Abstract
Well-defined telechelic oligodepsipeptide oDPs
are the prerequisite to create the ABA
triblockcopolymers by sequential copolymer
synthesis. The most commonly used catalyst for
the polymerization of MDs as well as their copolymerization
with other cyclic monomers i.e.
dilactides and ε-caprolactone is tin(II)-2-
ethylhexanoate (Sn(Oct)2). An alternative
choice as catalyst for the ROP of lactone based
monomers is 1,1,6,6-tetra-n-butyl-1,6-distanna-
2,5,7,10-tetraoxacyclodecane (Sn(IV) alkoxide),
as demonstrated for the ROP of L-dilactide, 1,5-
dioxepan-2-one or ɛ-caprolactone. We hypothesized
that Sn(IV) alkoxide catalyzed ROP allows
a more precise control of the ROP reaction and
result in well-defined telechelic oDPs.