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Updated: Sep 30, 2026

Controlled Photoredox Ring-Opening Polymerization of O-Carboxyanhydrides Mediated by Ni/Zn Complexes
Published on: November 21, 2017
Polylactones. 59. Biodegradable networks via ring-expansion polymerization of lactones and lactides with a
Hans R Kricheldorf1, Björn Fechner
1Institut für Technische und Makromolekulare Chemie, Bundesstrasse 45, D-20146 Hamburg, Germany.
Abstract:
Spirocyclic tin initiators were prepared by condensation of commercial hydroxyethylated pentaerythritol with Bu(2)Sn(OMe)(2). These tin-containing spirocycles served as initiators for the ring-expansion polymerization of epsilon-caprolactone, beta-D,L-butyrolactone or D,L-lactide. The in situ polycondensation of these expanded spirocycles with terephthaloyl chloride or sebacoyl chloride yielded the desired biodegradable networks with elimination of the Bu(2)Sn group. The segment length (pore size) could be controlled via the monomer-initiator ratio (M/I) of the ring-expansion polymerization. Biodegradable networks were also obtained when Sn-containing spirocyclic polylactones were polycondensed with diphenyl dichlorosilane, benzene phosphonic dichloride, and phenyl phosphoric dichloride.
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