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. 2022 Jul 29;15(18):e202201075. doi: 10.1002/cssc.202201075

Table 5.

Polymerization of rac‐lactide in solution and bulk using [Zn(TMGhydroqu)2](OTf)2 (C6).[a]

Entry

[M]/[I]

kapp [b] [s−1]

t [s]

Conv.[c] [%]

M n,theo. [d] [g mol−1]

M n [e] [g mol−1]

Ð [e]

1

1250 : 1

0.0451

165

90

162000

58100

1.5

2

1500 : 1

0.0285

161

53

115000

89000

1.4

3

2000 : 1

0.0028

345

38

110000

72500

1.5

4

2500 : 1

0.0009

885

31

5[f]

2500 : 1 : 10

0.0178

285

95

34200

33000

1.3

6[g]

2500 : 1

0.0326

285

94

339000

71400

1.8

7[f,g]

2500 : 1 : 1

0.0551

285

96

346000

83500

1.4

8[h]

500 : 1

0.0023

660

61

44000

54000

1.4

9[h]

600 : 1

0.0014

660

37

32000

29000

1.5

10[h]

750 : 1

0.0012

660

48

n. d.

n. d.

n. d.

11[h]

800 : 1

0.0010

660

41

n. d.

n. d.

n. d.

[a] Conditions in bulk: non‐purified technical grade rac‐lactide, 150 °C, stirrer speed: 260 rpm. [b] The rate constant k app was determined by plotting ln([LA]0/[LA]t) vs. t. [c] Determined by 1H NMR spectroscopy. [d] Theoretical number‐average molar mass calculated by conversion×molar mass×[M]/[I]. [e] Determined via GPC analysis in THF. Mn : determined number‐average molar mass; Ð: polydispersity obtained by Mw /Mn . [f] Co‐initiator: benzyl alcohol. [g] Sublimated lactide. [h] Using c(lactide)=1.0 mol L−1 at 100 °C in toluene. n. d.=not determined.