Monodisperse oligo(ε-caprolactones) with terpenes and alkyl end-groups: synthesis, isolation, characterization, and antibacterial activity.

Linear aliphatic oligoesters derived from ε-caprolactone (CL) were synthesized by ring-opening polymerization (ROP) using terpene alcohols that have antibacterial activity as initiators (nerol, geraniol, β-citronellol and farnesol). Ammonium decamolybdate (NH)[MoO] was used as a catalyst. From previous oligoesters, monodisperse species of monomers, dimers, and trimers were isolated by flash column chromatography (FCC).

Bismuth subsalicylate, a low-toxicity catalyst for the ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of l-lactide (l-LA) with aliphatic diol initiators: synthesis, characterization, and mechanism of initiation.

The ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of l-lactide (l-LA) was induced by the catalytic action of bismuth subsalicylate (BiSS) using linear aliphatic diols [HO(CH) OH, where = 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 8] as initiators and chain transfer agents. The theoretical and experimental degree of polymerization (DP) in all samples of α,ω-hydroxy telechelic poly(l-lactide) (HOPLLAOH) had a good agreement in all samples, an effect attributed to the interaction of BiSS with HO(CH) OH inducing a transfer reaction. HOPLLAOH was synthesized and characterized by a range of analytical techniques, confirming the insertion of methylene groups from the initiator into the main chain of the polyester.