Web Release Date: June 4,
Single-Component Catalyst/Initiators for the Organocatalytic Ring-Opening Polymerization of Lactide
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Contribution from the Center for Polymeric Interfaces and Macromolecular Assemblies, Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, and IBM Almaden Research Center, 650 Harry Road, San Jose, California 95120
Received February 11, 2005
Abstract:
The synthesis and characterization of a series of primary and secondary alcohol adducts of 1,3-dimesitylimidazolin-2-ylidene is described. These adducts are stable as solids at room temperature, but readily release alcohol and the free carbene in solution. These alcohol adducts function as excellent single-component catalyst/initiators for the ring-opening polymerization of lactide under mild conditions, providing polymers with controlled molecular weights and narrow polydispersities. Multifunctional adducts were used to prepare poly(lactide)s of more complex architectures.
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