Hydrogen-Bond Cooperativity in Bisurea Catalyzed ROP: Molecular Level Optimization of Activity and Selectivity

by Rachele Zunino, Jia Zhang, Kai Hin Lui, Niklas Warlin, Robert M Waymouth, Luigi Cavallo, Giovanni Talarico
Year: 2026 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acscatal.6c02612

Extra Information

ACS Catalysis

Abstract

Bisurea anions have shown high activity and selectivity in the ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of cyclic esters. By integrating density functional theory modeling with experimental investigations, we elucidate the key mechanistic features underlying their catalytic behavior in the ROP of ε-caprolactone (ε-CL). Our study reveals that hydrogen-bond cooperativity between the urea groups, enforced by an ortho-phenylene linker, generates a semi-rigid catalytic pocket that is central to both activity and selectivity. The K+ counterion further stabilizes this architecture by reinforcing catalyst preorganization and substrate binding. This cooperative structural arrangement efficiently promotes ε-CL polymerization while suppressing transesterification pathways. Collectively, these insights establish design principles for next-generation hydrogen-bonding organocatalysts for ROP.


 

Keywords

organocatalysis DFT calculations ring-opening polymerization noncovalent interactions hydrogen-bond