Chain end-group selectivity using an organometallic Al(iii)/K(i) ring-opening copolymerization catalyst delivers high molar mass, monodisperse polyesters

Polyesters are important plastics, elastomers and fibres; efficient and selective polymerizations making predictable, high molar mass polymers are required. Here, a new type of catalyst for the ring-opening polymerization (ROCOP) of epoxides and anhydrides combines unusually high chain end-group selectivity, fast rates, and good molar mass control. The organometallic heterodinuclear Al(iii)/K(i) complex, applied with a diol, is tolerant to a range of epoxides/phthalic anhydride and produces only α,ω-hydroxyl telechelic polyesters with molar masses from 6–91 kg mol(−1), in all cases with monomodal distributions. As proof of its potential, high molar mass poly(vinyl cyclohexene oxide-alt-phthalic anhydride) (91 kg mol(−1)) shows 5× greater flexural strain at break (ε(b) = 3.7%) and 9× higher maximum flexural stress (σ(f) = 72.3 MPa) than the previously accessed medium molar mass samples (24 kg mol(−1)). It is also enchains phthalic anhydride, vinyl cyclohexene oxide and ε-decalactone, via switchable catalysis, to make high molar mass triblock polyesters (81 kg mol(−1), Đ = 1.04). This selective catalyst should be used in the future to qualify the properties of these ROCOP polyesters and to tune (multi)block polymer structures.