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Updated: Jun 21, 2025

Controlled Photoredox Ring-Opening Polymerization of O-Carboxyanhydrides Mediated by Ni/Zn Complexes
Published on: November 21, 2017
Crafting sustainable solutions: architecting biodegradable copolymers through controlled ring-opening
Shweta Sagar1, Priyanku Nath1, Aranya Ray1
1Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad, Kandi - 502 284, Sangareddy, Telangana, India. tpanda@chy.iith.ac.in.
Abstract:
Polylactic acid (PLA) is a biodegradable and biocompatible polymer with versatile applications in packaging and medicine. It is derived from lactic acid and thus represents an eco-friendly option sourced from renewable raw materials. Despite its advantages, PLA exhibits few drawbacks, such as brittleness and relatively high melting and glass transition temperatures. However, these limitations can be addressed through copolymerization with other monomers like ε-caprolactone (ε-CL), resulting in a composite material with improved physical properties. This paper comprehensively reviews achievements in PLA-PCL copolymerization using organometallic catalysts, discussing scientific findings and various copolymer architectures obtained, including random or block configurations. It also demonstrates various sustainable catalysts for achieving the required microstructure under mild reaction conditions without the aid of any external initiator.
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