Experimental and Computational Studies of Ring-Opening Polymerization of Ethylene Brassylate Macrolactone and Copolymerization with ε-Caprolactone and TBD-Guanidine Organic Catalyst

The ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of ethylene brassylate, catalyzed by the cyclic guanidine 1,5,7-triazabicyclo[4.4.0]dec-5-ene (TBD) is reported. Several experimental parameters were evaluated for bulk ROP process and polyesters, resulting in molecular weights between 3 and 15 kg mol(-1). End-group analysis by H-1 nuclear magnetic resonnance (NMR) and matrix assisted laser desorption ionization time of flight computational studies supports the dual behavior of TBD, which can act as both a catalyst and initiator of the polymerization process. Under optimum conditions, semicrystalline poly(ethylene brassylate-co-epsilon-caprolactone) random copolymers were synthesized. Depending on the comonomer content, our results showed a range of melting temperatures between 39 and 69 degrees C. (c) 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2015, 53, 552-561