Boron‐Based Lewis Pairs Catalyzed Living, Regioselective, and Topology‐Controlled Polymerization of (E, E)‐Alkyl Sorbates. Issue 16 (4th May 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhao, Wuchao; Wang, Qianyi; He, Jianghua; Zhang, Yuetao
• Other Names: Dong Huanli guestEditor.; Hu Wenping guestEditor.
• Is Part Of: Macromolecular rapid communications. Volume 43:Issue 16(2022)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2022-05-04
• Subjects: cyclic polymers -- Lewis pairs polymerization -- living polymerization -- regioselectivity -- renewable conjugated diene; Macromolecules -- Periodicals; Polymers -- Periodicals; Chemistry -- Periodicals; 547.705
• DOI: 10.1002/marc.202200088
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1022-1336

Abstract

Abstract: It remains as a great challenge to realize living and controlled polymerization of renewable monomers by the boron‐based Lewis pairs. Here, strong nucleophilic N ‐heterocyclic olefins (NHOs) or N ‐heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) as Lewis bases, and boron‐based compounds as Lewis acids, are employed to construct LPs for polymerization of alkyl sorbates, including ( E, E )‐methyl sorbate and ( E, E )‐ethyl sorbate. Systematic investigation reveals that the combinations of B(C6 F5 )3 with appropriate acidity and steric hindrance, and strong nucleophilic NHOs promote living and controlled polymerization of alkyl sorbates in 100% 1, 4‐addition manner, furnishing polymers with predicted molecular weight ( M w up to 56.6 kg mol −1 ) and narrow molecular weight distribution ( Đ as low as 1.12). Furthermore, topology analysis shows that NHC1/B(C6 F5 )3 LP produce PMS possessing cyclic structure. Abstract : It is challenging to realize living polymerization of renewable monomers by the boron‐based Lewis pairs. Here, B(C6 F5 )3 ‐based Lewis pairs are employed to catalyze living/controlled polymerization of renewable ( E, E )‐alkyl sorbates. The polymerization 100% regioselectively proceeds in 1, 4‐addition manner and produces polymers with linear or cyclic structure depending on the structure of the employed Lewis bases.