Design of an unique acrylate-lactone difunctional monomer for controlled ring opening and radical polymerizations

An original acrylate-lactone monomer 4-(acryloyloxy)ε-caprolactone is prepared. Both atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) and ring opening polymerization (ROP) selectively polymerize this dysfunctional monomer in a living/controlled way. This new monomer enabled the preparation of new polyacrylates with lactone pendant groups with controlled molecular weights and narrow polydispersities using controlled radical polymerization chemistry. ROP of 4-(acryloyloxy)ε-caprolactone leads to new functional aliphatic polyesters with a very good control of the macromolecular parameters.