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, in all cases with monomodal distributions. As proof of its potential, high molar mass poly(vinyl cyclohexene oxide--phthalic anhydride) (91 kg mol) shows 5× greater flexural strain at break ( = 3.7%) and 9× higher maximum flexural stress ( = 72.3 MPa) than the previously accessed medium molar mass samples (24 kg mol). It is also enchains phthalic anhydride, vinyl cyclohexene oxide and ε-decalactone, switchable catalysis, to make high molar mass triblock polyesters (81 kg mol, = 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.