Electrode

Organic chemistry

Polymer chemistry

Epoxide

Cyclohexene

Catalysis

Physical chemistry

Copolymer

Inorganic chemistry

Chemistry

Ring-opening polymerization

Lactide

Oxide

Cyclohexene oxide

Polymerization

Polymer

Electrochemistry

Redox

Photochemistry

Journal of the American Chemical Society

An electrochemical method was developed for the redox switchable polymerization of lactide and cyclohexene oxide. Using a lithium reversible sacrificial electrode and a high surface area carbon working electrode, efficient transformation between formally iron(II) and iron(III) oxidation states of a bis(imino)pyridine iron alkoxide complex was possible, which led to the ability to activate the complex for ring opening polymerization reactions. In addition to serving as a redox trigger, an electrochemical toggle switch was developed in which the chemoselectivity for lactide and epoxide polymerization was altered in situ. These findings led to the synthesis of poly(lactic acid-b-cyclohexene oxide) block copolymers in which the sequence of monomers incorporated is controlled by the electrical potential applied.

Electrochemically Switchable Ring-Opening Polymerization of Lactide and Cyclohexene Oxide