One-pot synthesis of linear- and three-arm star-tetrablock quarterpolymers via sequential metal-free ring-opening polymerization using a "catalyst switch" strategy

Junpeng Zhao, David Pahovnik, Yves Gnanou, Nikos Hadjichristidis

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

29 Scopus citations

Abstract

A "catalyst switch" strategy has been used to sequentially polymerize four different heterocyclic monomers. In the first step, epoxides (1,2-butylene oxide and ethylene oxide) were successively polymerized from a monohydroxy or trihydroxy initiator in the presence of a strong phosphazene base promoter (t-BuP4). Then, an excess of diphenyl phosphate (DPP) was introduced, followed by addition and polymerization of a cyclic carbonate (trimethylene carbonate) and a cyclic ester (δ-valerolactone or ε-caprolactone). DPP acted as both neutralizer of the phosphazenium alkoxide (polyether chain end) and activator of the cyclic carbonate/ester. Using this method, linear- and star-tetrablock quarterpolymers were prepared in one pot. This work is emphasizing the strength of the previously developed catalyst switch strategy for the facile metal-free synthesis of complex macromolecular architectures. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)304-312
Number of pages9
JournalJournal of Polymer Science Part A: Polymer Chemistry
Volume53
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 6 2014

Bibliographical note

KAUST Repository Item: Exported on 2020-10-01

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Materials Chemistry
  • Organic Chemistry
  • Polymers and Plastics

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