Polymer Program SeminarNew Catalysts for Constructing Polymers of Defined Architecture Friday, September 16, 2005 11:00 am , IMS Room 20 New catalysts for the preparation of biodegradable polyesters and polycarbonates will be described. In the first part of the seminar, a new generation of catalysts for the synthesis of polycarbonates from carbon dioxide and epoxides will be presented. In the second part of the presentation, new catalysts for the conversion of lactide to poly(lactic acid) will be introduced. Finally, new catalysts for the carbonylation of epoxides to beta-lactones will be described. The subsequent polymerization of these lactones to a naturally occurring class of biodegradable polymers, poly(3-hydroxyalkanoates), will be presented.
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