Recent progress in calcium-catalyzed polyester synthesis

Abstract

The rapid depletion of fossil fuels and, more importantly, the environmental challenges associated with their use, have driven efforts to transition toward biomass-derived platform molecules with the aim of producing more biodegradable and functional materials. In this context, the catalytic ring-opening polymerization (ROP) and ring-opening copolymerization (ROCOP) of cyclic monomers have emerged as effective synthetic routes for the controlled production of polyesters with defined properties. Among the catalysts developed for these processes, those based on calcium are particularly appealing due to the abundance, low cost and biocompatibility of this metal. This Frontier article summarizes recent advancements in the use of calcium-based catalysts for the synthesis of polyesters via ROP and ROCOP of bio-sourced cyclic substrates.