ROP of L-lactide/ Olefin Polymerization

My project on biodegradable polymers focuses on designing and synthesizing novel metal complexes for carrying out the controlled polymerization (molecular weight and PDI) of L-lactide to polylactide. Currently, I am exploring the utility of novel Ag and Au complexes of N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligands for making these environmentally benign polymers. Recently we have been successful in reporting the first example of Au based initiator for ROP of L-lactide. The work gains significance against the backdrop of the prevalent common notion of Ag and Au being inactive coinage metals with limited catalytic utility.


                                        

                                    


My other project on olefin polymerization involves designing catalysts with improved attributes by suitable modification of the ligand ancillary. In particular, I am interested in developing catalysts capable of polymerizing olefins along with copolymerizing the same with polar functional monomers. It is noteworthy, that despite a plethora of olefin polymerization catalysts that exist, only a handful of them are known to copolymerize olefins with polar functional monomers, that too these catalysts have been developed only recently.

Catalyst and Polymer Characterization

The project has significant synthetic component which deals with manipulation of air and moisture sensitive compounds in addition to regular organic synthesis. Sophisticated instrumentations like, NMR, X-ray, IR, UV-vis, Mass spectrometry, GC, GPC, Micro Analysis etc. is extensively used for regular characterizations of the metal complexes and the polymers.