Poly(L-lactide) (PLA) is a bioderived and biodegradable polymer that has limited applications due to its hard and brittle nature. Incorporation of poly(1,3-trimethylene carbonate) (PTMC) into PLA, in a block copolymer fashion, improves the mechanical properties, while retaining the biodegradability of the polymer, broadening its range of applications. However, the preparation of 1,3-trimethylene carbonate (TMC)/ L-lactide (LA) copolymers beyond those of the diblock and triblock structures is not reported due to the limitations of the commonly employed catalysts. Our approach focuses on the preparation of multiblock copolymers via ring opening polymerization (ROP) of LA and TMC, in step-wise addition, by the ferrocene-chelating heteroscorpionate zinc complex, [fc(PPh2)(BH[(3,5-Me)2pz]2)]ZnOCH2Ph ((fcP,B) ZnOCH2Ph, fc = 1,1’-ferrocenediyl, pz = pyrazole). The preparation of up to pentablock copolymers, from various combinations of LA and TMC, was accomplished and the physical properties of the copolymers were evaluated.

Preparation of multiblock copolymers via step-wise addition polymerization of L-lactide and trimethylene carbonate

253rd National Meeting (2017)

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