Alternating Copolymerization of Aziridines and Cyclic Anhydrides by Metal-Free Catalysis Strategy

Abstract Herein we report the copolymerization of aziridines with cyclic anhydrides for the synthesis of poly(ester amide)s derivatives by a metal-free catalysis strategy, in which the organic base was used as catalyst with benzyl alcohol (BnOH) as initiator. The resultant copolymers possess a well-defined structure by means of a completely alternating enchainment of aziridine and cyclic anhydride. With the use of 7-methyl-1,5,7-triazabicyclo[4.4.0]dec-5-ene (MTBD) as catalyst and BnOH as initiator, the linear increase in the molecular weight with conversion of aziridines indicates the controllable nature of the copolymerization. The synthetic method can be extended to various of aziridines and cyclic anhydrides, providing corresponding poly(ester-amide)s with diverse structures.