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Ring-opening Copolymerization Thermodynamics and Kinetics of γ-valerolactone/ϵ-caprolactone

Ring-opening Copolymerization Thermodynamics and Kinetics of γ-valerolactone/ϵ-caprolactone

Mariacristina Gagliardi, Angelo Bifone

PLoS One. 2018 Jun 21;13(6):e0199231.

PMID: 29927986

Abstract:

The general misconception that γ-lactones are not thermodynamically polymerizable has limited the development of all γ-lactone-based copolymers. A few studies have reported copolymerization of these five-membered cyclic esters with more reactive monomers, yet a systematic investigation of kinetics and thermodynamics is still lacking. To explore the feasibility of the reaction, we combined equilibrium and non-isothermal syntheses for the copolymerization of γ-valerolactone with ϵ-caprolactone, initiated with methoxy polyethyleneglycol and catalyzed by Tin(II) 2-ethylhexanoate. Here, we present the polymerization kinetic and thermodynamic parameters for different monomer ratios in the reaction feed. We observed the dependency of enthalpy and entropy of polymerization upon monomer ratio changes, and estimated a linear increase in the activation energy by increasing the γ-valerolactone fraction in the starting monomer mixture. Our data demonstrate that γ-valerolactone can copolymerize with ϵ-caprolactone, but only under specific conditions. The reaction parameters determined in this study will enable preparation of additional γ-valerolactone-based copolymers and development of a family of degradable materials with improved properties in respect to commonly used polyesters.

Chemicals Related in the Paper:

Catalog Number	Product Name	Structure	CAS Number	Price
AP108292	γ-Valerolactone		108-29-2	Price

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