Copolymerization allows for compositional control of structure-property relationships in polymeric materials. However, this versatility is typically limited to structurally homologous comonomers. The incorporation of different monomer functionalities, such as degradability and robust mechanical properties, into a single polymer backbone represents a synthetic challenge in balancing comonomer reactivity while achieving meaningful molecular weights. To expand the scope of copolymerization in heterocyclic systems, we explored the copolymerization of lactones and epoxides. We found that the classical Vandenberg catalyst, developed originally for epoxide polymerization, was capable of catalyzing epoxide/lactone copolymerization. We later moved to studying homologous organoaluminum initiators. I will present a historical perspective on the Vandenberg catalyst and how this has led to contemporary developments in polymerization catalysis for aluminum-based heterocopolymer synthesis.

Compositionally controlled heterocopolymers using old and new aluminum-based catalysts

2019 Fall National Meeting

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