Microreactor-based chemo-enzymatic ROP-ROMP platform for continuous flow synthesis of bottlebrush polymers

Abstract

Microreactor-based enzymatic ring-opening polymerization (ROP) and metal-catalytic ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) cascade reaction platform was developed for graft through synthesis of bottlebrush polymers. Single and integrated microreactor system were assembled for the evaluation of ROP, ROMP, and ROP-ROMP, respectively. By applying a continuous flow chemo-enzymatic ROP-ROMP strategy, a series of well-defined poly(norbornene)-graft-poly(ε-caprolactone) (PNB-g-PCL) bottlebrush polymers were successfully prepared with fast kinetics, exemption of macromonomer isolation and purification, the absence of macromonomer residue in the product, controlled molecular weight and narrow distribution. This work would provide inspiration for the chemo-enzymatic synthesis, microflow chemistry, and bottlebrush polymers.