Ring-opening Polymerization of L-Lactide with Silica Supported Titanium Alkoxide Catalysts

$TiCl(O-i-Pr)_3/SiO_2$ and $Ti(O-i-Pr)_4/SiO_2$ were prepared by immobilizing chlorotitanium (IV) isopropoxide ($TiCl(O-i-Pr)_3$) and titanium (IV) isopropoxide ($Ti(O-i-Pr)_4$), to pretreated silica. The effect of the polymerization reaction conditions on the catalytic activity and characteristics of the resulting PLA were investigated. The catalytic conversion, molecular weight and polydispersity index (PDI) of the PLA produced on the titanium alkoxide supported catalysts increased proportionally with the reaction temperature. When the PLA was synthesized in bulk polymerization, the PLA produced with the supported catalysts had higher molecular weight than those with homogeneous catalysts. The melting temperature of the polymer produced with silica supported alkoxide catalysts was approximately $170-180^{\circ}C$.