Clean synthesis of novel green surfactants

Star polymers have attracted considerable attention because of their unique thermal and mechanical properties. At the same time, as sustainable chemistry is growing in impact at an unprecedented rate, we propose in this work to implement a greener pathway for the synthesis of star D-sorbitol-poly(ε-caprolactone) (star PCL-OHx) using clean solvents (polymerisation in the bulk or in supercritical CO2) and either FDA-approved Sn(Oct)2 catalyst or enzyme catalyst (Novozym® 435). The influence of these parameters on the star architecture (number of arms, MW of arms etc.) was rigorously analysed and corroborated with various analytical techniques (1H NMR, SEC-MALS, SEC-UC, phosphitylation quantitative 31P NMR approach). Linear monohydroxy PCL-OH and dihydroxy telechelic HO-PCL-OH samples were also prepared. The PCL materials obtained were used as hydrophobic macroinitiators for the polymerisation of cyclic hydrophilic ethylene ethyl phosphonate monomer for the synthesis of a range of different amphiphilic materials (i.e. star diblock, linear diblock and triblock copolymers). Self-assembly behaviour in aqueous solution of these copolymers was investigated by DLS, TEM and cryo-TEM. Triblock and star amphiphilic copolymers were revealed to be able to reduce the surface tension (γ) of water down to 45 mN m-1. Finally, enzyme catalysed star PCL-OHx polymers were functionalised with carboxylic end-groups using maleic anhydride. Water-dispersible surface-active ionic star polymers were then obtained. These maleate-functionalised star polymers were then photopolymerised with a small amount of tri(ethylene glycol) divinyl ether (~9wt% of total composition). The UV-cured crosslinked star PCL films produced were then analysed by FTIR, DSC and TGA

Sustainable synthesis and precise characterisation of bio-based star polycaprolactone synthesised with a metal catalyst and with lipase

Bio-based building blocks and sustainable synthesis pathways were used to synthesise star-shaped polymers composed of a D-sorbitol core and polycaprolactone arms by ring opening polymerisation (ROP). The use of volatile organic solvents was avoided and less energy intense reaction conditions were achieved by performing the ROP in the bulk or in a green solvent, supercritical CO2 (scCO2). Two catalysts were tested: conventional tin(II) 2-ethylhexanoate (Sn(Oct)2) which is a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved metal catalyst and an enzyme, Novozym 435 (Lipase B from Candida Antarctica immobilised on a solid support). The influence of the reaction medium and of the nature of the catalyst on the molecular weight, the dispersity and the architecture of the PCL stars was investigated. The star polymers were characterised by 1H and 31P nuclear magnetic resonance (1H and 31P NMR) spectroscopy, size exclusion chromatography – multi-angle light scattering (SEC-MALS) and matrix-assisted laser desorption and ionisation-time of flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry. The use of scCO2 enabled the reduction of the reaction temperature of Sn(Oct)2 catalysed star D-sorbitol-polycaprolactone polymerisations from 140 to 95 °C. In addition, star polymers were successfully synthesised by enzyme catalysis in the bulk or in scCO2 at 60 °C; lower temperatures that could provide significant energy savings on a commercial scale. Thecatalyst was shown to have a pronounced influence on the architecture of the PCL stars. Regular star polymers were obtained in the presence of Sn(Oct)2 whereas Novozym 435 gave access to miktoarmtype star PCL. Finally, the influence of the number and length of the arms on the thermal properties of the star polymers was investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC)

Clean synthesis of linear and star amphiphilic poly(ε-caprolactone)-block-poly(ethyl ethylene phosphonate) block copolymers: assessing self-assembly and surface activity

International audienc

Synthèse de nouveaux tensioactifs biosourcés par des méthodes propres

Les polymères en étoile connaissent un intérêt accru en raison de leurs propriétés thermiques et mécaniques inimitables. Partant du constat qu’en parallèle la chimie durable se développe à un rythme sans précédent, nous proposons dans cette thèse de développer une stratégie plus « verte » pour la synthèse de polymères en étoile de type D-sorbitol-poly(ε-caprolactone) (star PCL-OHx). Ces derniers seront synthétisés sans solvant (en masse) ou dans des solvants « propres » (CO2 supercritique) et en présence du catalyseur métallique Sn(Oct)2 (qui a été approuvé par la FDA) ou d’un catalyseur enzymatique (Novozym® 435). L’influence de ces paramètres sur l’architecture des étoiles (nombre de bras, masse molaire des bras…) a été rigoureusement analysée et confirmée par différentes techniques d’analyse (RMN 1H, SEC-MALS, SEC-UC, analyse RMN 31P quantitative via la méthode de phosphitylation). Des polymères linéaires monohydroxy (PCL-OH) et téléchéliques dihydroxy (OH-PCL-OH) ont également été synthétisés en parallèle. Ces différentes PCL ont été utilisées comme macroamorceurs hydrophobes pour la polymérisation du monomère cyclique hydrophile éthyl phosphonate d’éthylène. Une large gamme de copolymères amphiphiles a ainsi pu être développée (i.e. des copolymères diblocs en étoile ou des copolymères diblocs et triblocs linéaires). Le comportement d’auto-assemblage en solution de ces copolymères a été étudié par DLS ainsi que par TEM et cryo-TEM. Nous avons également montré que les copolymères amphiphiles triblocs et en étoile sont capables de diminuer la tension de surface (γ) de l’eau en dessous de 45 mN m-1. Enfin, les étoiles PCL-OHx synthétisées en présence d’enzyme ont été fonctionnalisées par réaction avec l’anhydride maléique. Des polymères en étoile, ioniques, tensio-actifs et directement dispersables dans l’eau ont ainsi pu être obtenus. Dans un second temps, ces mêmes polymères ont été photopolymérisés en présence d’une faible quantité de tri(éthylène glycol) divinyl éther (~ 9% par rapport à la masse totale). Les films afférents à ces copolymères en étoile réticulés sous UV ont été analysés par IRTF, DSC et ATG.Star polymers have attracted considerable attention because of their unique thermal and mechanical properties. At the same time, as sustainable chemistry field is growing in impact at an unprecedented rate, we propose in this work to implement a greener pathway for the synthesis of star D-sorbitol-poly(ε-caprolactone) (star PCL-OHx) using clean solvents (polymerisation in the bulk or in supercritical CO2) and either FDA-approved Sn(Oct)2 catalyst or enzyme catalyst (Novozym® 435). The influence of these parameters on the star architecture (number of arms, MW of arms etc.) was rigorously analysed and corroborated with various analytical techniques (1H NMR, SEC-MALS, SEC-UC, phosphitylation quantitative 31P NMR approach). Linear monohydroxy PCL-OH and dihydroxy telechelic OH-PCL-OH samples were also prepared. The PCL materials obtained were used as hydrophobic macroinitiators for the polymerisation of cyclic hydrophilic ethylene ethyl phosphonate monomer for the synthesis of a range of different amphiphilic materials (i.e. star diblock, linear diblock and triblock copolymers). Self-assembly behaviour in aqueous solution of these copolymers was investigated by DLS, TEM and cryo-TEM. Triblock and star amphiphilic copolymers were revealed to be able to reduce the surface tension (γ) of water down to 45 mN m-1. Finally, enzyme catalysed star PCL-OHx polymers were functionalised with carboxylic end-groups using maleic anhydride. Water-dispersible surface-active ionic star polymers were then obtained. These maleate-functionalised star polymers were then photopolymerised with a small amount of tri(ethylene glycol) divinyl ether (~9wt% of total composition). The UV-cured crosslinked star PCL films produced were then analysed by FTIR, DSC and TGA

Clean synthesis of novel green surfactants

Star polymers have attracted considerable attention because of their unique thermal and mechanical properties. At the same time, as sustainable chemistry is growing in impact at an unprecedented rate, we propose in this work to implement a greener pathway for the synthesis of star D-sorbitol-poly(ε-caprolactone) (star PCL-OHx) using clean solvents (polymerisation in the bulk or in supercritical CO2) and either FDA-approved Sn(Oct)2 catalyst or enzyme catalyst (Novozym® 435). The influence of these parameters on the star architecture (number of arms, MW of arms etc.) was rigorously analysed and corroborated with various analytical techniques (1H NMR, SEC-MALS, SEC-UC, phosphitylation quantitative 31P NMR approach). Linear monohydroxy PCL-OH and dihydroxy telechelic HO-PCL-OH samples were also prepared. The PCL materials obtained were used as hydrophobic macroinitiators for the polymerisation of cyclic hydrophilic ethylene ethyl phosphonate monomer for the synthesis of a range of different amphiphilic materials (i.e. star diblock, linear diblock and triblock copolymers). Self-assembly behaviour in aqueous solution of these copolymers was investigated by DLS, TEM and cryo-TEM. Triblock and star amphiphilic copolymers were revealed to be able to reduce the surface tension (γ) of water down to 45 mN m-1. Finally, enzyme catalysed star PCL-OHx polymers were functionalised with carboxylic end-groups using maleic anhydride. Water-dispersible surface-active ionic star polymers were then obtained. These maleate-functionalised star polymers were then photopolymerised with a small amount of tri(ethylene glycol) divinyl ether (~9wt% of total composition). The UV-cured crosslinked star PCL films produced were then analysed by FTIR, DSC and TGA