Copolymerization of D,L-lactide and ε-caprolactone using tin(II) octanoate as catalysts: an insight into copolymer microstructure

Authors

  • Sergei V. Kostjuk Belarusian State University, 4 Niezaliežnasci Avenue, Minsk 220030, Belarus; Research Institute for Physical Chemical Problems, Belarusian State University, 14 Lieninhradskaja Street, Minsk 220006, Belarus https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7466-3662

Keywords:

ring-opening copolymerization, D,L-lactide, ε-caprolactone, tin(II) octanoate, biodegradable copolymers

Abstract

Sn(Oct)2-catalyzed ring-opening copolymerization of D,L-lactide and e-caprolactone in bulk at 130 °C at different D,L-lactide/e-caprolactone has been studied. It was shown that independent on the initial comonomers ratio, the synthesized copolymers are enriched by D,L-lactide at the early stage of reaction indicating the formation of gradient-like copolymer. However, the intensive transesterification reaction both during the polymerization and at the monomer-starved conditions leads to the redistribution of the monomer sequences and formation of the random copolymer. The synthesized copolymers are characterized by high polydispersity (Đ > 2.0), which raises when the reaction mixture was kept under monomer-starved conditions that confirms the occurrence of transesterification. The formation of random copolymer is confirmed by single Tg value, which gradually increased with the increase of the amount of D,L-lactide in the copolymer from –48.6 °C to 33.3 °C for D,L-lactide/e-caprolactone ratio in copolymer of 20:80 and 90:10 mol/mol, respectively.

Author Biography

  • Sergei V. Kostjuk, Belarusian State University, 4 Niezaliežnasci Avenue, Minsk 220030, Belarus; Research Institute for Physical Chemical Problems, Belarusian State University, 14 Lieninhradskaja Street, Minsk 220006, Belarus

    doctor of science (chemistry), docent; head of the department of high molecular weight compounds, faculty of chemistry, Belarusian State University, and head of the laboratory of catalysis of polymerization processes, Research Institute for Physical Chemical Problems, Belarusian State University

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Published

2020-08-27

How to Cite

[1]
Kostjuk, .S.V. 2020. Copolymerization of D,L-lactide and ε-caprolactone using tin(II) octanoate as catalysts: an insight into copolymer microstructure. Journal of the Belarusian State University. Chemistry. 2 (Aug. 2020), 43–49. DOI:https://doi.org/10.33581/2520-257X-2020-2-43-49.