Hydrolytically Degradable <scp> CO ₂ </scp> ‐Based Poly(Propylene Carbonate‐ <scp> <i>co</i> </scp> ‐La

Abstract

The sustainable development of polycarbonates from greenhouse gases, like carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), is of significant interest; however, achieving a high molecular weight polymer, with improved thermal properties and degradability remains challenging. This study reports the one‐pot ring‐opening polymerization of L‐lactide (LLA), propylene oxide (PO), and CO 2 to synthesize a degradable terpolymer by incorporating ester segments into a poly(propylene carbonate) (PPC) backbone using a novel ternary salophen‐cobalt catalyst. The study systematically investigates the influence of reaction parameters on molecular weight ( M w ), selectivity, monomer conversion, and PPC/PLA molar ratio. The resulting terpolymer achieves a high M w of 139 kDa, under mild reaction conditions (60°C, 25 bar), and an improved glass transition temperature ( T g ) of 46°C, notably higher than standard PPC (≤ 35°C). Degradation studies demonstrate the polymer's susceptibility to thermal, alkaline, and enzymatic hydrolysis, with up to a 36.6% reduction in M w over 4 weeks. Furthermore, the study provides insight into the roles of each component within the ternary catalytic system, suggesting a synergistic function enabling a one‐pot terpolymerisation of monomers with varying ring strains within a single catalytic framework.