Synthesis of poly(conjugated ester)s by ring-opening polymerization of cyclic hemiacetal ester bearing acryl skeleton

Ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of 2,6-dimethyl-5-methylene-1,3-dioxan-4-one (DMDO), a cyclic hemiacetal ester containing an acrylate skeleton, was investigated. Although the ROPs catalyzed by tin(II) 2-ethylhexanoate [Sn(Oct)(2)] and 1,5,7-triazabicyclo[4.4.0]dec-5-ene (TBD) did not yield polymeric products, diphenyl phosphate (DPP) functioned a catalyst for the ROP through acyl scission accompanying with the elimination of acetaldehyde at 50 degrees C and 80 degrees C. The resulting polymer was a poly(conjugated ester) that had similar structure to the polymer of alpha-methylene-beta-butyrolactone (M beta BL), an alpha-exomethylene lactone with four-membered ring. Copolymerizations of epsilon-caprolactone and delta-valerolactone were also performed to yield the corresponding polyesters. The chemoselective main chain scission of the copolymers at the conjugated ester units were achieved by conjugate substitution reaction with benzyl mercaptan. Although the ROP of DMDO left a problem in the control of molecular weight, DMDO exhibited a potential as an easier accessible monomer alternative to M beta BL for the preparation of bio- and chemo-degradable polyesters.