Polyesters synthesized through the alternating copolymerization of epoxides and cyclic anhydrides compose a growing class of polymers that exhibit an impressive array of chemical and physical properties. Because they are synthesized through the chain-growth polymerization of two variable monomers, their syntheses can be controlled by discrete metal complexes, and the resulting materials vary widely in their functionality and physical properties. This polymer-focused review gives a perspective on the current state of the field of epoxide/anhydride copolymerization mediated by discrete catalysts and the relationships between the structures and properties of these polyesters.

Renewable, biodegradable polymers, such as aliphatic polyesters, based on sustainable sources have attracted considerable interest as alternatives to petroleum based polymers. One limiting factor in the development of aliphatic polyesters as replacements for these materials has been their relatively low glass transition temperatures (T g). For example, commercially available poly(lactic acid) has a T g of approximately 60 °C. Epoxide/anhydride copolymerizations offer an alternative to the ring-opening polymerization of lactones for the synthesis of aliphatic polyesters, and allow for tuning of polymer properties through two distinct

The synthesis of well-defined and functionalizable aliphatic polyesters remains a key challenge in the advancement of emerging drug delivery and self-assembly technologies. Herein, we investigate the factors that influence the rates of undesirable transesterification and epimerization side reactions at high conversion in the copolymerization of tricyclic anhydrides with excess propylene oxide using aluminum salen catalysts. The structure of the tricyclic anhydride, the molar ratio of the aluminum catalyst to the nucleophilic cocatalyst, and the Lewis acidity of the aluminum catalyst all influence the rates of these side reactions. Optimal catalytic activity and selectivity against these side reactions requires a careful balance of all these factors. Effective suppression of undesirable transesterification and epimerization was achieved even with sterically unhindered monomers using a fluorinated aluminum salph complex with a substoichiometric amount of a nucleophilic cocatalyst. This process can be used to synthesize well-defined block copolymers via a sequential addition strategy.

Mechanistic studies involving synergistic experiment and theory were performed on the perfectly alternating copolymerization of 1-butene oxide and carbic anhydride using a (salph)AlCl/[PPN]Cl catalytic pair. These studies showed a first-order dependence of the polymerization rate on the epoxide, a zero-order dependence on the cyclic anhydride, and a first-order dependence on the catalyst only if the two members of the catalytic pair are treated as a single unit. Studies of model complexes showed that a mixed alkoxide/carboxylate aluminum intermediate preferentially opens cyclic anhydride over epoxide. In addition, ring-opening of epoxide by an intermediate comprising multiple carboxylates was found to be rate-determining. On the basis of the experimental results and analysis by DFT calculations, a mechanism involving two catalytic cycles is proposed wherein the alternating copolymerization proceeds via intermediates that have carboxylate ligation in common, and a secondary cycle involving a bis-alkoxide species is avoided, thus explaining the lack of side reactions until the polymerization is complete.

Converting biomass-based feedstocks into polymers not only reduces our reliance on fossil fuels, but also furnishes multiple opportunities to design biorenewable polymers with targeted properties and functionalities. Here we report a series of high glass transition temperature (Tg up to 184 °C) polyesters derived from sugar-based furan derivatives as well as a joint experimental and theoretical study of substituent effects on their thermal properties. Surprisingly, we find that polymers with moderate steric hindrance exhibit the highest Tg values. Through a detailed Ramachandran-type analysis of the rotational flexibility of the polymer backbone, we find that additional steric hindrance does not necessarily increase chain stiffness in these polyesters. We attribute this interesting structure-property relationship to a complex interplay between methyl-induced steric strain and the concerted rotations along the polymer backbone. We believe that our findings provide key insight into the relationship between structure and thermal properties across a range of synthetic polymers.