Ring opening polymerization of adipic anhydride initiated by dibutylmagnesium initiator

The ring opening polymerization of adipic anhydride (AA) initiated by dibutylmagnesium has been investigated in solution and in bulk. The results indicate that dibutylmagnesium is quite effective for the ring opening polymerization of AA. The polymer has been characterized by 1H-NMR, IR and DSC. The end group analysis suggests that the AA polymerization might proceed through the “coordination-insertion” mechanism based on the acyl-oxygen cleavage of the AA ring.