Progress in the Preparation of Functional and (Bio)Degradable Polymers via Living Polymerizations.

Si-Ting Lin,Yasuyuki Nakamura,Chih-Feng Huang,Kun-Yi Andrew Lin,Chung-Chi Wang,Chi-Jung Chang

doi:10.3390/ijms21249581

Abstract

This review presents the latest developments in (bio)degradable approaches and functional aliphatic polyesters and polycarbonates prepared by typical ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of lactones and trimethylene carbonates. It also considers several recent innovative synthetic methods including radical ring-opening polymerization (RROP), atom transfer radical polyaddition (ATRPA), and simultaneous chain- and step-growth radical polymerization (SCSRP) that produce aliphatic polyesters. With regard to (bio)degradable approaches, we have summarized several representative cleavable linkages that make it possible to obtain cleavable polymers. In the section on functional aliphatic polyesters, we explore the syntheses of specific functional lactones, which can be performed by ring-opening copolymerization of typical lactone/lactide monomers. Last but not the least, in the recent innovative methods section, three interesting synthetic methodologies, RROP, ATRPA, and SCSRP are discussed in detail with regard to their reaction mechanisms and polymer functionalities.

Highlights

This review presents the latest developments indegradable approaches and functional aliphatic polyesters and polycarbonates prepared by typical ring-opening polymerization (ROP)
In this review,on we have mainly focused functional polyesters and severalaliphatic new types of degradable polycarbonates
The results revealed stereo-control via the catalysts and specific alternative poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) copolymers of

Summary

Introduction

(Bio)degradable plastics contain degradable units that include several components including at least one initiator, monomer, and cross-linker [1]. REVIEW copolymerization of other CKAs such as MDO and maleimide has been reported, the selectivity of the ring-opening of CKA was not enough, which indicates that the appropriate combination of monomer and the reactivity quitewith important in designing the copolymerization of vinyl bromobutanoate and MDOis [72], post-modification through copolymer as cycloaddition a f-PE. The key to achieving controlled/living polymerization is to follow a number of general degradable elastomer Another recent example is the copolymerization of BMDO and maleimide steps [78]:by (i)Sumerlin the initiating the reaction between the activators and dormant molecules should reported [76].rate. In a controlled/living polymerization, the concentrations of active radicals should remain low the ring-opening of CKA was not enough, which indicates that the appropriate combination in of order to achieve thereactivity suppression of termination and so that all polymer chains grow evenly monomer and the is quite importantreactions in designing the copolymer as acan f-PE. Methods, and applications on the basis ofStructure a RROP methods, and applications on the basis of a transfer-mediated a a Monomer(s)

2.Summary

Conclusions and Outlook