Controlling the Synthesis of Polythioester through Indium Catalysis

Abstract: Synthetic polymers have drastically reshaped our society since their discovery and catalyzed advancements in countless sectors, including health care and food security. However, their omnipresence has caused growing concerns over the detrimental impact of accumulated polymer waste. To tackle these issues, my doctoral research has focused on utilizing catalysis to advance our understanding of the synthesis and properties of degradable and renewable polymers. Specifically, I target thioester-containing polymers for their higher degradation potential and greater chemical and thermal resistance compared to existing polyester analogues. In the first half of this talk, I will highlight the capabilities of our catalyst in producing poly(ε-thiocaprolactone) with a range of molecular weights, the first example reported in literature. The mechanism of polymerization was also elucidated and utilized to synthesize copolymers with common polyesters to alter their degradation behaviours. The latter half of the talk will be focused on the synthesis of the same polymer but through a faster O/S isomerization polymerization process using ε-thionocaprolactone as the monomer. I will be highlighting the selectivity of our indium catalyst as well as challenges that arise from a monomer capable of orthogonal reactivity.