Ring‐Opening Polymerization of <i>ε</i>‐Caprolactone by Poly(ethylene glycol) by an Activated Monomer Mechanism

Abstract

Abstract Summary: The polymerization of ε ‐caprolactone (CL) in the presence of HCl · Et 2 O by an activated monomer mechanism was performed to synthesize diblock or triblock copolymers composed of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and poly( ε ‐caprolactone) (PCL). The obtained PCLs had molecular weights close to the theoretical values calculated from the CL to PEG molar ratios and exibited monomodal GPC curves. We successfully prepared PEG and PCL block copolymers by a metal‐free method. The non‐metal catalyzed living ring‐opening polymerisation of ε ‐caprolactone by PEG. magnified image The non‐metal catalyzed living ring‐opening polymerisation of ε ‐caprolactone by PEG.