Chemoselective polymerization control: from mixed-monomer feedstock to copolymers

A novel chemoselective polymerization control yields predictable (co)polymer compositions from a mixture of monomers. Using a dizinc catalyst and a mixture of caprolactone, cyclohexene oxide, and carbon dioxide enables the selective preparation of either polyesters or polycarbonates or copoly(ester-carbonates). The selectivity depends on the nature of the zinc-oxygen functionality at the growing polymer chain end, and can be controlled by the addition of exogeneous switch reagents.