Vigilancia Tecnológica

Abstract As a biodegradable polyester, the commercialized synthesis protocol of poly(?-caprolactone) (PCL) under mild conditions is of great significance and attractive. Herein, the ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of ?-caprolactone (?-CL) using FeCl3 catalyst and benzyl alcohol (BnOH) as the initiator was developed. FeCl3 has been proved to be an efficient catalyst for the ROP of ?-CL under mild conditions. The conversion of ?-CL to PCL was 98.8% at 60 °C within 4 h, with number-average molecular weight (Mn) and dispersity (PDI) of 1.65?×?104 g/mol and 1.28, respectively. Moreover, a coordination-insertion ring-opening polymerization mechanism mediated by FeCl3 was proposed. Overall, this work is expected to provide a feasible industrial method for the preparation of PCL from the direct aerobic oxidation of cyclohexanone.