphasis on the copolymerization mechanism. Statistical copolymers are obtained by copolymerization of DTC with ECL and with LLA, while with PVL a block copolymer is obtained. The role of transesterification on the microstructure is discussed.     

Enzymatic ring-opening polymerization of 2,2-dimethyltrimethylene carbonate catalyzed by PPL immobilized on silica nanoparticles

Silica nanoparticles were first used as the carrier for the porcine pancreas lipase (PPL) immobilization. The result of transmission electron microscopy (TEM) showed that the immobilized lipase was still in nanosize after enzyme immobilization. The ring-opening polymerization of 2,2-dimethyltrimethylene carbonate (DTC) catalyzed by this immobilized PPL (IMPPL) was explored. ¹H NMR spectra suggested no evidence of decarboxylation during propagation. Influences of IMPPL concentration and reaction temperature on the molecular weight and yield of poly(DTC) were studied. The recovery and reuse of IMPPL for the ring-opening polymerization of DTC was also investigated. The recycling IMPPL showed even higher catalytic activity and a higher molecular weight of polycarbonate could be achieved.     

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.     

PNIPAM-b-聚碳酸酯温敏胶束的制备及用作药物控制释放载体的研究

以多孔硅球固定化猪胰脂肪酶(IPPL)为催化剂,温敏性HO-PNIPAM为大分子引发剂,5-甲基-5-烯丙氧羰基-三亚甲基碳酸酯(MAC)和5,5-二甲基三亚甲基碳酸酯(DTC)为共聚单体,通过开环聚合合成了不同结构比例的两亲性嵌段型共聚物P(MAC-co-DTC) -b-PNIPAM.该嵌段型共聚物在水中可自组装形成...     

Preparation and polymerization mechanism of dihydroxy-capped PCL,poly(CL-b-PEG-b-CL) and poly(DTC-b-CL-b-DTC)

PCL possesses a wide range of medical applications, such as tissue engineering and controlled drug release, because of its good biodegradability and miscibility. In order to extend the use of PCL, researchers have been exploring its structural and chemica…     

Enzymatic degradations of copolymers of L-lactide with cyclic carbonates

Syntheses and biodegradation of random copolymers of L -lactide (L -LA) with trimethylene carbonate (TMC), 1,1-dimethyltrimethylene carbonate (1,1-DTMC) and 2,2-dimethyltrimethylene carbonate (2,2-DTMC) were investigated at various monomer ratios using SmMe(C₅Me₅)₂THF as an initiator at 80 °C for 24 h in toluene. Enzymatic degradation of these polymers were performed using cholesterol esterase, lipoprotein lipase, and proteinase K. Poly(TMC) was effectively biodegraded by cholesterol esterase and lipoprotein lipase, while poly(2,2-DTMC) and all the copolymers were hardly degraded using these enzymes. Biodegradations of poly(L -LA-co-TMC) (97:3) and poly(L -LA-co-2,2,DTMC) (95:5) show rapid degradations using TES buffer, a compost and proteinase K. The physical properties of these copolymers were also examined.

Enzymatic degradation of L -LA/2,2-DTMC copolymers by proteinase K in Tricine buffer (pH 8.0) at 37 °C: a 98:2, b 82:18, c 100:0, d 66:34, e 34:66, f 0:100.     

Rare earth complexes [Ln(EDBP)<Subscript>2</Subscript>(DME)Na(DME)<Subscript>3</Subscript>] as catalysts for the polymerization of 2,2-dimethyltrimethylene carbonate

The biphenol based discrete ion-pair rare earth complexes,[Ln（EDBP）₂（DME）Na（DME）₃][Ln=Er（1）,Yb（2）, Sm（3）],were prepared and used as catalysts for the ring-opening polymerization（ROP）of 2,2-dimethyltrimethylene carbonate（DTC）.Three complexes show moderate activities for the polymerization,and the catalytic activities increase in the following sequence:（Yb2 elimination was prepared.     

Rare Earth Complex Initiated Ring-Opening Polymerization of 2,2-Dimethyltrimethylene Carbonate

Aliphatic polycarbonate is a series of useful biodegradable materials attracting more interests recently. Poly(2,2-dimethyltrimethylene carbonate) (polyDTC) has been studied for a long time. Polymerization of DTC can be catalyzed by alkyl metals1, trifluoromethanesulfonic acid and its esters2, alcohol/methylaluminum diphenolate system3 and etc. Herein tris(2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methylphenoxo) lanthanides (Ln(OAr)3, Ln=La, Nd) are firstly applied to initiate the polymerization of DTC. Ln(O…     

Preparation and polymerization mechanism of dihydroxy-capped PCL,poly(CL-<Emphasis Type="Italic">b</Emphasis>-PEG-<Emphasis Type="Italic">b</Emphasis>-CL) and poly(DTC-<Emphasis Type="Italic">b</Emphasis>-CL-<Emphasis Type="Italic">b</Emphasis>-DTC)

The ring opening polymerization of ε-caprolactone (CL) was initiated by glycol and yttrium tri(2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methylphenolate)s (Y(OAr)₃), preparing dihydroxy-capped poly (ε-caprolactone) (PCL) with controllable molecular weight. ¹H NMR and SEC analyses indicate that two kinds of active species and corresponding PCL with different structures exist in the system. Increasing the ratio of glycol to Y(OAr)₃ benefits the formation of monofunctional active species. However, poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)/Y(OAr)₃ system only contains sole bifunctional active species to synthesize copolymer of CL with PEG (poly(CL-b-PEG-b-CL)). Dihydroxycapped PCL as macroinitiator can further initiate the polymerization of 2,2-dimethyltrimethylene carbonate (DTC). Thus, triblock copolymer of CL with DTC (poly(DTC-b-CL-b-DTC)) has been prepared.     

Amphiphilic Block‐Graft Copolymers Poly(ethylene glycol)‐b‐(polycarbonates‐g‐palmitate) Prepared via the Combination of Ring‐Opening Polymerization and Click Chemistry

Amphiphilic block‐graft copolymers mPEG‐b‐P(DTC‐ADTC‐g‐Pal) were synthesized by ring‐opening polymerization of 2,2‐dimethyltrimethylene carbonate (DTC) and 2,2‐bis(azidomethyl)trimethylene carbonate (ADTC) with poly(ethylene glycol) monomethyl ether (mPEG) as an initiator, followed by the click reaction of propargyl palmitate and the pendant azido groups on the polymer chains. Stable micelle solutions of the amphiphilic block‐graft copolymers could be prepared by adding water to a THF solution of the polymer followed by the removal of the organic solvent by dialysis. Dynamic light scattering measurements showed that the micelles had a narrow size distribution. Transmission electron microscopy images displayed that the micelles were in spherical shape. The grafted structure could enhance the interaction of polymer chains with drug molecules and improve the drug‐loading capacity and entrapment efficiency. Further, the amphiphilic block‐graft copolymers mPEG‐b‐P(DTC‐ADTC‐g‐Pal) were low cytotoxic and had more sustained drug release behavior. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012     

Alternating copolymers of tetramethylene urea with 2,2-dimethyltrimethylene carbonate and ethylene carbonate; preparation of the corresponding polyurethanes

Copolymerization of tetramethylene urea (TeU, 1 ) with the cyclic carbonates 2,2-dimethyltrimethylene carbonate (DTC, 2 ) and ethylene carbonate (EC, 3 ) results in the polyurethanes 4 and 5 with an approximate number-average molecular weight of 20 000 and a polydispersity index of two. Polyurethane 4 is an amorphous material with a glass transition temperature of 26.3°C; polyurethane 5 is a semicrystalline material with a melting temperature of 208°C. Distinct copolymerization mechanisms are proposed for the formation of polyurethane 4 and 5 , respectively.     

Algorithm and application of Monte Carlo simulation for multi-dispersive copolymerization system

A Monte Carlo algorithm has been established for multi-dispersive copolymerization system, based on the experimental data of copolymer molecular weight and dispersion via GPC measurement. The program simulates the insertion of every monomer unit and records the structure and microscopical sequence of every chain in various lengths. It has been applied successfully for the ring-opening copolymerization of 2,2-dimethyltrimethylene carbonate (DTC) with δ-caprolactone (δ-CL). The simulation coincides with the experimental results and provides microscopical data of triad fractions, lengths of homopolymer segments, etc., which are difficult to obtain by experiments. The algorithm presents also a uniform frame for copolymerization studies under other complicated mechanisms.     

Ring-opening polymerization of 2,2-dimethyltrimethylene carbonate using rare earth aryl oxides substituted by alkyl groups

Single component rare earth aryl oxides substituted by various alkyl groups [Ln(OAr)3] such as methyl,isopropyl,and tertbutyl have been developed to initiate the ring-opening polymerization of 2,2-dimethyltrimethylene carbonate(DTC).The catalytic activity of rare earth aryl oxides,characteristics of the ring-opening polymerization as well as the polymerization kinetics and mechanism were intensively examined.The experimental results turn out that the catalytic activity of Ln(OAr)3 changes in good concordanc...     

Synthesis and characterization of block copolymers by metal‐ and solvent‐free ring‐opening polymerization of cyclic carbonates initiated from PEG‐based surfactants

Ring‐opening polymerizations of trimethylene carbonate (TC) and 2,2‐dimethyltrimethylene carbonate (DTC) are initiated from hydroxyl‐terminated polyethylene glycol (PEG) and PEG‐based surfactants (Triton X‐100 or Triton X‐405) in the absence of any catalysts. The metal‐ and solvent‐free polymerizations proceed under melt at 150 °C, affording Triton X‐100‐block‐poly(TC) with M_n of 1400–5200 and Triton X‐100‐block‐poly(DTC) with M_n of 1800–7100 in excellent yields. The molecular weights and the comonomer composition of the resulting copolymers are controlled by the feed ratios of the monomers to the initiators, confirmed by gel permeation chromatography and ¹H NMR spectroscopy. The solubilities of the block copolymers composed of hydrophilic PEG segment and hydrophobic poly(TC) or poly(DTC) segment depend on both the compositions and the components. For example, Triton X‐100‐block‐poly (TC) (TC/EG = 9.5/9.5) and Triton X‐405‐block‐poly(TC) (TC/EG = 28/40, 46/40) milky suspend in water, while Triton X‐405‐block‐poly(TC) (TC/EG = 9.7/40) dissolves in water. A dynamic light scattering study reveals that the particle distribution of a copolymer, Triton X‐405‐block‐poly(TC) (TC/EG = 9.7/40) in water, has a monodisperse unimodal pattern ranging from 92 to 368 nm. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 1985–1996, 2006     

Isothiourea‐based lewis pairs for homopolymerization and copolymerization of 2,2‐dimethyltrimethylene carbonate with ε‐caprolactone and ω‐pentadecalactone

In this study, the homopolymerization of 2,2‐dimethyltrimethylene carbonate (DTC) and its copolymerizations with ε‐caprolactone (CL) were carried out in detail using the isothiourea‐based Lewis pairs comprised 2,3,6,7‐tetrahydro‐5H‐thiazolo(3,2‐a)pyrimidine and magnesium halides (MgX₂) with benzyl alcohol (BnOH) as the initiator. The copolymerization of DTC and CL via one‐pot addition produced randomly sequenced copolymers. On the other hand, a well‐defined linear poly(ε‐caprolactone)–block–poly(2,2‐dimethyltrimethylene carbonate) (PCL‐b‐PDTC) diblock copolymer was prepared by simple sequential ring‐opening polymerization of CL and DTC. In addition, poly(ω‐pentadecalactone)–block–PDTC diblock copolymer was successfully prepared by the same strategy. Moreover, PDTC–poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)–PDTC triblock copolymer was synthesized in the presence of PEG 2000. The effects of different polymerization conditions on the polymerization reactions have been systematically discussed. The resulting polymers were characterized by the ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectra, gel permeation chromatography (GPC), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry (MALDI‐ToF MS). The block copolyester structures were confirmed by the ¹³C NMR spectroscopy and DSC characterizations. These results indicated that the supposed mechanism was a dual catalytic mechanism. The proposed mechanism involved activation of the monomer via coordination to the MgX₂, and the initiator alcohol was deprotonated by base. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2019, 57, 2349–2355     

Ring-opening polymerizaion of 2,2-dimethyltrimethylene carbonate initiated by <Emphasis Type="Italic">in situ</Emphasis> generated,tetrahydrosalen stablized yttrium borohydride complex and random copolymerization with <Emphasis Type="Italic">ɛ</Emphasis>-caprolactone

The poly（2,2-dimethyltrimethylene carbonate）（PDTC）with one hydroxyl and one formate terminal functions was synthesized by in situ generated,tetrahydrosalen stabilized yttrium borohydride complex.The influences of monomer/initiator molar ratio,temperature and reaction time on polymerization of DTC were investigated.Under the condition:[DTC]/[I]=500,55℃,toluene:0.5 mL,DTC:0.6 g,PDTC with M_n=15600 and PDI=2.15 was obtained. Through ¹H-NMR and ¹³C-NMR analyses,the structure of PDTC was characterized and a coordination-insertion mechanism was proposed.In addition,the random copolymerization of DTC and caprolactone（CL）initiated by rare-earth borohydride compound was studied.The microstructure of PDTC-co-PCL includes four diads:DTC-CL,CL-CL,DTC-DTC and CL-DTC, which were determined by the specific signals in ¹H-NMR spectra.Based on the typical signals of the formate（δ= 8.08）and hydroxyl（δ=3.34）end groups of PDTC-co-PCL,a mechanism involving DTC monomer inserts before CL during the initiation process was presumed.Furthermore,the thermal properties of amorphous copolymer were characterized by differential scanning calorimetry（DSC）.The results support the random structure of PDTC-co-PCL.     

聚2,2-二甲基三亚甲基碳酸酯与壳寡糖的接枝共聚反应研究

用新戊二醇和三光气为原料,反应生成2,2-二甲基三亚甲基碳酸酯.再以四氢呋喃为溶剂,酶为催化剂引发聚2,2-二甲基三亚甲基碳酸酯（PDTC）与壳寡糖接枝生成接枝共聚物.研究了温度、时间、配比对接枝共聚物的产率和分子量的影响.就产率而言,最佳反应条件是60℃、-NH2/DTC的摩尔比值为1∶10、36 h、DTC/酶的质量比值为200;就重均分子量而言,最佳反应条件是60℃、-NH2/DTC摩尔比为1∶10、36 h、DTC/酶质量比值为150.对产品进行红外光谱、凝胶色谱与溶解性能测试.