Ultrahigh-Molecular-Weight Poly(propylene oxide): Preparation and Perspectives

Conventional approaches for polymerizing substituted epoxides, especially propylene oxide, suffer from side reactions, severely limiting molar masses and control over the end groups of the resulting poly(propylene oxide) (PPO). This has not only complicated the incorporation of PPO moieties into complex defined polymer architectures, but has also hampered consideration of PPO as an interesting material in its own right. In this context, a concise summary of strategies for creating truly high-molecular-mass polyethers is provided, with a focus on a recently developed dual catalytic setup that permits access to PPO molar masses of 10 (6) g/mol and beyond. Based on these advances in the catalytic preparation of polyethers, future perspectives for ultrahigh-molecular-weight (UHMW) PPO as a performance material are identified.