Microwave-assisted ring-opening polymerization of ε-caprolactone

Ring-opening polymerization of E-caprolactone was carried out smoothly and effectively with constant microwave powers of 170, 340, 510, and 680 W, respectively, with a microwave oven at a frequency of 2.45 GHz. The temperature of the polymerization ranged from 80 to 210 degreesC. Poly(E-caprolactone) (PCL) with a weight-average molar mass (M-w) of 124,000 g/mol and yield of 90% was obtained at 680 W for 30 min using 0.1% (mol/mol) stannous octanoate as a catalyst. When the polymerization was catalyzed by 1% (w/w) zinc powder, the Mw of PCL was 92,300 g/mol after the reaction mixture was irradiated at 680 W for 270 min. (C) 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.