Phosphazene-promoted metal-free ring-opening polymerization of ethylene oxide initiated by carboxylic acid
Type
ArticleKAUST Department
Chemical Science ProgramKAUST Catalysis Center (KCC)
Physical Science and Engineering (PSE) Division
Polymer Synthesis Laboratory
Date
2014-02-21Online Publication Date
2014-02-21Print Publication Date
2014-03-11Permanent link to this record
http://hdl.handle.net/10754/563439
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
The effectiveness of carboxylic acid as initiator for the anionic ring-opening polymerization of ethylene oxide was investigated with a strong phosphazene base (t-BuP4) used as promoter. Kinetic study showed an induction period, i.e., transformation of carboxylic acid to hydroxyl ester, followed by slow chain growth together with simultaneous and fast end-group transesterification, which led to poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) consisting of monoester (monohydroxyl), diester, and dihydroxyl species. An appropriate t-BuP4/acid ratio was proven to be essential to achieve better control over the polymerization and low dispersity of PEO. This work provides important information and enriches the toolbox for macromolecular and biomolecular engineering with protic initiating sites. © 2014 American Chemical Society.Citation
Zhao, J., Pahovnik, D., Gnanou, Y., & Hadjichristidis, N. (2014). Phosphazene-Promoted Metal-Free Ring-Opening Polymerization of Ethylene Oxide Initiated by Carboxylic Acid. Macromolecules, 47(5), 1693–1698. doi:10.1021/ma500067jPublisher
American Chemical Society (ACS)Journal
Macromoleculesae974a485f413a2113503eed53cd6c53
10.1021/ma500067j