Aluminum Alkoxide Complexes that Polymerize ε-Caprolactone and L-lactide
Presentation Type
Poster
Keywords
Biodegradable Plastic, Aluminum, Polymerization, Sterics, Electronics
Department
Chemistry
Major
Chemistry
Abstract
Plastics such as poly-lactic acid (PLA) and poly-caprolactone (PCL) are of interest because of their biodegradability and are prepared from their respective monomers, L-lactide (L-LA) and ε-caprolactone (εCL). In this project, the PLA and PCL polymers were prepared with a series of aluminum complexes comprised of a tridentate ketoiminate and two phenoxides. The ketoiminate substituents were varied from electron-donating to electron-withdrawing and characterized with NMR spectroscopy, absorbance spectroscopy, and x-ray crystallography. The complexes showed trigonal bipyramidal structures. The aluminum complexes were able to make both PLA and PCL, and the best catalysts included electron-withdrawing substituents.
Faculty Mentor
Joseph Fritsch
Funding Source or Research Program
Summer Undergraduate Research Program
Location
Waves Cafeteria
Start Date
1-4-2016 2:00 PM
End Date
1-4-2016 3:00 PM
Aluminum Alkoxide Complexes that Polymerize ε-Caprolactone and L-lactide
Waves Cafeteria
Plastics such as poly-lactic acid (PLA) and poly-caprolactone (PCL) are of interest because of their biodegradability and are prepared from their respective monomers, L-lactide (L-LA) and ε-caprolactone (εCL). In this project, the PLA and PCL polymers were prepared with a series of aluminum complexes comprised of a tridentate ketoiminate and two phenoxides. The ketoiminate substituents were varied from electron-donating to electron-withdrawing and characterized with NMR spectroscopy, absorbance spectroscopy, and x-ray crystallography. The complexes showed trigonal bipyramidal structures. The aluminum complexes were able to make both PLA and PCL, and the best catalysts included electron-withdrawing substituents.