Synthesis and Self-assembly of Limonene Oxide - Lactide Block Copolymers

The reaction of limonene oxide with a zirconium complex led to polymers with a molar mass up to 4.0 kDa, the largest limonene oxide homopolymer reported so far. Diblock, triblock, and tetrablock copolymers of limonene oxide and L-lactide were also prepared using a redox switchable catalyst based on the same zirconium complex; the obtained copolymers are the first-ever reported limonene oxide-lactide block copolymers. The solid-state self-assembly properties of the copolymers were characterized by small angle X-ray scattering and rheology measurements, giving a self-assembly domain radius of 11, 25, and 35 nm for the diblock, triblock, and tetrablock copolymers, respectively.