Alane‐Based Classical and Frustrated Lewis Pairs in Polymer Synthesis: Rapid Polymerization of MMA and Naturally Renewable Methylene Butyrolactones into High‐Molecular‐Weight Polymers

Abstract

Frustrated growth: Al(C6F5)3-based classical and frustrated Lewis pairs with select phosphines or N-heterocyclic carbenes exhibit exceptional activity in polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) and naturally renewable methylene butyrolactones (M)MBL at ambient temperature, thereby affording high-molecular-weight PMMA and environmentally sustainable P(M)MBL (see scheme).