The effect of high-intensity ultrasound on the ring-opening polymerisation of cyclic lactones

High-intensity ultrasound has been applied to the ring-opening polymerisation of δ-valerolactone and ε-caprolactone catalysed by dibutyl tin dilaurate. Sonication was found to accelerate the polymerisation. In the case of δ-valerolactone, sonication also promoted a depolymerisation reaction so that the molecular weight fell during later stages of the reaction. Co-polymers of the two monomers were synthesised and the use of ultrasound led to preferential incorporation of ε-caprolactone into the material, probably due to degradation of the valerolactone sequences.