Abstract
We report here metal-free strategies using organocatalysis based on supramolecular recognition for the ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of several cyclic phosphate monomers (CPMs) by a variety of organocatalysts such as 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (DBU), 1,5,7-triazabicyclo[4.4.0]undec-5-ene (TBD), and a bicomponent thiourea–tertiary amine catalyst. Each of these catalysts is efficient to produce linear polyphosphoesters (PPEs) from CPMs but with different sensitivity toward transesterification side reactions. The strong basicity of DBU is sufficient to activate an alcohol initiating the polymerization in the absence of any other cocatalyst. Nevertheless, side chain transfer reactions leading to branched and/or cyclic polymeric structures are observed, especially for high monomer conversion. Unlike DBU, TBD is a dual catalyst activating both the alcohol and the monomer. This dual activation allows shorter polymerization time, but SEC analyses of polyphosphates reveal bimodal molecular weight distr...
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