Polyselenonium Salt as a Heterogeneous Catalyst for Living/Controlled Cationic Polymerization

Polyselenonium salt was synthesized by using functional polycaprolactone as a precursor for heterogeneous catalysis of living/controlled cationic polymerization of various vinyl ethers. Benefiting from the combination of the bench-stable polyselenonium salt and cationic RAFT agents, controlled cationic polymerization could be achieved under mild conditions such as room temperature, non-inert atmosphere, and the absence of rigorously monomer purification, yielding well-defined poly(vinyl ether)s with controlled molecular weights and low dispersity (Đ < 1.20). The heterogeneous catalyst can be easily separated by simple centrifugation and maintains catalytic efficiency above 90% even after six cycles of use, showing excellent reusability in subsequent polymerizations.