A simple and general approach for the synthesis of biodegradable triblock copolymers by organocatalytic ROP from poly(lactide) macroinitiators

Abstract

To overcome the present limitations in the synthesis of biodegradable triblock copolymers with PLA as central building block, three different reactional mechanisms (coordination-insertion, anionic and cationic) have been involved, while employing the transition from organometallic to organic catalysis. Even though activated chain-end mechanism with stannous octanoate is well known for the successful ROP catalytic reactivity, the synthesis of PLA based triblock copolymers according to this route revealed not negligible transesterification reactions. In the same way, the activated chain-end mechanism through nucleophilic activation (TBD) presented either no reactivity or weak control over the anionic polymerization process. Herein, we therefore propose an activated monomer mechanism as general and simple route for obtaining controlled PTMC-b-PDLLA-b-PTMC and PCL-b-PDLLA-b-PCL triblock copolymers by using cationic organocatalysis (MSA). 1H, 13C NMR and DOSY-NMR spectra confirmed the well-controlled polymer architecture of the B-A-B triblock copolymer.