Author:

Keywords:

dendrimers, enzymatic polymerization, hyperbranched polymers, polyesters, ring-opening polymerization, ab-monomer, polymers, copolymerization, lactones, lipase, Science & Technology, Physical Sciences, Polymer Science, RING-OPENING POLYMERIZATION, POLYMERS, LACTONES, COPOLYMERIZATION, AB, 03 Chemical Sciences, 09 Engineering, Polymers, 34 Chemical sciences, 40 Engineering

Abstract:

Communication: Hyperbranched aliphatic copolyesters have been prepared by copolymerization of c-caprolactone with 2,2-bis(hydroxymethyl)butyric acid, catalyzed by immobilized Lipase B from Candida antarctica (Novozyme 435) under mild conditions. Via this novel combination of ring-opening AB polymerization and AB(2) polycondensation, the degree of branching (DB) and, consequently, the density of functional end groups can be controlled by the comonomer ratio in the feed (0 < DB < 0.33).