Synthesis and characterization of polylactide functionalized polyacetylenes

The paper deals with the synthesis and polymerization of novel poly(l-lactide)-derived acetylene monomers and the analysis of the thermal properties of the formed graft copolymers. Poly(l-lactide) macromonomers with different acetylene end groups were prepared using stannous octanoate as a catalyst in the presence of various hydroxyacetylenes. Next, the well-characterized macromonomers were subjected to polymerization using {RhCl(nbd)}₂]/Et₃N and RuCl₂(CH–o–OiPrC₆H₄)(IMesH₂)] to obtain graft copolymers. Investigation of these graft copolymers by GPC and NMR spectroscopy revealed the presence of some poly(l-lactide) formed as a side product during the ring opening polymerization of l-lactide. The thermal stability of the polymeric materials has been studied as a function of the polyacetylene backbone substituents and the length of poly(l-lactide) side chains. Introducing polyacetylene into polyester increased the polymer stability. The thermal degradation behavior of the synthesized materials depends on the length of poly(l-lactide) chains and also on l-lactide homopolymer impurities in the graft copolymers.