Elastomeric copolyesters of ω-pentadecalactone and cyclohexylenedimethylene succinate obtained by enzymatic polymerization

The use of renewable monomers and green polymerization processes for preparing new synthetic polymers is a hot topic today. In this work we have obtained high molecular weight copolyesters derived from ω-pentadecalactone (PDL), dimethyl succinate (DMS) 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol (1,4-CHDM) by combination ring opening (ROP) two step melt polycondensation processes. reaction has been carried in bulk under mild conditions (80–120 °C) catalyzed immobilized Candida artarctica lipase B (N435 biocatalyst). These reactions were followed 1H NMR it was observed that although PDL reacted faster, at the end displayed random microstructure due to transesterification taking place during polymerization. thermally stable up around 350 °C semicrystalline all compositions with melting temperatures decreasing increased content counterpart comonomer pseudo-eutectic point located 40 mol-% composition. crystalline structure transitions taken heating studied WAXS SAXS synchrotron X-ray diffraction. Copolyesters elastomeric properties could be intermediate compositions.