The anionic polymerization of (R)-β-butyrolactone initiated with either 18-crown-6 complexes of a potassium alkoxide or a simple carboxylate (reference initiator) proceeded with inversion of configuration. As a result (R)-β-butyrolactone formed an isotactic poly((S)-β-hydroxybutyrate) with these initiators at room temperature. Polymerization of (R,S)-β-butyrolactone under the same conditions gave an atactic polymer, but at lower temperatures the predominantly syndiotactic form of poly((R,S)-β-hydroxybutyrate) was produced from the racemic monomer.

Novel model block copolymers of (R,S)-β-butyrolactone with pivalolactone (PVL) are prepared in order to define the effect of crystalline domains provided by poly(pivalolactone) on the biodegradability of atactic poly(β-butyrolactone), a-PHB. The “living” a-PHB is synthesized from racemic β-butyrolactone, in the presence of potassium alkoxide/18-crown-6 complex, and such a living polymer is applied for polymerization of PVL, yielding block copolymers, a-PHB-b-PPVL, of tailored molecular weight and composition. The copolymers contain an amorphous phase with T g = 5 °C, associated with the a-PHB block, and a high melting crystalline phase, whose amount increases with PPVL content. Films of copolymers containing 9 (PVL9), 17 (PVL17), and 23 mol % of PPVL (PVL23) are exposed to PHB-depolymerase A from Pseudomonas lemoignei (37 °C, Tris−HCl buffer pH = 8). While plain a-PHB does not biodegrade, the biodegradation rate of a-PHB-b-PPVL copolymers increases (PVL9 ≪ PVL17 < PVL23) along with the increase of crystalline PPVL domains. The biodegradation rate of PVL23 is similar to that of natural (crystalline) PHB. On the basis of a comparison of a-PHB-b-PPVL composition changes (by 1H NMR) with weight loss during biodegradation experiments, it is concluded that in the copolymers studied only the a-PHB block is attacked by the enzyme and that the crystalline block of nonbiodegradable PPVL efficiently promotes enzymatic attack to a-PHB, by providing a binding support to the enzyme.

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The anionic polymerization of 2-oxetanone and 4-methyl-2-oxetanone initiated with the potassium hydride/l8-crown-6 complex was investigated. The a-proton abstraction of the monomer was found to proceed at the initiation step of this polymerization. The salt of the unsaturated carboxylic acid formed initiates further propagation, leading to functionalized polyesters with unsaturated, dead end-groups.

Polymerization of pivalolactone (a,a-dimethyl-/3-propiolactone) initiated with alkali metal alkoxides has been studied. It has been revealed that after addition of an alkoxide anion, from the initiator, onto the carbonyl carbon atom of the monomer the selective cleavage of the acyl-oxygen bond of the monomer leads to the formation of alkoxide propagating species. Thus, it has been demonstrated that, in contrast to -unsubstituted /S-Iactones and higher lactones, the anionic polymerization of pivalolactone proceeds through either alkoxide or carboxylate propagation centers, depending on the nature of initiator used, i.e. an alkoxide or a carboxylate, respectively. In the former case, however, cyclic oligomers are also formed which are unusual in the anionic polymerization of other /3-lactones. This indicates that, whatever the lactone ring size (four-, six-, or seven-membered lactones), intramolecular transesterification reactions can take place if alcohólate ions are propagating species.

The influence of methyl substituent on the mechanism of the ring-opening polymerization of p-lactones initiated by alkali metal alkoxides is discussed. Attention has been paid to the effect of the substituent position in the monomer molecule on the ring-opening mechanism, the 3,3-dimethyl-2-oxetanone (pivalolactone), 4-methyl-2-oxetanone @-butyrolactone) and 2-oxetanone @-propiolactone) being chosen as model monomers. Moreover, it was found unexpectedly that in the case of pivalolactone polymerization, besides openchain polymers, cyclic oligomers are produced.

Coupling of benzyl bromide giving I ,Zdiphenylethane was demonstrated to proceed at room temperature in THF solution mediated by the potassium/l8-crown-6 supramolecular complex. Based on this model reaction a novel method for the low temperature synthesis of poly@-xylylene) from a,a'-dibromo-p-xylene is proposed. Experimental evidence of the polymer structure was provided by solid-state l C NMR and IR spectroscopy.

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