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Updated: Mar 15, 2026

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Published on: November 21, 2017
Asymmetric Alternating Copolymerization of Meso-epoxides and Cyclic Anhydrides: Efficient Access to Enantiopure
Jie Li1, Ye Liu1, Wei-Min Ren1
1State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, Dalian University of Technology , Dalian 116024, China.
Abstract:
Synthesis of stereoregular polyesters with main-chain chirality was achieved for the first time by the asymmetric copolymerization of meso-epoxides and cyclic anhydrides using catalyst systems based on enantiopure bimetallic complexes. The combination of the biphenol-linked dinuclear aluminum complex with tert-butyl groups in the phenolate ortho-positions and a nucleophilic co-catalyst was found to be more efficient in catalyzing this asymmetric copolymerization, affording enantiomerically enriched polyesters (up to 91% ee) with completely alternating structure and narrow molecular weight distribution. It was discovered that the isotactic-enriched poly(cyclopentene phthalate) is a typical semicrystalline material with a melting endothermic peak at 221 °C. This study is expected to provide a promising route to prepare various stereoregular polyesters having a wide variety of physical properties and degradability.
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