Synthesis and Ring Opening Polymerization of a New Functional Lactone, α-Iodo-ε-caprolactone: A Novel Route to Functionalized Aliphatic Polyesters

✍ Scribed by Sarah El Habnouni; Vincent Darcos; Jean Coudane

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2009
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 190 KB
• Volume: 30
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 1022-1336
• DOI: 10.1002/marc.200800596

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

A new functional lactone, α‐iodo‐ε‐caprolactone (__α__I__ε__CL), was synthesized from ε‐caprolactone by anionic activation using a non‐nucleophilic strong base (lithium diisopropylamide) followed by an electrophilic substitution with iodine chloride. Ring‐opening (co)polymerizations of the resulting monomer with ε‐caprolactone were carried out using tin 2‐ethylhexanoate as a catalyst in toluene at 100 °C. Homopolymerization of __α__I__ε__CL was achieved, and poly(__α__I__ε__CL) was fully characterized by SEC, ^1^H NMR and elemental analysis. Random copolymerizations of __α__I__ε__CL with __ε__CL were controlled with experimental molecular weights close to the theoretical values, narrow molecular weight distributions and a good agreement between experimental and theoretical molar compositions of __α__I__ε__CL.

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