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Updated: Jun 21, 2026

Controlled Photoredox Ring-Opening Polymerization of O-Carboxyanhydrides Mediated by Ni/Zn Complexes
Published on: November 21, 2017
Fluorinated β-Lactones and Poly(β-hydroxyalkanoate)s: Synthesis via Epoxide Carbonylation and Ring-Opening
John W Kramer1, Geoffrey W Coates
1Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Baker Laboratory, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853-1301.
Abstract:
Efficient and mild reaction conditions were developed for the catalytic carbonylation of fluorinated epoxides to their corresponding β-lactones. Six new lactones with fluorinated side chains were prepared in high isolated yields. These lactones were polymerized to form a series of new poly(β-hydroxyalkanoate)s with fluorinated side chains, and their properties were examined with respect to their hydrocarbon analogs. Finally, copolymerizations were performed with fluorinated lactones and β-butyrolactone, which resulted in tapered copolymers rather than the expected random copolymers.
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