La[N(SiMe3)2]3: A highly active catalyst for the ring‐opening polymerization of trimethylene carbonate

Abstract

AbstractPoly(trimethylene carbonate) (PTMC) has been extensively researched as biomaterials due to its biocompatibility and biodegradability. However, its limited mechanical strength has restricted its application in various commodity materials, necessitating an enhancement through higher molecular weight. A traditional method for synthesizing high molecular weight PTMC mainly involves SnOct2 as a polymerization catalyst, conducting trimethylene carbonate (TMC) polymerization at high temperatures over several days. This approach consumes significant time and energy, making further molecular weight enhancement challenging. In this study, we polymerized TMC using the highly active catalyst La[N(SiMe3)2]3. We have successfully synthesized high molecular weight PTMC (Mn >500,000) within minutes at room temperature. The tensile test results of PTMC molding films demonstrated strain‐induced crystallization specific to high molecular weight PTMC.