Synthesis of linear polyglycerols with tailored degree of methylation by copolymerization and the effect on thermorheological behavior

Abstract We introduce a two-step strategy for the synthesis of linear polyglycerols (linPG-OHx/OMey) with an adjustable degree of methylation ( y = D M 100 ). Ethoxy ethyl glycidyl ether (EEGE) and glycidyl methyl ether (GME) were copolymerized via the “activated monomer” polymerization technique, using tetraoctylammonium bromide (NOct4Br) as an initiator and triisobutylaluminum (i-Bu3Al) as a catalyst under mild conditions. Subsequent acidic cleavage of the acetal protective groups generates linear polyglycerols with different degree of methylation (DM) by varying the GME comonomer content between 10 and 91%. Size exclusion chromatography (SEC) evidenced good control over molecular weight …