The crucial roles of guest water in a biocompatible coordination network in the catalytic ring-opening polymerization of cyclic esters: a new mechanistic perspective.

The ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of cyclic esters/carbonates is a crucial approach for the synthesis of biocompatible and biodegradable polyesters. Even though numerous efficient ROP catalysts have been well established, their toxicity heavily limits the biomedical applications of polyester products. To solve the toxicity issues relating to ROP catalysts, we report herein a biocompatible coordination network, CZU-1, consisting of Zn(μ-O)(COO) secondary building units (SBUs), biomedicine-relevant organic linkers and guest water, which demonstrates high potential for use in the catalytic ROP synthesis of biomedicine-applicable polyesters.