Recent advances in ring-opening polymerization strategies toward α,ω-hydroxy telechelic polyesters and resulting copolymers

► Synthesis of α,ω-dihydroxytelechelic polyester (including polycarbonate) diols. ► Ring-opening polymerization of the cyclic esters (including carbonate). ► Discrete rare earth borohydride catalysts. ► Macromolecular engineering: block polyester/polypeptide, polymethacrylate, polyurethane architectures. ► Experimental as well as mechanistic insights are reported.