A biocompatible, metal-free catalyst and its application in microwave-assisted synthesis of functional polyesters

Zhengwei You; Xiaoping Bi; Eric M. Jeffries; Yadong Wang

doi:10.1039/C1PY00400J

A biocompatible, metal-free catalyst and its application in microwave-assisted synthesis of functional polyesters

Zhengwei You,^a Xiaoping Bi,^ab Eric M. Jeffries^a and Yadong Wang*^a

* Corresponding authors

^a Departments of Bioengineering and Surgery, and the McGowan Institute, University of Pittsburgh, 3700 O'Hara Street, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
E-mail: yaw20@pitt.edu
Fax: +1-412-383-8788
Tel: +1-412-624-7196

^b Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai Ninth Peoples' Hospital affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University, School of Medicine, 639 Zhizaoju Rd, Shanghai, P. R. China

Abstract

Aliphatic polyesters are one of the most important classes of biodegradable materials. Convergence of functionality and biodegradability represents a major trend in modern materials, especially for biomedical applications and as environmentally friendly alternatives to non-degradable petrochemicals. However, the synthesis of functional polyesters is still a formidable challenge. Most current methods are inefficient and require complex chemical processes. We report a microwave-assisted, acid-initiated epoxide ring opening polymerization. With this one-step synthetic strategy, functional polyesters are produced within half an hour without generation of any byproduct. Thus, our approach represents a significant improvement over current methods by increasing efficiency, minimizing chemical processes, and reducing the usage of hazardous chemicals and waste. The newly designed catalyst, bis(tetrabutylammonium)sebacate, is a metal-free catalyst readily prepared under mild conditions at a large scale. The catalyst is stable and easily stored for more than 7 years under standard storage conditions. Additionally, the catalyst shows good cytocompatibility when tested using primary rat osteoblasts. We expect this technology will be very useful to produce new biodegradable materials.

Article information

https://doi.org/10.1039/C1PY00400J

Article type

Paper

Submitted

08 Sep 2011

Accepted

04 Nov 2011

First published

29 Nov 2011

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Polym. Chem., 2012,3, 384-389

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A biocompatible, metal-free catalyst and its application in microwave-assisted synthesis of functional polyesters

Z. You, X. Bi, E. M. Jeffries and Y. Wang, Polym. Chem., 2012, 3, 384 DOI: 10.1039/C1PY00400J

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Polymer Chemistry

A biocompatible, metal-free catalyst and its application in microwave-assisted synthesis of functional polyesters

Abstract

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A biocompatible, metal-free catalyst and its application in microwave-assisted synthesis of functional polyesters

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