The Mechanisms of the Initiation Step in Ring-Opening Polymerization of β-Lactones: A Review.

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Title: The Mechanisms of the Initiation Step in Ring-Opening Polymerization of β-Lactones: A Review.
Authors: Grobelny, Zbigniew1 (AUTHOR), Golba, Sylwia2 (AUTHOR), Jurek-Suliga, Justyna1,2 (AUTHOR) justyna.jurek-suliga@us.edu.pl
Source: Polymers (20734360). Jun2026, Vol. 18 Issue 12, p1488. 39p.
Subjects: Ring-opening polymerization, Butyrolactones, Poly-beta-hydroxybutyrate, Catalysts, Biodegradable plastics, Polymerization, Polyesters, Lactone derivatives
Abstract: Ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of β-lactones yields biodegradable and bioresorbable polyesters exhibiting potential utility in medicine and environmental protection. β-butyrolactone (BL) is especially interesting, as it yields polymers analogous to natural poly(3-hydroxybutyrates) produced by bacteria, fungi, and enzymes in nature. The biopolymer produced by these microorganisms is isotactic. While it can be synthesized biotechnologically through the bacterial fermentation of substrates, such as sucrose, corn, and sugar, laboratory production typically involves the ring-opening polymerization of BL. However, the latter process is mainly atactic, syndiotactic, or partly isotactic, and other β-substituted β-lactones are less well-known. Ring-opening polymerization is an excellent pathway for the production of poly(β-lactones). This critical review presents the different conditions required to synthesize poly(β-lactones) and a broad overview of the different kinds of ROPs, i.e., anionic, cationic, coordinative, supramolecular-based, and enzymatic processes. A great variety of initiators/catalysts have been studied, covering both metal-based and metal-free systems (organo- and biocatalysts). In this review, several mechanisms of β-lactone polymerization are presented and discussed, especially with regard to the processes' initiation steps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Polymers (20734360) is the property of MDPI and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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  Data: The Mechanisms of the Initiation Step in Ring-Opening Polymerization of β-Lactones: A Review.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Grobelny%2C+Zbigniew%22">Grobelny, Zbigniew</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Golba%2C+Sylwia%22">Golba, Sylwia</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Jurek-Suliga%2C+Justyna%22">Jurek-Suliga, Justyna</searchLink><relatesTo>1,2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> justyna.jurek-suliga@us.edu.pl</i>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Polymers+%2820734360%29%22">Polymers (20734360)</searchLink>. Jun2026, Vol. 18 Issue 12, p1488. 39p.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Ring-opening+polymerization%22">Ring-opening polymerization</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Butyrolactones%22">Butyrolactones</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Poly-beta-hydroxybutyrate%22">Poly-beta-hydroxybutyrate</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Catalysts%22">Catalysts</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Biodegradable+plastics%22">Biodegradable plastics</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Polymerization%22">Polymerization</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Polyesters%22">Polyesters</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Lactone+derivatives%22">Lactone derivatives</searchLink>
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  Data: Ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of β-lactones yields biodegradable and bioresorbable polyesters exhibiting potential utility in medicine and environmental protection. β-butyrolactone (BL) is especially interesting, as it yields polymers analogous to natural poly(3-hydroxybutyrates) produced by bacteria, fungi, and enzymes in nature. The biopolymer produced by these microorganisms is isotactic. While it can be synthesized biotechnologically through the bacterial fermentation of substrates, such as sucrose, corn, and sugar, laboratory production typically involves the ring-opening polymerization of BL. However, the latter process is mainly atactic, syndiotactic, or partly isotactic, and other β-substituted β-lactones are less well-known. Ring-opening polymerization is an excellent pathway for the production of poly(β-lactones). This critical review presents the different conditions required to synthesize poly(β-lactones) and a broad overview of the different kinds of ROPs, i.e., anionic, cationic, coordinative, supramolecular-based, and enzymatic processes. A great variety of initiators/catalysts have been studied, covering both metal-based and metal-free systems (organo- and biocatalysts). In this review, several mechanisms of β-lactone polymerization are presented and discussed, especially with regard to the processes' initiation steps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
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  Data: <i>Copyright of Polymers (20734360) is the property of MDPI and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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RecordInfo BibRecord:
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    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.3390/polym18121488
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
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      Pagination:
        PageCount: 39
        StartPage: 1488
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Ring-opening polymerization
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Butyrolactones
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Poly-beta-hydroxybutyrate
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Catalysts
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Biodegradable plastics
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Polymerization
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Polyesters
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Lactone derivatives
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: The Mechanisms of the Initiation Step in Ring-Opening Polymerization of β-Lactones: A Review.
        Type: main
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            NameFull: Grobelny, Zbigniew
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            NameFull: Golba, Sylwia
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            NameFull: Jurek-Suliga, Justyna
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            – D: 15
              M: 06
              Text: Jun2026
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
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