Synthesis and ring opening polymerization of a new functional lactone, α-iodo-ε-caprolactone: A novel route to functionalized aliphatic polyesters

Abstract

A new functional lactone, α-iodo-ε-caprolactone (αIεCL), was synthesized from ε-caprolactone by anionic activation using a non-nucleophilic strong base (lithium diisopropylamide) followed by an electrophilic substitution with iodine chloride. Ring-opening (co)polymerizations of the resulting monomer with ε-caprolactone were carried out using tin 2-ethylhexanoate as a catalyst in toluene at 100°C. Homopolymerization of αIεCL was achieved, and poly(αIεCL) was fully characterized by SEC, 1H NMR and elemental analysis. Random copolymerizations of αIεCL with εCL were controlled with experimental molecular weights close to the theoretical values, narrow molecular weight distributions and a good agreement between experimental and theoretical molar compositions of αIεCL. © 2009 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA.