Phosphoramidic acid catalyzed controlled/living ring-opening polymerization of trimethylene carbonate

The ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of trimethylene carbonate (TMC) catalyzed by phosphoramidic acid (PAA) and initiated with benzyl alcohol (BnOH) has been investigated. The polymerization conditions were optimized to afford well-defined polytrimethylene carbonates (PTMCs). The molecular weight of the obtained PTMC with the [TMC]0/[BnOH]0/[PAA]0 ratio of 40:1:1 was analyzed by 1H NMR, Mn = 4180 g mol−1, showed good agreement with that estimated from the initial ratio, Mn = 3830 g mol−1. The kinetics and chain extension experiments have been carried out to further justify the controlled/living nature of this polymerization. The 1H NMR, SEC, and MALDI-TOF MS measurements were applied to analyze the obtained PTMCs.

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