Controlled synthesis and chemical modification of unsaturated aliphatic (co)polyesters based on 6,7-dihydro-2(3H)-oxepinone

A pure unsaturated cyclic ester, 6,7-dihydro-2(3H)-oxepinone (DHO2), was prepared by a new synthetic route. The copolymerization of DHO2 with epsilon-caprolactone (epsilonCL) was initiated by aluminum isopropoxide [AI((OPr)-Pr-i)(3)] at 0 degreesC as an easy way to produce unsaturated aliphatic polyesters with nonconjugated C=C double bonds in a controlled manner. The chain growth was living, as certified by the agreement between the experimental molecular weight at total monomer conversion and the value predicted from the initial monomer/initiator molar ratio. The polydispersity was reasonably low (weight-average molecular weight/number-average molecular weight less than or equal to 1.2). The homopolymerization of DHO2 was, however, not controlled because of fast intramolecular transesterification. Copolymers of DHO2 and ECL were quantitatively oxidized with the formation of epoxides containing chains. The extent of the epoxidation allowed the thermal properties and thermal stability of the copolyesters to be modulated. The epoxidized copolyesters were successfully converted into thioaminated chains, which were then quaternized into polycations. No degradation occurred during the chemical modification. (C) 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.