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Updated: Sep 24, 2025

Controlled Photoredox Ring-Opening Polymerization of O-Carboxyanhydrides Mediated by Ni/Zn Complexes
Published on: November 21, 2017
Phosphorus pentoxide as a cost-effective, metal-free catalyst for ring opening polymerization of ε-caprolactone
Ismail Adoumaz1,2, El Hassan Boutriouia1, Redouane Beniazza3
1IMED-Lab, Cadi Ayyad University, Faculté des Sciences et Techniques Gueliz Av. Abdelkrim Khattabi BP 549 40000 Marrakech Morocco m.lahcini@uca.ac.ma +212 5 24 43 31 70 +212 5 24 43 46 88.
Abstract:
The ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of ε-caprolactone (ε-CL) using phosphorus pentoxide (P2O5) as a metal-free catalyst and isopropanol (iPrOH) as initiator resulted in the preparation of poly(ε-caprolactone) with narrow weight distribution. NMR spectroscopy analyses of the prepared PCL indicated the presence of the initiator residue at the end of the polymer chain, implying the occurrence of the ε-CL-catalysis ROP through a monomer activation mechanism. Kinetic experiments confirmed the controlled/living nature of ε-CL ring-opening catalyzed by phosphorus pentoxide. The commercial availability of phosphorus pentoxide and its easy-handling provide additional opportunities for polymer synthesis and nanocomposite manufacturing.
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