Cyclo‐depolymerisation of polyundecanoate and related polyesters: characterisation of cyclic oligoundecanoates and related cyclic oligoesters

Abstract

The cyclo-depolymerisation of linear polyundecanoate has been studied in detail. The cyclic oligomers produced were characterised by gel permeation chromatography, 1 H NMR spectroscopy and mass spectroscopy in comparison with the corresponding linear oligomers. A sample of the cyclic dimer was isolated and its crystal structure determined. Cyclic oligooctanoates, oligodecanoates and oligododecanoates were prepared similarly. The ring-opening polymerisation of the cyclic oligoundecanoates was briefly investigated.