UCLA

Lactide copolymers were developed to increase the utility of biodegradable polymers. Using redox switchable ring-opening polymerization, we synthesized a series of zirconium compounds to be used as precatalysts. We studied their geometry change behaviors in polymerization, and one compound, (salfen)Zr(OiPr)2 (salfen = N,N′-bis(2,4-di-tert-butylphenoxy)-1,1′-ferrocenediimine), was selected and then tested as a precatalyst for redox switchable ring-opening polymerization. Copolymers from LA (lactide) and CHO (cyclohexene oxide) were prepared as a proof of concept, and conditions were optimized for the redox switchable copolymerization method. LA-LO (limonene oxide) copolymers were then prepared and their solid state self-assembly properties were studied. Finally, LA-CHDO (cyclohexadiene oxide) copolymers were prepared and post-functionalized to enhance the mechanical properties.