Customizable Polymers: Multiblock Poly(Cyclohexene Carbonate)s with Sequence Control

Block copolymers have been used in a wide range of applications, such as information storage, drug delivery systems, antifouling agents, microelectronics, and optics. Previous methods for synthesizing block copolymers have little control over the block sequence and have difficulty adding more than four blocks to a single polymer chain. Using a beta-diiminate zinc(II) acetate complex, we were able to synthesize block copolymers from functionalized epoxides and carbon dioxide. We found that this catalyst is able to polymerize up to six blocks with different functionalities with complete control over block sequence. This development could be applied to block copolymer self-assembly and structure-direction.