Schiff-base supported titanium alkoxides are attractive candidates for the ring-opening polymerization of cyclic esters into biodegradable polymers due to their low toxicity, electronic and steric variability and facile synthesis. Furthermore, these characteristics make for an ideal platform to conduct undergraduate research and allows students an opportunity to explore core concepts found throughout the curriculum in a laboratory setting. This presentation will describe how students have contributed in various ways to the synthesis, characterization and analysis of a novel series of ONN-chelated titanium alkoxide catalysts for the ring-opening polymerization of e-caprolactone (eCL) and rac-lactide (LA). In particular the unique reaction kinetics between the monomers, 1st-order with respect to eCL and 0th-order with respect to LA, will be discussed through the lens of the undergraduate curriculum at Amherst College. The technical portion of the discussion will aim to highlight connections between the classroom and the research lab as a way of training students to think holistically about their project.

Exploring the intricacies of titanium alkoxide catalysts for ring-opening polymerization with undergraduate researchers

ACS Spring Meeting 2021

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