Anionic and coordination polymerization of 3-butyrolactone

Aluminoxane catalysts and anionic initiators can polymerize 3-butyrolactone, 3-BL, to high molecular weight stereoregular polymers. With the racemic monomer, [R,S]-3-BL, anionic polymerization with alkali metal complexes can form syndiotactic polymers and aluminoxane catalysts can form either highly isotactic, syndiotactic, or atactic poly-3-butyrolactone, P-3-BL, depending on the composition and method of preparation of the aluminoxane and the conditions of polymerization.