Organo-catalyzed/initiated ring opening co-polymerization of cyclic anhydrides and epoxides: an emerging story. Issue 20 (6th May 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ryzhakov, Dmytro; Printz, Gaël; Jacques, Béatrice; Messaoudi, Samir; Dumas, Françoise; Dagorne, Samuel; Le Bideau, Franck
• Is Part Of: Polymer chemistry. Volume 12:Issue 20(2021)
• Page Start: 2932
• Page End: 2946
• Publication Date: 2021-05-06
• Subjects: Polymers -- Periodicals; Macromolecules -- Periodicals; Polymerization -- Periodicals; 547.705
• DOI: 10.1039/d1py00020a
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1759-9954

Abstract

Abstract : This review deals with recent organo-catalyzed/initiated developments of co-polymerization of cyclic anhydrides and epoxides to access polyesters. Abstract : Polyesters are omnipresent in our everyday lives and their synthesis via eco-friendly methods is becoming a major challenge today. The co-polymerization of cyclic anhydrides and epoxides was first reported by Fischer in 1960 involving a tertiary amine as an initiator. Since then, metal complexes have been used as catalysts in this process, Inoue being a major contributor in this area until Coates' breakthrough using a zinc-based catalyst leading to high molecular weight polymers. Such a pathway to polyesters is the most promising method for accessing a large array of polyesters given the large pool of commercially available or easily synthesizable epoxides and cyclic anhydrides. To date, the use of metal-free organo-catalysts/initiators in this co-polymerization remains to be explored; this area is still in its infancy but interesting developments have been reported over the past five years. In this review, we provide a complete overview of such organo-catalyzed/initiated processes since 2015.