TY - JOUR A1 - Kricheldorf, H. R. A1 - Weidner, Steffen T1 - High molecular weight poly(l-lactide) via ring-opening polymerization with bismuth subsalicylate-The role of cocatalysts N2 - The catalytic potential of bismuth subsalicylate (BiSub), a commercial drug, for ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of L-lactide was explored by variation of co-catalyst and polymerization time. Various monofunctional phenols or carboxylic acids, aromatic ortho-hydroxy acids and diphenols were examined as potential co-catalysts. 2,2´-Dihydroxybiphenyl proved to be the most successful co-catalyst yielding weight average molecular weights (uncorrected Mw values up to 185 000) after optimization of reaction time and temperature. Prolonged heating (>1-2h) depending on catalyst concentration) caused thermal degradation. In polymerization experiments with various commercial Bi(III) salts a better alternative to BiSub was not found. By means of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry a couple of unusual and unexpected transesterification reactions were discovered. Finally, the effectiveness of several antioxidants and potential catalyst poisons was explored, and triphenylphosphine was found to be an effective catalyst poison. KW - Polylactide KW - MALDI-TOF MS KW - Ring-opening polymerization KW - Bismuth PY - 2020 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-519513 DO - https://doi.org/10.1002/app.50394 SN - 0021-8995 VL - 138 IS - 19 SP - 50394 PB - Wiley AN - OPUS4-51951 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Kricheldorf, H. R. A1 - Weidner, Steffen T1 - Reply to the comment on “synthesis of cyclic polymers and flaws of the Jacobson-Stockmayer theory” by R. Szymanski N2 - In a recent publication the authors have presented theoretical and experimental results indicating that the Jacobson–Stockmayer (JS) theory does not provide a correct description of reversible polycondensations for all polymers and for high conversions (e.g. polycondensation in bulk). In this context reversibility means that all condensation step whether resulting in chain growth or in cyclization are reversible and thus, part of an equilibrium. The first two sections of that paper were focused on the demonstration that small, and above all, large cycles can be formed by end-to-end (ete) cyclization in reversible like in irreversible polycondensations. A significant contribution of ete-cyclization to the course of reversible polycondensations was denied by J + S apparently as a contribution to Florýs dogma, that the end groups of long polymer chains will never meet. KW - Polylactide KW - MALDI-TOF MS KW - Jacobsen-Stockmayer theory PY - 2020 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-513985 DO - https://doi.org/10.1039/D0PY01118E VL - 11 IS - 38 SP - 6226 EP - 6228 PB - Royal Society of Chemistry AN - OPUS4-51398 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Meyer, A. A1 - Kricheldorf, H. R. A1 - Weidner, Steffen T1 - ROPs of L-lactide catalyzed by neat Tin(II)2-ethylhexanoate - Influence of the reaction conditions on Tm and ΔHm N2 - L-Lactide was polymerized by means of neat SnOct2 with variation of LA/Cat ratio, temperature and time. The resulting cyclic polylactides crystallized spontaneously at 160 °C or below, but needed nucleation via mechanical stress at 165 or 170 °C. All the crystalline polylactides obtained directly from ROP above 120 °C had melting temperatures (Tm) above 189 °C (up to 194.5 °C). SnOct2 also enabled transformation of low Tm poly(L-lactide)s (Tm <180 °C) into the high Tm m1odification by annealing, due to the impact of transesterification reactions in the interphase between the crystallites. The influence of crystallization temperature and annealing time on the crystal thickness was studied via SAXS measurements. A comparison with the crystallization and annealing experiments reported by Pennings and coworkers and Tsuji and Ikada is discussed, and a satisfactory agreement has been found, because those authors also studied polyLA samples containing SnOct2 in its active form. It is also demonstrated in this work that the high Tm modification cannot be obtained when the catalyst is removed or poisoned as it is true for commercial polylactides. KW - Polylactide KW - MALDI-TOF MS KW - Crystallization PY - 2021 DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.polymer.2021.124122 SN - 0032-3861 VL - 231 SP - 1 EP - 10 PB - Elsevier CY - Oxford AN - OPUS4-53194 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Lee, C. A1 - Inutan, E. D. A1 - Chen, J. L. A1 - Mukeku, M. M. A1 - Weidner, Steffen A1 - Trimpin, S. A1 - Ni, C.-K. T1 - Toward understanding the ionization mechanism of matrix‐assisted ionization using mass spectrometry experiment and theory N2 - Matrix‐assisted ionization (MAI) mass spectrometry does not require voltages, a laser beam, or added heat to initiate ionization, but it is strongly dependent on the choice of matrix and the vacuum conditions. High charge state distributions of nonvolatile analyte ions produced by MAI suggest that the ionization mechanism may be similar to that of electrospray ionization (ESI), but different from matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI). While significant information is available for MAI using mass spectrometers operating at atmospheric and intermediate pressure, little is known about the mechanism at high vacuum. Eleven MAI matrices were studied on a high‐vacuum time‐of‐flight (TOF) mass spectrometer using a 266 nm pulsed laser beam under otherwise typical MALDI conditions. Detailed comparisons with the commonly used MALDI matrices and theoretical prediction were made for 3‐nitrobenzonitrile (3‐NBN), which is the only MAI matrix that works well in high vacuum when irradiated with a laser. Screening of MAI matrices with good absorption at 266 nm but with various degrees of volatility and laser energies suggests that volatility and absorption at the laser wavelength may be necessary, but not sufficient, criteria to explain the formation of multiply charged analyte ions. 3‐NBN produces intact, highly charged ions of nonvolatile analytes in high‐vacuum TOF with the use of a laser, demonstrating that ESI‐like ions can be produced in high vacuum. Theoretical calculations and mass spectra suggest that thermally induced proton transfer, which is the major ionization mechanism in MALDI, is not important with the 3‐NBN matrix at 266 nm laser wavelength. 3‐NBN:analyte crystal morphology is, however, important in ion generation in high vacuum. The 3‐NBN MAI matrix produces intact, highly charged ions of nonvolatile compounds in high‐vacuum TOF mass spectrometers with the aid of ablation and/or heating by laser irradiation, and shows a different ionization mechanism from that of typical MALDI matrices. KW - Ionization KW - MALDI-TOF MS KW - Mechanism PY - 2021 DO - https://doi.org/10.1002/rcm.8382 VL - 35 IS - 51 SP - e8382 PB - John Wiley & Sons AN - OPUS4-49209 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Kricheldorf, H. R. A1 - Weidner, Steffen A1 - Falkenhagen, Jana T1 - Reversible Polycondensations outside the Jacobson-Stockmayer Theory and a New Concept of Reversible Polycondensations N2 - L-Lactide was polymerized with tin(II)acetate, tin(II)2-ethyl hexanoate, diphenyltin dichloride and dibutyltin bis(pentafluorophenoxide) at 130 °C in bulk. When an alcohol was added as initiator, linear chains free of cycles were formed having a degree of polymerization (DP) according to the lactide/initiator (LA/In) ratio. Analogous polymerizations in the absence of an initiator yielded high molar mass cyclic polylactides. Quite similar results were obtained when ε-caprolactone was polymerized with or without initiator. Several transesterification experiments were conducted at 130 °C, either with polylactide or poly(ε-caprolactone) indicating that several transesterification mechanisms are operating under conditions that do not include formation of cycles by back-biting. Furthermore, reversible polycondensations (revPOCs) with low or moderate conversions were found that did not involve any kind of cyclization. Therefore, These results demonstrate the existence of revPOCs, which do neither obey the theory of irreversible polycondensation as defined by Flory nor the hypothesis of revPOCs as defined by Jacobson and Stockmayer. A new concept encompassing any kind of revPOCs is formulated in the form of a “polycondensation triangle”. KW - Polylactide KW - MALDI-TOF MS KW - Polycondensation PY - 2021 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-530831 DO - https://doi.org/10.1039/d1py00704a VL - 12 IS - 35 SP - 5003 EP - 5016 PB - Royal Society for Chemistry AN - OPUS4-53083 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Kricheldorf, H. R. A1 - Weidner, Steffen A1 - Meyer, A. T1 - Poly(L-lactide): Optimization of Melting Temperature and Melting Enthalpy N2 - Twice recrystallized L-lactide was polymerized with a dozen of different tin or bismuth catalysts in bulk at 160°C for 24 h and was annealed at 150°C afterwards. In two cases Tm values above 197.0°C were obtained. The parameters causing a scattering of the DSC data were studied and discussed. The samples prepared with SnCl2, 2,2-dibutyl-2-stanna-1,3-ditholane (DSTL) or cyclic tin(II) bisphenyldioxide (SnBiph) were subject to annealing programs with variation of time and temperatures, revealing that the Tm´s did not increase. However, an increase of Hm was achieved with maximum values in the range of 93-96 J g-1 corresponding to crystallinities off around 90%. Further studies were performed with once recrystallized L-lactide. Again, those samples directly crystallized from the polymerization process showed the highest Tm values. These data were compared with the equilibrium Tm0 and Hm0 data calculated by several research groups for perfect crystallites. A Tm0 of 213+/-2°C and a Hm0 of 106 J g-1 show the best agreement with the experimental data. The consequences of annealing for the thickness growth of crystallites are discussed on the basis of SAXS measurements. Finally, a comparison of cyclic and linear poly L-lactide)s is discussed. KW - Polylactide KW - MALDI-TOF MS KW - Transesterification PY - 2021 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-538656 DO - https://doi.org/10.1039/D1MA00957E SP - 1 EP - 10 PB - Royal Society for Chemistry AN - OPUS4-53865 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Kricheldorf, H. R. A1 - Weidner, Steffen A1 - Scheliga, F. T1 - Ring-Expansion Polymerization of 𝝐-Caprolactone, Glycolide, and l-lactide with a Spirocyclic Tin(IV) Catalyst Derived from or 2,2′-Dihydroxy-1,1′-Binaphthyl – New Results and a Revision N2 - In contrast to other cyclic tin bisphenoxides, polymerizations of glycolide and l-lactide with the spirocyclic tin(IV) bis-1,1′-bisnapthoxide yield linear chains having a 1,1′-bisnapthol end group and no cycles. In the case of l-lactide, LA/Cat ratio and temperature are varied and at 160 °C or below, all polylactides mainly consist of even-numbered chains. A total predominance of even-numbered chains is also found for homopolymerization of glycolide, or the copolymerization of glycolide and l-lactide, when conducted <120 °C. Linear chains having a bisnaphthol end group are again the main reaction products of ring-expansion polymerizations (REP) of 𝝐-caprolactone, but above 150 °C cycles are also formed. KW - Polylactide KW - MALDI-TOF MS KW - Polymerization PY - 2021 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-541931 DO - https://doi.org/10.1002/macp.202100308 VL - 222 IS - 24 SP - 1 EP - 10 PB - Wiley VCH GmbH AN - OPUS4-54193 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Kricheldorf, H. R. A1 - Weidner, Steffen T1 - ROP of L-lactide and ε-caprolactone catalyzed by tin(ii) andtin(iv) acetates–switching from COOH terminated linear chains to cycles N2 - The catalytic potential of tin(II)acetate, tin(IV)acetate, dibutyltin-bis-acetate and dioctyl tin-bis-acetate was compared based on polymerizations of L-lactide conducted in bulk at 160 or 130°C. With SnAc2 low-Lac/Cat ratios (15/1–50/1) were studied and linear chains having one acetate and one carboxyl end group almost free of cyclics were obtained. Higher monomer/catalyst ratios and lower temperatures favored formation of cycles that reached weight average molecular weights (Mw's) between 100,000 and 2,500,000. SnAc4 yielded mixtures of cycles and linear species under all reaction conditions. Dibutyltin- and dioctyl tin bis-acetate yielded cyclic polylactides under most reaction conditions with Mw's in the range of 20,000–80,000. Ring-opening polymerizations performed with ε-caprolactone showed similar trends, but the formation of COOH-terminated linear chains was significantly more favored compared to analogous experiments with lactide. The reactivity of the acetate catalysts decreased in the following order: SnAc2> SnAc4>Bu2SnAc2~Oct2SnAc2 KW - Polylactide KW - MALDI-TOF MS KW - Catalyst KW - Ring-opening polymerization KW - Tin acetates PY - 2021 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-521923 DO - https://doi.org/10.1002/pol.20200866 VL - 59 IS - 5 SP - 439 EP - 450 PB - Wiley Online Library AN - OPUS4-52192 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Kricheldorf, H. R. A1 - Meyer, A. A1 - Weidner, Steffen T1 - High Tm Poly(l-lactide)s by Means of Bismuth Catalysts? N2 - One series of BiSub-catalyzed ring-opening polymerizations (ROPs) is per-formed at 160 °C for 3 days with addition of difunctional cocatalysts to find out, if poly(l-lactide) crystallizes directly from the reaction mixture. An analogous series is performed with monofunctional cocatalysts. High Tm crystal-lites (Tm > 190 °C) are obtained from all bifunctional cocatalysts, but not from all monofunctional ones. It is shown by means of SAXS measurements that the high Tm values are mainly a consequence of a transesterification–homogenization process across the lamellar surfaces resulting in thickness and smoothing of the surfaces. An unusual enthalpy-driven modification of the molecular weight distribution is found for samples that have crystallized during the polymerization. A third series of ROPs is performed at 170 °C for 2 h followed by annealing at 120 °C (2 h) to induce crystallization. Complete transformation of the resulting low Tm crystallites (Tm < 180 °C) into the high Tm crystallites by annealing at 170 °C for 1 d is not achieved, despite variation of the cocatalyst. KW - Polylactide KW - MALDI-TOF MS KW - Crystallization PY - 2021 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-522777 DO - https://doi.org/10.1002/macp.202100019 SN - 1022-1352 VL - 222 IS - 8 SP - 19 PB - Wiley AN - OPUS4-52277 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Weidner, Steffen A1 - Meyer, A. A1 - Chatti, S. A1 - Kricheldorf, H. R. T1 - About the transformation of low Tm into high Tm poly(L-lactide)s by annealing under the influence of transesterification catalysts N2 - Cyclic polylactides were prepared in bulk at 170 °C, crystallized at 120 °C and then annealed at temperatures between 130 and 170 C with variation of catalyst, catalyst concentration and annealing time. The transformation of the initially formed low melting (LTm) crystallites, having melting temperatures (Tm) <180 °C into high melting (HTm) crystallites having Tm values > 189 °C was monitored by means of DSC measurements and characterized in selected cases by SAXS measurements. It was confirmed that the formation of HTm crystallites involves a significant growth of the thickness of the lamellar crystallites along with smoothing of their surface. Annealing at 170 °C for 1 d or longer causes thermal degradation with lowering of the molecular weights, a gradual transition of cyclic into linear chains and a moderate decrease of lamellar thickness. An unexpected result revealed by MALDI TOF mass spectrometry is a partial reorganization of the molecular weight distribution driven by a gain of crystallization enthalpy. KW - Polylactide KW - MALDI-TOF MS KW - Crystallization KW - Annealing PY - 2021 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-521062 DO - https://doi.org/10.1039/d0ra10012a VL - 11 IS - 5 SP - 2872 EP - 2883 PB - Royal Society of Chemistry AN - OPUS4-52106 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Kricheldorf, H. R. A1 - Weidner, Steffen T1 - ROP of L-lactide and ε-caprolactone catalyzed by tin(ii) and tin(iv) acetates–switching from COOH terminated linear chains to cycles N2 - The catalytic potential of tin(II)acetate, tin(IV)acetate, dibutyltin-bis-acetate and dioctyl tin-bis-acetate was compared based on polymerizations of L-lactide conducted in bulk at 160 or 130C. With SnAc2 low-Lac/Cat ratios (15/1–50/1) were studied and linear chains having one acetate and one carboxyl end group almost free of cyclics were obtained. Higher monomer/catalyst ratios and lower temperatures favored formation of cycles that reached weight average molecular weights (Mw's) between 100,000 and 2,500,000. SnAc4 yielded mixtures of cycles and linear species under all reaction conditions. Dibutyltin- and dioctyl tin bis-acetate yielded cyclic polylactides under most reaction conditions with Mw's in the range of 20,000–80,000. Ring-opening polymerizations performed with ε-caprolactone showed similar trends, but the formation of COOH-terminated linear chains was significantly more favored compared to analogous experiments with lactide. The reactivity of the acetate catalysts decreased in the following order: SnAc2> SnAc4>Bu2SnAc2 Oct2SnAc2. KW - Catalyst KW - MALDI-TOF MS KW - Ring-opening polymerization KW - Tin acetates KW - Polylactide PY - 2021 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-520831 DO - https://doi.org/10.1002/pol.20200866 SP - 1 EP - 12 PB - Wiley Online Library AN - OPUS4-52083 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Kricheldorf, H. R. A1 - Weidner, Steffen T1 - Polymerization of L-lactide with SnCl2: A Low Toxic and Eco-friendly Catalyst N2 - Polymerizations of L-lactide catalyzed either by neat SnCl2 or by SnCl2 + difunctional cocatalysts were conducted in bulk at 180, 160 and 140 °C with variation of the Lac/Cat ratio and time. With neat SnCl2 poly(L-lactide) having weight average molecular weights (uncorrected Mw’s) up to 190 000 g mol−1 were obtained mainly consisting of linear chains. Addition of salicylic acid or 1,1-bisphenol yielded a higher fraction of cyclic polylactides but lower molecular weights. Furthermore, SnCl2 was compared with Bu2SnCl2 and various other metal chlorides and the best results were obtained with SnCl2. With ethyl L-lactate as initiator SnCl2-catalyzed ROPs were performed at 120 °C and the lac/initiator ratio was varied. All these experiments were conducted under conditions allowing for comparison with ROPs catalyzed with neat Sn(II)-2-ethyhexanoate. Such a comparison was also performed with ε-caprolactone as monomer. KW - Catalyst KW - Polylactide KW - MALDI-TOF MS KW - Polycondensation PY - 2021 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-520517 DO - https://doi.org/10.1007/s10924-020-02042-w SN - 1566-2543 SP - 1 EP - 13 PB - Springer Nature AN - OPUS4-52051 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Weidner, Steffen A1 - Kricheldorf, H. R. A1 - Scheliga, F. T1 - Ring-expansion copolymerization of L-lactide and glycolide N2 - 1:1 Copolymerizations of glycolide (GL) and L-lactide (LA) is performed in bulk at 100°C and at 160°C with four cyclic tin catalysts. The resulting copolyesters are characterized by SEC measurements, 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy and by MALDI TOF mass spectrometry. At 160°C and longer reaction time (22 h) nearly complete conversion of both monomers is achieved, and cyclic copolymers with nearly random sequences are formed. At shorter times (0.5-3.0 h, depending on catalyst) the conversion of LA is incomplete, and only cyclics having even numbers of lactyl units are obtained. At 100°C at 22 h again cycles mainly consisting of even numbered lactyl units are formed, but with even and odd numbers of glycolyl units. Copolymerization of lactide at 160°C with small amounts of GL show that formation of high Tm crystallites (Tm > 190°C) is hindered even when only > 2% of GL is added. For polyglycolide containing a smaller amount of lactide complete solubility in hexafluoroisopropanol is only observed around and above 20 mol% of lactide. KW - Ring-expansion polymerization KW - Copolymerization KW - MALDI-TOF MS KW - L-lactide KW - Glycolide KW - Crystallization PY - 2021 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-520270 DO - https://doi.org/10.1002/macp.202000307 SN - 1022-1352 VL - 22 IS - 3 SP - 307 PB - WileyVCH AN - OPUS4-52027 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Weidner, Steffen A1 - Kricheldorf, H. R. T1 - SnOct2-catalyzed ROPs of L-lactide initiated by acidic OH- compounds: Switching from ROP to polycondensation and cyclization N2 - Ring-opening polymerizations (ROPs) of L-lactide are performed in bulk at 130°C with tin(II) 2-ethylhexanoate as catalyst and various phenols of differentacidity as initiators. Crystalline polylactides having phenyl ester end groups are isolated, which are almost free of cyclics. The dispersities and molecular weights are higher than those obtained from alcohol-initiated ROPs under identical conditions. Polymerizations at 160°C yield higher molecular weights than expected from the monomer/initiator ratio and a considerable fraction of cycles. The fraction of cycles increases with higher reactivity of the ester end group indicating that the cycles are formed by end-to-end cyclization. KW - Polylactide KW - MALDI-TOF MS KW - Polymerization PY - 2021 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-540250 DO - https://doi.org/10.1002/pol.20210823 SN - 2642-4150 VL - 60 IS - 5 SP - 785 EP - 793 PB - Wiley AN - OPUS4-54025 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Kricheldorf, H. R. A1 - Weidner, Steffen A1 - Meyer, A. T1 - High Tm linear poly(L-lactide)s prepared via alcohol-initiated ROPs of L-lactide N2 - Alcohol-initiated ROPs of L-lactide were performed in bulk at 160 °C for 72 h with variation of the catalyst or with variation of the initiator (aliphatic alcohols). Spontaneous crystallization was only observed when cyclic Sn(II) compounds were used as a catalyst. Regardless of initiator, high melting crystallites with melting temperatures (Tm) of 189–193 °C were obtained in almost all experiments with Sn(II) 2,2′-dioxybiphenyl (SnBiph) as catalyst, even when the time was shortened to 24 h. These HTm poly(lactide)s represent the thermodynamically most stable form of poly(L-lactide). Regardless of the reaction conditions, such high melting crystallites were never obtained when Sn(II) 2-ethylhexanoate (SnOct2) was used as catalyst. SAXS measurements evidenced that formation of HTm poly(L-lactide) involves growth of the crystallite thickness, but chemical modification of the crystallite surface (smoothing) seems to be of greater importance. A hypothesis, why the “surface smoothing” is more effective for crystallites of linear chains than for crystallites composed of cycles is discussed. KW - Polylactide KW - MALDI-TOF MS KW - Ring-opening polymerization PY - 2021 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-524330 DO - https://doi.org/10.1039/d1ra01990b VL - 11 IS - 23 SP - 14093 EP - 14102 PB - Royal Society of Chemistry AN - OPUS4-52433 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Weidner, Steffen A1 - Meyer, A. A1 - Falkenhagen, Jana A1 - Kricheldorf, H. R. T1 - SnOct2-catalyzed and alcohol-initiated ROPs of L-lactide – About the influence of initiators on chemical reactions in the melt and the solid state N2 - SnOct2 (Sn(II) 2-ethylhexanoate) catalyzed ROPs of L-lactide were performed in bulk with eight different alcohols as initiators. The time was varied between 1 h and 24 h for all initiators. For two initiators the temperature was also lowered to 115 ◦C. Even-numbered chains were predominantly formed in all polymerizations at short times, but the rate of transesterification (e.g. even/odd equilibration) and the molecular weight distribution were found to depend significantly on the nature of the initiator. Observed transesterification reactions also continued in solid poly (L-lactide), and with the most active initiator, almost total equilibration was achieved even at 130 ◦C. This means that all chains including those of the crystallites were involved in transesterification reactions proceeding across the flat surfaces of the crystallites. The more or less equilibrated crystalline polylactides were characterized by DSC and SAXS measurements with regard to their melting temperature (Tm), crystallinity and crystal thickness. KW - Polylactide KW - MALDI-TOF MS KW - Crystallization KW - Catalysts KW - SAXS PY - 2021 DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2021.110508 VL - 153 SP - 110508 PB - Elsevier Ltd. AN - OPUS4-52633 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Weidner, Steffen A1 - Meyer, A. A1 - Kricheldorf, H. R. T1 - Sn(II)2-ethylhexanoate-catalyzed polymerizations of L-lactide in solution – Solution grown crystals of cyclic Poly(L-Lactide)s N2 - L-lactide (LA) was polymerized in toluene by means of neat tin(II) 2-ethylhexanoate (SnOct2). Concentration, time and temperature were varied. The isothermally crystallized polyLAs (PLA) were characterized in the virgin state with regard to topology, molar mass, melting temperature (Tm), crystal modification, high or low Tm morphology, crystallinity and crystal thickness. Even a small amount of solvent favored cyclization relative to polymerization in bulk, so that cyclic polylactides were obtained at 115 ◦C and even at 95 ◦C. At all temperatures the α-modification of PLA was obtained along with crystallinities up to 90%. With 6 M solution the high Tm morphology with Tm’s > 190 ◦C was obtained at 115 ◦C. The crystal thickness of crystallites grown from solution at 115 ◦C was on the average 10–20% higher than that of PLA polymerized in bulk. At a polymerization temperature of 75 ◦C cyclization was incomplete and fewer perfect crystallites were formed. A new hypothesis for the crystal growth of cyclic polyLAs is proposed. KW - Polylactide KW - MALDI-TOF MS KW - Crystalinity KW - Polymerization PY - 2022 DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.polymer.2022.125142 SN - 0032-3861 VL - 255 SP - 1 EP - 9 PB - Elsevier CY - Oxford AN - OPUS4-55283 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Kricheldorf, H. R. A1 - Weidner, Steffen A1 - Meyer, A. T1 - About the Influence of (Non-)Solvents on the Ring Expansion Polymerization of l-Lactide and the Formation of Extended Ring Crystals N2 - Ring-expansion polymerizations (REPs) catalyzed by two cyclic tin catalysts(2-stanna-1.3-dioxa-4,5,6,7-dibenzazepine [SnBiph] and 2,2-dibutyl-2-stanna-1,3-dithiolane [DSTL) are performed at 140 °C in bulk. Small amounts (4 vol%) of chlorobenzene or other solvents are added to facilitate transesterification reactions (ring–ring equilibration) in the solid poly(l-lactide)s. In the mass range up to m/z 13 000 crystalline PLAs displaying a so-called saw-tooth pattern in the MALDI-TOF mass spectra are obtained indicating the formation of extended-ring crystals. The characteristics of extended-ring crystallites and folded-ring crystallites are discussed. Furthermore, extremely high melting temperatures (Tm’s up to 201.2 °C) and melting enthalpies (𝚫Hm’s up to 106 J g−1)) are found confirming that 𝚫Hmmax, the 𝚫Hm of a perfect crystal, is around or above 115 J g−1 in contrast to literature data. KW - Polylactide KW - MALDI-TOF MS KW - Ring-expansion polymerization KW - Crystals PY - 2022 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-565038 DO - https://doi.org/10.1002/macp.202200385 SN - 1022-1352 SP - 1 EP - 8 PB - Wiley VHC-Verlag AN - OPUS4-56503 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Kricheldorf, H. A1 - Weidner, Steffen A1 - Meyer, A. T1 - Ring-expansion polymerization (REP) of L-lactide with cyclic tin catalysts – About formation of extended ring crystals and optimization of Tm and ΔHm N2 - L-Lactide was polymerized in bulk at 140 °C with three different cyclic tin catalysts and the time was varied from 1 d up to 14 d. The MALDI TOF spectra confirmed the formation of cyclic polylactides (PLAs) and displayed a characteristic change of peak intensity distribution with formation of a “saw tooth pattern”. This pattern confirms a previous hypothesis that cyclic PLAs tend to form crystallites with extended ring conformation and relatively smooth surface. This type of crystallites is formed under thermodynamic control by transesterification on the surface of the crystallites. In this way PLAs with extraordinarily high melting temperatures (Tm's up to 200.6 °C) and extraordinarily high melting enthalpy were obtained (ΔHm's up to 105 J g−1). These ΔHm values require a revision of the maximum ΔHm value calculated in the literature for ideal PLA crystals. KW - Polylactide KW - MALDI-TOF MS KW - ring-expansion polymerization PY - 2022 DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.polymer.2022.125516 SN - 0032-3861 VL - 263 SP - 125516 PB - Elsevier Ltd. AN - OPUS4-56338 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Kricheldorf, H. R. A1 - Weidner, Steffen T1 - Synthesis of polylactides by means of tin catalysts N2 - This article reviews the usefulness of tin(II) and tin(IV) salts and compounds as catalysts for the polymerization of lactides. The text is subdivided into nine parts mainly reflecting different polymerization strategies, such as ring-opening polymerization (ROP), ring-expansion polymerization (REP), ROP combined with simultaneous polycondensation (ROPPOC), various catalysts with unknown polymerization mechanisms, and polycondensation of lactic acid. Since the toxicity of tin salts and compounds is a matter of concern and frequently mentioned in numerous publications, the first section deals with facts instead of myths about the toxicity of tin salts and compounds. KW - Polylactide KW - MALDI-TOF MS KW - Tin catalysts PY - 2022 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-545050 DO - https://doi.org/10.1039/d2py00092j SP - 1 EP - 30 PB - Royal Society for Chemistry AN - OPUS4-54505 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Kricheldorf, H. R. A1 - Weidner, Steffen A1 - Scheliga, F. T1 - SnOct2-catalyzed and alcohol-initiated ROPS of L-lactide - Control of the molecular weight and the role of cyclization N2 - Ring-opening polymerizations (ROP) of l-lactide (LA) are conducted in bulk at 130, 160, or 180 °C and are initiated with two different alcohols at 160 °C. The lactide/initiator ratio (LA/In) is varied from 50/1 (20/1 at 180 °C) to 900/1 and the lactide/catalyst ratio (LA/Cat) between 2000/1 and 8000/1. At all temperatures a nearly perfect control of number average molecular weight (Mn) via the LA/In ratio is feasible up to LA/In = 200/1, but at higher ratios the Mn value lags behind the theoretical values and the discrepancy increases with higher LA/Cat ratios. Variation of the LA/Cat ratio influences the formation of cycles but does not significantly influence Mn, when the LA/In ratio is kept constant. The formation of cycles is favored by lower In/Cat ratios and is the main reason for the unsatisfactory control of Mn at high LA/In ratios. The results also suggest that the cycles are mainly or exclusively formed by end-to-end cyclization and not, as believed previously, by back-biting. KW - Polylactide KW - MALDI-TOF MS KW - Cyclization KW - Ring-opening polymerization PY - 2022 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-543066 DO - https://doi.org/10.1002/macp.202100464 SN - 1521-3935 SP - 1 EP - 10 PB - Wiley-VCH CY - Weinheim AN - OPUS4-54306 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Kricheldorf, H. R. A1 - Weidner, Steffen A1 - Falkenhagen, Jana T1 - The role of transesterifications in reversible polycondensations and a reinvestigation of the Jacobson-Beckmann-Stockmayer experiments N2 - The polycondensations of adipic acid and 1,10-decanediol catalyzed by toluene sulfonic acid (TSA) were reinvestigated using MALDI TOF mass spectrometry and NMR spectroscopy. Unexpected reactions of TSA were detected along with incomplete conversion of the monomers. Furthermore, transesterification reactions of end-capped poly(1,10-decanediol adipate) and end-capped poly(ε-caprolactone) catalyzed by TSA were studied. Despite the quite different (ionic) reaction mechanisms, it was found that for polycondensations performed in bulk intermolecular transesterification is more efficient than the intramolecular “back-biting”; this scenario was not considered in the Jacobson–Stockmayer theory of reversible polycondensations. These results also confirm that the Jacobson–Stockmayer explanation of reversible polycondensations solely on the basis of ring chain equilibration is not only devoid of any experimental evidence, but also in contradiction to the results elaborated in this work. KW - Polylactide KW - MALDI-TOF MS KW - Polycondensation PY - 2022 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-543402 DO - https://doi.org/10.1039/d1py01679b SN - 1759-9962 SP - 1 EP - 9 PB - RSC Publ. CY - Cambridge AN - OPUS4-54340 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Weidner, Steffen A1 - Meyer, A. A1 - Kricheldorf, H. R. T1 - Alcohol-initiated and Tin(II) 2-ethylhexanoate-catalyzed polymerization of L-lactide in bulk – About separate crystallization of cyclic and linear Poly (L-lactide)s N2 - Alcohol-initiated ROPs of L-Lactide were performed at 140 ◦C in bulk with variation of the initiator/catalyst ratio and time. Lower ratios favor the formation of cycles which upon annealing display a change of the MALDI mass peak distribution towards a new maximum with a “saw-tooth pattern” of the mass peaks representing the cycles. Such a pattern was not observed for the mass peak of the linear chains. The coexistence of these patterns indicate that linear and cyclic poly (L-lactide)s (PLA) crystallize in separate crystals, and that the crystallites of the cycles are made up by extended rings. High Tm and ΔHm values confirm that these extended-ring crystallites represent a thermodynamically optimized form of PLA. Experiments with preformed cyclic and linear PLAs support this interpretation. KW - Polylactide KW - MALDI-TOF MS KW - Crystalinity KW - Polymerization PY - 2023 DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.polymer.2023.126355 VL - 285 IS - 126355 SP - 1 EP - 9 PB - Elsevier Ltd. AN - OPUS4-58355 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Kricheldorf, H. R. A1 - Weidner, Steffen A1 - Meyer, A. T1 - About the Influence of (Non-)Solvents on the Ring Expansion Polymerization of l-Lactide and the Formation of Extended Ring Crystals N2 - Ring-expansion polymerizations (REPs) catalyzed by two cyclic tin catalysts (2-stanna-1.3-dioxa-4,5,6,7-dibenzazepine [SnBiph] and 2,2-dibutyl-2-stanna-1,3-dithiolane [DSTL]) are performed at 140 °C in bulk. Small amounts (4 vol%) of chlorobenzene or other solvents are added to facilitate transesterification reactions (ring–ring equilibration) in the solid poly(l-lactide)s. In the mass range up to m/z 13 000 crystalline PLAs displaying a so-called saw-tooth pattern in the MALDI-TOF mass spectra are obtained indicating the formation of extended-ring crystals. The characteristics of extended-ring crystallites and folded-ring crystallites are discussed. Furthermore, extremely high melting temperatures (Tm’s up to 201.2 °C) and melting enthalpies (𝚫Hm’s up to 106 J g−1)) are found confirming that 𝚫Hm max, the 𝚫Hm of a perfect crystal, is around or above 115 J g−1 in contrast to literature data. KW - Polylactide KW - MALDI-TOF MS KW - Ring-expansion polymerization KW - Biobased PY - 2023 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-573063 DO - https://doi.org/10.1002/macp.202200385 VL - 224 IS - 5 SP - 1 EP - 8 PB - Wiley VHC-Verlag AN - OPUS4-57306 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Kricheldorf, H. R. A1 - Weidner, Steffen T1 - About the crystallization of cyclic and linear poly(L-lactide)s in alcohol-initiated and Sn(II)2-ethylhexanoate- catalyzed ROPs of L-lactide conducted in solution N2 - 1-Hydroxymethylnaphtalene (HMN) or 11-bromoundecanol (BUND) were used as initiators and Sn(II) 2-ethylhexanoate (SnOct2) as catalyst for ROPs of L-Lactide (LA) at 115 °C in bulk or in 4 M and 2M solutions in toluene. The LA/In ratio, the LA/Cat ratio and the time were varied. The matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI TOF) mass spectra exclusively displayed peaks of linear chains, when the ROPs were conducted in bulk. But in contrast to reports in the literature, mixtures of linear and cyclic poly(L-lactide) (PLA), were obtained, when the ROPs were performed in solution. The intensity distribution of the mass peaks of cyclic PLAs displayed a “saw-tooth pattern” after annealing in contrast to the mass peak distribution of the liner chains. This new phenomenon indicated that cyclic PLAs and linear PLAs crystallized in separate crystals from the same reaction mixture. This conclusion was confirmed by fractionated crystallization from 2 M solution, which confirmed that the cyclic PLAs nucleate and crystallize faster than the linear chains. KW - Polylactide KW - MALDI-TOF MS KW - Ring opening polymerization KW - Crystallization PY - 2023 DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.polymer.2023.125946 SN - 0032-3861 VL - 276 SP - 1 EP - 11 PB - Elsevier Ltd. AN - OPUS4-57308 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Kricheldorf, H. A1 - Scheliga, F. A1 - Weidner, Steffen T1 - Syntheses of Cyclic Poly(l-lactide)s by Means of Zinc-Based Ring-Opening Polymerization with Simultaneous Polycondensation (ROPPOC) Catalysts N2 - Ring-opening polymerizations of l-lactide are studied in bulk at 140 or 160 °C with zinc n-hexanoate, zinc 4-chlorothiophenolate, and zinc pentafluoro thiophenolate (ZnSPF) as catalysts. The reactivity increases in the given order. With all three catalysts a high fraction of cycles is obtained only at polymerization (annealing) times around 7 d. With ZnSPF weight average molecular weights (Mw) up to 178 000, a Tm around 199 °C and a 𝚫Hm around 99 J g−1 were achieved. The samples annealed for 4 or 7 d also display a saw tooth pattern of the mass peak distribution in the matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight spectra indicating transesterification reactions across the surface of extended ring crystals. This process optimizes the thermodynamical properties of the crystalline cyclic polylactides and is responsible for the high Tm and 𝚫Hm values. KW - Polylactide KW - MALDI-TOF MS KW - Ring opening polymerization KW - Polymerization PY - 2023 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-578264 DO - https://doi.org/10.1002/macp.202300070 SN - 1022-1352 SP - 202300070 PB - Wiley VHC-Verlag AN - OPUS4-57826 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Kricheldorf, H. R. A1 - Weidner, Steffen T1 - Alcohol-Initiated and SnOct2-Catalyzed Ring-Opening Polymerization (ROP) of L-Lactide in Solution: A Re-investigation N2 - Alcohol-initiated ring-opening polymerizations (ROP) of L-lactide (LA) were studied in solution at 70 °C, whereupon the nature of the alcohol, the LA/initiator ratio, the LA/SnOct2 ratio and the time were varied. In contrast to literature, neat SnOct2 is catalytically active in THF and several aromatic but donor solvents, such as 1,3-dioxolane, dimethylformamide (DMF) or N-methyl pyrrolidone (NMP), strongly reduce the activity of SnOct2. In agreement with literature, no cycles were formed by neat SnOct2 at 70 °C in toluene, whereas almost complete cyclization occurs at 115 °C. This finding is attributed to strongly reduced mobility of the initially formed linear chains having one Sn-O-CH and one anhydride end group. Due to better solvation and enhanced mobility cyclization occurs in THF at 70 °C. KW - Polylactide KW - Ring-opening polymerization KW - MALDI-TOF MS KW - Transesterification PY - 2023 DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2023.111822 SN - 0014-3057 SP - 1 EP - 18 PB - Elsevier CY - New York, NY [u.a.] AN - OPUS4-56818 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Weidner, Steffen A1 - Meyer, A. A1 - Kricheldorf, H. T1 - Cyclic polyglycolides via ring-expansion polymerization with cyclic tin catalysts N2 - Glycolide was polymerized in bulk with two cyclic catalysts − 2,2-dibutyl-2-stanna-1,3-dithiolane (DSTL) and 2-stanna-1,3-dioxa-4,5,6,7-dibenzepane (SnBiph). The monomer/initiator ratio, temperature (140 – 180 °C) and time (1–––4 days) were varied. The MALDI TOF mass spectra exclusively displayed peaks of cyclic polyglycolide (PGA) and revealed an unusual “saw-tooth pattern” in the mass range below m/z 2 500 suggesting formation of extended ring crystallites. The DSC measurements indicated increasing crystallinity with higher temperature and longer time, and after annealing for 4 d at 160 °C a hitherto unknown and unexpected glass transition was found in the temperature range of 170–185 °C. Linear PGAs prepared by means of metal alkoxides under identical conditions did not show the afore-mentioned features of the cyclic PGAs, neither in the mass spectra nor in the DSC measurements. All PGAs were also characterized by SAXS measurements, which revealed relatively small L-values suggesting formation of thin crystallites in all cases with little influence of the reaction conditions. KW - Polyglycolide KW - MALDI-TOF MS KW - Ring-expansion polymerization KW - Crystals PY - 2024 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-595541 DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2024.112811 SN - 0014-3057 VL - 207 SP - 1 EP - 9 PB - Elsevier Ltd. AN - OPUS4-59554 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Kricheldorf, H. A1 - Weidner, Steffen A1 - Scheliga, F. T1 - Polycondensation of poly(L-lactide) alkyl esters combined with disproportionation and symproportionation of the chain lengths N2 - Ring-opening polymerizations (ROPs) of l-lactide (LA) were performed with ethyl l-lactate or 11-bromoundecanol as initiators (In) and tin(II) ethyl hexanoate (SnOct2) as catalyst (Cat) using four different LA/In ratios (20/1, 40/1, 60/1, and 100/1). One series of ROPs was conducted in bulk at 120 °C, yielding PLAs with low dispersities (Ð ~ 1.2–1.4), and a second series was conducted in bulk at 160 °C, yielding higher dispersities (Ð ~ 1.3–1.9). Samples from both series were annealed for 1 or 14 days at 140 °C in the presence of SnOct2. Both polycondensation and disproportionation reactions occurred, so that all four samples tended to form the same type of molar mass distribution below 10,000 Da, regardless of their initially different number average molar masses (Mn). Both initiators gave nearly identical results. The thermodynamic control of all reversible transesterification processes favored the formation of crystallites composed of chains with a Mn around 3500–3700, corresponding to a crystal thickness of 10–13 nm. KW - Polylactide KW - MALDI-TOF MS KW - Crystalinity PY - 2024 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-600081 DO - https://doi.org/10.1002/pol.20240118 SN - 2642-4150 SP - 1 EP - 12 PB - Wiley AN - OPUS4-60008 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Kricheldorf, Hans R. A1 - Weidner, Steffen T1 - Ring-ring equilibration (RRE) of cyclic poly(L-lactide)s by means of cyclic tin catalysts N2 - With 2,2-dibutyl-2-stanna-1,3-dithiolane (DSTL) and 2-stanna-1,3-dioxa-4,5,6,7-dibenzoxepane (SnBiPh) as catalysts ring-expansion polymerizations (REP) were performed either in 2 M solution using three different solvents and two different temperatures or in bulk at 140 and 120 ◦C. A kinetically controlled rapid REP up to weight average molecular masses (Mẃs) above 300 000 was followed by a slower degradation of the molecular masses at 140 ◦C, but not at 120 ◦C Furthermore, a low molecular mass cyclic poly(L-lactide) (cPLA) with a Mn around 16 000 was prepared by polymerization in dilute solution and used as starting material for ring-ring equilibration at 140 ◦C in 2 M solutions. Again, a decrease of the molecular mass was detectable, suggesting that the equilibrium Mn is below 5 000. The degradation of the molecular masses via RRE was surprisingly more effective in solid cyclic PLA than in solution, and a specific transesterification mechanism involving loops on the surface of crystallites is proposed. This degradation favored the formation of extended-ring crystallites, which were detectable by a “saw-tooth pattern” in their MALDI mass spectra. KW - Organic Chemistry KW - Polymers and Plastics KW - MALDI-TOF MS KW - Materials Chemistry PY - 2024 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-593819 DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2024.112765 SN - 0014-3057 VL - 206 SP - 1 EP - 8 PB - Elsevier B.V. AN - OPUS4-59381 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Weidner, Steffen A1 - Meyer, A. A1 - Kricheldorf, H. T1 - Transformation of poly(L-lactide) crystals composed of linear chains into crystals composed of cycles N2 - A poly(L-lactide) with a trifluoroethyl ester end group and an average degree of polymerization (DP) of 50 was synthesized by ROP of L-lactide initiated with trifluoroethanol. Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) in combination with differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) measurements revealed an average crystal thickness of 13 nm, corresponding to 45 repeat units. This suggests that most crystallites were formed by extended PLA chains, and both flat surfaces were covered by CF3 groups. The crystalline PLAs were annealed at 140 or 160 °C in the presence of two catalysts: tin(II) 2-ethylhexanoate, (SnOct2) or dibutyltin bis(pentafluorophenoxide) (BuSnPhF). The chemical reactions, such as polycondensation and cyclization, proceeded in the solid state and were monitored by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-offlight (MALDI TOF) mass spectrometry and gel permeation chromatography (GPC) measurements. Under optimal conditions a large fraction of linear chains was transformed into crystallites composed of extended cycles. Additionally, MALDI TOF MS analysis of GPC fractions from samples annealed for 28 or 42 days detected chain elongation of the linear species up to a factor of 20. KW - Polylactide KW - MALDI-TOF MS KW - Crystalinity KW - Transesterification PY - 2024 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-597250 DO - https://doi.org/10.1039/D3PY01370G SN - 1759-9954 VL - 15 IS - 12 SP - 1173 EP - 1181 PB - Royal Society for Chemistry AN - OPUS4-59725 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Weidner, Steffen A1 - Meyer, A. A1 - Falkenhagen, Jana A1 - Kricheldorf, H. R. T1 - Polycondensations and Cyclization of Poly(L-lactide) Ethyl Esters in the Solid State N2 - The usefulness of seven different Tin catalysts, Bismuth subsalicylate and Titan tetra(ethoxide) for the polycondensation of ethyl L-lactate (ELA) was examined at 150 °C/6 d. Dibutyltin bis(phenoxides) proved to be particularly effective. Despite the low reactivity of ELA, weight average molecular masses (Mw) up to 12 500 were found along with partial crystallization. Furthermore, polylactides (PLAs) of similar molecular masses were prepared via ELA-initiated ROPs of L-lactide by means of the four most effective polycondensation catalysts. The crystalline linear PLAs were annealed at 140 or 160 °C in the presence of these catalysts. The consequences of the transesterification reactions in the solid PLAs were studied by means of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI TOF) mass spectrometry, gel permeation chromatography (GPC) and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). The results indicate that polycondensation and formation of cycles proceed in the solid state via formation of loops on the surface of the crystallites. In summary, five different transesterification reactions are required to explain all results. KW - Polylactide KW - MALDI-TOF MS KW - Crystalinity PY - 2024 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-592934 DO - https://doi.org/10.1039/d3py01232h SN - 1759-9962 VL - 15 IS - 2 SP - 71 EP - 82 PB - RSC Publ. CY - Cambridge AN - OPUS4-59293 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Kricheldorf, H. A1 - Weidner, Steffen T1 - Low Molar Mass Cyclic Poly(L-lactide)s: Separate Transesterification Reactions of Cycles and Linear Chains in the Solid State N2 - L-Lactide (LA) was polymerized with neat tin(II) 2-ethylhexanoate (SnOct2) in toluene at 115 °C at low concentration with variation of the LA/Cat ratio. Cyclic polylactides (cPLAs) with number average molecular weights (Mn) between 7 000 and 17 000 were obtained. MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry also revealed the formation of a few percent of linear chains. Crystalline cPLAs with Mn around 9 000 and 14 000 were annealed at 140 °C in the presence of ScOct2 or dibutyl-2-stanna-1,3-dithiolane (DSTL). Simultaneously, crystallites of extended linear chains and crystallites of extended cycles were formed regardless of the catalyst, indicating that transesterification reaction proceeded different for linear chains and for cycles, governed by thermodynamic control. The formation of extended chain crystallites with low dispersity indicates the existence of symproportionation of short and long chains. A complementary experiment was carried out with a PLA ethyl ester composed mainly of linear chains with a small fraction of cycles KW - Polylactide KW - MALDI-TOF MS KW - Annealing PY - 2024 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-606228 DO - https://doi.org/10.1039/D4SM00567H SN - 1744-6848 SP - 1 EP - 12 PB - Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) AN - OPUS4-60622 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER -