Abstract
We report here the synthesis and polymerization of a novel disubstituted valerolactone, beta-acetoxy-delta-methylvalerolactone, derived from the renewable feedstock triacetic acid lactone (TAL). The bulk polymerization proceeds to 45% equilibrium monomer conversion at room temperature using diphenyl phosphate as the organic catalyst. The resultant amorphous material displays a glass transition temperature of 25 degrees C. The ring opening polymerization (ROP) behavior of the disubstituted valerolactone was examined, and the enthalpy (Delta H-p degrees) and entropy *(Delta S-p degrees) of polymerization were calculated to be -25 +/- 2 kJ mol(-1) and -81 +/- 5 mol(-1) K-1, respectively. The polymerization kinetics were also measured and compared to those of other substituted valerolactones reported in the literature. This report is the first to demonstrate the successful ROP of a disubstituted valerolactone as well as the first to establish the ROP of a derivative of TAL.