D. Mecerreyes et al., First example of an unsymmetrical difunctional monomer polymerizable by two living/controlled methods, MACRO RAPID, 21(11), 2000, pp. 779-784
Communication: In this paper the synthesis and (co)polymerizations of 4-(ac
ryloyloxy)-epsilon-caprolactone are reported. This new monomer can be polym
erized in a living/controlled way by two different polymerization mechanism
s: atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) and ring-opening polymerizat
ion (ROP). ATRP, which was carried out at 90 degrees C using NiBr2(PPh3)(2)
, leads to new polyacrylates containing pendant caprolactone functionalitie
s with controlled molecular weights and narrow polydispersities (M-w/M(p)si
milar to 1.1). Alternatively, ROP of this functional epsilon-caprolactone b
earing a pendant acrylate functionality leads to new poly(4-(acryloyloxy) c
aprolactone) as well as random copolymers when epsilon-caprolactone and L,L
-lactide are added as comonomers. The (co)polymerizations were carried out
using either (Al((OPr)-Pr-i)(3) in toluene at 25 degrees C or Sn(Oct)(2) as
a catalyst at 110 degrees C producing (co)polymers with controlled molecul
ar weights and narrow polydispersities (M-w/M(n)similar to 1.2). As a poten
tial application, the introduction of acrylate pendant groups into the poly
esters facilitated the preparation of cross-linked biodegradable materials
either thermally or by irradiation with ultraviolet light radical curing.