Functional PEG building blocks via copolymerization of ethylene carbonate and tert-butyl glycidyl etherElectronic supplementary information (ESI) available: Additional kinetic measurements, characterization data, NMR spectra, SEC data and MALDI-ToF data. See DOI: 10.1039/c6py00768f

• Main Authors: Kapiti, G, Keul, H, Möller, M
• Format: Journal Article
• Published: 02.08.2016
• ISSN: 1759-9954; 1759-9962
• DOI: 10.1039/c6py00768f

Anionic ring opening copolymerization of ethylene carbonate (EC) and tert -butyl glycidyl ether (TBGE) with CsOH as an initiator using a mono-mode microwave reactor results in poly(EO- co -TBGE) hydroxy telechelic copolymers with M n (SEC) values between 750 and 1700 g mol −1 and dispersity indices in the range of = 1.05-1.10. The reaction sequence for the formation of narrowly distributed copolymers was investigated by kinetic studies using size exclusion chromatography, 1 H NMR and MALDI-ToF as analytical tools. Transcarbonylation, transalkylation and carbonate fragmentation were identified as fundamental reactions for the formation of carbonate free products with multi block microstructures. 13 C NMR analysis allowed the determination of monomer sequences within the polymer chain, which confirmed its multi block type structure; different microstructures were obtained by varying the reaction time and monomer composition. Functional poly(ethylene glycol) building blocks were synthesized with ethylene carbonate as a new source for ethylene oxide repeating units.