Polyesters by a Radical Pathway: Rationalization of the Cyclic Ketene Acetal Efficiency. (8th July 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Tardy, Antoine; Gil, Noémie; Plummer, Christopher M.; Siri, Didier; Gigmes, Didier; Lefay, Catherine; Guillaneuf, Yohann
• Is Part Of: Angewandte Chemie. Volume 132:Number 34(2020)
• Page Start: 14625
• Page End: 14634
• Publication Date: 2020-07-08
• Subjects: cyclic ketene acetals -- DFT calculations -- kinetic modelling -- polyester -- radical polymerization; Chemistry -- Periodicals; 540
• DOI: 10.1002/ange.202005114
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0044-8249

Abstract

Abstract: Radical ring‐opening polymerization (rROP) of cyclic ketene acetals (CKAs) combines the advantages of both ring‐opening polymerization and radical polymerization thereby allowing the robust production of polyesters coupled with the mild polymerization conditions of a radical process. rROP was recently rejuvenated by the possibility to copolymerize CKAs with classic vinyl monomers leading to the insertion of cleavable functionality into a vinyl‐based copolymer backbone and thus imparting (bio)degradability. Such materials are suitable for a large scope of applications, particularly within the biomedical field. The competition between the ring‐opening and ring‐retaining propagation routes is a major complication in the development of efficient CKA monomers, ultimately leading to the use of only four monomers that are known to completely ring‐open under all experimental conditions. In this article we investigate the radical ring‐opening polymerization of model CKA monomers and demonstrate by the combination of DFT calculations and kinetic modeling using PREDICI software that we are now able to predict in silico the ring‐opening ability of CKA monomers. Abstract : Draw me a CKA : the radical ring‐opening polymerization of model CKA monomers was investigated using quantum calculations and kinetic modeling. The results were supported by a detailed experimental study. The new proposed methodology allows to predict in silico the efficiency of CKA monomers to prepare polyester through a radical pathway.