Organocatalysis: Opportunities and Challenges for Polymer Synthesis

Abstract

Organocatalysis offers a number of opportunities in polymer synthesis and was among the earliest methods of catalyzing the synthesis of polyesters. In the following Perspective we attempt to highlight the opportunities and challenges in the use of organic molecules as catalysts or initiators for polymerization reactions. The ring-opening polymerization of cyclic monomers is used as a representative polymerization process to illustrate some of the features of organic catalysts and initiators and to compare them to metal-based approaches. The convergence of convenience, functional group tolerance, fast rates, and selectivities will continue to drive innovations in polymerization catalysis, and it is our perspective that organocatalysis will continue to play an important role in these developments.